[DannyBai]

Curious how they sound jant.

 

[jant71]

Long time no speak sir. Though I assume you got those FA I sent your way!

Sounds like they need some burn-in, lol. They are a decent monitor tuning though. A blend of the 9 and the LTD. More treble than the LTD but less than 9 perhaps. Soooo early. Bass needs to tighten but seems a smidge more than the LTD.

Like I said, the monitor tuning is good so far as they seem to be pretty true to source and balance is quite good except for some extra bass but that bass doesn't sound developed yet. A bit of thickness and more one note as if it hasn't layered out yet.

These...http://www.aliexpress.com/item/100-Original-BGVP-ABC-Earphone-Cable-Earphone-Upgrade-Silver-Plated-Cable-ABC-Detach-Cable/32558609801.html...work quite accurately to their descriptions with the E40.

Connector is better for fit than the IM since it can spin the earpieces but doesn't spin too easily. Bring on the aftermarket cables

Case is great. Just a bigger IM case. Big enough for a small player plus the earphones. Needed that.

I already flip modded them and put some better tips on them...


^Not your father's CKR"s^ Over the ear and two ways to fit and no microphonics. And a cable slider after the Y. Not bad!

 

[DannyBai]

I did get the FA's and waiting for Zelda to give me the go ahead to send it back.

I almost bit on those AT's but having owned the CKR's prevented me from doing so. I am hoping those turn out to be good. Sure do like the design and being able to try other cables is a plus. If you give it a glowing review after some burn in then I might not be able to resist.

 

[jant71]

I had Vlenbo's CKR9 for a week and the LTD. They are just hard to live with whether it was the odd CKR9 nozzle angle or the not agreeable over ear wearing or the no slider or the venting with wind noise. Of course today we have 70 degrees going down to 45 over the weekend here in the NE US. So huge winds blowing in towards the end of the day and the E40 did what the CKR can't do with wind that bad; have it be no real issue at all even w/o audio playing no whine or whistle. A muted rumble is all. of course the E40 are sealed so wind is kept at bay better and the isolation is better. Using UE SF/TF gray tips today which are the best for iso but sound nice and have a wide bore.

Downsides are the sealed up nature takes some off the soundstage size. Not the same as going from the Titan 1 to the 3 and 5. Still a bit bigger than the two newer DUNU but not as big as their older CKR brothers. Even though like a monitor as far as depth, width, and height being similar in amounts. The other downside is if you try to get great isolation. They are above average and better than the CKR but going higher may give driver flex with tips that seal that well.

Still burning them in but still sound like a CKR with the monitor influence in the signature. So far, they seem fairly true to source and take EQ quite well. They work well with the BGVP tuning cables and tip rolling has gone as it should as opposed to any non-expected outcomes or finicky nature like some earphones do with tips.

Sounds good with my Cowon with no sound adjustments which is tough to do. most will tell you that most Cowon's are kinda tame/cool on flat and need a bit of flavor the EQ brings. Very satisfying sans any EQ. Due in part to the warm nature countering the cool nature of the Cowon. Typical monitor warm which is good with neutral portable sources unamped but tends to go away with the sort of components one actually mixes and monitors with. I don't have my amp yet as it doesn't ship till next month They should respond well to good clean power if they are a well done monitor earphone and shed any excess warmth low end slant.

Burn-in will show how much if any of the bass and warm will be taken off. What I would like to hear is just the bass develop a bit more and layer out and the treble has a tiny bit of sizzle with cymbals. Though if using the BGVP A cable any issue goes away and they sound very balanced and pristine. The cables are good to have in your kit anyway but they could be a must buy to go along with the E40. Then you can tune to whatever sources you have quite well in the case of the E40.

Of course, no Cowon, no BGVP cables, no Tingo flocked tips or Whirlwinds the last time I had one of the CKR's on hand so pretty much a whole new ballgame to me to try again with the CKR. Not sure I would have gone for essentially another CKR if not for my changes though I am very happy with how nice an improvement they are to live with everyday. I am really thinking they are gonna be keepers.

 

[DannyBai]

Thanks for the write up jant. Seems like a worthy AT for under $100.

 

[ZOMBIEWINEGUM]

Just got the vjjb V1. Pretty good for £17. Surprisingly spacious sound although pretty v shaped. Soundstage makes them good for gaming. Came with a carry bag, case 3 sizes of rubber tips and a pair of foams. Not as good sound as the Ttpod T1-E but still good.  

 

[jant71]

You had the CKR10 Danny?? That would be the one it is most like. More bass than the LTD and more forward mids and less treble than the CKR.
 
Still $89(@soundprofessionals) plus $11.00 for the BGVP is a nice deal for $100 and give tuning options like some other earphones  have. What I get total with the right Cowon preset and the "A" cable is a sweet deal for $100. Better than the last five I have had on hand. Titan 1 and IM-02 < FXT200 modded < Titan 3/5 < E40A. Sharp and quick as an armature with the best of the CKR bass plus great balance and tremendous front to back layering in the depth it has(above average but not the best).
 
