CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

  • December 31, 2015, 09:26:47 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: [1] 2 3 4

Author Topic: NAD RP18 (Kapton version) Measurements  (Read 7728 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
NAD RP18 (Kapton version) Measurements
« on: March 14, 2013, 06:56:13 PM »

NAD RP18 Bass Heavy (aka Kapton Version) Measurements


Quick subjective impressions (my comments paraphrased from shoutbox)
  • These are nice
  • Clear and articulate
  • Good bass extension with slightest roll-off. Don't expect Audeze impact though.
  • Little rough in the lower treble
  • Lots of air
  • Holy crap. These ancient NAD RP18s / open T50s are amazing.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2013, 10:14:10 PM by LFF »
Logged

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2013, 06:59:13 PM »

CSDs

As I suspected, the 5kHz dip in the FR was really ringing in disguise. The broad ridge ringing at 5k accounts for what RD heard. I myself have a heard really noticing (or caring too much about) ringing in the 5kHz region. I hear it, but it doesn't bother me. If that makes any sense.
Logged

LFF

  • Mastering Wizard & Restoration Guru
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +761/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1425
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2013, 07:01:09 PM »

CSDs


As I suspected, the 5kHz dip in the FR was really ringing in disguise.

If you put certain pads on these...the Bass GOES BOOM!  :-00

I don't like hippity hop bass so I chose these pads. You want LCD-2/3 bass...change the pads.  ;)
Logged
These statements are false.
I rule with an iron fist and ears of gold!
The preceding statements were true.

The way to a man's heart is through her stomach.

rhythmdevils

  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +131/-65535
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: I am a geek!!
  • Team Cheap, Picky Basterds
    • www.my40dollarorhosarebetterthanyour1kflagship.com
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2013, 07:09:20 PM »

These are capable of even bigger bass than LCD-2/3 too.  Change the damping and use W11 pads and it's scary.  Midrange is lovely with the added richness though.
Logged

gurubhai

  • Ortho Ninja
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +104/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 317
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2013, 07:10:20 PM »

^Use O2 pads and these can literally pound your skull !
Logged

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2013, 07:12:42 PM »

HD
Logged

LFF

  • Mastering Wizard & Restoration Guru
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +761/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1425
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2013, 07:13:53 PM »

HD

Extremely interesting!

Thanks for the effort dude!
Logged
These statements are false.
I rule with an iron fist and ears of gold!
The preceding statements were true.

The way to a man's heart is through her stomach.

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2013, 07:23:49 PM »

left HD.

Seeing how the left FR was rougher, I expected this...
  • Bass to lower mid distortion is relatively low though.
  • High 3rd / odd order probably helps to give this headphone it's crisp sound.
Logged

jerg

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +41/-2
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 466
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2013, 07:35:36 PM »

Impressive; that upper treble decay (at least for the left channel) is pretty amazing-looking.
Logged

rhythmdevils

  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +131/-65535
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: I am a geek!!
  • Team Cheap, Picky Basterds
    • www.my40dollarorhosarebetterthanyour1kflagship.com
Re: NAD RP18 Bass Heavy Measurements
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2013, 07:48:46 PM »

So for those who don't know, the NAD RP18 is an OEM of Fostex's original large driver ortho made in 1975, the T50v1.  Yes, this headphone was made in 1975!!!  It has a large driver of similar size to the LCD-2, is open back.  There are 2 versions that were made for NAD, one with a mylar diaphragm and one with a kapton diaphragm.  This is the kapton version, which in stock form puts out more bass than the mylar version, but which is controlled through damping.  Both versions can be very neutral from bass to midrange with the right damping. 

http://wiki.faust3d.com/wiki/index.php?title=NAD_RP18

Guru has some good links too which have some good info posted by Wualta.

I've been wanting to see measurements of these for a long time (as have many ortho-heads), and I hope this is a testament to how far we haven't come with ortho technology.  This is what Fostex was able to do nearly 40 years ago when they tried to make the best ortho they could, targeted at the audiophile market.  Goes to show what should be possible with today's advancements in materials and manufacturing.  Think about where electrodynamics were in 1975, and how much improvement we've seen over the last 40 years.  Compare an HD800 to the 70's electrodynamics.  Fostex never updated this design, it was (AFAIK) their first attempt, and their only attempt at an audiophile ortho.  Ever since then they have focused on cheaper models, which were all products for a target price and target market with limited, specific design goals.  Today's T50rp is not an "all out" design either, it's made specifically for the prosumer market and isn't intended to sound good.  Let's compare to Sennheiser's products- if this was Fostex's "HD800" type product (statment, all out design) in 1975, today's T50rp would be like Sennheiser's HD280 or something. The other neo orthos are good, but they could be much better.   I would love to see what Fostex could do today if they tried to make something that sounded good.  I honestly think they could rival the best electrostats and electrodynamics (the "super" LCD-3's probably give us a taste of what is possible).  Though I'm sure I couldn't afford it with today's pricing and the way Fostex prices their TH series. 





« Last Edit: March 14, 2013, 08:38:21 PM by rhythmdevils »
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3 4