Final Audio Design Heaven IV - Page 6

Thanks.

Awaiting a reply here to continue the fruitful discussion and finish it off as it's quite OT. 

 

On topic

I like the design of these a lot more, a deeper fit should be easier to achieve which will help the sound and isolation. Did they mention a treble reduction? That's welcomed in book. 

 

 

Yeah, the more practical shape was what drew me to them in the first place, not to mention that they actually decided to establish proper strain reliefs (though admittedly at a weird angle). I don't know about a treble reduction, unless these were tuned by a less senior member of the FAD team. The word, internally, is that the head honcho for FAD, in spite of all his experience as a Sony engineer, has not been immune to the inevitability of presbycusis, and so he doesn't seem to notice that the treble is harsh in some of their earphones. I don't know, this is all hearsay, but it does seem to make sense.

Just found this thread and thought I would comment as I own both the HeavenS and Etymotic ER4S
I have heard and owned a number of multi-driver BA's as well and also had long listening spells with the JH16 though admittedly with a universal tip so that I could which I know effects the sound somewhat so take that into consideration with my comments!

Firstly the JH's sounded lovely in many ways, very detailed, in fact super detailed but at the same time nice and musical but I am not convinced the differences in musical enjoyment and detail retrieval are worth the much greater price which brings me to the ER4 and HeavenS.

Up until getting the Heavens I just kept coming back to time and time again the ER4's. In my experience they came so very close to the far more expensive mulit drivers or customs that it just did not seem worth spending in some cases more than a $1000 for minimal improvements. The ER4S still remains one of my favourite in ear headphones and I will always own a pair.

Now then, in comparison to the HeavenS. A lot of folks advised me to go for the A versions and I understand why but in the end I went for the S version for the very reasons many do not like them as much! I have 48 year old ears. Though I have not tested them I am pretty sure my ability to hear the higher end of the sonic spectrum has lessened over the years. The S's help with that for me. I hear no harshness and they do what I had hoped they would do as replacements for the ER4S which is a tad deeper bottom end and warmth which they do indeed give.

But also I had some bonuses. The best separation of instruments I have heard to date in comparison to anything I have heard to this point. The ability to not smear the acoustic, the ability to separate instruments so one can pick out the quietest instrument in an orchestra and yet at the same time enjoy the whole experience is something to behold and something I have not heard outside higher end speaker systems.

They have great transparency and are musically one of the most involving in ear headphones, or come to think of it any headphone that I have heard to date.

They have pretty much replaced my ER4S as my go to in ear headphone and to be honest I am listening to them more than my LCD2's of late! Which makes me seriously consider selling the LCD2's and getting the SS models and I am not kidding!

I personally find fit and isolation excellent. I don't find them too big and I have average sized ears. Isolation is almost but not quite up to the ER4S standards as well which surprised me as the heavens don't go in as deep nor are they vented.

As to cost. Well, something is worth whatever it costs if it brings enjoyment to the recipient. I must admit i am not a rich man but I have always had the philosophy of getting the best I can and if I cannot afford it then the wait for saving for it is worth it in the end (I don't do credit cards or debt!)

I have yet to be fully satisfied with multi driver IEM's. The only ones i have heard that do not smear the music or over bloat it are the JH's the rest just sound so muddled to me and it has brought me to the conclusion that one well thought out driver in a well designed housing makes far more sonic sense than multi drivers ever will!

I have said this before on the forum but I wish people would give their age and list of equipment they use when giving opinions as it helps greatly form an educated idea as to what we can gain from their thoughts. My equipment list is in my signature!

One last thing to show that one persons opinion must be balanced with others is that I let a younger friend hear my Heavens and he thought them too bright. I just wanted to add that for perspective.

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Exactly, if you boost the 6kHz area of a flute, you have boosted it's naturality. Most IEM's can't make a flute sound like a flute in the first place, so then who cares if the FR is flat or if 6kHz is boosted ?!

 

Likewise, I haven't seen a study yet which points in the direction of perfect square-wave response at x Hz = natural sound.

 

 

 

 

The Piano Forte II is an easy upgrade to the latest Apple earbuds, especially for vocal lovers which is where they excel.  They have 15.5mm vented drivers developed by FAD iirc, despite this FAD gave away thousands for free.  If they have the type of sound you're looking for they deliver above their price + improve with source.

 

The price of $60 or less is at least realistic considering how much Chinese earbuds can cost, which are usually revised / tweaked Sony or Fostex drivers in various OEM housings.  There is one semi-popular $150-200 Chinese earbud which sounds almost exactly the same as a $20 Sony.  I don't know how OEM earbuds can cost $220 when the flagship Sony and Aiwa earbuds used to cost a lot less.

 

Imho the Adagio II and III have excessive bass, the the FI-BA-SA / Heaven C is closer to level and technical with + okay price / performance iirc, the Adagio V and Heaven IV let's find out...

 

 

 

 

True, no point losing out naturality just for a true flat sound. 

 

 

Edited by Inks - 4/27/12 at 12:44am

My Heaven IV is coming in some time next week. Based on accounts of people who have heard the prototype, the IV should be tuned for 'fun'. It remains to be seen whether I'll enjoy it or not, but anyways, it's coming...

 

The microphones used in the recording are very important too.  I'm not sure how natural your ER-4 sounds compared to your EX1000 though, Inks.

 

@tomscy2000 well done, looking forward to your impressions.

 

 

 

Awesome! Mine is coming next week or the week after. What color did you end up choosing?

 

I went with violet.

 

iWhite

Classy.

How much do they cost ?

 

Awaiting impressions. If anything closer to e-Q5 then it's an instant like for me. I like my treble hot and good bass texture

They cost around $180 - $200 USD.

 

I should be getting mine next week. Impressions to follow. Tom is getting his soon too.

@muppet

Would love to read your and Tom's  impressions.

I should be getting mine on Monday or Tuesday.