Any opinions on detail extraction? Amazing what headphones could do so early on. With stuff as good as this, why does the DT48(also ancient) get such ridiculous hype?

Quote from: firev1 on March 15, 2013, 01:23:18 PM

Any opinions on detail extraction? Amazing what headphones could do so early on. With stuff as good as this, why does the DT48(also ancient) get such ridiculous hype?

I asked myself the same question once.

Then I think: why is the Monitor 10 as underrated as it is? I thought about it and concluded for myself that it's part of how the consumer society works. Something is good, gets forgotten and people move on. That's usually how it works...

That is true.

I think it's also the consumer mindset. The need to constantly get the latest and great even though it might not be all that great. There is a certain need in the vast majority of the population to "belong" and many achieve this through consumerism. Just look at all the circle jerks going on at Consumer-Fi. Few people know what they are talking about and even fewer can hear properly enough to judge certain products but they are all happy in their circle jerks, patting each other on the back for buying the new HD-700 or some other shitty headphone/amp.

There is some theoretical and cultural stress on acquiring the new and the novel which obscures rational thought. This in turn causes the  existenceof false needs which are then  easily manipulated by companies to control the docile consumer through planned obsolescence...in our case "NEW TOTL" or "FOTM" or "Upgrades".

I think the phrase "Know Thyself" is critical to this hobby as it is with any other aspect of our lives. Surely, there must be other things that makes us feel good other than consumer instant gratification.

And no Anax...I'm not a commie.   

EDIT: Sorry for the rant. 

Quote from: firev1 on March 15, 2013, 01:23:18 PM

Any opinions on detail extraction? Amazing what headphones could do so early on. With stuff as good as this, why does the DT48(also ancient) get such ridiculous hype?

I asked myself the same question once.

Then I think: why is the Monitor 10 as underrated as it is? I thought about it and concluded for myself that it's part of how the consumer society works. Something is good, gets forgotten and people move on. That's usually how it works...

yup. it's more society thing and being ''cool'' phase. the monitor 10 is insanely good headphone. i liked it as much my DF's but in a way found the monitor 10's sounded bit more ''cleaner''. it isolated really damn well too. the weight issue was never problem for me.

anyhoo, for the subject. this is really interesting graph. i would of suspected the older fostex drivers to do very well,and they did. always was interested in hearing what they sound like and performed.

Just thought I'd chime in with some impressions on the RP18, as I've got a NOS pair now. Mine are the mylar version and not the kapton ones however, and I haven't heard the kapton to compare. I'm running these in stock form (with the original flat pads, but they're practically in like-new condition) out of the Liquid Glass using some vintage Hytrons 12SN7s.

Wow... these are damned impressive. The bass seems well controlled, not too prevalent or sloppy. Mids are simply gorgeous, detailed and articulate. Nice sense of air and that "presence" that a lot of orthos have, like a very convincing grounded weight to the entire sound. Highs aren't the most refined, but they're reigned in and not fatiguing to me at all. Overall a pretty nicely balanced sound, but with a certain laid back quality I quite like. I imagine that modded these could be on the same level as the Yamaha YH-1000 and most recent orthos. Hell, even in stock form these give a lot of recent stuff a run for its money.

I should also say these things come alive with more power behind them. Granted, they sound very good even out of the UHA-6S, but with some of Cavalli's ortho-goodness they shine even in stock form. I definitely need to get some HiFiMan pads on these.

Also on a semi-related note, I need to find some better pads for the original Fostex T30s. HiFiMan wont work, as the cups are smaller in circumference than the T50. Maybe about 2/3rds the size I'm guessing.

Overall though I've been very impressed with these vintage Fostex. Now the Aiwa orthos.... hooooooly crapola. That's for another post however.