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Impressions & Loaner Tour || TFTA-2100-2V1S

post #1 of 191
Thread Starter 

I received the TFTA-2100-2V1S today thanks to Paul @ RMXdirect and you can get them here. Because of the long name, I'll just refer it as 2V1S. I must admit, I didn't have high expectations and thought it was way overhyped from the couple threads I've read about them. Out of the box, it had a bass heavy, veiled sound. After listening to it throughout the day it has become a little better and now remind me a little of the MTPCs sound with a deeper but muddier bass and less detail, clarity.

 

I noticed a few people were curious about this earphone so I decided to make this impressions/loaner thread so interested Head-Fi'ers can check it out and give their impressions to help others out that are curious. I'm going to continue to listen to the 2V1S for a week and send out to the first person on Monday, 11/14/11. If you are interested in this loaner program, feel free to PM me as long as you meet/follow these conditions:

 

  • Live in the United States
  • Be a trusted Head-Fi'er
  • Find out the address and pay to ship to the next person
  • No eartips will be provided so use your own, the nozzle size it about the same as the IE8
  • Use it for a week or two and post your impressions in this thread afterwards
  • If you break it or damage it, let me know to work something out

 

Here's a list that I'll keep updated.

  1. i2ehan
  2. shotgunshane
  3. Selenium
  4. kckc

 

I want to make this thread clean as possible with just impressions, thoughts, questions, and answers. So without further ado, let's see if the 2V1S lives up to the hype! biggrin.gif


Edited by -y0- - 12/21/11 at 1:16pm
post #2 of 191
Thread Starter 

Intro

The TFTA-2100-2V1S is based in the UK and the brand is owned by RMXdirect Limited. The names on their lineup will change to a shorter version and the 2V1S will be called 1V. I've been listening to these for about 3 days, I'd say 25-30 hours. I don't really know if burn-in is a real or a psychological thing but it has improved a little since being out of the box and I don't see it getting any better so here's my view on the 1V. It's how I hear it and some might like it better or worse than me since people have different preferences in sound sigs.

 

TFT [Thin Film Technology], what the fudge is it?

Thin Film Technology is a passive dynamic-balancing system, combining acoustic know-how and material knowledge achieved by placing a thin film inside the housing. This creates and combines a deeper, wider sound quality with sub bass capability and enhances frequency range with higher fidelity.

 

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging I got was pretty basic. Nothing fancy, just a small paper version with a viewing window. It comes with just a total of 3 eartips and that's it. Apparently, they are updating the packaging and accessories in their lineup. More accessories will be included in the updated versions that bumps it up to 5 pairs of eartips and a leather pouch. The new packaging will have a magnetic fold that opens to a viewing window. The differences from the old to new packaging is as shown below:

 

photo 1.JPGNew1.JPG

 

Comfort & Isolation

Despite the big fudging housing, the 1V was pretty comfortable. Wearing it for hours at a time, even going to bed with them on wasn't a problem as long as I didn't turn sideways. Isolation wasn't great due to the vents but not terrible. Sounds also leak because of the vents, I was able to hear the music playing when my gf had them in at 80% max volume from about 25 feet away in a quiet room. I can't really imagine it being an issue in a bus or anywhere that is not dead silent.

 

Build & Cable

The build seems to be solid due to the metal housing so no problems there. However, I wasn't a big fan of the cable. It's rubbery and tends to tangle easily. It's not kevlar-reinforced or anything but it's a TPE cable which is PVC and Halogen free. I like a softer cable that's easy to handle but that's just my preference. The strain reliefs are decent and the cable ends with a straight gold-plated plug. There was also some driver flex but nothing too bad. Here are a couple pictures below:

 

photo 2.JPGphoto.JPG

 

