CHIFI FREEDOM Thread-A never ending IEM-Heaphones-DAP-Dongles Sound Value Quest

[brsdrgn]

I have Reecho SG-01 in my collection. Such sweet sounding IEM. It might be a little bright for some but for me quite okay. I see smb was selling SG-03 for a 50$ price so I decided to give it a try. I'm not a basshead but used to be.

I started this hobby 12 years ago and I still miss my entry IEM Audio Technica Cks90 and its thick bass slams, rumbles. It was kinda piercing my ears along with its sibilance (Audio Technica's old models had that classic in their series) but I didn't mind it at that time. Later I had IE8 and CKS1000 and the preference evolved in time. However, I do love to have that sub bass.

After reading about the SG-03 meaty bass section without eliminating the details, I was thinking about buying it. It was a nice surprise to find a used one.

 

[freelancr]

I read only positive impressions about the SG-03 here. But I can tell you I had the exact opposite experience. Simple conclusion: they didn't fit in my ears properly. To hear that awesome bass everyone is talking about I had to actively press the buds deeper into my ears then they sounded good. In normal circumstances they sounded terrible. Anemic, highs focus just bad. Maybe it's my ear anatomy but boyo I hated them.

 

[Blanchot]

Is tanchjim darling the most expensive bullet-type IEM?

No, there is also Dita Project 71 at around $1000.

 

[mochill]

No, there is also Dita Project 71 at around $1000.

Also flare gold

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

If you want something bass head but still somewhat cleaner, my old pal TFZ King Pro. If you still can get one that is.
It have great quality bass, clean mid (a bit thin vocals), and decent treble.




Or the old darling TFZ Tequila. It have semi open design that give it great soundstage and air.



To note while i haven't bought IT00, so this is a hearsay
There are QC complain on IT00 or it several people saying that its prone to have problem.
That being said, there are plenty people bitching about Aria long term durability and mine have gone through washing machine once, i put it in ricebox overnight, and now it still sound great (barring paint chipping)

Gotta try TFZ one day...damn, the Tequila graph is very similar to IT00. look fun tuning for sure!

Indeed, QC is bad with IT00, i need to repair mmcx issue after couple of month. inner wires broke.

Aria durability seem excellent...at least with mine. I dont fancy them and they are in top shape. i think the paint chipping issue is more about strange weather phenomenon...i dont read other type of complaint apart that.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

Well, now this is exciting....i was expecting the KBEAR INK to be above 100$, but ''whistleblower'' tell me it will be priced 70$!!
If it's a better balanced (fuller sounding) KBear Diamond with same or better technicalities, this will be incredible.

 

[r31ya]

Well, now this is exciting....i was expecting the KBEAR INK to be above 100$, but ''whistleblower'' tell me it will be priced 70$!!
If it's a better balanced (fuller sounding) KBear Diamond with same or better technicalities, this will be incredible.

Its preorder already live in Amazon for $69 (nice...)
Not sure about the store legitimacy tough, Keephifi store. rarely bought Amazon since its a bit hard to access in SEA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YCPXCFN/ref=sr_1_3?crid=31EWT9HSOAY81&keywords=KBEAR+INK&qid=1650531198&sprefix=kbear+in,aps,438&sr=8-3&tag=headfi-20

 

[nraymond]

Its preorder already live in Amazon for $69 (nice...)
Not sure about the store legitimacy tough, Keephifi store. rarely bought Amazon since its a bit hard to access in SEA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YCPXCFN/ref=sr_1_3?crid=31EWT9HSOAY81&keywords=KBEAR+INK&qid=1650531198&sprefix=kbear+in,aps,438&sr=8-3&tag=headfi-20

The listing shows it ships from Amazon with free Prime delivery, which indicates it is in the Amazon warehouse right now, so that doesn't look like a preorder to me. You can click on store names in Amazon listings to get info including how much feedback there has been in the last 12 months and what the averages are. Keephifi has one feedback by a J. WB on April 29, 2022:

https://www.amazon.com/sp?ie=UTF8&seller=A1C56YBYGER9K1&isAmazonFulfilled=1

While that isn't much feedback, being an item shipped from Amazon, the risk here is low and remediation for any issues is straightforward.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

Its preorder already live in Amazon for $69 (nice...)
Not sure about the store legitimacy tough, Keephifi store. rarely bought Amazon since its a bit hard to access in SEA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YCPXCFN/ref=sr_1_3?crid=31EWT9HSOAY81&keywords=KBEAR+INK&qid=1650531198&sprefix=kbear+in,aps,438&sr=8-3&tag=headfi-20

what....well, this is unexpected since they say it will be release May 5th lol
thanks for the input, wasnt even aware of this.
i find these way more exciting than Aurora. (100$ less so....more legit for sound value hype enh)

 

[r31ya]

