what a coincidence today was my first post too but I've been a member for a year, and I happen to have the Heir Audio 8.A and 4.A, for which I have to write a review with pics, and believe it or not, I prefer the 4.A over the 8.A, because of its neutrality (compared to the 8.A), I use the 8.A when I listen to Pink Floyd because of the many instrument they play or when listening to songs like "Chan Chan" from Buena Vista Social Club, but when I listen to Black Sabbath I use my 4.A and they are my favorites Ciems, I have had both for almost a year and I rarely use the 8.A, also the 8.A are little hard to drive, problem that I don't have with the 4.A, I know you are deciding between the 8.A and JH 16, I can't comment on the Jh 16 since I don't own a pair but for what I have read they are bass heavy just like the 8.A, and must people will prefer the 8.A over the Jh 16, also remember that 8.A have a 20% off, and one of the main reason I decided to get the Heir Audio ones was because their EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE especially when you are making this kind of investment, e-mail them any question you have and you will know what I am talking about!, So if I were you, since you obviously have a good amount of money to invest in one of these ciems and you listen to all kinds of music, I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE to get the 4.Ai (to listen to rock) which are universal and cost only $400 and you don't have to worry about sending impressions to China plus the time it's going to take them to build them and send them back to you, and with the rest of the money buy some custom ones (tuned for any kind of music mainly pop) from companies based here in the United States like 1964ears they are not that expensive (they have a new model with six drivers at a good price), at the end you will have two iems for the same price of 8.A or JH 16, that's just my own opinion, or just pull the trigger and get the 8.A now that they have the discount! and by the way I hate portable amps that's one of the many reason I prefer the 4.A over the 8.A. I listen to my 8.A with my Sony Discman D-25 but If you happen to have a Sony Discman D-25 forget about everything I have said AND GET THE 8.A!!!!!!