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A/B Comparisons - iems, buds, cans, daps, and more - Tips & Impressions
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158. shanling m3x vs fiio m11s (W):
M3x: sounds more as a whole, more bass, harsher upper treble, a little more height, warmer overall; also has a volume wheel.
M11s: leaner treble, wider soundstage, clearer, more transparent, airier, leaner overall, better treble extension; has 2.5mm, a better cpu and screen.
M3x: sounds more as a whole, more bass, harsher upper treble, a little more height, warmer overall; also has a volume wheel.
M11s: leaner treble, wider soundstage, clearer, more transparent, airier, leaner overall, better treble extension; has 2.5mm, a better cpu and screen.
Rant 3: Do cables matter? Does balanced matter?
In order to answer these simple questions, I bought two u12ts, two z1rs, one cheap cable and one eletech iliad.
This may have been slightly over-the-top, but here are the results:
159. nicehck litzps 4n litz pure silver cable vs eletech iliad (W):
Litzps: grainier bass, sharper treble, a little more forward mids.
Iliad: airier, clearer, more transparent, wider soundstage, tighter bass, better background detail, sounds more as a whole, better layering, more natural, more height.
I actually also did a blind test between these two wires. Both wires were fully covered up to the pins (by paper towel, thick cloth and tape) so that at no point did my hands touch anything other than the monitors itself (which I needed to adjust the fit). The weight of the covering material also meant that I could not tell the wires apart by their weight. Of course, at no point in the experiment did I see the wires. Same dap, same monitors, same modules, same tips.
I got 5/5 sets right, and by set 5 I could certainly tell which was which within 30 seconds.
Yes, i had my doubts too because of the coat hanger vs monster cable test (https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-03...the-difference-between-monster-cable-and.html), but the difference between these 2 cables is easily noticeable. And this is coming from someone who completely wishes that the 2 cables sound similar so that i don't have to spend more money.
160. 3.5mm vs 4.4mm (W):
3.5mm: requires more power, leaner mids, harsher treble, a little grainier.
4.4mm: more bass, airier, smoother notes, clearer, better layering.
The treble of the ier-z1r is already a little hot for me, and the 3.5mm makes it too hot.
In conclusion, yes cables matter, and yes, balanced matters.
Whether it's worth your money, is of course a different question ^^
In order to answer these simple questions, I bought two u12ts, two z1rs, one cheap cable and one eletech iliad.
This may have been slightly over-the-top, but here are the results:
159. nicehck litzps 4n litz pure silver cable vs eletech iliad (W):
Litzps: grainier bass, sharper treble, a little more forward mids.
Iliad: airier, clearer, more transparent, wider soundstage, tighter bass, better background detail, sounds more as a whole, better layering, more natural, more height.
I actually also did a blind test between these two wires. Both wires were fully covered up to the pins (by paper towel, thick cloth and tape) so that at no point did my hands touch anything other than the monitors itself (which I needed to adjust the fit). The weight of the covering material also meant that I could not tell the wires apart by their weight. Of course, at no point in the experiment did I see the wires. Same dap, same monitors, same modules, same tips.
I got 5/5 sets right, and by set 5 I could certainly tell which was which within 30 seconds.
Yes, i had my doubts too because of the coat hanger vs monster cable test (https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-03...the-difference-between-monster-cable-and.html), but the difference between these 2 cables is easily noticeable. And this is coming from someone who completely wishes that the 2 cables sound similar so that i don't have to spend more money.
160. 3.5mm vs 4.4mm (W):
3.5mm: requires more power, leaner mids, harsher treble, a little grainier.
4.4mm: more bass, airier, smoother notes, clearer, better layering.
The treble of the ier-z1r is already a little hot for me, and the 3.5mm makes it too hot.
In conclusion, yes cables matter, and yes, balanced matters.
Whether it's worth your money, is of course a different question ^^
161. 64 audio duo vs sony ier-m9 (W):
Duo: leaner treble, wider soundstage, slightly airier, leaner mids, clearer background detail, tighter and faster bass.
M9: more transparent, more bass, better layering, slightly more height, better imaging, more natural, better bass/mids/treble balance, more forward mids.
Duo: leaner treble, wider soundstage, slightly airier, leaner mids, clearer background detail, tighter and faster bass.
M9: more transparent, more bass, better layering, slightly more height, better imaging, more natural, better bass/mids/treble balance, more forward mids.
162. campfire audio andromeda 2020 (W) vs 64 audio duo:
Andromeda 2020: leaner mids, clearer, more transparent, better background detail, better bass/mids/treble balance, better layering, clearer bass.
Duo: more sub-bass, slightly wider soundstage, more bass, more natural vocals, slightly smoother treble.
Andromeda 2020: leaner mids, clearer, more transparent, better background detail, better bass/mids/treble balance, better layering, clearer bass.
Duo: more sub-bass, slightly wider soundstage, more bass, more natural vocals, slightly smoother treble.
163. 64 audio duo vs 64 audio u12t (W):
Duo: more bass.
U12t: more transparent, clearer, tighter bass, more expansive, better background detail, wider soundstage, leaner overall, slightly more height.
The u12t has a similar house sound, but is just better in most ways. Surprisingly, the duo does not feel airier even with its semi-open design. Not entirely sure why, and not entirely sure there is any merit to the duo's semi-open design.
Duo: more bass.
U12t: more transparent, clearer, tighter bass, more expansive, better background detail, wider soundstage, leaner overall, slightly more height.
The u12t has a similar house sound, but is just better in most ways. Surprisingly, the duo does not feel airier even with its semi-open design. Not entirely sure why, and not entirely sure there is any merit to the duo's semi-open design.
