[ranfan]

"Often when a door closes.. another one opens."

Spoiler

ーGülhane Park, Turkey

This is a continuation to the thread Warbler Audio's Prelude CIEM - a labor of love - the long awaited interlude to the single BA driver special to some of our hearts ☺

Dedicated to music and midrange lovers alike, this Model2 is made finally into custom in-ear form after countless trials and enduring research into many different materials and their interaction with the drivers inside, and consequently on to the sound quality being produced

Made possible into reality by the engineer and his guiding vision (or is it voice?) of an ideal soundーthe inception of an idea to the workings of one's imagination
https://www.tahsinsevgelaudiodevices.com/about-me

It is a fascination to me how one could design a sound device, and tune it in a way to a style that is uniquely his. A combination of pure technique and self-expression


ーModel2 CIEM being finalised

The Tahsin Sevgel Audio Devices (TSAD) Model2 was created in early 2024 by the hands of the Turkish engineer Tahsin @tsn141. Whom was also the designer for my Prelude CIEM


ーWarbler Prelude

In designing the Prelude, Tahsin aimed to maximise the use of a single BA by increasing its efficiency and applying the idea of minimum necessary force, reducing distance from socket to driver, eliminating resonance, and clearing as much resistance as possible. Converting signal into sound as direct as possible, with very few interference

Taking the experience from many years of experimenting to making the Prelude, In making the Model2, Tahsin multiplied the driver count to two, and introduced a two-way crossover system. This deconcentrates the midrange sound making it less forward, and widening the treble and bass reach, consequently increasing resolution and rendering speed in the process

Both Prelude and Model2 have a similar 'house' sound, but with different interpretation due to their differing implementation of one, and two drivers

If the Prelude aims towards making its sound reproduction as simple as it can by reducing electricity path, then the Model2 (which I also nicknamed Interlude) is about increasing the complexity of a basic system by introducing exotic materials and components, but at the same time without losing its identity or straying too far. One is the laying of foundation, and the second is about exploration


ーInterlude, with exotic elements inside

And customary to custom in-ear monitors, TSAD also gives option to select which faceplates and shell color. There are so many to choose from


ーMine is this red faceplate pattern with transparent shell

But you can also choose blue if you like


ーStabilised wood, there are even more at the back..

 

[leylandi]

I wish you success

 

[baneand]

Awesome!

 

[Kerouac]

"Often when a door closes.. another one opens."

Spoiler

ーGülhane Park, Turkey

This is a continuation to the thread Warbler Audio's Prelude CIEM - a labor of love - the long awaited interlude to the single BA driver special to some of our hearts ☺

Dedicated to music and midrange lovers alike, this Model2 is made finally into custom in-ear form after countless trials and enduring research into many different materials and their interaction with the drivers inside, and consequently on to the sound quality being produced

Made possible into reality by the engineer and his guiding vision (or is it voice?) of an ideal soundーthe inception of an idea to the workings of one's imagination
https://www.tahsinsevgelaudiodevices.com/about-me

It is a fascination to me how one could design a sound device, and tune it in a way to a style that is uniquely his. A combination of pure technique and self-expression


ーModel2 CIEM being finalised

The Tahsin Sevgel Audio Devices (TSAD) Model2 was created in early 2024 by the hands of the Turkish engineer Tahsin @tsn141. Whom was also the designer for my Prelude CIEM


ーWarbler Prelude

In designing the Prelude, Tahsin aimed to maximise the use of a single BA by increasing its efficiency and applying the idea of minimum necessary force, reducing distance from socket to driver, eliminating resonance, and clearing as much resistance as possible. Converting signal into sound as direct as possible, with very few interference

Taking the experience from many years of experimenting to making the Prelude, In making the Model2, Tahsin multiplied the driver count to two, and introduced a two-way crossover system. This deconcentrates the midrange sound making it less forward, and widening the treble and bass reach, consequently increasing resolution and rendering speed in the process

Both Prelude and Model2 have a similar 'house' sound, but with different interpretation due to their differing implementation of one, and two drivers

