Reviews by Adogsbestfriend32
Mad 24 and Mad 16 impressions
Introduction
I’m MAD. I’m MAD these IEMs are so good. I’m MAD I like them this much. And most importantly I’m MAD I was sent them as it led to me buying a pair.
Full disclosure: I was sent these both IEMs from Ambient Acoustics as part of the US based tour and ended up buying a pair of the Mad 24. This might allow some foresight into my opinions, but I will give them to you anyway.
Both models are unique in terms of offering an enormous number of drivers per ear. The 16s have… you guessed it! 16 balanced armatures per ear and the 24s have 24 balanced armatures per ear. If you have an irrational fear of balanced armatures, then leave now.
The MAD 24 is their TOTL offering amongst a decent offering of other IEMs.
Links to Ambient Acoustics page:
MAD 16
MAD 24
Background
I had never heard of Ambient acoustics 6 months ago. A friend of mind was also part of the tour and turned me onto them. From their website it seems they have quite a wide range of offerings both in terms of sound signature and price.
Ambient acoustics is a company based in the Ukraine and on top of producing great IEMs, also have great customer service. During the process of receiving the IEMs, the shipment went missing. Within days, Yulia, had sent another complete set of production units had been sent out. My whole experience dealing with Yulia was one of the best I have ever had. They are an absolute class act of a company, and I would not hesitate to buy from them again knowing who I’m supporting.
Looks:
From their website, they do a lot of unique things with custom shells. You could get a pair of IEMs to match every outfit of the year. They really have some beautiful looking shells. The ones I was sent were slightly plainer than some of the craziness in their gallery but no less beautiful. Both shells are tastefully done with a nice pseudo custom shape. The MAD 24 are slightly larger than the 16 to house the extra drivers but not overly so.
Packaging:
The packaging they come in feels very premium. Since I ended up receiving the production units, I was able to see what the full packaging looks like. The whole packaging feels very premium. I really like the aesthetic of the box. Each set of IEMs comes with a sturdy feeling case, cleaning tool and cloth, ¼ in adapter, a packet of silica gel, and an extremely limited number of tips. I could not get a decent fit with the tips included and had to use my own. I wish that they had come with a few more tip options or sizes but its decent to get you started. The cable is decent. It’s a cheap litz wire in an 8-core braid. Better than some cables but the connectors are cheap and could be a little better to complete the premium feel and price.
Fit and Comfort:
I won’t comment to much as I assume a lot of people will be opting for the custom version. However, the pseudo custom shell is absolutely perfect for my ears. The odd wing off the back hooks right into my ear and they stay no matter what. I have worn both the 24s and 16s for upwards of 8 hours at a time with no issues at all. I have noticed that the universals are decently tip dependent and fit. As stated previously I had a tough time getting a good fit with the included tips, however, once I dug through my cavernous desk drawer for my other tips, I found one that fit well.
Sound:
What does 24 BAs sound like. In a word, “grand.” I could not have asked for anything more out of an IEM than these provide, and I have enjoyed every second listening to them. If that is enough to convince you stop reading. For those that want a little more detail, I will explain below.
Soundstage and Imaging
Both the 16s and the 24s have extremely precise imaging with the 24s edging ahead slightly. Instruments are well separated and perfectly placed. The 16s can be a little more cluttered in their presentation where the mad 24 handles even the most chaotic songs with ease. Secondly, the staging on the 24s is decidedly wider. The “default” width, if you will, is wider than the 16. They are capable of intimacy but not overly so. If you are looking for a more intimate experience, then the 16s might be more your interest in this department. Once the IEMs are situated properly, they have an amazing to just disappear. Music just appears effortlessly. Both models do this. The staging and everything else takes over and you are sitting there listening to a concert instead of listening to drivers.
Listening to “What kind of man” by Florence + the machine, the MAD 24 shows of its incredible width and airiness. Florence’s vocals have an ethereal quality to them and the 24 shows that off perfectly leaving sufficient air behind the vocals.
