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Review & Appreciation: Spiral Ear SE 5-way Reference - A new level of resolution? (Review posted... - Page 8

post #106 of 855
11/24/11 at 5:10pm

I've posted this in the multi-custom IEM thread already - but to those of you interested in getting a SE IEM - make sure you order them soon, because they may be going up in price by the end of the year or so.

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post #107 of 855
11/24/11 at 6:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claus-DK View Post


If I were to describe the signature of the ref5, I would say it has none, I got lots of different players and switching back ond forth between the players is great fun, because the ref5 delivers what it is being fed no more no less.

Lots og phones have a tendency to show their signature no matter what your source is (Grados will never sound like senns), the ref5 is in that regard a true chameleon it simply changes it signature depending on music, player, amp, type of file and so on..

 

If one could make a blindtest of these things, I would honestly believe that it was two different phones, when somebody changes source (I can not do that with blindfoldsconfused_face%281%29.gif)..

 

Regarding the weaknesses of them, well to me there is none, some would say that the soundstage is to small, but phones with the big stage like AKG 701 and DT880 always sound artificial to me, popmusic, rock, hiphop etc is not recorded in a concerthall like classical music or opera is, so the music of the "popular" genres really has no soundstage as all the instruments and singing is recorded in a studio separatly and are afterwards mastered to make a coherent sound, but a real "Stage" is not present..

 

When listening to classical music you might not feel you are at the Madison Garden, but at a smaller venue, the separation of the instruments is clear and decise but they do not spread out on a stage 100 meters away and 50 meters wide as when listening to AKG701, more 10 meters away in a normal concerthall..

 

Hope you can use my comments..


Thanks Claus-DK.  While I agree the 5-way is amazing, I find a few other custom IEMs to be just as transparent to the source/track and in comparison I hear the sound signature.  I think the SA-43 is a little more neutral than the 5-way for example.

 

Speaking of soundstage size, the K701 doesn't really sound spacious in comparison with my custom IEMs, and something like the Tesla T1, which has a very wide soundstage, didn't have great proportions.  The 5-way does, and the SA-43 has about the same proportions while presenting a larger space without losing anything or sounding unnatural.  The JH16, for example, is wider but sounds compressed in depth and height in comparison which doesn't sound as natural.  On my technical chart the 5-way is at the top, but I am still comparing the NT6 with the 5-way and am not sure where they will both end up.  But regardless of where they end up, they both have different sound signatures.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by tupac0306 View Post

It really sounds like 5 WAY is the best IEM ever biggrin.gif

 

Ha, one of the best (see above)? 
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanashimu View Post

I've posted this in the multi-custom IEM thread already - but to those of you interested in getting a SE IEM - make sure you order them soon, because they may be going up in price by the end of the year or so.


Thanks!

 

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post #108 of 855
11/24/11 at 8:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claus-DK View Post


If I were to describe the signature of the ref5, I would say it has none, I got lots of different players and switching back ond forth between the players is great fun, because the ref5 delivers what it is being fed no more no less.

Lots og phones have a tendency to show their signature no matter what your source is (Grados will never sound like senns), the ref5 is in that regard a true chameleon it simply changes it signature depending on music, player, amp, type of file and so on..

 

If one could make a blindtest of these things, I would honestly believe that it was two different phones, when somebody changes source (I can not do that with blindfoldsconfused_face%281%29.gif)..

 

Regarding the weaknesses of them, well to me there is none, some would say that the soundstage is to small, but phones with the big stage like AKG 701 and DT880 always sound artificial to me, popmusic, rock, hiphop etc is not recorded in a concerthall like classical music or opera is, so the music of the "popular" genres really has no soundstage as all the instruments and singing is recorded in a studio separatly and are afterwards mastered to make a coherent sound, but a real "Stage" is not present..

 

When listening to classical music you might not feel you are at the Madison Garden, but at a smaller venue, the separation of the instruments is clear and decise but they do not spread out on a stage 100 meters away and 50 meters wide as when listening to AKG701, more 10 meters away in a normal concerthall..

 

Hope you can use my comments..

 

 


Thanks how does it compare to your heaphones? is it better or different or worse?

