I had to send my right side in for a re-fit earlier this week. It's only been a few days, but I really miss them.   Come back soon new friends....

I just dropped off my impressions at Thinking Group today, and the salesperson said it might take up to a month before they will arrive due to Christmas / new years, such a bummer...

Just a quick update, 
 
I've been using my ES5s for almost 3 weeks now and I've gotta say WOW!!
 
Usually run them portable - iPod 5G -> iBasso D12 -> ES5
 
or if I'm home, Macbook Pro Optical Out -> iBasso D12 ->ES5
 
To make it really short, the sound is "Balanced" .... there is no one frequency range that really sticks out or is deficient ... Despite popular opinion, the bass is NOT lacking, it is there IF it is actually there on the record - not boosted like other headphones. The upright bass on Livingston Taylor's "Isn't she lovely" resonates so nicely that I almost thought it was LIVE next to me in a really good room.
 
Regarding that debate about sibilance, I have to say it is the same thing - any sibilance that is on the record will be CLEARLY audible - I don't think it actually ADDS sibilance or emphasizes the 8k region that much. In case anybody still insists there is NO sibilance on the ES5, try listening to "No Such Thing" on John Mayer's album, Room for Squares.
 
To be fair, listening to the same track on my DT990s makes it absolutely un-listenable due to the sibilance. 
 
Overall, these are now my favourite IEMS!! Absolutely love them!
 
Will write a more detailed review soon, but just thought of leaving this note here in case anyone finds it useful. 

man, lucky you jermng
 
i juz called TGS juz now, and my ES5 had been delayed!!! Suppose to get it this week exactly 1month
 
now gotta endure another 1 more week!! argh!!

Quote:

rockarolla said:

man, lucky you jermng
 
i juz called TGS juz now, and my ES5 had been delayed!!! Suppose to get it this week exactly 1month
 
now gotta endure another 1 more week!! argh!!

Click to expand...

Oh dear... Muz be the influx of people ordering ES5. 
Be patient. It'll be here soon.
 
I got TWag with my ES5. Sounds great. The soundstage is heavenly.

Quote:

rockarolla said:

man, lucky you jermng
 
i juz called TGS juz now, and my ES5 had been delayed!!! Suppose to get it this week exactly 1month
 
now gotta endure another 1 more week!! argh!!

Click to expand...

The wait is gonna be worth it ... seriously ....
 


Quote:

joe-siow said:

I got TWag with my ES5. Sounds great. The soundstage is heavenly.

Click to expand...

Hee hee ..... I ordered my Twag last week ... it should be coming this week - looking forward to hear it and experience what you guys have been talking about ...  
 
Just for fun, I also ordered the new Silver Dragon IEM cables from Moon Audio. Since I was ordering cables for my LCD-2, thought I'd include those in the shipment. Would be fun to have a comparison between the 2 cables. on the ES5.

Can i try the silver dragons when they r here?
 
Wanna hear wats the diff....
 
I buy u coffee? LOL...

Quote:

joe-siow said:

Can i try the silver dragons when they r here?
 
Wanna hear wats the diff....
 
I buy u coffee? LOL...

Click to expand...

Of course! It would be fun to meet some head-fiers in SG. Maybe we can organize mini-meet.  

Quote:

jermng said:

Quote:

joe-siow said:

Can i try the silver dragons when they r here?
 
Wanna hear wats the diff....
 
I buy u coffee? LOL...

Click to expand...

Of course! It would be fun to meet some head-fiers in SG. Maybe we can organize mini-meet.  

Click to expand...

That would be so cool. LOL...
We shld try that.
 
Paging for all singapore friends...
LOL
 

So is the TWag cable you guys keep posting about really worth it?   I mean, can someone maybe summerize what positive changes in the sound one can expect with this aftermarket cable?

I apologize for for this, but I really have no self control.  Earphone cable is 100% absolute USDA prime crap.  You should take a look at the cable that is used inside your IEMs or source.  Within the path of anything you put outside of them, they are still in the path.  This is low voltage, low current signal.  The conductors used are fine and at absolute most, you may get a cable that sounds slightly different but that doesn't mean it sounds better.
 
Pay for a cable if you want it to look pretty or feel nice.  That is totally cool.  But don't buy it expecting sonic improvement.  Cable has been high profit snake oil in the audio industry for years and as long as there is a sucker, there will be a profiteer to sell it.  Seriously, the raw cable is insanely cheap.  If there was even marginal sonic gains to be had, the guys that make the IEMs would include it as a competitive advantage.
 
I have Nordost and Monster cable on my home system.  I have compared it to the cable I bought at Home Depot and there is zero difference.  I mostly got it, because with $15,000 in speakers it had to just look cool.  
 
I did notice an improvement bi-amping/wiring, but that is completely different.
 
Quote:

kclone said:

So is the TWag cable you guys keep posting about really worth it?   I mean, can someone maybe summerize what positive changes in the sound one can expect with this aftermarket cable?

Click to expand...

this is a subject that can inspire heated debate with one side taking the position that joesuburb expressed and others stating that cabling does indeed often make a difference, sometimes subtle, sometimes large. my own listening experience tends toward the latter camp (believe me, i'd rather not spend the money but i've indeed heard differences).
as far as the twag cables go, poke around and you'll find threads about it. i believe that most, but not all, of the folks that have tried them do feel that they offer a real improvement. the other thing with them is that you can order them terminated to run balanced, such as off of a protector amp. most who have tried it feel that that offers a good deal of improvement, with the usual kinds of things folks report benefits from running balanced systems, such as improved detail, resolution spacially and musically, imaging, and bass response .

I have a silly question.  If cable makes such a difference, wouldn't it also make a difference on the microphones and equipment that is used to record the music?  If it did make a difference, wouldn't the sound engineers buy and use it?  I've never seen a market for super expensive cables in the comercial side of audio.  In reality, if we want to replicate how a live performance sounds, wouldnt we most accurately replicate it using cable similar to what would be used to cable up a live performance speakers....

For the longest of time, I used to be a sceptic. I mean spending $300 on a cable? U gotta be nuts.
 
But one day, I had the opportunity to actual audition it. And there is actually a difference that my ears can tell when ABing against the stock cable. And I liked wat I heard.
Hence the decision to get one.
 
 
Bottomline? Try it. If ur ears tells no difference, it probably justifies ur stand that cables are a rip off. Otherwise, there's no point starting debates like this.
 
Peace.

^+1