Earbuds Round-Up

[samandhi]

The sound is excellent in regards to the codec. the aac implementation is good played through my iphone. I haven't check with my lg v60 yet. The linkbuds won't be replacing my earbuds when I'm stationary. but I'll be reaching for the linkbuds over my airpods every time. I think the linkbuds will be a great compliment for the average tws user who values good passthrough audio. They do passthrough better than anything out there and the sound profile is so unique that it's worth keeping around just for that.

Fantastic! Getting excited then.

Yeah I didn't plan on them replacing my wired buds either, but I can see these as being fantastic for work, when I am not working from home, but in the field. Thanks for sharing.

 

[guitarizt]

I got my sony linkbuds late last night, strange on two accounts: 1) they are 5 days early; 2) came in so late, I didn't notice until early this morning. I can't remember getting Amazon deliveries in my area past 9pm.

I grabbed the box on my way out to the office. I don't have my buds live to compare. The only gear I have with me today is my 120ohm DIY Bery earbud and the moondrop kato.

Some quick impressions based on 10 mins of listening. (not much time on them, I know, but I wanted to get something posted before I get tied up in meetings for the next 6 hours.)

• I can see why Linus in his quick impressions reacted with a "woah, these are different." They sound very bud like but also very headphone-ish and iem-ish. They sound great but very weird because of the following reasons:
  • the mid bass is there and very present in some recordings. It's never mid/upper bass anemic.
  • the sub bass drops off a cliff, so some recordings sound bizarre. The interesting thing is eq (via sony app) does absolutely nothing for the sub bass, as would be expected with this type of format.
  • the upper mids carry a good deal of energy, very resolving, yet don't sound as peaky as the graph placed in this thread earlier suggests.
  • treble has more definition than earbuds, very iem-ish.
• Soundstage is really engaging, wider than iems, but not necessarily wider than buds. There's something unique about the soundstage with the linkbuds. I need to listen more to figure out what it is. I've never been one to listen closely to depth or height of soundstage (mostly cause I don't know if I could even pick out the differences) but I feel the linkbuds merit some effort to figure out if the staging is deeper than other earbuds/iems/tws. But staging on the linkbuds is definitely unique.
• the ambient passthrough (via the hole) is super effective. nothing can compare to it, even the airpods, or buds live.
• the one comparison I can make against the buds live, from memory, is that the buds live has way more bass presence. The buds live adjust to eq quite well compared to the linkbuds. on the Samsung buds live, the dynamic setting changes the sound very noticeably and with that setting sounds distinctly v-shaped. The linkbuds cannot be adjusted to match the bass output of the buds live. The buds live sub bass is also pretty much non-existent but it doesn't just disappear like a black hole (as it does with the linkbuds.)
• the linkbuds fit more securely than the buds live (to my ear). Both are equally comfortable. I can wear both all day and not notice.

Thanks, I loved this review. I love that the sound is diff. It matches the diff look of it. I also super love the ambient via hole. I love ambient sound. I hate anc and sealing off the environment. I need to hear everything around me. Does the sound leak out much? I'd be all over these except for the price. Just too many other iems I'd rather have in this range, and I use some mpow copies for that ambient sound thing when I'm jogging, driving, or out and about and want that ambient feel.

 

[Kamen555]

Earbuds give me great ambient noise access, I just have to lower d volume.

I get ambient noise access from iems by pulling them out abit from d ear canal, not enough that they fall off, but enough that I can hear my wife tell me to get cereal when we're at d supermarket.

 

[assassin10000]

Tiny, smaller footprint in ear than buds, thought the bk2 is smaller than the linkbuds

Do you happen to be able to measure the width of the donut portion?



Also, glad you're still enjoying those 120Ω berylliums. I don't think I had enough power to do those drivers justice.

 

[Charlyro222]

Finally Megatron and Asura 3.0FE arrived.

First impressions are outstanding, organic signature, forwarded mids and airy everywhere.

 

[calcatreppola]

Finally Megatron and Asura 3.0FE arrived.

First impressions are outstanding, organic signature, forwarded mids and airy everywhere.

because of forwarded mids good for classical music, isn't it?
or can we set it as an allrounder combination?

 

[Charlyro222]

because of forwarded mids good for classical music, isn't it?
or can we set it as an allrounder combination?

