[Idsynchrono_24]

That cheap Heaven S you linked to is not the limited-to-one 'Special Grumpy Sparrow Edition' Heaven S. Now, how can you possibly put a price-tag on that?

'Special Grumpy Sparrow Edition' Heaven S. Now, how can you possibly put a price-tag on that?

'Special Grumpy Sparrow Edition'

' Special Grumpy Sparrow Edition'

'SGS Edition'

Spoiler

VAN HALEN

"Now, how can you possibly put a price-tag on that?"

 

[music_4321]

Wow... just WOW!! Now I can say I firmly believe in every single word Mr Sigmund Freud and his daughter ever wrote.

 

[vwinter]

:blink:

 

[shotgunshane]

"Now, how can you possibly put a price-tag on that?"

The greatest piece of deductive reasoning I've ever seen on head-fi.

 

[grokit]

Blind impressions incoming...
 
I have really enjoyed my time with all of these, thanks again James for letting me in on his epic FAD tour

 
I am not entirely regretting my Cardas purchase, but I have not listened to them much lately since I've had the FADs these last few weeks. I will have to re-visit them more to see what I can get out of them, but they are a bit to rolled off up high for me and they have ergonomic issues--particularly with the cables #ironic. Playing with different tips definitely affects them, the hybrids are still the best but the Monster sampler was interesting. I did get a good seal with the gels, but the improvement up high that I was hoping for with the larger openings did not materialize. After I send the FADs on I will try out some foamies with them but I imagine that I will be sticking with the hybrids. Their bass has amazing timbre, in the FX700 league but different. The mids only compete with the FADs some of the time, and as I said right now the highs seem to be a lost cause, especially when compared to the FADs. I don't have many hours on the Ear Mirrors so hopefully I can open them up a bit more somehow, I have read of others having success with extended burn-in but we'll see.
 
I have really been enjoying the Heaven-C's lately, upon re-visitation. I hated them on first listen with the stock tips, then liked them well enough the first time with the hybrids, and then didn't at all the next time and kind of wrote them off as all-sizzle no pop. Then I re-read James's pm about using a deeper insertion, and they really are impressive. Even un-amped. I was comparing them to the SA-5000 I had from memory, but with deeper insertion the lower mids really came alive and they actually became quite musical. I could definitely see these replacing one of my CK10's for use un-amped, what current BA model do they compare to? The only issue is the CK10's have a better shape for nodding off in bed, these are more like the Ortofons but if the replacement model is one of the Heavens (IV?) then they may be more pillow friendly. But they look more like the Adagios...
 
Anyways. on to the "jewels" of the litter, I can see how a cult is forming around these earphones. The SB's did present a fit problem with both of the stock metal tips. I was lucky to get a perfect fit with the VIII's, and with the advice that James posted earlier I found some tips that worked quite well with the SB's. They improved both the sound and the fit, I think they were from some old Griffin Earjams of all things:
 

 
I would say that the VIII's were all about those glorious mids, while the SB's added just enough of the sizzle boom-boom that I love so much. These mids have such an outstanding presence that (as you already know) it's hard to describe them, but they seem to give many of us what we are looking for which may be a feeling of added intimacy and space at the same time?
 

I think I'll stick with great presence.
 
I suppose I have always been a closet midrange fan, but it really depends on the gear I'm using and the music that I'm listening to. And some of the best mids I've heard have come from sound signatures that leave you begging for more of it like the D7K's. The VIII's are unabashedly upfront about their midrange-centric signature, and it totally works. The SB's may be ultimately be more to my tastes however, and I find them to be more comfortable than the VIII as well with my tips on them. I think that for portables both of these earphones change the competitive landscape, perhaps more than a little bit, and I will definitely be picking up a pair at some point.
 
I would venture further to say that the Cardas Ear Mirrors people should look to this line of IEMs if they need inspiration for further refinement.
 
Both the VIII and the SB benefit considerably from amp/sourcing, and they do seem to like the PHA-1.
And I really really really really really really like the SBs

 
Looking at the current lineup from strictly an aesthetic and pricepoint perspective, I would say that I am drawn to both the PF-IX and the Heaven S, but I don't yet know how they compare to what I have been auditioning. And from keeping up with this thread a bit it's becoming obvious the Heaven VI gets a lot of love and may be the sweet spot in FAD's lineup so they won't be ignored.
 
I also gotta say that I'm loving these C's quite a bit straight out of an iPod Nano. I was listening to an album earlier that I've only grooved to a few songs on, a tribute album to Gram Parsons called Return of the Grievous Angel that I now highly recommend! This isn't exactly from the album it's from a live tribute but I hope you guys agree that it may be PF-worthy:
 

 
 
This one is from the album, and it's positively surreal:
 

 
When I was poking around for these youtubes, I noticed that the VIII's sounded like absolute garbage out of my X-CANS desktop amp, but wonderful straight out of this particular laptop, which has an excellent Altec-Lansing soundcard. I mean I actually had to plug in my Denons to make sure that the amp/dac wasn't malfunctioning. I have heard differences between this amp and op-amps before with certain headphones, but this was insane.
 
