Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › Livewires - California Dreamin'
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Livewires - California Dreamin' - Page 131

post #1951 of 3895
4/16/08 at 8:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Baines,

I have about 5 hours on the Behringer U-control UCA202 and have tried it as a USB headphone amp with the Livewires and my SR-60. Do you want the good news or the bad news first?
Ok got the bad. No problem, its probably way worse than the D2 hp/o then! I dont mind, anything is better than this hissssss!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kosmic View Post
He's tucked up in bed!

What's the bad news first?
Hahahah! No Way! Off soon though!

Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
The bad news is the Behringer UCA202 U-control via it's headphone out doesn't sound as good as my 5.5g ipod video headphone out when using Livewires.

The good news outweighs the bad news.
Ok, im looking foward to it!
Reply
post #1952 of 3895
4/16/08 at 8:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FeedMeTrance View Post

Sound Update:
Wow, I can see what you guys were talking about! Whilst I expected a more fun, SF5Pro type sound, what I have is something I really enjoy - more crisp, clear and detailed sound. I am a ER4 fan, and I'd put the LiveWires in the same boat as them. I love the detail, and the shining highs, but at times still feel there is too much high, and not enough low. Still, it's a huge improvement from the previous two times.
I would have been in the same boat as you, but customising my EQ gave me what I was hoping for, a full, deep bass, and non fatiguing highs.

Glad to hear you're enjoying the sound. It will improve over time. Try customising your EQ, and don't let the purists put you off.
Reply
post #1953 of 3895
4/16/08 at 8:26pm
HPA I WANT THE GOOD NEWS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU'RE IN HEAD-FI SOMEWHERE!

Matt
Reply
post #1954 of 3895
4/16/08 at 8:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kosmic View Post
I would have been in the same boat as you, but customising my EQ gave me what I was hoping for, a full, deep bass, and non fatiguing highs.

Glad to hear you're enjoying the sound. It will improve over time. Try customising your EQ, and don't let the purists put you off.
How To Customise An Ipod EQ
Reply
post #1955 of 3895
4/16/08 at 8:43pm
Okay.

1) The Behringer is dead silent between songs or when paused, even with the volume all the way up! The 5.5G ipod has a little hiss in the headphone out, which isn't too bad, and the Travagans Green has a little more, while the Creative Xmod has HORRIFIC HISS. The Xmod is unusable with Livewires.

2) It is quieter than my internal HP amp in my Macbook, in that with the stock HP out I get interference noise when I pause songs and the hard drive runs, but the U-control doesn't have this. This controller noise was the #1 reason why I abandoned the built in soundcard of my Macbook a while ago.

3) It does a good job of S/PDIF output, and my HeadRoom Micro DAC sounds good with the U-crontrol optical out. It is not as good as the internal optical out of the Macbook, but it is not bad at all. For anyone looking to get a DAC that only does optical or coax, the U-control is a reasonable option for optical out.

4) It can play very quiet with Livewires before you get the typical volume knob channel imbalance.

5) It can play very loud with the Livewires (enough to damage something).

6) It sounds not quite as good as the Macbook headphone out, but it kills the sound quality of all 5 PC's that we have laying around the house. It is not bad sounding at all, it is just not great either.

7) With the SR-60 it is a match for the SQ in the built-in headphone out of my iMac, because the SR-60 don't let you hear all the micro-details you hear with the Livewires.

8) it is USB powered, no AC wallwart

9) It is cheap, $40

10) it also accepts RCA stereo input at 16 bit/44.1 or 48 Khz as an Analog to Digital converter, and has RCA stereo line outs (which I will test next)
Reply
post #1956 of 3895
4/16/08 at 8:52pm
How was that for a FMT-like suspenseful pause?
Reply
post #1957 of 3895
4/16/08 at 8:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Okay.

