What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[71 dB]

btw those Dali speakers are amazing!  They image well, and I'm really surprised how good the bass is on such tiny speakers.  So I'm happy.  I don't know how they are with music, but I have a stereo for that anyway.

The specs say the -3 dB frequency is 54 Hz which implies the -6 dB point is about 50 Hz, which is okay, but won't make your socks spin of course. The price to pay here for the small size is limited sensitivity, about 84 dB/W and limited maximum loudness. Low bass at high levels will be dynamically compressed and distorted. The bass reflex resonance is 51.5 Hz and around that frequency the distortion is small, but increases above and under this frequency.The maximum impedance at 51.5 Hz is about 12 Ω and the minimum impedance around 100 Hz is 5 Hz (making the nominal 6 Ω impedance pretty exact). The treble drive has directivity control making it possible to have the crossover frequency at 2600 Hz without power response issues. I can't find any measurements of this speaker online, but the specs and the construction of the speaker are "healthy."

[Harry]

I had a pair of DALI Epicon 2 speakers for many years--sounded great...and were a sight to behold. (They'd be overkill for TV, though!)

I remember them well, had them on loan for a few months, and the only thing I had to do, was to write an in depth review. Actually I did not want to give them back, that bad I was.


Note to PD, in answer to your question how much they have cost me, I looked it up, and I paid 6000 euros for both speakers, and the speaker stands  to put them on, 800 euros a stand, And yes in after thought I should never have sold them. If I were forced, because I have to move to a smaller home, I would buy the Dali's again.

[Valentino]

Buying the Topping DX1 for the "office" was a smart move. The sound quality, small size, the convenience of USB power,  the price. Excellent combination. I listen to a lot more music now.
The Sennheiser 580 Presicion phones are 30 years old. Nothing wrong with them. I haven't lost my rather thick hair, so the missing cushions on the headband don't bother me at all.

[Harry]

They were lovely sounding--very clear and detailed, but not fatiguing. I was looking for something with a "bigger" sound, so that's why I sold them and bought the B&W speakers. Some days I do miss them, and my wife certainly does since they took up far less space in the living room!

That was my impression too, and in that sense I miss them too, but I guess the urge to get it better is always nagging at my door.

[Holden]

Buying the Topping DX1 for the "office" was a smart move. The sound quality, small size, the convenience of USB power,  the price. Excellent combination. I listen to a lot more music now.
The Sennheiser 580 Presicion phones are 30 years old. Nothing wrong with them. I haven't lost my rather thick hair, so the missing cushions on the headband don't bother me at all.

As soon as I saw them I knew they were the HD580s. I would never sell mine. I've been in hospital for the last three days and the 580s combined with the A&K DAP I've got filled the bill brilliantly.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I had a pair of DALI Epicon 2 speakers for many years--sounded great...and were a sight to behold. (They'd be overkill for TV, though!)

Oooh!  Pretty! And it sounds like (even more importantly) that they sound nice. 

I remember them well, had them on loan for a few months, and the only thing I had to do, was to write an in depth review. Actually I did not want to give them back, that bad I was.

May I ask what they were going for then?  And must have been hard to say "Bye bye" to them.

PD

Buying the Topping DX1 for the "office" was a smart move. The sound quality, small size, the convenience of USB power,  the price. Excellent combination. I listen to a lot more music now.
The Sennheiser 580 Presicion phones are 30 years old. Nothing wrong with them. I haven't lost my rather thick hair, so the missing cushions on the headband don't bother me at all.

Despite your [lovely sounding] hair, you might speak to your local stereo store and ask if they have any suggestions?  Just a thought. 

As soon as I saw them I knew they were the HD580s. I would never sell mine. I've been in hospital for the last three days and the 580s combined with the A&K DAP I've got filled the bill brilliantly.

Hope that it's nothing serious and that you get better soon!

PD

[DavidW]

The Sennheiser 580 Presicion phones are 30 years old. Nothing wrong with them. I haven't lost my rather thick hair, so the missing cushions on the headband don't bother me at all.

I loved mine back in the day, selling them was stupid.  More than a decade ago I bought 600s and I still use them (even though the 660s2 is now my daily driver) and I will never part with them.

Good headphones and speakers can really last you the rest of your life.

[Harry]

@Pohjolas Daughter They cost $8500USD at the time (2009-2010), but I paid $6700.

