idc:
They finally arrived! I am absolutely delighted with the sound straight out of the box as closed backed cans. They are more neutral then any other closed backed cans I have tried with nice detail and dynamics. So far, working my way through my jazzy prog playlist on Spotify, I find that how the music was recorded is portrayed by the Goldrings. So, if the bass was light, it stays light. If the midrange was emphasised, it remains emphasised. I really like that. Cymbols can be a bit 'tizzy' and the sound is towards bright, but not with every recording. The soundstage is far less than the open backed cans and all of the sound is in my head or my ears, but that is to be expected. If this is how they are now after only a few hours then wow, I cannot wait for them to run in.
I cannot hear the TV or anyone talking in the room and there is only a tiny amount of sound leak. They feel well made and they are comfortable, if a little tight around the ears.
I would love to try them with NR on, but I cannot for the life of me open the battery compartment. The instructions only say 'open the battery door', but twisting, pulling, sliding etc and no joy. Suggestions appreciated.
I struggled for a few minutes to open the battery case - can't remember how I did it and I left them in my office on Friday (Christmas party). If I remember rightly the casing rotated to open - the NR makes a big difference.
They finally arrived! I am absolutely delighted with the sound straight out of the box as closed backed cans. They are more neutral then any other closed backed cans I have tried with nice detail and dynamics. So far, working my way through my jazzy prog playlist on Spotify, I find that how the music was recorded is portrayed by the Goldrings. So, if the bass was light, it stays light. If the midrange was emphasised, it remains emphasised. I really like that. Cymbols can be a bit 'tizzy' and the sound is towards bright, but not with every recording. The soundstage is far less than the open backed cans and all of the sound is in my head or my ears, but that is to be expected. If this is how they are now after only a few hours then wow, I cannot wait for them to run in.
I cannot hear the TV or anyone talking in the room and there is only a tiny amount of sound leak. They feel well made and they are comfortable, if a little tight around the ears.
I would love to try them with NR on, but I cannot for the life of me open the battery compartment. The instructions only say 'open the battery door', but twisting, pulling, sliding etc and no joy. Suggestions appreciated.
I struggled for a few minutes to open the battery case - can't remember how I did it and I left them in my office on Friday (Christmas party). If I remember rightly the casing rotated to open - the NR makes a big difference.
idc
Well-known member
Impatient I know, but just wondering IDC how you are getting on with these? Very tempted by them to replace my DT231. Thanks
idc
Well-known member
Well, I got the battery compartment open. It twists from the bottom end of the right had can, so I had managed to try every twist and trun apart from that one.
Stanleyk, as closed backed cans they are excellent. They dig up a super level of detail. For example PFM and the track 'Storia di un minuto'. There are faint background crackles as if it was recorded direct from vinyl. On the AGK K702s the crackles are clear and they are almost as clear on the Goldrings. Switching between AKG and Goldring, the Goldring sound is really full and sonorous, but the bass does not overwhelm. That is the case with the X-CAN and my little FiiO E5 amp. Even the high impedance of the Goldrings does not trouble the FiiO with NR on or off. Turning NR on creates a bit of background hiss and the sound becomes brighter, but not unacceptably so. Background talking can still be heard when music is not playing, it just comes through at a higher pitch. When music is playing there is no background noise at all.
Bear in mind they are not run in and I keep reading that they are amp sensitive. I also prefer a neutral sound that emphasises the midrange and only does bass when it is there in the original recording. So far my experience is that they are very good and at £50 from Play.com absolutely superb. Clarity, detail and musicality is closer to the far more expensive AKG K702s than closed backed cans such as the Denon AH D1001, Senn HD201 and Bose On/Over ear headphones. I have not yet tried a comparison with the Grado SR80s for overall dynamics.