1) The Behringer is dead silent between songs or when paused, even with the volume all the way up! The 5.5G ipod has a little hiss in the headphone out, which isn't too bad, and the Travagans Green has a little more, while the Creative Xmod has HORRIFIC HISS. The Xmod is unusable with Livewires.

2) It is quieter than my internal HP amp in my Macbook, in that with the stock HP out I get interference noise when I pause songs and the hard drive runs, but the U-control doesn't have this. This controller noise was the #1 reason why I abandoned the built in soundcard of my Macbook a while ago.

3) It does a good job of S/PDIF output, and my HeadRoom Micro DAC sounds good with the U-crontrol optical out. It is not as good as the internal optical out of the Macbook, but it is not bad at all. For anyone looking to get a DAC that only does optical or coax, the U-control is a reasonable option for optical out.

4) It can play very quiet with Livewires before you get the typical volume knob channel imbalance.

5) It can play very loud with the Livewires (enough to damage something).

6) It sounds not quite as good as the Macbook headphone out, but it kills the sound quality of all 5 PC's that we have laying around the house. It is not bad sounding at all, it is just not great either.

7) With the SR-60 it is a match for the SQ in the built-in headphone out of my iMac, because the SR-60 don't let you hear all the micro-details you hear with the Livewires.

8) it is USB powered, no AC wallwart

9) It is cheap, $40

10) it also accepts RCA stereo input at 16 bit/44.1 or 48 Khz as an Analog to Digital converter, and has RCA stereo line outs (which I will test next)
Sounds perfect, i hate channel imbalance i get with the SM3 on low volumes. Vocals go leftwards!

Shame i missed the one that went for $20 shipped the other day! Let me know if you no longer need it, i'd happily take it at a good price, after all, you allready have 2million dacs!

So trading my zen (hopefully), buying a 16gb card with the money i accumulated in my wallet , buying a U Control, and then everything is perfect for me and the livewires, after a redip i think i need. What do you think, i detailed the fit in my review btw?

Thanks you so much for the help. Off to bed now, 12.52am!

Matt
Reply
post #1958 of 3895
4/16/08 at 9:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baines93 View Post
Sounds perfect, i hate channel imbalance i get with the SM3 on low volumes. Vocals go leftwards!

Shame i missed the one that went for $20 shipped the other day! Let me know if you no longer need it, i'd happily take it at a good price, after all, you allready have 2million dacs!

So trading my zen (hopefully), buying a 16gb card with the money i accumulated in my wallet , buying a U Control, and then everything is perfect for me and the livewires, after a redip i think i need. What do you think, i detailed the fit in my review btw?

Thanks you so much for the help. Off to bed now, 12.52am!

Matt
Sorry it took so long to post the positives, but I used the extra time to run around the house booting up the PC's and trying the U-control out on more than one. I am gonna keep it because of the PC's that can use it (mainly for my son's).

I am really bummed about all the hiss in the Xmod USB headphone amp with Livewires, because it's kinda fun to mess with the 3D/crossfeed and Crystalizer settings with the Grados or powered computer speakers. On the Mac I have an iTunes plug-in called SRS iWOW that let's me do that because the lousy built-in speakers really need the tweaks.
Reply
post #1959 of 3895
4/16/08 at 9:10pm
Crack it open and give it some mods!

Im sure they are both modable.

MUST....GO....TO....BED....NOW!

Again Thanks Alot,

Matt

Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Sorry it took so long to post the positives, but I used the extra time to run around the house booting up the PC's and trying the U-control out on more than one. I am gonna keep it because of the PC's that can use it (mainly for my son's).

I am really bummed about all the hiss in the Xmod USB headphone amp with Livewires, because it's kinda fun to mess with the 3D/crossfeed and Crystalizer settings with the Grados or powered computer speakers. On the Mac I have an iTunes plug-in called SRS iWOW that let's me do that because the lousy built-in speakers really need the tweaks.
Reply
post #1960 of 3895
4/16/08 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FeedMeTrance View Post
Question:

Does anyone here use an RSA Predator with their LiveWires.

