[nihil23]

I just ordered it from @Penon so I'm looking forward to it along with my cables.

Don't say that or some people may get upset their $1300 buy doesnt measure up to the $150 buy.

But if you say it smokes the GAEA in every way, it just shows that EA priced their IEM based on their Brand and not how well it sounds and should price it accordingly.

I'm glad for market competition and I look forward to getting mines and see how it stacks up. So far for 4BA+1DD configuration I put Mega5P and B2/B2D over the Gaea.

This shows how much the sphere of headphones is super-marginal, they also buy all these dynamics and ba not at the prices that are indicated for retail sale, but noticeably lower. Resin for mold costs mere cents. So it only shows how much all brands add to the price approximately. I doubt very much that soundrhyme with its prices remains with a small profit.

 

[s2kphile]

This shows how much the sphere of headphones is super-marginal, they also buy all these dynamics and ba not at the prices that are indicated for retail sale, but noticeably lower. Resin for mold costs mere cents. So it only shows how much all brands add to the price approximately. I doubt very much that soundrhyme with its prices remains with a small profit.

Correct, but businesses have overhead to pay for (Ie employees, marketing, etc). That said, I agree that majority of Chifi parts come from the same factory with their own specifications. Very few have their own proprietary drivers. Sony comes to mind.

This is why it's absurd that some CHIFI companies can charge the amount they do. At performance value, the GAEA loses with its 4BA+1DD configuration especially with how intriguing the SR05 is.

GAEA is trash, IMO. And should be priced around $400-$500 USD mark. Not the $1300 price point.

 

[xfantasyx]

On huo niu store they said that this one is have same fr graph as SR5, and looks nice and with vented dd, I think - cklvx ph5 - https://m.aliexpress.us/item/325680...IgT1mO&_randl_shipto=US&gatewayAdapt=PC2MSITE

Does the seller specifically say it has the same fr as sr5? Interesting. I don't see fr graph in the aliexpress page though. The description and pics are exactly the same as sr5, except its name "BGVP PH5" haha.

Edit: on a closer look, this one has vents and better cable connector than sr5.

 

[nihil23]

Does the seller specifically say it has the same fr as sr5? Interesting. I don't see fr graph in the aliexpress page though. The description and pics are exactly the same as sr5, except its name "BGVP PH5" haha.

Edit: on a closer look, this one has vents and better cable connector than sr5.

Yes, I didn't find fr too and asked him about fr graph, and he said its same as SR5. But I doubt because it has vented dd, should have slightly different sound signature. They also had h1 version, but I can't find it on AliExpress right now

 

[xfantasyx]

Yes, I didn't find fr too and asked him about fr graph, and he said its same as SR5. But I doubt because it has vented dd, should have slightly different sound signature. They also had h1 version, but I can't find it on AliExpress right now

man their product lineup is such a mess. so sound rhyme and BGVP use the same components and design etc? same product with different brand label?

 

[Mr.HiAudio]

man their product lineup is such a mess. so sound rhyme and BGVP use the same components and design etc? same product with different brand label?

I think that they just changed the name of the model to a fictitious one in order to avoid conflict

 

[nihil23]

Correct, but businesses have overhead to pay for (Ie employees, marketing, etc). That said, I agree that majority of Chifi parts come from the same factory with their own specifications. Very few have their own proprietary drivers. Sony comes to mind.

This is why it's absurd that some CHIFI companies can charge the amount they do. At performance value, the GAEA loses with its 4BA+1DD configuration especially with how intriguing the SR05 is.

GAEA is trash, IMO. And should be priced around $400-$500 USD mark. Not the $1300 price point.

I worked in 2018 for at least 2-3 months at hearing aid custom iem company, I was very interested in such work. And they mostly used knowles bad, some full range sonion too. And they showed prices on ba, they wasn't dirt cheap. But if order them in large quantities, they but for cheap models they brought a used ba, and they were dirt cheap and looked like new and sounds too. We also can order hearing aid iem from China, it were much cheaper, but we needed to wait for 2-3 months, so company wasn't interested. I still regret that I never made iems for myself, I just started studying crossovers. But then I chose a more suitable job. Because this job put a lot of strain on the eyes.

But if we talk about iem, there is much more complicated situation, but most of the brands copycat each other or just tune Harmon target graph. And some of them just ask companies like gs audio to make iem with approximately tuning and driver configurations and then choose from some test samples, it can took some time to find sample that meet their requirements, but it's not that hard and expensive like they claim (I mean by prices that they set for flagship models).

