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Author Topic: HD439  (Read 1048 times)

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ultrabike

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HD439
« on: September 10, 2015, 06:04:16 AM »
This is proly going to be brief. These are comfy (to me), light and black. They sound a bit inoffensive on a first listen. But they are not primo material. You can currently get them for like $45.

In light that an HD518 can be purchased for $85 or less on a good day, I would skip these and save for the HD518 or HD558 (EDIT: maybe worth considering if a closed affordable headphone is required).

My problem with them is that they seem a little forward and tizzy on some songs. The bass is there, but it's a bit recessed (EDIT: seal dependent).

Measurements:

Frequency Response



Distortion Right



Distortion Left



CSD Right



CSD Left

« Last Edit: September 11, 2015, 04:56:15 AM by ultrabike »
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Solderdude

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Re: HD439
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2015, 06:17:13 AM »
That's quite different from its predecessor, the HD438 at least below 800Hz that is..



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ultrabike

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Re: HD439
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2015, 06:21:29 AM »
The pads on the HD439 are velour and leaky. The pads on the HD438 seem sealed. That would probably account for some of the differences.
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Solderdude

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Re: HD439
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2015, 08:38:18 AM »
Quote from: ultrabike on September 10, 2015, 06:21:29 AM
The pads on the HD439 are velour and leaky.

HD438 pads are also velour and quite 'stiff'.
The 418, 428 and 448 all have pleather pads, the '3' version only has velour-ish pads.
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LadyMacklebee

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Re: HD439
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2015, 10:43:53 AM »
Whoa that doesn't seem right. I have two different pairs of these and they are very warm/ mid bassy but loose and soft. And also the treble is very recessed and rolled off. Might be a bad pair IMO
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Marvey

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Re: HD439
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2015, 02:32:05 PM »
Quote from: ultrabike on September 10, 2015, 06:21:29 AM
The pads on the HD439 are velour and leaky. The pads on the HD438 seem sealed. That would probably account for some of the differences.

Did you measure them like closed cans? The open plate / sponge baffle won't quite work on them. Here are my measurements. Very similar to yours, but I think you are getting a back of seal for the bass.

http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,2013.msg54992.html#msg54992


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ultrabike

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Re: HD439
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2015, 03:02:59 PM »
I measured open plate/sponge. Will measure again like closed cans.
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Marvey

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Re: HD439
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2015, 04:00:28 PM »
The appear to be closed clans because of the mesh, but they are actually closed cans.
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ultrabike

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Re: HD439
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2015, 04:19:10 PM »
Yes. I felt the bass was a little recessed, but perhaps not that much.
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Deep Funk

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Re: HD439
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2015, 09:28:01 PM »
The HD438/9 was the "bassy" one of this HD4x8-series.

I would call it "an old PX100 went closed headphone" and for Pop music in particular this can work.
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