Heir Audio 4.Ai - Appreciation/Impression/Review Thread - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cotnijoe 

How's the isolation on these guys?

After using two universal 'customs' i am going to hazard a guess that full customs isolate awesomely. Why? Because the two i have isolate so well. The Heir angles itself fairly deep into your canal fairly comfortably. I feel like it does get almost to the depths of a Etymotic (still isolation king) but is way more comfy and less intrusive. So the fact they cover you ear quite a bit and insert pretty deep all adds up to a lot of ambient noise being blocked. It is really rather impressive and these will block out noise pretty much were ever you go. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorensiim 

I'm getting my Ai's with the stock cable as I already have the Magnus 1 for my 8.A. I'll be doing comparisons between the two cables, judging sound as well as flexibility/usability. 

 

I really look forward to what you have to say about the cable differences. Should be good!

Second Set of Impressions

So I have now compared these to the other universal ‘custom’ in my collection, the Aurisonics ASG-1 and now I have had a request for a comparison with my Sony MDR-EX1000 and that shall of course be granted. You may be aware that the Sony is my current favourite and technically best IEM. Well rather quickly the Heir goes pound to pound with the Sony without breaking into sweat. The Sony uses a huge 16mm dynamic driver, which is fairly different to the 4 armatures in the Heir. However they do both go for a rather flat signature, which is very neutral, however the Sony’s may perhaps have a slightest of V dues to a slight lack in the mids.

As a physical package they are rather different. Accessory wise I like them both but they are different. The Sony handily comes with two cables to the Heirs one, the Sony comes with the best tip selection I have come across and the Heir is not shabby either with three different types. Finally case wise the Sony one is leather and looks great but then the Otterbox is in destructible that you get with the Heir. Both are more transportable that portable and the Otterbox will be doing the protecting that the Sony case will not.

The real differences come in the physical factors though such as the isolation of the two. The Sony cannot isolate because they are vented while the Heir are some of the best. Which one is more for you is up to you to decide.

Build quality of them both is great and they both feature removable cables, which is great. I find the Sony’s more comfortable but neither is uncomfortable at all. The Heirs look a lot better and also look cool in your ear with the wooden finish while the large, chunk Sony’s hang out you ear like a growth. Neither have any worrying microphonics.

On to sound they are both monsters. They both really like the juice of an amplifier but I can enjoy the Heir without one a lot more.

In terms of bass, no offense to the Heir but it is a whitewash to the Sony’s. The bass on these things is the best I have yet to come across. Not really because there is loads of it but because there is clearly enough and the quality is just great. It is fast and tight (the Heir is better in both these categories) yet the Sony’s really have a lot more impact, which just finished the softer approach of the Heirs. Then there is the sub-bass extension and the Sony’s go so much deeper and with such as satisfying rumble all you can do is smile. The Heirs role of quite early when up against the EX1000, which is not a surprise with them, being BAs.

The midrange is another story all together as this is the part I always have wanted more with on the Sony’s, especially as they came after the mid forward ASG-1’s. Now in this little scrap, the Sony’s are left cowering. They lack energy and the Heirs have just the right amount to not become a bit too overpowering. When it comes to how clean they are and transparency it is also a clear heir knockout as the dry texture of the Sony’s just does not have that TWFK magic. I also think because of the airiness of the Heirs, the Sony’s feel a tad compressed in the mids. However when it comes to certain point of mid timbre, the Sony’s do throw a few jabs back, especially on drums as the softer, airier impact of the Heir is not as natural as the stronger hit from the EX1000. However the strings benefit from the softness and it is so much more graceful on the Heir’s. The EX1000 are also completely dry and balanced in the mids while the Heir’s are ever so slightly on the brighter side of things.

Both trebles are something special. However the smoothness of the Heir is just a bit to much for the Sony which can just be a touch edgy and hot at times. However, the more excited and risqué Sony Treble could easily be seen with more favour. They both extend to the worlds end and while the detail is on the 4.Ai’s side, sparkle chooses to sit along with the EX1000.

Soundstage is huge and three dimensional on the Sony but the presentation and imaging of the Heir just makes that all pointless, I really have not seen anything present positions of parts of the music any better than these 4.Ai, mind blowing stuff.

Now I will say that the Sony driver is very fast. When I say that I do not mean ‘fast’ for a dynamic driver like I said with the ASG-1, this can actually make some BAs look silly from experience. Well that is irrelevant when compared to the Heir, which is as far as I am concerned the king of speed. Instrument separation is just so mind blowing on the 4.Ai that the well above average separation of the Sony…. Well normal.

Both are amazing IEMs and doing this comparison as been really interesting. What surprised me is before I done it I thought it was going to be more equal than this as I did find myself preferring the Heir’s most of the time but then a song with a bit of bass in it come on and the sub-bass rumble of the Sony’s brought a lot back. If the Heir’s had that extension they would be so much better but because of this I think they are only a little bit better or perhaps on the same playing field. I never though I would be considering another IEM to be better than my Sony’s but these could just be.

I  am not going to throw it either way because the songs I A/Bed on were all better on the Heir (range of rock, jazz, indy and mateal) and then the last song I compared them on was the Here to Stay BT Anger Mix by Korn and the Sony’s jus ruled it!

As a portable option though because of their far superior isolation, the Heir’s would be an easy option above the Sony’s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubick 

i will only have the magnus 1 cable. so i wont be able to do a comparison.

sorensiim will have both the cable and he said that he will do a review when he receive both.

so lets wait for his review!

 

Yes, i quoted you when i was meant to quote Sorensiim. I have made an edit now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinyman392 

 

Yes, that's what I meant.  Many IEMs of this nature actually sit average/shallow.  The Sonys never had a deep fit.  Not even the XBA-4s got a deep fit.  Sony just doesn't do deep insertion.  

I thought so :p Which nature (universal customs, or big dynamic driver IEMs). And yes, i had the XBA-2 and they were also shallow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinyman392 

 

The only ones I can see being forced into a deep insertion is the XBA-1.  Enough OT though :p  Get back to the impressions and things.  

Yes, i was going to say so :P Anyhow the 4.Ais do get get deep and isolate very well.

Fancy requesting the next IEM that i will compare these too tomorrow tinyman?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinyman392 

 

I wouldn't doubt that they isolate well :p  These types of IEMs generally do with their erogomic shape that also blocks some resonances in your ear.  I have no idea what the last question you asked was 

They do indeed, they are so ergonomic it is great.

Well so far i have answered 2 requests and compared these to the ASG-1 and EX1000. I was wondering if you would like to make a request from me to compare these to another IEM of mine tomorrow?