o0genesis0o
Headphoneus Supremus
Howdy folks, hope that you are enjoying some time off this holiday season. Let's have a small survey of our own:
Lemme go first:
IEMs: all options provide soundstage imaging and resolution at a good enough level that I don't care to nitpick further:
Things I want to change / add:
- After all the "discovery" this year, what gear actually form your setup?
- If you can change your setup, how would you change it?
- Imaging you are an uber successful audio influencer, and a company approached you for "collaboration." How would that IEM be?
Lemme go first:
IEMs: all options provide soundstage imaging and resolution at a good enough level that I don't care to nitpick further:
- U12T (neutral, mostly for mixing, mastering, and monitoring),
- Andromeda 2020 (when I'm in the mood for
muddyanalogue sound), - Gaea (for aggressive and bright tone)
- AFUL P8 (no particular reason. I have never packed this IEM away after reviewing, so I keep using it. Mostly with the PS Vita nowadays)
- FiiO K7: reliable gear in general. I use it for laptop (via USB) and nintendo switch docked (via line in). It drives both IEMs and a pair of active speakers. It's also used for measuring IEMs
- iBasso DX300: main DAP for visiting hifi stores and testing new gears.
- HiBy R3II: a nice surprise. I'm trying to get rid of the habit of listening IEMs all the time outside, so this DAP is not being used often lately.
Things I want to change / add:
- I want to upgrade the U12T, but I don't know what to upgrade. Whatever sounds the same but "better" than U12T is going to cost a few internal organs on black market.
- I want to swap the Andromeda 2020 for Andromeda 2023. Gotta embrace the mud.
- I want to upgrade the Gaea to Empire Ears Odin or Annihilator 2023. Similar sound signature but significantly more technical, afaik.
- P8 will be upgraded to Cantor whenever AFUL launches that.
- An R2R DAP would be nice.
- Good adherence to 10dB target, with generous subbass and upper treble boost. NO 1.5kHz boost (a.k.a., QDC-like tuning).
- At little dampening as possible.
- Difficult to drive (low sensitivity and high impedance). A flat impedance curve would be nice. I want to it be usable directly from 3.5mm with any audio interface.
- Same rich and nuanced midrange reproduction as Supernova and MagicOne ...
- ... but with the planar-like transient and that uncanny soundstage illusion of Unique Melody MEST III
- ... with proper vents like 64 audio IEMs
- ... does not cost and arm and a leg. Maybe around the price of Dunu SA6II would be fair for both producers and consumers.
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