[furyossa]

A bit of an overkill, at home I'm using a MusicBee Windows Player -> Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp for most of my earbuds.

I use MusicBee probably 99%. The modern UI looks awesome, functionality also. I just wish there was a little better support for VST plugins.

4) Good for those that can't fit IEMs or get ear infections/abrasions with IEMs.

Honestly I hate it more when IEM has a bad fit than buds

5) MOST IMPORTANT POINT - EARBUDS ARE GOOD FOR HIDING AUDIO GEAR FROM THE WIFE. IT IS A VERY GOOD AUDIO STEALTH TECHNOLOGY. MUCH EASIER TO HIDE THAN HEADPHONES.

hmmmm... not if she has a flair like a German Shepherd ...then there is no help.
NOTHING CAN BE HIDDEN IN THAT CASE, even if you try to hide them somewhere in the neighborhood

6) Situational awareness as some say - this is a double edged sword though as the poorer isolation of earbuds can get subbass to be lost, or one can end up turning up the volume to compensate for the poor isolation when outdoors (and this is not good for hearing health).

I'm not a huge fan of silicone extensions, but they can certainly help for outside listening

 

[furyossa]

Thanks! I thought it looked bigger/chunkier than MX500

The look can be deceiving

 

[FranQL]

5) MOST IMPORTANT POINT - EARBUDS ARE GOOD FOR HIDING AUDIO GEAR FROM THE WIFE. IT IS A VERY GOOD AUDIO STEALTH TECHNOLOGY. MUCH EASIER TO HIDE THAN HEADPHONES.

This is very good, if you are skillful you buy them all black to seem like they are always the same ... My super intelligence has allowed me to buy the green tonekings ... and I will have to give some other explanation ...

 

[The3DCie]

Wow, lots of very interesting things to read since a few days, you can't be too far away from Head-Fi for even a short period of time or you end up drowning under loads of posts to catch up!

I received all the things I ordered on January 11th and I'll comment on the JCALLY buds as soon as I have some time.
The only thing I can say for now is that EP-01, @ $2,5, is just a steal, it sounds so good and addictive to my ears that it's almost getting 100% of my listening time those days!
Probably still "honeymoon phase", but definitely a good one, and probably the most comfortable buds I have, love them!

Keep up the great posts, earbuds all the way!!

 

[furyossa]

Wow, lots of very interesting things to read since a few days, you can't be too far away from Head-Fi for even a short period of time or you end up drowning under loads of posts to catch up!

I received all the things I ordered on January 11th and I'll comment on the JCALLY buds as soon as I have some time.
The only thing I can say for now is that EP-01, @ $2,5, is just a steal, it sounds so good and addictive to my ears that it's almost getting 100% of my listening time those days!
Probably still "honeymoon phase", but definitely a good one, and probably the most comfortable buds I have, love them!

Keep up the great posts, earbuds all the way!!

What did you think, we would keep quiet and wait for you to come back from your honeymoon?
I thought you found your endgame buds and gave up hanging out with us 'bud-heads"
I'm interested to hear what brought you? Are there any gems other than EP-01?

 

[Sam L]

I'm really close to ordering a set of Fiio EM5... Can anyone share if they are really good for that price?

ummmm.... not an easy question to answer.

If you like a warm, mid centric sound, then yes. If not, then no, I'd pass on them for the price they sell for. If your source is an android device running wavelet, then an even stronger yes because with my compensation files you are getting 2 very different tunings for the price of one.

Cenizas also has the em5. Here's his take on my compensation: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbud-target-curve-tests.944006/page-5#post-15967177

Here's my write up on the em5 as compared to a couple of other buds.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbud-target-curve-tests.944006/page-17#post-16120062

But honestly, if you are ok with eq'ing your buds, the datura pro compensated is, no joke, a peer of the em5 but at a fraction of the price ($26 delivered to the US).

 

[Sam L]

Wow, lots of very interesting things to read since a few days, you can't be too far away from Head-Fi for even a short period of time or you end up drowning under loads of posts to catch up!

I received all the things I ordered on January 11th and I'll comment on the JCALLY buds as soon as I have some time.
The only thing I can say for now is that EP-01, @ $2,5, is just a steal, it sounds so good and addictive to my ears that it's almost getting 100% of my listening time those days!
Probably still "honeymoon phase", but definitely a good one, and probably the most comfortable buds I have, love them!

Keep up the great posts, earbuds all the way!!

hmm... tempting. At $2.50 that's cheaper than the price of a good cup of coffee. But how many earbuds do we really need? I really should try to reach out to all these manufacturers to have them send me some to measure and compensate.

 

[Sam L]

The other day I saw that someone from KBEAR showed up on this and on yours thread, which rarely happens.
This is a good sign and means that they are interested in the opinion of the users. Their IEMs and cables are really at a high level, and I would love for their earbuds to reach the same level of quality.
Of course this would be possible if a some change in sound and design are made based on the opinions and requests of the users.

I reached out to KBEAR and invited them to this thread. =)

 

[Sam L]

You were right! I've been listening to the Smabat ST-10S Black-Gold 150Ω's out of the BTR3K (in balanced mode) for a few days now, and they sound awesome.

I had been wondering if I would need to get the Qudelix 5K right away, but I think I can relax for a while (although I'm sure someone will jump in and try to convice me otherwise lol!).

Even though I adore the Qudelix 5k, honestly I don't think you absolutely need one, especially since your signature lists the es100 along with your btr3k. I actually listen to my btr3 more than my qudelix, but only because I keep leaving the qudelix at home. (I use it as my dac for measurements. the output is really clean for that purpose.)

 

[cappuchino]

New JCALLY earbud. Titanium for cheap... USD 17.00

 

[furyossa]

New JCALLY earbud. Titanium for cheap... USD 17.00

Nice find. And that's Audio-Technica style buds.
Very good proportions. Short stem, matching mmcx housing with strain relief.
Two things that are a bit problematic
- I don't see any vents
- a bit sharp edge

Can you post link?

 

[cappuchino]

Nice find. And that's Audio-Technica style buds.
Very good proportions. Short stem, matching mmcx housing with strain relief.
Two things that are a bit problematic
- I don't see any vents
- a bit sharp edge

Can you post link?

Sure! Here it is https://shopee.ph/product/283086553/7977281648?smtt=0.174314985-1611660233.9

Though as far as I'm aware Shopee's only for SEA.

I also noticed the things you pointed out. Their other buds were criticized to lack bass and I guess this should solve it? Okay, that doesn't even make sense . It should still be bass-anemic. But how does the driver breathe?


Here are other pics:

 

[cappuchino]

Here's for the Yincrow fans... USD 40.00

https://shopee.ph/product/283086553/4477796026?smtt=0.174314985-1611660944.9

 

[WoodyLuvr]

I'm really close to ordering a set of Fiio EM5... Can anyone share if they are really good for that price?

Here is earbuds expert @ClieOS take on the FiiO EM5

 

[FranQL]

Sure! Here it is https://shopee.ph/product/283086553/7977281648?smtt=0.174314985-1611660233.9

Though as far as I'm aware Shopee's only for SEA.

I also noticed the things you pointed out. Their other buds were criticized to lack bass and I guess this should solve it? Okay, that doesn't even make sense . It should still be bass-anemic. But how does the driver breathe?


Here are other pics:

They are also on Ali:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_BSlKad