For me it was 6000 euros, but I had a special edition of which just a few were made.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

@Pohjolas Daughter They cost $8500USD at the time (2009-2010), but I paid $6700.

Thanks!

For me it was 6000 euros, but I had a special edition of which just a few were made.

Thanks...and I did just now read your additional comments added to your original posting.  Until I read that, I had thought that you had returned them after the several months and writing your review of them; silly me!     

What finish did you end up getting them in?  Was the red one the special edition?

PD

[Harry]

Thanks!
Thanks...and I did just now read your additional comments added to your original posting.  Until I read that, I had thought that you had returned them after the several months and writing your review of them; silly me!   

What finish did you end up getting them in?  Was the red one the special edition?

PD

I returned them, for they were demo's and they wanted them back, and so after a bit of time I bought them myself. I had a special wood finish and some technical extras.

[Holden]

Oooh!  Pretty! And it sounds like (even more importantly) that they sound nice. 
May I ask what they were going for then?  And must have been hard to say "Bye bye" to them.

PDDespite your [lovely sounding] hair, you might speak to your local stereo store and ask if they have any suggestions?  Just a thought. 

Hope that it's nothing serious and that you get better soon!

PD

An aortic abdominal aneurysm which was discovered by accident via a scan on my back. These things have no symptoms and when they rupture you bleed out in about 10 minutes. It's now been stented and should cause me no problems. Apparently this is more common than people think and paying for a scan to check it out could be a lifesaver. I am so grateful mine was discovered.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

An aortic abdominal aneurysm which was discovered by accident via a scan on my back. These things have no symptoms and when they rupture you bleed out in about 10 minutes. It's now been stented and should cause me no problems. Apparently this is more common than people think and paying for a scan to check it out could be a lifesaver. I am so grateful mine was discovered.

Wow!  And I'm so sorry for your pain and ordeal.  May I ask as to why they did the scan?  And I'm glad that you're o.k.

All the best,

PD

[Valentino]

Despite your [lovely sounding] hair, you might speak to your local stereo store and ask if they have any suggestions?  Just a thought. 

I probably would if I was bald!

[Holden]

Wow!  And I'm so sorry for your pain and ordeal.  May I ask as to why they did the scan?  And I'm glad that you're o.k.

All the best,

PD

There's a cautionary tale here. The scan that identified it was a CT scan on my back. In the background the aneurysm was partially visible and briefly mentioned in the report. I talked to my GP and got a full aortic scan. The thing with aneurysms is they are silent with no symptoms whatsoever. Without that back scan I'd have been blithely been walking around and then suddenly it bursts.

The procedure involved placing a special stent in my aorta. No pain but the after effects of the anaesthetic have left me somewhat fatigued.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I probably would if I was bald!

Just thinking that they might be a bit more comfortable that's all. 

Best,

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

There's a cautionary tale here. The scan that identified it was a CT scan on my back. In the background the aneurysm was partially visible and briefly mentioned in the report. I talked to my GP and got a full aortic scan. The thing with aneurysms is they are silent with no symptoms whatsoever. Without that back scan I'd have been blithely been walking around and then suddenly it bursts.

The procedure involved placing a special stent in my aorta. No pain but the after effects of the anaesthetic have left me somewhat fatigued.

Glad that they caught it and that you are o.k.  Now rest up...that's an order. 

PD

[Zauberschloss]

Buying the Topping DX1 for the "office" was a smart move. The sound quality, small size, the convenience of USB power,  the price. Excellent combination. I listen to a lot more music now.
The Sennheiser 580 Presicion phones are 30 years old. Nothing wrong with them. I haven't lost my rather thick hair, so the missing cushions on the headband don't bother me at all.

I've seen dozens of photos of classical music engineers/producers/performers using HD580/600/650. It's impressive that Sennheiser essentially mimicked Harman's target curve (minus the bass boost) years before Olive's research. I've tried to find/ask Sennheiser info on their research but they're pretty mum about it.

When I lived in Ireland I found someone selling the real HD580 Jubilee (not the rename that drop.com has) with the faux carbon fiber wrap. It was basically what the HD600 was to become; closer matched driver version of the HD580. But instead of the marble wrap of the HD600 they used a carbon fiber design. All cosmetic differences only of course.

[DavidW]

When I lived in Ireland I found someone selling the real HD580 Jubilee (not the rename that drop.com has)

Glad to see that someone else realizes that the drop 58x is not a 580.