Re: A Compendium of Audio Zone Reviews and Rankings: IEMs, Headphones & Sources
I'll post my opinions here then,
My newest addition to the stable is the HD25-1 II from Senns.
For first impressions and comparisons, I can only compare them to the D5000 at the moment. Reason being the M50's are with a friend and the Grado's are, well, the Grado's. They aren't of the same kind to begin with(open backs), it will be like comparing strawberries with mangoes.
Compared to the D5000, these have more bass punch or more bass quantity. The denons obviously have more bass quality.
The denons have a better more clearer treble than the HD25-1 II. It extends much higher and is more crisp than the HD25-1 II.
The sound stage of the HD25-1 II is more in terms of height, but lacks in width and depth.
Mids are smoother in the Denons but a tad recessed in comparison, more forward in the HD25-1 II, the HD25-1 II have a truely amazing presentation of the vocals, rock lovers will really enjoy this. The sound of the guitar is fuller with an amazingly heavy sound on the bass guitar and a not too bright sound on the acoustic and the electric guitar. (Waiting on the world to change - John Mayer).
Let's try a different track now shall we, with the same recording quality, hence the same album.
(Gravity - John Mayer)
The hit of the drums at the beginning of the track is heavy and punchy. It really brings out the forte of the HD25-1 II. The bass doesn't extend really deep but gives enough punch to satisfy. With the Denons, the same track sounds more controlled and refined, more smoother bass rather than the punchy HD25-1 II. More subbass with the Denons, the bass definitely extends lower compared to the HD25-1 II. The denons definately do have a more beautiful vocal presentation on this track.
On a whole, the HD25-1 II really do shine with Rock music, no doubts, i'm truely satisfied, atleast my portable rock music listening side is.
Let's see how they do with a more real world scenario, EDM
(Teenage Crime - Adrian Lux(Axwell & Henrik B Remode)) & (Sun and Moon - Above and Beyond(Dennis Sheperd Remix))
The forward mids of the HD25-1 II definitely makes the HD25-1 II sound more aggressive and more fun for this genre. The smoother mids, more controlled bass and a relaxed nature of the D5000 makes it less fatiguing, less aggressive, more calmer and more neutral sounding. The D5000 has a much bigger soundstage which is clearly evident with Sun and Moon rather than Teenage Crime. The HD25-1 II sounds more punchy when compared to the same. The D5000 has a more treble presence than the HD25-1 II. The instrument separation and imagining sounds very slightly better with the D5000 rather than the HD25-1 II. Soundstaging wise the D5000 is much better as it is less closed sounding compared to the HD25-1 II. The HD25-1 II is a bass heads dream come true with quality and quantity without sounding boomy or uncontrolled. The D5000 is a bassheads dream come true with sheer Quality with more control on the quantity and more extension in the lower regions.
Overall where the HD25-1 II really beats the D5000 is the price, portability, durability, comfort and isolation.
To summarize it, i would say the D5000 makes EDM sound more audiophile like and the HD25-1 II is more fun to listen to. Cheers!
