JH Audio Layla Impressions Thread
Feb 17, 2016 at 3:51 AM Post #1,441 of 2,420
 
Yes, the Layla did surpass K10 as an overall package, but in terms of female vocal I think K10 has an edge. Some may call it coloured but switching between the two you will find that each has its own good, which other IEMs can't compare with, yet.  Options 1 and 2 are kind of meaningless if you ask me, unless you really want the most expensive IEMs at all times - definitely go for option 2 in that case.  

Just saw you post in the Noble thread. So seems like you're suggesting Layla and K10 are on the same tier, but with different strengths. Are you running K10 SE or balanced out of your 380 Cu? Does the 380 amp improve the sound? 
 
Nah, I think I'm just going to get a Prestige K10 a few months down the line. Regardless of build quality, the old Layla is way more unique with the burnt titanium bezel and carbon fiber construction than the very mundane looking new titanium Layla II. The Layla II's increased price is also probably due to the new Moon Audio cable, which I don't need as I have already paired my Layla with a plusSound cable. 
 
Feb 19, 2016 at 11:37 AM Post #1,442 of 2,420
Nobody was able to tell me why I hear Layla to be more dark from AK240, than from other sources / amps.
Mostly JH audio and AK says they are perfect match.
 
So I managed to obtain some amateur measuring device. This result can't be taken seriously, but because the conditions were exactly the same for all the measurements, it can reveal at least some points on the first sight.
 
And my initial thoughts were correct. AK240 has not sufficient power to handle Layla. Output from Mojo and DX80 is almost identical.
 
(BTW Ultimate Ears Reference Remastered has identical output from AK240 / Mojo / DX80)
 
Which leads to to the summary - Layla is not driven correctly as it should be from AK240, to reveal its intended frequency response.
 

 

 
Feb 19, 2016 at 11:48 AM Post #1,443 of 2,420
And just for the curiosity, JH Audio Layla / Ultimate Ears Reference Remastered / 64 Audio U12 :)
 

 
Feb 19, 2016 at 11:53 AM Post #1,444 of 2,420
  And just for the curiosity, JH Audio Layla / Ultimate Ears Reference Remastered / 64 Audio U12 :)
 

 
That's what I feared too. why I've held back on getting an ak 240. How do the Laylas sound from your Pure 2 though? I would think it to be close to perfect...
 
Feb 19, 2016 at 1:48 PM Post #1,445 of 2,420
   
That's what I feared too. why I've held back on getting an ak 240. How do the Laylas sound from your Pure 2 though? I would think it to be close to perfect...

 
I have listened to my Laylas on an AK240 (RWAK modded), Pure 2+, Liquid Carbon, and CDM. I concur with @John Culter that AK240 sounds dark relative to the other 2 amps. Here are my impressions:
 
Pure 2+ - very clear and very dynamic. The highs go right up to the limits of sibilance, but does not cross. It is very detailed and clean. However, after extended listening, I found the dynamics and bite a little too much for my personal tastes. I do prefer tube amps overall. This is the amp you want if you crave details and separation. It also a little more weight to the sub bass lows.
 
CDM - basically it is a Pure 2+ with a touch of warmth and laid back highs that is just right for my tastes. By touch, I mean in the <5% difference range. Vocals and acoustics sound more organic to me on the CDM.
 
Liquid Carbon - great pairing for desktop. A very neutral amp that has better controlled highs and lows than Pure 2+. It does not add the slight warmth and weight in the mids that I get from CDM, but if you want the "true" sound of the Laylas, LC will do just that.
 
Feb 19, 2016 at 5:10 PM Post #1,446 of 2,420
   
I have listened to my Laylas on an AK240 (RWAK modded), Pure 2+, Liquid Carbon, and CDM. I concur with @John Culter that AK240 sounds dark relative to the other 2 amps. Here are my impressions:
 
Pure 2+ - very clear and very dynamic. The highs go right up to the limits of sibilance, but does not cross. It is very detailed and clean. However, after extended listening, I found the dynamics and bite a little too much for my personal tastes. I do prefer tube amps overall. This is the amp you want if you crave details and separation. It also a little more weight to the sub bass lows.
 
CDM - basically it is a Pure 2+ with a touch of warmth and laid back highs that is just right for my tastes. By touch, I mean in the <5% difference range. Vocals and acoustics sound more organic to me on the CDM.
 
Liquid Carbon - great pairing for desktop. A very neutral amp that has better controlled highs and lows than Pure 2+. It does not add the slight warmth and weight in the mids that I get from CDM, but if you want the "true" sound of the Laylas, LC will do just that.

 
Thank you, this has been super helpful. I've been looking for just this kind of info for about month now. After experiencing how disappointing the Layla sounds out of many TOTL daps and sources. (Balanced in general doesn't work for it - I suspect the loads become too much. Also, and surprisingly, Mojo alone can't handle it.)
 
If I could just pick your brain for one more thing - how would you compare these four sources soundstage wise? Width, depth, 3d effect with the Layla?
 
