Reviews by d8n0g

d8n0g

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: tight, clear sound. Great sound stage and separation
Cons: plastic materials used, proprietary mmcx cable
DISCLAIMER:
 
I am not a professional,  I do not use charts and graphs, nor do I know all the audiophile lingo.  I'm just a single dad, and music nut who finds escape in music.  I love to listen to it with great sounding headphones or iem's through good sources!!
 
I would like to thank Angus at Accutone for his generosity, and being an all-around great guy.  I am in no way affiliated with Accutone...just giving an unbiased review.  
 
The Pisces BA retails for 389$
 
 
REVIEW:
 
The overall presentation of the Pisces BA is fantastic!  When you're unboxing it feels as if you're opening a treasure chest. 
 
 
 
IMG_20161109_144115.jpg
 
IMG_20161109_144134.jpg
 
IMG_20161109_144211.jpg
 
These iem's are beautifully displayed on top of everything else inside so they are the first thing's you see.  Underneath, you find the mmcx cable, birth certificate, sound graph chart, tips, and white magnetic case all nicely packed together.
 
 
IMG_20161109_144630.jpg
 
IMG_20161109_144730.jpg
 
    I have to be honest,  I was turned off by the design with the long ended connectors.  The fact that they are plastic poses a problem.  I also thought they would be a hinderence to the overall comfort.  Putting them in my ears, I had absolutely no comfort issues, and the winged ends posed no problems what so ever (I still don't like them).  I wore these guys for roughly 3 hours in one sitting and had not one comfort issue.   
    I also don't like the proprietary mmcx connectors, and that really limits the use of third party cables.  I am not very rough with my IEM's, but I don't care for the cable as it feels flimsy and easily breakable.  
 
 
SONGS USED/SOUND QUALITY
 
 
fela kuti:  tears,        sweat, and blood
Leonard Cohen:      the partisan
elbow:                       fly boy blue/lunette
Neil Halstead           oh! mighty engine
Fleetwood mac:      sara
wye oak:                  we were wealth
other lives:              english summer
james blackshaw: spiralling skeleton 
teebs:                       viewpoint
Morrissey:               everyday is like sunday
 
 
IMG_20161109_144532.jpg
 
 specs:
Housing
Plastic
Driver Unit
1 DD + 1 BA driver
Frequenzy range
20hZ – 22kHz
Sensitivity
101dB
Impedance
32Ohm
Weight
14 g
Cable lenght
1.3m
 
I received the best fit with the comply tips that came pre-applied
 
 
Ah the sound!  the build quality, and the mmcx connection and cables are forgotten.
 
Listening to James Blackshaw's spiralling skeleton is magical, and hypnotizing while listening with the Pisces.  I never understood "hearing the air between the strings" before listening with these.
The instrument separation is fantastic, the sound stage is fairly wide vertically and horizontally.  For clarity I listened to a couple elbow tracks and while all sounded incredible, fly boy blue/lunette stood out to me.  It is one of my favorite songs.  there is a lot going on in that song, and everything was reproduced beautifully!   The bass was meaty, but tight.  The highs were airy, and wispy, not shrill (if you are an elbow fan, Guy Garvey's voice, using the wrong iem's can give off a scalpel like sibilance).  listening to Leonard Cohen's the partisan was fantastic, and the timbre was outstanding.  Sara by Fleetwood Mac is another song I know every nuance of, and the mids are reproduced gorgeously.  
 
    the mids, highs, and lows were all fantastically reproduced in everything I listened to, all extended well.  I am not a bass head, and the bass was quick, punchy, and dug deep when called for.  the mids were full of life, and lush.  The highs were wispy, and airy.  I experienced no sibilance what so ever with the Pisces BA.  The sound, was engaging and exciting.
 
while this is my first iem in this price range, it is my opinion that with the lack of accessories, proprietary mmcx, and overall build may be a turn off to some or even a deal breaker.  the sound in my opinion, makes up for everything else lacking in the Pisces BA

d8n0g

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: clarity, isolation, comfort, very little (if any) sound leakage
Cons: sound stage is a little too compact
**disclaimer**  I am not a high end audiophile, nor, am I veresed in the lingo.  I'm just a guy guy who loves music, and loves to listen to it  through great headphones/iem's powered by great sources.
 
 
first and foremost I would like to thank Aaron Fournier for his generosity providing me a review sample of the ON2.
 