 

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post #109 of 855
11/24/11 at 8:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by helledie View Post

Hey Joe. Have you tried them with your Studio? I am loving mine - but i have only tried them with my D12 and D12->P-51.


you meant the Beats by Dre Studios? they are just bass heavy. Not really that 3D. Its ok but I think Bose Quiet and Comfort 15 has better clarity and better highs.

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post #110 of 855
11/24/11 at 8:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by average_joe View Post

 

2. The 5-way has a somewhat similar sound sig to the LCD-2 v1 and the SM3, but it is hard to compare a universal with a top custom IEM. 


Really?  I'll be passing then.

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post #111 of 855
11/24/11 at 8:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanashimu View Post

I've posted this in the multi-custom IEM thread already - but to those of you interested in getting a SE IEM - make sure you order them soon, because they may be going up in price by the end of the year or so.


why are they going up in price? they are already so expensive.

 

Which IEM is more than 999 euros... or $1400 USD?

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post #112 of 855
11/24/11 at 8:47pm

...I just found out that they only ship to EU countries. I live in Canada. How am I suppose to get it...

what is this...

I was excited for a second.

 

Joe, how you get yours?

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post #113 of 855
11/24/11 at 8:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini0510 View Post


why are they going up in price? they are already so expensive.

 

Which IEM is more than 999 euros... or $1400 USD?



When SE's IEMs are a solid contender for best in the world, they can charge whatever they want, really. Not to mention that they're 5 driver customs shelled in silicone, a remarkable feat of engineering.

However, bottom line is, its worth as much as people are willing to pay.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini0510 View Post

...I just found out that they only ship to EU countries. I live in Canada. How am I suppose to get it...

what is this...

I was excited for a second.

 

Joe, how you get yours?



Probably by either delivering to a friend, then get them to ship it to you, or delivering to a re-routing service of some kind by paying a fee, then having them send it to you.

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post #114 of 855
11/24/11 at 10:32pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini0510 View Post

you meant the Beats by Dre Studios? they are just bass heavy. Not really that 3D. Its ok but I think Bose Quiet and Comfort 15 has better clarity and better highs.


He meant the Studio player.  I wasn't overly impressed with the combo to be honest and preferred the 801 and Anedio D1 by a good margin.  Of course, those are much more expensive, but my modded iPod with an amp is also a good step up IMO.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anaxilus View Post

Really?  I'll be passing then.


Yes, really.  And what I mean is they are all what I call on the warmer and richer side of things (as I imagine the ES5 and Miracle are).  But, and there is a very large but IMO: the 5-way does the sound signature right.  It is much closer to the LCD-2 than the SM3, but it makes the LCD-2 v1 sound lacking in detail, tonally a bit off, and slightly on the darker side, not to mention the 5-way is faster and images better.  Oh, and can pump out more bass, which amazed me!

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini0510 View Post

why are they going up in price? they are already so expensive.

 

Which IEM is more than 999 euros... or $1400 USD?


The FitEar MH334 is $1800 or so.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini0510 View Post

...I just found out that they only ship to EU countries. I live in Canada. How am I suppose to get it...

what is this...

I was excited for a second.

 

Joe, how you get yours?


I received mine before Grzegorz realized the issues with the Polish customs office and all the extra costs.  I have a refit coming to me and they will be shipped to the UK first.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanashimu View Post

When SE's IEMs are a solid contender for best in the world, they can charge whatever they want, really. Not to mention that they're 5 driver customs shelled in silicone, a remarkable feat of engineering.

However, bottom line is, its worth as much as people are willing to pay.


Probably by either delivering to a friend, then get them to ship it to you, or delivering to a re-routing service of some kind by paying a fee, then having them send it to you.


Yes, that is a great point, that the 5-way is a remarkable feat...5 sound tubes in silicone and such a high resolution product that allows me to hear things I literally can not make out with my other custom IEMs.  Not in the actual instruments as there are others that are equally detailed in that regard, but the space or ambiance or a recording that gives more of a lifelike feel than anything else I have heard in the headphone world.

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post #115 of 855
11/24/11 at 10:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by average_joe View Post

 


Yes, really.  And what I mean is they are all what I call on the warmer and richer side of things (as I imagine the ES5 and Miracle are).  But, and there is a very large but IMO: the 5-way does the sound signature right.  It is much closer to the LCD-2 than the SM3, but it makes the LCD-2 v1 sound lacking in detail, tonally a bit off, and slightly on the darker side, not to mention the 5-way is faster and images better.  Oh, and can pump out more bass, which amazed me!