Feb 19, 2016 at 6:15 PM Post #1,447 of 2,420
   
Thank you, this has been super helpful. I've been looking for just this kind of info for about month now. After experiencing how disappointing the Layla sounds out of many TOTL daps and sources. (Balanced in general doesn't work for it - I suspect the loads become too much. Also, and surprisingly, Mojo alone can't handle it.)
 
If I could just pick your brain for one more thing - how would you compare these four sources soundstage wise? Width, depth, 3d effect with the Layla?

If you are not getting a good sound out of Mojo stand alone, you probably have a fit issue. It's a pretty good pairing imho and not dark at all. If you still have the Mojo, I would try different tips until you get the sound you like. If you can't get a better sound with different tips, then your ears may not be a good candidate to pair with Layla and maybe better to go with Angies.
 
As for various combos and impressions:
 
Using Mojo as source and Pure 2+ as amp, I find the presentation very intimate and in your face. The amount of detail and depth is amazing, but the sound is more like standing in the middle of the performance. Big on wow factor, but hard to listen to for extended periods for my preference.
 
CDM and Mojo is not a good combo and I agree with @FidelityCastro on that. I don't believe it's a fault of Mojo, but rather the SE input on CDM. I find this combo worse in every way compared to Mojo/Pure 2+.
 
CDM as a stand alone with Layla is a great pairing. Soundstage width and depth are not the largest, but very well balanced and natural 3D like presentation. This is with Sonotone tubes and using balanced out.
 
Mojo alone is very similar to the combo with Pure 2+. The Pure 2+ extends the highs and lows more than Mojo by itself. I know this sounds counter intuitive but it's very noticeable. In fact, pairing the Pure 2+ with the AK240 SE output gives you a really nice experience with the Laylas. I don't know how the Pure 2+ creates the perception of more detailed highs, but it does.
 
The very best setup I've heard is my Gungnir Multibit DAC balanced out to the CDM balanced in. This combo with the Laylas is simply stunning. It's the CDM plus wider/deeper sound stage and incredible details. I haven't listened to my Ether C in a long time because the Laylas in this configuration is so good! Not practical for portability though. I am this close to just selling my Ethers and MJ2 amp.
 
My recommendation for the best portable setup in order of preference would be as follows:
 
1) Cheap transport (like Onkyo DP-X1) USB OTG connection to CDM, balanced out to Layla.
2) Portable DAP of your choice paired with Pure 2+ amp to SE Layla
3) Cheap transport (USB, Toslink, Coax) connection to Mojo to SE Layla
 
Feb 20, 2016 at 10:58 AM Post #1,449 of 2,420
mmm.....not night and day but a significant improvement nonetheless and  after a few months of intermittent use. I did not keep track of the number of hours of usage across a variety of equipment.
 
Feb 20, 2016 at 10:59 AM Post #1,450 of 2,420
For those who noticed a day and night difference after burning in Layla, how long did it take from you to notice it?

It was not day and night for me. Perhaps 50 hours for it to smooth out a touch in the treble. 
 
Feb 20, 2016 at 6:04 PM Post #1,451 of 2,420
Didn't notice a difference after almost a year.
 
John Culter's measurements confirm my findings, the huge dip in the high  mids and the big spike in the treble. Looks like mount Everest. An un-smoothed representation could be come even closer. Very peculiar vision of what 'reference' means from JHA.
 
OTOH, the upper part of the spectrum looks interesting on the U12. Looks like the sub 1k portion from Layla married with the upper one from the U12 could make something closer to that.
 
Feb 20, 2016 at 8:39 PM Post #1,452 of 2,420
Didn't notice a difference after almost a year.

John Culter's measurements confirm my findings, the huge dip in the high  mids and the big spike in the treble. Looks like mount Everest. An un-smoothed representation could be come even closer. Very peculiar vision of what 'reference' means from JHA.

OTOH, the upper part of the spectrum looks interesting on the U12. Looks like the sub 1k portion from Layla married with the upper one from the U12 could make something closer to that.


I'm looking forward in receiving my adjustable adel modules then. One of the measurements in the adel thread showed the adel adjustment to impact just that area.
 
Feb 23, 2016 at 9:12 AM Post #1,453 of 2,420
Do Snugs fit very securely onto the Layla's nozzle? I'm in communication with one of Snugs' representatives and they say that the lack of a ridge on the Layla's nozzle can pose a problem.
 
Feb 23, 2016 at 9:47 AM Post #1,454 of 2,420
Do Snugs fit very securely onto the Layla's nozzle? I'm in communication with one of Snugs' representatives and they say that the lack of a ridge on the Layla's nozzle can pose a problem.


It does, but not for long on some peoples models. I'm actually working with them to resolve the issue (although I have Angie). They have the best sound by far, so will stick with it.
 
Feb 23, 2016 at 10:20 AM Post #1,455 of 2,420
It does, but not for long on some peoples models. I'm actually working with them to resolve the issue (although I have Angie). They have the best sound by far, so will stick with it.


How badly do yours slip at this time? I use my Laylas on my job where I have to move around a lot and I'm tired of them rotating backward and barely staying in my ears after extended use.
 

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