Beyerdynamic Xelento!

[tienbasse]

  Should bring the T8ie to meet Xelento if you have the chance . They sound worlds apart , and it would also be an interesting demo for you , if you like the Beyerdynamic sound .
But with this said , i believe there would also be 2 different groups of people , some will like the T8ie better , some will like the xelento better .

The Xelento is full of emotion and there's alot of "energy" and liveliness to it , makes it really pleasurable and interesting to listen to . 
This "energy" probably comes from the sub bass and mids region, this triggers alot of the ASMR through my listening period .
The soundstage of the Xelento is also wider than that of the T8ie . There's alot going on , and you could probably tell it the moment it plays . 

I hope there is someone whom have tried both and can more accurately describe their differences. 

i feel that if anyone that likes the IE800 & Beyer T90's sound , you would most probably like this one too . 

 

No to deny that they may have tuned the Xelento differently, but a lot of what you describe can be achieved using different cables and tips.
I've been playing with my T8iE a lot this week-end to make it sound "better" (=subjective) when coupled with a X5-iii, and you don't need much to change the extremities of the spectrum and to modify the soundstage.
Just changing from Spiral dot tips and SpinFit tips (large size) was enough to completely change the treble for example. Using tips with longer stems is a simple physical way to boost soundstage.
Cables did have an impact on the lower end.
 
As you state adequately, only by testing both models with similar cable/tips could you actually see what they have truely done with the driver itself.

 

[potatoe94]

No to deny that they may have tuned the Xelento differently, but a lot of what you describe can be achieved using different cables and tips.
I've been playing with my T8iE a lot this week-end to make it sound "better" (=subjective) when coupled with a X5-iii, and you don't need much to change the extremities of the spectrum and to modify the soundstage.
Just changing from Spiral dot tips and SpinFit tips (large size) was enough to completely change the treble for example. Using tips with longer stems is a simple physical way to boost soundstage.
Cables did have an impact on the lower end.

As you state adequately, only by testing both models with similar cable/tips could you actually see what they have truely done with the driver itself.

You may be right too , they are issued with different cables .

 

[batracom]

Thanks, the case does look and works better than mine, my stock case is so small, and our local agent gave a suggested way to use the case, they suggest to disconnect the cable from the IEM before putting in the case, which is crazy.  Can I also ask, although you do get a tight connection (IEM and Cable) does the MMCX connector turn, on my cable my right side IEM can loosely turn, but not very loose, although it does turn, it does have a tight single click connection. 

The connection is quite tight, and stays put. The cable problems with T8ie and Wired that many have mentioned have not appeared on my unit at all so far.

 

[kms108]

 

Thanks, the case does look and works better than mine, my stock case is so small, and our local agent gave a suggested way to use the case, they suggest to disconnect the cable from the IEM before putting in the case, which is crazy.  Can I also ask, although you do get a tight connection (IEM and Cable) does the MMCX connector turn, on my cable my right side IEM can loosely turn, but not very loose, although it does turn, it does have a tight single click connection. 

The connection is quite tight, and stays put. The cable problems with T8ie and Wired that many have mentioned have not appeared on my unit at all so far.

Mine is really tight for both L and R, but the R side does turn, not a big problem, I have used other cables, and the problem does not exist, so it seems like a cable problem. BTW how much did the IEM cost you.

 

[WCDchee]

I'm on a holiday in Japan now and I'll drop by e earphone to listen to some things and see if I can hear the xelento then.

Just to give some context, I'm quite a believer of DDs, I don't hate BAs, there are a couple I like but I just generally have found DDs to make up my Favourite IEMs. And hybrids, since the later aurisonics (1plus and harmony), the dorado and most importantly the fourté.

I have the vega paired with the dita truth cable and the Dita Dream on hand currently and will be happy to try to do up some comparisons with the xelento if possible.

On a side note, I'm looking to get myself a second hand ex1000 and ex800 which go for about 220 dollars and 130 dollars respectively. That's a crazy deal and there are those who swear by them. It is true though that with the right cables and pairing they still continue to surpass some flagships in some ways, at least to my ears. Along with the ocharakus the make up a special class of semi open DD IEMs, And they do have something special to their sound. So I'll see if I can give those a comparison too!

 

[james444]

  Mine is really tight for both L and R, but the R side does turn, not a big problem, I have used other cables, and the problem does not exist, so it seems like a cable problem.

 
Well in my case, two cables that work perfectly with JVC IEMs, exhibited dropouts with the Xelentos. Seemed like a connector problem to me.
 

I encountered intermittent dropouts with the Linum Bax and another 3rd party cable, both of which work fine on my JVC woodies. Bummer. No complaints about the stock cable though.

