[chinmie]

Which earbuds have the best "small size - sound quality" ratio? I have mx500 size buds, but they are too large for me - fall out when I tilt my head horizontaly. PK2 is OK, but I have a feeling, that my ears would love even a smaller shell size because after some time an ear part named helicys crus starts to hurt.
I've read that Masya is smaller, but has some mixed opinions about weight distribution and fit overall. What other options are there? How small is Ting?
I'm looking for detailed signature and wide stage btw (another metalhead).

compared to yuin shells(PK2)
Toneking's (tomahawk, ting, ros, etc) are about on par (might be slightly bigger)
Moondrop's (vx prop liebesleid, though i haven't tried the nameless) are smaller
RX-1 is smaller
Qian39 (and also the same shelled Monk lites) also smaller or on par

do you use foams with the mx500 or PK2?

 

[waynes world]

Monk lite 120ohm . This is based on 60 seconds of listening to the ones I just received

Ok, the monk lite 120's are definitely Radiohead OKNOTOK (and Paranoid Android) approved! Very nice.

 

[seanc6441]

Which earbuds have the best "small size - sound quality" ratio? I have mx500 size buds, but they are too large for me - fall out when I tilt my head horizontaly. PK2 is OK, but I have a feeling, that my ears would love even a smaller shell size because after some time an ear part named helicys crus starts to hurt.
I've read that Masya is smaller, but has some mixed opinions about weight distribution and fit overall. What other options are there? How small is Ting?
I'm looking for detailed signature and wide stage btw (another metalhead).

I’d check out the VX Pro although it’s considered a ‘classical specialist’ by ClieOS it apparently has a wide soundstage, detail and separation with a neutral signature, airy treble and AFAIK the bass is decently extended and has some quantity probably enough to make drums kick with the right foams.

The size would be nice for you and the build quality looks fantastic. It’s like 75$ maybe.

But try out the $10 monks first

 

[mbwilson111]

Ok, the monk lite 120's are definitely Radiohead OKNOTOK (and Paranoid Android) approved! Very nice.

I like them. They arrived on the 29th of January so I think mine won the race between ours... 9 days in transit. I have the 40 ohm ones also...those took 8 days. Nothing has been getting enough ear time though as the flu invaded our home I also recently received the ROS1 and the Ting. Have not had much time with them either except to make sure everything works and to give some burn in time to all. New IEMs in the house as well. A bit overwhelmed. I think I most want to listen to the Monk Lite 120ohm again soon. Small dap... Monk LItes... portablility.

 

[seanc6441]

@mbwilson111 sorry to hear that! Get well soon and hopefully you enjoy the new toys when you feel better and give us your opinions on em

 

[chaiyuta]

@skaktuss : Try VE Monk Lite or VE Zen Lite O.D. ~16.3-16.4 mm. if it's too big for you then Rose earbuds.

Agreed. Fitting should be measured rather than individual feeling. I always neglect on 'Fitting' review by many reviewers.

For your information as you might don't know yet, here is the rough summary of the O.D. of the front cover ordering from 'big' to 'small'.
- Astrotec Lyra Shell = Larger than Typical MX500 Shell (I don't have measurement data)
- Typical MX500 Shell = 16.9 mm. plus or minus 0.1-0.2 mm. depend on the front cover thickness.
- Typical PK & Shozy & Docomo Shell, Qian Shell and VE Monk Lite Shell = 16.2 mm. plus or minus 0.1 mm.
- Apple earpod earbuds Shell (very first gen) and Meizu EP-21HD Shell = 16.0 mm.
- Rose Masya & Mojito Shell = 15.5 mm.

A few Asian guy I know of, he can wear only Apple earpod size and below. Mostly guy get perfect fit around 16.2 mm. While many European guys have no trouble with MX500 but they get loose fitting easily on Rose earbuds.

P.S. "Search this thread" feature make my life easier.

 

[thebentern]

I have Monk Lite on the way to try out. I already have a Qian 39 body and I like the body, but I'm not at all a fan of the SQ.

 

[Greutel]

I want to buy me some Monk lites. What Impedance for iPhone 7+ and ThinkPad? What are the sonic differences between the different impedances?

 

[seanc6441]

I want to buy me some Monk lites. What Impedance for iPhone 7+ and ThinkPad? What are the sonic differences between the different impedances?

I bought the 120 ohm version apparently it’s got more low end and a less bright signature

 

[thebentern]

I want to buy me some Monk lites. What Impedance for iPhone 7+ and ThinkPad? What are the sonic differences between the different impedances?

Someone on Reddit had some notes on the different versions: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/7qxyqh/thoughts_on_the_ve_monk_lite_spc/dssqulb/

 

[Greutel]

Thanks! I think since I’m from Europe my devices will put out only 0.4V, will this be enough for the 120Ohm ones?
Edit: I did the maths myself and it’ll be enough to damage my hearing.

 

[Rendster]

How do you know if it would damage your hearing? Any solution/computation?

 

[waynes world]

I like them. They arrived on the 29th of January so I think mine won the race between ours... 9 days in transit. I have the 40 ohm ones also...those took 8 days. Nothing has been getting enough ear time though as the flu invaded our home I also recently received the ROS1 and the Ting. Have not had much time with them either except to make sure everything works and to give some burn in time to all. New IEMs in the house as well. A bit overwhelmed. I think I most want to listen to the Monk Lite 120ohm again soon. Small dap... Monk LItes... portablility.

Ordered mine on Jan23 and received them on Feb9, so 16 days. Not sure why it felt like 30 days lol

Sorry to hear about your flu invasion. It seems to have been a particularly nasty flu season this year. I hope you are feeling better soon.

I am finding the monk like 120's to enjoy certain sources more than others. Or maybe they just really enjoying being amped. Running off of my laptop to zuperdac to either the cayin c5 or fiio e12 amps, they sound wonderful: full, dynamic, wide soundstage. But off of my xduuo x3 they sounded softer & flatter in comparison (I had been thinking that the x3 would push them along just fine). At the very least, I think that synergy may come into play with the 120's more than with my other buds (for instance, more than with the seahf 150's).

Edit: 120's sounding really great off of the Walnut V2 (burson v5i opamp). Some serious "Rush Moving Pictures" head bobbing going on at the moment

 

[waynes world]

Someone on Reddit had some notes on the different versions: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/7qxyqh/thoughts_on_the_ve_monk_lite_spc/dssqulb/

I'm not sure if I agree with everything I read there, but this rings true (regarding the 120's):

The 120 ohm is fuller and more musical at higher volumes but is a bit thick at lower volumes, so everything kinda take a backseat. I definitely think the 40 ohm shine more at low volumes but these are nice when you just want to crank it and jam.

The "volume factor" might have come into play somewhat when I was using the X3 (ie listening at lower volumes generally), so I'll have to test that more.

 

[Greutel]

How do you know if it would damage your hearing? Any solution/computation?

enter the properties of your headphone here: http://www.digizoid.com/headphones-power.html
to see how much power it will need.
Then you need measurements of your Source. The Iphone 7 dongle has 0.43V at 16 Ohm and 0.44V at 300 Ohm so it's safe to say that with the 120 Ohm it will be somewhere in between.
The 120 Ohms need 0.39V to achieve 115dB so it will be enough i think