Can I just say that the Bokeh sounds really great with classical music? I don't know if any of you listen to classical music regularly, but it's been my experience that really, you need an open-back headphone for proper classical music listening. Open-back headphones make the timbre of strings...

I like xDuoo's products, but I wish they were a bit more transparent about hardware updates and released regular firmware updates like Fiio. There's nothing on their website indicating anything about a revised version. If there is one, it seems to have been an entirely silent production update.

Just received my HD 620S today. Testing with the Zen DAC v3. Immediately loving the excellent isolation. I really don't understand this trend of creating closed-back headphones that don't isolate. What's the point, then? For me, the reason I buy closed backs is to block out background noise...

That's because "break-in" is psychological phenomenon :) (Yes, I know I'm setting myself up to be tarred-and-feathered). But "break-in" is just your brain adjusting to a new sound. If you go a long time without hearing it, or with using a different pair of headphones, you may need a bit to...

That's true, but my concern with streaming on a DAP is that DAP software doesn't tend to get updated regularly and I can't trust that streaming services will always function the way they're supposed to.

I think DAPs are interesting too, but if you primarily stream music, then a phone really is the best option for portable listening. In either case, there is supposed to be a battery pack released for the KA17 dongle, so I’d keep my eye on that as well.

Yeah, it's disappointing. :( But I guess people just want desktop amps or dongles. The "in-between" categories are less lucrative these days.

Yeah, I'll go all the way and say that I can't hear any difference. It was the same with the Q7 and other devices that have had the same filter options. Of all the things that make a difference in sound, there is a hierarchy: headphones > amplifier > DAC > filters (Not going to include cables...

Just placed my order. :) I've been really enjoying the HD 660S lately. I hope this can complete with it, just in closed-back form.

Disappointing about the "meh" isolation. The full-sized Focals have excellent isolation; the Celestee was best isolating headphone I've ever heard. It was almost like wearing ANC headphones. I know one critique of the Celestee was that the soundstage was narrow (I found it to be okay myself...

It looks like both can be used wired, but the signal has to pass through an ADC and DAC first.

Sonos' first entry into the Bluetooth headphone market is currently available for pre-order and will ship by June 5. https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/sonos-ace Is anyone else interested in these?

Most people who try and create hamburger headphones have trouble grappling with the pickle matrix. Professor Frink figured it out, though:

That’s really encouraging about the isolation. I understand isolation was lacking on the HD820S and Hifiman can’t seem to get isolation right at all. It can be an issue for brands that mostly make open-backs, but this seems to be a major improvement and is great to hear.

I took this photo when I was in India last month: Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan

I've never tried a Sennheiser closed-back and just accepted open-back is all they're good at. This is the first time I've been motivated to buy a closed-back from them. And Focal is the best for isolation. Wearing the Celestee was almost like having active noise canceling. So I'm very curious...

It's really nice to see two new mid-fi closed-backs being released (Azurys and the upcoming Sennheiser HD620S). Ordering the 620S is a given for me. Not sure about the Azurys, but it will depend on whether it can be run balanced, which I thought was a definite "no", now I'm hearing the jury...

I love my ZMF Bokeh, but it is quite big and heavy as far as headphones go (effectively the upper limit for me), and part of why I want the 620S is to have a closed-back that weighs less and has that Sennheiser sound that I love. What will determine whether I add the 620S to my long-term...

Daft Punk - Touch This is a song that's really meant to be heard with headphones :o2smile:

Good to know that it will be available with a balanced cable. I was very disappointed to see Focal's new "mid-fi" releases are not able to be run balanced. The design puts it more in league with the 500 line rather than a true closed-back version of the 600 line, but I'm intrigued by it...

But why nerf it by not allowing balanced? It seems to me that balanced is no longer a "high-end only" feature. $150 dongle DACs have balanced outputs.

If they can't be run balanced, then these are truly worthless to me. I would love a lighter-weight, more comfortable closed-back Focal, but not if it can't be run balanced. Seems like these are aimed at "consumers", but I don't know any non-audiophiles who are willing to pay $500+ for wired...

Almost every DAC I’ve owned cuts off a bit of audio at the beginning on my MacBook (not just dongles, desktop amps too), but it depends on the app. It never happens with Qobuz or Roon, but it does with Apple’s built-in Music app or Chrome.

Just received my Zen DAC 3 today! Having a Zen DAC again reminds me how great of an entry-level device this is. I was never happier listening to digital music than I was when I had the previous Zen DACs. That incredibly smooth volume wheel, desktop form-factor yet able to be powered by USB...

The front lights, yes, but I was talking about the rear "ext power" light. That stays on as long as the power is connected.