 

[kms108]

 

  Mine is really tight for both L and R, but the R side does turn, not a big problem, I have used other cables, and the problem does not exist, so it seems like a cable problem.

 
Well in my case, two cables that work perfectly with JVC IEMs, exhibited dropouts with the Xelentos. Seemed like a connector problem to me.
 

I encountered intermittent dropouts with the Linum Bax and another 3rd party cable, both of which work fine on my JVC woodies. Bummer. No complaints about the stock cable though.

It does seem's like the Xelento or T8ie tends to reject cables from Linum and cables made for shure etc, there could be more, this was my second pair, haven't tried the linum on it so I can't comment, but the first pair had the drop out.
 
I do get a very tight fit for both L and R, the first pair the L side is so loose that sometime the cables does fall out from the IEM, this second pair is so tight, but the R side the connection do turn, not really a big problem as long as it doesn't drop off, I know it's the cable problem and not the IEM.
 
I will be getting a pair of stock cables made for the final audio LABII, they seem to look good and fit well on the Xelento, but will have to wait till december when I visit Japan, cost about USD 250.

 

[kms108]

I'm on a holiday in Japan now and I'll drop by e earphone to listen to some things and see if I can hear the xelento then.

Just to give some context, I'm quite a believer of DDs, I don't hate BAs, there are a couple I like but I just generally have found DDs to make up my Favourite IEMs. And hybrids, since the later aurisonics (1plus and harmony), the dorado and most importantly the fourté.

I have the vega paired with the dita truth cable and the Dita Dream on hand currently and will be happy to try to do up some comparisons with the xelento if possible.

On a side note, I'm looking to get myself a second hand ex1000 and ex800 which go for about 220 dollars and 130 dollars respectively. That's a crazy deal and there are those who swear by them. It is true though that with the right cables and pairing they still continue to surpass some flagships in some ways, at least to my ears. Along with the ocharakus the make up a special class of semi open DD IEMs, And they do have something special to their sound. So I'll see if I can give those a comparison too!

I know secondhand EX1000 is available, seen them before in those large BIC stores, but i'm going after a new one, are they still readlly available even if they do cost about 40000 yen or slightly less, thats the price I seen them new before. Also secondhand stock in japan, can also be mistaken for new, Japanese tend to look after their stuff well.
 
I'm only getting the EX1000 to complete my collection, I have the EX600 and EX800, and I really like them, especially because they use DD, the SQ is more natural than BA drives.
 
The Xelento is the most expensive IEM I have, to many members here, it's only a fraction of the cost for IEM they have, but I really like the SQ on them.

 

[twister6]

 

  Mine is really tight for both L and R, but the R side does turn, not a big problem, I have used other cables, and the problem does not exist, so it seems like a cable problem.

 
Well in my case, two cables that work perfectly with JVC IEMs, exhibited dropouts with the Xelentos. Seemed like a connector problem to me.
 

I encountered intermittent dropouts with the Linum Bax and another 3rd party cable, both of which work fine on my JVC woodies. Bummer. No complaints about the stock cable though.

 
Yikes, that really sounds like a connector tolerance problem.  Btw, have you tried deoxit?
 
Should be getting Xelento for review in a few weeks, will test it with all my mmcx cables.

 

[twister6]

I'm on a holiday in Japan now and I'll drop by e earphone to listen to some things and see if I can hear the xelento then.

Just to give some context, I'm quite a believer of DDs, I don't hate BAs, there are a couple I like but I just generally have found DDs to make up my Favourite IEMs. And hybrids, since the later aurisonics (1plus and harmony), the dorado and most importantly the fourté.

I have the vega paired with the dita truth cable and the Dita Dream on hand currently and will be happy to try to do up some comparisons with the xelento if possible.

On a side note, I'm looking to get myself a second hand ex1000 and ex800 which go for about 220 dollars and 130 dollars respectively. That's a crazy deal and there are those who swear by them. It is true though that with the right cables and pairing they still continue to surpass some flagships in some ways, at least to my ears. Along with the ocharakus the make up a special class of semi open DD IEMs, And they do have something special to their sound. So I'll see if I can give those a comparison too!

 
I think you have to separate true wide-bandwidth single dynamic driver IEMs (Vega, Dita, IE800, Xelento, etc) vs hybrids that use $0.50 dynamic driver with a clever crossover tuning

  Of course, at the end what matters is the final sound result, without a doubt.  But my hat still goes off to developers who are able to masterfully tune entire FR using a single DD transducer.