That sounds better.  Those two have very distinct aspects I don't like about them so I'm sure I overreacted.  SS anomalies, shelved treble.

 

Interesting inclusion of the Miracle as I've only heard the demos which were not on the richer side of things but I know you heard the custom as well.

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post #116 of 855
11/24/11 at 10:49pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anaxilus View Post

That sounds better.  Those two have very distinct aspects I don't like about them so I'm sure I overreacted.  SS anomalies, shelved treble.

 

Interesting inclusion of the Miracle as I've only heard the demos which were not on the richer side of things but I know you heard the custom as well.


The 5-way makes it easy to dislike other products, which is a testament to the performance.  No two IEMs I have heard have sounded alike as there are so many things that are different such as frequency response, soundstage presentation, attack, decay, etc. and those are the closest of what I have heard.  I could throw the SA-43 in there also I guess, but it isn't quite as liquid among other differences.

 

I did get the richer side of things from jokers custom I heard, which was significantly better than the demo.  Plus, joker describes it as similar (same way as I mentioned above) to the SM3, but of course better in every way.

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post #117 of 855
11/24/11 at 11:06pm

Joe, so did you have a friend in UK or you paid for a re-route service?

I don't know anyone at Europe...

1. How much is the extra cost? Can't be that much can't it?!

 

2. have you heard the FitEar MH334 or know something about them?

are they better than the SE 5-Way?


Edited by Mini0510 - 11/24/11 at 11:25pm
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post #118 of 855
11/24/11 at 11:47pm
Thread Starter 

A friend.  And I have no idea the cost, but depending on what you want in your custom IEM, it could be worth it ;)

 

I have not heard the MH334 and all I know is they are made for reference monitoring and are expensive, at least as far as custom IEMs go.

 

 

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post #119 of 855
11/25/11 at 12:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by average_joe View Post

A friend.  And I have no idea the cost, but depending on what you want in your custom IEM, it could be worth it ;)

 

I have not heard the MH334 and all I know is they are made for reference monitoring and are expensive, at least as far as custom IEMs go.

 

 



1. Joe, how much difference is there between the Rooth LS8 and SE 5-way? Is it barely noticeable or there is some difference?

It's just that I can get Unique Melody Miracles at $800, Rooth LS8 for $1000 and SE 5-Way 999 Euros = $1400.

So there is some differences, then it will be worth it to get SE 5-Way. I mean it is $400 more.

I mean I do want to buy the best IEM there is but if my ears aren't able to hear the quality, then it is not worth it to get it.

 

2. For Rooth LS8, you stated that the sonic changes at 6k as a weakness in the multi custom review thread.

That seems really minor from the way you wrote it. Im not sure if I interpret it accurately.

 

3. and how big does your ears have to be for the SE 5-Way? above average?

is it overall ear size or just the ear canal, because the 5 tubes?


Edited by Mini0510 - 11/25/11 at 12:51am
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post #120 of 855
11/25/11 at 12:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini0510 View Post



Joe, how much difference is there between the Rooth LS8 and SE 5-way? Is it barely noticeable or there is some difference?

It's just that I can get Unique Melody Miracles at $800, Rooth LS8 for $1000 and SE 5-Way 999 Euros = $1400.

So there is some differences, then it will be worth it to get SE 5-Way. I mean it is $400 more.

I mean I do want to buy the best IEM there is but if my ears aren't able to hear the quality, then it is not worth it to get it.

 

For Rooth LS8, you stated that the sonic changes at 6k as a weakness in the multi custom review thread.

That seems really minor from the way you wrote it. Im not sure if I interpret it accurately.



From what I've read of joe's own perceptions, its clear that (to him) the SE flagship is probably the best overall, even if he might not admit it :p

 

If money is no object, I'd go for the SE offering (silicone is also a very nice thing. More isolation, more comfort, less chance of breaking due to drops). Though it'll probably cost more than $1400 due to the extra cost of moving it to wherever you live.

 

The Miracles do however, have detachable cables. I'm also not sure if the SE offerings have much in terms of design (I don't see many colours, cables.. not sure if they have custom art). The Miracles are some of the most customizable customs there are.

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