HarmonicDyne Athena-Best Looking BUT the Best Sounding HarmonicDyne?-Honest Audiophile Impressions

[@ginom407]

Great Review Dave. Thank You!!! 👍

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome!

[@ROFLWAFFLELAWL4]

One thing I noticed with these were despite how warm they were they never sound muddy and have surprising amounts of detail considering. Obviously a Planar set might have more distinct separation but as a whole package, this could easily be someones entry and endgame for a very long time. Assuming they don't absolutely hate warm sound profiles lol.

[@yugao2]

How does this compare to sivga sv021?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Athena has more linear presentation, not as foward in the upper mids and more even in the lower mids, more accurate tone and timbre, better detail retrieval and resolution. The Sivga has thinner note weight, brighter upper mids and lower treble.

[@sockhopsinger]

Great review. I have the Zeus and I like it, but I haven't been tempted to get anything else by HarmonicDyne until now. I think you sold me when you said mini Sennheiser 600. Great job as always. Hope your coffee endeavors are going well.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Awesomeness. I look forward to hearing your impressions of the Athena if you choose to purchase them. Coffee endeavors are fun. Been using the AreoPress a lot lately.

[@tedthomas9809]

Thank you Dave! I have not bought a headphone for a while---this sounds like an interesting proposition. Have seen a lot of reviews of Harmonicdyne phones, but this seems to be the most of interest to me. The price is also not astronomical! Thanks again.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome.

[@guillermoleoni]

Thanks!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thank you so much for the gift, much appreciated 💖

[@woodshop-audio]

I own HD 600's which I use for "critical" listening but much prefer the sound of my Harmonic Dyne Poseidon's which are my current "go to" headphones for expended listening. The Athena's now look very tempting...... Thanks for your review.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Awesomeness. Look forward to hearing your impressions of the Athena. You're welcome for the review.

[@LandsPlanes]

Hi! For enjoy music is better than Sundara?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sundara is more clinical, the Athena is more enjoyable

[@LandsPlanes]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome.

[@staceejaxx3071]

Great video. Lots of useful information. Your review made me pull the trigger. Hope they arrive soon :)

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Awesome! Glad you found the review helpful. Look forward to hearing your impressions of the Athena.

[@lindaterzich6632]

Right as always dear Sir!

[@quantumcreator8888]

Good to see you Dave 😊great review brother ☝️ ❤

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thank you kindly, much appreciated.

[@BobbyDigital6411]

Thanks for the review! I just ordered these, and as an owner of the HD600 and the Zeus, I am really looking forward to giving these a listen on my Asgard 3 and Valhalla 2. Cheers! Edit: I got a shipment notification while watching this video. Subscribed.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Hope you enjoy it! Look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@BobbyDigital6411]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Got my Athena and I love it so far. The only area where I think the Zeus surpasses the Athena is in the midrange, but that being said the Athena sounds better everywhere else to my ears. It's also more comfortable because it's noticeably lighter and the headband is much better. Soundstage might be slightly better on the Zeus, but the imaging and detail retrieval are right on par with each other. For half the cost of the Zeus I believe the Athena to be an extraordinary value!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Awesome 👍 Glad you enjoy the Athena. Thank you for the impressions.

[@ThankYou_AV]

Hello! Can you, please, compare Athena vs Raptgo Hook x HBB ?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sorry, haven't heard the Hook x HBB.

[@jamesmiller4487]

I have quite a few headphones including a few that many might say are pretty good, including Elex, HE560 v4, HE6 v2, and Eikon, but usually I listen to IEMs. I took a chance on the Athena, and wow, I cannot get enough of them. Sure I have better headphones, but these are crazy good for the price!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Awesome! Glad you enjoy the Athena. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@videoviewermaster]

Thanks for the review! very informative. I would like to know how the Athena compares with the Sony mdr cd900st, in your opinion which ones sound better or which one do you recommend?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Been a very long time since I heard the Sony CD900st, I really don't remember enough to give a fair comparison.

[@SuperEnforcer88]

Thank you for your review. I'm gonna buy It!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Hope you enjoy it! Look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@davidbruce8786]

Bought a pair based on this review. Big disappointment. M shaped response. Peaks at midbass, mid and mid treble. Unmusical. 100-170hz just booms because there’s nothing after. Headache inducing. Will be returning.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy them. Curious what sources you used?

[@davidbruce8786]

CD, vinyl and files through a Gustard R10. I do like the semi-open vented design (and reasonable price) and I do find they work at lower volumes but that upper bass area remains kind of “one note” and amorphous. There’s a lack of harmonic overtones but there is an appealing clarity, although, again, I have to keep the volume down to keep everything in control, as that three hump camel response become more obvious the higher the level.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for the impressions. I've not heard a Gustard R10.

[@datdudeinred]

Loved the review. But it might be too much sound leakage out side the earcups right? Can you please let me know after testing it with your friends or family? the sound quality & design begs it to be used as portable. Wish they might be able to pull off same build & sound in a closed back someday

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

They do leak quite a bit, it is pretty much an open back headphone. Yeah I would love to see what they can do with a fully closed back.

