Quote:   Thanks Dan. I did some more testing and came to the conclusion it's the recording itself. What I have is the SBM 20bit remaster series for the Miles Davis recordings. Quite a few people have compared this to the original release and found it harsh, overly bright and shrill:  ...

Quote:   Dan, I'd be interested to know how many hours you think it needs to settle down. It was earlier on that I tested the Miles Davis Sketches of Spain album. I've since been listening to other material, all of which is less extreme on the treble, and perhaps need to revisit after...

The Soloist / Conductor (same amp section, which I find identical sounding) is slightly bright due to sheer amount of details it reveals. This should pair well with the HD650's sound signature, which I recall to be slightly dark. It will also aid the low end, where bass is very well controlled...

Perhaps you need to update your shortlist from the HA-160D to the Conductor or Soloist (if you don't need the DAC). These amps are more modern and designed with the new flagship headphones in mind. With more power it brings performance up to a new level. Both the LCD2 and HD800 are pair well...

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD? Yes, have been watching the technology for some years now.   2. Do you own any SACDs?  No. The price difference over regular CDs makes it not worth it.   3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files? Zero   4. Is...

That list has a mixture of SS and tubes. What style do you prefer? Warm and smooth or analytic and precise?

  Quote:   Correct me if wrong... but the BCLs only have XLR as input, and not as headphone output (only 1/4" jacks). So chances are that it's not related to the BCL design.   Given the size, I'm a bit skeptical - how good a power supply can you get in there? How much shielding...

Any chance the Mjolnir will be available in black? It would help a lot with the wife acceptance factor...

Thanks for the comments guys. How big is the gap in performance between the Jazz and the Concerto / Opera? Since the Jazz is a generation newer, does it catch up to the levels set by the former Concerto / Opera flagships? Unfortunately, the Corda Classic is a little too big for my setting, hence...

Has anyone tried the Corda Jazz with a HD800 or K701? I'm trying to decide between the Jazz, Lehmann Black Cube Linear and Burson HA160.   On paper the Jazz looks very promising with the active balanced ground, stepped attentuator and good placement of signal paths. At the moment, I'm...

@Pianist   I've not found the sound signature of the e-Q5 to change noticably with burn in. If you found it good the first time but poor subsequently, then perhaps it's an issue of getting a good seal?

Quote: Ha, indeed the Senn CX300 is far from being an audiophile piece of kit. It's coloured with an inflated and woolly mid bass, but very popular being on the market for so long and at an affordable price. I did compare to my Ety ER6i too, which is also a BA design. Despite being the...

Sony hybrids worked great for me. They replaced the stock mylar tips on my e-Q5s. Less fiddling required to get a good seal with the hybrids. Probably will vary from person to person, but I found treble detail and spatial positioning to be improved with the hybrid tips. Could be due to a better...

Latest update... I just swapped the stock e-Q5 mylar ear tips for Sony hybrid ear tips (EP-EX10M). A great upgrade - everyone should give this a try, especially if you're finding it hard to get a good seal. The hybrid tips were just a few bucks for 2 sets - practically nothing if you're already...

I've had the e-Q5 for a few weeks now. Here's my layman's assessment after about 100hrs of use:   Size of the box, tin and IEMs are all smaller than expected. Photos made them appear larger on the net. Having said that, the point going into the ear is definately not for smaller ears. I find...

Curious if you've found any improvement in the sound. Hopefully more burn-in period will do it some good, it is a dynamic afterall.

Quote: Search for his review shoot out... "Ortofon e-Q7 versus 3 new Final Audio IEMs (FI-BA-A1, FI-BA-SB, FI-BA-SS) "  

It's not a normal type of stress relief, but there certainly is some sort of mechanism there. The manual says this about the cable:   The Ortofon designed unique structure of the earphone cable rear bush made of an elastomer with just the right degree of hardness protects the engine/cable...

  Quote:   Physical damage from the quake in Tokyo was relatively minor - broken glass, falling tiles, etc. Thankfully no tsunami damage as Tokyo is in a bay. However, power cuts and radiation are a psychological drag. Restaurants see customers down 50%, it's dark as 2/3rds of street...

Quote: The e-Q5 is a pretty new model, I don't think anyone has owned one for more than 3-4 months. If it comforts you, the enclosure is made from a solid block of aluminium, should be pretty robust.  

I'm seeing the e-q5s going for below JPY16K in Japan now. Was trying hard to decide between them and the FI BA-A1, but at the current price the choice is a much easier one to make.

Just wondering about the ear buds. They look like anodised aluminium. If I put a pair into my pocket, do you think they'll scratch the paint off each other? I was thinking of getting a black pair, but might go for silver if this could be a problem.

I have the ESW10jpn, which shares the same headband design as the ESW9 series. The joints do feel rather flimsy in construction, but they're are still going well after a year and a half of use. My fear is more the wooden cups get scratched - these are cans you need to take care of.   The...

Yep, I'm in Tokyo but intend to buy online since that's always cheaper. Sales service in Japan is really superb, so I would feel guilty to try at a shop and then buy somewhere else. The sales people here are so attentive and accommodating that once you start the audition process, really feel bad...

Is the fit of the e-Q5 and e-Q7 such a major issue for people with small ears? I'm buying online and have no chance to determine if they will fit my ears. Do a large proportion of people have fitting problems with Ortofons?