[ian91]

Thanks for sharing - what an impressive collection!

Thank you! If you ever want to meet for an afternoon of earbuds, let me know!

 

[Leonarfd]

I have so much high praise for @FranQL

Last week I got a shipment from my hermano Fran, one IEM the Pegasus and two earbuds: Wider Caelum and his new model Blue Moon.
I am not as experienced with buds as most in here, but have plenty experience from Headphones and IEMs. I will not give and deep impressions for now.

The Wider Caelum is probably the most full sounding earbud I have used, I didn't know it was possible to have this amount of bass and note weight in a earbud.
Best part it also have not ignored mids and treble to do so, in a way it has an organic and euphonic tonality.

My wife is has said she is stealing this one when I'm at work, she is a basshead but need great tonality also. I guess I have poisoned her over the years, so now she hate most consumer products

The Blue Moon, such delicate and natural sound. Highly resolving, open and airy. I knew this would be a good earbud since my friend @Charlyro222 talked so highly of it, one who owns a lot of great earbuds and has a taste I often find myself to agree with. And as @ian91 said it has has no obvious roll off in the bass that makes it sound thin.

It sits as my faovorite now, my experience are still not the best in buds. I have soon a tour bag with some of the best VE earbuds, will be awesome to see have Blue Moon compare. But for now both the Wider Caelum and Blue Moon sit above my VE Zen 3.0 and Asura 3.0 FE.

Thanks again @FranQL for being a good friend and sharing your creative passion.

 

[jwilliamhurst]

I think it's time for a shift around in my rankings...



Source: Mostly Defiant (due to desk listening these days), DX300 Amp12 otherwise.

1. VE Asura Pure White Shining (Bell-Horn, 150ohm)
2. FQL Ibis (DP100, 400ohm graphene)
3. FQL Blue Moon
4. TGXear Alpha (MX500, 600ohm bery)
5. TGXear Desolation Sound
6. VE Zen Shining Ultimate (Bell-Horn, 320ohm)
7. Blur OFC MX64 aPs Special Tuning Edition (MX500, 64ohm, white glue variant)
8. VE Zen SL (custom PK, 320ohm)
9. TGXear Sunniva + tuning kit (MX500, 180ohm bery)
10. VE Sun DICE (Bell-Horn 180ohm)

Honorable Mentions:
Blur OFC PK150 Wraith (PK, 150ohm)
FranQL Aquila (DP100, 85ohm bio)
Blur OFC MX400 non-aPs Special Tuning Edition (MX500, 400ohm graphene)
VE Monk A1 (MX500, 32ohm bio)

A few movers and shakers of note. @FranQL blew my mind with Ibis and Blue Moon. Super special earbuds in their own rights, one organic and dynamic, the other incredibly clean, resolving and delicate. The Blue Moon reminds me of the high techs of ClieOS planar, good staging and excellent air. Thankfully vocals are much more soulful and there's no unfortunate low end roll off. The Ibis feels like my old Blur OFC MX400 non-aPs STE fully realised. Less dampened and more emotive but with a similarly analog sound and convincing timbre. It flew up my list and has made the Blur rather obsolete for that special timbre sauce. The Ibis has a weightier low end and better dynamics than TGXear Alpha and competes with it in terms of technicalities. The Ibis is just that bit more warm and exciting as an allrounder where the Alpha tends to specialise more with instruments/classical. Fran is truly at the top of his craft. These are two stunning sets and they represent a prime virtue of the flathead realm, the special people in it and the heart put into creating the best sound.

Desolation Sound has really impressed me, it's resolving, has character and lacks very little apart from some low end weight. The reason it features further down is that I find the timbre less convincing than those above it and that may be part in due to the lighter fundamental notes. I do reach for the Alpha more but on the go, Desolation Sound needs less power to shine so it is a strong alternative.

Another surprise was the VE Monk A1. It's a warm but detailed vocal-orientated set with a lot of heart that will more than justify the likely price tag. I imagine it won't be more than $30 (no formal price on it yet) and I have happily used it as a my 'beater' set for over a month and it's given some really beautiful moments to my acoustic vocal tracks with great instrument separation and string texture.

Thank you for sharing your top 10 Ian!

Enjoyed this post very much but I have to say I am even more intrigued now with FQL especially with @Leonarfd recent post as well. I hope we plebs can have a chance to hear his amazing buds soon.

In other news I’ve ordered the Zen SU and excited to hear it’s great macro dynamics!

Thank you for all your impressions of the SU!

I echo your sentiments of DS as well. It’s still one of my favorites while APWS is still sitting in my #1 slot. I will be receiving my Cypherus Audio Black Dragon Susvara in a few weeks as well and anxious to compare.

 

[ian91]

Thank you for sharing your top 10 Ian!

