OPPO PM-3 vs audio-technica ATH-A900

[Sonnie Parker]

I searched long and hard for a pair of over the ear headphones that would sound like I wanted and have really good bass response as well. I think I trialed a dozen headphones from various places that would let me send them back, even if I had to pay for return shipping on a few of them. I ended up with the A900's.... and man they are super comfortable and sound really good.

So... been wanting a pair of planar headphones and very curious about the OPPO PM-3's. I know they have received rave reviews in some places, then I've seen some not so great reviews in other places.

I am curious if I might get lucky at some point and someone out there who has compared the PM-3's to the A900's.

Anyone have a take on the bass response in comparison to other headphones?

 

[tesseract]

Best I can do is the PM-3 vs. the ATH-M50x. I much preferred the neutrality of the OPPO over the V-shaped response of the Audio Technica, being able to listen to the PM-3 as long as I want without fatigue. The PM-3 can come across as being less exciting than many other 'phones due to their accuracy.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Haven't compared, myself. I can tell you that they're light years different than my Grado Labs...

They're excellent headphones. Not too dissimilar from the discontinued PM-2s (which I reviewed on HTS last year). They're closed back, so they don't carry the same open sound that the PM-2 and PM-1 carry; the sound stage is smaller. Overall sound is neutral. I believe the biggest complaint you'll read is that highs are somewhat muted (or tamed?). Although, OPPO told me that bass and treble are dialed on the PM-3 to have a little more "umph" and "sparkle"

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I wonder how the M50x compare to the M50s. I tried the M50s and preferred the A900's over them... had them at the same time and sent the 50s back.

EDIT: Okay... I remember after looking... the 50s is the straight cable version of the 50x.

 

[AudiocRaver]

Best I can do is the PM-3 vs. the ATH-M50x. I much preferred the neutrality of the OPPO over the V-shaped response of the Audio Technica, being able to listen to the PM-3 as long as I want without fatigue. The PM-3 can come across as being less exciting than many other 'phones due to their accuracy.

I have compared the M50 with the PM-3 and agree with Dennis. Maybe not as exciting, but the PM-3 wins for accuracy. In a comparison of the PM-1 and PM-3, I have to give the PM-1 the nod for lower distortion. The PM-1 and PM-3 have very similar response profiles, going deep into the bass range, but the bass level is not accentuated.

 

[tesseract]

I wonder how the M50x compare to the M50s. I tried the M50s and preferred the A900's over them... had them at the same time and sent the 50s back.

EDIT: Okay... I remember after looking... the 50s is the straight cable version of the 50x.

Not quite, according to my weeks of OCD researching. The 50x is said by most to sound a bit better the the original M50.

If Wayne still has a pair of M50 around, I can compare them to my 50x.