If the Prelude aims towards making its sound reproduction as simple as it can by reducing electricity path, then the Model2 (which I also nicknamed Interlude) is about increasing the complexity of a basic system by introducing exotic materials and components, but at the same time without losing its identity or straying too far. One is the laying of foundation, and the second is about exploration


ーInterlude, with exotic elements inside

And customary to custom in-ear monitors, TSAD also gives option to select which faceplates and shell color. There are so many to choose from


ーMine is this red faceplate pattern with transparent shell

But you can also choose blue if you like


ーStabilised wood, there are even more at the back..

Whoa! That's a nice (good looking, informative and creative) introduction post to this new thread @ranfan

I've been listening to and have been enjoying the Tahsin Sevgel Model2 a lot(!) over the past 2 weeks, and it certainly deserves some attention!
For me it already has become some sort of 'master of natural realism' in my current IEM collection.

Awesome!

Well, to me the Warbler Prelude already sounded pretty awesome

But imho the new Model2 sounds awesome... and then some!!!

 

[Virtu Fortuna]

Here's a picture dump!

 

[ranfan]

Here's a picture dump!

Beautiful faceplate design Matches the internals nicely

 

[Virtu Fortuna]

Beautiful faceplate design Matches the internals nicely

Right? I liked that unibody looking design.

 

[ranfan]

May update

Tahsin updated the product page adding an essay of how Model2 came to be

https://www.tahsinsevgelaudiodevices.com/product

And created an Instagram page for storing photos of past creations

https://www.instagram.com/tahsin_sevgel_audio_devices/

 

[Kerouac]

Tahsin updated the product page adding an essay of how Model2 came to be

https://www.tahsinsevgelaudiodevices.com/product

I really liked that new added essay => thanks for sharing! It gives some nice and interesting background insight on the development and tuning of the Model2 itself. Besides that I also liked the 2 new pics over there, which seem to 'breath' pure authenticity and (ciem) craftmanship imho.

In the meantime I've been enjoying this iem a lot over here lately! Also did some (fine tuning) 'cable dancing', which is always part of the fun imo...

Currently it's on the Code 24c, while most listening was done from a LPGT on high gain. Btw, the pic above was taken last night, hence a bit on the darker side

Some time ago Tahsin told me that a 50-100 hrs burn-in time is recommended for the various elements used, to sound at their best. As I usually do all my burn-in while listening, it's always hard to notice the differences during that process, but here it might be a real thing indeed. Maybe it's only brain burn-in, but I really think that the Model2 sounds a bit less sharp in the treble and more full bodied / mature overall then at the beginning, so it seems to have settled down by now.

I'm curious if there are some of you out there, who will (or already have) also notice(d) such a difference over time

Regarding the sound in general, without going into the details too deep at this moment. I still think that this iem has an almost perfect way of portraying music (both instruments and vocals) in an utterly realistic (natural timbre) way => it's capable to make the music completely 'come alive' in and around my head

To my ears the Tahsin Sevgel Model2 is just pure Turkish audio delight!!!

 

[ranfan]

I really liked that new added essay => thanks for sharing! It gives some nice and interesting background insight on the development and tuning of the Model2 itself. Besides that I also liked the 2 new pics over there, which seem to 'breath' pure authenticity and (ciem) craftmanship imho.

In the meantime I've been enjoying this iem a lot over here lately! Also did some (fine tuning) 'cable dancing', which is always part of the fun imo...

Currently it's on the Code 24c, while most listening was done from a LPGT on high gain. Btw, the pic above was taken last night, hence a bit on the darker side

Some time ago Tahsin told me that a 50-100 hrs burn-in time is recommended for the various elements used, to sound at their best. As I usually do all my burn-in while listening, it's always hard to notice the differences during that process, but here it might be a real thing indeed. Maybe it's only brain burn-in, but I really think that the Model2 sounds a bit less sharp in the treble and more full bodied / mature overall then at the beginning, so it seems to have settled down by now.

