Game Audio Headphone Review - Oppo Digital PM3
The audiophile headphone market has exploded in recent years. Brands like HiFiMAN and Audeze use "planar magnetic" technology to deliver a superior listening experience. Audiophiles are more than willing to pay upwards of three thousand dollars for the worlds best sounding headphones. The element used in such headphones covers a larger space than traditional single coil, dynamic headphones. This uniformity and better components lead to a decidedly more balanced sound and smoother listening experience. Oppo Digital made their mark with high end amplifiers and are now bringing planar magnetic magnetic headphones to a wider audience with the PM3. They've been hailed by Sonarworks as the "the most neutral headphones by far", even citing the legendary Bob Katz as a big fan. The Sonarworks team spend their days testing, calibrating and listening to the best headphones in the world. They are heavily qualified when it comes to hearing the subtle difference between them all. This was such a bold claim that I had try the PM3 for myself.
Before the box even arrived, my expectations where quite high. Oppo Digital's attention to "lifestyle design" is immediately obvious when first seeing the slick case, which is flat and covered in denim that surpasses that of my own clothing. At roughly 10oz, these are some of the lightest headphones I have picked up. Opening the lightweight, flat case reveals PM3 ear pads folded flat. These are ultralight with a soft pleather ear pad material and comfortable tension. Oppo did mention that these have a "burn-in" period of 200hrs. Luckily, they do this in-factory before shipping.
My first listen is always the same list of FLACs that I know well. They all sounded incredibly uniform, but I was unable to notice any exaggeration. The frequency response of 10hz to 50khz is hard to believe but the top end somehow still lacked the harsh and painful treble spikes heard in other cans that top out at 40khz. The low end handled everything I threw at it, showing no signs of exaggeration. These are indeed some of the most sonically neutral headphones I have ever used. The ultra low impedance of 26 Ohm and 102 db sensitivity means they can be driven hard. It also means real-world referencing on smartphones is a snap. There are 4 cables included with these! One for studio use and then two specifically for iPhone and Android w/mic, plus a spare. The sound overall was in fact very balanced and incredibly un-hyped while presentation is gigantic and clean. The seven layer magnetic driver diaphragm is built to deliver superior performance, reliability, and longevity. I am stoked to have found these and feel that my personal search is finally over. Headphones have become super important mix reference tool and the PM3 also happens to be the most affordable planar magnetic headphones.
Conclusion
Rarely are such high expectations not only met, but exceeded. I challenge anyone to find a flatter, more neutral headphone for mixing game audio. These are nothing short of spectacular!
Related: Mixing on Headphones
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