Stanleyk, as closed backed cans they are excellent. They dig up a super level of detail. For example PFM and the track 'Storia di un minuto'. There are faint background crackles as if it was recorded direct from vinyl. On the AGK K702s the crackles are clear and they are almost as clear on the Goldrings. Switching between AKG and Goldring, the Goldring sound is really full and sonorous, but the bass does not overwhelm. That is the case with the X-CAN and my little FiiO E5 amp. Even the high impedance of the Goldrings does not trouble the FiiO with NR on or off. Turning NR on creates a bit of background hiss and the sound becomes brighter, but not unacceptably so. Background talking can still be heard when music is not playing, it just comes through at a higher pitch. When music is playing there is no background noise at all.
Bear in mind they are not run in and I keep reading that they are amp sensitive. I also prefer a neutral sound that emphasises the midrange and only does bass when it is there in the original recording. So far my experience is that they are very good and at £50 from Play.com absolutely superb. Clarity, detail and musicality is closer to the far more expensive AKG K702s than closed backed cans such as the Denon AH D1001, Senn HD201 and Bose On/Over ear headphones. I have not yet tried a comparison with the Grado SR80s for overall dynamics.
Thanks IDC, I am interested to hear how they compare to SR80, my home headphone.
So are they difficult to drive? I know you are a fan of the fiio, is it required for use with an ipod?
So are they difficult to drive? I know you are a fan of the fiio, is it required for use with an ipod?
Always nice to see someone delighted with a new toy, idc!!
I sat on a train for four hours on Saturday, and the Goldrings made that a much more bearable experience than it usually is. I agree that the sound is excellent for £50, and the noise-cancelling is pretty good, if not perfect. I also agree with the slight tightness around the ears, but I'm sure it adds to the noise isolation.
I'm using these directly from the iPod Touch. Idc, have you tried them with a portable headphone amp? If so, is the difference notable?
Hedgehog
I sat on a train for four hours on Saturday, and the Goldrings made that a much more bearable experience than it usually is. I agree that the sound is excellent for £50, and the noise-cancelling is pretty good, if not perfect. I also agree with the slight tightness around the ears, but I'm sure it adds to the noise isolation.
I'm using these directly from the iPod Touch. Idc, have you tried them with a portable headphone amp? If so, is the difference notable?
Hedgehog
idc
Well-known member
Various listening to be tried tomorrow, without the FiiO and in comparison to the Grados.
However, I have now had my first negative. Both with and without NR I listened to 'Maggie' by the Durutti Column. That track always gives me goosebumps with the K702s. But this time (it is on a Spotify playlist) it passed me buy without me even stopping typing to listen to it. So I listened again and no goosebumps.
However, I have now had my first negative. Both with and without NR I listened to 'Maggie' by the Durutti Column. That track always gives me goosebumps with the K702s. But this time (it is on a Spotify playlist) it passed me buy without me even stopping typing to listen to it. So I listened again and no goosebumps.
idc
Well-known member
stanleyk:
........ I am interested to hear how they compare to SR80, my home headphone.
Goldring vs Grado and AKG. The most noticeable difference is that the Grados are open backed and have a fuller sound stage than the closed backed Goldring. Other than that if you like the Grados, I am confident that you will like the Goldrings. Both have a full bodied sound and do good dynamics. The overall sound is closer between Goldring and Grado than Goldring and AKG. The AKG still majors more on detail, realism and neutrality. For example, the cymbols and double bass on Howard Shore's Main Title to the Panic Room soundtrack. On the not yet run in Goldrings, the bass is a bit muddy and the cymbols sound like one strike. But on the AKGs the bass is very clear and the cymbol is multiple strikes. The Goldrings are also more prone to a bit of distortion and crackles. Again I am waiting for them to run in before that becomes a proper criticism.
One point is that I am very glad that I got my AKGs at £180 instead of £250. The Goldrings at £160, let alone £50 are within touching difference of the more expensive cans. I paid £110 for my Grados. So at £50 the Goldrings win hands down.
........ I am interested to hear how they compare to SR80, my home headphone.