Enjoyed this post very much but I have to say I am even more intrigued now with FQL especially with @Leonarfd recent post as well. I hope we plebs can have a chance to hear his amazing buds soon.

In other news I’ve ordered the Zen SU and excited to hear it’s great macro dynamics!

Thank you for all your impressions of the SU!

I echo your sentiments of DS as well. It’s still one of my favorites while APWS is still sitting in my #1 slot. I will be receiving my Cypherus Audio Black Dragon Susvara in a few weeks as well and anxious to compare.

Good to hear you've decided to take the dive on the Zen SU. Did you decide to go for the Defiant too? Either way, get ready to rock out.

 

[jwilliamhurst]

Good to hear you've decided to take the dive on the Zen SU. Did you decide to go for the Defiant too? Either way, get ready to rock out.

I’m holding out on the Defiant as I want to try some of my amps first. I have a feeling I will be taking the plunge on it and the power supply (docking bay) as well.

 

[samandhi]

I have so much high praise for @FranQL

Last week I got a shipment from my hermano Fran, one IEM the Pegasus and two earbuds: Wider Caelum and his new model Blue Moon.
I am not as experienced with buds as most in here, but have plenty experience from Headphones and IEMs. I will not give and deep impressions for now.



The Wider Caelum is probably the most full sounding earbud I have used, I didn't know it was possible to have this amount of bass and note weight in a earbud.
Best part it also have not ignored mids and treble to do so, in a way it has an organic and euphonic tonality.

My wife is has said she is stealing this one when I'm at work, she is a basshead but need great tonality also. I guess I have poisoned her over the years, so now she hate most consumer products



The Blue Moon, such delicate and natural sound. Highly resolving, open and airy. I knew this would be a good earbud since my friend @Charlyro222 talked so highly of it, one who owns a lot of great earbuds and has a taste I often find myself to agree with. And as @ian91 said it has has no obvious roll off in the bass that makes it sound thin.

It sits as my faovorite now, my experience are still not the best in buds. I have soon a tour bag with some of the best VE earbuds, will be awesome to see have Blue Moon compare. But for now both the Wider Caelum and Blue Moon sit above my VE Zen 3.0 and Asura 3.0 FE.

Thanks again @FranQL for being a good friend and sharing your creative passion.

Great impressions (from @ian91 as well). What are we talking about when you call them "Wider Caelum"? This is new and news to me.. I didn't know that the "standard Caelum" could get a whole lot better?!

 

[ian91]

I think it's time for a shift around in my rankings...



Source: Mostly Defiant (due to desk listening these days), DX300 Amp12 otherwise.

1. VE Asura Pure White Shining (Bell-Horn, 150ohm)
2. FQL Ibis (DP100, 400ohm graphene)
3. FQL Blue Moon
4. TGXear Alpha (MX500, 600ohm bery)
5. TGXear Desolation Sound
6. VE Zen Shining Ultimate (Bell-Horn, 320ohm)
7. Blur OFC MX64 aPs Special Tuning Edition (MX500, 64ohm, white glue variant)
8. VE Zen SL (custom PK, 320ohm)
9. TGXear Sunniva + tuning kit (MX500, 180ohm bery)
10. VE Sun DICE (Bell-Horn 180ohm)

Honorable Mentions:
Blur OFC PK150 Wraith (PK, 150ohm)
FranQL Aquila (DP100, 85ohm bio)
Blur OFC MX400 non-aPs Special Tuning Edition (MX500, 400ohm graphene)
VE Monk A1 (MX500, 32ohm bio)

A few movers and shakers of note. @FranQL blew my mind with Ibis and Blue Moon. Super special earbuds in their own rights, one organic and dynamic, the other incredibly clean, resolving and delicate. The Blue Moon reminds me of the high techs of ClieOS planar, good staging and excellent air. Thankfully vocals are much more soulful and there's no unfortunate low end roll off. The Ibis feels like my old Blur OFC MX400 non-aPs STE fully realised. Less dampened and more emotive but with a similarly analog sound and convincing timbre. It flew up my list and has made the Blur rather obsolete for that special timbre sauce. The Ibis has a weightier low end and better dynamics than TGXear Alpha and competes with it in terms of technicalities. The Ibis is just that bit more warm and exciting as an allrounder where the Alpha tends to specialise more with instruments/classical. Fran is truly at the top of his craft. These are two stunning sets and they represent a prime virtue of the flathead realm, the special people in it and the heart put into creating the best sound.

Desolation Sound has really impressed me, it's resolving, has character and lacks very little apart from some low end weight. The reason it features further down is that I find the timbre less convincing than those above it and that may be part in due to the lighter fundamental notes. I do reach for the Alpha more but on the go, Desolation Sound needs less power to shine so it is a strong alternative.

Another surprise was the VE Monk A1. It's a warm but detailed vocal-orientated set with a lot of heart that will more than justify the likely price tag. I imagine it won't be more than $30 (no formal price on it yet) and I have happily used it as a my 'beater' set for over a month and it's given some really beautiful moments to my acoustic vocal tracks with great instrument separation and string texture.

