Your impressions sound very similar to what I've heard as well, thanks for taking the time to write. Like you, I also tend to lean towards a more airy upper frequency or sometimes even a more aggressive high frequency for enjoyment, but I feel the M7 and M9 have a signature that naturally...

I agree that the cables are really quiet and produce virtually zero cable noise. But that honestly has always been a strength of Sony cables, so I wonder what brought about the change in design / material choice. Perhaps Sony felt the more glossy and smooth cables would look more visually...

Got to try the M9 and M7 a couple of days ago. Currently own the Z5 and happy with it, and though the Z5 suits my personal preferences a bit more than the M7 and M9, I think Sony's taking some really good steps forward with these new IEMs. They're also much more recommendable as high-end...

If I were to guess, might have something to do with output impedance. Not sure about the output on the Pioneer, but on the iPhone SE it's about 1 Ohm or less if I remember correctly. While I won't say the ER4SR are especially sensitive IEMs, this might be one factor making a difference. And yes...

While I'd say the L300 are great for female vocals, I'd hesitate to go with an immediate recommendation because of what you currently have. The L300 are definitely a lot thinner-sounding than both the HD6xx and HD598. It can sound slightly hard and metallic in comparison to the lush and mellow...

Unfortunately, I am vision impaired, so I can't see the graphs to tell you what's visually displayed. I won't say the Z5 is dramatically uneven, it's definitely not lumpy in the bass like the MDR-1A or thin in the mid-range like the Z7/Z1R. Its humps/dips are more gentle, but perceptually, based...

Yup exactly, and I do admit the SRH1540 work very well at low volumes. Glad that you enjoy these headphones, they're pretty great. And the humped frequency response is not always a bad thing like previously mentioned, just not my jam evidently. Also will be looking forward to what Shure puts out...

Yes, I agree they do work pretty well for those use cases. They're not the most enjoyable headphones I have at hand for music, but for many consumer-level non-audiophiles who only have one headphone, the BT and N1 are more than serviceable and are a decent investment in sound, comfort, and...

I've never tried the XB950AP, but as far as I can tell, the XB950BT and XB950N1 will have a slightly different sound because of the built-in DSP. If the XB950AP sounds like the XB950N1 without the power turned on, I can understand why you do not enjoy the headphones. They sound really distant...

I recently demoed the XBA-300 again, and I must say considering the other BA options on the market, these earphones are rather under-appreciated like some fans here have noted. I must make it clear that these earphones have a sound signature that I find a bit unnatural, and to some degree, I...

I'm glad you know what you like and dislike at least. Personally, I do see your point if you're trying to say the HD650 are a little over-hyped, they sound good enough for my tastes but I definitely can see higher-end gear being more satisfying because the HD650 has a few glaring shortcomings...

Hmm unfortunately you've picked something that's a bit difficult to do, the Z5 do sound pretty unique. Downside is not many other headphones would sound quite like it. The closest headphone I've tried to the Z5 would be the Sennheiser HD650 (demoed multiple times) and the Shure SRH1540 (own this...

A friend loaned me his XB950N1 recently, and have been playing with them for a couple of days. Must say that they're a bit better than I expected. Without the power turned on, the headphones definitely don't sound like they're worth their MSRP. But with the power on and the DSP engaged, they...

Wow, nice set-up. Can't say I'm not envious. :p And yes, the Audio-Technica headphones under the Air and Art series seem to do something right with the large 53mm driver that makes imaging and 3D positioning great. I own the old AD700 (got an unboxed but completely unused pair from a defunked...

I have not tried the FLC8s, but I can tell you the Z5 does not have a flat frequency response curve. The Z5 has a very noticeable mid-bass / upper-bass bump, the mids dip a little in the upper range, and the highs extend extremely well but roll down in emphasis a little. The Z5 are warm, bassy...

I don't own the TH900 or TH900 Mk2, and neither do I own the Z1R. But I've tried the TH900 Mk2 several times, I've tried the Z1R once, and I own the Z5. Short answer, nope the TH900 and Z5 don't sound similar. The TH900 has a lot sharper upper mids / highs. The Z5 are a lot more relaxed. The...

I'm not surprised. Richer Asian countries like HK, Singapore, Taiwan, and now China are becoming increasingly important markets for international brands. Especially ones that have historically done well in Asia like Sony. Here in Singapore I know a good handful of regular consumers who are none...

Yes the SRH1540 are very well-constructed. Though I haven't dropped mine anywhere, the design seems easy to repair if you can get a hand on replacement parts from Shure and I'm happy for that. I'm curious about the Night Owl as well, though prices in Singapore are far from competitive. I could...

Can't say because I've never heard the Harmony, though my local store Jaben has stocked Aurisonics for quite a while now, so there's a good chance I can demo that next time. In any case, it seems that the Fender sound signature beyond the FXA2 is simply not for me. I seem to have better luck...

Oh wow. Thanks for the heads up, I'll make a note to see if I can try that at the store next time.

Wow... Apparently I'm not some kind of diseased-ridden unicorn, someone else hates memory wire too. I simply don't like how fragile they feel, and most IEMs would likely stay securely with just the cable looped over my ear without those memory wires. Nice job.

I've owned the SRH1540 for over a year or so by now. I had gotten them for free (through some complicated school government programme that I'm not going to explain here), so I am very grateful to have such a great headphone, but I think my efforts to "fix" or just love these headphones haven't...

I've gotten to try the A990Z, A1000Z, and A2000Z, and this is an interesting series for sure. Source: Foobar w/ 320 kbps mp3 & 24-bit flac > Fiio Q1 (Mk1) > headphones The A990Z is a bit thick for my preferences, and the bass can even seem a bit sloppy at times while the mids and highs seemed...

@Jmop Alrightie, it's good that you know what you're looking for. Patience is a virtue, especially when you're spending big money on IEMs. One more piece of advice, if you're looking for a leaner sound, also consider Final Audio. Their products aren't always the best value, but they have some...

Nope, unfortunately I haven't tried any products from Advanced, though I'm pretty eager to give any one of their products a spin.