Its my humble opinion based on some superficial knowledge, haha

 

[Neithan]

LFG!

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Just got my SR05. Holy moly! Without any break in I can tell this thing is worth SOOOO much more than $150. I have the Gaea in on the tour and , IMHO , this little beauty smokes it in every way. I'll report back after break in. Thanks to all that made the discovery

Glad to see another comrades

This little blackbird sings very well in the dead of night. It sings better than many larger hawks flying around.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

I have a set of these coming as well. I couldn't resist after the detailed comparison @AmericanSpirit made to the SA6, Variations and others. Great stuff.
I did notice that the Penon page states that the SR5 contains 4 Knowles BA's whereas on Ali Express it's stating that the SR5 contains 2 Knowles and 2 Sonions. Personally, it doesn't make much difference to me, however, does anyone know which is correct? Or, potentially the drivers used has changed due to supply issues?

Aliexpress press contains many confused one, 2 knowles + 2 sonion is actually for SR3, SR5 is Knowles ED29689 (mid) + Knowles 31736 + 10mm high polymer DD.


Sound Rhyme is good at tuning and making great own IEMs ground up, but has terrible product line up management They’ve used SR2 and SR4 name and now it’s totally different composition.

I’ve updated what I learned from data mining on the first post, that shall have close to the current issues we have so far.

Undiscovered Hidden Gem
This Gem SR5 deserves an own thread

Disclaimer: I praised the shop owner and shared this thread as an gateway of introduction of Sound Rhyme, and the shop owner linked this thread URL on item description. It may be confusing so I can declare that I’m not affiliated with any store/brands nor getting any kick backs. It’s pure personal purchase and personal feel of obligation to publicize this hidden gem, as it’s very high performing.

Sound Rhyme just opened Official AE Store: you may find more up-to-date info on their Official store:
https://sl.aliexpress.ru/p?key=kYMqwXG

Based on my study, Sound Rhyme is not a new brand to Chinese Local audiophiles. They are like AFUL, a hidden gem, but with much longer history serving IEMs.

Long Story Short: A-B test with current Market contenders
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-discovery-thread.586909/post-17412148

Sound Rhyme uses ENVISIONTEC 3D printer for modeling, like AFUL did for their Performer 5, the unique bass range internal resonator chamber.

They are situated at Xiamen and probably one of less known IEM OEM to western market so far.

Sound Rhyme business registration and copyright registration. Formed back in 2017, copyright obtained 2019z


Lab and workshop pictures


They have several line ups as below:

SR-Q1S - 9.2mm Titanium coated single DD: $53USD



Formerly SR02 (Now SR4 )- 4BA: Store Link (non affiliated)
Knowles 22955 + Knowles 29689
Belsing 31736 (2BA) : $96USD. U-tuned.



SR03 - 4BA + 1DD
1DD+Sonion 689x2(mid)+Knowles31736x2(mid to high) 760CNY = 120USD in local market, available thru Aliexpress distributor Yi Fan 4.4 (huo guang shu/huo guang store) around $139USD.



SR5 1DD+Knowles ED29689x2(mid)+Knowles31736x2(mid to high) 750CNY = 109USD in local market, available thru Aliexpress distributor Yi Fan 4.4 (huo guang shu/huo guang store) around $139USD.
[3/14/2023: Penon is now serving SR5 too! https://penonaudio.com/sound-rhyme-sr5.html ]
This is my recommendation. Photo-luminescent like qdc Anole V14, sound like Thieaudio’s high-end class, with very affordable pricing.




Formerly SR04-144E (They renamed to DTE500/900) Tribrid 1DD 4BA 4EST? (4800CNY = 630USD) — basically qdc Anole VX ‘s tribrid version. I’m interested in this.
Information wanted.
Sound Rhyme actually discounted to $499USD.



SR-8: Full-BA Flagship 14BA with 2tuning switches (4300CNY = 618USD) — In Local Chinese Market only, likely full Sonion & Knowles. GS Audio ST10 is $430 with 10BA and full knowles and sonions, so this 14BA with this bare price is making a good sense)

Official store has it but the price is 1110USD
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMppOKK

I’ve purchased SR5 out of whim after watching a Russian IEM YT review channel’s video, the guy knows HEXA and had high praise for SR5, so I know that was a good starting point.

Here is initial impression.

It will be a great loss if this gem is kept in undiscovered dungeon‘s jewelry box.

