[seanwee]

Youtube uses AAC and Opus these days. I don't think you can find Vorbis (which you call ogg) streams anymore. Opus at 128kbps is tremendously good.

Yes, thats what .ogg is, opus audio format. The vorbis format .ogg has been retired.

 

[dw1narso]

Like you say a bad sounding flac is much better than a bad 320.

Hmm I don't think that simple... Pls experiment it yourself.. Find a bad sounding (bad mastered CD).. Rip it and make it into flac and 320Kbps mp3.

Or if you already have bad sounding flac... Convert it into MP3.. (Do it properly with good encoder)..

Then try to listen to both of them.. Tell us what you think..

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Thanks to for an idea from @Barusu Lamperouge I removed acoustic filter of KS1 and bass resonance compression problem is gone!

The exactly Same issue & solutions to Moondrop Aria.

Now KS1 comes to par with TRN MT1.
Asp just received KS2 and would do same mod if the bass is compressed with the filter.

KBEAR seemed recommending AZLA Xelastec as KS series eartips which I found it actually matches perfectly. KS1’s bass is boomy so Xelastec well keep those boomy basses in tact.

[Edit]
KS2 out of box impression:
-bass is cleaner than KS1, still some sign of mud, So I removed acoustic filter just like KS1, now it got tamed and very controlled transients
-some peaks around 7khz, not too offending.
-basic signature will be W-shape with sub-bass rolled, 3khz pinna gain & 6khz concha gain compensation dip.

-KS2 being a W-shape focused yet not spot hitting pretty conservative approach

-Unique diffusion field, wide but not natural, feels like a Sennheiser’s symphony hall effect, this matches with large scale orchestral


-The treble responses reminds me of KBEAR Lark 4K, it has 4khz peak, in a bit energetic form

What’s so special?
(After removing filter)
-“Direct” sound injection from sub-bass range all the way to the treble, because BA unit is located just like Lark(4k) on the rim of nozzle, makes very immersive experience
-W-shaped tuned yet not too offending tuning will welcome audiences looking for “energetic but not exhausting, smooth yet resolving all rounder”

tentative out of box impression is as good as Lark. Means after burn-in, KS2 may slide all the way up to B- (70s/100) scale, just like Lark sisters (4K& Lark 2020)

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Just received TRN MT1 aside from QKZ VK4 and other QKZs, with Blessing 2 Dusk, oh hey! MT1 not bad! I'm a bit more surprised by MT1 than Dusk.

VK4? hmm may need burn-in, so far it's muddy.

MT1: Basshead addictive V-shape. Powerful bass & sub-bass right out of the box, after burn-in this bass may be a very welcoming one. Much more impressed than KS1 out-of-the-box. Impressed with the QC tag /warranty card of MT1, which I saw exactly the same tag which is attached to Moondrop's Blessing 2 Dusk, a very professional QC process even to its very entry model, other companies just pack whatever, TRN did a good job and it is surfacing on its sound quality.

I believe now I have all sub $30 single DDs, KZ EDX, KBEar KS1, TRN MT1, QKZ VK1&VK4, Final E500/E1000. Will burn them in and would like to have a cross review.

Other QKZs?
QKZ
VK1 : Hmm maybe, some indication of potentials, need burn-in
VK3 : nah, not worth
VK4 : Hmm maybe, some indication of potentials, need burn-in, not as impressed as TRN MT1 though.
KD4 : mehhh...another trash
KD7 : mehhh...another trash, the components fall off out of the box
CK3 : nope example of cheap and bad
CK7 : nope complete junk
CK9 : nope complete junk

P.S.
Order placed for moondrop Sparks TWS $89+5 for leather case.

Following up with VK4 impression: 50 hours burn-in completed, bass was still JUNK grade so I decided to remove acoustic filter. It lowered some cacophony and made balance really nice.

This sound signature reminded me of qdc Anole VX, and indeed when I compared the FR, it’s pretty close!!

If you wonder how VX is tuned, VK4(removed acoustic filter) might be a good budget option to try on. They sound different around 5khz so it’s not exact copy , at least some hints of the overall balance could be used.

Do note: Technicalities of VK4 is not as good as EDX/MT1/KS1 as a single dynamic driver.

 

[Barusu Lamperouge]

Thanks to for an idea from @Barusu Lamperouge I removed acoustic filter of KS1 and bass resonance compression problem is gone!

The exactly Same issue & solutions to Moondrop Aria.

Now KS1 comes to par with TRN MT1.
Asp just received KS2 and would do same mod if the bass is compressed with the filter.



KBEAR seemed recommending AZLA Xelastec as KS series eartips which I found it actually matches perfectly. KS1’s bass is boomy so Xelastec well keep those boomy basses in tact.


