Cortex CHP-2500 Discussion Thread

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by meanwhile

If you check the Amazon reviews, the Cortex is praised for its toughness compared to some well known DJ phones.

I mean no offense to the COrtex headphones, however, you need to take Amazon reviews with a grain of salt though.
For example....from one of the reviews posted there...

i also have a pair on Grado sr60's, and these absolutely sound better in the overall test.
the Grado have better isolation and detail,

The idea of the Grados isolating better than any closed headphone (I own the Grados) is ludicrous.

[CrowdAds]

[The DarkSide]

Lol!!! I saw that review. The person really doesn't know what they're talking about. Still, when you try them (hopefully later today) I have a very good feeling you're gonna like what you hear.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Lol!!! I saw that review. The person really doesn't know what they're talking about. Still, when you try them (hopefully later today) I have a very good feeling you're gonna like what you hear.

I'm fully prepared to order a set if I like them.....hopefully they do come today!

[meanwhile]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

I mean no offense to the COrtex headphones, however, you need to take Amazon reviews with a grain of salt though.
For example....from one of the reviews posted there...
The idea of the Grados isolating better than any closed headphone (I own the Grados) is ludicrous.

You have to take all reviews with a grain of salt! (Head-fi far more than Amazon..) But that one freak doesn't know what isolation means doesn't mean anything re the guy who found that his cortexes were tougher than his sonys. It's pretty easy to know how much of a hammering you've given a pair of phones.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by meanwhile

You have to take all reviews with a grain of salt! (Head-fi far more than Amazon..) But that one freak doesn't know what isolation means doesn't mean anything re the guy who found that his cortexes were tougher than his sonys. It's pretty easy to know how much of a hammering you've given a pair of phones.

Fair enough. My loaner set just got here, and they do indeed seem built very solidly. Let the listening commence!

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

Fair enough. My loaner set just got here, and they do indeed seem built very solidly. Let the listening commence!

Get your azz, and ears, busy!!!

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Get your azz, and ears, busy!!!

Early impressions are very good!
A fun sound sig, definitely....not a "reference" can. A slight midrange bump and they're very enjoyable. Amazingly efficient too...the ReplayGained Clip Zip is still pumping them very well, and there seems to be no benefit to amping them.

I can't seem them as truly portable, given their size and the weight of the cord.....but definitely transportable. Seems like they'd hold up well to being in a backpack.

Time to try them with the Touch and the SGP.

[The DarkSide]

No, not reference. These are the "fun cans",...I luv the sound. And yes, the mids are all there in their glory. The best part, for me, is the bass+clarity. That's hard to find, even in the more expensive cans. I sold my ATH-Pro700MK II's because they sounded muddy & veiled compared to the CHP-2500's,... To me that says quite a lot.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

No, not reference. These are the "fun cans",...I luv the sound. And yes, the mids are all there in their glory. The best part, for me, is the bass+clarity. That's hard to find, even in the more expensive cans. I sold my ATH-Pro700MK II's because they sounded muddy & vailed compared to the CHP-2500's,... To me that says quite a lot.

When I said

A slight midrange bump and they're very enjoyable.

I actually meant I was giving them a slight bump with EQ. You're absolutely right about the bass and clarity.....I just found some of the mids slightly recessed in comparison. And when I say I gave them a slight bump, I'm talking 2db at 2khz, and 2db at 4khz.....not much of a bump.

Overall, these are about the best value/SQ I think I've heard. So what's the purpose of the pad stuffage?

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

Overall, these are about the best value/SQ I think I've heard. So what's the purpose of the pad stuffage?

The extra padding is to give my floppy ears extra space away from the drivers. It's for comfort, nothing more. The set I have here doesn't have the padding because I changed the ear pads,...feels quite good now.

And btw: stop "bumping" my "cans"!!!

[Marvin the Martian]

I just almost ruptured my eardrums.....I fired up the Sonicmax Pro app on the Touch, and I forgot I had the Mach3Bass set for my Grados!

[IDvsEGO]

I agree with all the feedback here so far, including the earpad comfort stuffing.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

The extra padding is to give my floppy ears extra space away from the drivers. It's for comfort, nothing more. The set I have here doesn't have the padding because I changed the ear pads,...feels quite good now.

Makes sense....they do look like they'd be shallow. Not an issue with my JVC's, thankfully.....their cups are deeper. Although in fairness they're a little smaller front-to-back.....more oval shaped than round.

[The DarkSide]

Ok, annnnnddddd,...??? We completely derailed the thread - so what's the verdict???

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Ok, annnnnddddd,...??? We completely derailed the thread - so what's the verdict???

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

Overall, these are about the best value/SQ I think I've heard.

The KSC75's for $6 a couple years back were pretty good, but had light bass and could be a bit shrill, as you recall. So at this point, Cortex is the budget champ, I think.

[The DarkSide]

\o/ we have a #WINNER!!!

[skip252]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Ok, annnnnddddd,...??? We completely derailed the thread - so what's the verdict???

Probably best if I gather all these and create a new thread, the Cortex are no good for the OP. He can't order them.

Title suggestions?

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by skip252

Probably best if I gather all these and create a new thread, the Cortex are no good for the OP. He can't order them.

Title suggestions?

Cortex discussion thread?

[skip252]

Done. Left you as the OP Marv so you can change the title if you care.

TDS, you had the AKG 81 DJ IIRC. I like mine a lot for sound, not so much for comfort. Any SQ comparisons?

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

The extra padding is to give my floppy ears extra space away from the drivers. It's for comfort, nothing more. The set I have here doesn't have the padding because I changed the ear pads,...feels quite good now.

So what other pads fit?