I'm curious if there are some of you out there, who will (or already have) also notice(d) such a difference over time

Regarding the sound in general, without going into the details too deep at this moment. I still think that this iem has an almost perfect way of portraying music (both instruments and vocals) in an utterly realistic (natural timbre) way => it's capable to make the music completely 'come alive' in and around my head

To my ears the Tahsin Sevgel Model2 is just pure Turkish audio delight!!!

Yeah, they are all handmade the old traditional way. The sound is quite the (Turkish) delight Simple and sweet. The midrange is definitely the star of the show, the root from where the sound branches out creating the bass and treble. All in unison so not to break its sound character/coherency as a whole. I think it's a good tuning philosophy. Because from there exploration can progress adding elements to future models which elevates the midrange further more. This is also akin to Japanese craftsmen philosophy, the idea of which is to build a solid foundation/core first as a cornerstone, and from there compounding their craftsmanship into something greater. The pursuit of one's mastery to a certain art, and the self-expression that comes along with it is fascinating to me

 

[audionewbi]

O boy.

 

[Deezel177]

Hey, everyone! 'Hope you're all well. I wanted to share my impressions of the Model2, which I shared over on the Watercooler thread. I hope you enjoy, and I hope this mini-review gives you a closer look into what the Model2 has to offer. Cheers!

Tahsin Sevgel Audio Devices' Model2

​

Yeah, ‘name’s a mouthful. If you’ve been around for a while, you’d recognize Mr. Sevgel as the man behind the infamous Warbler Prelude: A single-BA IEM that, against all odds, found itself on Top 10 lists with 14 and 18-driver behemoths across a number of publications, but not without controversy. For context, the Prelude was viewed in a similar light as the Trifecta, or the Perpetua, or the Supreme V3 today; a specialist in a certain sound, genre or vibe, which people felt did not belong on the same pedestal as generalist in-ears that could do most things equally well. Nevertheless, it found its audience. A lot of my acquaintances here on Head-Fi still main the Prelude to this day. And, Tahsin is now ready to premier its successor: The Model2.

Having experimented with 2-driver and 3-driver configs during the Prelude’s R&D, Tahsin didn’t want to just add a driver for adding a driver’s sake. He wanted to make sure such a design was actually warranted, and he went to pretty great lengths to do so. They’re listed exhaustively on the Model 2’s product page, but the key ones I wanna highlight are, first, film capacitors and film resistors in the crossover network. Rather than tiny, surface-mount components, Tahsin went with full-sized ones, which is why the crossover network on the Model2 is basically as big as the BAs. Second is a proprietary, resonance-shaping resin. I assume it’s similar to Empire’s ARC in a way; coating the components to prevent them from introducing unwanted vibrations. And, last, as you’ll see in a picture later on, the Model2 has hand-bent copper sound tubes, complete with brass dampers. It’s a heck of an eyecatcher, and I love the cues Tahsin’s taking from instrument luthiering here. These components all come together to produce the Model2’s unique sig, which, if you’re a Prelude fan, may not sound too unfamiliar. Let’s begin.

---

Tahsin Sevgel’s Model2 is a mid-centric IEM through and through. As soon as you hit play, what you oughta hear first is that clear, resonant vocal timbre that made the Prelude such a hit. Lead instruments take a front-row seat, aided no less by a slight upper-midrange emphasis, and they project with a bright, radiant transparency. On Adele’s Easy On Me, her loudest belts on the bridge are on the edge of what I’d call shouty or brassy. But, Tori Kelly on Sorry Would Go a Long Way sounds absolutely divine; full and lush, with just the right amount of attack. Then, somewhere in between, Laura Fygi’s voice borders on aggression on her cover of La Vie en Rose, but the piano solo midway through is the best I’ve ever heard it. So, as always, but especially here, it is down to your preferences, tracks and gear. I hope those examples can help gauge where it’d sit with you. But, the Model2 is also a very chain-sensitive IEM, which we’ll get into later.

