![20190819_150127[1].jpg](https://cdn.head-fi.org/a/10339207.jpg)
MisterMudd
1000+ Head-Fier
It was @golov17 who got me interested in ear buds way back when with the original $5 Monk. They took me by complete surprise after decades of only on-ear and over-ear headphones, and a brief interlude in the early 80’s with a portable Sony cassette player that came with some pretty good headband ear buds (can’t remember the model of player but it folded in on itself to the exact size of a cassette, and expanded the width of the play head to accommodate the cassette. Was super awesome tech at the time). I thank @golov17 immensely for getting me into ear buds, and bought several of the OG Monks, some still sealed in the package (No, you can’t have). But I didn’t stick with the bud threads for long before back to the full-size cans and more purchases in that category. Found this thread and for kept up on posts, and then the itch in my back pocket began anew. So, after purchasing several of the budget ear buds in this thread, I am ready to comment briefly on each. Remember, this is just my opinion, and my 65-year old ears, and we may happily disagree! In no special order, here goes:
Snow-Lotus 1.0+:
This bud nails it in so many ways. The bass on this by far trumps the others and this ole’ rock-n-roller is happy about that. Meaty, with a kick, it just sounds right and reaches very low. Tested on Audiocheck.net to confirm it’s reaching below 30Hz and man it sounds good. Pretty good mids too, with voices sounding pretty good and guitars wailing. Treble seems a smidge sibilant, however, minor EQ touch smooths it out. Cymbals and such a tad bright and unnatural. All said, where this bud really, and I mean really, shines is the soundstage. Wide, wide open and sounding terrific. Best I have ever heard from an ear bud, and right up there with some of my regular cans. Nice cloth type cable too!
Snow-Lotus 1.0:
Nowhere near the good sound of its sibling. A little recessed in the mids, lacking bass clarity, and a much narrower, closed soundstage. To me the difference between the two is night and day. Go figure. Passing this one on to someone who does not care. Goodbye!
Qian 39:
Most comfortable of the ear buds due to the smaller shell. This bud doesn’t seem to stand out in any one characteristic, but perhaps that what makes it ultimately listenable. Was my most listened-to bud til arrival of the SL1.0+. Now relegated to the small zippered case. I like(d) this bud, but its smoothness is almost boring sometimes, when what I really want is a slap in the face (wife, step up please). I like to listen at low volume while in bed and it loses too much dynamics when down low. Very good price though and a keeper fer’ sure – at least for now.
Ry4S UE:
A very, very, very good ear bud. Sounds on par with my better over-ear cans. Well balanced across the whole spectrum with fabulous instrument separation, outstanding soundstage, great treble not overdone, plenty of low-end grunt, voices sounding extremely natural. What more can a Head-Fier ask for? Nothing. Price to value ratio off the charts and I hope to die with ‘em. They are that good. Listen to Bryan Adam’s Long Gone from the Reckless album or Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Tin Pan Alley and you will drink the Kool-Aid. No EQ needed. Just Love. Pure Love.
NiceHCK Vido:
Bang. Bang. Bang for the buck. Bass done nicely and I like the slight V-shaped sound. Very good for all my 70’s vinyl rips. Where a lot of music in that day was recorded with little impacting bass, this bud brings it out. Again, EQ where needed and enjoy. I have long listening sessions with this one and am never disappointed. What does disappoint is the flimsy J-cable, but none have failed me yet. Will keep a close eye on the handy solder iron just in case. A better cable may be in order. Heck, it’s a $3.00 bud – forget that. Just buy another. I did, for backups. No regrets.
Yincrow X6:
Another nicely baked bud. Smooth and enjoyable listen, just nothing standing out, and therein lies the problem. I like a slightly forward sound and this one sits back just a little, just a little recessed sounding to me. Good bass, smooth treble, and maybe the best mids of the bunch here. Not forward enough for me though. Great and sturdy cable. Needs a little more power due to 32Ohms. Will pair it up with several portable players and see if it matches better. I want to like it better, much better, I really do. Probably a no-brainer for the masses.
DIY PK1 SR2 16Ohm:
What is all the fuss about this bud? I get too easily taken in sometimes and bought it. The whole sound is too far back for me and there is nothing exciting about the sound. Bland and bland. Average sound quality and minimally decent cable. Can’t say it’s the worst bud I have ever bought, just not equal to its price. Other heads said “burn it in” and it will open the sound up. I just want to burn it. I don’t believe in burn in, and that this one did not change after a few hundred hours attests to truth. Oh Well.
