Sleek SA6

[DJGeorgeT]

Originally Posted by epithetless

Sigh. I'm inches away from lightening my wallet on these...Maybe I should join Team Sucker-for-Hype...

lol. I should just wait a year and if the hype is still alive I will then get them.

I love my UM2s, KSC-35, KSC-75, SR60. After years and years, the hype about these have not died out.

Examples of hyped headphones that came and went:

Sony EX90LP - they were were cans when introduced, but now everyone knows they are crap
AKG 701 - absolutely the best when introduced, but now all the people that bought these, sold them and bought back their HD650 lol.
JVC Marshmallows - I am the one to blame for this disaster :/ I hyped it up. Now I can't even listen to them :S

[tstarn06]

Once upon a time, someone certainly hyped the SR-60s, UM2s, Ksc75s, Ksc35s, etc., and for good reason. Some make it for the long haul, some don't. I guess I'd agree these might fall into the FOTM snakepit. But the experience of some of the folks who are raving about the SA6s makes others (I'm guilty) think that won't be the case. Again, no doubt someone hyped both the survivors and the failures along the way. My hope is a year from now, the SA6s will be in the former category.

Of course, there are plenty of phones with staying power and plenty of worshippers (Ety ER4P?) that weren't the solution for many on Head-Fi. So, the search goes on. I'm looking forward to giving the SA6s a shot, and with a 30-day return policy, I feel pretty good about it.

[cn11]

tstarn06- when do yours arrive? I really look forward to reading yours and soozieq's impressions once you receive them.

Hope you like them as much as I do....& yeah, safe to say not FOTM- I hope anyway. Too refined for that.
-Chris.

**edit- ah, tomorrow... I guess I should have read better further up the page. heh.

[faiz23]

i heard about this but the price is high for a single driver it would be awesome if they had a dual driver WOW. Talks about a bluetooth options for them in the future sounds good, can't wait till they get dual or triple driver

[EyeAmEye]

Originally Posted by cn11

Hey, congrats! They are little gems aren't they? The treble + tip makes a big difference. Instant synergy with the bass + port. Try it, you'll like it. If you want the treble ++ tips, just PM Jason here on Head-Fi. He's instant on the replies.

Spent the last few hours with the treble+ port, and they do indeed step it up a notch. Excellent combination with the bass+. Can't wait to get my hands on the treble++. Thanks for the tip, I will PM Jason for the ports.

On a side note, I swapped the double flange I was using for the small grey tip of my Shure SE310. Adds some warmth without hurting the overall sound. Fits a little better, too.

[PeterDLai]

Not that I would trust a magazine called Computer Shopper (though they claim to be "Britain's Biggest Technology Magazine") but it seems interesting that reviews outside of Head-Fi seem to be so mixed.

"The SA6's sound quality was good, but doesn't quite match that of Shure's cheaper SE210 sound-isolating earphones. Still, Sleek deserves praise for innovation, and we look forward to seeing new models in the future."

Source

Of course I trust you guys more, but it still irks me when I read such conflicting opinions.

[EyeAmEye]

Originally Posted by tstarn06

Just PM Jason and he'll make sure you get the new treble tubes, just in case. Wow, that's pretty strong stuff. I'm pumped to get mine tomorrow. Is this race finally over? Nah. But sooner or late, I have to take a rest. Hope it's sooner.

Again, wow on that mini-review. Sent back the Custom 3s to get these? That is making me feel very positive. If they turn out to be as it looks, we should make sure CNET readers hear about it. That's a pretty major site, and as it stands, the SA6s aren't getting a fair shake. But there is time for that, for now, I am looking forward to getting my pair.

Edit: Ran across this review...Review: Sleek Audio SA6 In-Ear Headphones Sing to Your Ears | Gadget Lab from Wired.com

I was severely disappointed with the Custom3 on all fronts. Found it fairly uncomfortable and difficult to maintain a seal with the included tips and the various Shure tips I have from the SE310 (including the black "olives"). When I did get a good seal, the sound was very uninspired. Thin with light bass and muffled highs, brighter than I prefer. Would have returned them no matter what, but the SA6 pushed me to return them sooner.

Not sure if there is a specific way in which one should wear them, but I am wearing the SA6 upside down with the cord over my ear. Keeps the IEM in place and prevents the seal from breaking.

I usually don't jump in and recommend anything right off the bat. I've been through many IEMS in the past few years (SE530, SE310, SuperFi5, TripleFi10, Atrio 5, Vibez, Denon C700 and Custom3) and never found any of them immediately pleasing. Aside from the UE11, the SA6 is the only IEM I've really gotten into from the start. They are going to make a nice companion (not an equal, mind you) to my UE11.

[elnero]

Originally Posted by faiz23

i heard about this but the price is high for a single driver it would be awesome if they had a dual driver WOW. Talks about a bluetooth options for them in the future sounds good, can't wait till they get dual or triple driver

I think people need to start realizing that dual and triple drivers does not automatically mean better performance, I'd have to say I personally prefer the SA6's to my triple driver E500's on many fronts, that includes bass which the E500's are known for.

