With AZLA tips, I didn't have any suction but didn't have a great seal either. Switched to KZ flipped tips and a much better seal but one ear definitely didn't want to let go. The bass drops off quickly on these if the seal isn't very good.
Is the Lokahi a winner..?
I am mainly a budget guy too and I think you nailed the separation, airiness, resolution idea. Also the tuning as a whole is solid whereas so many budget sets will have an obvious issue. Same on a strong upper range, the Lokahi is really good where most budget sets will drop it off to hide problems or those become the obvious issues. There are times I like a big DD thump and then there are times I want the bass to stay in its lane and focus on clean, detailed vocals or something else. The Lokahi won't scratch the big rumble itch but it's speed and texture still had me running thru tracks just to hear them on the Lokahi.
Maybe not yet. Or maybe it just costs a lot more.
I relate enjoying music to eating food. As good as something is you cant eat the same thing every single day. Gotta have some variation hah
All iems and headphones pretty much have single sound signature, even if they have multiple sound signatures(like filters or switches), the change would be subtle. There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY one specific sound signature can be best match for all kind of musics. With that being said there won't be an absolute best iems or headphones what so ever.
It doesn't have to be about music, though. You can't keep inventing new genres of music(as does happen), and create an artificial need for a headphone with a tuning that specifically matches that new genre. Why not simply use a headphone that can accurately produce all sounds extremely well, catering to no genre, and call it a day? That's what I want - a high-end all-arounder(like HE-6, LCD-3, 1266, Clair). There's also movies, games, podcasts, YouTube, etc. I don't really want to switch between 9 IEMs, for each genre.
thats what I mean though, clairs are very well rounded. But when I specifically want to listen to female vocals I till prefer the lokahis. Something that caters to all genres will definately be compromising something. Which is why all rounded iems or hp will still lose out to the ones catering to a specific genre
I m not saying that you have to switch several iems for different genres. Sure you can use one good iem for everything, but the more you listen to different sets the more you will find some specific aspects of different sets give you a satisfying and refreshing feeling. It's not about the price or accuracy it's more about the taste. Like you probably won't say some food is the best in the world and eat it for everyday. You will get bored eventually.
