Some notes on the effect the FiiO E3 amp has on different headphones: AKG-K240 Studio with Sweetcome cable, OVC HC1000, Denon AH-D1000. The FiiO E3 mini-amp costs less than $10, and is certainly worth the money. Anyone owning a portable player without an amp should get one.

The FiiO E3 also has a great synergy with the OVC HC1000 headphones. OVC HC1000 cost $49 (plus $5 or $10 shipping) from Head-Direct, and are perhaps the first “portable” headphones that can compete not only with the likes of Sennheiser PX100/PX200, but also with more expensive gear. HC1000 and the FiiO E3 amp paired are at least as good (at the same, if not better, level of clarity/detail/dynamics, though slightly less bassy) as the Denon AH-D1000, worth $120-170 (depending on store). Less than $75 of headphone gear performing as well as a set of headphones worth two to three times as much.

Diaphragm: 16 mm., mylar
Nominal impedance: 32-ohm
Nominal power input: 2 mW
Maximum power input: 5 mW
Nominal sensitivity @ 1 KHz: 113 dB/1 mW
Frequency range: 20-20000 Hz
Enclosure type: semi-open earbuds

The X50 are OVC’s more expensive, higher-quality earbuds. OVC was the Chinese OEM for many Western companies (Koss, Siemens, AT&T, Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Audio-Technica, Plantronics, Yamaha, V-Moda, etc. etc.); there’s an English website for OVC, http://www.ocvaco.com/, with a bit more background on just what OVC is.

Long story short, X50 are close to Yuin PK3 in price and performance. About 75% of the performance at 75% the price. Not as exciting or magical as the PK3, but with a larger soundstage and a bit more power to the sound (this is probably as powerful and “solid” as earbuds can get).

…are a set of headphones sent in for reviewing by Fang Bian of Head-Direct.

The review is out there, but the HC1000 are interesting as a design, just by themselves.

Tiny mini-headphones, the diaphragms are 30-mm., which is a smart design choice: small enough to be easily driven and have good dynamics, but still large enough to have the foam pads provide decent low-end. Dynamics and high sensitivity (113 dB/mW) give the HC1000 a good part of the depth, dimension of sound that’s usually reserved to either canalphones or full-size headphones matched with a good amplifier.

Which is the most interesting bit, as the HC1000 sound is not typical of their class and price (in the West, anyway). There’s a certain “technical” character to the sound that spoils it somewhat, and they lack low midrange response (there’s a dip in the 250-400 range or so, maybe a bit wider), but otherwise everything’s clear and it has dimension, depth, flow. Which is unlike certain hyped-up German maker’s tiny headphones. OVC HC1000 have a Chinese character: detailed, clean midrange, open highs, and exciting super-treble with a bit lean, unobtrusive low end.

So in summary, clarity and depth, musicality, dimension previously reserved either to high-end earbuds (with associated pains) or canalphones (with associated pains and mess) or full-size headphones/amps (~$300 price ranges) in small portable headphones. Even the stated sensitivity - 113 dB/mw - is earbud sensitivity, not typical headphone sensitivity. Tonal balance is also similar to earbuds or canalphones, yet without the ear-canal chirpiness and unnatural soundstage of earphones. The “technical”, a tad “stiff” character to the sound in the low end can interfere with music sometimes, and they tend to “shout” too much like any very sensitive headphones (or earphones), but other than that, the very notion that a cheap player can create a hi-fi-like sound with cheap headphones can be a novelty in the West. Which is likely why Sony created a portable player way back then (Walkman tape player), not a Western company.

…is here.

Brief summary: sturdy, small, foldable, with lots of accessories and a clean sound. A good replacement for those disappointed in the likes of Sennheiser PX200 or Audio-Technica ATH-ON3.

OVC HC1000 are OVC’s new portable, foldable headphones…

A bit dull-sounding, but with better depth and definition than comparable mini-headphones from Sennheiser. Close to the sound of modded Koss Porta-Pro, but with more depth/definition, and a bit duller: diaphragms are 30-mm., not 40-mm. as in the Porta-Pro. Much better treble and midrange than most “portable” mini-headphones, a bit less bass, but as usual with supra-aural miniature headphones, this depends on the seal. But seal’s decent, somewhere on par with Sennheiser PX100, and of course much better than PX200 (but not quite like the secure fit of Porta-Pro).
With Tangerine Dream’s “Catwalk” they were astonishing in the introduction, but had that touch of dullness once the main percussion part kicked in. Bjorn Lynne’s “Astronavigator”, and they revealed watery sounds for the first time as watery. In Ketil Bjornstad’s “Undercurrent”, the acoustic bass, percussion, and piano were balanced, not masking each other as they might with headphones that favour either bass or treble.

A tad light in sound, somewhat like earbuds, but overall the HC1000 are unintrusive, “background music” portable headphones. They might do with more “meat” to the sound, but they’re what the Sennheiser PX200 never achieved - good-sounding, lightweight, tiny headphones.

On sale at Head-Direct, $49 plus shipping ($5 within America, $10 to the rest of the world).

Complete with EQ recommendations, tips for taking care of tips, and even a music video for good measure.

head-direct are having a holiday sale, and the

OVC TC20

earphones are included, so hurry!

Luckily headphonedeals have already claimed a pair and they’re speeding their way to us as we speak, and of course a full review will follow. What I want to know is, that with all the price deals on the popular (especially with the fake manufacturers) Sennheiser CX300’s, can earphones like the OVC TC20’s compete?

On the subject of fake headphones, word on the street is that, OVC have had their fair share of replica’s, although it is the word from the street! You know my feeling about this, if in doubt, go to the recommended retailer, in this case www.head-direct.com