[SciOC]

So, I listened for a few hours last night to the plutus beast and I do enjoy it. OOTB tuning isn't great, so it's probably a pass for those who don't EQ/DSP unless you want a really.... Euphoric and direct sound (stock tuning will be fatiguing for most, but part of that is the bone conductor doing it's thing) that overall can sound a bit thin except for the bass. It does EQ just fine though.

Overall I think it's a great tech demo that let's you really know what the BC is doing compared to other sets that pair it with a DD. @baskingshark provided the info that the microplanar is handling the bass, so it's very obvious and distinct what the BC is providing in that region if you're familiar with planar bass. It's a really wonky/niche set, there is definitely a springy noise/feeling when you insert them into your ears or tap on them. They're not your average IEM....

The bass is definitely the star of the show. The rumble and tactile sensation is very distinct, emphasized and noticeable. It definitely sounds "different". If you're looking for a set where you can tell you're listening to a bone conductor, this one is more obvious than the wind by quite a bit.

I'll be listening to it a lot. That said, I'm hoping there is a follow up or that the BC drivers get better with burn in or future iterations. Distortion, which here is a bit different on a BC, can become noticeable at high volumes, and that's really what I want is something that makes my head pound while remaining accurate.

Cool set to add to your collection, definitely worth the $90 for me. Overall the sound might be "average" but it's certainly quite unique.

 

[Knale]

I find the lack of upper extension to be the real Achilles heel of the Plutus Beast. The low end is SO wonderful and tactile though.

It's a fun unique sound that I'm glad I own because every so often I'll stumble across a song where I want to see how it vibrates my skull.

As a weird aside, I use IEMs at my PC and often talk while wearing them, and the Beasts produce such a weird twang in your head from the BC vibrating when you speak. Hard to put up with, but interesting.

I've been very curious about the Wind, but not enough to pull the trigger at that price.

 

[SciOC]

The wind is a much better and cohesive all arounder that you could be hard pressed to identify as anything out of the normal (aka, you might think it just has really good bass extension rather than Knowing there is a BC, since it essentially looks and feels like any other IEM). The plutus beast is an extremely weird set (springy/twangy like you mention) but does have some harshness, especially in female vocals that makes it hard for me to really listen to much. I'm 42, so lack of upper extension doesn't necessarily matter to me as much because I'm not sure I really hear it anymore, but I don't perceive it as a strength of the wind either.

Like you said, there are definitely songs where I will pull them out for to hear the bass because it is so different and obvious you're listening to something fundamentally different. The wind is much more my style though for general listening, the BC is more subdued, but the whole thing is more cohesive, can go louder and just doesn't have the weaknesses and wonkiness of the plutus.

It would be really cool to have a full size planar/BC hybrid. Adding the BC to the 7hz timeless would be essentially my dream set. This micro planar and BA in the plutus beast just don't do the bass justice.

That said it is a really cool tech demo that allows you to really hear exactly what the BC is doing and piece together what it is BCs can offer. It just furthers my view that BCs should go mainstream as they really add something to the sound that you just can't get with other drivers.

As far as the plutus beast goes, the BC is the star of the show, but needs some work. It's like a prototype. The wind is a more polished product but sort of plays things too safe with the BC. I'd basically put it this way, the plutus beast is the prototype, the wind is version 1.0. definitely looking forward to a version 2.0.

 

[Knale]

That said it is a really cool tech demo that allows you to really hear exactly what the BC is doing and piece together what it is BCs can offer.

This is a good point and why I'm glad it exists. It exaggerates those features of the driver that can be hard to identify elsewhere. That philosophy probably produces a "worse" sound objectively, but I find it more interesting.

I own a Monarch MK3 as my "top of the line" set of IEMs that basically perfectly matches my tastes, so these days I'm mostly keeping an eye out for products that are doing something noticeably different or special at a reasonable price. I just ordered the NiceHCK Himalaya because I'm a weirdo for titanium for example...(and I don't have a mid-tier single DD set so I'm very curious about that)

 

[SciOC]

The conclusion I've reached now is that the low end BCs are definitely offering some tactile sensations and other aspects I cannot pin down as easily, that even large, fast DD's cannot produce. It's an added level of immersion into the music that makes it a little more like listening to good speakers or live music. I would like to grab the singlolo to see if the newish DD resonating chambers replicate this now. That'll be interesting....

I might even order a pair of shokz just to try them out. I've heard the open run pro is a step above the rest so may as well go to the top since they're only $140. It's fun to watch new tech evolve and get more and more polished. But it seems natural to me that the "best" sets in a year or two will all start having some sort of BC in them now that I have evaluated the potential. They definitely need some polishing, but assuming progress can be made, it's a very promising and exciting tech. Reminds me of the first planar IEMs (rha cl2, toneking bl1, tin p1, tri i3). I think it's got staying power like the planars given it is relatively cheap and good, versus falling by the wayside like piezos or ceramic DDs (if I had my way, BAs would fall out of use).

Driver tech is fun. I really need to try AMT drivers but they're just so expensive still.

 

[Knale]

I would like to grab the singlolo to see if the newish DD resonating chambers replicate this now. That'll be interesting....

As someone who had a similar thought, I'd save your money. The bass-shelf on the Singolo is interesting, but outside of that, it's a super dull listen and barely fits(obviously YMMV, but I have normal ears, and I've seen a lot of people say the same). If you want to try a similar resonator philosophy I'd grab the Aful MagicOne, which at least has some of the most pleasant clarity I've ever heard in an IEM with a similar idea.

The MagicOne is also BY FAR the most comfortable IEM I own, and it's not even close. Overall it's just fabulous, and makes the Singolo look and sound like a toy in comparison.