Review headphones HD Magaosi K3 — despite the marketing

This, of course, amazing, but even in our century long winning marketing are manufacturers willing to take a step back from the point of view of marketing characteristics to get better quality. That so did the developers Magaosi, releasing an updated version of its hybrid headphones.

The Previous revision of this model, called K3 Pro, used a typical scheme with a single dynamic driver and two valve drivers. In version HD developers left only one emitter with a balanced anchor, but reworked the crossover and changed the driver itself, resulting in a sound «higher level». Separately pleased that the price has not changed, it is possible for $ 108 (the price at the time of the review).

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specifications

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• Transducers: dynamic + balanced armature
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• Impedance: 32Ω
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• frequency Range: 20Hz – 22kHz
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• Sensitivity: 99 dB/mW
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• the Imbalance of channels: ≤2 dB
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• Maximum input power 10 mW
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• Cable: replacement, 1.2 m with MMCX connectors
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• Plug: 3.5 mm TRS

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Packing and delivery

The Box is made absolutely in the best traditions of headphones packaging: main box made of black cardboard, outer «cover» white color with printing. Inside are headphones and a good set of accessories

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• storage Pouch
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• Cable oxygen-free copper
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• Cable silver plated copper
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• Silicone tips in two sizes
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• Foam nozzles three sizes
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• Replacement filters for sound tuning

Silicone tips included, made out of the same «sticky» silicone, as Ostry KC09, it allows them to stay better in the ear and provide the best insulation. These tips yet soon appear on the market, but just note that I like them.

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Design and usability

Made headphones at a decent level. Oval housings nice cold hand aluminum model comes in gray, orange and blue colors, so that fans of self-expression there will be space to turn around. Compared to K3 Pro slightly changed the shape of the outer surface of the casing, but this change at the level of small nuances. The build quality is not perfect, but very good, all fit pretty neatly. Created these Magaosi for wearing behind the ear and cable down to wear them is not very convenient.

The K3 HD Housings made of medium size and due to the absence of sharp edges sit well in the ears, however owners of small auricles may encounter problems. In my fairly average ears, they sit without any problems, providing comfortable wearing and acoustic insulation in a typical form factor average.

Filters for tuning sound is made in the form of inserts which can be screwed into zvukovoy, replacement is easy enough, but requires careful aiming.

The Developers of this model are unable to stay simply by making a removable cord, they also put in a set of two cables, and, most surprisingly, both of them without a headset, the only difference is in materials and design. Softer grey cable made from quality copper, it is almost microphonic and little inclined to tangling. Silver, more rigid wire is made of «powerbrake» and, according to developers, is designed to slightly increase the amount of treble. In practice, the difference between them in a blind test, could not be found. In any case, a spare cable in the kit was obviously not hurt. Both wires are made with curved sections forming the ear-hook, but memory effect is not there, so bend them to fit your preferences will not work, however, the option of default is made is quite versatile.

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Sound

To listen To the following equipment was used.

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• and the role of the DAC and amplifier
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• Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as the source
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• the role player
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• , and the other in the role of portable players
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• Recording high-resolution Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky have The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)

Before listening headphones were heated for 48 hours, a noticeable change in the sound was observed.

Engineers Magaosi decided that the idea of tuning the sound with filters they are close, but not enough to match the headphones a dozen or two pairs of filters. After sensible thinking, they decided to focus on two options sound slightly V-shaped frequency response characteristic of the hybrid models and darker pressed to supply the RF created by the RF-fobov. Of course, I picked the more balanced the first embodiment, in which developers do not have to deal with the specificity of the hybrid supply, but rather turned it into a «token» this model.

The Bass is made fairly typical for a modern headphone is a moderate emphasis in the area just below the midbass to give the bass weight, a bit laid by the wayside deeper frequency (to fit above), the resolution is not ultra-high but good enough. In General, typical hybrid bass, use the best hand dynamic driver: the weight, density and the consequent effect of realism. There is no dry reinforcing hlestkost, there is no rigid separation plans or a perfect transfer of textures, but it is necessary to go to the party «» megadriver valves.

The K3 tuning HD Magaosi have successfully fixed the main problem of the previous version of this model, namely, dry and fairly hollow midrange characteristic of imperfectly tuned reinforcement. At K3 HD with this significantly better midrange then have a normal body and not are poured into razor sharpness on any record. Of course, it's still an emitter made according to the technology of balanced armature, so the middle there are sounds in detail and skillfully, headphones are not trying to add emotion or much to hide the flaws in the recording, but K3 HD sound more together in comparison with their predecessors. Expected there are some problems with coherence, «joint» emitters visible, but it is very small for this price category is an achievement. The imaginary scene is built properly, are about average in width and slightly less than average in depth, but with good separation in both directions.

Vernacularly range «full» the variant has a slight accent, giving the headphone feed of drama and airiness. It is natural to expect here a model study of the attacks and attenuation is not necessary, but back in this parameter K3 HD is also not graze. If you don't like tweeter – includes filter with damping, which will smooth out all the peaks, though, in my opinion, it sounds very natural and does not benefit an imaginary stage.

Comparisons will not be this time, as this price segment is probably the most active in the market of the IEM, and patterns in it — an unrealistic number. Headphones have quite a distinctive sound, described above, therefore, comparing the reviews, you can know the rough difference in pitch, but more subtle differences can be understood only through self-comparison.

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Compatibility

Magaosi very carefully picked up the performance characteristics of their headphones, 32Ω impedance and almost 100 dB of sensitivity is the Golden mean, which is necessary to use the headphones with modern players. On the one hand, the impedance is not very high, so as not to create problems with buildup, on the other — not so low that the output impedance of the player does not affect the frequency response. Sensitivity is normal — a lot of power they do not, but the noise is almost inaudible (except, perhaps, clinical cases). The lack of a headset wire in the kit speaks for itself, and, indeed, these earphones are best suited to the players initial-average level.

Stylistically, the headphone is versatile enough, although to me they are the most relished by jazz, soul music, electronics in General, those styles where «model of hybrid flow» sounds perfectly. The recording quality of the model is moderately sensitive, 10-point scale where-that on 6.

Multiple tracks, for example

Symphony X — Evolution of the Grand Design. I recently skeptical of the idea to test headphones on tagmeta (too cool his bad record), but sometimes good things Kolobrodov help to reveal the strengths of the headphones. Like this track, showing once quite lively rhythm parts, and the variety of interesting findings in the area of midrange and treble.

James Horner — The Ludlows. Wonderful soundtrack to a wonderful film, light and unobtrusive, but not so boring to be the background. Multifaceted orchestration, of course, best would with something top-end, but the K3 HD is surprisingly decent job with this song, reviving in memory the best moments of the film.

Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush — Don’t Give Up. One of the best duets in music history gave us a wonderful deep track that is able to act and test headphone: Maestro Gabriel tried to saturate lyric melody interesting moments, but what about the quality of the recording, I think, needless to say. Hybrids from Magaosi, due to their involving serving, give the track drama and emotion of the vocals make you listen over and over again many times to this track.

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Insights

In General, my foray into the territory «almost unknown Chinese» succeeds. Magaosi K3 HD, of course, plug all of the belt, but the tail is not lagging. At this price they are very competitive and offer pleasant sound with a taste of color for those who ...