Audeze iSINE 10 & iSINE 20: Audeze releases two new IEM planar magnetic earphones

[Wildcatsare1]

My warranty repaired iSine 20’s finally arrived yesterday, I’d forgotten how great the bass is on these guys. Threw some Bach Tocatta und Fuge at them, they were shaking so much they tickled my ears!

Also received the Spinfits, I’m surprised, they are a nice addition to the Comply 600.

 

[m8o]

And they don't make 3.5mm male - 2.5mm TRRS female adaptor, a very useful dongle, if all your headphones have 2.5mm plug.

... but, I just bought 2. Using one right now, to connect my 2.5mm trrs cable to 3.5mm trs to 1/4" into my MHA-100 amp.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HI-FI-Audiophiles-IEMs-Earphone-AMP-DAP-2-5mm-3-5mm-4-4mm-Balanced-Adapter/262975339869?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=561983351771&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

[cheese_sandwich]

Wow. I just bought from taobao much cheaper.

https://m.intl.taobao.com/detail/detail.html?spm=a21wu.11154615-sg.list.1&id=542707505681

 

[whitemouse]

... but, I just bought 2. Using one right now, to connect my 2.5mm trrs cable to 3.5mm trs to 1/4" into my MHA-100 amp.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HI-FI-Audiophiles-IEMs-Earphone-AMP-DAP-2-5mm-3-5mm-4-4mm-Balanced-Adapter/262975339869?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=561983351771&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Jep, there it is! And I missed it, maybe because the first photo has a 2.5mm male plug adaptor on it, and need to scroll drop down menu. Still, no excuse.

Instead of this, I bought 2 Fiio dangles, not very nice at all. But $10 each Feel so stupid now

Penon dangle look much thicker cable than Fiio's adaptor.

Thank you for noticing, I'm going to buy these right now. Need at couple of adaptors, if just one, and it gives up, have to rewire pair of headphones back to 3.5 audio plug. Can't walk in a store, and buy these adaptors here, online only.

 

[fjhuerta]

I don't think I've seen this comment, and I'm surprised about it.

I used the (incredible) Neutron EQ to create the iSine curve, and to be able to listen to the 10s on my LG V20. The EQ worked flawlessly. And certain music sounded exactly like my iPad with a Cypher cable, but most (modern, rock) music sounded terrible.

This had also happened, to a bigger extent, with USB Audio Player Pro.

When I checked gain levels on Neutron, I noticed that audio was clipping all the time! There's just too much EQ, and audio as terribly overloaded!

So I dialed down the gain with the preamp. The iSines stopped distorting, but now gain was too low to be usable!

At this point, I'm convinced the iSines are pretty much useless without an iOS device.

 

[whitemouse]

I don't think I've seen this comment, and I'm surprised about it.

I used the (incredible) Neutrino EQ to create the iSine curve, and to be able to listen to the 10s on my LG V20. The EQ worked flawlessly. And certain music sounded exactly like my iPad with a Cypher cable, but most (modern, rock) music sounded terrible.

This had also happened, to a bigger extent, with USB Audio Player Pro.

When I checked gain levels on Neutrino, I noticed that audio was clipping all the time! There's just too much EQ, and audio as terribly overloaded!

So I dialed down the gain with the preamp. The iSines stopped distorting, but now gain was too low to be usable!

At this point, I'm convinced the iSines are pretty much useless without an iOS device.

Maybe the LG phone doesn't have amplifier that is capable of driving Isines properly? With phones, DAC and amplifier are usually afterthought, and makers opt for chips with lowest power consumption, so phone would do well with reviewers. Only screen, and battery life is what matters to phone makers, audio quality and power output are not important for most users. For a laugh I plugged Isines to my Sony Z5 phone, it is beyond bad.

LG V20 is different in that it has way above average DAC. It's regarded best phone from audio standpoint, yes? But does its amplifier drive everything you plug in, does it drive Isines? I've never listened to LG, so only going by what majority agrees.

I don't use Cipher, and Im very, very happy with isine 20, no idevice, no Cipher.
My DAP is Onkyo X1, and I use Android Poweramp as player, and its own, very basic EQ. Seems any DAP with good enough amp would do the job, people here use all kinds of DAPs, DAC/amps with isines, and they are happy with sound.

 

[fjhuerta]

Maybe the LG phone doesn't have amplifier that is capable of driving Isines properly? With phones, DAC and amplifier are usually afterthought, and makers opt for chips with lowest power consumption, so phone would do well with reviewers. Only screen, and battery life is what matters to phone makers, audio quality and power output are not important for most users. For a laugh I plugged Isines to my Sony Z5 phone, it is beyond bad.

LG V20 is different in that it has way above average DAC. It's regarded best phone from audio standpoint, yes? But does its amplifier drive everything you plug in, does it drive Isines? I've never listened to LG, so only going by what majority agrees.

I don't use Cipher, and Im very, very happy with isine 20, no idevice, no Cipher.
My DAP is Onkyo X1, and I use Android Poweramp as player, and its own, very basic EQ. Seems any DAP with good enough amp would do the job, people here use all kinds of DAPs, DAC/amps with isines, and they are happy with sound.

The amp can drive Sennheiser HD-600s. I doubt it can't drive the iSines.
I'm still playing around with the Automatic gain control and the preamp settings, see if it helps.

 

[AlwaysForward]

I don't think I've seen this comment, and I'm surprised about it.

I used the (incredible) Neutron EQ to create the iSine curve, and to be able to listen to the 10s on my LG V20. The EQ worked flawlessly. And certain music sounded exactly like my iPad with a Cypher cable, but most (modern, rock) music sounded terrible.

