[seanc6441]

Whats up all, been a while

Welcome back!

Getting back into earbuds? Never a better time

 

[Townyj]

Welcome back!

Getting back into earbuds? Never a better time

Hahah not to sure about that, i will need to clear a few out if i do

 

[Majin]

just in time for the AE sale

Are the PMV B01 AOEDE any good? it is almost 50% discount during the sale.

 

[ClieOS]

Thanks ClieOS. So you're probably right about the price markup not being proportional to the increase in sound quality + some trade offs. Curious about these trade-offs. Also wondering if the cable upgrade has increased soundstage. Looking forward to your write up about the Blue BK. If you can include something about the regular BK on single-ended mode on your overall ranking, that would be very helpful as well.

Let get to the basic first: regular BK single-ended vs. balanced. As some of you BK owner knows, BK doesn't have the biggest soundstage around. Its strongest point is really in its mid (as I have seen some of you described it as being an "analog" sound). However, when in balanced and thanks to the complete channel separation, two things happen - First, the soundstage widens and deepens by around 10~15%. Not much by any means, but it is enough to rebalance the whole presentation without ruining the beautiful mid-range while gives a really "grand" feeling. In contrast, the regular BK often makes me feel just a bit too intimate. The second thing is that the bass range also tightens up a bit with a more solid and precise hit. Again, the improvement is small but just enough to rebalance the presentation. When we talk about ToTL earbuds that are neck and neck in SQ, I think these tiny bit of differences are enough to set things apart, hence why I always said that BK is really in its best element when driven in balanced.

Now let talk about BK blue and the magic of pure silver cable - the main difference between blue and the regular BK is that the pure silver cable has in a way 'corrected' the only weakness of BK, which as we discussed above is the fact that BK doesn't have a very big soundstage (*though the blue does more than that). Even in single-ended setup, blue's soundstage is already almost as big as regular BK in balanced. Adding to that, it also comes with more texture/detail over the entire frequency range, as if all the background notes in the regular BK are lifted to the front. This can be both a good or a bad thing depends on whether you like the original BK's presentation or not. If you really like BK's beautiful midrange, then the extra detail and texture can become somewhat of a distraction. However, If we were to forget about original BK all together, the blue on its own is still a really excellent sounding earbud despite sounding less "analog-ish" and more to the "rich" side of things. But when blue is driven in balanced, things take a turn of the worst - ever heard people say that something can become too much of a good thing? Well, it applies here. Instead of a mere distraction, it turns into somewhat of an "exaggeration" and takes away the main strength of the BK driver. In that sense, I really won't recommend BK blue for balance use. But for single-ended, I think it can consider a small upgrade over BK - small in the sense that regular BK is already a ToTL earbud and any room for improvement is naturally not going to be big unless someone starts making BK in quantum cable that completely destroy our understanding of reality.

 

[seanc6441]

Let get to the basic first: regular BK single-ended vs. balanced. As some of you BK owner knows, BK doesn't have the biggest soundstage around. Its strongest point is really in its mid (as I have seen some of you described it as being an "analog" sound). However, when in balanced and thanks to the complete channel separation, two things happen - First, the soundstage widens and deepens by around 10~15%. Not much by any means, but it is enough to rebalance the whole presentation without ruining the beautiful mid-range while gives a really "grand" feeling. In contrast, the regular BK often makes me feel just a bit too intimate. The second thing is that the bass range also tightens up a bit with a more solid and precise hit. Again, the improvement is small but just enough to rebalance the presentation. When we talk about ToTL earbuds that are neck and neck in SQ, I think these tiny bit of differences are enough to set things apart, hence why I always said that BK is really in its best element when driven in balanced.

