[Danneq]

Do we have pictures of what a $600 earbud looks like? I didn’t know that such a thing exists.

You can find some pics in this post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbuds-round-up.441400/page-2387#post-14508495

The cable from the plug to the y connector is super thick, so they are not at all portable. The other Red Dragon pair in that post looks much more portable.
I would never bring them outside. They are for critical listening at home. But I'm always on the hunt for new earbuds that I can use outside.
Besides Yincrow RW-3000 and Rose Martini, I am curious about 7HZ Beatles.

There have been some DIY earbuds that have been $600-700+. A couple of years ago a Vietnamese DIY earbud boutique was selling earbuds with hand made wood shells for those prices (even over $800). Never bought one. Never thought I would pay more then $300 for a pair of earbuds until I bought Red Dragon. I remember Lee of VE was talking about VE Nirvana a couple of years ago and that it would cost $1000. But those have never been released.

 

[weexisttocease]

Do we have pictures of what a $600 earbud looks like? I didn’t know that such a thing exists.

I have the PXVV.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbuds-round-up.441400/post-17100773

 

[Ronion]

You can find some pics in this post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbuds-round-up.441400/page-2387#post-14508495

The cable from the plug to the y connector is super thick, so they are not at all portable. The other Red Dragon pair in that post looks much more portable.
I would never bring them outside. They are for critical listening at home. But I'm always on the hunt for new earbuds that I can use outside.
Besides Yincrow RW-3000 and Rose Martini, I am curious about 7HZ Beatles.

There have been some DIY earbuds that have been $600-700+. A couple of years ago a Vietnamese DIY earbud boutique was selling earbuds with hand made wood shells for those prices (even over $800). Never bought one. Never thought I would pay more then $300 for a pair of earbuds until I bought Red Dragon. I remember Lee of VE was talking about VE Nirvana a couple of years ago and that it would cost $1000. But those have never been released.

It’s a sexy splitter for sure though.

What I like about the buds I just built is their portability. Of course the 600Ohm/moderate efficiency thing sort of limits it because it takes everything a 1V dongle has to give to get “loud” enough. It does however get loud enough. I look at the bright side and think how it’s volume limited and protecting my hearing for the long haul. Plugged into an amp, they are real beauties—though never flashy. I really don’t like flashy portable gear. I like to keep my TOTL status low key.

 

[WoodyLuvr]

You can find some pics in this post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbuds-round-up.441400/page-2387#post-14508495

The cable from the plug to the y connector is super thick, so they are not at all portable. The other Red Dragon pair in that post looks much more portable.
I would never bring them outside. They are for critical listening at home. But I'm always on the hunt for new earbuds that I can use outside.
Besides Yincrow RW-3000 and Rose Martini, I am curious about 7HZ Beatles.

There have been some DIY earbuds that have been $600-700+. A couple of years ago a Vietnamese DIY earbud boutique was selling earbuds with hand made wood shells for those prices (even over $800). Never bought one. Never thought I would pay more then $300 for a pair of earbuds until I bought Red Dragon. I remember Lee of VE was talking about VE Nirvana a couple of years ago and that it would cost $1000. But those have never been released.

Yep, quite a few other models fall/fell into this price bracket as well when they launched or still... e.g.: Ksearphone (Bell-Ti, Poseidon); Venture Electronics (Zen SU, Zen Shining, Zen White Extreme); Moondrop (Liebesleid); and PISLO by ArtVano (PX HIFI, PXVV).

 

[Ronion]

Yep, quite a few other models fall/fell into this price bracket as well when they launched or still... e.g.: Ksearphone (Bell-Ti, Poseidon); Venture Electronics (Zen SU, Zen Shining, Zen White Extreme); Moondrop (Liebesleid); and PISLO by ArtVano (PX HIFI, PXVV).

This all just makes me happy I have a soldering iron. Maybe the best investment I’ve ever made—studying psychoacoustics a close second.