​

Now that we’ve touched on the midrange, what about the extremes? I’ll start first with the lows, which I expect to be its biggest point of contention. The Model2 is not a bassy IEM whatsoever. To me, it has just enough to sustain and warm its midrange, then no more. It’ll constantly place kick drums two-to-three steps behind the lead instrument, and I venture to say it’s a non-starter for anyone whose favorite genres include electronic, hip-hop or metal. It just does not have the sub-bass to sustain. You can coax extension out of it with certain cable pairings or sources. But, if you want anything close to a U-shaped sig, you’re better off looking elsewhere. The quality of the bass, though, is pleasant, pillowy and airy. It plays well with softer transients, like the bellows of a double bass or the soft touches of a jazz kit kick (think Mark Guiliana). But, again, if you want anything hard-hitting or rumbly, you’re better off with a DD.

Up top, I’d say the Model2 fares much better. It, again, doesn’t produce katana-like treble notes that slice and sizzle their way to center-stage. It’s a much gentler, rounder and finer top-end that completes the midrange; providing highlights where necessary, but never sizzling or biting more than it has to. The focus is around 6kHz, where it’s most energetic. But, otherwise, It’s a touch-and-go treble. Again, softer transients like ride cymbal taps and brighter synths absolutely sing on it; beautifully gentle and oh-so-silky. Though, where it proves most surprising is technical performance. Despite its roundedness, the Model2 delivers clean, extended highs, which in turn give it the technique we’ll discuss in the next paragraph. I wouldn’t call it rolled-off or closed-in at all, despite its midrange lift and aversion to contrast. So, you do get highs that are gentle, round and light in timbre, but not at the cost of too much technique.

The Model2’s strongest technical asset is resolution. Though it doesn’t force feed you detail with a treble spoon, there’s just a clarity to its tone (also owing to its high-mid lift), a cleanliness to its background and a measured, refined delivery to its notes that make detail-foraging surprisingly easy. Unlike the stereotypical rounded, mid-centric IEM, it doesn’t have an overage of low-mids mucking up the image, nor does it have a steep treble roll-off that clouds everything under a veil. It’s a smooth-sounding in-ear encased in clean air, filled with notes that keep to themselves, and moving at a pace that’s easy to follow. For me, its one technical shortcoming is soundstage. The Model2 easily fills the head, but it doesn’t expand far out of it. So, again, if you’re looking to be immersed in a 360-degree soundscape, there are much better options out there. But, if you're looking for a jazz club vibe ala FitEar's MH334 or the classic HD650, the Model2 will deliver with resolving power to boot.

​

Now, as a competitor in this increasingly-saturated bracket, I think questions could be asked of its $3100 MSRP. How reasonable is it, considering its specialized tonality and limitations in bass extension and staging? I think there are a couple ways you could look at it. If your target is an IEM that can genre-skip with ease and fulfill as many roles as possible, your money would be much better-spent on an Anni, or an Alter Ego, or an Rn6, etc. But, you could also look at it from the point-of-view of, say, the Trifecta, or the Perpetua, or the Supreme V3. These are IEMs I personally wouldn’t ever buy at MSRP, because I only see them sounding their best with a small percentage of my library. But, there are folks here who have them as their daily drivers too. By the same token, I listen to the Model2 with a limited library. But, it also plays those select tracks better than I've ever heard them. So, for me, it’ll highly depend on whether or not the Model2’s strengths are of value to you, and I hope the examples I’ve shown above can help you make that decision.

Finally, with regards to chain sensitivity, the Model2’s fine balancing act means it can easily be thrown off by an unideal pairing. For example, listening to Laura Fygi’s cover of Just Like a Star, I find its upper-mids and low-treble lacking a bit of support on the Hugo 2, while the R8II’s fuller mid-bass cushions those frequencies adequately. But, I can just as easily swap the cable out for something a bit fuller, like Effect Audio’s Cleopatra II, to make that track just as pleasant on the Hugo 2. Again, because it’s a fairly precarious IEM in tonal balance, it’s inherently welcoming of experimentation. You can view that as being high-maintenance and picky. But, you can also see it as an excuse to whip out all those cables and DAPs you bought to nudge it exactly where you need to. Again, I’m just providing whatever info I can here, and what you do with it is up to you.

