CustomArt FIBAE Impressions Thread
Jan 19, 2019 at 5:42 PM Post #1,546 of 2,459
Well, everything beyond 15kHz in music as a whole is silence. Typically, an IEM's last peak occurs at 12kHz before roll-off.
That's encouraging, however I recently took a hearing test, and I stopped hearing anything at around 15.3kHz. Admittedly, it was a monotone, not music.
 
Jan 19, 2019 at 5:52 PM Post #1,547 of 2,459
That's encouraging, however I recently took a hearing test, and I stopped hearing anything at around 15.3kHz. Admittedly, it was a monotone, not music.

Yes, test tones exist up to 20kHz and beyond. But realistically, no instrument produces appreciable information past 12-13kHz. If I boost frequencies past 13kHz by +20dB on an EQ for example, I probably would not hear a single difference.
 
Jan 20, 2019 at 6:19 AM Post #1,550 of 2,459
Jan 20, 2019 at 9:52 AM Post #1,551 of 2,459
Jan 25, 2019 at 3:11 PM Post #1,553 of 2,459
I got my hands on my universal Blacks today. Initial impressions: very comfortable, good seal, tremendous cable As for the listening pleasure - my um pro 50s and shure 846s went to the drawer, beaten
On the one hand: Gaah! Don't tell me that! I just got he UM Pro 50 for my birthday/XMas!

On the other hand: can you compare the Black the the Westone?
 
Jan 25, 2019 at 10:54 PM Post #1,554 of 2,459
On the one hand: Gaah! Don't tell me that! I just got he UM Pro 50 for my birthday/XMas!

On the other hand: can you compare the Black the the Westone?
Fed from dx200 Blacks destroys Westones. They appear muddy, slow and congested in comparison. Blacks are airy and crisp, bass doesn't bleed in midrange one iota. Highs have zero harshness.
 
Jan 30, 2019 at 5:12 PM Post #1,557 of 2,459
Taken from the FIBAE Black review I posted, a small comparison between the Custom Art FIBAE 3 and Black: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/custom-art-fibae-black.23559/reviews#review-21526

dsc03399-1-e1548728089819.jpg


The Black has a more hefty & weighted bass presentation than the FIBAE 3. Even with its single BA driver, Black extends deeper and has greater rumble in the subbass with more apparent texturing. Midbass also slams harder on the Black. Electronic music listeners and bass lovers would appreciate the Black's low-end over the FIBAE 3's leaner tuning, especially with deep-insert tips. Black has a more natural midrange timbre, where the FIBAE 3 is more nasal with an enhanced sense of sharpness. There seems to be a bit of unevenness in the upper midrange of the FIBAE 3, where the Black soars over it in coherency. Black's treble is clearly more subdued when compared to the FIBAE 3, the latter presenting a greater amount of treble sparkle and air. FIBAE 3 has more immediate resolution and apparent microdynamics, while Black fares better in macrodynamics. Black is much smoother, and doesn't sound peaky in any way. Black has more intimate imaging but a similar soundstage expansion, giving a more textured and layered sound.

In summation, the Black has a heavier focus on tonal accuracy, significantly more natural timbre, better dynamics, and more apparent layering; the FIBAE 3 leans towards minute detail retrieval, treble technicality / performance.
 
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Jan 30, 2019 at 7:19 PM Post #1,558 of 2,459
Jan 30, 2019 at 7:36 PM Post #1,559 of 2,459

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