Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)So I bought and compared these to my D5000's and D2000's...
The contrast when going from D5000/2000 to D1100 was pretty stark. I will break this down by "with" and "without EQ" because it's a big deal.
Without EQ adjustments- By default (without any EQ adjustments) I find that the highs are pretty good, though a bit rolled off in the highs compared to the D2000's and D5000's. To their credit, the treble never becomes uncomfortably sharp like the D2000s can, nor is the treble rolled off enough to make it feel dull or dark. I'd say we have about 92% of the D2000 highs here. The mids, however, seem arrested...by the bass. Indeed, I would describe the bass as somewhat overwhelming and can make some songs feel heavy and muffled. If I were to describe default the sound stage here I terms of positioning of instruments...I'd say the 1100's make you feel like you're sitting on stage (extremely forward; thinner ear pads than the D5000/2000) ...and within 2 feet of the bass (instrument) or the drums...and the other instruments / musicians positioned somewhere behind them. It's certainly not the organization you see in a performance. In Robert Glasper's piano performances, the piano sounds muffled. Dwele's R&B tracks sound a bit bloated/congested/stuffy. Denez Prigent's somber background tones in J'Attends sound muddled. Certain elements felt altogether missing in some of the classical and Bossa Nova songs because of that bass, principally. But other songs sounded good. Most of my Rock and Alternative also sounded either "not bad at all" or "pretty damn good" which was a bit unexpected. Staind for example, sounded great and Three Days Grace sounded pretty good. They really benefitted from the rich bass. So yea, some genres suffer...and sometimes just a couple of songs IN a genre (ie, R&B) suffer. HOWEVER, they are tolerable and if need be, you can certainly get used to them in most cases.
Also, for what it's worth, there wasn't a single track I threw at it that caused the low/bass reproduction to start clipping or distorting at all either on my computer or on my iDevices. This is impressive considering how much bass they hit with.* Strong genres- Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop/Rap, Alternative, Latin, Classical (w/o heavy cello/bass accompaniment), Rock (that doesn't feature a lot of low-cord "growl"), anything that could use a touch more bass
* Okay genres-Rock (with a lot of low-cord "growl"), Gospel, Bossa Nova, similar
* Poor genres- Jazz, Classical (with heavy cello/bass accompaniment), anything already on the edge of "bass saturation"With EQ on iDevices set on "Bass Reducer"or EQ or my computer with slightly raised treble and slightly reduced bass...
Yes. Oh yes. Bass now brought under control, it is now present and solid but not overwhelming at all. It's now similar in bass and arrangement to what we expect...though I still feel like I'm on stage (very forward). Drums and bass are now behind the other instruments. The reduction in bass allows the mids to actually be presented, though they don't extend quite as far as the D5000/2000, though they get close. Highs come out more as well, though they're still not as crisp or extensive as the D5000s/2000s (slightly recessed by comparison, maybe 96% of the D2000s treble range)...but nowhere near as far away either. All genres range from good to great. Sound stage is probably as wide as I could hope for. Bass feels more "thumpy" and more meaningful than the D5000/2000. Very impressive.
* Strong genres- All.
* Okay genres- None!
* Poor genres- None!
I think if the 1100's were my only cans I could afford, a little EQing will go a long way towards making me feel extremely satisfied with the purchase. If EQ adjustments aren't an option for you...or if those kinds of adjustments mess up the sound quality (depending on your portable device, it certainly can), you might find some genres/songs tough to accept with these cans. By default the D1100's are deep cans as-is and compliment some genres/songs who enjoy bass punch or have a perceived shortage of bass representation. For other genre/songs, look out. They have what equates to an 12" woofer in the car trunk, for good and for bad. Fortunately, it can be tamed and as such becomes mostly an asset. To be clear: we're talking about 3x - 5x the amount of bass when compared to the D5000/2000 at similar volume levels and flat EQs. There is enough bass to feel it on your ears even after hitting the "Bass Reducer" on your iDevice. Wow. Helluva driver. Maybe too much driver if you consider the D5000/2000 nearly too strong as it is.Scoring (no EQ): Highs 7 | Mids 6.5 | Lows 8.3 | Soundstage 7 | Clarity 7.7 | Comfort 8.5
Scoring (EQ'd): Highs 8.4 | Mids 8.1 | Lows 9.8 | Soundstage 8.25 | Clarity 8.75 | Comfort 8.5
Scores are written relative to my point of reference: my Denon AH-D5000's...which isn't necessarily a fair comparison (home cans vs. less expensive portable cans), but at least it's an objective commentary. These cans stand well above the V-Moda Crossfade, Beats, Bose On-Ear, Shure SRH840's and Senn HD555's. But be aware the bass is strong. If you're sensitive to too much bass, look elsewhere. If you love bass or don't mind taming them a bit with your EQ...they are winners.
Additional notes:
-They clamp pretty strongly to my medium-sized head but aren't uncomfortable.
-After wearing them for several hours a day for several days, I'm comfortable with saying you'll be fine wearing them for extended periods of time. I can see the relatively firmer pads softening up over time and becoming even more acceptable in that regard.
-There is no special wrapping on the cables. Just normal cables, not wrapped in fabric or anything. This is preferred for travel cans. You don't want stiff cables.
-Sound leak is minor. Much less sound leak than the AH-D5000's or D2000's.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Denon AH-D1100 Advanced Over-Ear Headphones (Black)
The AH-D1100 sets a new standard for performance and value in over-ear headphones. Part of Denon's "Acoustic Luxury" line, the AH-D1100's are premium headphones suitable for the discerning music listener at home, and efficient enough for use "on-the-go" with portable music players. The AHD-1100 employ a newly designed 50mm driver featuring Denon's exclusive Microfiber diaphragm technology. This ultra lightweight radiating surface provides excellent dynamics and extended frequency response (5-37,000Hz) for crystalline clarity. The drivers are housed in precision Aluminum ear cups. To eliminate distortions and colorations caused by conventional sealed-back enclosures, the AHD-1100 also features Denon's Acoustic Optimizer design. This improves low frequency extension and smoothes overall response by precisely adjusting the sound pressure balance behind and in front of the driver diaphragm. The adjustable headband features a new contour fit ergonomic design and is coupled to soft protein leather foam ear-cushions providing comfortable isolation from outside sounds. This, and the unit's light weight (only 180 grams - 6.3 ounces) ensures extended, fatigue-free listening. The AH-D1100 is equipped with an audiophile grade OFC oxygen-free copper cable featuring equal length L/R design. A 3.5 meter extension cable is included along with a 3.5mm to 0.25" adapter and a convenient carrying pouch.
Click here for more information about Denon AH-D1100 Advanced Over-Ear Headphones (Black)
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