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Author Topic: The best damn build quality there is?  (Read 5467 times)

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AZ

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #30 on: November 23, 2014, 09:35:02 PM »
Totally disagree with some mentioning Sennheiser HD-800s. To me they are in the category of some of the worst especially considering the price point:
   -cable is cheap shit begging for immediate replacement
   -quality of the silver metallic paint is the worst I have seen anywhere (smudges, unevenness, cheap paint-chips easily)
   -pretty much  all cheap plastic construction with few metal accents
   -ear pads and headband start to deteriorate immediately after purchase even if there is no use at all
   -that flimsy insert covering the driver from the inside (was there absolutely no way to secure the thing in place???)
Build quality of that thing is absolutely unacceptable for such a premium product!
  I do agree with some mentioning Oppo PM-1s where design and quality of materials is impeccable:
   -highest grade OCC cable with nice and durable sleeve
   -leather on headband and pads is the highest grade and looks like it will never fade
   -paint on the plastic parts is incredible and looks like it was baked in somehow (tried to take Oppo logo off with all kinds of solvents and nothing to neither logo nor surrounding chrome or silver!)
   -aluminum and stainless steel used throughout talk for themselves
   -I am not even mentioning the packaging
These OPPOs look and feel like very expensive suit, simple but classy only if they were to sound on par but unfortunately..... most already know what I think.
   Was really impressed with new LCD-3 Fazors. All the materials look expensive and classy as well, only if the quality control was better (found a bolt sticking out through the foam of the outer grill, took the grill off and voila-someone forgot one of the bolts when it stuck to the magnet;-). Clamping force (major complaint of the past) must have been addressed and was fine for me. Packaging, travel case, accessories for wood/leather all absolutely first class. Overall very much comparable to aforementioned Stax-009s which also have a top grade build quality (at that price they better;-).
   Was very much impressed with Philips Fidelio X2s, they definitely are well above their league especially considering the price point. Those things will last!
« Last Edit: November 23, 2014, 11:06:26 PM by pervenets »
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Mr.Sneis

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #31 on: November 23, 2014, 09:35:47 PM »
Quote from: M3NTAL on November 23, 2014, 09:34:05 PM
Really? Two votes for HP1/2 ? The paint doesn't even stay on them and the foam deteriorates.

The screenprint  is crap but everything else is solid.  The foam?  Whatever bro :)
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M3NTAL

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #32 on: November 23, 2014, 09:55:09 PM »
;-) yeah yeah yeah
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Anaxilus

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #33 on: November 23, 2014, 10:13:52 PM »
Lol, the HD800 uses higher quality cable material than Oppo.  Silver plated OCC.  Lexona is aerospace plastic, not cheap crap plastic.  Better acoustic performance than metal, that was the point.  My paint is still immaculate after 3 years and a dozen meets hooked up to amps as a demo.  No smudges, chips or discoloration.  The one chip I had got touched up with a silver sharpie and noone ever sees it.  I don't even know where it was.  Don't think a sharpie will fix a dinged up metal Beyer.  The stainless mesh is not cheap to make either.  My pads still have yet to be replaced and are in good condition.  Just wash your hands and stop sweating on everything.

I didn't include the HD800 myself because it's very industrial looking in design and build that leaves one cold.  There is a warmth to high quality products and craftsmanship that it's lacking.  Calling it cheap and low quality though is just off the mark.

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TMRaven

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #34 on: November 23, 2014, 10:20:38 PM »
When it came to feel in the hands on my multiple albeit brief experiences with the HD800, it was very nice.  It had a rigidity and heft that didn't immediately make me think it was plastic.  Hell, I actually thought it was aluminum when I first held it.

One thing to note is that when I see people list their HD800s for sale on head-fi, is that they always mentions paint chips.  I don't think I've come across more than one or two that didn't mention the chips. 

I'm personally not a fan of the sci-fi aesthetic either, but the headphone itself does feel great in the hands.
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dBel84

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #35 on: November 23, 2014, 10:27:40 PM »
Few headphones have impressed me as much as the Yamaha YH5M





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Tyll Hertsens

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #36 on: November 23, 2014, 10:51:37 PM »
I think the HD 800 is pure sex from a "build it like a fucking engineer" point of view. Comfortable as hell; still a benchmark in sound; an amazing feat of engineering.

If the PM-1 only sounded better...but a lovely build.

The new Parrot Zik2.0 is a sexy, sexy beast. A bit tight around the ear, but a solid performer...for what it is.

The Master and Dynamic is lovely; but it's also a bit small around the ear; the cable is microphonic; and it's super-reliance on the correct seal makes bass response iffy.

While the R10 is supremely lovely, and things like the K1000 and high-end AT cans are alien beauties, I think the sexiest looking package I've seen for a long time is the Z7.  Fucking gorgeous. Unfortunately, the sound is in the also ran category....good but not great. Still, the product is stupendously beautiful, to me.
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AZ

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #37 on: November 23, 2014, 11:03:20 PM »
   @Anax why don't you try finding a used pair of HD-800s without paint chips or worn out pads, eBay or Headfi doesn't matter but good luck. Look around the corners on your set to see paint quality imperfections.
   The cable core is OFC and not OCC and there is a BIG difference. Silver plating....hmm ask Acoustic Zen experts about silver plating is all I can say.
   Aerospace plastic sounds pretty good only if they weren't so easy to ding and those dings look really visible especially around the cable terminals.
   Maybe earlier pairs like yours were much better and they started cutting corners later, I don't know but quite a few units I saw at the meets all looked worn out.
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Anaxilus

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #38 on: November 24, 2014, 12:04:14 AM »
Quote from: pervenets on November 23, 2014, 11:03:20 PM
   @Anax why don't you try finding a used pair of HD-800s without paint chips or worn out pads, eBay or Headfi doesn't matter but good luck. Look around the corners on your set to see paint quality imperfections.
   The cable core is OFC and not OCC and there is a BIG difference. Silver plating....hmm ask Acoustic Zen experts about silver plating is all I can say.
   Aerospace plastic sounds pretty good only if they weren't so easy to ding and those dings look really visible especially around the cable terminals.
   Maybe earlier pairs like yours were much better and they started cutting corners later, I don't know but quite a few units I saw at the meets all looked worn out.

I didn't we were talking about cosmetic durability of second hand used headphones.  Thought it was mentioned early on we were NOT talking about that.  I still don't see anything wrong with the paint on my HD800 in the corners or elsewhere.  I bet I could find issues with the paint on anyone's car though.  You'll have to point this out to me along with the 'cable dings' in the Leona next time I see you because I'm apparently blind.  The mesh screen can accumulate stretch marks from swapping cables but I don't see anything in the Leona.

I think you have it backwards.  Mine is a newer set and Sennheiser stated they changed the paint on the newer ones to better deal with chips.  Unless you are saying they fixed the paint, then unfixed it later.
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AZ

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #39 on: November 24, 2014, 01:52:54 AM »
Do you want a bet for a bottle of something decent if at the next meet I will find you at least a couple of sets with either paint chips or dings on Leona or both?
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