[@ROFLWAFFLELAWL4]

Personally I tested it by placing it on my knee and having the cups close on my leg to mimic it being on my head and the leakage isnt that bad, not like typical full opem backs. It has the same sound volume as my Iphone12pro (stereo speakers) when playing music or video at maybe 3 clicks up from mute. Its def not bad at all.

[@fei19317]

The vent reminds me of Sony Mdr-Z7m2.

[@LeDechaine]

FYI, title says "Best Sounding HarmonidDyne" !

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Updated the title. Thanks for the notification. I hope you watched the video along with critiquing my spelling.

[@LeDechaine]

@@TheHonestAudiophile lol sorry, I haven't watched it yet, I was scrolling and saw the mistake, just wanted to help. But I can confirm I like your videos. 😁

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

If you like the channel videos, why not watch this one, even if you aren't interested in the HarmonicDyne Athena. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing.

[@ndrazenovic]

Hi! Thank you for the lovely review. I'm considering buying closed-back headphones for listening to music while working in the office. How do these compare to Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, AKG K361/K371, SIVGA SV021, or RODE NTH-100? I'm only afraid that it will leak too much noise and maybe annoy my colleagues🙂!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

They're not closed back as mentioned in the video. The Athena leaks quite a lot of sound.

[@Gilliboy82]

This one or the sivga oriole? Which has the best sound quality? Which leaks less sound for surrounders?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Athena leaks more but also has better sound quality

[@millenwagon]

Great review! I can get a hd 600 for the same price, considering this would the 600 be a better buy?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

14:37 HD600 comparison Honestly it depends on what you want in your sound when comparing the two for the same price.

[@r.h.616]

Hi thx for review!! Please put this model to your tierlist!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

The tierlist has been updated. You are welcome for the review. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@jimis3167]

By seeing those vents, makes me think these leak more sound than other closed backs?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Yes, they leak similar to an open back headphone

[@6643bear]

Hi great video, they seemed to well built excellent cable and connectors and great build quality, I have just ordered hd6xx from mass drop I wondered I should got these headphones Instead. Regards mark

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Different sound signatures, the 6xx is more forward in the mids but doesn't have the bass impact or the treble extension of the Athena. The Athena has a warmer and fuller sound but with a little more sparkle and energy in the treble. The 6xx has slightly more space and separation between instruments and vocals.

[@6643bear]

@@TheHonestAudiophile hi thanks very much for your reply, I also have hd560s as much I like those especially using ifi zen dac v2 into my system, I prefer a warmer audio signature as well as sparkle ,also at the 2 price points Athena build quality is for better than the hd560s and hd6xx. The cable also s of high quality with excellent connectors . Perhaps later on will purchase these Athena headphones. Thanks very much regards mark

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome.

[@jimking8342]

Thanks for the review. How would you say these sound compared to other semi-open headphones in the same price range, like the Beyerdynamic DT880, or the Fostex T50RP?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I haven't heard a Fostex T50rp in a very long time, nearly 2 years. I honestly don't recall enough about the Fostex T50rp to give a fair comparison. I own a modded DT880 600ohm so I can't offer fair comparison to stock.

[@tedthomas9809]

I cannot compare, but I do Have the Fostex Dekoni blue( they need a LOT of power to make them happy) and are my phones of choice for movies. Very dynamic and tons of fun. They are basically T50RP and affordable.

[@makunouchiippo816]

@@tedthomas9809 Could you please tell me if it's true that the Dekoni Blue starts hissing if a song is very bassy? Someone on thomann germany who bought these headphones has stated that this would be the case especially on electronic music. I'm not listening to electronic music (mainly deathcore, metalcore and japanese rock) but sometimes electronic stuff is even involved in those genres. I was really interested in the Dekoni Blues but after reading so much about modding them and that they would need a very powerful amp (which means more extra costs) I'm not so sure anymore. The discontinued Fostex Purpleheart would've been probably a really good fit for my music taste but sadly I won't be able to get one of those. They are too expensive on ebay (saw one for 550$ but even that is way above my budget and the rest goes up to 700$ and higher).

[@ddgardner5671]

vs. The HD 560S?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

To be honest I don't recall much about the 560s as I haven't heard one since I reviewed it, here is a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWjSf5iae9aLgLM The only thing I remember about the 560s was it wasn't very pleasant to my ears and the Athena is pleasant to my ears.

[@heavyharmonies]

You mentioned that it is your favorite Harmonicdyne to date, but didn't go into detail. Compare/contrast to the Harmonicdyne Zeus? I have those and enjoy them; what does the Athena bring to the table?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Here is a link to my Zeus review, pretty easy to understand why I say the Athena is the best HarmonicDyne I've heard. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioXJaXuah8yVb9U

[@EICHOLZtheEXPERT]

I got mine yesterday, but I didn't get the coin.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

It's not inside in the middle of the foam protector for the headphone? Interesting

[@EICHOLZtheEXPERT]

@@TheHonestAudiophile No It's nowhere.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Not missing much unless you need to do a coin flip 🙃