Rayzilla
1000+ Head-Fier
I am interested in getting my first CIEM [edited - and now adding first DAP]. I've tried a few brands of CIEMs [but not DAPs yet] here in Hong Kong and I think I am down to my final decision but I just wanted to see if I have missed some brand that I never thought about. I have no clue where to start on my DAP search yet other than a few suggestions from my friends that know more than me.
CIEM Search Begins Here:
Current IEM Inventory - Intime Go and Sora. Shure SE535.
I've always been a headphone guy and not much of an IEM guy but recently I started thinking about using IEMs instead when the weather gets hot here (and it really does). So I recently purchased two pairs of budget IEMs that I love, the Intime Go and Intime Sora. I will get into my preferred sound signature next and the usual type of music I listen to on a daily basis. I also have a pair of SE535's as my first real IEM but they do not have the sound that I have come to crave recently, which is a little more bass and sub bass than before. Before buying the Intime IEMs, I was set on getting the Radius HP-NX100. In the end, I chose the Intimes because I was in Tokyo and they would not be as easy to get once I returned to Hong Kong.
Daily Music Selections - Diplo, Rap, Big House EDM.
Lately I have been listening to a lot of Diplo and Friends (and no friends) stuff on Global-Sets.com. Sometimes it will be rap flavoured, techno, and a mix of other styles. Most of the time, whatever he plays, I usually like it. So I am rarely listening to a particular track or artist over and over again. I know it is not the highest quality but it seems to be good enough for me. Mainly because I don't know where I would be able to find higher quality with the same mix and variety that I get from there. Some of the music hits very low and with my home set up, I hear that rumbling bass as well as the detail all over. That is what I want in the CIEM too.
Sound Signature I Seek - Rumbling sub bass, punchy bass and all the treble I can handle. Details.
As a result of listening to a lot of the Diplo stuff, I have recently started to crave deep and rumbling sub bass. I've always had a preference for good tight/punchy upper bass and clear, detailed strong highs without any veil. I'm not too concerned about the mids as I do not listen to a lot of vocal intensive songs.
Source - Huawei Mate 10 to BL or Hugo or AK XB10.
I will mainly be using the CIEM with the ifi iDSD BL and Hugo (v1). My friend also recently picked up the AK XB10 for me that I may use as well (I haven't gotten it from him yet).
CIEMs Auditioned and Final Decision
To get the deep rumbling sub bass, I have limited my auditioning to CIEMs with at least one dynamic driver. Here is what I have tried so far:
Flicker Norma
Flicker Fornax
Sony Just Ear
Empire Ear Bravado
Empire Ear Nemesis
Empire Ear Legend X
Senhear V10
Asen AE-X4
Lear (a few models)
UE 6 Pro
UPDATE August 24th: Top on my list now is the 64Audio N8 CIEM
It came down to the final three of Empire Ear Bravado, Sony Just Ear and the UE 6 Pro. The Legend X would have been my first choice but I was told that I shouldn't go so high for my first CIEM, just in case it doesn't it's not my thing.
The Sony Just Ear did not deliver the rumbling sub bass that the Bravado and 6 Pro did. The Bravado was not as clean sounding as the 6 Pro. So in the end, my first choice right now is the UE 6 Pro.
Anyone have any recommendations based on the above? Is there anything else I need to consider?
I plan to go get an ear impression on Wednesday (HKT, which is about 12 hours ahead of most of you in the US and Canada).
[Edited to add my search for a DAP]
DAP Search Begins Here:
I'm not sure where to start because I know so little about them and how they function and capabilities.
Here are some of the things that are important to me with regards to a DAP:
Be able to Download Music and Store on DAP or SD Card slot
I think my main concern with getting a dap was the ability to play the kind of music that I listen to. As mentioned in my OP, "Lately I have been listening to a lot of Diplo and Friends (and no friends) stuff on Global-Sets.com. Sometimes it will be rap flavoured, techno, and a mix of other styles." so most of my listening comes from these DJ websites that allow you to download their music. On my phone, it is easy to do because all I need to do is go to the website and click the download button. It stores the music in ZippyShare, which then downloads directly in my phone and then all I need to do is open the file in my player, which has been the Hiby player lately. Will I be able to download music from these types of website on a DAP? I am afraid of needing to use the phone to download onto the SD card and then transfer the SD card into the DAP because in the past, I found that the SD card becomes unusable on another device when I had files in my Samsung and BlackBerry Android phones.
Touchscreen and Easy to Use
I'm not sure if I need it to be Android based. As long as it is easy to use.
Battery Life
Minimum of a day's worth of listening, minimum of 6-7 hours.
Price
I would like to keep it below $650 but if something is highly recommended for a little more, I can stretch it.
Not too picky about:
Size
Balanced (unless I am told that I am being a fool not going that route but then I would need to change all my cables on my HPs and IEMs)
I'll add to the above as I learn more about them.
Just from my day's worth of reading and suggestions from my friends I am thinking about:
1) Hiby R6
2) iBasso DX150 (or should I consider buying a used DX200 for about the same price?)
3) Pioneer XDP-300r
4) Fiio X7 Mk2
UPDATE August 24th: Top on my list now is a (used) DX200 with Amps3, 4, 7 OR 8. Second option is still a (new) ss Hiby R6. May wait for the new Shanling flagship.