All impressions from a Topping stack (D30/A30) for continuity and ease of volume matching while testing. Mostly 24/96 files with Foobar2000. So, there you have it. The most long-winded post I have ever done on Head-Fi by a large margin. It is fun buying and trying different ear buds (just ask MBWIlson) but I have no desire to climb the price ladder and am calling it quits (So you say Stan!) But I will keep reading until the next Ry4S UE shows up – then I am sure it’s off to the races again! Off to my Philips Fidelio X2’s now. Just wanted to share my experiences with the group. Happy listening. Later.
Snow-Lotus 1.0+:
This bud nails it in so many ways. The bass on this by far trumps the others and this ole’ rock-n-roller is happy about that. Meaty, with a kick, it just sounds right and reaches very low. Tested on Audiocheck.net to confirm it’s reaching below 30Hz and man it sounds good. Pretty good mids too, with voices sounding pretty good and guitars wailing. Treble seems a smidge sibilant, however, minor EQ touch smooths it out. Cymbals and such a tad bright and unnatural. All said, where this bud really, and I mean really, shines is the soundstage. Wide, wide open and sounding terrific. Best I have ever heard from an ear bud, and right up there with some of my regular cans. Nice cloth type cable too!
Snow-Lotus 1.0:
Nowhere near the good sound of its sibling. A little recessed in the mids, lacking bass clarity, and a much narrower, closed soundstage. To me the difference between the two is night and day. Go figure. Passing this one on to someone who does not care. Goodbye!
Qian 39:
Most comfortable of the ear buds due to the smaller shell. This bud doesn’t seem to stand out in any one characteristic, but perhaps that what makes it ultimately listenable. Was my most listened-to bud til arrival of the SL1.0+. Now relegated to the small zippered case. I like(d) this bud, but its smoothness is almost boring sometimes, when what I really want is a slap in the face (wife, step up please). I like to listen at low volume while in bed and it loses too much dynamics when down low. Very good price though and a keeper fer’ sure – at least for now.
Ry4S UE:
A very, very, very good ear bud. Sounds on par with my better over-ear cans. Well balanced across the whole spectrum with fabulous instrument separation, outstanding soundstage, great treble not overdone, plenty of low-end grunt, voices sounding extremely natural. What more can a Head-Fier ask for? Nothing. Price to value ratio off the charts and I hope to die with ‘em. They are that good. Listen to Bryan Adam’s Long Gone from the Reckless album or Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Tin Pan Alley and you will drink the Kool-Aid. No EQ needed. Just Love. Pure Love.
NiceHCK Vido:
Bang. Bang. Bang for the buck. Bass done nicely and I like the slight V-shaped sound. Very good for all my 70’s vinyl rips. Where a lot of music in that day was recorded with little impacting bass, this bud brings it out. Again, EQ where needed and enjoy. I have long listening sessions with this one and am never disappointed. What does disappoint is the flimsy J-cable, but none have failed me yet. Will keep a close eye on the handy solder iron just in case. A better cable may be in order. Heck, it’s a $3.00 bud – forget that. Just buy another. I did, for backups. No regrets.
Yincrow X6:
Another nicely baked bud. Smooth and enjoyable listen, just nothing standing out, and therein lies the problem. I like a slightly forward sound and this one sits back just a little, just a little recessed sounding to me. Good bass, smooth treble, and maybe the best mids of the bunch here. Not forward enough for me though. Great and sturdy cable. Needs a little more power due to 32Ohms. Will pair it up with several portable players and see if it matches better. I want to like it better, much better, I really do. Probably a no-brainer for the masses.
DIY PK1 SR2 16Ohm:
What is all the fuss about this bud? I get too easily taken in sometimes and bought it. The whole sound is too far back for me and there is nothing exciting about the sound. Bland and bland. Average sound quality and minimally decent cable. Can’t say it’s the worst bud I have ever bought, just not equal to its price. Other heads said “burn it in” and it will open the sound up. I just want to burn it. I don’t believe in burn in, and that this one did not change after a few hundred hours attests to truth. Oh Well.
All impressions from a Topping stack (D30/A30) for continuity and ease of volume matching while testing. Mostly 24/96 files with Foobar2000. So, there you have it. The most long-winded post I have ever done on Head-Fi by a large margin. It is fun buying and trying different ear buds (just ask MBWIlson) but I have no desire to climb the price ladder and am calling it quits (So you say Stan!) But I will keep reading until the next Ry4S UE shows up – then I am sure it’s off to the races again! Off to my Philips Fidelio X2’s now. Just wanted to share my experiences with the group. Happy listening. Later.
