John, the point was that Dan, who runs MrSpeakers, has been producing pretty damn good headphones that its basically beating everything on Tyl's wall of fame aside from electrostats (atleast on the Open-backs list... until Dan makes an Electrostat.
Jeremy Weaver ... hope this is what you're looking for. I literally cried spending 800 bucks, but it's given me endless rewards...and the filters do come in handy when the need arises.
My review: they sounded like toys with a 5khz spike. They were defective. Returned mine for refund 4/24/19, just 1 day after they arrived. Don't buy Chinese headphones.
I purchased my pair directly from Dan Clark here in San Diego about two weeks prior to official release. After hearing them on Dan’s reference set up I had to have them on the spot. Surprisingly even a simple set up of Roon>Tidal Masters> Apogee Groove can produce astounding clarity and a very musical accuracy. Often you get one without the other. I watched a film using them the other night and was completely immersed in details from every direction in the audio-scape. The lightweight and comfort makes them all but disappear once you’re lost in the audio. ** Just to experiment I used the Audeze LCD MX4 DSP in the Roon app and “hearing is believing.”**
Pair either set of Aeon’s, open or closed, with a high current amplifier. The most impressive thing about them, like high end Audeze, is how incredibly much these planar magnetics’ sound quality scales with abundant current. Also, drive them fully balanced if you can.
Strangely, he did not eq these headphones during review (or at least did not mention it). That may be a good thing; he seems to have to eq most other reviewed headphones to 'fix' them.
I am using Bluetooth headphones for my flights and workouts most of the time, and I am thinking of transiting to a cabled set for home use. Would this Aeon Flow open be better or the Aeon Flow closed? From where I live, I can also get the Oppo PM-2 for only about USD460. Which would you choose? Thank you for your advice.
Are these better than iSine20? How do they sound in comparison to iSine20? Just bought the iSine20 and I am curious to know about these. I can still return them and get something else, either headphones or in ear ... as long as it’s going to give me better sound, I’m all for it.
Can't wait for the Focal Clear review as well! What did you think about the bass extension vs Ether Flow? When I compared them, the AEON seemed to run out of steam a bit abruptly towards the lower end, while the Ether seemed smoother, or simply had more steam left in the particular song. The Ether also seems to have a bit more bass in general, almost too much I find. Surprising for an open(ish) headphone.
Even tho it may sound absurd. Get dt880 600ohm. They are really good. I find them more tastful and accurate than focal. Ether flow sounds really good tho and hifiman he1000 v2.
The Aeon Flow Open got to be the most disappointing pair of headphones I have tried in a long time. Detail/Resolution is not bad, but at its price range not great. Dynamics are mediocre at best. The have a long and relatively deep dip in the upper midrange lover treble and then spike back up at 9k, which makes cymbals and hi-hats rather overemphasized. If you want bass quality get Audeze LCD2C, and if you want a good allrouder/more neutral sounding headphone at the same price range as the Aeon Flow Open get the Elex in stead.
It seems that the Clear disappointed Tyll so bad that if he posts a review he’s gonna ruin his good relationship with the Focal folks so he decided not to.
ultrasone signature pro is the best closed back headphones under $1000 ever made... The thus called TOTL headphones(i own practically all of them bar the electrostatics) are so overrated in my over 50 experience as an audiophile.
Kinda sad Tyll closed his business. He really was the best headphone reviewer out there. Wish he would come back and do the reviews of Ether 2, Voce and maybe even Heddphone :-)
Great review! Would you recommend these as an upgrade from Fidelio X2 as all-round for music and gaming(medium to big soundstage)? I like many different kinds of music but what I listen to more than rest is somewhat calm yet powerful electronic music. I like the combination of base and clarity. I got a Mayflower Electronics O2 rev.B ODAC/Amp. Or wound you recommend any other headphone for up to this pricerange? Thanks!
I really love it when knowledgeable people like Tyll or even Jude who know the industry and have listened too and own well know top tier muliti thousand dollar cans just come out and say its not perfectly flat or neutral, but I enjoy it and think its a product for me. Much respect!
Which one do you prefer, Focal Elear or Aeon Flow Open? I have Focal Elear at the moment, great bass slam for an open back headphones, highs not fatiguing but the mids feel a bit wonky due to the dip high-mids, making the female vocals sound somewhat muted and artificial and the transition between bass-mids-highs not as smooth.
Gerald Ken I happen to own both. They compliment each other surprisingly well (after burn-in). AFO brings more treble emphasis and detail retrieval but rolls-off in sub-bass. Which I find is sort of the opposite with the Elear (save for detail retrieval which it can still do quite well). Both have a dip in the upper mids, but the AFO has more quantity than the Elear.
Be smart save your money. Buy one flagship and save your money for the next few years as headphones can only sound just a tiny tiny bit better. Sound is hitting a platue weather you like to believe it or not. You can only tweak a planar or dynamic driver so much.
I'm really diggin' the AFO with a record collection which took me over 50 years to accumulate. It IS the upgrade I wanted from my 650s. I relate to the kind of sound signature Tyll usually favors, so watching this review again after having the AFO for a few months, I'd say he's spot-on with his words if one can decipher them. Maybe not for those who grew up with MP3s and games. Perhaps the closed version would suit them more. Regardless, I think Dan Clark set a new standard with his AF line.
Nice review! Sounds like a very nice pair of headphones. TYLL- DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR A REVIEW ON THE VERY GOOD BEYERDYNAMIC DT1990 PRO’S? WOULD MAKE FOR A GREAT VID/READING COMPARISON FOR THAT “TOUGH TO FIND” GREAT MID-FI PRICED, $600-800 BUDGET HEADPHONES. THANKS
I had the 1990 pro for three days and couldn't believe how bad it was making my piano libraries sound in the top end. I sent it back and replaced it with the HD 600. Miles better for producing the natural tones of my pianos. Of course I'm sacrificing on the bass, but that's a small price to pay compared to the 1990 pro making me hate the sound of my pianos.
its 5db below the bass line though. plus add in the dip in upper mids, where flat upper mids or boosted upper mids would normally makes trebles spikes more painful.