I find it's really powerful, and with the LiveWire's sensitivity I cannot put volume past 20%, so little nudges would make it uber loud.

I am using my LiveWires with a 50 ohm cable and the Ety P-S adapter as well, and it's tolerable.

Just did a nice 12 hours burn in of Fry Baby, White and Pink noise.

Fit Update:
Much better than last time. I did my impressions with a neutrel jaw position, but I find when I clamp my jaw the sound just becomes awesome. Isolation wise, still not what I expected, I get more isolation out of my TF10s and ER4Ps, but once there is music, it's all good.

Sound Update:
Wow, I can see what you guys were talking about! Whilst I expected a more fun, SF5Pro type sound, what I have is something I really enjoy - more crisp, clear and detailed sound. I am a ER4 fan, and I'd put the LiveWires in the same boat as them. I love the detail, and the shining highs, but at times still feel there is too much high, and not enough low. Still, it's a huge improvement from the previous two times.

Other:
Got them 1 day early, but LiveWires made a tiny mistake - they left the tag with my name on the LiveWires when I asked not to - no biggy.

So, the big question:

Was waiting 99 days from the day of my first impressions, till yesterday when I finally got the final pair, was that really worth it?

Won't answer just yet, will do more listening and stuff

In the meantime - PHOTOS: Jainash Prakash's Photos - LiveWires Take 3 | Facebook

wow there is a lot of info there!

Glad you are liking the LW, FMT. I am not sure if the predator is the best suited for IEMs (isn't it meant for full size, hard to drive phones?) The P to S converter seems like it would help you out a little in this area, but seems like just an additional thing in the path to affect the sound. Did you try with your headphone out and converters?

Fit: PICS! Would love to see how these ones compare to your other pictures.
On isolation: I don't think customs should totally block out all sound as universals do. Customs are meant to sit in your ear canal (not expand and totally block out sound). Universal foams and sleeves do this.

Yay team RED/BLUE


BTW: How are the stems on your LW. Long enough for ya?
Reply
post #1961 of 3895
4/16/08 at 9:49pm
FMT........nice pictures, I bet those red and blues are a little thinner feeling fit wise in your ears and not as fat as those clear ones.

Good to hear........party on!
Reply
post #1962 of 3895
4/16/08 at 9:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StudioAce View Post
FMT........nice pictures, I bet those red and blues are a little thinner feeling fit wise in your ears and not as fat as those clear ones.

Good to hear........party on!
+1 nice pics!

Will
Reply
post #1963 of 3895
4/16/08 at 11:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kosmic View Post
Thanks Kosmic that was a great tip! ....you learn something new everyday.
Reply
post #1964 of 3895
4/17/08 at 1:15am
Thanks for that Kosmic, the LiveWires desperately need a decent EQ setting, best so far is Bass Booster - I am still finding the highs, waaaay to high!

I am happy with the LiveWires, but having experienced Triple Fi 10s and ER4P(S) this is how I rank the earphones I have used:

1. Ety ER4P (with S adapter)
2. Triple Fi 10
3. LiveWires|Super Fi 5
4. UM1|Super Fi 3
Reply
post #1965 of 3895
4/17/08 at 2:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FeedMeTrance View Post
...I am still finding the highs, waaaay to high!
This perplexes me because it makes me think it's a not-quite-there seal issue (which is why they sound better with jaw shut tight - that shouldn't make that big a difference with a good seal to begin with).

Also I take it that you mean the balance across the spectrum is favouring the highs waaay too much. I've also heard ER4S and I found the extension (the higher highs) to be better than the well sealed Livewires: and, also, found the balance of the ER4S favoured the highs in comparison to the LWs. For me, the LWs are far more neutral across the spectrum, with highs not waaaay too forward/emphasised/high? in the mix.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › Livewires - California Dreamin'