Recent content by FidelityCastro
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Shure KSE1500 Review - Shure KSE1500 Sound Isolating Electrostatic Earphones
Thats an interesting and punchy short summary! I was thinking about trying a couple of the new EE ones. I have the KSE1200, which I’m enjoying very much. When you say “completely opposite”, any extra colour to add?- FidelityCastro
- Post #4,745
- Forum: Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors
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Empire Ears - Discussion & Impressions (Formerly EarWerkz)
Thank you for such a detailed, insightful response. That’s very useful indeed and very much appreciated! For me it’s a DAP (SP1K SS) and mainly Tidal HiFi/Masters; occasionally 192. Interestingly, I do exactly the same with the volume: I tend to listen to guitar-based bands and like to get a...- FidelityCastro
- Post #20,037
- Forum: Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors
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Empire Ears - Discussion & Impressions (Formerly EarWerkz)
lol sounds like a great few days testing both. Have you ever tried / owned the KSE1200s? I own them and am enjoying them thoroughly. However - there’s nearly always a however, right - I also wish they had a balanced option (and the little amp is a bit of a hassle), so the Wraith obviously caught...- FidelityCastro
- Post #20,035
- Forum: Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors
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Empire Ears - Discussion & Impressions (Formerly EarWerkz)
could you elaborate on the instrument timbre point?- FidelityCastro
- Post #20,034
- Forum: Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors
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Shure KSE1500 Review - Shure KSE1500 Sound Isolating Electrostatic Earphones
I may have missed an earlier post, but when you say “custom tips”, could you clarify? I’m trying a few different ones on my 1200s at the moment. Thanks and best.- FidelityCastro
- Post #4,665
- Forum: Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors
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New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
Just got my SPK SS back from repair and throughly enjoying it after a two-month absence. I’m a fan of balanced, but the Shure KSE 1200 is currently beating out my usual balanced connection IEMs (altho would be great if they could do a balanced one). It’s like having a new player again (my...- FidelityCastro
- Post #7,136
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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Astell&Kern new flagship A&Ultima SP2000
Thanks for the impressions. Would you mind clarifying “imaging is bigger” in the Cu point, and “a bit laid back (compared to Cu)” in the SS line. Thank and best. PS I own a SP1000 SS and demo’d The SP1000 Cu (I found the Cu to be warmer, with less resolution, per your SP2k comment above, but...- FidelityCastro
- Post #796
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
Ah yes, new toyitis. That too :)- FidelityCastro
- Post #6,838
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
AK have said that there’s no difference in SQ per se with the amp, because the DAP is still doing the DA conversion and EQ etc. So in theory it will ‘just’ drive harder-to-drive cans with the same DAP, with the same SQ as when using no amp and easier-to-drive IEMs (obviously if the...- FidelityCastro
- Post #6,836
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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Astell&Kern new flagship A&Ultima SP2000
My local dealer said the same thing: he prefers the SPK SS but prefers the SPK2 Cu. I haven’t heard any of the 2000s yet, but there’s definitely a difference to my ears between SS and Cu in the 1000 editions. Just as with IEM cable, I found the copper SPK to be much warmer. SS edition sounds...- FidelityCastro
- Post #418
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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Astell&Kern Launches Four New Products at High End 2019 Munich
This a FANTASTIC review. Really appreciate your honesty about science versus what your ears are hearing, and I personally feel your pain that you are left with a subjective conclusion versus your preferred data-driven one. I feel the same way about these high-end DAPs as I do with electric...- FidelityCastro
- Post #131
- Forum: Sponsor Announcements and Deals
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New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
Bad news again with SP1000: Bluetooth hasn’t worked since day one, which I lived with as it has only been missed a couple of times. Then in the last week, WiFi connectivity stopped working as well. The DAP says it’s connected to my WiFi (only the 2.4ghz one of course), but the WiFi symbol...- FidelityCastro
- Post #6,744
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
@JasonNYC I appreciate (1) your prompt response and (2) your transparency. And thks for the volume icon expl There are much bigger issues in the world than a dude (me) with an expensive music player, so I’ll note down my current offline Tidal albums and do the factory reset. @JasonNYC thanks...- FidelityCastro
- Post #6,605
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
Did the update but when I tried to use the device, it has become very unstable - shutting down to just the on-screen ‘A’ symbol / dropping WiFi every few seconds. I’ve tried holding the power button down for 10/20 secs etc but no joy. Anyone else finding this? I’m trying to avoid a hard reset...- FidelityCastro
- Post #6,601
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
Agree with this 100%. Nicely put.- FidelityCastro
- Post #6,572
- Forum: Portable Source Gear