possible.. but the overall concept remains.. This zen style, IMHO

golov17 said:

possible.. but the overall concept remains.. This zen style, IMHO

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I agree actually, the biggest difference between the Zen and Beta asura, imo, was the difference in dynamics. Zen has a lot more dynamics but the retail Asura has managed to capture the energy and toe tapping factor of the Zen. It is sophisticated enough now to stand on its own and not be necessarily labelled as Zen's little brother
 
Zen is of course noticeably better, lets not kid ourselves here   But Asura is pretty darn good too!

I have to admit that' when compared with renewed Blox m2c for $55, which I also received today..... wins Asura, m2c do not have any advantages after retail Asura, IMHO.
Also and be3,5.. Maybe only be7mk1..

Nice Zen for lovers balanced connect

I LOVE that picture!  

bloodypenguin said:

I LOVE that picture!  

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me too

golov17 said:

Nice Zen for lovers balanced connect

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Oh man, I love to be able to hear the Zen balanced out of a Pono or any other balanced amp and source for that matter
 
That pic is sexy

golov17 said:

Nice Zen for lovers balanced connect

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Whoa! Who what where?? I want!

Edit: nevermind I saw the post thanks

redjohn456 said:

Oh man, I love to be able to hear the Zen balanced out of a Pono or any other balanced amp and source for that matter

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You and me both brother!

golov17 said:

Nice Zen for lovers balanced connect

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Funny, you beat me to posting that here. I got in contact with the maker of the Zen earbuds and he was more than generous to offer a Pono style termination. Can't wait to receive them, once I do I'll be making comparisons between single ended and balanced.

thetrace said:

Funny, you beat me to posting that here. I got in contact with the maker of the Zen earbuds and he was more than generous to offer a Pono style termination. Can't wait to receive them, once I do I'll be making comparisons between single ended and balanced.

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Sweet, am looking forward to your impressions

Well, who agree to sell to me beta Asura?? PM to me.. ⚠

I had the Zen/Asura on loan a while ago but forgot to post my impessions. Here are my notes...
 
 
VE Asura (black)
nice flexible, braided cable
slight hollowness to the sound
not the best channel matching, a bit off in the bass, more noticeable in low treble - throws off the staging
staging ok otherwise
definite bass boost down to 40Hz
good rumble, but indistinct kick, definitely mushes into the mids
- I've heard midbass bleed, but this feels different... like not so much bass overwhelming, but like the driver can't keep up
- electronica ok, but vocals over a heavy bass are really indistinct
prefer regular foam over the donuts (which is a bit sharp)
tizziness in the upper mids, perhaps distortion hump?
 
overall quite bass heavy, mids are relatively flat but feel hot at the top (possibly that distortion?), treble rollercoasters a bit but not severely, not enough to make a V-shape impression
nice “consumer” sound overall
 
 
 
VE Zen (white)
less treble than Asura??
definitely less sub bass, lacks the lowest depths
kicks slightly better, but not significantly so, just hear it more because less bloat
overall feels more “neutral” than Asura
uppermids not quite as hot, maybe a bit cleaner
staging definitely better, more well defined, more forward while the Asura is behind
needs juice to sound good
low level listening is meh, turn it up!
 
 
 
Comparisons of VE (either) vs Celsus Sound Gramo One
honestly no contest across the board, but Gramo One is significantly more expensive
 
 
 
If I were to draw a vague parallel
Asura is to Zen
as
DT880 is to K701
(and I'd probably liken the Gramo One to the HD650)

For $250 best i pay two Zen, lol
Or Zen & HeadAmp.

where can we buy the VE asura????