So, that concludes my thoughts on the Tahsin Sevgel Audio Devices Model2. It's a specialist with its heart on its sleeve, and it might not win as many hearts as, say, the Anni, Rn6 or Trailli have. But, as a sucker for individualism and sentimentality, there is something beautiful about an in-ear that speaks of its creator's soul. I love art that’s made just for the artist’s sake, copper tubes and all. And, if the amount of people still using the Prelude on a daily basis are anything to go by, there absolutely is an audience for that too. This is only one of many Model2 posts that will be coming soon as far as I'm aware, so be on the lookout for those. My dearest thanks goes to @tsn141 for letting me listen to his latest creation, and I hope you’ve all enjoyed the read. Happy listening. Cheers!

 

[jwilliamhurst]

Tahsin Sevgel Audio Devices Model2

​

Hello Everyone, I hope its a great start to the week for you all. I am here to give some impressions of my TSAD Model2. However mine will not even come close to the amazing review by @Deezel177 a very hard act to follow.

My impressions mirror his almost to a T. I love that the Model2 sounds like no other transducer I have ever heard. When I first put them in, I was very surprised in a very good way that the sound I was hearing was coming from only 2 Ba's. I know Tahsin has poured his heart into this design and tuning and it most definitely shows in the beauty of the monitors and their copper tubes as well as the wonderful mid focused sound. Tahsin is also the nicest person you will ever talk to and he is immensly passionate about his creations and the head fi space as a whole. A truly wonderful human. I cant thank him enough for making such a great iem.

The Model2 as already said is a midrange monster monitor. I love how my favorite singers, male and female alike feel like they are singing right next to me. And like Deezel said, the resolution is quite remarkable here in the midrange. I do not hear any BA timbre here at all. The clarity and weight of voices and instruments alike keep this set in my ears for long listening periods. This is an upper mid range focused set and although the bass is not a main actor I do not get any fatigue or shrillness. Very rarely, I do get a bit of shout but this is mainly volume related and I have noticed that Model2 doesnt really need a ton of volume to sound its best. I have mine paired with a Copper cable and use the Sony WM1Z as my source and this seems to be the best synergy so far with Model2. This iem is midrange focused but it sounds nothing like a Vision Ears midrange nor a Traillii, it is a unique presentation that is just as engrossing as those but with its own vibe and I really think it has to do with those copper tubes. It just sounds so real and natural in the mids.

The bass is there to provide a supporting role of the mids, its not big, deep or dynamic. There is little to no sub bass and just a bit of mid bass to keep things warm and non fatiguing. This is not an all rounder set but more of a specialist for vocals, and small ensembles, solo instrument, etc. I am an avid earbud listener as well and this is really how that niche seciton of audio plays. The Model2 reminds me of some of the very best earbuds I have heard for natural timbre.

The treble is actually really nice and full of clarity. It doesnt sparkle and its more rounded but it extends really well and just exemplify's the mid range that much more. Honestly, just read Deezels review. He hits the nail on the head.

The staging is not huge but layering is on point and with the music the Model2 is made for, it never gets messy or blurry. I have played some intense Quintet and Sextet jazz albums and even in super busy sections, everything is separated clearly and with space around each. A pretty phenomenal achivement with just 2 Ba's.

Needless to say I really love this set for a big portion of my library as I listen to mainly mid focused music. I do miss some bass presence and this is probably my only critique however it may mess up the rest of the FR that I love so much. Regardless, the Model2 is staying in my rotation and I look forward to what Tahsin @tsn141 brings to the table next.

 

[Bosk]

I've been using earphones for 18 years and never tried CIEMs... until now.

You're invited to read about my experience with the utterly unique Tahsin Sevgel Model2s in my review here.