This is a big thank you to Pataburd for this link and to Ted Allen for excellent work. I had Ted make a me a silver 1/2 meter 1/4" to banana cable to connect my HD800SDR to my integrated. Through emails it took less than an hour to hammer out the details and the cable was in the mail 3 days...

Most of my time with my hd800 has been Tidal HiFi>Mojo/Hugo>silver dragon>hd800SDR because historically I prefer a portable set up. All along I've had a nice tube amp available but only lately have I started to use it as part of a bedroom setup: Tidal>Hugo>Cayin Ha1a+Expensive Old...

You explain what I'm thinking about very well. This is my concern in a nutshell. I had an experience recently which brought this to a head for me. There is a well known website specializing in headphone gear. It used to be my favorite source of reviews. Good writers, good comparisons, clear...

I remember a time (now I sound old😁) when a reviewer (think Stereophile, Absolute Sound, Inner Fidelity) would 90% of the time preface a review with "this review unit is on loan and will be returned when the review is finished". When did that change?

Picture this... You are interested in an iem. A reviewer writes "...and I pressed play on Dark Side and I was goooone...." ...and for you the rest of the review is irrelevant. Nothing Else Matters. You are sold. Ammendment to the definition of "seasoned audiophile".

What I actually dont like is people who think attacking is an appropriate substitute for nuance in a conversation. Keep going...

...and his response to criticism is to laugh, deflect, and ridicule. Keep going...

...and then after some criticism of the value of measurements, Crinacle's response: "Yeah, screw that guy" I have no words....

THAT is a review??? I have no horse in this race but on behalf of anyone who relies on reviews to make good choices: Crinacle is an embarrassment to audio reviewers. That was a very unprofessional review. This impression has been brewing but after reading this review it was time to comment.

Ok, Dreamer😎... Cook me up a "Tape 2 Ultra". Maybe Shuoer is listening....

I have Tape and want more of that. Hence following ESTs. Taaaaaaaaaaape......

Finally someone who speaks my language!😁 I thought everyone who listens to iems was a raised by dance club operators. There is hope for me. According to a BGGAR video, Conductor might be MY Golden set. He said it might be good for...jazz! 🥰 Maybe even classical???

I got the fit licked. New Bee rocks! Good to know about EJ.

Although...cool thing: BGGAR compared ( I just watched) EJ and Conductor and C is...wait for it...more balanced. !! "Balanced" = the iem version of neutrality?

Redrol, I will take your "too little" set!!

I'm laughing my ass off! I can barely figure out a good fit with tips never mind changing the sound signature. Yikes... Ruh Roh...now there's QC issues with EJ? Shhhhh...dont be starting rumours.

I hear you about Tape and EJ but the low end...I just dunno about that.

I suppose I could just EQ down the bass (heretic!! Burn...) of an EJ or Monarch? Can I do that with Tidal HiFi out of my phone? Does any of that even make sense?

But that bone conductor...😁 Seriously, would that not compensate enough for no DD or BA?

I know that "slam and rumble" is the popular tuning with iems these days but it's not for me. I AM digging my Tape and P1. I want more of that. I got excited about the EJ07 for the EST tech. I asked Linsoul: is the EJ an upgrade to the Tape? The Big Brother? Answer: No, completely...

I'm thinking I'm really wasting my time following that iem thread. Too many 'Graph-heads'. Worse than bassheads...😁

It sounds like a great experience! What other headphones have you owned, just to put your comment in perspective?

In the iem thread I'm reading people are going on about the night and day differences between 2 new iems. I'm new to iems and measurements. I'm just trying to educate myself. Are they really that different? They don't look that different to my eyes. Anyone with experience with measurements?