Tralucent Audio 1Plus2 IEM Appreciation/Impressions Thread - Page 113

 

I owe you guys an apology; lately, I've been running around half-annoyed, and I think I just ran out of patience in that single moment. I didn't mean to single you guys out. However, as I mentioned, crossover implementation with BAs and/or dynamic drivers is very complex, and every single component, whether it be the driver itself (which already has four different factory options for "tuning", including three damping options and a back-venting option, as well as different coil impedances), the material of the sound tubing (for conventional CIEMs, they use hearing aid tubing, which is available in different densities of silicone, and they will decay acoustic energy as a linear function of distance from the driver spout), the value of the acoustic (physical) damper, the diameter of the tubing, the exit bore diameter with respect to the sound tubing diameter (horn effects), the list goes on and on. Also, because of the distortion characteristics of BAs, traditional LC low-pass circuits are difficult to implement in crossovers, since conventionally-wound inductors will blow up the distortion to unacceptable levels. Thus, the design of the crossover network itself is not as straightforward as it is in loudspeakers, and traditionally only uses SMD resistors and capacitors, which is limiting if you want to build a phase-coherent crossover at the SPLs that you want. You can start to get the picture about how easy it is to misattribute what one is hearing with how something is "tuned", so that's why I ventured to say that talking about crossovers is a bit of a moot point, unless people really, truly understand it. I can't even say I understand it fully; I was lucky to have attended an extremely rigorous engineering-oriented school, yet I studied neuroscience there, and now I have addition medical knowledge as well; this education helped me more quickly understand the applications of electroacoustic engineering in this small, but specific field of multi-driver IEMs. At the same time, while IEM design doesn't require complete and absolute command of any single subject, it is equal parts physics, neuroscience, material science, and electrical engineering.

 

In the past I've been guilty of spewing out crazy theories and guesses, but lately, I've begun to keep those thoughts to myself, because I find that they just confuse others more than they help.

 

 

Thanks for helping out. :-)

Edited by tomscy2000 - 2/11/13 at 10:14am

I figured you were just a bit off today. LOL

I was actually quite suprised when I saw an inductor on a IEM crossover but surface mount bits are making everything smaller. I would still worry about saturation on a 1st order but could see it being fine in a 2nd order highpass after the cap.

stuff between a driver's acoustic output and your ear.

Edited by goodvibes - 2/11/13 at 3:25pm

So I'm dying here in P Vallarta without tunes...well not really lol

During a run into town for provisions I popped into a R Shack....they had Sony XBA IEMs ....1, 2, 3, 4....$99 to $320....are any of them recommendable...?

If I get a chance later I'll do some research...

XBA3 are pick of the litter, so I hear.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/633755/xba-3-overlooked-the-appreciation-thread

Thx h20....I'll see if I can find them for a decent price tomorrow when I'm back in PV

1plus2 vs TG334

clas/mk3 intruder v3, Tera Player, DX100, Colorfly C4


I would say that the 1plus2 sounds special to me. During my AB tests, I used different sources and amps, all from VZ's equips..
I find the 1plus2 a tad more detailed than the tg334, but it depends on the source that I used. Obviously the tg334 sounds warmer.
Bass on the 1p2 has a lot more impact and quantity. I used the stock cable on the tg334, the 000 with it sounds bloated a bit. I would have preferred the 1plus2's bass on the first listen.

Mids, this is where the 1plus2 wowed me. Vocals has more clarity and definition and sounds less forward than the tg334 while both of them are transparent. I prefer the 1p2's again. instruments sound clearer on the 1p2


Highs on the 1p2 again I prefer than the tg334, they have more quantity and airy and presence across the spectrum and extension that makes the highs of tg334 a bit rolled off. Highs sound a bit thin to me, wished it had more weight and impact

Soundstage is very impressive on the 1plus2 while the tg334 is no slouch in this area. There is more resolution on the 1plus2. Instrument separation is way better on the 1plus2. I would say that i really like the u shape sign of the 1p2.


This is where it gets interesting, though with the dap, amps used above, the 1p2 MAY have the edge on the tg334 in terms of technicality. Presentation wise, I prefer the 1plus2 period. I had all the time to listen to them 'til I get tired listening to both. The 1p2 may sound like what I'm really looking for but no matter what I do even changing the ortofon tips to the tg334 stock large tips, though the tg334 tips have greatly reduced the sibilance, it is still painful to me. this is the reason why i tried it with all those sources above, I was hoping that i could find the right one but no matter how I kept changing the sources/amps, i can't get past the sibilance. This is my main gripe with the 1plus2.



