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ACS T1 Custom Review and impressions thread! - Page 4

post #46 of 347
4/19/10 at 12:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
My ACS T1 review and all pictures can be found here"]I've got my review of the ACS t1 up finally[/URL]. Pictures are building.
Nice review Shigzeo, and you nailed a lot of things on their heads. I'd just change the impedance in the specs at the beginning of the review. Andy confirmed me the 6.77Ohms was a mistake, the real impedance is about 17Ohms.

Just wondering, did you voluntarily left out the fact that ACS is working on detachable cables for the close future ?
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post #47 of 347
4/19/10 at 1:03am
Thread Starter 
Thanks Frenchbat. I did leave that fact out simply because my unit doesn't have the detachable cables. If it were an option currently, I'd leave it in. But for my review, I didn't feel it was pertinent.

I'll update it now.
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post #48 of 347
4/19/10 at 1:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
Thanks Frenchbat. I did leave that fact out simply because my unit doesn't have the detachable cables. If it were an option currently, I'd leave it in. But for my review, I didn't feel it was pertinent.

I'll update it now.
Ok. I understand your position and you can add it once ACS actually has the option in production. Anyway shouldn't be too far now, it's a matter of weeks I think.

Just out of curiosity's sake, what about amped ? Any improvement ?
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post #49 of 347
4/19/10 at 6:37am
Thread Starter 
Oh yes, thank you for the reminder. I published and realised I didn't add amped impressions. The short answer is: they do improve with amplification, but not so hugely that you need to invest. Typical for balanced armatures, their 'kinks' iron out with a good amp, but that isn't exclusive to good sound.

From my Fuze and iPod touch, Sony and AMP3, they sound great.
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post #50 of 347
4/19/10 at 9:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
Oh yes, thank you for the reminder. I published and realised I didn't add amped impressions. The short answer is: they do improve with amplification, but not so hugely that you need to invest. Typical for balanced armatures, their 'kinks' iron out with a good amp, but that isn't exclusive to good sound.

From my Fuze and iPod touch, Sony and AMP3, they sound great.
Thanks for the addendum, I was expecting something like that. I'll see what I get with the Pico Slim once it will have found its way to Japan, and I'll have my refit done. Hopefully it's not gonna take too long. At the moment the only thing I'd like to fix is the bass I sometimes get bleeding over the rest of the spectrum. I only get it from time to time though, and it's probably partly depending on the source.

Besides, no noticeable hiss out of my D2+, and only a bit from my Rockboxed H120.
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post #51 of 347
4/20/10 at 6:12am
Thread Starter 
I've still not gotten along to it. Evidently, ACS' new detachable cable system is going to utilise hitherto unseen US military-grade spec components for durability. If that is my only qualm with the T1, it is one damn fine IEM.
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post #52 of 347
4/20/10 at 11:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
I've still not gotten along to it. Evidently, ACS' new detachable cable system is going to utilise hitherto unseen US military-grade spec components for durability. If that is my only qualm with the T1, it is one damn fine IEM.
According to Andy, yes. Should be sturdy as it gets, and pretty much on par with the FE333 I guess.
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post #53 of 347
4/20/10 at 12:44pm
Thread Starter 
Actually, the cable on the T1 may be better than the FE333, so it could be BETTER!
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post #54 of 347
4/20/10 at 1:16pm
The issue with the way the cable is anchored to the earphone is a real problem in the long run. I've tried my best to take care of my T2s but alas, the cable has failed after 3 years of use. The fit is surprisingly good though!

More on the cable.

On the T2, the cable is held in with a knot which the silicone grips onto. That's all great. There's also a stiffer strain relief which covers the proximal part of the cable where the cable bends around your ears and that extend into the earpiece. The problem is after a few years, the plastic sheath and the strain relief weakens from all the rotational forces that are applied to it and it snaps. Eventually, the plastic sheath/strain relief snaps, which is what happened to mine. I noticed sudden, intermittent drop-outs and as of a month ago, my right channel has died. I guess 3 years can be considered as quite an acceptable product life though.

So my tip to all existing ACS users is to take great care not to twist the earphones or the cable. Treat it gently and I'm sure it'll last even longer than mine did. This is not to say that they're poorly made. In fact, I think the construction is certainly very durable and 3 years of heavy, daily usage is going to take its toll on any product. Now I need to get a new IEM. The 15% discount for T2 owners (£551) is... tempting :P Will hold on tight until the detachable cable system is unveiled.
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post #55 of 347
4/20/10 at 1:31pm
I had the first black cable on my original T2 but when they were replaced (just over 2 years ago) I also had 'one' of the first black kevlar ones which seems far more robust. There is no extra sleeving on the new cable near the ear pieces.

Either my timing is apt or I get preferential treatment

I'm on hold for the T1 until the detachable cable becomes available - with my luck I'll end up being one of the first users again (for some reason I have a mental picture of a guinea pig ) not that I'm complaining.
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post #56 of 347
4/20/10 at 2:25pm
Thread Starter 
I am very interested to see what sort of connector the new detachable cable is. Currently, the anchored system works well enough - I've seen fewer returns for this design than I've seen for detachable acrylic systems. Again, there are good systems and bad systems. The ACS has the best cable, but could do with a strong attachment system.

Companies like JHA, Westone, and UE have good variations on the theme. Their cables are better than Sleek, but the connector (especially on the westone and JHA) are weak - the two prongs and the tiny plastic housing snap pretty often.

If ACS do it right, they may well have the optimal cable for EVERY situation.
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post #57 of 347
4/20/10 at 2:36pm
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post #58 of 347
4/20/10 at 2:40pm
Thread Starter 
If anything can topple the FitEar 333, it will be worth it if sound is even halfway good and the price is right.
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post #59 of 347
4/20/10 at 9:22pm
I have the feeling that ACS has been making a lot of engineering with their cable in the last years. Reading the review for T2 from Milkpowder in particular, it really seems like the cable got way better in the meantime. What I know for sure is that ACS has their cable done by their specifications, and it surely doesn't look like they just bought it "on the shelves" like Westone, UE or JHA. Not saying the cables from these companies are bad, actually they seem to sound very good, but IMHO ACS puts more effort into getting a cable that is sonically good AND sturdy.

@Shigzeo : I'm holding on my refit to get the new system, so next time you come to Tokyo you could see it, assuming we find a proper time for meeting . I have the feeling the connector could be looking a lot like FE333's one, but then where would they put the socket ? The system that FitEar is using is quite bulky, and I have difficulties to imagine the same socket in the body of my T1.
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post #60 of 347
4/21/10 at 2:04am
Thread Starter 
Well, Andy did say the new system will be US military spec, not Japanese police spec, so I doubt it will be too much like the FitEars which is 100% Japanese design.

I may send mine in for the new cable too and then update the review. We will see. I don't like to be without my customs though...
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