Ο γνωστός reviewer (και προικισμένος – ομολογουμένως – αρθρογράφος) ξανακτυπά – μόλις χθες – με τη δοκιμή των Oppo PM-1 όπου και συγκρίνονται με αρκετά γνωστά ακουστικά, μεταξύ άλλων και τα Hifiman HE-6.
Ξεκινά λοιπόν με την παραδοχή ότι τα 6 είναι ιδιαίτερα δυσκολοδήγητα, οκ, αλλά τελικά βρίσκει ότι ο ενισχυτής που ανέλαβε χρέη οδήγησης στη δοκιμή (Questyle CMA800R) – με rms τάση εξόδου 7.5 V και μέγιστη ισχύ 0.18 W @ 300 Ω (ή ισοδύναμα < 1 W @ 50 Ω) – τα οδήγησε ικανοποιητικά.
Και συνεχίζει λέγοντας ότι τα 6 έχουν υποδεέστερα λέει μπάσα σε σχέσεις με τις επιδόσεις των υπόλοιπων ακουστικών της παρέας!!!
Πολύ καλός στον χειρισμό της γλώσσας, ώστε να “παρουσιάσει” τα πράγματα εκεί τελικά που θέλει, αλλά προσωπικά δε επιθυμώ να ξαναδιαβάσω άρθρα του γιατί πολλές φορές λέει ανεξήγητες π@π@ριές! Τις ίδιες αντιφάσεις παρατήρησα και με τη δοκιμή των Audeze LCD-3 τα όπου στην ουσία υποεκτιμούσε συγκριτικά με τα αναφοράς του, “θεϊκά” κατά τον ίδιο, LCD-2, μέχρι που οδηγήθηκαν (τα LCD-3) από ικανότατο, και φυσικά πανάκριβο, ενισχυτή.
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/05/oppo-pm-1-planar-magnetic-headphones-review-part-4/
“The usual boiler print applies. Unless you had just the right amp—easier said than done–you’d never tap this HifiMan’s full potential. In 8 out of 10 cases, Oppo would win this match by default. Needless to say, the CMA800R did a proper job with both. In my view the HE-6 is the yin to the yang of Audeze. It has the most brilliant top end but doesn’t match the Californian’s low-end slam or mass. This treble distinction obviously extended to the Oppo as did the other extreme.
The HE-6 couldn’t match the PM-1’s substance or impact in the bass; the PM-1 couldn’t equal the HE-6’s upper registers. At least for me the more relevant distinction actually was elasticity. If the house sound of Audeze has the longest RT60—technically that’s the time it takes for sound in a space to attenuate by 60dB, here it’s simply meant as a general pointer at reverb behaviour–the HE-6 had the shortest. The Oppo slotted itself right between. The HifiMan applied the most damping to also dry out the sound the most. Seeing how I find the primary allure of planars this very quality of elasticity, elegant fade-outs and textural wetness, you know exactly why I’ve never really warmed to the HE-6. The new HE-560 in that stable makes an about-turn. Mine got simply recalled for two final production fixes before I could get serious.
On organic sophistication as the reason why people continue to buy Kondo gear despite it being a technical atavism, the HE-6 had the least of that tacit quality. The PM-1 had rather more, the LCD-XC even more, my older LCD-2 the most. On subjective neutrality I’d stand that sequence on its head. Which gets us at the real world of practicality and having to work most universally to not make any special diva demands. Here an HE-6 doesn’t even make the list on raw efficiency; and all the Audeze fall off for weight and size.
This only leaves the AlphaDog and PM-1. Between those two the Oppo is the more advanced on magnification power and the most compatible with mobile devices. The dog simply is a real pup on price.
Moving back to my desktop where my Qobuz Hifi subscription nets me 24/7 FLAC streaming, Simon Lee’s cunningly voiced Aura Note V2 which dares to leash potent class D ICEpower amps to headphones (zero noise!) caused the PM-1’s performances to devolve. Now it sounded thicker and more congealed and congested; a bit more AphaDog. That’s an important reminder. For all its easy rider appeal, Oppo’s own flavor favors a very wide-bandwidth fast amp to act as minor grease-cutting agent for increased separation and distinction which prevents the sounds from ‛sticking’ to the background. This also gets the best from its powerful extended bass. Of course if you wanted more chocolate and less cayenne, Burson would be a most excellent stop. Then actual valves could be your final destination à la Studio Six, Balancing Act or Liquid Fire.”