Nice review, and your disclaimer was hilarious!!

Thanks @fiascogarcia ! I try to keep em critical and entertaining

I've to add that the PentaconnEar is probably the best connection in the market. Yes, its adoption rate is quite low but it is essentially a reversed MMCX with spin resistance. Sennheiser has adopted it in the IE400/500. Acoustune followed Sennheiser soon after they heard the news.

@toranku I agree that the pentaconn connectors feels nice to use, but with an adoption rate this low it makes it a pain in the ass. Any cable I buy would be 100% tied to the 1695TI

I think the industry as a whole would benefit from migrating to a connector, but also from experience, a quality 2pin socket will most likely not cause you any issues for like.. ever

I like recessed 2pin sockets. Ones that are flushed..not so much. Seen many store demos with 2pins that are bent because there is no recession in the socket

@toranku me too - itsfit and 64 have some of the best sockets I’ve tried. Noble definitely gets worst

Finally a review of these and nice one! The cable pins may be quite limiting, but hey... many headfier went kinda crazy, permanently switching cables and paying even more than for their IEMs.

@iBo0m yeah it’s not a huge issue especially since the stock cable is great - it’s one of the few that I haven’t had the impulse to just swap

Shame about those connectors, my audio gear is mostly balanced, I would have to replace the cables to balanced in order to play on my portable gear.

@Carlsan why not run them on single ended? I run practically everything I own on SE and I can go as far as saying it sounds better to me - more spacious, neutral, and separated. That is of course mostly based on my experience with AK as opposed to every DAP, but still. Planning on trying the 4.4 on my WM1Z to see how that fares in comparison to the 3.5

They do sell Balanced cables both 2.5mm and 4.4mm.
ARC-62 and ARC-63 if I am not wrong.

I got myself one a few days ago as my HS1650CU spoilt and was sent for repair. So I just tried HS1695Ti at my local retailer. And I don't feel like putting down. It sounds so beautiful.
Thru my audio journey I had went to my highest highs and my lowest lows, tested different cables and headphones also different Tonality. And finally found one that has it all. That's the HS1695Ti.

IMO, I found by listening to the set of drum in the audio you will find the best sounding IEM. The cymbals clashes test the highs and the Drum beat test the lows.