#pm-1

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Review Hi-End Headphone Oppo PM-1 / PM-2

Headphones and their choice – it is a purely personal matter, it all depends on your preference, the structure of the head and previous experience. Also the choice of headphones will vary greatly depending on to what technique you plan to connect them. Unlike the speaker, the cost of which can reach tens of thousands of dollars, headphones can be purchased for up to 2000 dollars, received comparable, high-quality sound. Home, in the room where installed audio, I lie headphones Sennheiser HD800, this flagship, which gives a very bright sound, listening to music in them – a pleasure. Another thing is that listening to music all the time so do not go out, it’s easier to do it through the speakers.

In most of the audio technology was invented in the last century, and even in recent years. Bright breakthroughs that could fundamentally change the perception of sound, was not – manufacturers experimented with different materials, shape headphone structure speakers.Most of the existing uses dynamic headphone driver can be called such classic headphones. They only the magnet is rigidly fixed, but the coil, wherein a magnetic field is fastened to the membrane. Most speakers with whom you encountered working on such a scheme.Popularity also purchased headphones with balanced armature, or, as they are called, reinforcement. They membrane gets all the efforts from the anchor, which rotates in a magnetic field. Such fidelity headphones above, but a frequency range is worse than conventional headphones dynamic driver. Therefore, many companies are creating hybrid headphones, they are used as a reinforcement and dynamic drivers. That can not affect the cost. Perhaps the biggest change in the headphones become active promotion of armature in 2007-2010, when they turned into a marketing term and he began to sell itself. Today returns from oblivion is another technology that can be as a marketing miracle for manufacturers of headphones to ensure the development of this market in the next decade. We are talking about planar magnetic drivers (planar magnetic driver, PMD). This technology is also often referred Orthodynamic, by analogy with the brand headphones from Yamaha, made with driver PMD, but the name stuck in a small number of countries, it is common in the United States.This type of headphones Yamaha produced in the mid-70s of the last century. Also, this technology may call isodynamic this name did not stick, but well explains the essence of PMD – changes are linear and do not depend on the structure of the driver.

Look at the picture, there is shown a work dynamic drivers and PMD. For example, when the voice playback it will be identical on the whole surface of the PMD, while in the first embodiment, the best sound in the center of the membrane to the edges of the distortion.

Characteristic of PMD is worth noting a very good implementation of the bass, as well as a decent reproduction of other frequencies. For a long time this technology has been forgotten, the largest manufacturers of audio ignored her, giving newcomers a chance to enter the market – the first companies who started to actively develop this area and become HiFiMAN Audez. Cost headphones with planar magnetic drivers ranges from 400 to 1500 dollars, you can pick them up to your taste and try different sounds. Very often, the price difference is not due to the quality of sound, and a set of supply and body materials headphones. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to continuously use headphones with PMD, though a friend and listened to one of the models HiFiMAN, I loved it sounding – but other than that, no conclusions then I could not do. Chinese manufacturer Oppo decided to go into a new market segment and manufactures two models of headphones PMD, Oppo PM-1 / Oppo PM-2.

I’ll note that unlike these headphones are not in design and sound, and materials and supplied. The second model is priced from $ 699, and the first – from 1099 dollars (the price in the U.S.). In the Oppo PM-1 is a huge box of wood, lacquered, this kind of gift option. Also pivotal portions headphones are made of metal, while in Oppo PM-2, they are plastic, there are no additional vinyl linings and cardboard box. And there, and there in the kit there is a wire with a braided sheath to 6.35 mm, length – 3 meters. Connecting to the headphone jacks to 2.5 mm.There is also a wire 3.5 mm, length – only one meter to many it may seem inadequate, but you can find such wires in the free market. The only thing that did not meet them with a microphone, you have to use these headphones as a headset will not work – however, it would be pretty strange purpose they have quite different.

External differences from the Oppo PM-1 Oppo PM-2 is extremely difficult, they look the same, so you should consider whether it is necessary to pay more for an older version, or not. It is pleasant, but, for example, I was definitely attracted to her only in the metal structure. Surprisingly, the weight is almost the same headphones: edinichka – 395 grams without cable, deuce – 385 grams. Also in the box you will find unpretentious instruction on how to use headphones, plus carrying case for them.

The technical characteristics of the driver PMD:

Size – 85h69 mm

A system of magnets – neodymium symmetrical, push-pull

Frequency (frequency response in free field) – 10-50.000 Hz

Long-term maximum input power – 500 mW

Maximum input power at the peak – 2 watts

And now a few important characteristics of headphones:

Nominal Impedance – 32 Ohm

Sensitivity – 102 dB (1mW)

Clamping force (clamping pressure) – 5N

Do not feel able to carry out any measurement tool for headphones, I am very far from this world, and do not believe in virtual parrots – the sound can not be digitized and to represent the best result, it is necessary to estimate alive. Another thing is that the presentation of such plots Oppo much bring them as it is – should only remember that they provided the manufacturer.

After charting the time to go to my impressions. Earphones fit well on the head, do not fall down, at long listening ears do not sweat, as it often happens. Isolation from the outside world is far from ideal, it is quite the reverse side of a soft landing – I like it, but many may seem a flaw. On the other hand, when the volume of 60-70 percent on a stationary system, you’re not going to hear anything from the outside.When listening to portable music player it will have to unscrew the sound by 90 percent.

By genres, these headphones are perfect for blues and jazz, classical music – perhaps the same can be said about popular music. Notice obvious flaws I could not comparing earphones with Sennheiser HD800, I caught myself thinking that they are somewhat similar, in some ways no. I can definitely say that this is one level of headphones, even if they sound differently, which is understandable.

How previously unknown manufacturers rushed to develop segment PMD-headphones suggests that grants of this trend will create their solutions. So we can assume that this kind of headphones will become more and more, and consequently change and prices. Currently Oppo PM-1 in the USA costs 1099 dollars (PM-2 – $ 699, just went on sale). These are the minimum prices for these headphones in the world. In Russia, the price will be about 55 000, the maximum cost in Japan, where they cost about 1800 dollars, but sold at a good volume, 200-300 per month.

Unknown manufacturer may alienate you from buying these headphones, but I’m sure you and others are not well known. Alternatively, I would consider models from Audez, for example, LCD-2 – This model stands in Russia about 45 000, but the delivery is easier than in the Oppo PM-1. In fact, this level model PM-2 with a decent design.

The main problem for Oppo PM-1, as well as other manufacturers PMD-headphones, it becomes impossible to listen to them from potential buyers, there are almost none on the shelves, selling a limited number of seats. But if you enjoy the sound and want to try PMD-headphones, then, in principle, it is necessary to make time and find a place for it. For example, I listened to these headphones in the United States, as in Russia could not find them.

The Oppo PM-1 headphones have only just been released, but already this planar magnetic headphone has impressed many. It seems like an unusual release from a company which is mainly known for producing brilliant Blu-Ray players. Nonetheless, they certainly seem to know how to make a good set of headphones.

At £1000, these are not cheap and certainly not something you'd buy on impulse, but they are planar magnetic and in comparison to the Audeze LCD range, they are quite cheap. If you have never listened to planar magnetic headphones, then you certainly should if given the opportunity. The sound is truly luxurious. Going back to the PM-1's, they look extremely well-made, look comfortable to wear and do look pretty damn handsome. I'm glad they haven't simply copied the design of other popular headphones like the Audeze or Sennheiser HD-800, and have created a unique and beautiful product of their own.