Today we were very lucky to hear the OPPO PM-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones for the first time and even before opening the box I was very impressed! Usually when a set of Headphones arrive they are in a box just big enough to carry the items, however this was not the case with the PM-1’s. The box the OPPO PM-1’s arrived in was mammoth in comparison with other Headphones we see day-in and day-out, so mammoth that I could sit a small subwoofer in it!
Once we had we opened the shipping packaging I was yet again surprised with another box inside that holds yet another box and the soft carry case , making unpacking the OPPO PM-1’s almost like a fun game of pass the parcel. The box inside OPPO packaging was covered in what looked and felt like tweed, inside this grey tweed feeling box was a sturdy dark lacquered wooden box or chest, as at this stage it was like I had finally found a hidden treasure and these Headphones are definitely a beautiful treasure of sorts!
Inside this dark lacquered wooden chest are the OPPO PM-1 Headphones, but before I start onto them I have to finish ranting on about the wooden chest! The lacquered finish is so beautiful that I would happily have it on display if I didn’t have kids, in saying that I would most likely get a display stand for it in my office or lounge. The quality doesn’t stop once you open the wooden chest, inside it is covered with a supple leather making the chest a beautiful display piece on its own!
Now onto the OPPO PM-1’s themselves!
The design of the OPPO PM-1 Headphones are nice and simple to the eye, which is something I am a big fan of. With solid feeling ear cups, a nice soft leather headband and ear pads I found them to be very comfortable and could easily use them for long periods of time. Even the the polished aluminum finishing strips scream subtle and class but not in your face look at me, look at me!
Now for the specifications!
Specifications:
- Open back acoustic principle
- Circumaural ear coupling
- 32 Ohm nominal impedance
- 102 dB in 1 mW sensitivity
- 5 N clamping pressure
- 3 m detachable OCC cable (6.35 mm), 1 m detachable OFC cable (3.5 mm) cables
- Output: 2.5 mm mono mini jacks. Input: 6.35 mm stereo jack, 3.5 mm stereo jack cable connectors
- 395 g (without cable) weight
Driver Specifications:
- Planar Magnetic driver type
- 85 x 69 mm Driver Size (Oval)
- Symmetric push-pull neodymium magnet system
- 10 – 50,000 Hz frequency response in free-field
- 500 mW (according to IEC 60268-7) long-term Max. input power
- 2 W pulse Max. input power
Included Accessories:
- Wooden Box
- Carrying Case
- 6.35 mm and 3.5 mm cables
- Alternative set of velour ear pads
- User Manual
Both Ashley and myself had a good listen to the OPPO PM-1’s and soon noticed that a good significant time had passed leaving me a touch behind on some of my work (Ops!). We both listened to the PM-1’s amplified and non-amplified via a mobile device playing all our own choice of music.
Lance: – Ok, on my first song I was impressed with the clarity however felt they lacked on the bass side of things. Now, since they were somebody else’s purchase I didn’t want to remove the plastic. Then I realized they are an open-back Headphone, at this point I felt very stupid and removed the plastic covers off the side of the cups… You can laugh at me now… Ok, back to the start!
Now the same song I played was now amazing, the bass was loud and clear, vocals were so precise and the guitars were wailing all while still being perfectly balanced. This is how music is supposed to be appreciated, the PM-1’s are by far the best sounding Headphones I have ever heard, I will go as far as saying they have ruined me when it comes to Headphones and now will saving up to buy some Planar Magnetic Headphones to replace my current Headphones. To sum it up in one word… Beautiful!
Ashley: – As Lance stated above when I first heard these headphones I thought they were an amazing set of Headphones but with no bass. Once the plastic was removed, finally I was listening to a set of Headphones! Since 1982 from my first set of Koss through to today 30+ years later, these Headphones are undoubtedly the best to date! (I will be definitely talking to Santa about a set for 2015). I played a whole range of music from classical, jazz, pop, rock, trance even to some of Lances craziness that he calls music. The main thing I loved about these headphones is the packaging (This goes without saying) and also the travel case and for me what stood was the monstrous cable, they reminded me of Monster Cables for Headphones! It was also cool that they supplied a smaller lead for the phones, however if it could be slightly longer would of been good.
From a construction perspective I found these Headphones to be built to the highest of standards, they very much impressed me as they were absolutely flawless! As for the wearing of them I could easily wear them for hours on end, the most comfortable of all the Headphones we have tried. Now of course I know what you are all thinking, so far I have not told you what they sound like… What a musical experience and the emotional attachment to you and the music being played! Very well balance, attention to detail outstanding with bass that is not under or overstated.
Now the best way to describe these Headphones in a musical opinion to me is like sitting in a room with a pair of $10,000+ speakers with all the individual characteristics and separation all being maintained. One thing I did find with these was when playing music with a raspy voice was that it was like being at the recording studio with the artist while it is being pieced together! These are a well balanced musical experience! A big thank you to my loyal customer somewhere in the north island, I so much nearly didn’t send them back you (All jokes aside, thank you again. I know you will absolutely love them).
I’d like to thank the amazing customer that offered to let us review these amazing Headphones, we don’t every often have customers do these sort of favors for us but when they do it is very much appreciated! By the time you see this review hopefully you will be at home enjoying them as much Ashley and myself did.
Note: The white gloves are not supplied with the headphones, we use them to handle any Home Audio product that has a piano or polished finish.
P.S. Ashley was walking around like Micheal Jackson, well not really but you get the idea!
Lance ‘Captain Z’ Wilson