The discovery thread!
Dec 27, 2023 at 7:03 PM Post #91,726 of 106,926
I already expressed my initial disappointment with BQEYZ Wind, but I am glad I didn't send it to classifieds right away as it turned into a real gem. What I did was get rid of stock tips and cable, and give it a burning-in period. And now I am enjoying the exciting detailed sound they produce.

Juzear 41T is still my praised IEM as it nails every single track in my very varied library both genre and quality wise. The Wind did some tracks better right from the box, but because of some extra spice in the upper mid range it was fatiguing with some other tracks (e.g. live recordings with unhinged sibilants).

Now though, with that issue much improved due to tips/cable/burning I realized that the Wind is technically a better IEM - it has better sound separation/resolution/details. I think that maybe this has to do with the bone conduction driver separating the bass boost from the rest of the spectrum taken care by the DD?

Also the semi open design gives some extra benefits in more open scene and longer sessions without fatigue. For me it was also useful in gaming as it lets you hear your own voice better and, thus, control its volume in the heat of an online battle.

The Wind is an exciting and detailed IEM, amazing for most genres. I'd say only metal music I still slightly prefer on the 41T, with the rest the Wind takes the W.
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Good to hear that Wind improves with burn in. Got mine for Xmas and also currently have mixed feelings about it. Hopefully putting more hours on them will get them to where I am happy.

Currently for me the biggest issue is the imaging. Whilst they have good width, at times the centre of stage can sound very congested with poor seperation, so it is like a wall of noise coming at you. On less busy tracks they can sound excellent.
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 7:13 PM Post #91,727 of 106,926
Dec 27, 2023 at 7:15 PM Post #91,728 of 106,926
Good to hear that Wind improves with burn in. Got mine for Xmas and also currently have mixed feelings about it. Hopefully putting more hours on them will get them to where I am happy.