Sound

  • Out-of-the-Box: I was like what the fudge. The bass was massive, not in a good way. It was muddy, uncontrolled mess. Treble and midrange/vocals sounded recessed/veiled due to the bass just being overkill. It sounded like just an earphone made strictly for bass lovers and it's not even the bass enhanced version. The sound did improve over time which is what the descriptions below is based on.
  • Treble: First of all, I'm not a big fan of bright sounds but I do like some sparkle. Even though the 1V didn't have sibilance or any harshness, it also had no sparkle. It wasn't really detailed and takes a backseat to the other sounds. It still seems slightly recessed/veiled to me.
  • Midrange: I like earphones that can produce nice vocals since a lot of the music I listen to depends on it. Vocals on the 1V wasn't that bad, it was actually decent. The only problem was that the bass bleeds in to it a lot of times depending on the track. It is slightly forward but not much and had pretty good detail/clarity.
  • Bass: The bass of the 1V became more controlled but still dominates the sound spectrum and is as massive as the MG7 but not as clean. Although I do enjoy a nice amount of bass in my music, so much of it that it kills the other sounds just doesn't do it for me.
  • Soundstage: I feel like I'm in a small concert with the bass speakers up in the front and all the other ones in the back with the artist singing behind the bass speakers. While it's not the biggest I've heard, it certainly wasn't small.
  • Overall: The overall sound isn't terrible. It definitely has a bass heavy sound. It might possibly be the perfect earphone for bassheads but not for me. It does have a fun sound that'll get your feet tapping, head bobbing but wouldn't make an ideal earphone for me in the long run. I see it as a beefed up version of the Hephaes with a tad more detail and clarity.

 

Conclusion

I was and am slightly disappointed with all the hype built on this earphone. I expected to be wowed and impressed but that certainly wasn't the case. I mean it's not a terrible earphone by any means but for the retail price of $160, I'd pick the Tandem, FXT90, and GR07 over it without hesitation. Even though I haven't heard the bass enhanced version, I can't imagine it killing the IE8 in terms of sound as I read before based on the 1V. I'm thinking maybe they had a fake IE8 to come to that conclusion but who knows. So, that's my view on this earphone and some will view it the same as me and some will not, like my girlfriend that loved the 1V due to the bass, but that's what this loaner tour is all about so let me know if you want in. Now I'm going back to my preferred earphones and passing this on to i2ehan for his impressions. biggrin.gif

 


Edited by -y0- - 12/23/11 at 7:00pm
post #3 of 191


Before I post my initial impressions, I wish to thank my dear friend -y0- for the opportunity.

 

Let's begin with the earphones themselves. For the sake of this initial impression, I'll be referring to the 2V1S as the '1V', reflective of the name change they're (hopefully) due to undergo at some point. As far as aesthetics are concerned, the 1V's are quite appealing, and of solid construction and build. The cable, while quite thin, feels quite sturdy, and is similar to the cable found on the Sennheiser IE7/IE8 in that regard, albeit thinner. The 1V can be comfortably worn in either a straight-cable, or an over-the-ear fashion. Microphonics are nonexistent when worn over-the-ear, and slightly above average when worn straight-cable. Then there's the one area in which I'm truly disappointed. This current set of 1V's experiences terrible driver flex, and I do mean absolutely terrible. It's only of concern when they're first being worn, after which it's no longer an issue. Having to encounter it each time they're worn, however, is rather irritating, and it may take a few seconds each time to adjust their alignment, so as to not experience any further driver flex. Insert them a tad too deep, and the sound becomes blocked out altogether. Seldom times, a slight opening of the jaw will result in the same sound block. Simply put, there's a learning curve involved before I knew how to properly insert them, but I'm willing to overlook the issue as I'm quite certain the set -y0- received just so happens to be among the unlucky few experiencing significant driver flex, or so I hope.

 