The Turning point:  iMod 80gb RBoxed > ALO international

This one really made me decide on which one I think is worth it for me to keep. Though you might already know why.
This setup changed the tg334 vs 1plus2 for me, it gave them new life for me. the 1plus2 has lesser sibilance on this setup, but this doesn't mean I can listen to them with all of my songs already. The Int'l sound transparent and natural and has a huge soundstage, bass is more controlled even out of the box than RSA intruder. I find both 'phones synergetic with them. I still find it sibilant but less painful. Before I could not get past one of my tracks that I can easily listen to the tg334. Now, I can but I cannot listen to my other sibilant songs 2-3 more times.

This is where I get to love and appreciate more the tg334 not because they don't sound sibilant like the 1plus2 but because the setup made them shine for me. I am glad I have found the right setup to AB them extensively.
Let's get to the point, after 2 weeks of AB which would I prefer now?
TG!334

the bass on the 1plus2 is forward, impactful and very tight!
the tg334 w/ stock 001 cables' bass DO NOT sound bloated on this setup. it is controlled punchy, polite but not forward

the mids I would prefer the tg334's. although both of them are transparent, the tg334 don't sound as warm as before. on the 1plus2, it is borderline thin already unlike on other setups especially on the C4

highs - while i would really prefer the 1plus2 highs, i can't seem to find a fault on the tg334's highs on this setup though they are still less extended than the 1plus2

Why do I like them now than 1plus2?
Presentation

As you can see I said that I prefer the 1plus2's presentation. But this setup really changed it for me and exposed both of their presentation. The tg334 isn't as forward sounding on this setup. This may have answered my gripe with the tg334 too. I can hear the details now that I cannot hear before because of how forward it is. I would say that both do sound on par now for me when it comes to detailing and also because the tg334 isn't that warm on this setup which I do find it masks some micro details bcoz of its warmness on other setups.
The 1plus2 still has a larger soundstage but the forward bass and highs fill up the whole soundstage for me, while the tg334 has a lot of spacing too in which I find it more acceptable for my liking. I wish that the bass on the 1plus2 was less forward it is too forward for me. On other setups I easily get fatigued with them especially when listening to Lazarus AD Who I really am. On the imod/int'l setup thankfully it is lesser. Still the highs sound a bit thin to me, the highs on the tg334 has more weight and impact for me. tg334 isn't missing any details but is just a bit rolled off. The tg334 never sound congested and not even a hint of congestion at least in my case.

The 1plus2 sound a bit "a little too perfect"  or "too clear" for me at times. I felt the bass is sometimes really powerful depending on the song. I find the tg334 to sound natural than the presentation and sound of the 1plus2. While the 1plus2 still has the upper hand on the instrument separation which I love, the bass for a lot of times take my attention away from it and on the tg334, the bass is on the level of mids giving a tight, punchy and BA bass sound which I don't find overwhelming

Lastly, the iMod + Int' setup has done a great job for me making me realize how good my tg334s are.. my gripes have been solved on this one though the highs is still left me desiring for a bit more in quantity. The presentation of the tg334 becomes a bit laid back on this setup.

On other setups I have to be honest the 1plus2 is a nightmare to me even with fitear tips. I can easily recommend the tg334 than the 1p2 because of this.




Overall, the 1p2 has a more exciting and fun sound to me. If I were to compare them,
I'd say the 1plus2 is like a picture taken from a high end camera and printed on a high quality printer while the tg334 is like a very very fine and high quality Painting.


Hope this helps.

EDIT: I used the silver/gold cable on the 1plus2 (back read please if u wanna know why)




Special thanks to VZERO for lending, loaning and giving all the time to use all of his stuffs
Edited by soullinker20 - 2/15/13 at 7:09am

I do charge for that, you know...

And bravo! Well made

@lee730

on VZ's imod+Alo int'l setup as i said is different.. while the bass of the 1p2 is the best i've heard (similar to th900).. it is forward in nature and too forward for me .. the bass on the tg334 on this setup will never sound bloated but polite like I said.. this happen to be the best and fair setup for both iems for me.. spikes on the tg334 won't even be an issue..

the tg334 sounds more relaxing in comparison to the 1p2's presentation.. it gets my attention to the details while the 334 doesn't.. in the end it's just a matter of preference.. next month i'll be posting tg334 vs 1plus2 vs Miracle ...

thanks for the help lee!

 

I love this analogy :D. Works very well for me.

 

Great review BTW. To me at least this illustrates that the 1Plus2's surgical dissection and perfect presentation definitely appeals to the greater audience but can't capture them all. More importantly though it seems to present that the two IEMs are merely different and tailored for folks with different tastes. As opposed to reading past posts here which lead to the impression that one was superior over the other.

 

All in all, I tend to agree with your sentiments from your review. Great effort, SoulLinker20.

How important is a portable amp in this whole setup? And how would it function straight out from say, my mobile?

 

I know its somewhat controversial, but after I had a portable, the bulk just threw me off. I'm not sure I want to go down that route at all. 

 

Personally try to deal with just the RWAK100 when "on the go".