Sennheiser DSP Pro

[PinkFloyd]

Has anyone else here tried one of these? I've had mine kicking about gathering dust for quite some time now and decided to fire her up yesterday to see what she sounded like.

Connected to the audio out of my SKY digi box using KOSS portapro headphones. At first I thought "wtf is this all about?" and was expecting some kind of warped out of head experience... instead it sounded pretty erm.... normal.....

Funny thing is, I left the portapros on my head and watched the latest episode of Doctor Who.... the longer the programme went on the more I realised the DSP pro was doing EXACTLY what is supposed to do in a very subtle way.

Compared with standard stereo the DSP in Dolby mode made voices really stand out and enhanced all the background noise.... dynamics, crashes and wallops were VERY well portrayed and at times it felt that I was at the cinema watching Dr. Who.

I can't believe that this little puppy has been sitting gathering dust for all this time and, from now on in, it will be a permanent feature in my bedroom TV system.... I've yet to experiment with other headphones but for comfort and all round "pleasing" sound the KOSS portapro's are going to be a hard pair of 'phones to beat.

Build quality of the DSP pro is top class (made in USA) and it's about the same size as a largish remote control unit.... someone once told me they gave these away with HD-580 'phones and another source claims they retailed at $300..... whatever, it's a fantastic little tool to have if you don't want a load of speaker boxes and wires messing up your viewing room.....

The stock PSU is a 9V DC unregulated wallwart..... I have replaced that with a "uniross" 9V regulated type and there was a definite improvement in overall SQ with greater clarity and presence..... she's only been up and running since yesterday so I will report back once I get used to all the settings etc. and I will also try her with music in stereo mode to see what she sounds like...... I don't have HD-580's but I do have HD-600's which are pretty much identical.

Anyone else tried one of these?

[elysion]

I don't have the DSP Pro. Instead I have two Sennheiser LUCAS, which are rather similiar to the DSP Pro.

One of my LUCAS' was my first headphone amplifier at all. I bought it together with a HD580. The second unit is from a friend who didn't like it at all.

IMHO the LUCAS is better than the critics about it on the internet. LUCAS is rather complicated to adjust and you need a lot of time to find optimal settings. But if you take the time, the results are rather good. Not all headphones are optimal for use with the LUCAS. I tested it with my HD580 and HD650 headphones. LUCAS sounds good with both. I prefer the HD650 because it gets more out of the LUCAS.

Although I think my other amps (X-CAN v2 and V-CAN) are clearly better than the LUCAS, I love it for its unique features. While Dolby Surround itself is an outdated technology, it can enhance the hearing experience also today. For example if you watch moovies from DVD.

To get optimal results, the "EARS" setting of the LUCAS must be customized to the ears of the hearer. Then it is easily possible to change the position in a virtual acoustic room with the "SEAT" setting.

If the sound in the virtual acoustic room is in front of you, it has a beneficial effect on fatigue which some experience after long hearing to headphones. I have to admit fatigue is also no problem for me with the X-CAN v2 and the V-CAN in combination with mit HD580 and HD650. But I have experienced fatiguing effects with other headphones and audio-sources. This is really bad with in-ear headphones. I hate them, although I possess a Sennheiser CX500 (bought to get rid of the ugly Apple in-ear headphones which came with my iPod). In most cases, I use my old HD580 with the iPod. The open design of the HD580 gives an incredibly hearing experience when used outdoors – you're hearing also the environment and not just the music.

[rickcr42]

I think they shot themselves in the foot with this one by originall including it ONLY as a cans/DSP "bundle and by the time they weasled it out as a stand alone product no one cared.

If they had not only sold it as a separate from the start but actuallly PUSHED the product as being ideal for headphone based cinema sound ?

Need I say it ?


BTW-the "modern" JVC XXXX (can't remember the number ) surround sound box KICKS ASS !


Toss in portability and it becomes even more attractive yet same sh*t=ignored,and that continues to baffle me in this age of grab and go music and movies where the movies sound "flat" in pure stereo being all dead pan left and dead pan right

[PinkFloyd]

Dec 3, 2009 19:29:46 GMT rickcr42 said:

I think they shot themselves in the foot with this one by originall including it ONLY as a cans/DSP "bundle and by the time they weasled it out as a stand alone product no one cared.

If they had not only sold it as a separate from the start but actuallly PUSHED the product as being ideal for headphone based cinema sound ?

Need I say it ?


BTW-the "modern" JVC XXXX (can't remember the number ) surround sound box KICKS ASS !


Toss in portability and it becomes even more attractive yet same sh*t=ignored,and that continues to baffle me in this age of grab and go music and movies where the movies sound "flat" in pure stereo being all dead pan left and dead pan right

Rick,

I really don't use this thing but reckon it may be just what the Doctor ordered if you're laid up in bed a bit more than usual..... would you like me to send it over with the Superlux 'phones?

I'd have to rummage about to find the 115V power supply that came with it but, if not successful, it shouldn't be too hard for you to find a suitable "wart"

Mike.

[rickcr42]

thanks mike but no thanks man,give it to someone who would use it (do i smell a raffle "tell me why multichannel headphone listening would be important to YOU" )

As you know from our privaste communications i have designed my own solution to both ambient music and multichannel simulation totally in the passive line level domain which means it can be built CHEAP there being no active devices thjus no power supply and when system matched in the impedances (both driving and load) is about as unobtrusive as a device that can produce such changes in SOUND while adding ZERO NOISE (passive remeber ) and damn near ZERO LOSS (constant impedance circuitry) laying all sonic choices totally on the passive parts selection doorstep it would be a DAMN SHAME to inject such a sonic mangler in such a pristine signal path ;D

nope.i am sure there is a "match made in heaven " pairing up out there but not me man,not me