Now, onto the subject we are all here for, their sound. For my own listening impressions, I wore them over-the-ear, coupled with the large JVC tips that come included with the FXT90/FX700, which (from my experience) offer the best overall transparency. While the topic has been discussed to no end here and elsewhere, I'm forced to reiterate whatever's been said with respect to the low end, especially since it's the very first thing that'll draw the listener's attention, and will most probably remain the focal point of attention, irrespective of track/genre. I don't wish to call these bass-heavy, but before you get up and leave, hear me out. tongue.gif If I were to call these bass-heavy, it'd tip the scale to a completely new extreme, and would most probably throw off my perception of all other in-ears I've heard to date, which, before the 1V, I've come to classify as bass-heavy in ears. The DDM2 is a prime example. The 1V is what I'd call the heavily exaggerated counterpart of a bass-heavy earphone. As with everything, there are both pros and cons. Before I say anything, let's get right down to it. These are intended for listeners who want a relatively bass-dominant presentation, particularly bass QUANTITY above all else. I say relatively because I don't wish to say they're completely bass-dominant, and give the false impressions that the mids and highs are not at all prominent, or that they're totally lacking in presence. To my surprise, that's not at all the case. If asked to describe the lower frequency range, I'd say it's weighty, aggressive, seismic, extending quite deep, and (unfortunately) all the while, quite boomy. While they may sound quite muddy/bloated at times, more often than not, the low end retains good definition and overall transparency. Let's face it, the low end is heavily colored, but that shouldn't come to a surprise, since the TFTA's are intended to sound that way in the first place. While there's an abundance of quantity, they aren't necessarily lacking in quality. In fact, the low end is really where the story begins, and (for many) sadly ends.

 

That brings us to the midrange. Given the overly emphasized midbass and subbass, it's no surprise that the midrange is undoubtedly recessed (more or less, depending on the track). At times, quieter passages are far too recessed to make out clearly. The overall midrange detail, clarity, and transparency are all average at best, though I must admit, slightly better than I expected, considering their overall presentation. As is expected however, more often than not, the bass is much too boomy and prominent, and noticeably infiltrates the midrange. This is most noticeable with vocal tracks, where midbass bleed is quite apparent, and, to an extent, compromises overall clarity and transparency. Nothing short of expected of course, considering (yet again) the intended purpose of the TFTA's, as first and foremost absolute bass cannons. Then there's the rather confusing high end. I say confusing because it appears to be rather smooth, and laid back, yet sounds as if it's constantly competing with the lower end to gain focus/presence. It's hard to pin point, but it's as if the high and low end are tossed into a mixed bag, making it rather difficult to appreciate either one as an individual entity. The weighty lower end is, yet again, the obvious culprit. As hard as I try, it's nearly impossible to draw my attention away from the lower end, leaving much to be desired with regards to the rest of the spectrum.

 

Imaging and instrument separation, however, are average at best, both of which failed to meet my expectations. It's a rather strange combination, as if they're unable to take full advantage of the pleasantly wide soundstage, similar to that of many vented dynamics. Then again, the UM3X, which happens to be exceptional in that regard, suffers from a rather narrow soundstage, one that I could never quite get used to. In fact, the 1V sounds rather veiled/congested at times. Anyone hoping to use these with genre's that aren't bass heavy, I wholeheartedly recommend you look elsewhere. So who do I feel these are fit for? Well, as has been mentioned here and elsewhere, simply put, those that want a warm and fun brain thumping experience, with the most weightiest low end money can buy, period. Don't be mislead to believe these are intended for any other means. I must admit, I had a rather difficult time tolerating them for longer than a few minutes (but I persisted), especially since I personally strive for a sound with that's closer to neutral than not, with exceptional detail, clarity, and transparency. I personally don't see myself paying retail for these, not now, not ever. However, I don't wish to deter those prospective buyer's who care for little else other than the lower end of the spectrum. In that regard, you won't find a more competent solution, I'd put my money on it. As of now, I'm happy to conclude my brief impression, and let them sit aside for burn-in, after which I'll post back any changes I perceive. smile.gif

 


Edited by i2ehan - 11/10/11 at 8:37pm
post #4 of 191

Subbed. I've been waiting for what looked like an objective review on these for a long time.

post #5 of 191
Quote:

- The biggest leap forward in sound technology for decades

- A listening experience like nothing you've ever heard before

- The best earphones and earbuds in the world

- For the first time it is now possible to hear the quality of your home HiFi system from your small hand-held music player

- When you listen to TFT headphones you realise that conventional headphones reached their peak many years ago

 

Thanks for doing this. Subscribed. smile_phones.gif

 

Undoubtedly you'll go dow in history as the one who brought manna to the starving audiophile world. wink.gif

post #6 of 191

 

Updated with impressions: 

 