Currently for me the biggest issue is the imaging. Whilst they have good width, at times the centre of stage can sound very congested with poor seperation, so it is like a wall of noise coming at you. On less busy tracks they can sound excellent.
My unit of Wind is approximately 100 hours burned in. I would say imaging and separation are not the strongest part of its sound. A rich musical tone, and a strong bass are the strongest part as per me. The pair definitely presents a rich, dynamic tone and a really lovely timbre.
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 7:25 PM Post #91,729 of 106,926
~~~FLOATING~~~

This album is literally giving me goose bumps.
And I have a huge smile on my face...

Bodysync, Ryan Hemsworth, Giraffage - Radio Active
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QOBUZ > Hiby R6 Pro II > DTE900

Between this and the Quattro, 2023 is ending on a resoundingly strong note.

Hoping 2024 brings much musical enjoyment to everyone!

:notes:
 
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Dec 27, 2023 at 8:37 PM Post #91,730 of 106,926
Question: Your current top three IEMs?

Mine currently are: 7th Acoustics Supernova, Xenns Mangird Tea 2, and Moondrop S8.

Tangzu Heyday and EST 112 are honorable mentions.
My top three IEMs: Diva, Crimson, and Twilight.

Honorable mention goes to the Sony WF-1000XM4 as it's my main set when I'm on-the-go.
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 9:46 PM Post #91,731 of 106,926
Question: Your current top three IEMs?

Mine currently are: 7th Acoustics Supernova, Xenns Mangird Tea 2, and Moondrop S8.

Tangzu Heyday and EST 112 are honorable mentions.
My current 3 most used are:
Airpods Pro (1st gen)
Tangzu Wu Zetian Heyday Edition
Yanyin Canon II

But the most used by a long shot are the airpods, but that's the nature of working from home.
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 10:00 PM Post #91,732 of 106,926
Howdy folks, hope that you are enjoying some time off this holiday season. Let's have a small survey of our own:

  1. After all the "discovery" this year, what gear actually form your setup?
  2. If you can change your setup, how would you change it?
  3. Imaging you are an uber successful audio influencer, and a company approached you for "collaboration." How would that IEM be?

After all the "discovery" this year, what gear actually form your setup?
  • Desktop Setup: PC (Tidal) > Gustard R26 R2R DAC > Violectric HPA V222 Amp
    • Headphones: Focal Clear MG Pro (Open-back) and ZMF Atrium Closed (Closed-back). I'm limiting myself to one of each (open/closed).
  • Portable Setup: Phone (Tidal) > FiiO BTR7 (LDAC BT). The Cayin RU7 hasn't gotten much use lately.
    • IEMs: Mainly the Diva (magical vocals), Crimson (resolving all-arounder), and Twilight (time2relax). The rest are kind of in rotation. Sometimes I'll give them a listen when I see someone post something interesting about them on head-fi.

If you can change your setup, how would you change it?
  • Upgrade my portable setup to something that has better battery life than the BTR7. I have the Tempotec V3 incoming so we'll see how that sways my opinion of DAPs.
  • Probably reduce the number of IEMs in my collection. I thoroughly enjoy every IEM that I currently have, but they're all just not getting enough ear time to justify the cost of what sometimes feels like hoarding. (my preciouseses)

Imagine you are an uber successful audio influencer, and a company approached you for "collaboration." How would that IEM be?
  • Pretty much combine my favorites: the Diva, Crimson, and Twilight.
    • Bass quality of the Diva on the max bass setting, but with a DD driver to move more air. Don't get me wrong, the Diva's BA bass is damn good and feels like a DD, but I'd think it'd be next level earquake if it had a DD.
    • Vocals a bit forward and ethereal like the Diva.
    • Grand soundstage of the Twilight with the imaging and revealing details of the Crimson.
    • Make it vented and open-back sounding like the Twilight and we have a winner.
    • ..oh yeah, you can also customize your own faceplates!
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 10:04 PM Post #91,733 of 106,926
After all the "discovery" this year, what gear actually form your setup?
  • Desktop Setup: PC (Tidal) > Gustard R26 R2R DAC > Violectric HPA V222 Amp
    • Headphones: Focal Clear MG Pro (Open-back) and ZMF Atrium Closed (Closed-back). I'm limiting myself to one of each (open/closed).
  • Portable Setup: Phone (Tidal) > FiiO BTR7 (LDAC BT). The Cayin RU7 hasn't gotten much use lately.
    • IEMs: Mainly the Diva (magical vocals), Crimson (resolving all-arounder), and Twilight (time2relax). The rest are kind of in rotation. Sometimes I'll give them a listen when I see someone post something interesting about them on head-fi.

If you can change your setup, how would you change it?
  • Upgrade my portable setup to something that has better battery life than the BTR7. I have the Tempotec V3 incoming so we'll see how that sways my opinion of DAPs.
  • Probably reduce the number of IEMs in my collection. I thoroughly enjoy every IEM that I currently have, but they're all just not getting enough ear time to justify the cost of what sometimes feels like hoarding. (my preciouseses)

Imagine you are an uber successful audio influencer, and a company approached you for "collaboration." How would that IEM be?
