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Author Topic: Audio Zenith PM-X  (Read 18156 times)

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zerodeefex

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #40 on: December 11, 2014, 07:09:25 AM »

always told me not to fuck with a Russian bear even if you have an advantage of a shotgun!

Wait, you have a pet bear? AWESOME  headbang ! Is that a common pet in Russia?
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AZ

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #41 on: December 11, 2014, 08:37:42 AM »

   Finally, dedicated a little time for posting some Frequency Response graphs. I was still working on the last mod after sending two sets for evaluation to Marv and Hans. This last mod dictated for me to perform extremely fine cutting in the back of the driver and I was almost sure that it won't find its way to production. Have to admit that not without critique from Hans I have decided to actually look real hard for its implementation. After thorough research I now am pretty much sure this can be done and will be in production.
  What you see on the graphs is my test results of the unit with mods similar to ones Marv and Hans have dated 12.8.14 and that same unit after the aforementioned last difficult mod was implemented dated 12.9.14. This mod addresses all the minor complaints regarding 2db boost in the low frequency department. It brings about 50% reduction of mid/low frequency bumps that were accountable for some distortion issues along with slight midrange emphasis as per Hans's comment (it's a quite pleasant emphasis if you were to ask me, but I see the point in making it as flat as possible so those who like/need such emphasis to be present can always get it with upstream gear. To my surprise with this last mod resolution increased quite dramatically, probably this has to do with lowered distortion and decay, which is now at least 30% better. Hope this will address all the last little issues and I could finally put something decent in your hands.
   I am also posting FR of one of my units in comparison with that same unit's original FR before any mods were made, with original pads on the same rig with all the same settings.
   Last you can find FR of some other headphones measured on my rig so everyone could see it's all legit. All my measurements are 0% smoothed, what you see is what you get except for one thing. There is generally approximately 5db tilt distributed smoothly and evenly throughout the entire frequency range. Basically that horizontal line you see in reality is tilted from +5db at 20Hz to 0db at 20Khz. 
   
   Unit with mods for Marv and Hans vs last one with difficult mod:


   
   Original vs modified frequency response:



   Some other headphones frequency response measured on the same rig:



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AZ

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #42 on: December 11, 2014, 08:46:57 AM »

Wait, you have a pet bear? AWESOME  headbang ! Is that a common pet in Russia?
  Good one zero! Finally a funny and tasteful joke. Believe it or not I was planning to refraze that one just didn't have time. You caught me, the score is 1/0. 
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MuppetFace

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #43 on: December 11, 2014, 11:21:15 AM »

For Zero:



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Solderdude

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #44 on: December 11, 2014, 11:25:41 AM »

I am curious as to what testrig you are using and how it is calibrated.
Those plots look great and suggest a neutral headphone only slightly 'lacking' top highs and perhaps being a bit lean on the subbass.
The comparative plots of DT880 (owned), HD650 (own), K701 (owned), HD800 (auditioned never owned) mirror very closely how I perceive(d) these headphones.

Would also be interested in how UB's rig would measure this same headphone.
His measurements seem 'closest' to those of my own.
I am quite sure my rig (cheap non calibrated home-made test rig) would measure it differently yet again, but perhaps closer to yours.

The most intriguing part (differences) of measurements always lies above 1kHz.
The difference between your and CS measurements is substantial (I think 10dB is substantial).
Plots like this should (IMO) always be viewed in the light of comparisons of other plots on the same rig.
Kuddos for including those measurements, UB and Hans often put comparisons in their plots as well which I really like.
I have not found measurements that appear to be accurate in an absolute sense but don't think it is really possible as well.
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AZ

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #45 on: December 11, 2014, 04:03:18 PM »

pervenets -- for people like myself that already own the Oppo PM-1/PM-2, will you be offering to mod them for a fee or will you just be shipping finished products.
   Yes, owners of the original PM1/2s will be able to send their sets in for the mods. Expect the price to be $699.00 for the mod and $1398.00 for the brand new set directly from Audio Zenith. All my sets will come with a plot of unsmoothed original vs modified frequency response for that particular set.
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AZ