First, I'd like to thank -y0 for the giving me the opportunity to review these.  After spending some time with the TFTAs here are my impressions:

 

Big fat bass. There's no denying it, the TFTA-1V is the most "bassy" IEM I have heard to date in regards to sheer bass quantity. The low-end is the center of attention and remains that way regardless of the track/genre. The 1V has a dark overall sound signature with competent mids and highs, but they are all overshadowed by the monstrous bass. Another thing to note is that the 1V has the worst driver flex I have heard. I have experienced driver flex multiple times in dynamic drivers, but none was enough to irritate me, the 1V is the first. This driver flex seems to be consistent with other people who heard this pair so maybe it's just the loaner pair that has such terrible driver flex. Now to the sound:

 

Lows: The TFTA-1V is a bass monster. The low end is very powerful with lots and lots of weight. It does have good extension but unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for those who enjoy this) focuses more on the mid bass than sub bass. As a result, many tracks tend to sound muffled and muddy. Unfortunately, the bass is also quite boomy and not very detailed or textured. What the bass does give you is power and quantity. The bass really moves a massive amount of air and I can't even begin to imagine what the extra bass version of these would be like (yes, it actually does exist). With the 1V, I already feel like I'm squished between two woofers. And even though I do like bass, the significant mid bass hump combined with the quantity is still too much for me. In the end, I don't think the bass quality is as good as other IEMs in the same price bracket, but I can easily see these as a serious basshead's dream IEM. 

Mids: With so much attention on the bass, it comes at no surprise that the midrange is recessed. Vocals are placed very far back and with so much bass, mid-bass bleed was expected and present. The effects though, was nowhere near as bad as I originally thought. Yes, the mids are definitely warmer and clarity is only average, but considering they have so much bass, this was actually quite impressive. They are a little dry and has good detail in the upper midrange.

Treble: The treble is quite interesting. It has some top end sparkle and exhibits some harshness, but it's also laid back. Even though the treble is more forward than the midrange, bass is still the dominant frequency. It does roll off pretty early at the top though

Soundstage: The soundstage is quite big with lots of width; however, it sounds closed in and congested. It doesn't portray distance too well and has average instrument separation 

 
Conclusion:
There's no doubt that these are very bassy, and certainly too bassy for me. The midrange and treble was disappointing for me and was an obvious tradeoff for the bass quantity. I do think that they'll appeal to extreme bassheads and have the potential to be a basshead's wetdream. 

 

 


Edited by kckc - 2/4/12 at 5:32pm
post #7 of 191
Thread Starter 

Updated with my thoughts here. Now on to the next Head-Fi'er, feel free to let me know if you want to get in on this tour. biggrin.gif


Edited by -y0- - 11/7/11 at 7:31pm
post #8 of 191

How disappointing..

 

Both the fact I live in Aus..

 

and also the performance of the IEM. But I feel the market is soo saturated these days, its really hard to break through. The door was slammed shut on DUNU's face as well.

 

 

post #9 of 191

I'd like to check them out. I'm in Mizzourah.

 

My initial impressions:

 

Well I gots them! I didn't give Shane my name, so the mail lady today grilled me on if I was expecting a package, what it was, who they were for in the house, etc. because they were addressed to "Selenium, Head-Fier." LOLcool.gif

 

I really like the aesthetics of these. They remind me of the spaceship from Flight of the Navigator. Fairly lightweight too, despite the metal housings. I'm getting some driver flex but it's nothing serious. They need easier to see R/L indicators. First thing I noticed was the bass...It is GINORMOUS. There is MOAR BASS quantity here than even the Monster Miles Davis Tribute. I also have a Xeport 5010 which is similar to the Meelec SP51 and Hippo VB, and even with the tuning plate on it which gives the most bass quantity, these 2V1Ss still have more bass. And they have a bassier model than this!!!???basshead.gif

 

I started off comparing these to my Turbine Coppers and Miles Davis Tributes. It became apparent to me rather quickly that both of the high-end Monsters outclass these in every way regarding SQ. Versus the Monsters, the 2V1S is lacking clarity, detail, and instrument separation. Soundstage isn't nearly as wide as the Coppers, but about equals the width of the MMDT, while sounding more congested. The bass also bleeds into the mids, making them sound a bit "boxed in." The Monsters, however, are more expensive, so these will probably fare better in comparison to my OG Turbines and Xeport 5010(a $15 earphone).