Now let talk about BK blue and the magic of pure silver cable - the main difference between blue and the regular BK is that the pure silver cable has in a way 'corrected' the only weakness of BK, which as we discussed above is the fact that BK doesn't have a very big soundstage (*though the blue does more than that). Even in single-ended setup, blue's soundstage is already almost as big as regular BK in balanced. Adding to that, it also comes with more texture/detail over the entire frequency range, as if all the background notes in the regular BK are lifted to the front. This can be both a good or a bad thing depends on whether you like the original BK's presentation or not. If you really like BK's beautiful midrange, then the extra detail and texture can become somewhat of a distraction. However, If we were to forget about original BK all together, the blue on its own is still a really excellent sounding earbud despite sounding less "analog-ish" and more to the "rich" side of things. But when blue is driven in balanced, things take a turn of the worst - ever heard people say that something can become too much of a good thing? Well, it applies here. Instead of a mere distraction, it turns into somewhat of an "exaggeration" and takes away the main strength of the BK driver. In that sense, I really won't recommend BK blue for balance use. But for single-ended, I think it can consider a small upgrade over BK - small in the sense that regular BK is already a ToTL earbud and any room for improvement is naturally not going to be big unless someone starts making BK in quantum cable that completely destroy our understanding of reality.

Great review now I understand completely the differences at play here.

I really need a balanced regular BK then... I absolutely love the BK sound but I wish the soundstage was a little bigger.

Right off to get a balanced dap first lol

 

[mbwilson111]

just in time for the AE sale

Are the PMV B01 AOEDE any good? it is almost 50% discount during the sale.

I like mine. I bought them after reading this review:

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pmv-b01-aoede.22436/reviews#review-18716

 

[jrazmar]

Let get to the basic first: regular BK single-ended vs. balanced. As some of you BK owner knows, BK doesn't have the biggest soundstage around. Its strongest point is really in its mid (as I have seen some of you described it as being an "analog" sound). However, when in balanced and thanks to the complete channel separation, two things happen - First, the soundstage widens and deepens by around 10~15%. Not much by any means, but it is enough to rebalance the whole presentation without ruining the beautiful mid-range while gives a really "grand" feeling. In contrast, the regular BK often makes me feel just a bit too intimate. The second thing is that the bass range also tightens up a bit with a more solid and precise hit. Again, the improvement is small but just enough to rebalance the presentation. When we talk about ToTL earbuds that are neck and neck in SQ, I think these tiny bit of differences are enough to set things apart, hence why I always said that BK is really in its best element when driven in balanced.

Now let talk about BK blue and the magic of pure silver cable - the main difference between blue and the regular BK is that the pure silver cable has in a way 'corrected' the only weakness of BK, which as we discussed above is the fact that BK doesn't have a very big soundstage (*though the blue does more than that). Even in single-ended setup, blue's soundstage is already almost as big as regular BK in balanced. Adding to that, it also comes with more texture/detail over the entire frequency range, as if all the background notes in the regular BK are lifted to the front. This can be both a good or a bad thing depends on whether you like the original BK's presentation or not. If you really like BK's beautiful midrange, then the extra detail and texture can become somewhat of a distraction. However, If we were to forget about original BK all together, the blue on its own is still a really excellent sounding earbud despite sounding less "analog-ish" and more to the "rich" side of things. But when blue is driven in balanced, things take a turn of the worst - ever heard people say that something can become too much of a good thing? Well, it applies here. Instead of a mere distraction, it turns into somewhat of an "exaggeration" and takes away the main strength of the BK driver. In that sense, I really won't recommend BK blue for balance use. But for single-ended, I think it can consider a small upgrade over BK - small in the sense that regular BK is already a ToTL earbud and any room for improvement is naturally not going to be big unless someone starts making BK in quantum cable that completely destroy our understanding of reality.

Thank you ClieOS. That's a very straightforward comparison. This really makes it very easy to decide which of the BK config works best. Wish I could get a balanced one but I dont have a DAP to play it with same as sean. However, I still wonder how the Blue BK/original BK in balanced fares with the Moondrops or the Black Ling with silver cable. Anyhow, Im still leaning towards a low impedance setup such as the BK as I would like to stay portable as much as possible.

 

[Majin]

I like mine. I bought them after reading this review:

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pmv-b01-aoede.22436/reviews#review-18716

Interesting, do you remember how much you paid for them?

 

[ClieOS]

Thank you ClieOS. That's a very straightforward comparison. This really makes it very easy to decide which of the BK config works best. Wish I could get a balanced one but I dont have a DAP to play it with same as sean. However, I still wonder how the Blue BK/original BK in balanced fares with the Moondrops or the Black Ling with silver cable. Anyhow, Im still leaning towards a low impedance setup such as the BK as I would like to stay portable as much as possible.

