Headphone Reviews

Raw frequency response (lower gray traces) shows some variation in low frequency response with positional changes, likely due to difficulty sealing on the measurement head ears as these are not quite full-size, over-ear cans and will have some difficulties in this regard. My feeling after wearing these cans is that this will not be as big a problem as might be represented here. (The dummy's ears are a bit stiffer than human ears and makes sealing a bit more difficult with on-ear style headphones.)

Compensated frequency response plot (upper blue and red traces) show a well extended bass response with an overall warm tilt from 30Hz to 3kHz of about 15dB. Recent developments at Harman research regarding proper target curves for headphones seem to favor this kind of response, albeit with not quite as strong a warm tilt. The little dip at 250Hz does not align with the primary driver resonance hump in the impedance response centered around 50Hz, and seems to me likely caused by ear-pad resonance. Response above 3kHz is a bit herky-jerky, but this is quite normal. While there's a bump at 10kHz it's not the sometimes seen strong peak, which is a very good thing. Treble response above 10kHz does not drop off severely and make for the well balanced treble heard in listening tests. I found these cans pleasantly, but not excessively warm and fairly neutral otherwise. If this curve had 10-15dB less overall warm tilt it might be considered very near ideal.

Impedance plot shows some variation, but it's nice and clean without any fine-grained bumpiness between 1kHz and 5kHz indicating good acoustical engineering in and directly around the driver and diaphragm.

30Hz square wave shows a very typical shape for a warm, punchy sounding headphone. A nice linear wave top after the initial shoulder is a good indication of tight bass response, as is the complete lack of increasing distortion in the lows of the 90dBspl THD+Noise plot.

Lack of a strong overshoot on the initial rising edge of the 300Hz square wave bodes well for a treble response without harshness, but subsequent significant second and third peak, coupled with a somewhat noisy response thereafter might have contributed to the slightly artificial and hazy treble response heard in listening. This can also be seen in the impulse response plot.

THD+Noise response of the 90dBspl traces (blue and red) is a bit high, but not unusual at all for a small, sealed headphone. The 100dBspl traces (yellow and green) are nicely below the 90dBspl plot at all but the lowest frequencies indicate a headphone with very good power handling capabilities. This headphone will remain clean at loud levels.

Isolation plot show a headphone that will do a very good job of keeping outside noise at bay. Broadband attenuation is very good at -16dB.

With a 32 Ohm impedance and 0.032Vrms needed to drive these cans to 90dBspl, these will easily be driven to solid listening levels by portable players and smartphones.

This is an excellent set of measurements for a headphone of this type and price. Onkyo seems to have been well aware of the nuances of headphone design and have done an excellent job with these cans. Big thumbs-up from me!