[kanonathena]

My doubt concerning nankai's statement is that no one has reported that re262's mids and lows are drastic improvement over all other top universals, evening taking into account the fit difference between universal and customs. Maybe the improvement of $1000 customs over $300 universals isn't  that big after all?

 

[Sil3nce]

Well this happens to every single fotm iem.
But really how bad is the driver flex and venting issues?
Great read anyways. Like your style.

 

[Sil3nce]

Quote:

You know what, I'm out of this thread.

Right when I entered

 

[music_4321]

 
Quote:

... nankai said re272 is comparable to $1000 customs, any comment on this?

 
Nankai is a Head-Direct "Premier Sponsor" and, as such, I'd personally take his comments with a (huge) grain of salt.
 
I haven't heard the RE-272s and perhaps some people following this thread are aware of my views on the whole customs vs universals debate (see link in my sig), but as much as I love my EX1000 & MDR-7550 (and W4 & UM3X previously), I would take similar comments made by Sony, Westone or any (premier) sponsor of these products with an equally (huge) grain of salt.

 

[Sil3nce]

Quote:

 
 
Nankai is a Head-Direct "Premier Sponsor" and, as such, I'd personally take his comments with a (huge) grain of salt.
 
I haven't heard the RE-272s and perhaps some people following this thread are aware of my views on the whole customs vs universals debate (see link in my sig), but as much as I love my EX1000 & MDR-7550 (and W4 & UM3X previously), I would take similar comments made by Sony, Westone or any (premier) sponsor of these products with an equally (huge) grain of salt.

+1

 

[mark2410]

Quote:

I don't mind frequency response focus as long as the presentation of the note is well represented, i.e. good dynamic range, good decay, good texturing/articulation of details, even intensity, etc.  We can always EQ things to suit our preference in response, but we have little control over how notes are fleshed out by the earphone.  This is simply a byproduct of the driver design, and we have minimal influence over this.
 
I've used a number of the Hifi-man products including the early RE0, the RE-Zero, the RE252, and RE262.  I did not like the RE0 for its short decay and low dynamic range.  Apparently it was changed later on in some way, but I've never used a newer version.  I really liked the RE-Zero which had good dynamics, good note texture, and was pretty even in presentation.  For $99 it's an awesome product that's really natural and really well balanced.  The RE252 offers really high clarity and an incredibly well balanced presentation.  Texturing is great, but it just falls a little shy in dynamic range.  The RE262 really hits the dynamic range out of the park which was great to see coming from the RE252, but it lost texture and decay making low frequency notes very thin despite retaining actual sensitivity.  High frequencies lacked raw energy like the RE252 but again had the sensitivity.  the RE262 is likable and awesome in terms of dynamics, but the thin note and low high frequency intensity really made it colored and midcentric versus the much better balanced RE252.  I really wished and still wish the RE272 is an evolution of the RE252->RE262->X where one could retain the new dynamic prowess RE262 but gain the balance of the RE2525 and improve upon texture/decay of the note.  Hearing that it is treble strong doesn't bother me really.  Frankly, treble can be very hard to do right.  However, I would like to know how balanced the presentation is and how much low frequency presence and thickness is retained.  I can always EQ, so treble focus isn't a problem.  However, I can not magically add note thickness and texture if the driver simply doesn't function that way.
 
So, how is the note presented with the RE272?  How does it vary through the frequency range?

in terms of texture the 262 is still the best of HiFiMAN's offerings.  the 272 is much more about offering you a clean and clear articulation of every note but is not the fullest nor richest when it comes to texture and weight.  as i said i find it to be hyper analytical and as such it lacks thickness to a note.  that said i can say it ever felt thin to my ears even if its a little cold and hard.
 
i understand you may wish something with the best traits of each but i feel thats something that cant happen, what makes the 252 special its its perfect neutrality and what i love about the 262 is its lush richness.  the 272 is abut the treble and detail and i think its all about what the listener wants from it an so i think that HiFiMAN offers 3 top table stunners with different flavourers is great.

 

[mark2410]

Quote:

Well this happens to every single fotm iem.
But really how bad is the driver flex and venting issues?
Great read anyways. Like your style.

like i said its minor, its not really enough to bother peopel id think given few have had issue with every other HiFiMAN IEM.  its closed and its a dynamic driver so as long as your not pulling them out every 2 min i cant see anyone minding.
 
and thank you

 

[ClieOS]

Just received  my RE272 this afternoon. I once thought it will be very difficult to match (let alone surpassing) the ER4S level of detail with another universal, now I know it can be done - by a dynamic IEM no less.

