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Setting up a new thread for the Clear Tune Monitors CT-6E Elite. It's their new flagship. I loved their previous products, and have a CT-6E on order. Anyone else had a chance to try them or ordered them?
I had a chance to demo the CT6E at the SXSW gear show yesterday. Was mightily impressed with the expansive sound stage these CIEMs have over my CT-500's, particularly with acoustic music recorded in a small live setting, or in an open recording studio. I tried a few of my favorite new Blue Note reissues, stuff like Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, and Art Blakey, and all of them sounded fantastic on the CT6E's. I may have a slight preference for my CT-500s for electronic and rock, but it's probably also just my familiarity with their sound signature.
If I were buying CTM's for the first time again, I'd be very torn between which to choose. I might go with the CT6E's over the CT-500s just for the amazing sound stage.
Also, the folks at CTM are starting to get very creative with their shell designs. I think they're stepping up their game, having grown a nice presence in the pro audio area and are starting to focus on the audiophile market.
ZzmadzZ will have to do the honours for that, since he has both of them coming in
The CT6E is dry and refined. The mids can soar in the upper registers, but are generally a bit recessed, making for an interesting presentation that gains energy as the mids move into the higher registers. The mids remain very clear and detailed throughout, though, with a great resonance that adds a bit of zing to the music. The bass and treble are more than adequate, though neither threaten to overwhelm with too much of a hump (bass) or sparkle (treble). But most interestingly, the CT6E has an aggressive and holographic 3D sonic presentation to go with its large soundstage and beautiful layering and separation. This is done in a very unique way, and your ears may need a bit of time to adjust.... Keep listening, though, and you'll soon discover what I found- it's just so hard to find anything wrong with them...
To add onto my previous post i just gave the folks down at CTM a call and they were very quick to answer any questions i had. Spoke to a man named Abel very friendly and told me that the source of inspiration for the CT-6E was actually the audiophile community from user experience at venues they've attended, taking input from users of CIEMs and tuned the sound to cater to the audiophile market as a result. Needless to say im sold and am going in for impressions. This will be my first set of CIEMs and am excited and i must say i would not have given the CT-6E a look had it not been for jelts impressions on the CT-500 from his review thread.