Originally Posted by EyeAmEye

They are going to make a nice companion (not an equal, mind you) to my UE11.

I know it's probably an unfair comparison but I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on the differences between the two when you've had some time with the SA6's.

[elnero]

Originally Posted by PeterDLai

Of course I trust you guys more, but it still irks me when I read such conflicting opinions.

One thing I've come to realize in my IEM journey is the sound can be varied greatly with tips and different people hear different things with the same tips. Up until the SA6's were released tips were a users best weapon to try to tailor the sound to personal preference. I've been experimenting with various tips on the SA6's and have been able to make them sound like complete utter crap, and when I say crap I mean cheap alarm clock radio crap, with Shure's soft grey flex sleeves, to very midrange oriented, almost shouty with the tri-flanges I prefer on the E500's. What I've settled into is the Shure black olives because they seem to offer the best balance for both sound and comfort.

I tend to wonder when I read a review that's so far off my own impressions whether something like this is coming into play.

[antonyfirst]

I use to stay away from flavours of the month, at least at the start, but I want these really badly.
I think I'll get a pair after my wallet recovers from iMod purchase.

Last thought: these should fit Klipsch Image's gel tips, which should be very interesting to try.

[DJGeorgeT]

It is known that HOTM can burn your wallet quite easily.

HOTM = hype of the moment

[tstarn06]

I plead "guilty" to jumping on some very shaky bandwagons (Vibes, X3s, in particular), but I also have been through ER4Ps (with the S cable), UM1s, er6is, C700s and a number of other respected/popular (and non-FOTM) phones. Just can't seem to find the right sound/comfort combo for my ears. Of course, I've never ventured into stratosphere territory (UE11, Triple-Fi Pro, E530/500, etc.), but I have read enough about how some of those higher-priced phones aren't always the perfect solution either.

I do still like my current bunch - the Atrios, the 716s and the PK3s - but I would love to find a long-lasting IEM in particular that offers both excellent sound (as perceived by my ears/tastes) and comfort.

Anyway, I'm with you on this one Antony. If these are as good as folks claim, they may be the answer. Or at least "an" answer that is better than anything else I've tried so far. And within 30 days, I think I'll know whether or not these are keepers, and not another FOTM/HOTM. So no holes in my wallet if that turns out to be the case.

[antonyfirst]

When are you receiving yours?

[tstarn06]

Today, but we're having a snowstorm (if you call 3 inches of snow a storm) here in Philly, so it may not be until Monday. I won't have the new treble tube yet either, and based on posts here, that is the real kicker on these phones. So if it does come, I will calmly take it out of the package, get out my headphone splitter, and see how they sound with the various tips and bass modules. I expect I will settle on the +Bass and +treble ones, as others have reported. My expectations (mindset to the psychologists) are high, no doubt. So I have to really be careful about how I listen. My hope is I will know right away that the SA6s are what they are supposed to be. If not, I will patiently wait for Jason to mail me that new treble tube, and give it a try.

Hang in there. I'd say there are some serious folks who already have delivered a good review of the SA6s. I hope I am soon in that camp.

[EyeAmEye]

Originally Posted by elnero

I know it's probably an unfair comparison but I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on the differences between the two when you've had some time with the SA6's.

Yes, it's unfair, but what makes it interesting is the UE11's single flaw (at least to me). The bass of the UE11 is monstrous, and while that's fun the majority of the time, it tends to overshadow the highs and mids. Everything is there, and in great detail, but you have to weed through the bass to catch them. The bass adds a tremendous weight and body to the sound that is unrivaled in anything I've heard so far (IEM wise), and makes anything else sound very thin in comparison. The SA6 with the bass+ and treble+ offer enough body to not sound thin and give a more neutral sound.


Sorry I'm not much for the technical speak, but I would sum it up like this:

SA6- brighter, more neutral sounding. Mids, highs more forward. Bass is well presented, never overpowering, nice bass slam. Good detail across the spectrum. Highs sound splashy in direct comparison to UE11. Vocals are pushed forward. Soundstage is narrower and flatter than UE11.

UE11 - Very warm sound. Heavy and detailed bass that creates a "big" sound. Very authoritative sound. Bass has tendency to overshadow mids/highs, has slam and/or bloat (depending upon recording). On heavy bass recordings, this is a problem, but for most, makes the UE11 a very fun listen. Mids and highs are extremely accurate and detailed. Treble is extremely smooth and delicate, can be drowned out by bass. Mids seem a tad recessed, but are very detailed and natural. Vocals blend more with the music. Soundstage is wider.

Hope that helps. I will say this, from a sound perspective only, the SA6 is a better value. The UE11 justifies it's cost mainly in unparalleled comfort. The sound difference is not as huge as one would think.