 
SPECS:
 
• Hand crafted natural wood housing for accurate music reproduction 
• Award-winning thinksound™ signature acoustics 
• Two (2) 4.5’ long detachable cables – (1) with mic control and (1) without 
• Single button microphone + call/music control for mobile communication 
• Compatible with iPhone® Android® and more (see thinksound.com for details) 
• 5Hz-22kHz frequency response, 50Ω, 40mm dynamic driver 
• 3.5mm steel reinforced gold plated stereo plug for increased sound clarity 
• Passive noise isolation minimizes ambient sounds 
• Kevlar® reinforced, tangle-resistant fabric cable 
• Memory Foam ear pads for maximum comfort and wearability 
• Flexible metal headband with comfortable faux leather overlay
 
 
INSIDE THE BOX:
 
 
Everything came securely, and nicely packaged.  Inside you will find the headphones on top, and underneath; the carrying bag, one cable with mic control and one without.
The first thing I noticed about the ON2 is how beautiful they are, and hoped they sounded as such.  The cables are very well made, and don't foresee any fragility issues in the future...unless you're a brute.
 
 
 
 
 
IMG_20161023_090716.jpg
 
IMG_20161023_090737.jpg
 
IMG_20161023_090909.jpg
 
IMG_20161023_090920.jpg
 
IMG_20161023_091042.jpg
 
IMG_20161023_091102.jpg
 
 
 
 
TEST TRACKS AND SOURCE:
 
I used the XDUOO X3, and moto g2 (to test mic control).
 
James Brown: super bad
U.S. Warren and the Ghengis pea: hard headed woman
Lord Tanamo: come down
Radiohead: bangers & mash
Placebo: planes
sun kil moon: space travel is boring
Teebs: bound ball
 
 
 
 
IMG_20161023_091209.jpg
 
IMG_20161023_091236.jpg
 
COMFORT & SOUND:
 
 
I wore the ON2 for 2 1/2 during one listen.  I had no problems with comfort, as a matter of fact they were quite comfy!  I read the only other review on these and I have to agree, I can't hear squat with these on.  I tested sound leakage using my 8year old daughter as the guinea pig, and no leakage what so ever!
The mic controls work as advertised, but did not use my phone as a review source due to horrible sound quality.
 
**I will not separate highs, mids, and lows, nor will I use graphs for sound**
 
 
       As these were in the process of shipping, I read reviews regarding the ON1, and one thing stuck out like a sore thumb; SIBILANCE, SIBILANCE, SIBILANCE!  I am very pleased with the on2 quality of sound.  with experience, basing a purchase from reviews is that sound and how it sounds to you and I, is subjective.  I love neutrality! I am not a bass head, not to say I hate it, just that I like a tight sounding bass.  The ON2 are a win in that department...the bass is controlled and well defined; it is not imposing at all.  The highs took a little getting used to (which is not bad in this case)  The highs are clear and articulate, yet, delicate and gentle.  I have come to love the highs of the ON2.  The mids are gorgeous, and lush.
    when listening to James Brown, Clyde Stubblefield (James' drummer at that time) sounded like he was right there with me..  These things shine with drum heavy tracks.
    ah, soundstage.  sweet, and bursting your personal bubble soundstage.  I happen to love their staging,  but, there are times during congestive tracks where they are a little too up close and personal (which is rare)  I noticed this during bangers & mash by radiohead.  This does not mean the ON2 could not keep up with or separate during the congestion - they could indeed.  Some people may not be able to deal with the staging, and it may be a deal breaker.
     I have found that these guys are revealing of poorly produced tracks.  I almost forgot to mention, that during my hours and hours of listening, the cord does not produce any microphonics if touched or tapped in any way.
 
