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Heir Audio 4.Ai - Appreciation/Impression/Review Thread - Page 14

post #196 of 2308
8/11/12 at 3:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Audiocrack View Post

Oh, I actually didn't know there were that few of them... But anyway, Sørensiim let me try out his pair for a few days up to a local meet we're having, related to them, so that would explain that :)And I can only dissagree with that last statement - well maybe except if I connect them to my fiio E11 and turn up the bass boost. Yes, you can notice the bass if you actively listen for it, but switching between these and the IE80 is night and day with a lot of tracks. It frustrates me quite a bit because they are the best IEM's (including customs) that I've yet heard with most genres of music simply due to their clarity, but the missing low end is a big kick in the teeth to me...

 

 

Maybe you can ask him to lend you the 3.Ai instead.. wink.gif

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post #197 of 2308
8/11/12 at 3:17am
Thread Starter 
Oh thank you for clearing that up. Yes there is that few as they are not released yet and I was tarting to think you was a troller.

Okay it sounds to me that your not getting a good seal so all I can suggest is tip rolling. I have had many bass crazy IEM such as the Hippo VB and bass lite IEMs such as the Grado GR8 (this really has no bass, just how you describe these, you miss half the song). Maybe if you stick some different tips on you might get a bass response like I get, I think your senny tips should fit so if you was to stick the ones you use on your IE8s on or the dual flanges they come with, they will also fit UE tips. Your inserting them the right was as you said like a custom so i can't think what could be the problem.

I am personally suprised by bass capabilities, I was just listening to a song by white stripes were there is a deep kick drum through out the whole song and it had a good groan and impact to it very nice, many IEMs I have heard can not reproduce it and some take it to far and over power it.

Also what level bass do you have on your IE80, if you have it on full then I may understand a bit better. I personally only listened to the IE8 on the lowest setting.
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post #198 of 2308
8/11/12 at 4:00am

ordered both 3.Ai and 4.Ai , can't wait to get these amazing IEM xD maybe i will make a comparision with my fitear 334 ;)) when they arrive


Edited by cutieboy1428 - 8/11/12 at 4:08am
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post #199 of 2308
8/11/12 at 4:06am

On the subject of Bass:

 

A passage from Project 86 review of the 4.A  http://www.head-fi.org/t/620356/review-heir-audio-4-a

 

 

Then we come to the low frequency reproduction, which is always a source of contention among these types of neutral sounding designs. It seems that everyone has a slightly different view on just how much bass impact is enough. Because of that, I notice this to be an area of much disagreement. Is the AKG K701 just right, or way too bass shy? How about the Sennheiser HD800? The Etymotic ER4? The Audio Technica W5000? For each of these, you can find people who will call them "just right" in the bass department, and a roughly equal number of people who will totally disagree. Personally, I think the key goal is twofold: first, the lows need to be reproduced with an exceptional degree of accuracy. They need all the texture and realism that can possibly be mustered. That goes a long way towards making the presentation convincing, no matter how loud it comes through. The other aspect is that it shouldn't paint everything with the same broad strokes. To my ears, the K701 lows can sound great in some instances. With certain jazz or folk music, everything seems to be as it should. Then I put on some metal or electronic tracks and the whole thing falls apart - the K701 just can't do powerful, gut wrenching bass in a realistic way. It has its own presentation that applies to everything you play through it - for better or worse. When the style of music lines up with the capabilities of the headphone, all is well. When it doesn't, you're out of luck.
 
The Heir 4.A seems more adaptable than that. The other day I was listening to MOG on my iPad, playing some of my favorite old Lagwagon tracks (a punk band that isn't known for high-quality recordings). It sounded decent but I did notice the bass drum had less impact than I would have liked. So I went to the previously mentioned Jack Johnson album and played a few of those tracks. In that case the bass was far more prominent in the mix - it was clear that each presentation was done based on what the music called for, rather than any inherent shortcoming in the 4.A sound. What this means is that sometimes the bass may not satisfy you, and sometimes it will. It depends on the recording. Some IEMs or headphones go the opposite route compared to the K701, adding some measure of warmth to everything they play. That can be a good approach because most people tend to appreciate the added oomph to some degree. The 4.A doesn't do that, so it may not appeal to everyone for that very reason. But if the track does call for it, the 4.A will deliver with exceptional quality, with enough impact and presence where I think it would please most people.
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post #200 of 2308
8/11/12 at 4:17am

So this might be stupid question, but the 3Ai has the exact same specs as the 3.A right?

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post #201 of 2308
8/11/12 at 4:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bagram000 View Post

So this might be stupid question, but the 3Ai has the exact same specs as the 3.A right?