The listing shows it ships from Amazon with free Prime delivery, which indicates it is in the Amazon warehouse right now, so that doesn't look like a preorder to me. You can click on store names in Amazon listings to get info including how much feedback there has been in the last 12 months and what the averages are. Keephifi has one feedback by a J. WB on April 29, 2022:

https://www.amazon.com/sp?ie=UTF8&seller=A1C56YBYGER9K1&isAmazonFulfilled=1

While that isn't much feedback, being an item shipped from Amazon, the risk here is low and remediation for any issues is straightforward.

what....well, this is unexpected since they say it will be release May 5th lol
thanks for the input, wasnt even aware of this.
i find these way more exciting than Aurora. (100$ less so....more legit for sound value hype enh)

I forgot why i start to seek for it,
It seems someone show the promo image of the KBear Ink and i thought there is more out there. I decided to hunt it down and found it on amazon.

Nice and friendly seller, delivered way before estimated time. The Waist Drum is a U-shaped IEM with good timbre and tonality. Accessories are top notch, build is solid. These are bullet shaped IEMs with a detachable cable (rare at this price), and they are very comfortable and isolate well. The driver is fast with good transients. Soundstage is not the biggest, but imaging is good. Fast bass

Wait, Waist Drum is already being sold via Amazon?

 

[Nimweth]

Its preorder already live in Amazon for $69 (nice...)
Not sure about the store legitimacy tough, Keephifi store. rarely bought Amazon since its a bit hard to access in SEA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YCPXCFN/ref=sr_1_3?crid=31EWT9HSOAY81&keywords=KBEAR+INK&qid=1650531198&sprefix=kbear+in,aps,438&sr=8-3&tag=headfi-20

Keep Hifi is a very reliable store. I have a number of IEMs from there, all delivered on time with excellent service, Ann is the contact there, she is very helpful and friendly.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

Not really a contender for high sound benefit return, but nonetheless a promising new tuning universe from Kinera. I never though to use term like cohesive tuning and natural timbre for one of their IEM but the Kinera URD sure deliver that and more.
You can give a read of my review here on headfi or my No Borders Audiophile blog HERE.

(and don't worry guys, i will always be open minded and keep reviewing budget audio gear too!)

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

After 1 months of shipping delay, the much anticipated HZSOUND WAIST DRUM just arrive.
And man, while the last Bell Rhyme earbuds was good but not exceptional....the hype should grow quite fast with those.

I was afraid it use same driver than DQSM Hermit, but housing is way smaller and tonality as well as timbre have nothing to do. We have the HZ house sound here, crisp, open , transparent and detailed yet superbly balanced and with quite dense and natural timbre. This is another IEM that hit way above it's price range and i'm very happy to have convince Keephifi to sell them ASAP.

Need more listen, but first impressions is one of a very refined neutral yet dynamic and holographic musicality. I will compare them to HZsound Hearth Mirror for sure, even if i can already say the Mirror are sharper and crisper and more W shape while this one perhaps more Harman target in the balance since mids are fuller sounding. Just wow man...HZ are in BIG league now imo

Another proof of their acoustic expertise is the very wise choice of ear tips, all of them sound good but deliver slightly different focus in tonality,

Housing is so small that if deeply inserted it will be perfect sleeper.

34$ really? You can order from here, shipping being fast 99% of the time (which wasnt the case for these IEM that obsess me since they appear on Taobao)
https://keephifi.com/products/hzsound-waist-drum

 

[tendou]

After 1 months of shipping delay, the much anticipated HZSOUND WAIST DRUM just arrive.
And man, while the last Bell Rhyme earbuds was good but not exceptional....the hype should grow quite fast with those.

I was afraid it use same driver than DQSM Hermit, but housing is way smaller and tonality as well as timbre have nothing to do. We have the HZ house sound here, crisp, open , transparent and detailed yet superbly balanced and with quite dense and natural timbre. This is another IEM that hit way above it's price range and i'm very happy to have convince Keephifi to sell them ASAP.

Need more listen, but first impressions is one of a very refined neutral yet dynamic and holographic musicality. I will compare them to HZsound Hearth Mirror for sure, even if i can already say the Mirror are sharper and crisper and more W shape while this one perhaps more Harman target in the balance since mids are fuller sounding. Just wow man...HZ are in BIG league now imo


Another proof of their acoustic expertise is the very wise choice of ear tips, all of them sound good but deliver slightly different focus in tonality,



Housing is so small that if deeply inserted it will be perfect sleeper.

34$ really? You can order from here, shipping being fast 99% of the time (which wasnt the case for these IEM that obsess me since they appear on Taobao)
https://keephifi.com/products/hzsound-waist-drum

How's is the isolation from outside sound? When not playing music?

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

How's is the isolation from outside sound? When not playing music?

Bad, since its open back....even with music its average.