 

[WoodyLuvr]

I wish everyone would do a little DIY. Last night after tearing down a garage, tired and sore, I drank 9%ABV beer, and in less than 10 minutes in a dimly lit room built and tuned the 600Ohm Be drivers with less than $40 spent to an approximation of my curve. I used my dirty old HeiGi foams for the tuning because I want to know what these things are going to sound like when they reach their steady state. They are a knockout! Separation, clarity, composure, warmth and soundstage is all there. A completely fatigue-free sound that can play anything optimally (approximately) barring hiphop or some electronica. Even then it has enough power handling that it’s not horrible. I can get these to sound a little closer to perfect, but my tuning supplies are running short and my desire to fiddle is low. I wish everyone would just buy a TOTL driver and have a go. I messed around with a lot of cheap ones to get comfortable, but it’s largely unnecessary. One or 2 practice runs for due diligence and then go for it.

Imagine then what you could build sober, under full light, at a proper DIY station, with a few upgraded items, and if you took your time! Heavenly lights would surely then shine down upon that creation!

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Do we have the same cable? Check out my cable, you'll see the cable was originally twisted and was untwisted after the Y split.

My cable isn't like that. It's straight from the split up. No twist in the jacket at all. I noticed this last night, but apparently forgot to post about it. Interesting...

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Next one might be a Red Dragon for you. My CAX Black Edition was the "regular" kind and really really good but the Red Dragon was a huge step up. I wrote about it here in 2018:


My pair was tuned like Sennheiser HD800S. I forgot to bring the Red Dragon to Japan this year, but next time the family goes I have to bring them and go to Yodobashi or some other place that has HD800S and try to compare them.

Have been burning the TRN EMX for over 2 days now and not too overwhelming. Will try different foams and cable.

So the EMXs haven't evened out at all after the two days then?

I have been thinking about the Red Dragons as well, but for now I'm just going to enjoy the ZF Pros and Blacks and wait to see what desires or needs develop so that I know exactly what I want in another pair. I will certainly be going back to Herry at some point for future pairs. His Cypherus buds are just too good to stay away from. I'm actually interested to hear more about the new model he spoke about in a post a couple pages back on this thread.

I will possibly be acquiring a pair of the QFreds second hand, but in like new condition when I head up to San Francisco in early October. An acquaintance up there has a pair he's interested in possibly selling or trading for some buds I am looking to move so we'll see.

 

[Ronion]

Imagine then what you could build sober, under full light, at a proper DIY station, with a few upgraded items, and if you took your time! Heavenly lights would surely then shine down upon that creation!

I wish that were true. The beer was made by monks though—does that count? In truth, it’s just driver, fit and tuning no matter the lighting or state of sobriety. When you know what you are doing, the rocket science or black art fades away. It’s just adjusting the parts to maximize the driver’s abilities. I can make them as pretty or as plain as I want, but ultimately plain suits me as I can’t even see them when I’m using them and I’m not the guy to attempt to impress passerby’s. Beats are already made for that LOL. Just functional music delivery devices that compete with or best anything out there for less. The less the better IMO. It actually brings me to another point: I don’t believe in specialist buds. I think a bud can be limited to where it can only do certain genres, but that doesn’t elevated to a specialist bud IMO. That demotes it to a limited transducer. All transducers have limits, but some less than others. If it can only do one genre justice, I’m out. My music preferences are too eclectic.

What upgraded items are you referring to?

 

[Danneq]

This all just makes me happy I have a soldering iron. Maybe the best investment I’ve ever made—studying psychoacoustics a close second.

As long as you keep working on it you might produce great earbuds

So the EMXs haven't evened out at all after the two days then?

I have been thinking about the Red Dragons as well, but for now I'm just going to enjoy the ZF Pros and Blacks and wait to see what desires or needs develop so that I know exactly what I want in another pair. I will certainly be going back to Herry at some point for future pairs. His Cypherus buds are just too good to stay away from. I'm actually interested to hear more about the new model he spoke about in a post a couple pages back on this thread.

I will possibly be acquiring a pair of the QFreds second hand, but in like new condition when I head up to San Francisco in early October. An acquaintance up there has a pair he's interested in possibly selling or trading for some buds I am looking to move so we'll see.

