#natesoundman92

[natesoundman92]

Good Evening!

I know that It have been a while (over 6 months to be exact) but I’m back!

I want to share with you all the first set of planar magnetic headphones that I have ever purchased/listened to. Before I get into these beautiful looking cans, I want to give a little bit of background on planar magnetic headphones versus normal headphones, also called dynamic headphones. 

Normal headphones have a diaphragm, just like a speaker. A current moves a voice coil that is attached to the diaphragm thus allowing the driver to move. It produces sounds based on the frequency that the driver moves. 

Now take that same idea, but instead of a big diaphragm like a dynamic headphone, the diaphragm is made up of simply a thin piece of plastic. When the magnets that are on each side of this film of plastic are energized, the diaphragm moves, thus creating sound.    

The differences between dynamic and planar magnetic headphones does not stop there, there is a reason that people buy these things and spend a lot of money on them (upwards of 2k per headphone). Planar magnetic headphones offer a unique approach to the same destination. Planer's are known for their heart pounding bass, specifically the sub bass. (ohh that sweet bass) That is the main reason that I decided to give the planar’s a try. 

Now to the main ordeal, these beauties pictured above. These are the Monoprice m560′s. Yeah that’s right, I said Monoprice. If you have ever encountered that site, you know that they are the kings of the “Copy Cat” game. I.E. they take a product, cheaply produce it outside of the U.S. and sell it under the competitions price. However, usually, the quality suffers from this cheaper manufacturing method. I can honestly say that this is the not the case here. 

These cans are not only beautiful with the brushed steel shell, and the amazing wood work that covers the cups on both side, they also sound amazing. I was honestly blown away with these cans. They come in at some of the cheapest planar’s you can get, and they did not disappoint. 

The highs are Good. Not great, but damn good. After trying all these different headphones over the years, I have started appreciating the highs and mids a lot more. While they are not the greatest highs I have heard, they are still solid and would give them a 6/10.

Now the mids, I think this is where these cans win it for me. I know I said that I got these for the bass, but damn these mids blew me away. Great balance of a the mid range frequencies without having to add an EQ. Overall, would give them a 9/10

Oh man, the bass. Now let me set the stage. To me, planar bass is not the same a dynamic bass. I’m sure when you think of bass, you think of “chest Pounding” bass and how awesome it is. Planar bass is far from “chest pounding”. It is very smooth, and solid. Fast and precise. It is a nice balance of the overall headphone and really ties in the cans in the end. Overall, would give it a 8/10.

Overall, I recommend these headphones, however, if you are considering them, remember that they are very different from normal dynamic headphones. 

Until next time Cheers!

As always, if you have any questions or looking for a recommendation, let me know. 

[natesoundman92]

Good evening all! It’s been a while, that’s simply because I have been building up to this review. I recently purchased the Sennheiser HD 598 Cs’s, and I cannot believe that I am going to say this… I love Sennheiser! Sennheiser is notorious for just neutral sounding headphones (HD800’s) and to me, most of the time, those are just boring. Im a rock concert kind of guy. I want that sound just to be in my face. So when Sennnheiser released a closed back version of the very highly recommended HD598, I jumped on the bandwagon. Honestly, at first, I did not have very high expectations for these cans. However, was I proven wrong.

First off, the build/comfort. The build is ehhhhh, I say that because Im use to beyerdynamic and vmoda build quality. They seem very cheap feeling in the hinges, which would normally be a breaking point for me, but I decided to take the gamble. Other than that, the detachable cable system kinda sucks.  It is a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable with the 2.5mm going into the headphones. Aside from those two issues, I really cannot complain about the build quality or comfort. The comfort is bar-non, one of the most comfortable cans I have every used. The velour pads just really allow these things to just melt into your head.

Next, the sound. So if you follow anything that I have written, you know that I am a bass head 100%. However, I recently have been approaching more shallow bass, and crisper mids. These guys deliver just that.  The highs, are just solid, and sound crystal clear, while the mids are not overdone, or bloated. The mids are what win these cans for me. But the bass, ohhh the bass. It is just so accurate on these. It just fits, it is not over done (like beats) or non-existant (like AKG). They are just right, if you happen to find these cans for under 100 bucks, and want a closed back set, look no further.

Until next time, Cheers! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!

[natesoundman92]

Good evening all!

 I know long time no see, but I promise it was worth the wait. In my search for the greatest headphones that money can buy. I never thought to look at on-ear headphones. Well a sale on some Beyerdynamics appeared, and I had to give them a try. You are looking at the Beyerdynamic Custom Streets. At first, I just thought there were beyer’s attempt to compete with beats, but man was I proven wrong.

 First off, on comfort, these are by far the most comfortable on ear headphones that I have ever used. With just the right amount of clamp with a soft plush ear pad. They do tend to get uncomfortable for long listening sessions, however, these are made to be on-the-go and for shorter time lengths. As for the build, they are, as some would say “rock solid”. They are mostly a hard plastic with a metal frame, and fold into a small form factor to be able to be transported without breaking. Also let’s not forget the removable 3.5mm jack. (yeah apple right back at ya).