 
CONCLUSION:
 
Would I recommend these? abolutely!!  The clarity, the separation, the highs, mids, and lows are everything I look for in SQ.  like I said, the sound stage is the only detail I can findn that might be a sonic thorn in the listeners side.  For what it's worth, I they are fantastic!!
  • Like
Reactions: trellus
dalesky
dalesky
I appreciate the 3 reviews of these. I am weakening, since Amazon has a good price, plus a couple that are used at an even better price. Question is, can I live without headphones that have wood?  I don't know!  I prefer over ear usually, but I have a couple of nice on ear also, such as Martin Logan and Vmoda that I like quite a bit, but don't listen to very much. If these were over ear I would have them by now.

d8n0g

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: value, lush SQ,comfort, separation
Cons: tips included are not so great.
 DISCLAIMER:   I want to start off by saying this is my first review.  I am not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, nor, am I a big money audiophile.  I just love music, and love listening to it from sources through iem's or headphones that give me the most bang for my buck.
 
 
 
 
IMG_20161012_101755.jpg
 
 
IMG_20161012_101955.jpg
 
IMG_20161012_102000.jpg
 
 
IN THE BOX:  The package came extremely quick, also, they were beautifully, and professionally packaged.  Everything inside the product box was firmly stored in the recesses given.  They come with tips, airplane adapter, 1/4" to 3.5mm screw on, and a nice oblong clam shell case.
 
IMG_20161012_102132.jpg
 
IMG_20161012_102139.jpg
 
IMG_20161012_102205.jpg
 
COMFORT/FIT:  These guys are very light and comfortable,  I've had them in my ears for two and a half hours with no discomfort.  The cord does have the tendency to tangle from time to time, as well as there being slight cord microphonics (the cord noise is not enough to leave a negative impression).  The sound isolation with the tips provided (grey,green) are wonderful, but the black tips I could hear all outside noise.  That is actually why I took a half a star.  the black tips were not a good fit, no isolation, nor did they let me acquire a seal.
 
 
 
 
 
IMG_20161012_102329.jpg
 
IMG_20161012_102342.jpg
 
  .
SOUND QUALITY:  
 
the specifications of this iem are as follows:
 
[size=small]Drivers: 8mm dynamic driver and balance armature [/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small]Impedance: 16 Ohm[/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small]Sensitivity: 103dB [/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small]Maximum power: 10mW [/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small]Frequency range: 20Hz-20000Hz [/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small]Wire: 400DB bulletproof wire 32 core free copper TPE wrapped wire [/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small]Length :1.2m [/size][size=small][/size]
[size=small]Plug: 3.5MM gold-plated [/size]
 
[size=x-small]sources used:[/size]
 
[size=x-small]moto g2 with V4A[/size]
 
[size=x-small]fiio x1[/size]
 
[size=x-small]all lossless file[/size]
 
[size=x-small]albums:[/size]
 
[size=x-small]radiohead: AMSP[/size]
[size=x-small]other lives: tamer animals[/size]
[size=x-small]balmorhea: constellations[/size]
[size=x-small]sun kil moon: april[/size]
[size=x-small]teebs: ardour[/size]
[size=x-small]yes: fragile[/size]
[size=x-small]damien jurado: brothers and sisters of the eternal sun[/size]
 
[size=x-small]    I decided not to break this down into bass, mids, highs for no other reason than to just have a fluid review on the sound.  [/size]
[size=x-small]lately, i've been listening to radiohead's a moon shaped pool.  I didn't care for the album until I received these iem's.  I was using the klipsch s4I.  these iem's have great instrument seperation, although the sound stage isn't as vast as I'd like, they sound fantastic.  I haven't noticed any severe sibilance on any tracks including portishead's cowboys which is a rough track to listen to at high volumes.  Another thing I haven't noticed is bass or high roll off.  the bass goes very deep indeed, and this iem shines on teebs' album ardour.  there is no distortion in the bass department, never overshadowing the rest of the sound.  the high's behave themselves always, nor have I experienced any fatigue.  They are very crisp and lively!  the mids are beautiful, and really shine on every track I listen to...Damien Jurado and Mark Kozelek have never sounded better.  The sound is very much a v-shaped sound, a sound I appreciate!  I didn't realize detail and accuracy comes from a 40$ iem,  but the BossHIFI B3 sound just as gorgeous as they look![/size]
D
diezdedos
Hello, Sorry for the English.
What do you think of these headphones in comparison with Brainwavz M2?
Thank.
Back
Top