I do not find the EMX to be bad. Not too bright or shouty, bass is acceptable, it has got an okay soundstage. But there's a sort of metallic sheen to the sound that I'm not too crazy about. I ordered a pure copper cable and will see if there's a difference to the included silver plated copper cable. Right now there are thin foams on them. Will try thicker ones and donut foams.

Yeah, the Cypherus Crescendo sound very interesting.
Qfred is quite different from other Cypherus earbuds. Mids are pushed forward and take the center stage. They are amazing for acoustic music and softer rock and pop. Anything where vocals are in focus. With more instrumentally busy or heavier music I do not find them to perform as well as other Cypherus earbuds.
Campfred 2 are recommended if you can come across a pair. While they are a step down from Black edition and Zoomfred they are very musical and enjoyable.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

As long as you keep working on it you might produce great earbuds


I do not find the EMX to be bad. Not too bright or shouty, bass is acceptable, it has got an okay soundstage. But there's a sort of metallic sheen to the sound that I'm not too crazy about. I ordered a pure copper cable and will see if there's a difference to the included silver plated copper cable. Right now there are thin foams on them. Will try thicker ones and donut foams.

Yeah, the Cypherus Crescendo sound very interesting.
Qfred is quite different from other Cypherus earbuds. Mids are pushed forward and take the center stage. They are amazing for acoustic music and softer rock and pop. Anything where vocals are in focus. With more instrumentally busy or heavier music I do not find them to perform as well as other Cypherus earbuds.
Campfred 2 are recommended if you can come across a pair. While they are a step down from Black edition and Zoomfred they are very musical and enjoyable.

The QFreds being so different and the fact that they guy doesn't want much for them whether trade or sale is actually part of the draw for me. I have been looking for a mid centric bud for certain small ensemble, solo instrumental, and vocal jazz pieces that actually wows me and this seems like the perfect opportunity to try out a pair that, on paper, seems to fit the bill and is made by a great DIYer. If the deal works out there's basically no downside to it for me and if the trade works out instead of a purchase it would be a win if I even like the QFreds because the buds he's interested in trading for aren't to my liking.

Edit: And keep us posted on the EMX changes with different foams and the like. I, for one, am interested to see how it turns out.

 

[Ronion]

As long as you keep working on it you might produce great earbuds

That’s both condescending and simultaneously hilarious.

When you look at things realistically, there’s just no justification for your behavior and I’m sorry I’ve made you feel the need to stoop to such a level. I imagine you’d prefer to get that one back.

 

[Danneq]

That’s both condescending and simultaneously hilarious.

When you look at things realistically, there’s just no justification for your behavior and I’m sorry I’ve made you feel the need to stoop to such a level. I imagine you’d prefer to get that one back.

Sorry, didn't mean it like that. Perhaps I should have phrased it another way. I sort of meant that after working on different earbuds and experimenting and perfecting your skills you might be able to make it a sort of second career.
At most I have changed cable on an earbud and would probably suck at making them from scratch. So I've got nothing but respect for all you DIY:ers.

 

[WoodyLuvr]

That’s both condescending and simultaneously hilarious.

When you look at things realistically, there’s just no justification for your behavior and I’m sorry I’ve made you feel the need to stoop to such a level. I imagine you’d prefer to get that one back.

I don't think @Danneq meant that in a bad way. He is Swedish, so very direct in his speech and literal in verbiage, which may come off as condescending to some when in fact it was not intended at all. I have known him for years now and have only seen gentlemanly posts (replies and comments) coming from him.

Oops! Sorry, I missed seeing @Danneq's reply and his clarification. I would have been VERY surprised if that reply of his was ill-intended.

 

[Ronion]

Sorry, didn't mean it like that. Perhaps I should have phrased it another way. I sort of meant that after working on different earbuds and experimenting and perfecting your skills you might be able to make it a sort of second career.
At most I have changed cable on an earbud and would probably suck at making them from scratch. So I've got nothing but respect for all you DIY:ers.

There’s not enough money in to make it any sort of second career. I wouldn’t think that a salesman status would have anything to do with quality. If you need me to go deeper into this topic I gladly will but it would be difficult not to disparage sellers and I have no desire to do that.