This had also happened, to a bigger extent, with USB Audio Player Pro.

When I checked gain levels on Neutron, I noticed that audio was clipping all the time! There's just too much EQ, and audio as terribly overloaded!

So I dialed down the gain with the preamp. The iSines stopped distorting, but now gain was too low to be usable!

At this point, I'm convinced the iSines are pretty much useless without an iOS device.

Well the EQ certainly helps with timbre. Many enjoy these out of Chord Majo etc. However, a used iPod Touch is about $100 and much more affordable. Imho, it’s an overlooked option by Android die Hards who want these to be TOTL portable cans.

For $700 or so, I doubt there are really many pairings that can compete with iPod Touch + iSine + Cipher if someone prefers android as their phone platform. It’s quite common to see people drop big $$$ on DAP for a specific IEM pairing that have worse interfaces and sound than the above. Granted, these don’t isolate but we knew that.

IMHO, $100 for a perfect dap pairing for the iSine is kinda laughable when you consider that context and that we’re also talking about 400-600 dollar Headphones.

It’s not for everyone but it sure is a great way to get portable TOTL type sound.

 

[whitemouse]

The amp can drive Sennheiser HD-600s. I doubt it can't drive the iSines.
I'm still playing around with the Automatic gain control and the preamp settings, see if it helps.

Then why is the LG's amp clipping after you raise and lower some frequencies by few dB? If LG V20 can drive Sennheiser HD series, high impedance, a demanding load headphones, but not capable of putting out enough power to drive Isines? Something doesn't add up, don't you think?
Btw, I'm surprised a smart phone can drive Sennheiser HD series headphones. Friend of mine bought Sony's first serious DAP ZX1, only to discover that ZX1 isn't even remotely capable to drive his HD800. I have used HD650 years ago, times of iPod Gen 3, iPod wasn't able to drive HD650, not even close. Few years later iPod 5 same result. That means LG V20 has substantial amp, or maybe your HD600 aren't difficult to drive, but I thought HD600 are very similar to HD650.

isine owners who use Isines without Cipher, using DAPs and DAC/amps seem to be very happy, they can't be all making this up.
Onkyo X1 in balanced mode drives Isines so easily, I could crank it to uncomfortable levels, no clipping, and no distortion from Isines, but Planar Magnecs are known to play very loud, without massive distortion kicking in when pushed hard, unlike dynamic headphones.

Strange! Are other LG V20, and iSine owners reporting similar issue? Have you tried Poweramp app, and its EQ with LG?

 

[whitemouse]

...However, a used iPod Touch is about $100 and much more affordable. Imho, it’s an overlooked option by Android die Hards who want these to be TOTL portable cans.


IMHO, $100 for a perfect dap pairing for the iSine is kinda laughable when you consider that context and that we’re also talking about 400-600 dollar Headphones.

I am not passionate idevice hater, 2 iPod classics, and first 2 generations of iPod Touch still on the shelf at home. It's their phones I don't like, while other makers were making 5" phones standard, iPhones were still tiny, 4" phones. So it was decision to go with Samsung Note, for example, the first one was 6", iPhones 4" same year. Rational adult are not cultist, the android Vs apple is for teenagers to fight over.

$100 DAP is not so laughable, Schiit are near $100, so was my first iBasso DX50 and Fiio E18 Kunlun DAC/amp 5 years ago in similar price range. All of them are acceptable sources even for Isines today, and better than every smartphone, except 2 models by LG, and iPhones with 3.5 Audio Out. Low price is often not a guarantee that the product is cra*p, I'd argue that couple of $3000 DAPs are grossly overpriced. Price often has nothing to do with audio quality. Recently iFi Nano BL came up here, it is $200 or so, but apparently top notch source.

Isine 10 goes for about $240, can be paired with 5 year old iBasso 50 that cost $130 in Asia when released, and I'm guessing together they sound acceptable.

 

[golfinggino]

I have the lg v30 and it can power the isines no problem in any mode. Trick the phone into high impedance mode and the isines sound fantastic with the v30.
I use neutron player with EQ

 

[cheese_sandwich]

How do you trick the quad DAC into higher impedance? I have read it somewhere but appreciate it if you can tell it here.

 

[fjhuerta]

That was it. The V20 wasn't kicking into a higher power mode. I did the usual trick (added a short extension cable) and it went into line out mode. I wish I could trick it into high impedance mode. As it is, it's now perfect (although still a bit underpowered, compared to the Cypher).

 

[fjhuerta]

Well the EQ certainly helps with timbre. Many enjoy these out of Chord Majo etc. However, a used iPod Touch is about $100 and much more affordable. Imho, it’s an overlooked option by Android die Hards who want these to be TOTL portable cans.

For $700 or so, I doubt there are really many pairings that can compete with iPod Touch + iSine + Cipher if someone prefers android as their phone platform. It’s quite common to see people drop big $$$ on DAP for a specific IEM pairing that have worse interfaces and sound than the above. Granted, these don’t isolate but we knew that.

IMHO, $100 for a perfect dap pairing for the iSine is kinda laughable when you consider that context and that we’re also talking about 400-600 dollar Headphones.

It’s not for everyone but it sure is a great way to get portable TOTL type sound.

IMHO, anyone listening to the iSines without EQ is basically throwing their money away. There's a reason why these headphones need extreme amounts of EQ... because they sound like top of the line units when its applied.

 

[frogmeat69]

IMHO, anyone listening to the iSines without EQ is basically throwing their money away. There's a reason why these headphones need extreme amounts of EQ... because they sound like top of the line units when its applied.

I think they sound great with my X5ii with no EQ, just let your ears adjust.