I'm somewhat in between. I do think that the **** isn't the most natural sounding IEM I've heard, but it's also not way off to my ears. I admit that genres like jazz and classical are not the main genres I listen to, but even when I have listened to those genres I didn't find the **** to be way off or to sound bad, per se. But I do agree they don't sound as natural as some of my other IEMs. Honestly, I think the Sony MH755 still probably has some of the most natural timbre to me, but I'm sure not everyone agrees.
I think it's something about the tuning in the treble region of the **** that isn't to some people's liking. To my ears the **** Pro does have somewhat more natural timbre. Maybe similar to the ZSX compared to the ZS10 Pro. But I can't guarantee you'll hear it the same way. We all hear things somewhat differently. I think that all the reviewers who rated it very highly were people who didn't think the timbre was way off.
I agree that the Sony MH755's timbre/tonality is very natural. It is a very good set for the price, nice harmanish sound signature. Though the J shaped short microphonic cable is a pain. If they sold it with detachable cables or even longer non detachable cables, they would surely sell like hot cakes.
Last night, I went to do some serious A/B listening with the **** I previously gave away (borrowed it back to compare the timbre issues). I compared it over a few hours with a few single DDs (eg BLON Cardinal/BL-03, Semkarch SKC CNT1, Toneking Ninetails, Sony MH755, TFZ NO. 3) and even a few multi BA sets with better timbre (eg Hisenior B5+, Audiosense T800, Westone W30). These are just my subjective opinions, and feel free to agree or disagree, but I still do think the timbre of the **** is quite artificial for acoustic instruments, especially in the treble frequencies:
- After a tom/bass kick/snare for acoustic drums, there is a lack of "air" after that, which is usually found in real acoustic drum sets.
- For strings (cellos/violins/violas), the timbre issues seem to be in the treble regions, so violins do sound artificial and not having more note weight/harshness behind each bow of the string. But for lower frequency strings like cellos, the timbre is not too far away from some of the aforementioned multi BA sets.
- For woodwinds like saxophones/flutes/oboes/bassoons, there is no reedy/airy sound that is heard in the ****, compared to some single DDs.
- For brasses (eg trumpets/horns), the sounds are likewise artificial in the ****, it feels there is lack of weight behind the sound and no movement of air/decay after each blow of the trumpet.
- From what I noticed over the few hours of listening, the artificial timbre seems to be more pronounced in instruments that have higher registers, like violins/trumpets/saxophones/flutes, similar to what
@Viajero said. The lower frequency instruments seem to have not too bad timbre on the ****, maybe cause there is a dedicated DD settling the lower registers, and it is left to the BA/piezos to settle the higher register instruments. Amping and different sources don't help fix the timbre unfortunately.
But I still think the **** is exceptional in soundstage/details/instrument separation/clarity for the price of < $20 USD. Hard to beat in value, especially if u are not too OCD about timbre and listen to other genres of music that don't utilize much acoustic instruments.
I'm happy to hear the **** Pro is better in timbre. Most of the budget CHIFI hybrids/multi BAs have improved in this area in the past few months too (eg KZ ZSX has improvements compared to the ZS10 Pro in this area). A lot of my audiophile and band friends are not too particular about timbre. In fact, majority of reviewers do not even mention the area of timbre in their reviews. So maybe it is just for a few OCD folks like
@DynamicEars ,
@citral23 and myself that are more particular about it haha.
Damn EDR1 is less than $4 on Aliexpress. The MH750 sounds like a contender. I have the MH755 (from that eBay seller you linked me to) and a bassier MH755 sounds ideal. Thing is they look and feel so cheap and my niece is the destroyer of earphones. I wouldn't mind giving her a re-cabled 750 or 755 but I'll be damned if I want to do it. Is there anyone that does that?
). The sound output of the X2 is something that I cannot let go. It serves as a nice reference point between my other sound sources.
In addition to your nice MMCX connector work your tuning mods sound excellent and I love the more open mids on the 750's. I'm still confused at whoever made the comment the 755's were bright
I don't believe I've ever owned a bright sounding pair of Sony anythings
The high region lift in these black ones make them one of the best sub $100 plastic shelled iem's I've ever listened too and I've listened to at least one other pair of iems
Probably just me here but I think all three of them look killer