Now to sound, they sound just as I would expect beyerdynmics to sound. Solid highs, full range mids, and heart pounding bass. On the back of each cup, there is a small switch, and that essentially makes the driver open or closed. So with closed, it makes a more “punchy” bass, while open makes a more “smooth and accurate” bass.

Overall, I am 100% solid on these cans, and with that being said, this brand. They really know how to make quality products with durable designs (looking at you beats).

Until next time, Cheers!!!

[natesoundman92]

Good Evening all!

 Long time no see! Things have been busy, but I need to express my new found joy. I think it is safe to say that I have found my current end-game, i.e. I’m satisfied for now.

 You are looking at the Beyerdynamic DT990’s 250 ohms. These are the open version of the Dt770’s. I can honestly say that these encompass everything I want in a headphone. They are comfortable, the build quality is superb, heart pounding bass, crisp highs, and a smooth treble just to polish it off.  If the DT770’s and the Philips X1’s had a baby, it would be this right here. They are little hard to drive (250ohmns) but with the right amplification, they really bring it home. So far, I have tested them on my magni (1 watt) Fiio E07K (.5 watt) and my new Bravo VIII tube amp (~.75 watts) <- more on this later!!

 Anyway, to get to why I love these babies, they just kill it in the neutral department. Now let me define my “neutral” sounding headphone to you. I like a balance of highs pushed forward, with the mids trickled in there, but with a chest pounding bass. Not to be confused with “beats” bass, or bloated bass. I love punchy, solid bass, like you’re at a rock concert, and can feel the bass, but it’s not distorted. That is what I love about these can’s. They deliver that heart pounding bass, but you can still hear everything else in the mix without any one part being overwhelming.

I do need to address the elephant in the room to the other audiophiles out there. These can’s have a reputation with a lot amount of treble (mids). I can say, in my personal opinion, do not think it is overwhelming.

 Overall, these are currently my favorite cans, and I intend to get a lot of use out of them. In addition to these, I still need to express my opinion on the new Bravo VIII tube amp (my first tube amp!), along with some portable Beyerdynamic’s that I picked up on the cheap (custom streets). They will be coming up in the next few days. Finally as I promised a few months ago, I will do a formal review of the new turntable setup. I have been putting it off, because I want to listen to it enough to do it justice.

 Until next time, Cheers!

[natesoundman92]

Good afternoon all! I hope that you all have had an amazing week just as I had. This past Thursday I had the opportunity to attend the Vans Warped Tour. This year’s lineup really pushed me to get the tickets early. My main motivations for attending were Four year Strong, Knuckle Puck, and Sleeping with Sirens. However, that was not the only bands that I managed to see.

All in all, I managed to see Four Year Strong, Knuckle Puck, Sleeping With Sirens, Less Thank Jake, Reel Big Fish, Sum 41, Real Friends, The Maine, Tonight Alive, Assuming We Survive, SYKES, Ice Nine Kills, and Settle your Scores (local Cincy band check them out for sure!)

Every single band was AMAZING, I cannot put into words how excited I was for this day, and it did not disappoint. I am not going to review each band, but I will focus on some high points. 

Four year Strong has been one of my “go to bands” for at least 5 years now. They really just combine everything that I love in modern day music. And yes I said modern day because they are still making/producing music, good music. They really encompass the pop punk area. I just love them to death (not as much as DGD, but a damn close 2nd). Not to forget that when I met them, they were some of the most down to earth people I have ever met. After having a good 5-6 minute conversation with them and talking about old and new albums, and also about other bands at warped tour, I realized that they truly love what they do. Sure they are in it for the money, after all, we all need to make a living, but they truly enjoy helping people make that connection with music. I know that I only talked to them for a short time, but the professionalism and respect that they showed me really made me connect with them.

The next band I want to bring to your attention is Knuckle Puck. I never really listened to this band until a good friend took a sibling to a show and mentioned to me to check them out. I can honestly say that this is my current favorite band (again not past DGD, but it is climbing). They are a pop punk band from Chicago and I fell in love with them upon first live listen. I did not even know all of the songs that they played on their set, and I still loved every second of it. They had so much energy and passion that words cannot describe. They also were very professional and realistic to talk to. I managed to talk to them for a little bit longer (about 10 mins) and really got a great feeling from speaking with them. I explained how I use to do audio engineering and my current situation does not allow me to work in the field anymore. They were extremely supportive to me to never give up on what you love. I know here I am getting all personal with people that do not know me, but I think this is more than just conversation. I think this is the proof that music (a universal language) does really have healing powers. Music is not just a “thing” that I listen to, it a major part of my life, and I got that same vibe from the band as a whole.

A new band that I found and grew really in love with, SYKES. They are band out of London that just started the warped tour (first US tour). I really feel in love with their style of Alt pop, and really made me enjoy the time I invested to listen.

