Most CIEM have the dynamics and transient response covered well enough to handle EQ, I would take an average CIEM before a slightly better run of the mill over-ear any day. Besides, there are no freq. response charts and the last thing I trust is word of mouth when people jump a bandwagon and...

Until someone manages to provide results of a scientifically valid nature, no. What really does my head in is the elitist club of people who allegedly hear things they refuse to prove. Sad to see so unscientific and illogical thinking on the 21st century. For anyone who has something to say...

Damn, tempted to go with this instead of Sansa Clip Zip.. so delicious

Damn that's beautiful! Is Mother of Pearl white then? Would really like some photos of them, I'd really fancy a pair of white shells. --- Apparently it's sort of translucent, and changes slightly depending on the color of the body in the background if I understood correctly. Very fast response time!

Going through a revision to use the detachable or recessed cable, forgot which. Waiting for them too Thanks for the link UltraInferno! I wonder is it difficult to sleep with full shells..

What is the difference between full, medium and micro-shells? I'd prefer CIEM that are easy to sleep with and fit inside a motorcycle helmet, but I don't know if the size of the shell is related to the length of the ear canal or the size of the faceplate? A comparative illustration or photo...

Thanks for the fast reply! Their products look really sweet, and heck I could afford either a hybrid (dynamic + balanced armature) or a twin BA.. Any reputable reviews or opinions or public consensus on their services and products?

I'm sorry if this is common knowledge, but recently getting into IEM and needing something ultraportable and well isolating, I seem to find entry level IEM starting at $399. If there's anything cheaper I'd be glad to hear, and if not I would still like to hear all of the good options. I would...

Quote: Unquantifiable terms that don't mean anything in the context of D/A conversion. If by analytical you mean accurate (correct) D/A conversion, then I guess yes, it's mostly very analytical. Musical is the third word in "High School Musical".

How much has this thing got resemblance to the Benchmark DAC2, aren't they using a similar chip and quad stereo configuration? The CNC machined enclosure looks lovely.

Whereas 16-bit is enough for the playback format, I argue that if one uses digital volume control it is still better to use a 24-bit DAC. Every time you halve the digital volume control, you truncate one bit of dynamic range. Depending on the peak listening volume of yours, if you have the...

Interesting theory, but you got any data to back up the theory that music would load a system more than test tones and square wave (which is very complex)? That sounds like audiophile nonsense with no basis on reality, I'd like to see a paper on that. Also how on earth is the bandwidth of audio...

.. which to me says it is built with care, and designed well. Opamp rolling is an absurd concept that you could just swap an IC component with another one, completely disregarding their specifications and requirements. There is no clue of that nonsense in here. A device is always built AROUND...

Source?

Unfortunately subjective data is completely personal and cannot be generalized from person to person before it reaches a point where thousands of people agree with little deviation (Mean Opinion Score). This is because no ear is similar and no preference or point of view is identical. That is...

Excellent idea to approach it like that! Sounds way more productive and mature to dismantle and examine the current set with a known reference even if you prefer your current set over the reference , than to try and discredit transparency because your own tastes or interests lie elsewhere. Good man!

I also agree strongly with the post quoted above. Benchmark DAC2 HCG. It is stupidly well made and measures way better than anything else. DAC2 is superlatively the best, but it's also quite redundantly good, as in you wouldn't hear flaws in it's DA conversion even if it was worse by a...

I think I'm in love

High-End is a childishly simpleton dogma that more money and pretty products sound better.

I thought about it for the longest while. If I recall correctly, it only does 16-bit through USB, which is a bother. I'd have to suffer from emphasized noise floor with digital volume control, or use a S/PDIF output on the motherboard for 24-bit and it's cumbersome firmware. I don't doubt it's a...

Quote: One of the only audiophool beliefs that has some basis on logic, but suit yourself.

Products don't have a "-house sound", every product is an individual design. High-fidelity is the reproduction of original recording as unaltered as possible, alternating sound to cater towards some specific genre/sound signature is by definition not Hi-Fi, has never been and will never be...

Quote:     Actually the product exactly like I'm talking about does exist, and it's the Benchmark DAC1 HDR. Unfortunately it's a wee bit out of my price range, so I'm looking at a possible combination of devices that'd reach audibly similar performance for less. Considering that...

Long story short, things I'd like to have: Near-zero output impedance and enough power to run most full-size headphones, ie. compatible Low distortion, flat frequency response, low noise floor, no potentiometer rustling. ie. transparent Separate volume adjustment for headphone output and...