I appreciate any help I can get from you guys here. Please let me know if you any questions.
Thanks
CIEM Search Begins Here:
Current IEM Inventory - Intime Go and Sora. Shure SE535.
I've always been a headphone guy and not much of an IEM guy but recently I started thinking about using IEMs instead when the weather gets hot here (and it really does). So I recently purchased two pairs of budget IEMs that I love, the Intime Go and Intime Sora. I will get into my preferred sound signature next and the usual type of music I listen to on a daily basis. I also have a pair of SE535's as my first real IEM but they do not have the sound that I have come to crave recently, which is a little more bass and sub bass than before. Before buying the Intime IEMs, I was set on getting the Radius HP-NX100. In the end, I chose the Intimes because I was in Tokyo and they would not be as easy to get once I returned to Hong Kong.
Daily Music Selections - Diplo, Rap, Big House EDM.
Lately I have been listening to a lot of Diplo and Friends (and no friends) stuff on Global-Sets.com. Sometimes it will be rap flavoured, techno, and a mix of other styles. Most of the time, whatever he plays, I usually like it. So I am rarely listening to a particular track or artist over and over again. I know it is not the highest quality but it seems to be good enough for me. Mainly because I don't know where I would be able to find higher quality with the same mix and variety that I get from there. Some of the music hits very low and with my home set up, I hear that rumbling bass as well as the detail all over. That is what I want in the CIEM too.
Sound Signature I Seek - Rumbling sub bass, punchy bass and all the treble I can handle. Details.
As a result of listening to a lot of the Diplo stuff, I have recently started to crave deep and rumbling sub bass. I've always had a preference for good tight/punchy upper bass and clear, detailed strong highs without any veil. I'm not too concerned about the mids as I do not listen to a lot of vocal intensive songs.
Source - Huawei Mate 10 to BL or Hugo or AK XB10.
I will mainly be using the CIEM with the ifi iDSD BL and Hugo (v1). My friend also recently picked up the AK XB10 for me that I may use as well (I haven't gotten it from him yet).
CIEMs Auditioned and Final Decision
To get the deep rumbling sub bass, I have limited my auditioning to CIEMs with at least one dynamic driver. Here is what I have tried so far:
Flicker Norma
Flicker Fornax
Sony Just Ear
Empire Ear Bravado
Empire Ear Nemesis
Empire Ear Legend X
Senhear V10
Asen AE-X4
Lear (a few models)
UE 6 Pro
UPDATE August 24th: Top on my list now is the 64Audio N8 CIEM
It came down to the final three of Empire Ear Bravado, Sony Just Ear and the UE 6 Pro. The Legend X would have been my first choice but I was told that I shouldn't go so high for my first CIEM, just in case it doesn't it's not my thing.
The Sony Just Ear did not deliver the rumbling sub bass that the Bravado and 6 Pro did. The Bravado was not as clean sounding as the 6 Pro. So in the end, my first choice right now is the UE 6 Pro.
Anyone have any recommendations based on the above? Is there anything else I need to consider?
I plan to go get an ear impression on Wednesday (HKT, which is about 12 hours ahead of most of you in the US and Canada).
[Edited to add my search for a DAP]
DAP Search Begins Here:
I'm not sure where to start because I know so little about them and how they function and capabilities.
Here are some of the things that are important to me with regards to a DAP:
Be able to Download Music and Store on DAP or SD Card slot
I think my main concern with getting a dap was the ability to play the kind of music that I listen to. As mentioned in my OP, "Lately I have been listening to a lot of Diplo and Friends (and no friends) stuff on Global-Sets.com. Sometimes it will be rap flavoured, techno, and a mix of other styles." so most of my listening comes from these DJ websites that allow you to download their music. On my phone, it is easy to do because all I need to do is go to the website and click the download button. It stores the music in ZippyShare, which then downloads directly in my phone and then all I need to do is open the file in my player, which has been the Hiby player lately. Will I be able to download music from these types of website on a DAP? I am afraid of needing to use the phone to download onto the SD card and then transfer the SD card into the DAP because in the past, I found that the SD card becomes unusable on another device when I had files in my Samsung and BlackBerry Android phones.
Touchscreen and Easy to Use
I'm not sure if I need it to be Android based. As long as it is easy to use.
Battery Life
Minimum of a day's worth of listening, minimum of 6-7 hours.
Price
I would like to keep it below $650 but if something is highly recommended for a little more, I can stretch it.
Not too picky about:
Size
Balanced (unless I am told that I am being a fool not going that route but then I would need to change all my cables on my HPs and IEMs)
I'll add to the above as I learn more about them.
Just from my day's worth of reading and suggestions from my friends I am thinking about:
1) Hiby R6
2) iBasso DX150 (or should I consider buying a used DX200 for about the same price?)
3) Pioneer XDP-300r
4) Fiio X7 Mk2
UPDATE August 24th: Top on my list now is a (used) DX200 with Amps3, 4, 7 OR 8. Second option is still a (new) ss Hiby R6. May wait for the new Shanling flagship.
I appreciate any help I can get from you guys here. Please let me know if you any questions.
Thanks
Last edited: