Happy New Year all! After a long holiday break - Well, being busy with overtime actually, but that's a story for another time - I'm back with a very interesting headphone to talk about. This is the very first 3D printed headphone - the Alpha Dog. Some of you will know much about this one already, but for the rest, I should point out that it's not all made by a 3D printer (that Fostex logo should give it away). Although it's only the ear cups that are printed here that really doesn't give the Alpha Dogs the credit they deserve. They maybe based on the same headphones as before, but the 3D printing allows the sound to be tuned to a different degree. The addition of a dual sided cable is also nice and in this case it's a balanced one too.
Like the Mad Dogs before it, the Alpha Dogs offer all the benefits of a well controlled planar magnetic driver in a comfortable, closed back headphone. This time the sophistication is on another level entirely. The superb isolation is something that you just don't get with most other headphones offering this kind of audio quality. Until the recent Audeze LCD-XC, planar magnetic manufacturers have kept their headphones open-back type. Despite the Alpha Dog's flagship status it's still a fraction of the cost of the LCD-XC.
So, if you're specifically in the market for a high-end planar magnetic headphone, which isolates well and is less than £1000, this is pretty much your only option. Does it justify it's pedigree price tag over the Mad Dog with Alpha Pads or is it just a pretty face lift?
As much as I liked the Mad Dog, they look and feel like a modified headphone. The Alpha dog, on the other hand, does not, but the big question is: Does the sound quality stand up to it's looks. Throughout this section I will be referring to and comparing the Alpha Dog to the original Mad Dog (with Alpha Pads). Hopefully this doesn't get confusing.
Listening to the two Dogs back to back you can hear that they come from the same mould, but there is a noticeable improvement to the Alpha's sound. The Alpha's lows feel deeper, but the sound's generally less warm (closer to neutral). With a wider soundstage this gave a more enveloping sensation which improved most music (Classical and Jazz mostly for me). When going back to the Mad Dog bass sounded less refined (more thumpy/woolly) by comparison. That was quite a shock because the Mad Dog is not exactly bad in this regard. Then again, these things are always more noticeable going down in quality rather than up. Despite the soundstage feeling wider, there wasn't much extra sense of three-dimensional depth or accuracy. This made some music feel too close and rather messy. Perhaps this is the inevitable price for pushing the soundstage when it has nowhere to go.
Mid-range felt considerably more resolving and clear with Alpha Dog, which seems to be a direct result of the internal cup structure reducing nasty internal vibration (see cut-away below). Despite this huge improvement I didn't notice a big difference in the overall level (response) of the mids. The improved balance seemed to come from the extra bass control rather than better mid presence. Preference for this level of presence seems to be very personal however and it's clear that many will like it this way. For me though, after hearing the rather enthusiastically mid-centric HE500, I was left feeling a bit lacking with the Alpha Dog's mids.
Although the warmth of the Mad Dog has been dialled back in the Alpha Dog, with it's superior upper bass clarity, it does still feel a little dark. Again, I will blame my preference for bigger mids here because too since the high frequencies are definitely not lacking. In fact I would say the treble feels more edgy with the Alpha Dog - more detailed, more sparkly and yes, I would say it's 'brighter'. It can be a little messy at times, but this can be mostly attributed to poor or unforgivingly amplification.
NOTE ON BASS
It's worth noting that I didn't play with the bass tuning system and you might wonder why considering I wasn't entirely comfortable with the frequency response here. My first reason for this was: I was very happy with the bass of the Alpha Dogs, all of it (which is impressive when I like to get as much impact out of EDM as possible). My second reason for not altering the setting was that I didn't want to change the headphones from it's 'factory setting' because they are calibrated to the way they're intended.
COMPETITION
I want to write a few bullet points about a few other headphones and how they compare to the Alpha Dogs in various ways. It's worth noting that all of these 'other' headphones (with the exception of the Mad Dogs) are either open back or just isolate poorly.
- Mad Dogs: Comparing the Alpha to Mr. Speakers' own cheaper model is a bit odd, but it's a rather unavoidable comparison because there aren't many direct rivals using similar drivers. Given all the improvements of the Alpha over it's predecessor I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either given their price. The only real down side to the alpha (apart from price) is it's a bit heavier (444g vs 403g) and you do notice this. It may not seem like much, but it's getting much closer to the weight of the big-boy planar magnetic headphones.
- Fostex TH600: This is not a similar model to the T50rp, it's not even a planar magnetic headphone, but it does have a very nice balanced sound, with tight bass and it's price is similar to the Alpha Dog. The Alpha just wins on the comfort front, but the Fostex is much lighter. Although it's a little bit more expensive I think the TH600 represents better value for a truly balanced sound (Mostly due to the mid-range).
