Heir Audio 4.Ai - Appreciation/Impression/Review Thread - Page 139

How long did it take to get from heir to you in the uk?  I'm also guessing that they are now closed until mid feb for chinese holidays yes?

 

Cheers

Chinese New Year is on the 10th but as it is spread out across several days...

 

My order had an incredible turnaround. Ordered on 9 Jan 2013 and delivered 22 Jan 2013! Immediate impressions are that the build quality is tight, was sure to check out the connections as there was that one report of connector ports sticking out. Looking on the sound tubes a tiny speck of it is not uniform but have nothing else to report. The premium cable is lovely. Will compare to the standard cable on the 3.Ai

 

Should actually say there was a mistake on my order as there are two Heir bands in the box, which definitely was not part of my order

 

If and when Heir read this, please give people the option of ordering tips by different sizes. My proportioned ears have only need for small sized tips

In my own experience the PFE 232 and 4.Ai were as different as chalk and cheese. I would  go as far as saying they represent completely opposite approach to sound reproduction.

Got the Heirs in now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These include:

Heir Audio 4ai

Heir Audio 3ai

Heir Audio Tzar 90

Heir Audio Tzar 350

 

3 of them have the Magnus 1 cable(all except the 3ai) and there is also an extra reg cable for some reason.

 

I prefer in order:

4ai

Tzar90

Heir 3ai

Tzar 350

 

I found that Heir has a problem(maybe) with bassy IEM's? The sound of the 90's is extremely weird. The vocals are pulled forward and it acts like an IEM (the others have a large soundstage and seperation) but its way too forward and while there is nothing wrong with the indivudual qualities (good bass, forward clear vocals, nice smooth highs). The 90's just don't sound good to my ears. I've tried 4-5 tips. 

 

3ai was good. The V shaped sound isn't exactly what I was looking for either. I feel like their mark was just missed. The vocals are pulled back with a bright upper mid and highs. This is a pro and con for some. Cymbals and "hits" are sharp but can be very bright and fatiguing for many. I felt like the sub bass and mid bass, although pronounced, wasn't enough or present enough to actually be a good EDM IEM. The bright upper mids and highs also make some EDM unsuitable. The vocals aren't as smooth as the others.

 

 

The Tzar 350 and Heir 4ai are both very similar. The biggest difference would be that the Tzar 350 has less of that soundstage. It is very generally stated. A similar IEM to the 4ai, except without the larger soundstage. The vocals of the 4ai are also smoother. The bass is not accented on these. These are the more neutral IEM's while the 90 and 3ai are the bassier ones. 

 

Physical ear fatigue however is quite present on every IEM I have tested. This is personal though. The only IEM I would say may actually be fatiguing is the Tzar 90 and the 3ai if you are sensitive to sharp cymbal or upper mid "snaps".

 

Fulll review to follow in a few weeks.
 

 

I would love to continue but full on ear fatigue is setting on now.

Edited by bowei006 - 1/28/13 at 6:02pm

 

Do not want to say more as need to get to know them but as I said, similar yet distinct. We all have different ears but don't buy "opposite". Are you using that correctly? The SE535 has a markedly different reproduction to them two models. I did tons of reading before ordering the 4.Ai+. The fact they were compared favourably against the PFE 232 was precisely a draw, odd as that may be as some may want a different flavour with a second IEM. So I am not the only one to put these two models on the same footing in terms of signature

 

Every IEM or CIEM order is shipped with two complimentary audio bands.

Hey guys , if been poisoned... Why headfi !!!
Anyways if got my eyes on the 4.Ai but from a local estore I can get the aursonics asg-1S or a rooth audio LS3 , or a pure custom 3.A at around the same price. I have reshelled tf10 , loved the sound but got bored of it I guess ? I have been using my DT880 (250 ohm) for portable use which is getting annoying and my con workers agree since its semi opened. I use an iPod classic with an aol copper lod to a C&C XO2 ( THIS AMP HAS A CRAZY BASS SWITCH it makes my dt880 vibrate violently on my head without clipping at only 4/6 the volume ! More and the dt880 starts to clip but turn off the switch and peace is restored haaha)so I thought that pairing the XO2 with the 4.ai may make up front the lacking bass ? Perfect combo for me ?in my opinion clarity and articulation is a big must , but so is bass , OK hate bass that starts covering other freq. But I love it when it can punch and boom and is accurate( like how the dt880 does it ) so out of the iems I have pointed out which would be best for me based on your opinions ?

    

 

      The different sized ear tips are complimentary as well

Well I guess it has been brought to my attention that I need to spend more time with the 350 

 

I had bad seal and tip problems so that may be the differences. It's qualities were really good but I had huge problems with how it sounded with the tips and seal. Which may be why. These were only impressions with less than an hour of listening time anyway. 

Edit:

The 350 and 90 may be switched. I'll contact.

Edited by bowei006 - 1/28/13 at 5:28pm

LS3 ? Or 4.Ai ? Any comparison?

I was sent the entire universal Heir Audio collection.

 

Full Circle has stated that the 90 is a much more fun brother to the 350. And I can definately see what I and Project thought was the 350 to be that one.

 

The Tzar I am listening to right now(believed to be 350 now) is very good. Highly comparable to the 4ai's. 

 

The 3ai's are akin to the other Tzar's (believed to be 90 now) while the 4ais with the believed to be 350.

 

The 3ai's offer a much deeper V shape curve than the BTB(believed to be) 90's with laid back vocals, more bass and a sharp/bright upper mid lower high spike(sharp cymbals and high vocal notes get a bit bright). The BTB 90's however offer forward vocals. The seperation is much less and unlike the other Heir's which have a large soundstage and imaging. The BTB90's bring everything up close and personal. IT's bass I believe is less than the 3ai's in every single area. But I have not yet focused too much on this yet. All do have a bit of sibilance. Not a lot. But if your songs are a bit sibilant by nature(due to recording), then the Heir's will accent it. 

 

The BTB 350's and Heir 4ai's are excellent IEM's. The 4ai's offer more imaging than the BTB 350 as of this moment. I'll keep working on it.

For those that don't know

 

 

Tzar 350 Demarcation is an ingraved Crown in gold with a small line under the crown

 

Tzar 90 = Crown in metallic red, a small line under the crown

 

4.Ai = Crown in Gold (no line)

 

3.Ai = Crown in metallic red (no line)

 

XXX = TBD

The 3ai and 4ai also say the words in them under the crown.

 

#FirstWorldReviewerProblems

 

I don't think Heir imagined all 4 would ever be bought by a person anyway. 

OK so I am down to the lS3 and the 4A.I are the ls3 as "clear" as the 4.Ai ?

Just got my 4ai+ and I am absolutely thrilled with them! Beautiful craftsmanship and beautiful sound. I'm going to really enjoy spending time with these..