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Hi, this review is written by personal opinions please do not take it too seriously.

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Today we are looking at some entry-level audio equipments, they offers excellent quality to price ratio but lacks the pure sound of high end equipments.

Test equitments:
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
iTunes with mutiple formats
Creative T40 Series II (Over 600hrs)
Creative Auvura Live/ Denon D1001 (Over 200hrs)





First lets take a look at the T40 Series II:

Excellent presentation, looks great and grand. The power indicator is a glowing blue ring on the volume knob, it looks awesome. The protective cover is very solid and doesn't affect the sound.

Moving on to its sound, its very clear and detailed. The detail on them is unrivalled on similar priced 2.1 system. Highs are very smooth, mids are very slightly recessed to bring out the top and bottom end, the lows are clear and well defined but lacks the punch on higher end systems or 2.1 setups.

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Now the Creative Aurvana Live!/ Denon AH-D1001

Creative Aurvana Live! and Denon AH-D1001 are made with the same components and OEM manufacturer, but with different cup design.




They come with a nice mircofiber pouch for carrying, closed back, VERY light and easy to drive therefore they are quite portable if you do not mind the size. The headphone are extremely comfortable to wear and the pads are nice and soft, the joint are solid and the adjuster gives a enjoyable click when moved, however being closed back with leather pads, they can get warm in hot weather.

Moving on the the sound, BASS, bass with massive punch but still pretty controlled are being one of the best point about these headphones, you get extremely nice bass without them drowning the music. Mids are well clear and with good details, but highs can be lacking, and soundstage is closed in (Being a closed headphone). Overall great sound for the price.


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Creative T40 Series II vs Creative Aurvana Live!/ Denon AH-D1001

I love the T40's great detail due the the triple driver configration, and the treble on it is excellent. But when it comes to the bass, I would want the Creative Aurvana Live!/ Denon AH-D1001 as they have much more punch. I am not saying the bass on the T40 is bad, infact I think is much more refined than the Creative Aurvana Live!/ Denon AH-D1001 but it lack the serious punch that the Creative Aurvana Live!/ Denon AH-D1001 gives.

They are great entry level gear, will give a totally different music listening experience without breaking the bank.

Both are retailing at under £100. They are really one of the best equiment you can get for the price.

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Comments and questions welcome, and if you have any opinons or cristisms, please do not hold out.
Edited by ΓΛPΤΘΓ, 14 May 2009 - 13:17.

While I am reading this through atm I think this kind of thread is better suited to the Technology section (or one of its subsection)

Sure, I don't really know where to put it to be honest.

It is indeed. Moved as such.

Anyone have experience can give out any advise? This a the first time I written a review.

This is a good writeup for customer review section in websites, if you are aiming at something more comprehensive then learn by imitating. Look up review sites and how they do it.

Since 100 pounds equals to about AUD200 here, these are some other closed, portable headphone in that price range that you might want to check out:
http://www.headphone...e?productID=220
http://www.headphone...e?productID=226
http://www.headphone...e?productID=370

Ever looked at the X-530 from Logitech?

Waris, on 14 May 2009, 16:15, said:

Nah, I am not aiming to change my headphones. Gonna get a K701 soon (Only £170), I am just doing a review on what I have to help people get a better idea what will they be looking for when buying those. Oh btw the ES7 is a nice pair of headphone as well.

Crazykenny, on 14 May 2009, 17:30, said:

X-530 aren't in the same level at all. Poor sound quality and muddy bass when I heard them, but as a 5.1 its really cheap and cheerful, its good for playing games, and movies if you don't mind the quality.

That's a good price for a 701, what are you going to hook it up with?

Asus Xonar Essence STX, hope its build in amp can handle that picky headphones... If not will upgrade to a desktop amp, and stick with the STX as it got a really great DAC (124db SNR)...

To be perfectly honest, I would rather spend that kinda money in upgrading your rig. Unless your not a active gamer and more of a music person. The X-530 is fine, at least, the newer releases are. I have to admit, the old ones where crap sound quality wise.

What are you using now btw?

Crazykenny, on 15 May 2009, 14:30, said:

Sorry for late reply, I am currently using a X-Fi Xtreme Music sound card, a T40 Series II speaker, Creative Aurvana Live! headphone for music, and a pair of Plantronics .Audio 370 for gaming.

ΓΛPΤΘΓ, on 15 May 2009, 2:10, said:

How does that and the D1001 compare in your opinion?

ΓΛPΤΘΓ, on 17 May 2009, 16:33, said:

I'm not really up to date with speakers and such, but that soundcard is pretty smexy. Have you checked out the Xonar from ASUS?

Waris, on 18 May 2009, 6:35, said:

Although I haven't really listened to them side by side, but I am able to give you a general idea of how they compare. The ES7 are widely regarded as having a wider sound stage and being more detailed than the D1001, but it lack the serious punch that the D1001 have. Both are very light and portable, and easily driven by portable devices, both are very comfortable due to lightness but can get warm because of their close back and leatherette pads. Both are very good value, just depends you like their sound signature and style or not.

Crazykenny, on 18 May 2009, 8:47, said:

X-Fi is still the ultimate gaming card for sure, beating all other sound cards in terms of CPU usage in game. But high end ASUS Xonar, like Xonar Essence ST/STX have a superior DAC and higher quality components like proper audio capacitors, and Xonar Essence ST/STX have swappable OpAmps and a capable headphone amplifier built-in. They really built for totally different purposes, so both are really good sound cards in their own areas.

ΓΛPΤΘΓ, on 18 May 2009, 21:52, said:

Good to know. Someone over here is deciding between the two so this will help a bit. I used to own an ES7, for its price it is a very good closed compact headphone.

To be honest I don't see why you think Creative is so crash-hot.
From my personal experiences I far prefer any AT or Sennheiser product over anything Creative.

It all comes down to personal needs and wants. I don't know any other 2.0 speaker in the same price league as the T40, and has a passable SQ.

For gaming Logitech isnt bad either.