 

 

3.Ai is the universal version of the 3.A, as the 4.Ai is the universal version of the 4.A. So, yes, it has... wink.gif

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post #202 of 2308
8/11/12 at 4:34am
Hmm, as for my IE80, they are in the lowest setting as far as I can tell (I haven't touched the screws), and yes, I think it may to some extent be due to the seal. Because even though the seal is good at the moment (I'm using a medium red on the right and blue on he left ear, due to my ears being different) I'm still able to do the classic thing where I put my finger on them and put a slight bit of pressure on them, and then attain an a bit more suiting amount of bass. That would also explain the impression given in the review of the 4.A (custom) since those are notorious for having a good seal, and as a result using the full capabilities of the drivers. However that just leaves me in a situation where I probably yet again have to get a custom IEM after my previous dissatisfying experiences with those... Oh well...
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post #203 of 2308
8/11/12 at 4:48am
Thread Starter 
I see we're your coming from now. If I apply the pressure, I muffle the sound which suggest I have a custom like perfect seal, hense the bass response. If I do not rotate them in, I have the IEM you describe, huge clarity with a almost non exsistent bottom end. Just make sure they are getting fairly deep into your canal, these should be going a lot deeper than your other two IEMs.

It's a shame to see this but it does seem that everyone will be able to achieve the seal. Also the 6.A maybe more up your street, it's mean to be the 4.A with just a tad more bass!

Just to make sure to fit, place them in your ear almost on there side, push them in and then rotate them into your canal with the memory wire. It's all I can add to try and help you or perhaps stick some foamies on?
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post #204 of 2308
8/11/12 at 6:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swimsonny View Post

I see we're your coming from now. If I apply the pressure, I muffle the sound which suggest I have a custom like perfect seal, hense the bass response. If I do not rotate them in, I have the IEM you describe, huge clarity with a almost non exsistent bottom end. Just make sure they are getting fairly deep into your canal, these should be going a lot deeper than your other two IEMs.
It's a shame to see this but it does seem that everyone will be able to achieve the seal. Also the 6.A maybe more up your street, it's mean to be the 4.A with just a tad more bass!
Just to make sure to fit, place them in your ear almost on there side, push them in and then rotate them into your canal with the memory wire. It's all I can add to try and help you or perhaps stick some foamies on?

 

Yea, Søren suggested the 6.A as well, but now that you mentioned it, I just tried doing the twisting motion that you do when inserting customs - basically just stuffing the things as far in as possible, which is probably what is supposed to be done, because now I have the clarity but also some more bottom-end... It'll never be an IE80 that can massage your brain with low frequency extravaganzas, but now the basslines moved a bit forward so they actually fell somewhat present, enough so that one might be able to get used to it. Now it sounds much like a Sennheiser HD800 with slightly less bass-capabilities (Then again, this is armature drivers, not some 50mm dynamic monsters). Now my two concerns are just 1) when will these be readily available, since there's only 4 of them in circulation and 2) Should I go custom, with possibly the 6.A... More information is to be gathered, and more listening is to be done
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post #205 of 2308
8/11/12 at 6:21am
Thread Starter 
So happy tht you have finally got the bass. I never said it was as much as IE8s but it is very nice quantity for BA and great quality. Wouk you now say it is cometley neutral. Also if you was originally have deal problems by tip rolling you could even get more bass.

Okay, me Soren and a few other have demo units, they are released in September 1st and can be preordered.

I have never had a custom from Heir or anyone do can not reccomend they way to go. I guess the 6.A if you want a bit more bass and a full custom or the 4.Ai if you get so used to it and start to miss it. My ears just synergies with these from the start and I am addicte to the sound, 4 hour journey today to the harbour for my cruise went in seconds, of just beutiful sound. I am craving that sweet clarity right now.
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post #206 of 2308
8/11/12 at 6:22am

The projected shipping date is Sept 1. It is a first come first serve situation, so those that have pre-ordered will be shipped as soon as possible. We are building the Ai series now and we are also trying to stock the USA location as well.

 

 

If bass is what you desire, then you may want to  consider the 8.a. Soren can give you the details regarding that product.

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post #207 of 2308
8/11/12 at 6:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FullCircle View Post

The projected shipping date is Sept 1. It is a first come first serve situation, so those that have pre-ordered will be shipped as soon as possible. We are building the Ai series now and we are also trying to stock the USA location as well.

 

 

If bass is what you desire, then you may want to  consider the 8.a. Soren can give you the details regarding that product.

 

Yea, I did speak to him about, but they have previously been described to share some characteristics with the Audeze and hifiman HE500 sounds, which are too dark for me (I've owned the LCD3, and by far preferred the HD800 over it, which the 4.Ai resembles a fair bit), so I think its going to be a 4.Ai or a 6.A... And considering the shipping date of the 4.Ai as far as time goes I probably might as well get a custom...
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post #208 of 2308
8/11/12 at 6:47am

There is  6.A review on head fi.

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post #209 of 2308
8/11/12 at 7:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FullCircle View Post

There is  6.A review on head fi.

 

Links to reviews are collected here.

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post #210 of 2308
8/11/12 at 7:52am

can anyone give me an impression about sound isolation of 4Ai?

 

is there any review that compares 4Ai with westone4?

 

thanks
 

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