Thanks! The Calyx M (M) had arrived and I had played with it a bit last night and compare it the 1A with the IEMs and headphones I have. Still getting used to the sound.
It’s as everyone here said, slow UI and battery life sucks (unpredictable too, goes from 19 to 2% between switch on/off).
The M definitely has the TOTL sound quality to it, Initial impression is that it is rawer and dynamic and also revealing of recording quality. It’s tuning can feel exciting, musical is the right word.
Vocal can be in the face with some pairings. The sound is a bit coloured, so it’s all down to the pairing.
WM1A with the custom firmware (Mr Walkman, 1Z sound, J3, Direct source) is not too far behind M in terms of excitement and dynamic, 1A has wider stage and better technicality, but M feels a bit deeper and perhaps more fun.
These are all brief impressions, overall positive.
Pairing with VE Phonix, my newest addition
, M push vocal bit more forward, sometimes too much but instrumental or ambient music sounds great. Switching cable to Effects Audio Cleopatra 1 helps to tame the vocal a bit.
With U12T with a bit more references tuning, M sounds great but it lacks a bit of the excitement from Phonix.
With Ananda, the wide sound stage doesn’t feel real, same with Denon D7000.
Kennerton GH40 pairs well, medium sound stage but sounds damn exciting.
The two best pairings:
Final Audio D8000, big stage, great dynamic, a bit more warm but not too much.
STAX SR001, an old STAX actually works amazingly well, big sound stage, detailed sound, and with the excitement coming from M it synergies well!
Questions:
-My unit has the Fidelzier installed, however I don’t know which version is it as I believe the version affect the sound signature? Is there a way to revert it to stock or upgrade the fidelzier the firmware?
-There is no line out right? I max the volume and doubled amped it with Jaben Govibe Tube amp and it sounds great
May try the Bakoon amp next time.
Will see if I can find time to compare to Cayin N8, my top DAP at the moment…