Monoprice 8323 headphones- Wow!
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musichal
poet emeritus
Ordered these, also, but only because they come with a pack of Parliament Lights.
RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
I ordered the 8323's on the 29th. Monoprice is in California and I'm in Philly. Wake up today and realize they're here already, on the 31st!
They feel a lot more substantial than the $22.00 that they cost.
Just cue up some enjoyable tunes on my phone, all 320 MP3's, put these puppies on my head. First impression is...
Not because they're all that more clear than my Grado's or because I'm hearing things I've never heard before, but because they sound just so god damned nice!
The midrange is very forward, which is a plus. The bass is a little sloppy but it's strong. The highs sound a little rolled off. I keep thinking there should be more highs there than I'm hearing. But it's not missing much.
Not bad for $29 (shipped) headphones
They feel a lot more substantial than the $22.00 that they cost.
Just cue up some enjoyable tunes on my phone, all 320 MP3's, put these puppies on my head. First impression is...
Not because they're all that more clear than my Grado's or because I'm hearing things I've never heard before, but because they sound just so god damned nice!
The midrange is very forward, which is a plus. The bass is a little sloppy but it's strong. The highs sound a little rolled off. I keep thinking there should be more highs there than I'm hearing. But it's not missing much.
Not bad for $29 (shipped) headphones
musichal
poet emeritus
My 8323's just arrived and I'm listening to Allman Brothers' Eat a Peach on CD. I don't often use headphones so I don't feel a large investment is in order for me, therefore for almost a decade now my reference headphones have been the Sony MDRV150 from Walmart at $19.90 which I picked up in rural Kansas en route years ago, and which have remained available until perhaps very recently (Wally's site reads not available at this time). These Monoprice 'phones definitely sound better than the Sony.
In the past I have owned Nakamichi SP-7, AKG 141(? 70's), and spent time with various Sennheisers, Sony's, the Grado SR60i, and the Stax Lambda Pro. The Stax are in a whole nother league, we'll ignore them. I preferred the AKG and Grado to the others. What I am hearing right now keeps distracting me - in a good way. The cheap Sony's employ a 30mm driver, the cheap Monoprice a 50mm one - that probably does a lot to make a difference in the bass I'm hearing which I didn't get from the Sony. I'm sure the closed back vs open matters also.
However, the 8323's are not at all dark-sounding. Wow, good dynamic in the snap of the drum solo on Mountain Jam, tom toms just right, and now the bass comes in articulate and defined, not muddy. These headphones sound damn good! They don't just sound good for the money, they simply sound very good. IMO, they play in the same league as any of the other phones I have mentioned - excepting the Stax.
The highs are a bit sibilant. On first listen, that is their most obvious weakness to me, and may not be a fair one given one digital source and just one CD. Sooo.....just popped in Bob James and David Sanborn's Double Vision, the top end is crisp and clean on this recording, with just a tad of sibilance with high volume/high frequency dynamics but I am listening louder than I should. I'm getting good resolution in the mids.
Mainly what I am getting is a very enjoyable listen. These phones have a startle factor in the dynamics that is MIA in the similarly priced Sony. It sounds like I spent more than a hundred bucks, maybe way more - I had been wanting to get the Grado 60's, which I've heard many times over the years, and my brother got a pair recently, but these sound every bit as good to my memory (a few weeks ago most recent). I'd have to get them side by side, but I believe these give them a run for the money and may well best them. Stoked to get this level of SQ on the cheap. They keep triggerng my startle reflex, and yes I did lower the volume a bit, earlier.
Under $30 delivered? This is known in cheapskateland as a no-brainer. They do fight well above their weight-class, and bottom feeders like me love that attribute. When you are lucky, you get what you pay for; when you are very lucky - once in a blue moon - you get more. Listening to Boston now and all I want is to have my piece of pie. Mmmm...tastes good.
In the past I have owned Nakamichi SP-7, AKG 141(? 70's), and spent time with various Sennheisers, Sony's, the Grado SR60i, and the Stax Lambda Pro. The Stax are in a whole nother league, we'll ignore them. I preferred the AKG and Grado to the others. What I am hearing right now keeps distracting me - in a good way. The cheap Sony's employ a 30mm driver, the cheap Monoprice a 50mm one - that probably does a lot to make a difference in the bass I'm hearing which I didn't get from the Sony. I'm sure the closed back vs open matters also.
However, the 8323's are not at all dark-sounding. Wow, good dynamic in the snap of the drum solo on Mountain Jam, tom toms just right, and now the bass comes in articulate and defined, not muddy. These headphones sound damn good! They don't just sound good for the money, they simply sound very good. IMO, they play in the same league as any of the other phones I have mentioned - excepting the Stax.
The highs are a bit sibilant. On first listen, that is their most obvious weakness to me, and may not be a fair one given one digital source and just one CD. Sooo.....just popped in Bob James and David Sanborn's Double Vision, the top end is crisp and clean on this recording, with just a tad of sibilance with high volume/high frequency dynamics but I am listening louder than I should. I'm getting good resolution in the mids.
Mainly what I am getting is a very enjoyable listen. These phones have a startle factor in the dynamics that is MIA in the similarly priced Sony. It sounds like I spent more than a hundred bucks, maybe way more - I had been wanting to get the Grado 60's, which I've heard many times over the years, and my brother got a pair recently, but these sound every bit as good to my memory (a few weeks ago most recent). I'd have to get them side by side, but I believe these give them a run for the money and may well best them. Stoked to get this level of SQ on the cheap. They keep triggerng my startle reflex, and yes I did lower the volume a bit, earlier.
