[Pabsu]

Are there plans for a hard case available separately in the future?

Would love one for my Moon Rovers!

Buy a pelican case

 

[dumpsterfire]

Darkstar arrived, listening now.

 

[zadillo]

Darkstar arrived, listening now.

Would love to hear your thoughts/comparisons - I actually ended up canceling my order but I'm still curious about it!

 

[MichaelOH]

So I sent my Bonneville back to CA a while back for a repair, which was completed and done very well! But...

...I just haven't felt the sound has been the same since then, and I was worried. I thought maybe my ears had just got used to the sound signature, and that was that. But the WOW factor was gone, and that made me a little sad.

On a whim, I decided to change out the Time Stream cable with an old FiiO LC-2.5C I had lying around.

Well my friends, the difference was like NIGHT and DAY. Wow factor back...total engagement from me, can barely stand to take them out of my ears.

I'm not exactly criticizing the Time Stream cable, perhaps mine was just bad...it was a used pair I bought. And I've never been a believer in cables making a difference, but holy s**t, the FiiO changed these things.

SO - after some research on this thread I have treated myself and ordered an Ares S II from Effect Audio. Coming on Friday....and I can't wait.

 

[Glacier78]

So I sent my Bonneville back to CA a while back for a repair, which was completed and done very well! But...

...I just haven't felt the sound has been the same since then, and I was worried. I thought maybe my ears had just got used to the sound signature, and that was that. But the WOW factor was gone, and that made me a little sad.

On a whim, I decided to change out the Time Stream cable with an old FiiO LC-2.5C I had lying around.

Well my friends, the difference was like NIGHT and DAY. Wow factor back...total engagement from me, can barely stand to take them out of my ears.

I'm not exactly criticizing the Time Stream cable, perhaps mine was just bad...it was a used pair I bought. And I've never been a believer in cables making a difference, but holy s**t, the FiiO changed these things.

SO - after some research on this thread I have treated myself and ordered an Ares S II from Effect Audio. Coming on Friday....and I can't wait.

The Ares cable is very good !

 

[Barnstormer13]

So I sent my Bonneville back to CA a while back for a repair, which was completed and done very well! But...

...I just haven't felt the sound has been the same since then, and I was worried. I thought maybe my ears had just got used to the sound signature, and that was that. But the WOW factor was gone, and that made me a little sad.

On a whim, I decided to change out the Time Stream cable with an old FiiO LC-2.5C I had lying around.

Well my friends, the difference was like NIGHT and DAY. Wow factor back...total engagement from me, can barely stand to take them out of my ears.

I'm not exactly criticizing the Time Stream cable, perhaps mine was just bad...it was a used pair I bought. And I've never been a believer in cables making a difference, but holy s**t, the FiiO changed these things.

SO - after some research on this thread I have treated myself and ordered an Ares S II from Effect Audio. Coming on Friday....and I can't wait.

I suspect if you’re hearing a night and day difference, the cable may have a QC issue. It might be worth it to try the TS cable on a couple of other IEMs and see what you think.

My experience with Timestream is mostly limited to the Astrolith, but there I I have no sense that the Astro is being held back. It’s just got too much wow factor, as you say.

 

[Ghisy]

Well, just got an e-mail from SuperSonido saying the blue Cascara aren't in stock and they don't know when they will be... It sucks, it was such a good price!

I'm gonna cancel now.

Good news: they e-mailed again saying Campfire can ship the blue Cascara in about 3 weeks. So I'm just gonna wait until then.

 

[gowthe]

Unfortunately, we aren't able to offer an essential package for Clara.

Thanks for the reply @CFA Chris

 

[MichaelOH]

The Ares cable is very good !

WOW! You're right. This cable is no joke. It just makes the Bonneville SING!

 

[Glacier78]

happy for you

 

[dumpsterfire]

Darkstar

I love this IEM! The bass is taut and controlled but can roar to life when called upon, and is the most expressive, tactile, and true to life bass I’ve ever heard in an IEM. The mids are crystal clear and have a sweetness to them that is beguiling and addictive. The highs are subdued and fatigue free, although lacking in air and sparkle. The result is an easygoing, sounds good with everything, dark leaning IEM that does no wrong and makes every track I throw at it sound great.