I've spoken to Lee and he says the Monk A1 is going to be like 10 dollars with their Retro usb dongle included. . Sounds too good to be true.

 

[FranQL]

I have so much high praise for @FranQL

Last week I got a shipment from my hermano Fran, one IEM the Pegasus and two earbuds: Wider Caelum and his new model Blue Moon.
I am not as experienced with buds as most in here, but have plenty experience from Headphones and IEMs. I will not give and deep impressions for now.



The Wider Caelum is probably the most full sounding earbud I have used, I didn't know it was possible to have this amount of bass and note weight in a earbud.
Best part it also have not ignored mids and treble to do so, in a way it has an organic and euphonic tonality.

My wife is has said she is stealing this one when I'm at work, she is a basshead but need great tonality also. I guess I have poisoned her over the years, so now she hate most consumer products



The Blue Moon, such delicate and natural sound. Highly resolving, open and airy. I knew this would be a good earbud since my friend @Charlyro222 talked so highly of it, one who owns a lot of great earbuds and has a taste I often find myself to agree with. And as @ian91 said it has has no obvious roll off in the bass that makes it sound thin.

It sits as my faovorite now, my experience are still not the best in buds. I have soon a tour bag with some of the best VE earbuds, will be awesome to see have Blue Moon compare. But for now both the Wider Caelum and Blue Moon sit above my VE Zen 3.0 and Asura 3.0 FE.

Thanks again @FranQL for being a good friend and sharing your creative passion.

Hermano, I am very glad that you liked them, it is the greatest pleasure for me to read it!!!!!!

I will have to think of a solution for your domestic problems of temporary theft!!!!! LOL

@ian91 400 Ohm is an acquired taste, and knowing that it was among your favorites (I already mentioned here the love I have for this driver) led me to invest a few hours in making what you hear today, so we can say that thanks to you. I must give thanks to you!

 

[Rackhour]

Mentioning 400ohm got me wondering this about amps and DACs.

Hypothetically speaking, would I need a new amp if the current one needs to have volumes maxed out in order for me to achieve a doable listening volume?

 

[Leonarfd]

Great impressions (from @ian91 as well). What are we talking about when you call them "Wider Caelum"? This is new and news to me.. I didn't know that the "standard Caelum" could get a whole lot better?!

Was sure it was the name from him, can be a typo from writing. I think it's the same Caelum other talk about.

 

[ian91]

Mentioning 400ohm got me wondering this about amps and DACs.

Hypothetically speaking, would I need a new amp if the current one needs to have volumes maxed out in order for me to achieve a doable listening volume?

If you're maxing out volume, yes. You will probably hear improvements in dynamics, staging and clarity if you were to give them more power. What earbuds are you using currently?

 

[Leonarfd]

Great impressions (from @ian91 as well). What are we talking about when you call them "Wider Caelum"? This is new and news to me.. I didn't know that the "standard Caelum" could get a whole lot better?!

Was sure it was the name from him, can be a typo from writing. I think it's the same Caelum other talk about.

 

[Rackhour]

If you're maxing out volume, yes. You will probably hear improvements in dynamics, staging and clarity if you were to give them more power. What earbuds are you using currently?

I was meaning that more hypothetically. I posed this question on the Qudelix 5K forum a while back because I maxed out the volume on my phone and 5K while trialing an Audio Technica open-back over-ear (400-something ohm). Only then could I actually hear something at a listenable level. So I got curious, but no one answered.

Everything I own in my signature is perfectly audible anywhere between 1/4 to 1/3 of the 5K's volume.

 

[ian91]

Hermano, I am very glad that you liked them, it is the greatest pleasure for me to read it!!!!!!

I will have to think of a solution for your domestic problems of temporary theft!!!!! LOL

@ian91 400 Ohm is an acquired taste, and knowing that it was among your favorites (I already mentioned here the love I have for this driver) led me to invest a few hours in making what you hear today, so we can say that thanks to you. I must give thanks to you!

It seems the 400ohm is a difficult one to tame/tune to good results, or at least the result can vary drastically. The Ibis doesn't sit in the 2nd spot on timbre alone, I think it's mainly because I hear so much 'character' in it and maybe that character is an acquired taste. It's warm, slightly soft, yet detailed sound that I can listen to all day without a shred of fatigue. I'm pretty confident, like the APWS, it will stand the test of time.

As for thanking me, all I did was name it and choose the shell, you worked the magic!

 

[ttorbic]

Thank you! If you ever want to meet for an afternoon of earbuds, let me know!

Oooh mate that'd be fun! I'm afraid my offerings for the table will be quite meager compared to your collection but I'm trying to get my hands on a DIY IEM from Mike Bruce!