NAD VISO HP50

[shellylh]

Tyll seems to like them a whole lot. 

 

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/i-love-these-headphonesthe-nad-viso-hp50

 

Color me interested.  I suppose nobody else around here has heard them though.  Some people say that are more open and brighter than the Momentum which would be nice.  

[skullguise]

Have them on order, due Monday....if TYLL says FOTM, then FOTM

 

Seriously, looking for something that sounds good with better than nothing for isolation for work, these may fit the bill perfectly.

Edited November 9, 2013 by skullguise

[shellylh]

Cool, I am looking forward to your impression.

[Tyll Hertsens]

Some people say that are more open and brighter than the Momentum which would be nice.  

 

I'd say that's a fair statement; not brighter by a lot, though, and having tighter, more impactive bass. So it's not as simple as just saying their brighter.

[Rotijon]

I'd say that's a fair statement; not brighter by a lot, though, and having tighter, more impactive bass. So it's not as simple as just saying their brighter.

Heard you got a unit of the fidelio L2 lying around, initial impressions? =D

[robm321]

I don't know if anyone has heard the KEF M500s here either. If these don't fit the bill for you and you like the sound of the Grado HP-2 or Kef speakers with a bit of isolation, the M500s should fit the bill. I've been thrilled with them. 

 

I'm interested in hearing the HP-50s also. I'm not sure if I like the 1960's look though. 

[Tyll Hertsens]

Heard you got a unit of the fidelio L2 lying around, initial impressions? =D

 

Pretty good, but not great...a little too early to tell though.

[catscratch]

The headphone that interests me, although it's not closed, is the Oppo PM-1, mainly because Oppo strikes me as a no-nonsense company that can make a polished product at a good price, which these days is something of an exception. Tyll, if I may ask, have you heard the prototype?

[Tyll Hertsens]

Nah, sorry, didn't hear it.

 

I am on the list for a production sample when available though.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Tyll Hertsens

[screaming oranges]

btw, on the topic of headphones, having fun reading through this, which I stumbled upon:

 

Tyll Hertsens does an AMA:

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/19c7eo/i_am_tyll_hertsens_editor_at_innerfidelitycom/

Edited November 11, 2013 by screaming oranges

[skullguise]

Just got my pair in today.  Quick warmup and listen (Fio X-3 -> Digital out to Neko D-100 Mk 2 -> Eddie Current Lunchbox 2) using some 16/44 up to 24/192 FLAC files.

 

First impressions: big and full sounding, fairly well balanced with maybe some lightness to bass (assume it may get better in time).  It actually reminded me of many of the good things about Grado's, with a little larger soundstage and a little more evenly balanced.  Not as wide open as my Senn 600's coming out of the Lunchbox 2, but still pretty good for a closed phone.

 

Isolation was good, I think these will do quite well at work.  Got some good details/transparency out of them, too, thanks likely to the DAC.  Comfort was good, not too strong of a clamp, and the insides of the cups didn't rub on my ears (thought they might given their size).  Probably not as comfy as the Phillips Fidelio X1's, which have larger, felt earpads.

 

Will compare them at work tomorrow, fed from same FLAC files to the Meridian Explorer, to the X1's I had been using.

 

As a side note: I like this Fio X3 DAP a lot.  Some/several things NOT to like, but they matter less to me (menu system especially, and some reported bugs reading LOTS of files - I put exclusively FLAC on with lots of hi-rez, so no worries about filesystem for me).  Sound out to the Ety 4P's is very good, and using it as a digital source is simple and real nice.  I listen to the above setup with the Neko and EC feeding my Senn 600's almost every other night, and it is quite fun.

Edited November 12, 2013 by skullguise

[CarlSeibert]

It took me forever to get a handle on the X3. Now I like it.

 

Executive summary:

 

My sample changed character in the first few hours. Put it in the picnic cooler and leave it there a few days or be prepared to be confused and frustrated a different way every time you listen until it levels out..

 

My sample drives IEMs nicely; can't drive headphones worth a crap, even easy to drive ones.

 

With an amp and some time in the cooler, it's sounding pretty musical, with lots better resolution than my iPod. (Actually I used closed back headphones and put them under the pillow on the couch. Same thing, more or less, except it pissed off the cats. )

 

So it's not quite the bargain of the decade unless somebody makes a good sounding, super-cheap amp. (Or depending on your hobby accounting rules, you may count the net present cost of an in-hand portable amp you already have as sunk.)

 

We should probably make a thread on it, since wading through 800 pages of noise elsewhere is, well, life's too short.