 

[Peter Hyatt]

 
No to deny that they may have tuned the Xelento differently, but a lot of what you describe can be achieved using different cables and tips.
I've been playing with my T8iE a lot this week-end to make it sound "better" (=subjective) when coupled with a X5-iii, and you don't need much to change the extremities of the spectrum and to modify the soundstage.
Just changing from Spiral dot tips and SpinFit tips (large size) was enough to completely change the treble for example. Using tips with longer stems is a simple physical way to boost soundstage.
Cables did have an impact on the lower end.
 
As you state adequately, only by testing both models with similar cable/tips could you actually see what they have truely done with the driver itself.

does anyone else ever wonder if...
 
the engineers/builders read our and have a chuckle at our expense?

 

[james444]

  Yikes, that really sounds like a connector tolerance problem.  Btw, have you tried deoxit?
 
Should be getting Xelento for review in a few weeks, will test it with all my mmcx cables.

 
My mmcx cables are all deoxit treated, but tbh I didn't think of trying deoxit on the Xelento's connectors, since it was a brand new unit.
 
I have to stress though that the stock cable worked perfectly. And I've only tried one pair of Xelentos, so it might have been an isolated case.

 

[WCDchee]

I think you have to separate true wide-bandwidth single dynamic driver IEMs (Vega, Dita, IE800, Xelento, etc) vs hybrids that use $0.50 dynamic driver with a clever crossover tuning   Of course, at the end what matters is the final sound result, without a doubt.  But my hat still goes off to developers who are able to masterfully tune entire FR using a single DD transducer.

I've heard things about aurisonics. However, I don't know details so I can't say anything about it. What I do know is that they are tuned well, and sound fantastic. As for the fourte, I highly doubt it's a cheap DD given how it sounds. You gotta hear it my Friend but then again, if anyone can make a 50 cent driver sound tha good, trust me they have my respect.

But anyways, besides DDs, hybrids that sound good get my respect too, because from my experience it is not easy to get them to sound coherent. The older Sony hybrids are a prime example, as with the older aurisonics earphones. To be able to meld the sounds and make it sound like a single unit despite different Driver types, that's extremely difficult as well.

Another reason I love hybrids and dynamics is that I have found them to scale much more significantly when plugged into desktop equipment. In my experience while the best BA IEMs keep up on portable equipment, plug them into something like auralic or chord Hugo TT, or a headamp GSX mkII and the best dynamics and hybrids just pull ahead effortlessly.

Just my two cents of course

 

[twister6]

 

I think you have to separate true wide-bandwidth single dynamic driver IEMs (Vega, Dita, IE800, Xelento, etc) vs hybrids that use $0.50 dynamic driver with a clever crossover tuning

  Of course, at the end what matters is the final sound result, without a doubt.  But my hat still goes off to developers who are able to masterfully tune entire FR using a single DD transducer.

I've heard things about aurisonics. However, I don't know details so I can't say anything about it. What I do know is that they are tuned well, and sound fantastic. As for the fourte, I highly doubt it's a cheap DD given how it sounds. You gotta hear it my Friend

but then again, if anyone can make a 50 cent driver sound tha good, trust me they have my respect.

But anyways, besides DDs, hybrids that sound good get my respect too, because from my experience it is not easy to get them to sound coherent. The older Sony hybrids are a prime example, as with the older aurisonics earphones. To be able to meld the sounds and make it sound like a single unit despite different Driver types, that's extremely difficult as well.

Another reason I love hybrids and dynamics is that I have found them to scale much more significantly when plugged into desktop equipment. In my experience while the best BA IEMs keep up on portable equipment, plug them into something like auralic or chord Hugo TT, or a headamp GSX mkII and the best dynamics and hybrids just pull ahead effortlessly.

Just my two cents of course

 
I heard Tia Fourte, plenty at CanJam NYC, and compared it together with Chris against W900 w/1960 4wire cable.  I'm not denying it sounds great and likewise my hat goes off to 64audio team for making 50 cent dd driver sound that good (i'm well aware of the origin and the inspiration behind that design).  And the only reason I'm bringing up the component cost is to underline that price doesn't mater.  At the end of the day, it's not about the cost of the bill of material, but the final sound results, and people willing to pay for it (as long as consumers willing to pay, the price will stay up or will go up).  I think in some cases it's easier to treat C/IEM like a black box and just evaluate its sound and performance based on what you hear and how it compares to other "black boxes"

 
OK, back on Xelento topic!!!

 

 

[batracom]

I am still experimenting with tips, bear in mind that it does need some time for fit to set in. The tips "softened" a bit, and I could push them further in today, resulting in significant more isolation, albeit requiring a boost in volume. The sound is still very riveting and attractive, and again, the thing that comes hitting back is just how "big" the sound is - doesn't feel like IEMs at all.