- Fostex TH900: This Fostex is even better than the TH600 on the sound front. It's a different sound and very different price, but it's hard not to draw comparisons on the visual side. Not only do they share a striking red paint job, but they are both very well made. The flagship Fostex actually feels more delicate and the comfort still can't match the standard of the Alpha Dog. A big reason for this is the pads. Despite the high price tag of the TH900 they don't use real leather and the cushioning is not as soft or deep.
- Hifiman HE-400/500: These are two very different headphones but they are priced just either side of the Alpha Dog's tag. If you're after a planar magnetic headphones in this price range these ones could be the only others on your map, although the Audeze LCD-2 is also close. For a balanced sound the HE-400 is just too compelling over the Alpha Dog (as is the Sennheiser HD600), but the bass could be a touch overzealous for some and the weight isn't anywhere near as nicely handled. The HE-500 is even worse in this regard, but the sound did blow me away. The mid-range of the HE-500 has presence in abundance, the bass and treble is pretty stunning too! Mids-wise it might be the polar opposite of the Alpha Dog for me, but this sound balance is not for everyone.
- Audeze LCD-2: This one is even more expensive than the HE-500, but it's not too far off. From what little time I've had with the LCD-2 it seemed quite similarly balanced in the frequencies to me. Perhaps the mids were a little more evocative. Comfort wise the Audeze headphones are about as poor as the Hifiman. It seems like all this weight is to keep those planar drivers in check, well it seems to work, but at what cost? I definitely think that Audeze and Hifiman could learn a thing of two about comfort from Mr. Speakers.
AMPLIFICATION
Testing these Alpha Dogs on a balanced amplifier would have been a problem for me until recently, but I was lucky enough to have the CEntrance Hifi M8 laying around and Electromod were nice enough to let me try the Alpha Dog with the Schiit Mjolnir as well. I had a converter cable to allow me to use the Alpha Dogs on normal amps as well, but this was well worth writing about.
- Unamplified: This was a rather disappointing experience with the Alpha Dogs. Phones really don't have what it takes to drive these headphones. Even the iPhone struggled with volume here, but that's not surprising for a planar magnetic headphone. Using my laptop provided just enough just to throw the sound around, but wow, it was really unrefined
- Ifi iDAC: I found this to be a really nice sound with ample power to drive the Alpha Dogs. The treble was very well controlled for a reasonably priced combined DAC/amp here. The rest of the sound was really well handled as well.
- CEntrance Hifi M8: This was a beast of a machine that was very fun to play with. Not only could I test it in single ended and balanced mode, but it also had controls for impedance, gain, bass and treble. Although it's performance is good anyway It did get a nice little boost from the balanced connection, even if it did eat batteries like there was no tomorrow.
- Schiit Mjolnir: Since this is an amplifier only I used the Ifi iDAC (and Gemini cable) to drive it from a PC. This sounded great in the detail, but it's not the best amp to combine with a bright pair of headphones. This made me keep the volume down at all times and it rather ruined my experience with the Alpha Dogs. Since these are the only balanced headphones that I have here at the moment there is nothing else I can try them with - yet.
MUSIC
Instead of the usual list of music tracks I want to be a bit more generic about what effects I felt in the Alpha Dogs. I want to speak more broadly about genres here so I have made some bullet points. Hopefully this will be more helpful. - Rock and Metal is exciting, agressive and full of detail. Vocals however can feel lacking due to the rest of the music overwhelming it. This didn't bother me nearly so much with Electronic and Pop
- The close to neutral sound and great detail makes for a very enjoyable experience in many genres, Classical and acoustic particularly stood out for me.
- Some highs (Electronic / Classical) can be rather bright at times which lead to me adjusting the volume more often than I'd like. This was more noticeable when trying to emphasise mids, but wasn't a huge annoyance overall.
- Watching movies and playing games was reasonably enjoyable with the Alpha Dog, I generally like a more obvious & boosted bass presentation (and I don't think I'm alone here), so it's not too much of a surprise that a relatively neutral headphone doesn't excel here. The isolation works fantastically well however so if you're only a light movie watcher / gamer then they will do fine.