[skullguise]

Listening now at work, Yosi Horikawa - Vapor (thanks, Dusty, liking this a lot!).  Versus the Fidelio X1, it definitely has better highs; a little airier while still smooth and detailed.

 

The bass is pleasantly surprising.  The X1 has a fat and deep bass, but this is holding its opwn quite well; not as fat, but deep enough and actually quite tuneful.

 

The transparency is better than the X1 as well.  Perhaps significantly better.....TBD......  As expected, X1's sound more open, but these are no slouches for closed-phone soundstage.

 

X1 has it on comfort easily; but I think I can still wear these for hours.

 

Will use this the rest of the week and swap out the X1 now and then.  Barring longer-term comfort, I'm sure these will be my new work cans.

[shellylh]

Thanks for the impressions, they sound great so far.

[jpelg]

What is the nominal impedance of the HP50's?

[Nebby]

What is the nominal impedance of the HP50's?

 

From Tyll's review measurement page:

 

Impedance @ 1kHz: 36 Ohms

 

Skullguise, where did you pick up your pair? Interested in switching up my workplace Ety's for a full-size can and these look like a good candidate.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Nebby

[skullguise]

Don't think Carl has the HP50's, he was talking about the Fio X3 DAP (I partially derailed the thread with a note on that).

 

I got mine at World Wide Stereo, first place online I found them in stock, took PayPal (I had a balance), and had free shipping.

 

http://www.wwstereo.com/NAD-Electronics/Products/?category=Over-the-Ear-Headphones

 

Just as an FYI, liking just about everything about the sound given that it's a closed phone.  Still getting used to the feel, though.....

[jpelg]

Thanks Nebby.

 

Todd - the Lunchbox has a pretty high output impedance - yes?

           (wondering if that's the ideal choice for a low-impedance can?)

[skullguise]

Yup, but Lunchbox 2 has a hi/low impedance switch.....makes it sound better with more phones.  The HP50 sounded pretty good out of it, save for the bass which seemed to sound a touch better with the Meridian.  But even the low switch may still be too high for these.....

[Spychedelic Whale]

Mmm I didn't know this big colourful dude who had an avatar of himself  in a box was already this famous 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=722962127731786&set=a.695436963817636.1073741825.176479375713400&type=1&theater

 

They got the top prize  of "inner F." in a test with the audio specialist and headphones maniac, Tyll Herstens.

 

Page is from the main Hi.Fi importer in portugal.

[Rotijon]

recently got the momentum. Not sure if tyll mentioned it, but its abit echoey(very faint) when i first used it. Cant really hear it now as i might be used to it. NOt sure if soundstaging or reverb issue.

Does the nad have this problem? 

[skullguise]

Haven't heard it in mine.....soundstage is pretty good for a closed phone, but don't hear any echo/reverb type of effects, and don't remember hearing them on first listens.

 

Still liking the sound on these a lot, they have replaced the X-1's at work since they isolate better.  Comfort is still not 100% for me, the clamping on the ears is a tiny bit uncomfy due to the shape of the drivers/pads on my head (not bad pressure, but combined with the fit on/over my ears, it's noticable but not horribly troublesome).  I still listen for a couple hours at a time without any problems, though.

[Rotijon]

And the NAD is currently available for sale and demo at my place. Right after i got the momentum....

Gah. I hope the difference isnt that big.

[recstar24]

Review time! I picked these up last week as this is kind of the can I've been looking for awhile and tyll's review sold it for me. I had been using the vmoda m80's for the "portable but too lazy to put in IEM" scenarios but after awhile the fit was just weird and they really don't sound too good. I also wanted something that I could just play off the iPhone/iPad and would sound good with all sorts of random musical non audiophile crap. The bass is fantastic - deep, punchy, smooth and very clean. Everything else sounds great, the whole presentation is super engaging, with a polite but detailed treble that is non offensive and a really nice warm midrange. Surprised at how good the imaging is and the overall sense of left to right in the stage, not too forward and not too back, just a nice honest presentation. Even though it's a closed phone I don't really hear it as being closed in, it sounds quite open actually with a nice sense of air. These to me sound like punchier more dynamic senn 650's. Fit is nice, very comfy and the pads are just large enough on my large ears to actually be circumaural. The momentums probably wouldn't actually circumnavigate my ears. The way the headband sits on the head and the weight/pressure distribution of the whole set makes them feel extremely light. Biggest gripe is how freaking ugly these look on my head. Picture speaks a thousand words. This is the first can I actually am hesitant and would be embarrassed to wear in public. Yikes. To NAD's credit, it says right on the box they don't care about my lifestyle, they care about sound, to which i think they've succeeded.

[Hopstretch]

Great review and even better picture.