Treble
If you like treble, this is where the MAD 16 might win out for you. The 16s have much more emphasis in this region. Not overly sibilant but defiantly more noticeable than the 24s. The treble of the 24s is gorgeous, natural, and airy. However, they are slightly more controlled on the 24s than the 16s. I think this is nice for longer listening sessions to prevent fatigue. The treble increase and energy on the 16s though make them an extremely fun listen.
Mids
Vocals are absolutely stunning on the MAD 24. Vocal texture is perfect and rivals some of the best cans I’ve heard. The midrange is extremely lush and accurate. All vocals on these have perfect intensity and realism. The 16s on the other hand are a bit thicker. Male vocals feel a bit warmer and overall, less detailed and refined.
Listening to “Delete Forever” by Grimes, the raspy character of her voice is perfectly captured and absolutely intoxicating to listen to.
Bass
In a word perfect. Well near perfect. The one thing I would want out of the 24s is a little better sub bass texture but beyond that bass is handled amazing. The 24s have such good control, speed, and bass texture. It is a bit more refined and controlled than the 16s. Still the bass is some of the best I have heard and was one of the first things that blew me away on first listen. Every bass note sounds so natural with enough authority to make it impactful.
Overall Impressions
Mad 24
The 24s are amazing. They have amazing technical abilities and are perfectly balanced. The soundstage is wide, and imaging is stunning. The bass is fast and responsive. Its all you could really ask for. Above all else, the mid-range is absolutely stunning. The timbre and dynamics never cease to amaze me. They have easily become my new daily driver and are a perfect addition to any collection.
Mad 16
The 16s are great in their own right. They are defiantly more energetic and brighter than the 24s. On certain songs I even prefer them. However, they are less balanced overall. They can be slightly more fatiguing when wearing for longer periods of time, but overall a really fun listen. The bass is still good with decent texture and good presence. The mids are a little thicker and less accurate with more focus placed on treble. The treble is where they really shine with good emphasis and texture.
Introduction
I’m MAD. I’m MAD these IEMs are so good. I’m MAD I like them this much. And most importantly I’m MAD I was sent them as it led to me buying a pair.
Full disclosure: I was sent these both IEMs from Ambient Acoustics as part of the US based tour and ended up buying a pair of the Mad 24. This might allow some foresight into my opinions, but I will give them to you anyway.
Both models are unique in terms of offering an enormous number of drivers per ear. The 16s have… you guessed it! 16 balanced armatures per ear and the 24s have 24 balanced armatures per ear. If you have an irrational fear of balanced armatures, then leave now.
The MAD 24 is their TOTL offering amongst a decent offering of other IEMs.
Links to Ambient Acoustics page:
MAD 16
MAD 24
Background
I had never heard of Ambient acoustics 6 months ago. A friend of mind was also part of the tour and turned me onto them. From their website it seems they have quite a wide range of offerings both in terms of sound signature and price.
Ambient acoustics is a company based in the Ukraine and on top of producing great IEMs, also have great customer service. During the process of receiving the IEMs, the shipment went missing. Within days, Yulia, had sent another complete set of production units had been sent out. My whole experience dealing with Yulia was one of the best I have ever had. They are an absolute class act of a company, and I would not hesitate to buy from them again knowing who I’m supporting.
Looks:
From their website, they do a lot of unique things with custom shells. You could get a pair of IEMs to match every outfit of the year. They really have some beautiful looking shells. The ones I was sent were slightly plainer than some of the craziness in their gallery but no less beautiful. Both shells are tastefully done with a nice pseudo custom shape. The MAD 24 are slightly larger than the 16 to house the extra drivers but not overly so.
