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Author Topic: AZ's modded PM-2s  (Read 6985 times)

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ultrabike

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AZ's modded PM-2s
« on: February 09, 2015, 08:17:07 AM »
The differences in packaging between these and TH500RP is quite astonishing. Sure, there are still about 4 levels of packaging here, but unlike the TH500RPs, a 4 year old cannot be smuggled inside these boxes. The 3rd box seems like a silvery Breakfast at Tiffany's jewelry box with an optimal 5 channel satanic Audio Zenith star in the lower right hand corner. The 4th level of box hell is actually a handsome fabric carry bag with the same demonically golden ratio-y AZ symbol, but bigger. Finally, inside are the now nude and undressed cans, stuffed neatly and comfy. There is also a frequency response plot inside.

The cans look awesome. I always felt the PM-2 and 1 design was gentleman-ish (whatever that means), and elegant. It's still heavy relative to most dynamic and pretty much all electrostatic cans, but are pretty comfy. The can modifications certainly make it a point that these were AZ modded. Somewhere there is a "Patent Pending" sticker.

So bare in mind that the PM-2s (and/or PM-1s) were of my liking. They were not perfect, not as open as other cans I heard, but I like their bass and balance. Moving on to the AZ cans, I find them similar yet improved in some ways to their stock form. I like their bass better and balance might be a touch more refined. The bass to me is not muddy and not overly done. Filly Bee's Like a Bomb still delivers bone crushing bass (as opposed to farts). Drums sound decent enough to me when listening to Hotel California Unplugged:



Moving on to Michael Jackson's Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' reveals to me one of the weaknesses of these cans... a little glare around the beginning of the track. It is not dramatic, but it's there relative to my HD600's which I used as reference in this comparo. That being said, I used quite a few songs with these and they managed to stay in my head for a while without me having an urge drop them hard against a concrete floor. So not bad.

These still sound closed to me. Perhaps it's that they isolate more than most open design cans or something.

Moving on to my inaccurate, not-science, POS lean measurements:

Frequency Response



Distortion Right



Distortion Left



CSD Right



CSD Left




The channel imbalance in the measurements did not bothered me, but I did took measurements twice (re positioning the cans) and got the same response and imbalance across the spectrum.

+++

Linky to Hands non-bullshit impressions and stuff: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,2117.msg58268.html#msg58268
« Last Edit: February 10, 2015, 06:10:03 AM by ultrabike »
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ultrabike

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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2015, 08:17:21 AM »
Comparo time...

With PM-1s



With HD600s

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Anaxilus

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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2015, 09:26:32 AM »
So the HD600 is actually 300% more neutral?!  ::)
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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2015, 10:14:11 AM »
That may depend on who's rig you are measuring.  p:/

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ultrabike

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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2015, 10:20:54 AM »
LOL! The two (PM-2 and HD600) share some similarities, and have their differences IMO. The HD600s to me are more laid back and easier to listen, but loose in bass depth and definition. The HD600 pull ahead in clarity and resolution. This is not something that is obvious to me in the frequency response plots. The only thing I can say in regards to measurements is that the HD600s seem to have higher non-linear distortion in the bass area, but lower distortion in the mids. Now, these are not THE non-linear distortion measurements, and other non-linear behavior (IMD like perhaps or other stuff) may be responsible for what I'm hearing.

The glare I experienced with Jackson's song among others IMO is relatively straight forward to identify. So if one has the two cans and has access to the songs I linked, it may or may not be apparent to the listener what I'm talking about.

Note that reference does not imply neutrality. The HD600s are just a set of cans I like quite a bit and use often as a point of reference.
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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2015, 10:31:52 AM »
Well... the HD600 has 5 to 7dB more 'presence' between 2k and 5k which benefits clarity (and resolution).
the PMx rolls off above 13khz where the HD600 goes on to >20kHz which benefits cymbals, strings and 'air'.

Based on the plots and my preference (and above all price) I would pick HD600 in a heartbeat.
Still... the PMx doesn't seem like a bad performer at all.

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ultrabike

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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2015, 10:40:02 AM »
Yup. Still, the glare on some songs with the PMx AZ is something that I can only judge by music. Hard to pin point in the plots. I can only guess is something to do with non-linear distortion somehow.

BTW... I don't put full confidence in plots and random reviews. I did that in the past and ended up with a pair of DT-990s. No amount of plots and flowery language made up for the purchase and those (and others) hit the road. That said, it's also funny how I feel more at ease with measurements, and don't dismiss them at all. Many things may indeed be traced to features in the measurements, and confirmed to some extent through modding and listening.
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Anaxilus

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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2015, 11:12:19 AM »
Quote from: Solderdude on February 09, 2015, 10:31:52 AM
Well... the HD600 has 5 to 7dB more 'presence' between 2k and 5k which benefits clarity (and resolution).
the PMx rolls off above 13khz where the HD600 goes on to >20kHz which benefits cymbals, strings and 'air'.

Based on the plots and my preference (and above all price) I would pick HD600 in a heartbeat.
Still... the PMx doesn't seem like a bad performer at all.



Unless you like cymbals, strings, air, clarity and resolution I suppose.
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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2015, 11:39:32 AM »
Plots can indeed be 'difficult' when trying to assertain 'tonal balance' of the sound.

What certainly helps in this case is that there is a comparison with a 'well known' which makes it easier.
But indeed certain aspects of sound can't be seen in a plot (or even several different ones).

And Analixus is right... I probably won't like the PMx based on the comparative plots, description of ears I have grown to trust etc.
I quite like cymbals, strings, air and resolution...  ::)
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Re: AZ's modded PM-2s
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2015, 12:29:15 PM »
Interesting, HD600 is more laid back to you than this? Latest AZ model, yes? Just curious because that is easily the opposite experience I've had. Well even the first model I heard would still apply. More thoughts from me on latest model in the next day or two.
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