These days I always try to get everything in 2.5mm balanced plug - not just because that I already have several DAP with balanced 2.5mm, but also the fact adding a small balanced 2.5mm to single-ended 3.5mm adapter is easy and not that intrusive (plus not that expensive). That way I get the best of both worlds.

 

[mbwilson111]

Interesting, do you remember how much you paid for them?

PMV B01 AOEDE

£21.33 when I got them a few months ago

That would equal $30.15 now but the actual dollar price at the time could have been a little different.

 

[chinmie]

Let get to the basic first: regular BK single-ended vs. balanced. As some of you BK owner knows, BK doesn't have the biggest soundstage around. Its strongest point is really in its mid (as I have seen some of you described it as being an "analog" sound). However, when in balanced and thanks to the complete channel separation, two things happen - First, the soundstage widens and deepens by around 10~15%. Not much by any means, but it is enough to rebalance the whole presentation without ruining the beautiful mid-range while gives a really "grand" feeling. In contrast, the regular BK often makes me feel just a bit too intimate. The second thing is that the bass range also tightens up a bit with a more solid and precise hit. Again, the improvement is small but just enough to rebalance the presentation. When we talk about ToTL earbuds that are neck and neck in SQ, I think these tiny bit of differences are enough to set things apart, hence why I always said that BK is really in its best element when driven in balanced.

Now let talk about BK blue and the magic of pure silver cable - the main difference between blue and the regular BK is that the pure silver cable has in a way 'corrected' the only weakness of BK, which as we discussed above is the fact that BK doesn't have a very big soundstage (*though the blue does more than that). Even in single-ended setup, blue's soundstage is already almost as big as regular BK in balanced. Adding to that, it also comes with more texture/detail over the entire frequency range, as if all the background notes in the regular BK are lifted to the front. This can be both a good or a bad thing depends on whether you like the original BK's presentation or not. If you really like BK's beautiful midrange, then the extra detail and texture can become somewhat of a distraction. However, If we were to forget about original BK all together, the blue on its own is still a really excellent sounding earbud despite sounding less "analog-ish" and more to the "rich" side of things. But when blue is driven in balanced, things take a turn of the worst - ever heard people say that something can become too much of a good thing? Well, it applies here. Instead of a mere distraction, it turns into somewhat of an "exaggeration" and takes away the main strength of the BK driver. In that sense, I really won't recommend BK blue for balance use. But for single-ended, I think it can consider a small upgrade over BK - small in the sense that regular BK is already a ToTL earbud and any room for improvement is naturally not going to be big unless someone starts making BK in quantum cable that completely destroy our understanding of reality.

Whereas i tried the single ended Liebesleid compared to the balanced, i didn't notice much difference, as the single ended one already has a wide soundstage as it is

 

[chaiyuta]

@ClieOS : I likes how you pick up 'wording' to share your impression. this is quite neutral and not-hype style. You choose 'not' to use luxurious words e.g. spacious, vast, immersive, etc. In my opinion, those words really mislead and be too exaggerated from my understanding. If I will use those words I will use only when I go to 4dx theatre and sink on a full-power speaker system thing~~. In earbuds usage, I've never heard the radius of its soundstage is wider than my straighten arm till my finger distance. IMHO

 

[seanc6441]

Whereas i tried the single ended Liebesleid compared to the balanced, i didn't notice much difference, as the single ended one already has a wide soundstage as it is

And then there is the matter if source differences as some do balanced better than others etc. Lots of variables.

 

[Raketen]

And then there is the matter if source differences as some do balanced better than others etc. Lots of variables.

I believe this is the entire difference when talking about balanced, nothing intrinsic to the headphones themselves (except of course the difference in cable and splitting the ground).

 

[rkw]

Are the PMV B01 AOEDE any good? it is almost 50% discount during the sale.

I like them a lot and use them as my regular earbuds at work. I paid $30 middle of last year. The upcoming sale price is excellent value.

ClieOS wrote this, which is high praise for something in this price range:

Have it for about a week now. Overall a very good and balanced sounding earbud. Not quite a champion level yet, but it is easily a upper great / contender level. Quite an impressive feat for PMV's first earbud.