Goldring vs Grado and AKG. The most noticeable difference is that the Grados are open backed and have a fuller sound stage than the closed backed Goldring. Other than that if you like the Grados, I am confident that you will like the Goldrings. Both have a full bodied sound and do good dynamics. The overall sound is closer between Goldring and Grado than Goldring and AKG. The AKG still majors more on detail, realism and neutrality. For example, the cymbols and double bass on Howard Shore's Main Title to the Panic Room soundtrack. On the not yet run in Goldrings, the bass is a bit muddy and the cymbols sound like one strike. But on the AKGs the bass is very clear and the cymbol is multiple strikes. The Goldrings are also more prone to a bit of distortion and crackles. Again I am waiting for them to run in before that becomes a proper criticism.
One point is that I am very glad that I got my AKGs at £180 instead of £250. The Goldrings at £160, let alone £50 are within touching difference of the more expensive cans. I paid £110 for my Grados. So at £50 the Goldrings win hands down.
idc
Well-known member
Difficult one that stanleyk, but if the price goes back up I would wait as it appears to have bounced between the discount and RRP a few times going by other forum comments.
One issue that has cropped up is that my wife has now pointed out that they do leak a lot of sound. So she had a shot and I could hear my music clearly. I would not want to sit next to myself on a bus or plan with these playing. Bummer, the whole point of getting these was to be silent for the family. They are not as bad as openbacked cans, but still they leak way more than my portable Sennheiser PX200s.
One issue that has cropped up is that my wife has now pointed out that they do leak a lot of sound. So she had a shot and I could hear my music clearly. I would not want to sit next to myself on a bus or plan with these playing. Bummer, the whole point of getting these was to be silent for the family. They are not as bad as openbacked cans, but still they leak way more than my portable Sennheiser PX200s.
Interesting to hear that about leakage, probably not ideal for the office then? Oh well back to the drawing board, maybe the px200 and fiio is back towards the top of my list, although not sure how good the senns will be at keeping my ears warm on the way to work too
idc
Well-known member
With regards to the FiiO amp. Straight from an ipod the Goldrings need maximum volume and even them are not very loud and sound quite flat. Add in the FiiO and there is no problem at all. So it is easily capable of driving even high ohm headphones. I use it off my ipod, but they can also work from a PC, so I see no eason why the FiiO would not do the same.
IDC. It is finally nearing pay day, just wondered how you are still getting on with the goldring? Have they been played in now? Still worth the investment? I fear the fiio may have to wait, as need new coffee machine too, but I could go with px200 pluss fiio for similare money, i do like a big headphone though.
idc
Well-known member
The Goldrings are excellent and have been so since they came out of the box. Running in (100 or so hours) has increased soundstage slightly and overall the sound has increased the lovely fullbodiedness it has. They are also very comfortable indeed. I see they are still £50 on Play.com and the PX200s are £30, but the Goldrings are better in everyway.
Get the Goldrings and drink instant for a while, I recommend Carte Noir! Otherwise over the long term you will know you have compromised.
Get the Goldrings and drink instant for a while, I recommend Carte Noir! Otherwise over the long term you will know you have compromised.
idc:Thanks, tried rotating and it is not budging at all.
If you hold the righthand earcup completely flat against the stem then turn the cover anti-clockwise with the outer side facing you it should turn easily, well at least on my ones it does. I wouldnt force it too much!
If you hold the righthand earcup completely flat against the stem then turn the cover anti-clockwise with the outer side facing you it should turn easily, well at least on my ones it does. I wouldnt force it too much!
idc
Well-known member
JG333:
idc:Thanks, tried rotating and it is not budging at all.
If you hold the righthand earcup completely flat against the stem then turn the cover anti-clockwise with the outer side facing you it should turn easily, well at least on my ones it does. I wouldnt force it too much!
Thanks, I got it open. Thankfully I prefer the NR off and the sound deeper and less bright, so I can save on batteries!
idc:Thanks, tried rotating and it is not budging at all.
If you hold the righthand earcup completely flat against the stem then turn the cover anti-clockwise with the outer side facing you it should turn easily, well at least on my ones it does. I wouldnt force it too much!
Thanks, I got it open. Thankfully I prefer the NR off and the sound deeper and less bright, so I can save on batteries!
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