The black metal bars on the exterior are a striking addition to the visual design thats dominated by the lovely 3D printed cups. Although the rest of the headband remains unchanged from the Mad Dog I'm not unhappy about this because of the superb functionality they offer. They are very easy to adjust and they feel solid without being overly clampy. Essentially all that's changed from the original Fostex model here is the addition of a leather band. This may look a bit primitive from some angles, but it vastly improves comfort! I'm glad that Mr. speakers didn't feel the need to change this purely for the sake of visuals. The rest of the Alpha is not just a prettier face, it's interior improvements and new cable have huge potential too. Let me post a little bit from Mr. Speakers' website about the improvements in the Alpha Dogs:
For the most part, 3D printing has been the purvue of prototypers and hobbyists. Indeed we started using 3D printing as a prototyping tool but we quickly discovered with 3D printing we could build sonically superior enclosures that could not be manufactured using conventional injection molding. After many generations of design, we settled on an enclosure that yielded incredible acoustics. Our unique "double wall with lattice" construction delivers:
- Dramatically expanded soundstage, smoother frequency response and faster and more tuneful bass
- Improved isolation
- Reduced weight (compared to a solid wall of comparable thickness)
- Re-engineered baffle increases rigidity to improve resolution and accuracy
- Very-Bass™ tuning system* allows precision bass tuning at the factory, while giving you freedom to dial the bass up, or down, to fit your tastes. Unlike other bass tuning approaches, there are no parts to loose, and it’s possible to restore the headphones to factory tuning*
- A “twist to mount” mechanism attaches the ear pads to the cups. Just put the edge of the pad in the groove and twist the pad until it’s totally on
- Recessed cable jacks enhance the profile and improve comfort
- Sturdy and elegant snap to lock dual-entry cable system
The above image paints a thousand words when trying to explain why the 3D printing is so important on this modification. There are several other interesting elements to the Alpha Dogs too. For example - the last bullet point might sound like fluff, but this new cable is really special. They lock in nicely and are the easiest cable to unplug that I have ever used - period. This exemplifies a level of fine-tuning that the whole headphone exudes. Every element that has needed attention, in the orginial FostexT50rp, has had some. I only wonder how Mr. Speakers intends to move on from here?
The box also contains a metal headphone stand (see here), which is a rare and welcome thing. There is also a small key to alter the bass, but it's in a sealed bag that states you void your warranty if you open it.
The box also contains a metal headphone stand (see here), which is a rare and welcome thing. There is also a small key to alter the bass, but it's in a sealed bag that states you void your warranty if you open it.
COMFORT
As with the other mods from Mr. Speakers I've been very impressed by the comfort of the Alpha Dog. They're heavier than the Mad Dog - 444g vs 403g (these are the figures I got when I weighed them myself, without cables). Now this may not sound like much more, but it's a big step closer to the - overly heavy - HE-500. This could put more people off if it wasn't for the great comfort. The inner leather headband does a tremendous job of spread the weight without causing discomfort. Despite being considerably heavier than the Fostex TH600 I still find the Alpha Dog more comfortable. Some of this is also due to the Alpha Dogs' pads, which are amazing soft and large (real lamb skin leather). This is even with my troublesomely large and sticky out ears. These pads help a lot with the great sound isolation (both in and out) too, but the down side is that your ears can get rather warm at times. Apart from the heat issue however I cannot fault them. The additions that Mr. Speakers has added to the base Fostex T50rp make such a huge difference it's just not the same headphone at all.
FINAL WORDS
The external changes of the Alpha Dog really make them feel like an entirely new & unique headphone. They also feel like a high-end product manufactured by a big company (that's supposed to be a compliment btw and not intended to sound sarcastic). For me these 3D printed headphones justify the premium over their predecessor nicely. Externally it helps create a striking and classy aesthetic style (even if they do look a bit like ear defenders) and internally they do wonders to the planar magnetic sound.
Despite my personal preference for a mid-range that's more bold, it's clear that the Alpha Dogs produce a nearly neutral, surprisingly spacious and extremely detailed sound that can greatly impress. The bass is impressive and punchy for a neutral headphone, which is impressive enough, but it can also be tweaked if you're that way inclined. All this on a headphone that isolates very well is a rare thing indeed. Despite the potential heat issue, this is possibly the second most comfortable pair of headphones that I've ever tried (the first being the original Mad Dog with Alpha Pads because of their lower weight). Overall though I would very much recommended the Alpha Dogs!
EQUIPMENT USED
Desktop PC, Sony Vaio Flip 13a, iPhone4, Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Asus Nexus 7, Arcam rBlink, Audiolab M-DAC, Schiit Mjolnir, Ifi iDAC, Ifi Gemini, Sennheiser HD650, Denon AH-D7000, Mad Dog (Fostex T50rp mod), Hifiman HE400, Hifiman HE-500, Audeze LCD-2, Denon AH-D600
* If you like the Alpha Dogs as much as I did you can vote for Mr. Speakers on the Fedex website to help them win a small business grant and then lord knows what they'll be up to next.
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