[Edit]
KS2 out of box impression:
-bass is cleaner than KS1, still some sign of mud, So I removed acoustic filter just like KS1, now it got tamed and very controlled transients
-some peaks around 7khz, not too offending.
-basic signature will be W-shape with sub-bass rolled, 3khz pinna gain & 6khz concha gain compensation dip.

-KS2 being a W-shape focused yet not spot hitting pretty conservative approach

-Unique diffusion field, wide but not natural, feels like a Sennheiser’s symphony hall effect, this matches with large scale orchestral


-The treble responses reminds me of KBEAR Lark 4K, it has 4khz peak, in a bit energetic form

What’s so special?
(After removing filter)
-“Direct” sound injection from sub-bass range all the way to the treble, because BA unit is located just like Lark(4k) on the rim of nozzle, makes very immersive experience
-W-shaped tuned yet not too offending tuning will welcome audiences looking for “energetic but not exhausting, smooth yet resolving all rounder”

tentative out of box impression is as good as Lark. Means after burn-in, KS2 may slide all the way up to B- (70s/100) scale, just like Lark sisters (4K& Lark 2020)

Glad it worked out for you for treble maybe you can add a super thin layer of micropore tape. Or maybe place a dampener like sponge in the nozzle.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Just posted sub$100 neutral reference IEM comparison
Post in thread 'The discovery thread!'
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-discovery-thread.586909/post-16357722

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Where can I find the spec sheets and charts.

Hmm, I’m not generally interested in specs like SPL and sensitivity until the final decision point before purchase. For frequency responses I mentioned a breif summary, like V-shape as I’m not running any measurements equipments, you can find those from either Antdroid or Crinacle, and other sources.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Very professionally done. Intricate and well thought out. Respect. One thing I would always like to see, maybe you do have one, is a disclaimer, that this is your subjective opinion, because we are all so different in how we hear, our hearing physiology, our brain physiology, our emotions, tips we use etc. Credit to you though, very authentically set out. I would love the full link when you have it.

Thanks, when I publish the charts, I’d definitely add disclaimer. As tonality is very individual’s hearing dependent

 

[Alex W]

Looks like he already has DQ6. You can try Blon 03, I missed whole 2020 of fun because of bad fit. Gave them another chance recently with inverted KZ starlines and I really dig them. They are fine for music you're listening (since I'm also listening mostly trance).
I also have Fiio FH3 but on some tracks, I miss more subbass rumble, I mean I heard it playing it just didn't rumble. Sony XBA-N1 on the other hand is bass monster, it just can't stop rumbling Especially with some trance tracks from Bixxa or Metta&Glyde is whole new experience

Sorry for the random question after such a long time from this message, but can I ask you how the Sony XBA-N1 compare to the Blon-03s? I might be able to get the sonys for under 100 euro, so I'd like to know if to even consider them.

 

[igor0203]

I like them both, get the Sony's especially if you get them below 100eur

 

[Alex W]

I like them both, get the Sony's especially if you get them below 100eur

How are the SQ and detail for today's standards? And if my ask, how is the sound sig? (sorry for all the questions, its just I can't find much info on them)

 

[RikudouGoku]

How are the SQ and detail for today's standards? And if my ask, how is the sound sig? (sorry for all the questions, its just I can't find much info on them)

Here is a graph on the N1:

https://himaaudio.blogspot.com/2020/07/sony-xba-n1.html

(orange = N1)

 

[Alex W]

Here is a graph on the N1:

https://himaaudio.blogspot.com/2020/07/sony-xba-n1.html

(orange = N1)

Thanks Rik , always there for me lol, you've helped me on the hifiguide forums in the past as well.

 

[RikudouGoku]

Thanks Rik , always there for me lol, you've helped me on the hifiguide forums in the past as well.

No problem

Some more info here on the N1 as well: https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/sony-xba-n1.php

 

[AmericanSpirit]

New 1 or 2 BA +DD hybrids IEMs arrived:
NiceHCK DB3
CCA C10 Pro
KZ ZSN Pro X
KZ SKS

-accidentally purchasd MT1( Forgot I ordered on Amazon..)
-freebie from Kinboofi Amazon store after they noticed me KBEAR believe on their amazon shop displayed in stock, but actually had no more stocks of discontinued product, they cancelled transaction and set freebie KBear Steller as apology.
-ear model (didn’t realize it was 1.5x sacle..well at least some cross reference..of size and fit...

note: EAR MODEL IS 1.5c larger than actual ear, only useful for IEM-over-IEM size comparison(compare with your own IEM to the one on picture)