[bhazard]

The Pistons are or will be the "new Monoprice 8320". It's an entry drug, the Marijuana, into the Head-Fi world. You get a little taste from it, and then you move onto harder stuff. 73+ reviews on Amazon now, almost all in amazement.
 
An ESS9018KM2 DAC with amp (Xplay 3S, Geek Out, Ibasso DX90, Topping NX1), Havi B3 Pro 1, and Vivo XE800 are my current drugs of choice.

 

[Hisoundfi]

The Pistons are or will be the "new Monoprice 8320". It's an entry drug, the Marijuana, into the Head-Fi world. You get a little taste from it, and then you move onto harder stuff. 73+ reviews on Amazon now, almost all in amazement.

An ESS9018KM2 DAC with amp (Xplay 3S, Geek Out, Ibasso DX90, Topping NX1), Havi B3 Pro 1, and Vivo XE800 are my current drugs of choice.

Lmao, well put buddy.

I've been smokin those t1e rocks, mixing in a toot of that GR07BE, and shooting up my h3.

SSometimes I'll have myself a pick me up with some vsd3s or kc06a...

I need help, hahaha

 

[Kamakahah]

The Pistons are or will be the "new Monoprice 8320". It's an entry drug, the Marijuana, into the Head-Fi world. You get a little taste from it, and then you move onto harder stuff. 73+ reviews on Amazon now, almost all in amazement.

An ESS9018KM2 DAC with amp (Xplay 3S, Geek Out, Ibasso DX90, Topping NX1), Havi B3 Pro 1, and Vivo XE800 are my current drugs of choice.

Well put. It is a journey. To appreciate the end you need the rest. Pistons are a good starting point of they match your sound signature preferences.

With a HE-400i purchase coming in August and plans to pre-order the vsd5, I had intended on holding back on purchasing anything else, but I think I'll give that Vivo XE800 a try.

 

[waynes world]

Damn. Very interested in the Havi B3's, Vivo XE800's and Ttpod t1e's. Dangerous place, dangerous place indeed.

 

[Ap616]

  The Pistons are or will be the "new Monoprice 8320". It's an entry drug, the Marijuana, into the Head-Fi world. You get a little taste from it, and then you move onto harder stuff. 73+ reviews on Amazon now, almost all in amazement.
 
An ESS9018KM2 DAC with amp (Xplay 3S, Geek Out, Ibasso DX90, Topping NX1), Havi B3 Pro 1, and Vivo XE800 are my current drugs of choice.

Can you do a little more in-depth comparo between the XE800 and B3 in the mids/highs. You like the bass better with XE800 and soundstage with B3 I know but... Is one a little more forward? One brighter? One smoother?
 
I was thinking of the getting the B3 & NX1. I've read the Topping is slightly v-shaped in signature, so does that work well with the awesome midrange of the B3.
 
Also does anyone have experience with this amp? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3UZ7U0/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0T23MNHQW9H10N8DNC57&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846
I'm thinking it might pair well with the T1-E that I'm looking to get. These would be my first two amps besides what I discovered not too long ago as a nice nonportable amp I have...

 

[peter123]

Although not technically Asian/Chinese the NarMoo S1's are actually pretty good. Nice full sound without being overly bassy. Since they were only $42 shipped I might throw them in in the vsd3s/t1e comparison as well. I already regret getting the t1e by snail mail

 

[Miyaichi]

  The Pistons are or will be the "new Monoprice 8320". It's an entry drug, the Marijuana, into the Head-Fi world. You get a little taste from it, and then you move onto harder stuff. 73+ reviews on Amazon now, almost all in amazement.
 
An ESS9018KM2 DAC with amp (Xplay 3S, Geek Out, Ibasso DX90, Topping NX1), Havi B3 Pro 1, and Vivo XE800 are my current drugs of choice.

I would really like to get a smartphone with a top tier DAC, but most have any issue. The Xplay 3S is gigantic with it's 6" screen, which I think I couldn't handle properly. The TCL/Alcatel idol x+ has crappy processor and only 16gb of storage without the ability to expand the storage with a microsd ...
 
Any out her suggestions?

 

[Ap616]

Although not technically Asian/Chinese the NarMoo S1's are actually pretty good. Nice full sound without being overly bassy. Since they were only $42 shipped I might throw them in in the vsd3s/t1e comparison as well. I already regret getting the t1e by snail mail

Do it! 

Yeah, Dsnuts was saying they were pretty solid for the price. Everyone I read liked them I think, but didn't have anything crazy to say. Just a good, solid offering. I am thinking they might be a little inferior to the other two mentioned. If I recall right, I read most preferred the Tenores and the Ostry as technically superior; but they are both a bit more expensive though not too much. I see it's 10am over there in Norway. I think that is a fair indicator I should go to sleep here... lol

 

[peter123]

Yeah, my initial impression is also that they're solid but not spectacular. Nice sound signature though. Definitely different from the vsd3s that I also brought on my weekend trip.

It's now 10.30am over here and I'm on a plane on my way to an all weekend party so you'd better get some sleep for me as well

Edit: I really love company's that offer free on board WiFi!

 

[Pastapipo]

I would really like to get a smartphone with a top tier DAC, but most have any issue. The Xplay 3S is gigantic with it's 6" screen, which I think I couldn't handle properly. The TCL/Alcatel idol x+ has crappy processor and only 16gb of storage without the ability to expand the storage with a microsd ...

Any out her suggestions?

The LG G2 F320k can play high res audio files, has 32gb+sd card, snapdragon 800 and a small form factor. I like the flatter audio output more than the v-shaped galaxy s4(to my ears). The max volume is just not that loud and you need to root it to get rid of the Korean bloatware. Put lg g3 firmware on it and it's the perfect phone.

 

[osbertc0ol]

  if u like the rha750 just go for it. i dont think the vsd3s or the t1e is an upgrade, they're all on the same level. but between vsd3s and t1e i'd pick the t1e. oh and on that price range to me the kc06A is king. but ofc YMMV

Hmmm, so RHA 750 can be compared with t1e? wow that is awesome regarding the price difference! 
So if I like Phonak 1xx, RHA750, Pistons, MH1C what IEM should i choose between T1E, VSD3S, kc06A? Because i cannot try those IEM's
 
 
Thanks a lot

 

[Miyaichi]

The LG G2 F320k can play high res audio files, has 32gb+sd card, snapdragon 800 and a small form factor. I like the flatter audio output more than the v-shaped galaxy s4(to my ears). The max volume is just not that loud and you need to root it to get rid of the Korean bloatware. Put lg g3 firmware on it and it's the perfect phone.

Thanks for the suggest
 
But I think the G2 sq-wise isn't an appropriate alternative and the material, which is used for the chassis, doesn't do the overall experience of the G2 a favour.
As I don't want to run off the topic, I have to mention that I need at least the SQ of an iBasso DX50 or a Fiio X3.
Or do you think the G2 amped can compete with those?

 

[Pastapipo]

I see, unfortunately I've never used an amp, so I can't comment on that.

 

[MuZo2]

 

Why not use external DAC with phone?

 

[Miyaichi]

 
Why not use external DAC with phone?

The most USB DACs need an external amp and while on the go I don't want to attach two devices on to my smartphone. Makes browsing on head-fi too awkward