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #46 on: December 11, 2014, 06:22:06 PM »

I am curious as to what testrig you are using and how it is calibrated.
Those plots look great and suggest a neutral headphone only slightly 'lacking' top highs and perhaps being a bit lean on the subbass.
The comparative plots of DT880 (owned), HD650 (own), K701 (owned), HD800 (auditioned never owned) mirror very closely how I perceive(d) these headphones.

Would also be interested in how UB's rig would measure this same headphone.
His measurements seem 'closest' to those of my own.
I am quite sure my rig (cheap non calibrated home-made test rig) would measure it differently yet again, but perhaps closer to yours.

The most intriguing part (differences) of measurements always lies above 1kHz.
The difference between your and CS measurements is substantial (I think 10dB is substantial).
Plots like this should (IMO) always be viewed in the light of comparisons of other plots on the same rig.
Kuddos for including those measurements, UB and Hans often put comparisons in their plots as well which I really like.
I have not found measurements that appear to be accurate in an absolute sense but don't think it is really possible as well.
   I have spent a ton of time and effort on making my measurements truly reflect how we perceive our headphones to sound while coupled to our own ears. This explains why you feel they mirror very closely with your perception of the ones you personally heard. I personally feel these aforementioned sets do sound precisely how they measure on my rig and hope most if not all audiophiles with properly trained ears should and essentially would feel exactly the same way.
   Disagree with your assessment of FR of my Audio Zenith PM-2 set. 

  1) With the last mod properly employed they don't sound lean at all in LF department which is clearly displayed in the first graph. In fact they go deeper then anything I ever measured being essentially flat all the way to 35Hz and showing -6db in level at 15Hz. All other sets are at least 10db down by 15Hz relatively to their level at approx 120Hz where they all are starting to dive while Audio Zenith just keeps on going.
 
  2) They go to 16,5Khz at -6db level while being essentially flat up to 13,5Khz and I have not measured a single set that extends further and smoother. There is aforementioned HD-800 that goes to approx 18Khz at -6db level but we all know how its treble sounds unmodified. Besides, I am not BS man from head-fi and can actually distinguish about 0.5db difference in FR pretty much anywhere in the audible range but I can bet you anything that there is no way one can figure out a 2db difference beyond 16Khz even assuming there is such content to be fed.
   Either way I see what I see and hear what I hear, anyone is free to disagree but I am planning to ask Ultra and others interested to take my sets for measurement/evaluation hopefully soon.
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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #47 on: December 11, 2014, 06:44:28 PM »

   I have spent a ton of time and effort on making my measurements truly reflect how we perceive our headphones to sound while coupled to our own ears. This explains why you feel they mirror very closely with your perception of the ones you personally heard. I personally feel these aforementioned sets do sound precisely how they measure on my rig and hope most if not all audiophiles with properly trained ears should and essentially would feel exactly the same way.
   Disagree with your assessment of FR of my Audio Zenith PM-2 set. 

Alex, if you don't mind, I just wanted to clarify a little. (And correct me if I am wrong.)

Alex's measurement rig and his measurement techniques are proprietary. That is why he didn't answer you directly about his rig and technique. His mods are also proprietary, being a commercial product.

I believe Alex's measurement rig and techniques are a very big part of his "secret sauce" to getting the mods done as well as he has.
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Tari

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #48 on: December 11, 2014, 07:02:53 PM »

Man, between Alex Ultra and Purrin we're not going to have enough sponges left for Elaine.
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zerodeefex

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Re: Audio Zenith PM-X
« Reply #49 on: December 11, 2014, 07:46:03 PM »

Didn't you get guidance from people on this board for help in setting up your measurement rig? When did it become proprietary? Or is your pet bear doing something special during the process?
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