  • Pretty much combine my favorites: the Diva, Crimson, and Twilight.
    • Bass quality of the Diva on the max bass setting, but with a DD driver to move more air. Don't get me wrong, the Diva's BA bass is damn good and feels like a DD, but I'd think it'd be next level earquake if it had a DD.
    • Vocals a bit forward and ethereal like the Diva.
    • Grand soundstage of the Twilight with the imaging and revealing details of the Crimson.
    • Make it vented and open-back sounding like the Twilight and we have a winner.
    • ..oh yeah, you can also customize your own faceplates!
Some discoverers should get together and make groupbuy or kickstarter to get an IEM artisan to build these dream IEMs. All of them sound like winners.
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 10:20 PM Post #91,734 of 106,926
Some discoverers should get together and make groupbuy or kickstarter to get an IEM artisan to build these dream IEMs. All of them sound like winners.
We need you and the others here with hifi clout to lead the charge.

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Dec 27, 2023 at 10:29 PM Post #91,735 of 106,926
Dec 27, 2023 at 10:32 PM Post #91,736 of 106,926
We need you and the others here with hifi clout to lead the charge.

1703733580493.png
I imagine such IEM is going to cost an arm and a leg, regardless. We don’t have the economy of scale anyway, and the IEM ideas seem cutting edge.

Maybe I’ll try to get an artisan to make me one IEM next year if AFUL cantor turns out to be a stinker.
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 10:47 PM Post #91,737 of 106,926
I imagine such IEM is going to cost an arm and a leg, regardless. We don’t have the economy of scale anyway, and the IEM ideas seem cutting edge.

Maybe I’ll try to get an artisan to make me one IEM next year if AFUL cantor turns out to be a stinker.
That would be pretty cool to get your own custom tuned IEM.

Do you know if there have been any updates on the AFUL Cantor? Last I heard, the prototype was 14BA, but that was months ago. I wonder if they've been bringing it to the audio shows in Asia.
 
Dec 27, 2023 at 10:49 PM Post #91,738 of 106,926
Question: Your current top three IEMs?

Mine currently are: 7th Acoustics Supernova, Xenns Mangird Tea 2, and Moondrop S8.

Tangzu Heyday and EST 112 are honorable mentions.
Top 3:

Empire Ears Bravado MK2
- My favorites by far of the current batch, though I pretty much always EQ them. The stock tuning will only interest the most hardcore of bass heads, but if you pull the low end down about 5 db and raise the mids to straighten out the L they prove to be impressive technical performers that can still bring the Weapon 9 DD to bare when appropriate. I've never heard bass like this from an IEM before, didn't know it was possible, and it makes me dreadfully curious about EE's higher end offerings. Chances are I'll be selling off most of my collection soon as they just don't get enough use, but I'll be keeping these... unless I end up with the Odin, Legend Evo, or something.

Campfire Audio Vega 2020 - They're just fun, the white ceramic shells with their bright steel nozzles are unique and quite pretty, fit is good, and they're fairly detailed (with EQ, at least) for a single DD. Wish they were 2 pin, but CFA is married to MMXC for some reason. These mostly live connected to the Fiio UTWS3 and are my "serious Bluetooth" portable option.

AAW x The Custom Art Project 4+2
- If the shells were a little more comfortable I might not see a point keeping anything else, even the Bravado. The isobaric dual DDs very nearly match the EE Weapon 9 for slam while beating them out on low end detail in some cases, and TCA's excellent BA tuning give them near electrostat level detail. That combined with tuning filters that actually do something make them extremely versatile, I just wish they didn't hurt my ears when used long term.


Runners-up:

The Custom Art FIBAE 4 - very dark without EQ, especially for an all-BA set, but the most comfortable I've ever used by far. Extremely easy to drive, and TCA's impedance matching tech means they work with just about anything. I use these for conference calls at work a fair bit.

Audiosense AQ7 (2020/unrevised) - kind of odd stock tuning, but they EQ well and have amazing bass and detail given their rock bottom pricing. The shells are huge, so fit can be an issue, but the hate they get is completely undeserved. Tempted to get the revised Insight Pro version for a comparison, but I've got too many sets as it is.

Tanchjim Oxygen - the epitome of the inoffensive but capable Harman curve tune, beautiful and extremely well built. Fit could be better and is very tip dependent, likely due to the weight of the all metal shells. I gave these to an ex I parted with on good terms and miss them to this day... Just not quite enough to buy another pair.
 
Dec 28, 2023 at 12:06 AM Post #91,739 of 106,926
Dec 28, 2023 at 12:08 AM Post #91,740 of 106,926
That would be pretty cool to get your own custom tuned IEM.

Do you know if there have been any updates on the AFUL Cantor? Last I heard, the prototype was 14BA, but that was months ago. I wonder if they've been bringing it to the audio shows in Asia.
Last I heard 1-2 months. Depending on the price, I'm getting one. But I think it'll be under 1000 but am not sure at all.
 

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