Finally, Sleeping with Sirens. I use to listen to the band 24/7 so I had a good feel for all of their music. I just was to say before I start rambling that Kellin has one of the music unique/amazing voices I have ever heard. With that being said, he is hard to amplify in a live setting, and that is where I was a little bit disappointed. It was very hard to understand what he was saying (even though I knew the words to all the songs). Again, I know how hard that would be, I did this from time to time haha. Other than that small issue that I’m gonna nit-pick at, they had an amazing set. Played a great mix of old/new songs, and really brought the energy to the show.

In closing, I just want to add that this was one of the best days of my life. I really got to immerse myself into a lot of great music, and really connect with these artists via their music. I cannot express the importance of supporting live music. Without live performances, it would be hard for a band to survive. Live music is simply amazing, and I suggest that you all support it at least once a year. Even if it is a free concert at the convention center at your home town, this shows that you enjoy and support the artists and when they feel supported and loved. They continue to allow the magic of making music happen.

I just wanted to show you people that it is not all about just listening to music on your headphones and speakers all the time. There is just a certain feeling that you get when a band that you have been listening to for years is right in front of you and just doing everything they can to ensure that you have the time of your life.  

Is there any bands that you think others might enjoy? Let me know and I’ll take a look at them.  I love finding new bands, and exploring what they have to offer.

 Until next time, Cheers to you all, and I hope you find that moment of nirvana in your life as I have.

[natesoundman92]

Good evening all! 

After many weeks, I finally feel ready to talk to you about the Fluance SX6′s. I managed to pick these puppies up on an amazon miss-price on the cheap end. Let the record state, that these are easily one of the best pair of speakers for the price. They are currently $130.00 a pair, but let me tell you a little bit something about these beauties. 

They are not only beautiful to look at, they sound AMAZING. I am not exaggerating, they perform simply amazing with only 50 watts per channel (rather efficient). In addition to they sounding amazing for a 2 way speaker, they also really bring it home in the bass department (right up my alley). These guys get down to 50 hz, which is quite low for a 5 inch woofer. If you are looking for a 2.1 setup and are not as much of a bass head as me (I love my bass) these will do just fine. After you pair them with a small T amp or older receiver, you are set! Currently, I have them sitting on top of my studio monitors, but soon enough I will have a dedicated amp for them, and they very well might become my daily drivers. I cannot talk enough good things about these speakers, they look great, sound great, and are durable. 

Until next time cheers! and as I have promised in the past, I will have a review on the turntable and everything involved in that setup, I just need a little bit more time. 

[natesoundman92]

AVICII & RICK ASTLEY - Never Gonna Wake You Up (NilsOfficial Mashup)

Rick Astley's Comeback 2014 - Featuring Avicii, Chumbawamba & John Travolta! Audio Mashup: https://www.facebook.com/nilsofficial Video Mashup: https://www.fa...

So I cannot believe that I followed through with this little project for over a year. This marks the 1st year anniversary of me starting to share with you all the power that music has done for me. Not only the the equipment that I happen to come across, but the overall passion that it evokes out of me. Music for me is not just a hobby, it is a way of life. Everyday, I start my day listening to a different artist, and I could not enjoy that privilege any more. So I will close this post with a link to an amazing mashup that I found that really shows that no matter the genre of music, it can enjoyable. 

Also in honor of doing this for over a year, I will have some giveaways, planned. And finally, I want to thank anyone that has taken the time out of their day to read these posts. My goal is not make money with this, or even persuade people to like a certain brand/genre of music. My goal is simply to share with people that passion that I have for music, and how much of a impact on my life it has made. I just hope to share this with at-least one person. 

Until next time Cheers! and keep an eye out for some new speakers that I snagged! 

[natesoundman92]

Good evening all. I have a treat for you this evening. I have been set on “budget” headphones/speakers of recent, and I am pleased to say that there are many good options out there. Normally, I do not like to use IEM’s, but with the summer heat in full effect, wearing over the ear headphones does not work when walking to work. So I had heard a lot of good things from the MEE audio M6 PRO’s IEM’s and wanted to try them out. 

They come up as 50 usd for a new pair, or an “open box” pair around 30-35 bucks. I can confidently say, that these are the best sub $100 IEM’s. They fit great, stay in your ears, detachable wire, have tons of different size tips, and how could I forget.... they sound AMAZING. They are not the next dt770′s in your ears, but for 35 dollars, you cannot get better quality. The highs are rather piercing, and take time to get use to, but the mids, are just about perfect, with a smooth low end, and amazing sub bass. The imaging is simply beautiful. For example, when you listen to a drum kit going with these puppies, it sounds like you are right in front of the kit and can see where the drums are placed with your eyes closed. In addition to the great build quality and amazing sound replication, they also come with a button enabled cord to pause/play your music, and a microphone to answer phone calls etc. Overall, I would buy another pair of these IEM’s just to have as backup’s. 

While I’m on this “budget” kick, I will also be reviewing the Dayton Audio B652′s 2-way bookshelf speakers, and the Dayton Audio SUB-1000 10 inch 100 watt powered subwoofer. I have had them for about a week now, so I will need more listening time to gather really what I think about them. Overall I have been lucky lately on good budget finds. 

Until next time, Cheers!