Packaging:
The packaging they come in feels very premium. Since I ended up receiving the production units, I was able to see what the full packaging looks like. The whole packaging feels very premium. I really like the aesthetic of the box. Each set of IEMs comes with a sturdy feeling case, cleaning tool and cloth, ¼ in adapter, a packet of silica gel, and an extremely limited number of tips. I could not get a decent fit with the tips included and had to use my own. I wish that they had come with a few more tip options or sizes but its decent to get you started. The cable is decent. It’s a cheap litz wire in an 8-core braid. Better than some cables but the connectors are cheap and could be a little better to complete the premium feel and price.
Fit and Comfort:
I won’t comment to much as I assume a lot of people will be opting for the custom version. However, the pseudo custom shell is absolutely perfect for my ears. The odd wing off the back hooks right into my ear and they stay no matter what. I have worn both the 24s and 16s for upwards of 8 hours at a time with no issues at all. I have noticed that the universals are decently tip dependent and fit. As stated previously I had a tough time getting a good fit with the included tips, however, once I dug through my cavernous desk drawer for my other tips, I found one that fit well.
Sound:
What does 24 BAs sound like. In a word, “grand.” I could not have asked for anything more out of an IEM than these provide, and I have enjoyed every second listening to them. If that is enough to convince you stop reading. For those that want a little more detail, I will explain below.
Soundstage and Imaging
Both the 16s and the 24s have extremely precise imaging with the 24s edging ahead slightly. Instruments are well separated and perfectly placed. The 16s can be a little more cluttered in their presentation where the mad 24 handles even the most chaotic songs with ease. Secondly, the staging on the 24s is decidedly wider. The “default” width, if you will, is wider than the 16. They are capable of intimacy but not overly so. If you are looking for a more intimate experience, then the 16s might be more your interest in this department. Once the IEMs are situated properly, they have an amazing to just disappear. Music just appears effortlessly. Both models do this. The staging and everything else takes over and you are sitting there listening to a concert instead of listening to drivers.
Listening to “What kind of man” by Florence + the machine, the MAD 24 shows of its incredible width and airiness. Florence’s vocals have an ethereal quality to them and the 24 shows that off perfectly leaving sufficient air behind the vocals.
Treble
If you like treble, this is where the MAD 16 might win out for you. The 16s have much more emphasis in this region. Not overly sibilant but defiantly more noticeable than the 24s. The treble of the 24s is gorgeous, natural, and airy. However, they are slightly more controlled on the 24s than the 16s. I think this is nice for longer listening sessions to prevent fatigue. The treble increase and energy on the 16s though make them an extremely fun listen.
Mids
Vocals are absolutely stunning on the MAD 24. Vocal texture is perfect and rivals some of the best cans I’ve heard. The midrange is extremely lush and accurate. All vocals on these have perfect intensity and realism. The 16s on the other hand are a bit thicker. Male vocals feel a bit warmer and overall, less detailed and refined.
Listening to “Delete Forever” by Grimes, the raspy character of her voice is perfectly captured and absolutely intoxicating to listen to.
Bass
In a word perfect. Well near perfect. The one thing I would want out of the 24s is a little better sub bass texture but beyond that bass is handled amazing. The 24s have such good control, speed, and bass texture. It is a bit more refined and controlled than the 16s. Still the bass is some of the best I have heard and was one of the first things that blew me away on first listen. Every bass note sounds so natural with enough authority to make it impactful.
Overall Impressions
Mad 24
The 24s are amazing. They have amazing technical abilities and are perfectly balanced. The soundstage is wide, and imaging is stunning. The bass is fast and responsive. Its all you could really ask for. Above all else, the mid-range is absolutely stunning. The timbre and dynamics never cease to amaze me. They have easily become my new daily driver and are a perfect addition to any collection.
Mad 16
The 16s are great in their own right. They are defiantly more energetic and brighter than the 24s. On certain songs I even prefer them. However, they are less balanced overall. They can be slightly more fatiguing when wearing for longer periods of time, but overall a really fun listen. The bass is still good with decent texture and good presence. The mids are a little thicker and less accurate with more focus placed on treble. The treble is where they really shine with good emphasis and texture.