 

Regardless of how I think these stack up versus those two, these would still be hard to recommend for anyone but bassheads just because there's SO MUCH BASS. It's the star of the show often when you just want it to be a forgettable backup vocalist. When I listened to the Coppers after listening to these for a while they sounded downright balanced. I maxed-out the bass on my Fiio, and these literally made me nauseous. That might be just what some people are looking for though. You know, the types who think the Turbine Golds don't have enough bass. I can see these really satisfying people who exclusively listen to bassy music like dubstep and DnB.


Edited by Selenium - 12/24/11 at 8:19pm
post #10 of 191
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Selenium View Post

I'd like to check them out. I'm in Mizzourah.


Sounds good, you're in.

 

post #11 of 191

I take it you own the IE8's?


How does the bass compare with the IE8's and the 1V's?

popcorn.gif

 

EDIT:
And no, unless Mark on Head-fi had fake IE8's

IMO IE8's have literally no bass vs the 1XB's

 

Thus Why I'm asking how does the IE8's compare with the 1V's in your opinion?
 

1V's for me have bass, but are not bass heavy - Denon C710 style,but with more detail (highs/lows)


Edited by Totally Dubbed - 11/9/11 at 5:15am
post #12 of 191
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Totally Dubbed View Post

I take it you own the IE8's?


How does the bass compare with the IE8's and the 1V's?

popcorn.gif

 

EDIT:
And no, unless Mark on Head-fi had fake IE8's

IMO IE8's have literally no bass vs the 1XB's

 

Thus Why I'm asking how does the IE8's compare with the 1V's in your opinion?
 

1V's for me have bass, but are not bass heavy - Denon C710 style,but with more detail (highs/lows)


In terms of bass, the 1V had much more but I preferred the overall sound on the IE8 over the 1V. I haven't heard the C710 so I can't comment on that and like I said, the 1V might be the perfect earphone for bassheads but not for those wanting a complete package. Not everyone has the same sound preference and people will have different views.

post #13 of 191
Quote:
Originally Posted by -y0- View Post

In terms of bass, the 1V had much more but I preferred the overall sound on the IE8 over the 1V. I haven't heard the C710 so I can't comment on that and like I said, the 1V might be the perfect earphone for bassheads but not for those wanting a complete package. Not everyone has the same sound preference and people will have different views.


agreed ! :)

 

So as in overall presentation, what about isolation of both? and what about the highs on both?

May you just compare the both for me :)?

 

Although in your impression you make it seem like they don't have THAT much bass, and that the ie8's have more...correct me if I'm wrong:

"Even though I haven't heard the bass enhanced version, I can't imagine it  killing the IE8 in terms of sound as I read before based on the 1V"


Edited by Totally Dubbed - 11/9/11 at 5:54am
post #14 of 191
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Totally Dubbed View Post


agreed ! :)

 

So as in overall presentation, what about isolation of both? and what about the highs on both?

May you just compare the both for me :)?

 

Although in your impression you make it seem like they don't have THAT much bass, and that the ie8's have more...correct me if I'm wrong:

"Even though I haven't heard the bass enhanced version, I can't imagine it  killing the IE8 in terms of sound as I read before based on the 1V"

 

Isolation is a little better on the 1V and I preferred the highs on the IE8 due to it being more detailed/crisp. If you reread the above quote, I stated that I can't imagine it killing the IE8 in terms of sound not just bass. Sound meaning overall sound quality.
 

 

post #15 of 191
Quote:
Originally Posted by -y0- View Post

Isolation is a little better on the 1V and I preferred the highs on the IE8 due to it being more detailed/crisp. If you reread the above quote, I stated that I can't imagine it killing the IE8 in terms of sound not just bass. Sound meaning overall sound quality.

 

 


Ok I misunderstood you then ;)

1V's have better bass than the IE8's - oh comparing my 1XB's with the IE7's will be fun...popcorn.gif

 

Thanks for taking time in replying

 

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