From my experience of SR05, they make very solid offers that is comparable to well known companies such as Thieaudio.

Hope they have more access and distribution channels to overseas, but as for now it will be one of Niche that may intrigue your interest.

I find myself interested on in their line up as much I do for Truthear.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

I just ordered it from @Penon so I'm looking forward to it along with my cables.

Don't say that or some people may get upset their $1300 buy doesnt measure up to the $150 buy.

But if you say it smokes the GAEA in every way, it just shows that EA priced their IEM based on their Brand and not how well it sounds and should price it accordingly.

I'm glad for market competition and I look forward to getting mines and see how it stacks up. So far for 4BA+1DD configuration I put Mega5P and B2/B2D over the Gaea.

My speculation Is that SR5 is too high performing for the price and Gaea is a little underperforming for the price with same 4BA+1DD hardware.

SR5 is definitely 100/100 recommendation, as you climb up top tiers from 80/100 and up, each small fraction of performance comes with diminishing of $$$ return.

From my experience for recent IEM market, I’d roughly put $50/1score for 80+/100 in very grand scheme. upto 80/100 you can get varieties of IEMs with sub$100 budget.

0-80/100 : Investment needed $~100USD

Average Cost to Performance for Med-Fi A Tier with examples
80~89/100 : $100+ $50/1score

80 = $100 : Moondrop Droplet
81 = $150 : Moondrop KATO / Modded Aria OG / Truthear ZERO / DUNU Titan S
82 = $200 : 7Hz Timeless / AKG N5005
83 = $250 : AFUL P5
84 = $300 : Blessing 2 OG / Mangird Tea
85 = $350 : Blessing 2 Dusk / Truthear HEXA
86 = $400 : Tangzu Wu Zetian
87 = $450 : See Audio Bravery (PWA legend II & TRI Clarion) -Endgame For Female Vocal
88 = $500 : Westone W80 (Recabled & Ear tip adapter applied)
89 = $550 : Sound Rhyme SR5


Average Cost to Performance for S-Tier
90~95/100 : $600+ $500/1score

90 = $600 : Variations
91 = $1,100 : DUNU SA6 / Softears RSV -Endgame for Natural Sound Reproduction
92 = $1,600 : Monarch OG
93 = $2,100 : MEST MKII
94 = $2,600 : Aur Audio Neon Pro
95 = $3,100 : qdc Anole VX -Endgame For Resolution and Technicalities

For this HEXA hit 85 with $79, which is 4x higher than that $350 mark. Droplet hit A- with $50, which is 2x higher than $100 mark.

SR5 is 89 or even 90, for me that‘s Variations $530 class, but SR5 achieved with $139, again 4x ~ 5x of cost performance to $550-600.

While Neon Pro hits 94 or 95 per my rough analysis when A-B tested with Anole VX 96/100. With $730 cost, to hit $2,600~3,100 mark is again another 4~5x cost performance beasts.

It depends how high they perform, my recommendation is SR5. Because all you need is $139 and you get extremely high performing IEM right away.

 

[ExTubeGamer]

Are IEMs with better technicalities worth it? I own a Tansio Mirai Sands. This monitor is very highly resolving and it does enhance the listening fun. For most music however there is little improvement to be gained as the music has a limited amount of information inside the mix anyway. Unless the user wants to critically listen to orchestra recordings.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Are IEMs with better technicalities worth it? I own a Tansio Mirai Sands. This monitor is very highly resolving and it does enhance the listening fun. For most music however there is little improvement to be gained as the music has a limited amount of information inside the mix anyway. Unless the user wants to critically listen to orchestra recordings.

It depends on personal preference I guess.

It’s like Money /Love concept, you don’t necessarily need extreme amount of money that you can utilize, but Love is something you may need. But you don’t want to live with near-zero money in real life too, at least bare minimum technicalities are desired.

I take tonality-timbre as Love and Technically as Money and it’s reflected on my personal favorite scoring as 80:20 weight ratio. If tonality is S+, I can live with lower technicalities. Sometime you may love 4BA+1DD more than full fledged 8BA, simply due to their timbre and tonality over technical performance.

 

[s2kphile]

I just spoke with a representative at Penon and they told me they listened to all of Sound Rhymes products

They are going to carry only the SR5, DET500, SR8 so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

I just spoke with a representative at Penon and they told me and they listened to all of Sound Rhymes products

They are going to carry only the SR5, DET500, SR8 so take that with a grain of salt.

Nice! Any SR8 details? 7+1?