It doesn't change with volume, I'm running rockbox, and it happens with all 3 of my IEMs (Although I can't really tell with my KSC75s)
So my third pair of the Sony MH1Cs had arrived and I thought it would be pretty interesting to compare them to the KZ ED9, considering how much I've talked about both of them.
Sony MH1C vs KZ ED9 Showdown
In terms of bass... both offer a strong bass impact and have similar decay times (moderately quick yet a tad slow, but not laggy). The difference here is that—unlike the ED9—the MH1C has more emphasis on sub-bass and a bit less emphasis on the mid and upper bass. I'd say it's about 60/40 of sub-bass/mid-bass for the MH1C and 40/60 for the ED9. If you want a more controlled bass, the MH1C wins here. Otherwise, the ED9 has a more far potent bass impact overall.
In terms of mids... both IEMs produce relatively neutral mids that aren't upfront or recessed. The only difference is that the mids are a bit more clearer on the MH1C than on the ED9. This is probably because the MH1C produces less mid-upper bass bloat than the ED9, thus leaving its lower mids unaffected.
In terms of treble... Well here is where they are drastically different. When it comes to treble clarity, the ED9 takes the win. The ED9 has that nice peak in the lower treble that just makes everything sound crisp and clear. In contrast, the MH1C does not. Of course there are benefits to having a recessed lower treble like not being overly sibilant. However when it comes to high treble—and many overlook this part, they both excel amazingly. Both offer incredible amounts of sparkle and detail in the upper highs, with the ED9 revealing a bit more of the upper high frequencies which can thus get a little bit splashy. However the MH1C has a more louder and more prominent upper treble, if that even makes sense (context: The usual vinyl fizzing background noise in Gramatik's tracks are more louder on the MH1C).
In terms of soundstage... It's only a matter of two dimensionality vs. three-dimensionality. There really isn't any super defined soundstage for the MH1C, it's either left, right, or center. The ED9 on the other hand has that 3D depth that makes you think that sounds are pooping out of your head. The MH1C only seems to extend just right above your forehead. Both are immensely good at accurate instrument placement though.
Just received these CI880/C630 from Aliexpress under the "2018 3.5MM Water Drop In-ear Hi-Fi Music Headsets HD Speaker Noise Reduction earbud headphones For Smartphone for computer" name... and they seem to be the real deal for 13€. But the odd thing about these are the Burn-in instructions included.
These methods seem a little bit whacky to me. Anyway, I thought this was kind of curious.
The earphones sound great for that price and already replaced my modded KZ ZS3 as everyday IEM.
They provide almost as good isolation as ZS3 with foam tips. I am using Comply TS-400 Medium.
Button controls work with Fiio X1 as in Play/Pause Next/Prev track with +/-. In iPod touch, the +/- buttons control volume and Play/Pause work the same. The only downside is the cable. When taken out of the box, cable is deformed in several places. I'm trying to tame the plasticky shape with transparent tape, as it shares the same color, but I'm not confident.
I'll burn them as usual, with normal music at normal levels. I don't think these exotic rituals are necessary.