 

[EraserXIV]

Also very interested, I'm a sucker for the rich, creamy mids that the RE262 had. I was hoping the RE272 would follow in its footsteps, but so far I'm not sold on it either.

 

[Nankai]

Great review, Mark. I like your writing style. Pls give RE272 some hours to run-in further. It will become darker after 200 to 300 hrs. 

 

[Pianist]

I received my RE272 a couple of days ago and so far I just don't know what to make of their sound. I have never been this confused. I have to say that unfortunately I really don't enjoy them much at all... and yet I haven't heard anything better. It almost feels like they are too good. Too revealing for my DAPs maybe? They have amazing clarity - like that of custom Westone ES3X or even better. They also have amazing detail, but the details are not sharp - they sound washed out. I can hear lots of information I never thought was there in my music, but it's not rich in texture and sounds kind of bland and also blurry so I can't pin point where the sounds are coming from in the soundstage. Yet on the macro level the imaging is very good - vocals and all other instruments are placed with excellent precision. It's the micro detail and lacks focus. Then again, I've only listened to the RE272 through my portable DAPs so far, mainly my rockboxed Clip and I am aware that these sources are far from hi-fi especially in regards to detail resolution. Unfortunately, my Audigy 2 ZS died recently and I don't have a decent source to plug the IEMs into.
 
Frequency extension high and low is fantastic, especially in the bass. The RE272 goes really, really low and with great authority. With some tips, the bass can sound a little muddy - again, this may be the issue with my low-fi sources - but is otherwise exceptional with incredible resolution, depth, speed and precision that rivals the best balanced armature IEMs or even Orthodynamics. Mids are crystal clear and sound exceptionally realistic with amazing detail and yet zero harshness, seamless transients, and great coherency, reminding me of Fostex T50RP orthodynamics. All is good, except for the blurry micro detail which unfortunately is a huge issue for me and compromises all other great qualities that these IEMs have to offer. The highs are extremely detailed and nearly perfect in quantity although slightly emphasized which can make the IEMs sound a bit too bright with some music at high volume levels. Soundstage is not big, but it sounds very realistic - there are no three blobs in the head at all with these IEMs - they sound completely transparent. There is no clear left, right and middle images - everything sounds like one whole. Like Mark wrote in his review, music just seems to come into existence through these on its own and it doesn't feel like the drivers are creating the sound.
 
Overall, the sound of RE272 is nothing like most other IEMs and headphones I heard. They sound very little like dynamic drivers - they are much faster, clearer and more transparent than most. They definitely rival BA drivers in clarity and speed with a similar clean, dry presentation of really good BAs, except that they are at least as fast and clear as the best of them. The closest sounding headphones to RE272 that come to my mind right now are: Westone ES3X in the bass - RE272 has a very similar character to the ES3X down there: very deep, extremely clean, dry and clear and hard hitting in an odd way without much impact but with a full, thick note; Fostex T50RP in the mids - RE272 has a very similar clarity level and similar realistic timbre that makes many vocals and other real instruments jump out with uncanny realism, but RE272 has a much higher detail resolution than T50RP IMO. The highs remind me a bit of AKG K271 - soft and refined with zero harshness and yet plenty of detail and extension, but RE272 is more detailed. The highs are very different from those on RE0, ER4 or DBA-02: RE272 sounds softer than those and yet is more detailed.

 

[ClieOS]

I always find my Clip+ to be just a tiny bit grainy on the top when it is used with the more revealing IEM. If it is also the case for the original Clip, you might want to listen to RE272 on other source to see if there is any difference or not. I agree with your observation - how could I say it? Music through RE272 is a bit, well, 'out of this world', so to speak. I actually love mine, though I haven't given it enough time on both listening and burn-in. For years I have been wondering if I should get another pair of RE0 for back up as I can't really find another dynamic IEM with so much detail, but now RE272 just fills the void.

 

[Pianist]

The detail on RE272 is just beautiful. It ends the sounds that other headphones leave unfinished and does it effortlessly with no distortion or compression. When I switch from RE272 to my FX700, the FX700 sounds quite schematic, muddy and strained. RE272 is way more open and articulate.

 

[mark2410]

crazy isnt it

 

[Inks]

Very interesting, looking forward to a EX1000 comparison @ Pianist.