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After all the TOTL CIEM tours I have hosted, I have only once seen a cable that matches the quality of the featured TOTL CIEM regardless of price. Some are garbage, some are good enough, but none seem to be premium enough to leave as is. The cable look can make or break the experience. There are a few notable exceptions that offer multiple connectors to fit our assortment of connection needs - thank you DITA - but mostly there is only a 3.5mm option that will not work with our balanced Sony/AK DAPs to hear our toys at their best. Of course, many swear by the improved SQ or signature tuning that premium cables offer. For all these reasons and more, premium cables become an obvious question after a TOTL CIEM purchase.
Beat Audio has graciously offered to provide a compelling tour kit that tour members can audition to see just what a premium cable can do for their new CIEM purchase.
http://www.beataudiolab.com/
US Premium IEM Cable Tour, Featuring:
Beat Audio is providing us with a nice full range of cables terminated in balanced AK2.5 with a 3.5mm and a 4.4mm adaptor so we can listen on all our gear.
Cables:
Tour Kit Pictures
Tour Instructions (7 Day Audition)
The participant list is organized logistically to minimize shipping costs starting from Seattle. The tour will begin with the first in the list for a 7-day audition. Thereafter they will be responsible to deliver or ship the demo kit to the next participant in the list.
Participation Rules Clarification
Please remember to do your part as a participant:
Tour Sign Up
To sign up for this tour, please post your name, city, and state only – no personal address in the public forum – and then declare that you agree to follow the terms of the tour. That’s it. We reserve the right to turn down the application if we find a cause but hope to accommodate all those US Head-Fi’ers that are interested. If you meet any of the three requirements below and as long as there is room, your in.
Participant Requirement Options:
Signups begin now and will remain open during the tour welcoming late comers. However, we reserve the right to end signups at any time so please don’t hesitate or you may lose out. The tour will start when we have enough participants to create a reasonable list. Have fun!
Example Sign up Post: From Barra: I live in Anthem, AZ and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour.
Beat Audio has graciously offered to provide a compelling tour kit that tour members can audition to see just what a premium cable can do for their new CIEM purchase.
http://www.beataudiolab.com/
US Premium IEM Cable Tour, Featuring:
Beat Audio is providing us with a nice full range of cables terminated in balanced AK2.5 with a 3.5mm and a 4.4mm adaptor so we can listen on all our gear.
Cables:
- Supernova MKII (4-wire) - 2pin/2.5mm balanced ($249)
- Supernova MKII (8-wire) - 2pin/2.5mm balanced ($?)
- Thor - 2pin/2.5mm balanced ($399) (Copper)
- Prima Donna (4-wire) - 2pin/2.5mm balanced ($799) (Silver Alloy)
- Prima Donna (8-wire) - 2pin/2.5mm balanced ($1199) (Silver Alloy)
- Prima Donna adapter - 2.5mm balanced female to 3.5mm male
- Prima Donna adapter - 2.5mm balanced female to 4.4mm balanced male
Tour Kit Pictures
Tour Instructions (7 Day Audition)
The participant list is organized logistically to minimize shipping costs starting from Seattle. The tour will begin with the first in the list for a 7-day audition. Thereafter they will be responsible to deliver or ship the demo kit to the next participant in the list.
- Upon Receipt:
- Post: Please immediately post on the thread both receipt and condition of the demo kit.
- PM: Please immediately PM the next participant on the list to arrange delivery (if local) or shipping. This step is critical to avoid delaying the tour. It is each participants responsibility to keep the tour moving. If the participant is unresponsive, it is your responsibility to move on to the next in the list quickly so the tour does not get stalled. Please, PM Barra with any issues.
- Shipping: Please, no PO boxes - only home or work addresses. It is important to collect complete info including a phone number before shipping so that we have a way to track and contact the participant just in case.
- Issues: Please PM Barra with any issues.
- Dropping Out: Please PM Barra if you feel you cannot fulfill your tour responsibility and I will pull you from the list.
- Optional Review: Reviews are completely optional, but greatly appreciated by all Head-Fi members.
- Thoughts/Impressions: Feel free to post your thoughts, initial impressions, pairing results, or even informal reviews or comparisons right here on this thread.
- Formal Reviews: While you are welcome to post formal reviews on this thread, they are often more manageable if you use the Head-Fi review functionality and post a link here for people to follow.
- Shipping Requirements: Per Beat Audio, we need to use FedEx with signature required. By requiring a signature, we are not required to insure the package as there is a clear line of responsibility. This will save everyone a considerable amount in insurance costs.
Participation Rules Clarification
Please remember to do your part as a participant:
- Update the Thread: Please keep the thread updated for receipt/condition as well as shipping and impressions. This way the thread remains interesting and allows participants to follow progress to plan for receipt going forward.
- Impressions: Impressions help to keep the thread interesting even if you do not like them if you explain why. Sometimes we can help to fix any issues - pairing, cleaning, etc.
- Shipping Ontime: It is each participants responsibility to ship out on time on the 8th day. This means actively PMing the next or next 3 participants to get a viable destination prior to the 8th day.
- Proper Shipping: It is everyone's responsibility to only ship to a viable participant with follow up info just in case:
- NO PO Addresses: Must be a real address where the item can be tracked to a person.
- Phone Numbers: Participants must provide phone numbers and emails so that there is a channel of communication in case of issues.
- Tracking Number: It is critical to PM a tracking number to the receiving participant so that the recipient can arrange for the receipt - especially with signature required.
- Signature Required: To avoid the high cost of insuring, we have opted to go signature required to track receipt to a real individual. This is required in shipping out the kit.
- Enjoy: Please enjoy your time with the demo kit. It is a unique experience to be able to hear these fabulous toys in the comfort of your own home and with your music and equipment so please take full advantage and let us know how it works for you.
Tour Sign Up
To sign up for this tour, please post your name, city, and state only – no personal address in the public forum – and then declare that you agree to follow the terms of the tour. That’s it. We reserve the right to turn down the application if we find a cause but hope to accommodate all those US Head-Fi’ers that are interested. If you meet any of the three requirements below and as long as there is room, your in.
Participant Requirement Options:
- Long-Term Head-Fi: Automatic Qualification
- Two years Head-Fi Membership: We need to know that you have a track record.
- More than 200 posts: We need to know that you are active.
- New to Head-Fi: A few extra steps if you don't meet the long-term HF status requirement - please PM to @Barra:
- Copy/scan/photo of ID: We need a photo of your drivers license or passport.
- Complete Home Contact Info - Phone/Address
- Complete Work Contract Info - Phone/Address
- Referral from Beat Audio: Automatic qualification
Signups begin now and will remain open during the tour welcoming late comers. However, we reserve the right to end signups at any time so please don’t hesitate or you may lose out. The tour will start when we have enough participants to create a reasonable list. Have fun!
Example Sign up Post: From Barra: I live in Anthem, AZ and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour.
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