Under $30 delivered? This is known in cheapskateland as a no-brainer. They do fight well above their weight-class, and bottom feeders like me love that attribute. When you are lucky, you get what you pay for; when you are very lucky - once in a blue moon - you get more. Listening to Boston now and all I want is to have my piece of pie. Mmmm...tastes good.
RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
As an SR60 owner I'll say this. The highs on the Grado's are extremely crisp and clear, hence my saying the 8323's roll off a bit up top. Have been listening for four hours now and I still get the same impression.
There's also the soundstage. I've spent a long time with just Koss Portapros and Grado SR60's. Both open headphones. The open cans have a very wide, open, airy soundstage compared to the 8323's. You can diffidently feel a difference. As opposed to being immersed in sound the 8323's just feel like a pair of speaks squawking in your ears.
But oh the midrange! The 8323's are worth much more then the sum of their parts. They are just very very nice to listen to!
Amcrebelfan
Super Member
As an SR60 owner I'll say this. The highs on the Grado's are extremely crisp and clear, hence my saying the 8323's roll off a bit up top. Have been listening for four hours now and I still get the same impression.
There's also the soundstage. I've spent a long time with just Koss Portapros and Grado SR60's. Both open headphones. The open cans have a very wide, open, airy soundstage compared to the 8323's. You can diffidently feel a difference. As opposed to being immersed in sound the 8323's just feel like a pair of speaks squawking in your ears.
But oh the midrange! The 8323's are worth much more then the sum of their parts. They are just very very nice to listen to!
How do think they will be after more burn in or do you not think it will matter?
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musichal
poet emeritus
I'm not sure how much they may change with 'burn-in' but one thing that I am sure of is that the listener tends to acclimate to the sound of headphones - sometimes I wonder how much is burn-in and how much acclimation; I believe there is a bit of both in play. However, I never liked the Sony's I used very much, and would have replaced them long before now if I used headphones very often. So even acclimation has its limits. These are indeed very good phones, and I'll try to hear how much they may change with some burn-in, while realizing that is often difficult to judge reliably. I do have them playing even now without listening just for the purpose, and will let them continue for 20 hours or so.
RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
I have never really observed a break in period. The only observation I can really make about these after three days of use is that they've either become a little brighter with time, or I've just become acclimated to them.
I am surprised at how substantial these feel. The idea that they're just $20 makes me wonder why they aren't MUCH more flimsy and fragile.
musichal
poet emeritus
Well, just as a follow-up, I noticed no difference at all after about 48 hours of unattended 'burn-in.' I noticed RamblinE's post about the brighter sound maybe being acclimatization, and he may well be correct there - I believe that he is accustomed to the very good airy spaciousness of the Grados which I think is more common to open-back designs, at which the Grados tend to excel, imo.
While I think the 8323's upper extension is about the same, the airy presentation of the Grados may enhance the character of the highs, or at least the perceived character. OTOH, my occasional 'phone use with the low-budget Sony's - a pretty poor example of open-back 'phone - made obvious to me the HF extension of the 8323s, which easily bests the Sony's.
LF extension of the 8323s doesn't suck, either, but it is their articulation in the upper bass which I find addictive, and agree with RamblinE that the mids are excellent. Comparing these two 'phones was a bit like comparing apples and oranges. I had a chance to borrow my brother's SR60's for a couple days; I enjoyed listening to both. Neither really sucks anywhere, but their strengths are different - I tended to prefer whichever one I used at the moment. If in a quiet room, I may tend to reach for the 60s, but in a higher ambient noise situation, the isolation of the 8323's may be preferable. Plus, their different areas of strengths were both addictive.
While I think the 8323's upper extension is about the same, the airy presentation of the Grados may enhance the character of the highs, or at least the perceived character. OTOH, my occasional 'phone use with the low-budget Sony's - a pretty poor example of open-back 'phone - made obvious to me the HF extension of the 8323s, which easily bests the Sony's.
LF extension of the 8323s doesn't suck, either, but it is their articulation in the upper bass which I find addictive, and agree with RamblinE that the mids are excellent. Comparing these two 'phones was a bit like comparing apples and oranges. I had a chance to borrow my brother's SR60's for a couple days; I enjoyed listening to both. Neither really sucks anywhere, but their strengths are different - I tended to prefer whichever one I used at the moment. If in a quiet room, I may tend to reach for the 60s, but in a higher ambient noise situation, the isolation of the 8323's may be preferable. Plus, their different areas of strengths were both addictive.
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Amcrebelfan
Super Member
Thanks for answering my question and your honest observations.:yes::thmbsp:
RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
hamilton02
Active Member
I never thought much about headphones. Last year I picked up a some Shures that killed my head so I gave up on the idea and returned them. Last week I was in line at a place picking up some blank DVDs and the girl at the counter was taking forever. I turned around in line and saw a cool white pair of JVC 600s and thought... why not?.
Then I see this thread and now Im awaiting my new Monoprices. From someone who hasn't thought twice about headphones 2 weeks ago now owns 2 pairs.
Then I see this thread and now Im awaiting my new Monoprices. From someone who hasn't thought twice about headphones 2 weeks ago now owns 2 pairs.
musichal
poet emeritus
I wasn't impressed, either. However, I just don't like IEMs period, but had to try at the cheap price, and have used them once and likely will again when the small size makes it more convenient than full-sized phones. Does anyone make a pillow-friendly, or sleep-friendly headphone?
Amcrebelfan
Super Member
I would like to know the same thing. :yes: