Andover Audio PM-50 Review

Andover Audio PM-50

Sources / Amplification

 

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I will keep this section rather short. With its 32 ohm impedance rating and 102dB sensitivity, the PM-50 should not be the hardest headphone to drive but at the same time I had to elevate the volume level quite a bit to get to my preferred listening level.

Do you absolutely need to use a higher end DAP or amplifier with the PM-50? No you don’t, though it will make the headphone sound better (precision, layering).

Comparisons

As I stated earlier, the Andover PM-50 has some very strong competition in this price segment. Let’s compare it with my favorite three headphones in this segment.

First up is the Sendy Audio Aiva. The Aiva is the largest headphone of the pack, especially looking at the inner size of the pads. The Aiva is selling for exactly the same price ($499), so it’s a direct competitor.

Like the PM-50, the Aiva is perfectly built and it has nice wooden ear cups and a fancy aluminium grill. The headband system is different and the pads a bit larger so the Aiva is more comfortable to use, especially for longer periods. The presentation here has a more clarity and the stereo image is better. You also get a more out of your head kind of sound like you’re supposed to get with open back headphones. Aiva’s sound stage is wider and the extension is better. The treble section is also more energetic. Technically the Aiva is the strongest of both headphones, and the mid note extension is ahead of that of the PM-50. The Aiva the more civilized, neutral and audiophile tuned headphone of both so if that’s your thing you will prefer these. If you want a fuller, bass heavier and more intimate sound, the PM-50 will be the headphone that pleases you more.

The Audeze LCD-1 is selling for $399USD and it’s the smallest headphone of the bunch. The LCD-1 has already won multiple awards and it’s also featured on our Recommended Buy list, it’s a very good headphone.

The LCD-1 for me is the technically strongest of these headphones. It has an excellent sound stage, good extension both in width and depth, great clarity and lovely timbre. This headphone also scores well when it comes to layering, balance and note extension. The LCD-1 for me is the most audiophile sounding headphone of all of these mid-fi planar magnetic headphones.

Build and look-wise the Audeze is probably the lowest scoring headphone of this selection but he price/quality ratio probably is the highest.

The Hifiman Sundara is selling for $349 for the moment and it is a very poplar headphone. Comfort-wise the Sundara scores well, it’s also the biggest of the headphones in this comparison. The build quality is good but there’s not really anything special about the Sundara’s design if you ask me.

I have to admit I always have been rather hard on the Sundara, but that’s based on the example I have with me here. Several of the Sundara headphones I have listened to at shows sound very different from my unit: much fuller, warmer, bass heavier. Sound stage wise, the Sundara scores very high when it comes to width. The depth and layering also is quite good. The Sundara also sounds very open and out of your head. The presentation is balanced and very spacious and at the same time you get a great stereo image and accuracy. Technically the Sundara is very strong but it does sound lighter in body in bass. The clarity level is impressive on the other hand. All-in-all this is a very good, audiophile headphone, especially for the price it’s going for.

Andover Audio PM-50

Andover Audio PM-50

Conclusion

Positioning yourself in the mid-fi segment with all these excellent performing competitors is quite hard.

Presentation and build quality-wise the Andover Audio PM-50 surely delivers, there’s no doubt about that. Sound-wise it is also different enough from the other big-hitters in this segment to distinguish itself from the rest.

The PM-50 isn’t the technically strongest headphone in the segment but with its smooth, warmer, intimate sound with punching bass, it for sure will please many listeners to whom engagement and fun are more important. I’m convinced the PM-50 is a headphone that will bring a smile on many faces, it just depends on how you want your favorite tracks to sound like.

Price-wise – especially looking at what is on the market already – the PM-50 probably is a bit expensive, but that also is different for each one of us. I do look forward to a remake of this PM-50 or a second model with a higher level of technicalities. I’m sure they’re planning that already.

4.4/5 - (109 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

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