But overall, these earphones are all so awesome I have to use

again for an extremely rare hat trick, highly recommended!

 

[james444]

^ Wow @grokit, awesome impressions! Thanks for taking the time and effort to do such an extensive writeup. 

 

[BenF]

Can someone please clarify where does Heaven C/S fall compared to the Heaven IV/V/VI lineup?

 

[akarise]

Quote:

I have surrendered to my upgraditis and ordered Heaven VI... I sure hope Heaven VIII doesn't show up anytime soon...

Ben, have you received your Heaven VI yet? I was wondering if you could do a quick comparison to your AD900X and Carbo Basso. None of the headphones compared with the V/VI so far are similar to the headphones I own so I think it really would help me pull/not pull the trigger on the Heaven V. 

 

[BenF]

Quote:

Ben, have you received your Heaven VI yet? I was wondering if you could do a quick comparison to your AD900X and Carbo Basso. None of the headphones compared with the V/VI so far are similar to the headphones I own so I think it really would help me pull/not pull the trigger on the Heaven V. 

 
 
I did receive the Heaven VI, but looks like there was a mix-up - I have received the VI-CG version and not the VI-CC version .
Trying to work out solution with FAD, so I'm not using them yet.
 
Here is Heaven VI-CC from FAD's site:

 
Heaven VI-CC on this picture looks exactly like my Heaven IV FI-HE4BBL.
Here is a picture of my Heaven IV FI-HE4BBL and Heaven VI:
 

 
Heaven VI appears to have a golden body (like VI-CG) and brown cable and tips.
It looks to me like I have Heaven VI-CG.

 

[BenF]

Quote:

Ben, have you received your Heaven VI yet? I was wondering if you could do a quick comparison to your AD900X and Carbo Basso. None of the headphones compared with the V/VI so far are similar to the headphones I own so I think it really would help me pull/not pull the trigger on the Heaven V. 

BTW, Carbo Basso does sound very similar to Heaven IV, I think I even posted about it in this thread.
AD900X is a very different sound, no similarities whatsoever.

 

[akarise]

Quote:

BTW, Carbo Basso does sound very similar to Heaven IV, I think I even posted about it in this thread.
AD900X is a very different sound, no similarities whatsoever.

I was originally thinking about getting the Heaven IV but if it sounds similar to the Basso then it must sound similar to the CKS1k as well. The V/VI are supposedly a different sound and I'm hoping you find them to be that way because I'd be a bit disappointed if the Heaven V doesn't offer me a different listening experience compared to my CKS1k.
 
Sorry to hear about that mixup, hope you can get it figured out soon! I don't know how you can resist listening to the VI while it's sitting in front of you, it looks absolutely beautiful. If you could compare it to your Bassos when you receive the CC version, I'll be really grateful!

 

[BenF]

Quote:

I was originally thinking about getting the Heaven IV but if it sounds similar to the Basso then it must sound similar to the CKS1k as well. The V/VI are supposedly a different sound and I'm hoping you find them to be that way because I'd be a bit disappointed if the Heaven V doesn't offer me a different listening experience compared to my CKS1k.
 
Sorry to hear about that mixup, hope you can get it figured out soon! I don't know how you can resist listening to the VI while it's sitting in front of you, it looks absolutely beautiful. If you could compare it to your Bassos when you receive the CC version, I'll be really grateful!

I thought CKS1K is supposed to have quite an aggressive treble. This is not my impression with Heaven IV or Carbo Basso (with MH1C tips).

 

[akarise]

Quote:

I thought CKS1K is supposed to have quite an aggressive treble. This is not my impression with Heaven IV or Carbo Basso (with MH1C tips).

Hmm the treble doesn't sound too aggressive to my ears but maybe I'm not that sensitive to it. It seems like the general consensus is that the CKS1k is a direct upgrade to the Basso so I'm guessing their signatures are similar enough.

 

[shotgunshane]

A loaner Heaven V just arrived. Initial impressions are very good. Vocals sound very pleasing. My only complaint is the flat cable (I hate flat cables) and the inability to wear them over the ear (I don't like wearing iems down).

 

[cooperpwc]

Quote:

A loaner Heaven V just arrived. Initial impressions are very good. Vocals sound very pleasing. My only complaint is... the inability to wear them over the ear (I don't like wearing iems down).

 
I finally pegged this. It probably helps that I insert deep. The secret is a nice easy loop. Then it doesn't tug the exit strut up but actually, once lodged behind the ear, keeps it pointed down. This gives me the same entry angle and the same sound as straight down but more comfortable and no microphonics.