Linsoul HarmonicDyne Athena Semi-Closed Over-ear Wired HiFi Headphone with 50mm Dynamic Driver, Glass Faceplate, Detachable OCC Cable (HarmonicDyne Athena)

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It was more like the headphone sounded like it was notes deflecting off the back of the cup interior than natural decay of the driver. While it doesn’t evoke a claustrophobic feeling, it’s certainly not as natural sounding as the HD6XX. structure, the purity and greater conductivity of which offer excellent transient response and massively improve the acoustic quality. Ultimately, the dynamic driver acted admirably quickly, keeping up with rapid beats and accents beyond typical budget dynamics. I got a pair of Audeze LCD-XC that retail for ~1500 USD, and they're far from the most expensive pair of headphones they offer.

At the same time, opting for closing the back of the cups has put them in a position of having to work against one of the biggest issues of closed backs. While well-built and sturdy overall, there are fewer metal parts compared to HarmonicDyne's more expensive models.I know I don’t usually refer to EQ in my reviews but I did play around with some simple equalization in the 1kHz to 4kHz range to see what the response was like and I have to say that it really brought more life to these headphones. With that said, I also do feel like it is already a bit dampened, and perhaps EQ would help as well. The bass is a central element in the sound of the Ahena headphones, as they have a warm, smooth and clean bass that extends as low as 30 Hz, providing a good substance and fundamental energy for music. Starting off in the subbass with the usual “ Chameleon” test, there is no roll off in these ranges, in fact, there is a little bit of a bump, which does give these a “rumble” factor.

It presents a fair sense of clarity and extension, and one can discern that the driver is competently capable. Compared to traditional front and rear venting strategies, the M-shaped side ventilation improves airflow across the whole driver.

The first thing you will notice about the Athena is how heavenly comfortable they are, the clamping force is not very high, but they stay stable on my head, and the headband is literally the softest headband I have ever seen in a headphone.