Unlike the Astrolith and Cascara, which both responded positively to the Timestream Ultra, I find the Darkstar sounds its best with the standard Timestream cable (which I must stress does not come with the Darkstar, you only get a 3.5mm smoky litz cable). My preferred pairing is the DC Elite, which puts a bit more meat on Darkstar’s bones and helps balance one of its few weaknesses, a light note weight that betrays its use of BA drivers.

Compared to Astrolith, Darkstar loses out in technicalities in every measure, but the bass on the Darkstar sounds more true to how I hear bass live. Astrolith is a high energy, demands your attention at all times type IEM, while Darkstar’s more relaxed presentation is perfect for just kicking back and enjoying. They make wonderful complements.

Compared to Cascara, Darkstar’s bass is more reigned in and controlled. When tracks get bass heavy, Darkstar’s DD driver ramps up and pumps it out all while retaining better clarity in the mids. Cascara has peakiness in the highs while Darkstar’s highs are so silky smooth they toe the line of becoming dull. Cascara is a highly colored, fun at all costs kind of IEM and that’s great for what it is but Darkstar is on another level of resolution, clarity, and bass control which means when it does go all out it still sounds more balanced than Cascara. For the majority of people, I’d recommend Darkstar over Cascara even taking the price difference into account.

 

[cats4cans]

Darkstar

I love this IEM! The bass is taut and controlled but can roar to life when called upon, and is the most expressive, tactile, and true to life bass I’ve ever heard in an IEM. The mids are crystal clear and have a sweetness to them that is beguiling and addictive. The highs are subdued and fatigue free, although lacking in air and sparkle. The result is an easygoing, sounds good with everything, dark leaning IEM that does no wrong and makes every track I throw at it sound great.

Unlike the Astrolith and Cascara, which both responded positively to the Timestream Ultra, I find the Darkstar sounds its best with the standard Timestream cable (which I must stress does not come with the Darkstar, you only get a 3.5mm smoky litz cable). My preferred pairing is the DC Elite, which puts a bit more meat on Darkstar’s bones and helps balance one of its few weaknesses, a light note weight that betrays its use of BA drivers.

Compared to Astrolith, Darkstar loses out in technicalities in every measure, but the bass on the Darkstar sounds more true to how I hear bass live. Astrolith is a high energy, demands your attention at all times type IEM, while Darkstar’s more relaxed presentation is perfect for just kicking back and enjoying. They make wonderful complements.

Compared to Cascara, Blackstar’s bass is more reigned in and controlled. When tracks get bass heavy, Darkstar’s DD driver ramps up and pumps it out all while retaining better clarity in the mids. Cascara has peakiness in the highs while Blackstar’s highs are so silky smooth they toe the line of becoming dull. Cascara is a highly colored, fun at all costs kind of IEM and that’s great for what it is but Blackstar is on another level of resolution, clarity, and bass control which means when it does go all out it still sounds more balanced than Cascara. For the majority of people, I’d recommend Blackstar over Cascara even taking the price difference into account.

I’m assuming you meant Dark Star everywhere you wrote Blackstar?

 

[dumpsterfire]

I’m assuming you meant Dark Star everywhere you wrote Blackstar?

Oops, good catch! Yes, only Darkstar. I haven’t heard Black Star. It doesn’t help that the Darkstar chassis is in fact all black (except the ports and vents).

 

[Barnstormer13]

I am now a proud owner of a HiBy R8 II DAP, which I bought because the difference between my HiBy R6 Pro II and my home system when listening to the Astrolith annoyed me enough to upgrade my traveling rig.

I haven’t had it long enough to form firm opinions, but so far I’ve been really enjoying how it sounds. Definitely a step up in terms of resolution and imaging and seems to synergize well with the Astro. I’ve been listening almost entirely in Class A mode and it sounds exactly like a good class A amp.

For those interested, the below Tidal playlist is what I’m listening to.

https://tidal.com/playlist/867c2971-f8f5-4b2c-9f27-3b6bbe9948e2

 

[Mageborn23]

WOW! You're right. This cable is no joke. It just makes the Bonneville SING!

I just got this cable in their 11/11 bundle with the noir. I'm gonna throw it onto the boneville.