164. ifi gryphon vs ifi diablo (W):
Gryphon: slightly warmer mids, slightly more natureal, more bass, much lighter, has 4.4mm
Diablo: wider soundstage, clearer, tighter bass, more transparent, has more authority, better instrument separation, more controlled, slightly leaner, airier, has 6.3mm.
With iems, I would say the difference is about 10%, but much more with headphones due to diablo's power output.
Gryphon: slightly warmer mids, slightly more natureal, more bass, much lighter, has 4.4mm
Diablo: wider soundstage, clearer, tighter bass, more transparent, has more authority, better instrument separation, more controlled, slightly leaner, airier, has 6.3mm.
With iems, I would say the difference is about 10%, but much more with headphones due to diablo's power output.
165. fiio m11s vs a&k sr35 (W):
M11s: a little clearer, leaner treble, more sub-bass, clearer background detail, larger and better screen, better buttons, better cpu, android.
Sr35: wider soundstage, more height, weightier bass, airier, blacker background, more natural, sounds more as a whole, better imaging, sound feels more focused, a little more forward mids, has volume wheel.
M11s: a little clearer, leaner treble, more sub-bass, clearer background detail, larger and better screen, better buttons, better cpu, android.
Sr35: wider soundstage, more height, weightier bass, airier, blacker background, more natural, sounds more as a whole, better imaging, sound feels more focused, a little more forward mids, has volume wheel.
166. shanling m6u vs a&k sr35 (W):
M6u: wider soundstage (though can sometimes feel artificially stretched out), more height, more bass, slightly leaner treble, more expansive, more sub-bass, faster UI, better buttons, better screen.
Sr35: blacker background, sounds more as a whole, clearer, tighter sound, tighter bass, slightly more transparent, better imaging, clearer background detail.
M6u: wider soundstage (though can sometimes feel artificially stretched out), more height, more bass, slightly leaner treble, more expansive, more sub-bass, faster UI, better buttons, better screen.
Sr35: blacker background, sounds more as a whole, clearer, tighter sound, tighter bass, slightly more transparent, better imaging, clearer background detail.
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167. shanling m6u (W) vs chord mojo 2:
M6u: wider soundstage, more bass, more natural, more lively, better vocals (esp. female), smoother treble.
Mojo 2: leaner mids, more transparent, more controlled bass, can feel a little sterile in comparison.
M6u: wider soundstage, more bass, more natural, more lively, better vocals (esp. female), smoother treble.
Mojo 2: leaner mids, more transparent, more controlled bass, can feel a little sterile in comparison.
168. shanling m6u vs fiio m11s (W):
M6u: wider soundstage (though can sometimes feel artificially stretched out), more height, slightly more bass, more transparent, better vocals.
M11s: tighter sound, airier, more controlled bass, sounds more as a whole, better bass/mids/treble balance, clearer, more natural, leaner treble, better instruments, 2.5mm.
Though there are many differences, the overall sound tends to be quite similar.
M6u: wider soundstage (though can sometimes feel artificially stretched out), more height, slightly more bass, more transparent, better vocals.
M11s: tighter sound, airier, more controlled bass, sounds more as a whole, better bass/mids/treble balance, clearer, more natural, leaner treble, better instruments, 2.5mm.
Though there are many differences, the overall sound tends to be quite similar.
169. moondrop chaconne (W) vs tgxear serratus:
Chaconne: leaner treble, clearer, more transparent, tighter bass, better bass/mids/treble balance, better instrument separation, better background detail, airier.
Serratus: much more bass and sub-bass, better layering, slightly wider soundstage, warmer mids.
Chaconne: leaner treble, clearer, more transparent, tighter bass, better bass/mids/treble balance, better instrument separation, better background detail, airier.
Serratus: much more bass and sub-bass, better layering, slightly wider soundstage, warmer mids.
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170. moondrop chaconne vs tgxear totem (W):
Chaconne: clearer, more transparent, airier, sharper treble, better instrument separation, sweeter female vocals.
Totem: more bass and sub-bass, better layering, warmer mids, better imaging, more natural.
A bit of a technicality vs tonality matchup. The naturalness of the totem gains it my preference.
Chaconne: clearer, more transparent, airier, sharper treble, better instrument separation, sweeter female vocals.
Totem: more bass and sub-bass, better layering, warmer mids, better imaging, more natural.
A bit of a technicality vs tonality matchup. The naturalness of the totem gains it my preference.
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171. chord hugo 2 vs a&k ca1000 (W):
Hugo 2: wider soundstage, airier, smoother mids, more height, louder background detail.
Ca1000: blacker background, clearer, more forward mids, leaner treble, better background detail, 4.4mm, 2.5mm.
The performance of these two are pretty close, and I'm going to guess that form factor is going to be more of a decider than sound.
Hugo 2: wider soundstage, airier, smoother mids, more height, louder background detail.
Ca1000: blacker background, clearer, more forward mids, leaner treble, better background detail, 4.4mm, 2.5mm.
The performance of these two are pretty close, and I'm going to guess that form factor is going to be more of a decider than sound.
Waddiewadkins
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks..I bought the Wavelet add ons, Bass tuner the soundstage widener Virtualiser set at 20%, I've turned everything on and the graphic equaliser and found what I like.. I also have the auto eq on Denon 7200! Seriously I take any of these off and it doesn't sound as good for me.. But maybe , coming straight from phone, it could have more power? What is a real and fair option to get the best out these ear phones? Dragon Fly etc?... A better cable than the stock I am using?.. Thanks....
Tldr: Will an amp improve the ie600?
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