Continued from part 1...

Unique Melody Jet Black:
It has a satisfying bass and a vibrant sound. Mids are warm and fairly prominent, with vocals close to the ear. Upper mids extend well without sharpness or fatigue. The overall sound is resolving, though subbass lacks depth and rumble. The midrange feels a bit artificial—something’s missing. Still, vocals are forward, and it’s comfortable for long listening sessions. A good set, though not anything exceptional.

Noble Audio Chronicle:
Only the bass really stands out for me but that's not quite impactful either. The mids are forward and a bit neutral; they don't carry enough warmth. Treble is decent, and the stage is wide and deep. Vocals could be more prominent. Possibly sounded underwhelming because I tried it right after the HEX. But the price is really too much to ask.

Noble Audio Shogun:
This one offers more bass than the Chronicle, with better midbass impact and slightly deeper subbass. However, the bass isn't as well-textured or detailed. The midrange is warmer and fuller, with more prominent vocals. It’s a bit more fun and exciting than the Chronicle, which I found rather dull. Technically solid, though not the most precise in imaging. Slightly too warm at times.
Noble Audio has to push harder. There are so many exceptionally well-tuned IEMs in the high-end price range, making the Chronicle and Shogun feel a bit outclassed. My two cents!
Vision Ears EXT2:
Didn’t really connect with the tuning on this one. The bass is thick but lacks intensity and detail. Subbass depth is missing. Upper mids feel thin and sharp. Just not for me.

Oriolus Traillii:
I’ve always wanted to try this long-beloved IEM. It has a mid-centric tuning and lacks a nice bass response, especially the subbass. The upper mids are slightly sharp. Resolution is excellent, and the timbre is clean. I don’t want to say anything negative about the Trailli here

, but at CanJam, I found a few IEMs I preferred a lot over it for my taste.

PMG Apex SE:
Favorite of many. The Apex SE has thick, strong bass and a grand presentation. Resolution is excellent. Female vocals are slightly sharp, like the Traillii, but the bass is much better here. Subbass could be a bit deeper and rounder, though. Midbass is good, and treble has a slight extra bite. Bass isn’t as bouncy as HEX or Fulgrim. Male vocals are slightly recessed and could use more body. The stage could be taller.

Alpha Omega Fulgrim:
A big surprise for me, but in a way I was expecting it. Met Clement and Henry, the minds behind it. This IEM has an incredible bass response: super tight, slightly warm, well-controlled, and with superb decay. The subbass has excellent depth and rumble, yet the bass never overwhelms the higher frequencies. It does not opt for a very thick and heavy bass, which a lot of good IEMs go for, but does not miss an inch on the impact.
The midrange is lush, prominent, and achieves superb clarity, with a warmth that I really enjoy. Upper mids are beautifully extended. Treble is very detailed but never sharp or fatiguing. On the technical front, it does not compromise at all. Huge soundstage, spanning far and wide in all directions, imaging spot-on.
Overall, a well-executed IEM with a great bass and midrange.
Brise Audio Fugaku:
I had the opportunity to audition the great Fugaku , although not with the most optimal source; I used the
Questyle CMA18P, which is quite decent. Yet, even through this setup, the sound was so astonishingly sublime that the whole 18K USD pricing momentarily vanished from my mind. For a moment, I
just wished I owned one. Fugaku’s sound was incredibly full, powerful, deeply immersive, and rich in detail. The bass felt so tactile, realistic, and deeply resonant. It was the best bass experience for me. The tuning had such grandness and clarity that I felt as if I could see the music, visualizing each note and interpreting it with incredible ease.
In my honest opinion, the Fugaku may very well be the finest-sounding IEM system I've encountered. Yes, the integrated amp compromises portability and adds to the overall cost, but it undeniably extracts every bit of greatness. I tried other heavy-hitters like the
Apex SE,
Traillii, and several others, but nothing else left me as awestruck and speechless as the Fugaku.
**** Among the IEMs that I tried at the show, in decreasing order of rating (considering my memory serves right):
****
Fugaku > HEX > Fulgrim > Storm > PMG SE > Asteria > Mousa > Fie Wan > Moses > Lee’s Tribrid > Macbeth > Trailli > Mefisto > Alpha Omega Omega > Annihilator 2023 > Chronicle > Shogun > Pendragon > AME Raven > Alter Ego > UM Jet Black > Clara > Duality Vision Ears EXT2 > Gaia
In the end, the event left me fully satisfied. I genuinely enjoyed both days. Loved the atmosphere and the energy of everyone in the hobby, as well as the passion of the people building these incredible products. I had hoped to try more headphones, but there just wasn’t enough time. Listening to IEM after IEM can get quite exhausting, and there were so many good ones I couldn’t get to. Maybe next time!