Earbuds Round-Up
Apr 8, 2021 at 7:10 AM Post #53,341 of 74,610
Thanks for the impressions! Any comparisons with your other TOTL sets like the NiceHCK EBX21 or Turandot?
I will in due time, trying to get first impressions out of the stuff I ordered during the sale with the little time I got.
 
Apr 8, 2021 at 7:14 AM Post #53,342 of 74,610
Apr 8, 2021 at 2:31 PM Post #53,343 of 74,610
thanks both.
I would not epect great bass performance, i mostly listen to progressive rock and progressive metal but i dislike bass being too prominent. My focus is on big soundstage, clear details and overall balanced presentation.

therefore maybe to400 and Dendroaspis could be still ok. In between the two i cant choose now, but i will be using a fiio amp with my lg v20.
I can recomend TO400s, if you would like a bit more bass the TO600 has that. I love both buds. My source is V30, they sound amazing from that phone.
I have not tried Dendroaspis unfortunately. If they have at least the same amount of bass as TO400s I wouldn't worry, if less then maybe they are nono for most people..
 
Apr 8, 2021 at 8:10 PM Post #53,344 of 74,610
Two good choices man! I wanna know your impressions when arriving.
Sure!
I can recomend TO400s, if you would like a bit more bass the TO600 has that. I love both buds. My source is V30, they sound amazing from that phone.
I have not tried Dendroaspis unfortunately. If they have at least the same amount of bass as TO400s I wouldn't worry, if less then maybe they are nono for most people..
for now ive pressed the button for Dendroaspis and Smabat ST10s. Let’s see
 
Apr 8, 2021 at 9:17 PM Post #53,345 of 74,610
Hi! Someone try this portable dac/amp with high pedance earbuds?

CLP 115,692 | Xduoo XD05 Basic In dependent Digital Audio Terminal AK4490 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier Optical Coaxial Decoding 500mW Output
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLcN6O7

2137454054-2065862614.jpg
 
Apr 9, 2021 at 1:21 AM Post #53,347 of 74,610
Hi! Someone try this portable dac/amp with high pedance earbuds?

CLP 115,692 | Xduoo XD05 Basic In dependent Digital Audio Terminal AK4490 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier Optical Coaxial Decoding 500mW Output
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLcN6O7

Yes, it was great until it died on me after 4-5 months of full daily use. Tropical humidity first attacked the volume pot (a scratchiness that progressed to full drop outs in sound on either/both channels... which electrical contact cleaner spray just couldn't solve permanently); battery recharging started acting up; BT receiver range decreased and the battery misbehaved as well; and then a final failure of the amp itself. I was so disgusted I didn't even investigate the amp failure, outside of replacing the op-amps with no success, and simply tossed it into the trash. I hated the rattle they are known to make as a rather large and unruly capacitor would bounce/rub against the inside of the metal case (such a tight fit that thermal tape was impossible to use to cushion/isolate the part from the metal case).

Others have had a much better experience with Xduoo than I. It is indeed a very powerful headAMP and can drive nearly anything out there besides those few oddball low sensitivity power hungry full-sized headphones. Though I think the tech is outdated now and it's age is showing even with the latest updated balanced version.

Smabat ST-10S Black-Gold 150Ω (1).jpg
 
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Apr 9, 2021 at 5:46 AM Post #53,348 of 74,610
Hi! Someone try this portable dac/amp with high pedance earbuds?

CLP 115,692 | Xduoo XD05 Basic In dependent Digital Audio Terminal AK4490 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier Optical Coaxial Decoding 500mW Output
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLcN6O7

This is tube amp ( Laidys ), it's powerhouse for high impedance earbuds if you dun need dac. Below connected to Quedelix😊. Tried my Orin 450 Ohm earbuds, at 25% of the Volume knob is sufficient loud enough.
20210409_173719.jpg

20210408_172214.jpg
 
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Apr 10, 2021 at 5:59 AM Post #53,355 of 74,610
My Blur 266 MX64 aPs (64Ω); 2.5TRRS Balanced; No.1 earbuds arrived this morning from Singapore from Wong.

The "266" indicates cabling; 2 x 133-core per side. MX represents the Type 1 MX500 shell used. 64 is the impedance. And "aPs" indicates Air Pocket Shell which is a physical upgrade Wong has made to the Type I MX500 shell. He has engineered an "air pocket within the shell. The name said it all and is basically like lung. This air pocket will keep/maintain certain pressure inside the shell (or drivers back pressure )".

This is the very first aPs model made with a 64Ω driver and the fifth aPs model overall:

1st aPs: 173 MX300 300Ω (~DEC 2021)​
2nd aPs: 173 MX400 400Ω (~JAN 2021)​
3rd aPs: 173 MX150 150Ω (~FEB 2021)​
4th aPs: 266 MX400 400Ω (~MAR 2021)​
5th aPs: 266 MX64 64Ω (~MAR 2021)​

Even though it will take me a week or two before I completely adjust and understand this upgraded Blur House Sound, I will say that I immediately could hear a noticeable upgrade in the sound signature. While still remaining very detailed-oriented with the standard Blur mid-range prominence, the bass is now deeper and punchier and the sound seems to be smoother (more relaxing)! When A-B'ing between these and my older Blurs (Blur 美魔女 Beautiful Witch 300Ω) the difference in the bass is dramatic between the two although it still is not at a basshead lover's level.

I am very interested in seeing how ear-friendly this upgraded signature will be and if there is any naughty treble or concerning sibilance that may cause me listening fatigue. I have Listened to them now for over four hours thus far with no fatigue to speak of yet... keeping my fingers crossed as my older Blurs were so detailed (overly so, somewhere in the lower treble) that I sometimes will get headaches/earaches after prolonged listening sessions.

Microphonics is minimal (minor) considering the usage of stiff multicore cabling coupled with the notoriously echoey MX shell.

I have assessed their sensitivity to be at ~103 dB/mW as they coincidentally "volume match" perfectly (within 0.25-0.50 dB) with my Ksearphone Bell-Ti 120Ω earbuds which have a sensitivity of ~106 dB/mW.

Blur 266 MX64 aPs_2.5mm Gold Plated PLug.jpg
Blur 266 MX64 aPs 64Ω.PNG

Blur 266 MX64 aPs 64Ω_Opening.jpg

Blur 266 MX64 aPs_Gold Plated Plug.jpg
Blur 266 MX64 aPs 64Ω.jpg

Blur 266 MX64 aPs_2.5mm.PNG
 
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