Disclaimer: Verisonix provided a well-used Verisonix N501 for the purposes of this review, free of charge. The N501 has an MSRP of 549$. You can find out more about it here: Verisonix N501.
I don’t usually go crazy over spec, but the Verisonix N501 is a hybrid headphone, sporting two drivers per channel: one 4030 e-stat (electret), and one 40mm dynamic, respectively. For pictures of the driver assembly, hit up Inner Fidelity. (Note: the headphones in Inner Fidelity’s article are re-brands from electronic company, Mitchell & Johnson. The guts are the same.)
Not Sound
The N501 and their sibling, N500 were hiding in plain sight at Fujiya Avic’s 2015 Fall headphone show occluding one Victor Shen, a charming, twinkly-eyed gentleman whose booth shared space with phatlab Audio’s lovely portable valve amps. He turned an affable eye as I wedged a Moleskin under the headband, asking me if I had trouble getting the N501 to fit.
I nodded. The headband needs to shrink by 5mm on either side. Because, when it does, gosh am I pleased. While the cups don’t swivel at all (strange for a headphone labelled ‘PRO DJ’), it folds flat for transportation and angles freely by about 75º to match any jawline.
The wood cups are beautiful, but the fulcrum squeaks here and there and the metal edges are mottled and unpolished. Strangely, despite sporting L and R labels on the headphone cups, the cable us unlabelled. You’ll have to cue up your favourite channel testing track to ensure you’ve jammed the right plugs into the right holes. Oh, and the Verisonix logo belongs to the computer parts world more than it does the HiFi world.
If you get a good fit, or if further production models click tighter against crown-handicapped heads, there’s little else about which to whinge. The box is simple and sturdy and inside is a handy semi-hard carrying case with a standard 3,5mm – 6,3mm step-up adapter.
The N501 and its accessories are a functional, utilitarian package, that could do with a few tweaks to recommend it at the price.
It also isolates well and if you get a perfect seal, leaks only a small amount to the outside. If your head is shaped perfectly for it, it makes a pretty good commuter headphone. What doesn’t is its slick pleather pads, which don’t jive well with oil and sweat. Too many phones cheap out on the pads. Another headphone which I really like, but which gets icky quick is the Meze 99 Classics. It’s time for headphone makers to invest in velour or leather.
Sound and more after the jump:
Sound and more after the jump:
GrizzlybEast
Great Review! Will this have atleast as much bass presence as an akg k712?
ohm image
More, I think. I don’t have measuring equipment, but the presence prior to decay seems stronger.
GrizzlybEast
thats good to know, so long as its not bass light… the way you describe it makes me very interested. Also is it an electrostat that can just use a normal amp?
ohm image
It’s pretty flat. If you consider bass flat headphones to be bass light, then I recommend a good sit down with it beforehand. No matter, a good sit down is a good idea.
Kristian Lindecrantz
Do you have any idea how it compares to the mitchell & johnson “rebrand” i pledge for a couple of weeks ago? I am a trancehead who enjoys treble so I’m excited to see what mitchell & johnson will deliver
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/214784295/mitchell-and-johnson-electrostatz-headphones
ohm image
[From what I understand] it is the exact same thing.
Barun C
Hey Nathan,
Hope your doing well. Another great review with crisp photos. Wish you had the AKG K340 & Dharma D1000 for comparison, but am glad as these seem to be a pretty efficient headphone, especially considering they have a pair of electret drivers.
Speaking of hybrid headphones, if possible, please review the hybrid designed Final Audio headphones, I think there are 4 or 5 different pairs. I bought the FAD PHVI on the basis of Dale’s review and I couldn’t be more happier, as I got a very good brand new headphone at $500, which punches way above its price.
Thanks
Barun
ohm image
I’ve tried to get into contact with Final and had no luck. I’m sorry. If an owner here in Japan would loan me them, I’d happily review them.
Barun C
If I only lived in Japan. I may be able to ship my pair, but it might be a hassle for you to ship it back.
ohm image
Where are you located?
Barun C
India
ohm image
What part? There are swathes of India to which I cannot send registered mail.
Barun C
Calcutta, east coast central, one of the Metro cities, so well connected.
Zombie_X
Looks interesting. Seems to go back to the days of the old AKG hybrid headphones.
Everything in the $700 bracket outclasses the PS1000 though. They’re very overpriced and under performing for what they ask.
Headfonia_L.
Long time no see. Glad to see you’re still alive
dalethorn
I bought the PS1000e, and nobody wants to buy it from me. The sound is, well, weird. According to some reviews I’ve read, Grado changed the sound drastically from the 1000 to the 1000e, and not in a good way. But, the SR325e sounds normal Grado.
Claus
Versisonix is not a rebrand of Mitchell and Johnson, it is the other way around, the HP1 has been on sale years before M and J startede selling headphones..
ohm image
I think you read what I wrote wrong- unless you are replying to someone else.