Sound Magic HP 100 ($165 Used)
Personal Back-Story
In the search for a can with
the dt 880 sound and the isolation of a closed headphone I came across the
sound magic hp 100!
Pros: Comfort, isolation,
carrying case, detachable cord, clean sound, wonderful sound stage
Cons : lack of lower mids and
upper bass [easily fixed by the w1000x Pads], also needs to be modified for
bass improvement
Build [5/5]
Specs
Closed operating principle
Driver:
Dynamic 53mm Neodymium Drivers
- Frequency range: 10Hz～30KHz
- Impedance: 32Ω (±10%)
- Sensitivity: 95dB/mW @ 1KHz (±3dB)
- Maximum input power: 100mW
- Cable length: 1.2m (3.5ft) coiled
- Connection: 3.5mm gold plated plug
- Weight: 288g
- Frequency range: 10Hz～30KHz
- Impedance: 32Ω (±10%)
- Sensitivity: 95dB/mW @ 1KHz (±3dB)
- Maximum input power: 100mW
- Cable length: 1.2m (3.5ft) coiled
- Connection: 3.5mm gold plated plug
- Weight: 288g
Ease of Use
[Comfort/Fit/Isolation] [4.5/5]
Perfect, fit’s like a glove.
The comfort is wonderful and the isolation is impressive!
Price to Performance : [5/5]
For the price it performs
just as well as the K550, not to mention a New Sound Magic costs the same as a
Used K550. Either way it’s a great bargain!
Complimentary Genre: None, works equally well with all genres
Sonic Test Process
Source Win 7[Foobar2000
WASAPI] -> oDac -> MonoPrice Premium Coaxial Cables -> Matrix M Stage
[Lme 49990 OpAmp]
Headphone reference notes- I like to
demo all headphones against my Beyerdynamic Dt 880, as they are a well know
reference can. Reference notes will
always be in italics, and are included in the Video Reviews and Head Fi review
posts.
Reference points, will be in bold italics. In each of the seven reference songs I will
specify what parts of the song I am listening to, to evaluate the 3 parts of
the spectrum. In addition to other
aspects of the overall sound presentation.
In addition, I always like details presented in all frequances
Highs- looking for and evaluating air, nice
extension and good energy and placement within sound stage
Mids- looking for and considering weight,
body and tone
Bass- listening
for, control, texture and punch/impact
Sound Stage- reported after listening to all tracks
Imaging
–Track #3 and #4 are well
mastered for 2D and 3D imaging
Instrument
Layering-reported after listening
to all tracks
Timbre- realism of sound, fun versus real
Speed- ability to retain mirco-details in ultra fast tonal shifts
Music Auditioned [All
Lossless quality, tracks vary from 16 to 24bit]
Sound
Sound Signature-
Very clean, a slight tilt towards the central and upper mids. A very nice Sub
Bass extension, but lacks a little mid bass. Overall very crisp clean headphone
with nice mids. Very
Lean yet Lusher than Neutral
Again, adding the W1000x Stock pads, add a little meat
to the sound, giving you fuller mids and bass with a slight increase in sound
stage width and height!
Dynamics- Excellent, quick and effortless
Timbre- Very accurate, but a slight lack of mid bass… leads to an overly
tight bass and mids. Low end sounds lack weight, leading to a leaner than life
like timbre… but still very accurate. Not fake nor thin.
The
addition of w1000x Pads leads to a slight boost in the Mid bass, giving the
bass a much more real timbre!
Speed- Very lean and quick, plenty of
speed for metal! Yet lacks a little weight behind it’s speed.
Sound Stage:
2D image is very nice, instrument
layering is good, nice sense of air in between instruments, how ever can get a
little over whelmed with grandeur or elaborate tracks, anything featuring
upwards of 8 or so instrumental layers. Lacks slightly in 3D space as
well.
Highs- Excellent, great airy presentation and energy, very detailed
as well.
Mids- Very smooth
and detailed, vocals are silky smooth, yet very detailed, Guitars maintain a
nice rich sound as well, although acoustic instruments can be a little too lean
at times, still very pleasing.
Bass- VERY Deep and tight sub bass, mid bass lacks ever so
slighty but still has plenty of attack, just needs a little more body.
[Modified with ATH w1000x
Stock Pads] {+$50}
Modification Improvements- The Stock W1000x Pads bring;
1)
a little more
focus to the entire sound stage
2)
improved 2D
and 3D imaging and instrument spacing
3)
Slightly
forward yet magically delicate mids
4)
A gentle boost
to mid bass body and attack
Amplification Need or
Suggested – These do not need an amp, but
they pair nicely with a warm solid state or hybrid tube.
Check out the full review with song by song impressions here at head fi
Check out the full review with song by song impressions here at head fi