They would make a great buy for newbies that haven't had any CKR experience before.
 
Sound professionals is also giving a discount on the E70. Instant $50 off of those.

 

[DannyBai]

I had the CKR7,9 and 10. 7 was nice but sibilant and not worth it imo. I think this new E40 is a direct upgrade from that one. 9 might have been the sweet spot of the CKR's. 10 was my favorite though. Thickness of note sounds nice. I suppose the LTD was probably the best buy but never heard it. E40 sounds like a good one though. I'm really interested in the E70 since I thought the IM03 sounded excellent. I have my sights on the Nuforce HEM8 though. Digging the PSB M4U 4 for the past month though.

 

[thepooh]

Cool! Too bad it's for US residents only Lucky buggers....

95% of lucky draws always applies to US residents only, I think I gonna buy a house there as it will solve my issues with customs charges as well lol

This is the real American dream

 

[dweaver]

Look what arrived today
I contacted Focal on Friday and they called me back yesterday and today these beauties arrived. Fantastic service on their part considering these are just loaned to me for review.

For those interested these are the Focal Sphear. Focal's first attempt at an IEM and so far it's one heck of a first attempt!

These look large and if you have a small concha they might be to big. But they fit me perfectly and my wife who has smaller ears also had no issues with fit.

I started with the stock medium silicone tips and struggled then went large and struggled. So decided to look at the foam tips and DAMN they are the nicest foam tips I have EVER tried! Think foam as soft as comply but covered in a thin coat of super soft grippy rubber. I rolled the medium tips and stuck them in my ears and they immediately sealed and DISAPPEARED! Zero itchiness and damned near zero pressure. The only tip that fits as comfortable for me is the Sony hybrid and in my opinion no foam tips comes close to these. I am also hopeful the rubber coat may mean these don't have to be replaced like foam tips normally do.

So how do they sound so far?

In one word AWESOME! I know it's early on but damn I like what I am hearing! I am going to wait a few days to finalize my opinion on the signature since the bass may change with use and burn in. But as they stand now they are a bit bass heavy with a clear midrange, and sparkly detailed treble, and their housing affords a very nice large sound stage and imaging. The upper midrange is peaked just enough to allow singers like Patricia Barber who articulate their S's strongly to have some edge without coming across as sibilant. Cymbals sound lively and clear with wonderful detail and yet never cross the line into harshness.

Today's market is full of hybrid IEM's. I myself own the PSB P4U4 and Sony XBA-Z5 and have had several other hybrids over the past couple of years and this IEM just reminded me that a good dynamic driver can be all that and a bag of chips!

The single button and seperate Mic design are interesting and the cable is light enough that when worn straight down the IEM does not pull on the ears much. There is also enough length that you can loop the cable over your ears and wear them over ear which eliminates the small amount of microphonics that exist when worn straight down. On my walk they also exhibited almost no wind noise.

 

[Synapse77]

Thanks dweaver for your input on the Sphear IEM.  I have been having fun with these also since purchase about 3 weeks ago.  I'm no true audiophile but I sure like the energy of their sound.  Wish I could comment more precisely but I'm kind of new to this. 

 

[dweaver]

Thanks for the feedback, it appreciated .

Further testing shows the Sphear to be an exciting vibrant IEM that still manages to be avoid sibilance and fatigue issues. Its dynamics are off the charts and it's sound stage and imaging is also excellent. I recently got the KEF M100 which is about the same price and the Sphear is much more energetic, detailed, and airy sounding IEM. The M100 is nice too but in a thicker darker fashion. As someone who struggles with fatigue the Sphear offers the most balanced sound I have heard without that issue while also not sounding boring.

But I will warn people, my initial thoughts about wind were off. This IEM has a clever grill design behind the logo on the shells that lets in wind noise are reduces isolation on the IEM to less than average. I find it fine on lite rail transit with busy songs but quieter music gets drowned out by ambient noise and these are not well suited for low volume sessions unless your in a quiet environment.

I also have switched to Sony hybrid tips as they are just that smidge more comfortable compared to the foam tips supplied.

One final comment, these are a SHALLOW fit IEM! Great for comfort but anyone who looked em deep will need to dig out their dual and triple flange tips or get creative if they want a deeper insertion.

 

[ericp10]

So a question for the members of my "favorite thread" in Head-Fi: Do any of you have the Cayin N5 DAP? If so, what do you think about the sound quality as compared to the Fiio or iBasso DAPs (or even the Cowon Daps)? Which headphones/earphones work best with it? Thanks in advance. Happy listening! 

 

[drbluenewmexico]

  So a question for the members of my "favorite thread" in Head-Fi: Do any of you have the Cayin N5 DAP? If so, what do you think about the sound quality as compared to the Fiio or iBasso DAPs (or even the Cowon Daps)? Which headphones/earphones work best with it? Thanks in advance. Happy listening! 

SEE PM i just sent you Eric. thanks, drblue

 

[ericp10]

 
SEE PM i just sent you Eric. thanks, drblue

Thank you drblue