3 answers for you https://www.head-fi.org/members/geared4me.142429/



I’ve purposely left out what could be 50% more added to this review. Such a decision was to force focus on themes which I feel are of greater importance. I didn’t talk about why maybe the included cable is better possibly than the forced use of a long adapter with the cable upgrade. I could have written a 10 minute read about the ergonomics of the included cable, and the fact that it sounds great. I have those switches on a couple IEMs and will try them once or twice to try and be complete, but fail to see real importance in them. Yes they in certain situations modify the frequency but I view them as gimmicks. The switches can maybe keep up as an advertising feature enabling an IEM to keep up with competitors?

They are an additional option which looks good on an option list. But as other reviewers..........I simply don’t use them. There is a far greater paradigm shift taking place here due to driver choice and arrangement. Maybe you can view me as a purist but stock is magic. There are other reviews on the product out there which go over the impact of the switches and their use.

I’m also not an EQ person. Much of these attitudes are deep seated and profoundly in place for some. My review said what I felt was important, yes I did notice slight changes with the switches, but it may be very close to an audiophile (ism) why I chose to avoid the description and use of the adjustments. Remember the switches are supposed to be if you need to adjust the frequency response. This IEM is pretty close to perfect to me so I have no need to alter the sound. While perfect is a big word in audiophile circles, it’s what my review is leaning towards, so no adjustment needed. Your results may vary.

Also if you look at the final equipment list section at the bottom, I do list my choices on the switches; being a feature of the review since day one.

My question seems to have struck a nerve, i meant no offense. This iem has an obvious feature that wasn't mentioned in the review which left me wondering. Thank you for the extensive reply.

My pleasure to answer your question.

Tips change stuff way more than those switches do. IMO Maybe 4X more if you were to try and quantify it. I left that out too. But your right it would be a more complete review and I did note at one point what I was leaving out. I just figure people will figure out their own switch-settings, cable and tips. Also I don’t use any EQ. I primarily use the 1A and 1Z.....firmware listed. I use the DUNU Blue L size tips.

After thought, your probably right, I will edit review to say after experimentation I stayed on stock switch settings. You have a good point now that I understand it. Thank-you.

Great pics. Thanks for the review.

Nice review. I'm thinking about using them only with smartphone and laptop(I don't have DAP, amp ..). And I'm worrying about their output impedance, if it isn't too high, as these IEM have low impedance. Can you relate? Also how is the sound compared to TRI Starsea? If you have tried. Thanks

https://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/57213

I took the above 48kHz/24bit and made it into Apple Lossless and played it on my IPod. One of the main reasons for success is the L4 being super easy to drive. Though keep in mind that easy to drive (getting loud) doesn’t always mean a quality bass response; especially with difficult big DD flagships. This review centers around the (easy to drive) drivability and character of (a new smaller) 8mm NANO-DRIVER. Interestingly the iPod didn’t quite have the sound of my Sony DAPs as far as complete soundstage. But again your comparing a 1Z @$3200 and a 1A @$1200 against a Apple IPod.

Still as far as quality in every aspect the iPod was a success. Also with this album the L4/IPod combination showed complete control over the bass in the transient bass passages. Those same passages showed a fantastic soundstage too? All and all (as mentioned in the review) the iPod bass was the best ever. The Sony DAPs are warmer and maybe diffuse sounding in comparison to the IPod? Yet if you were planning on not using a DAP, still in my experience you really couldn’t do much better than the L4. Have not heard the TRI Starsea. Cheers!

Thank you very much. I´m so stoked with how these headphones look and the reviews about them are all positive( including yours). Probably going end up buying them and will see how they perform with my smartphone and laptop. Also I will think about getting some nice portable DAC so it can make the experience even better.

Vs dm6 comparisons pls. Your take would be much appreciated. Tia

Haha, easy. The DM6 is WAY grainy and congested, in comparison. It’s really not even a contest here? The DM6 (and it’s issues) could be looked at as the inspiration for the whole review. Even the fit on the L4 is miles better..... the superiority of the L4 never ends. Though I had great times with the DM6 and EDM? Key word here “HAD”! lol

The L4 drivers seem to be working in unison, where the BGVP 5 BA drivers are just slightly fighting amongst themselves?

The DM6 is not as full in the mid-details nor as capable in bass soundstage/texture.....strangely rather mundane in comparison? It would be like 2 on every category in comparison to 10 for the L4. Not even a fair comparison..........as that’s how far stuff has progressed. In daily use the L4 just seems more detailed? I’ve used the L4 everyday since this review was posted and it’s actually starting to seem even more detailed.......don’t know why that would be?

The only other advice after even more extended use (on my part) would be that due to the L4 upper midrange you kind of have to find a volume and can’t actually go above that. Other more V or U response IEMs would allow a person to go to higher volume levels in daily use. Your never going to be needing to turn up the volume to look for midrange detail. Yet once you’ve found the best volume level your in paradise.

Do these isolate well? They claim -26db but i'm curious to hear if they live up to that.

Of everything I have with 1 being bad and 10 being great they probably get a 7 or 8? I tried them again.......it’s raining out and my wife is on the phone and it was actually pretty good. Not the best, but better than I thought? Hope that helps! All BA sets can get made with no air vents. DDs normally have vents which reduce the ability for noise occlusion.

Thanks. if i get these they'll be customs to use in a professional setting, but the vent does concern me.

Well, I mean so many things affect the noise occlusion. The fit, the tips, the volume used at a situation, the frequencies of outside noise. Some sounds are low and an IEM with low frequency can block them. At times the noise pollution is high frequency. Maybe the best Chinese noise blocking for me would be the qdc Anole V3, as it has no ports. Also I’m not really an expert on this subject as I never need noise occlusion. Outside I use cheap IEMs as I can’t really appreciate quality outside? I mean these may stay at a level 7 even as a custom due to that vent? These are magical IEMs and unique to anything I’ve ever found. So in many ways they will be a non-objective recommendation no matter what from me. Though also due to the treble and mids these are not the IEM your totally going to crank up, thus not listen to loud outside. The qdc V3, if you study the frequency response graph, has no treble push or mids, so you can peg the volume and drown-out a foghorn! Lol

The problem is the qdc Anole V3 while 3X the cost does not have the technicalities of the L4 or the detail/resolution up middle/top. It’s a few years old too, not offering this style of bass either. Though if I’m really in need of a nice IEM outside that’s what I use.

I just ordered a set today 3/4/21 due in Saturday and I’m pretty pumped, after reading this I may wait outside for delivery! lolol
Thanks
Ed