Male and female vocal jazz is great.
I think for classical music could be better wider soundstage

 

[calcatreppola]

i was thinking again and again to VE products, I found reviews or notes on most of their products, but nothing about Zen Sun. Can anybody tell me (us) something? In the site it is written that Zen 2.0 is “the finest creation of their main lineup”, but it costs half the Sun...
thank you

 

[DBaldock9]

I've got some more observations about the ST-20 vs. the ST-10s (Gold/Black, 300-Ω).
First of all - I've never really noticed any sort of timbre issues with the ST-10s (that could be due to the odd, 300-Ω drivers in mine).
Second - I wear the cables over-the-ears for pretty much all of my earbuds & earphones - except the Etymotic ER2XR.
.
Now that I've swapped the Left & Right earbuds, and installed 2x Hiegi Donut Foams on each one - the ST-20 fit my ears better than they did, but they're still not as secure as the ST-10s. The Bass impact is more consistent, and I really do like how they sound, overall. But for my ears, the ST-20 is still going to work best as an earbud for "stationary", rather than "on the go" listening. The ST-10s may not fit as well as some of the more traditionally shaped earbuds, but due to their smaller shell size, they do "snug down" into my ears fairly securely.

 

[baskingshark]

I've got some more observations about the ST-20 vs. the ST-10s (Gold/Black, 300-Ω).
First of all - I've never really noticed any sort of timbre issues with the ST-10s (that could be due to the odd, 300-Ω drivers in mine).
Second - I wear the cables over-the-ears for pretty much all of my earbuds & earphones - except the Etymotic ER2XR.
.
Now that I've swapped the Left & Right earbuds, and installed 2x Hiegi Donut Foams on each one - the ST-20 fit my ears better than they did, but they're still not as secure as the ST-10s. The Bass impact is more consistent, and I really do like how they sound, overall. But for my ears, the ST-20 is still going to work best as an earbud for "stationary", rather than "on the go" listening. The ST-10s may not fit as well as some of the more traditionally shaped earbuds, but due to their smaller shell size, they do "snug down" into my ears fairly securely.

Thanks for the impressions. But other than fit, how do these two compare in terms of sound?

 

[WoodyLuvr]

i was thinking again and again to VE products, I found reviews or notes on most of their products, but nothing about Zen Sun. Can anybody tell me (us) something? In the site it is written that Zen 2.0 is “the finest creation of their main lineup”, but it costs half the Sun...
thank you

Venture Electronics (VE) Sun "Dice Edition" (180Ω; $275-300; Aluminum/Steel) is/was a lower-tiered sibling of the VE Sun "Copper Edition" and VE Zen SU, sharing a lot of the same R&D, design, and tuning.

Here is a link to a most excellent review written by the Earbud Godfather himself @ClieOS.

I definitely would agree with @ClieOS's perfect description of the VE Sun "Dice" as being a "grander sounding VE Zen 2.0". A very accurate description and I too found that they indeed offered a stronger low end and wider/deeper soundstage than the VE Zen 2.0.

If I may, I offer you the following sound signature chart plotting for the Venture Electronics (VE) Sun "Dice Edition" (180Ω) as I had heard it... with that said please listen to @ClieOS, more than I, as he has finer more experienced ears than I.

Primary = Mid-Centric (Warm Leaning)
Secondary (Strong) = Dark
Secondary (Weak) = Detailed & Bright (Airy-like without sibilance)
Tertiary (Complementing) = None
Tertiary (Opposing) = None

The VE Sun "Dice" have a "warm" leaning "mid-centric" primary sound signature (red dot) and exhibit a rather dominating strong secondary sound signature (dark blue dashed balloons) that is "dark" along with two (2) weaker secondary signatures (light blue dashed balloons) that reach out to "detailed" and "bright" ("airy"-like though not overly bright nor sibilant in any way). For the life of me I really couldn't detect any complementary or opposing tertiary sound characteristics with these earbuds... they may be there but I just couldn't detect them. Perhaps the "airy" weaker secondary signature is in fact a complementing tertiary characteristic but I found it too prominent to consider it as a tertiary. For comparison, the VE Sun "Dice Edition" signature easily sits in the same domain as the VE Zen 2 and Shozy BK.

Please note that the fit of the VE Sun "Dice Edition" may be troublesome for some ear types due to the pseudo bell-horn shape and heavier gauged cabling which may prove to be awkward to some when fitting. I personally really liked the way these earbuds sounded but could not manage a secure fit ever and they slipped/pulled out on me constantly (even worse than the Moondrop Chaconne). Even the supplied ear clips (which I detest) failed to correct the issue... I sadly had to trade them away.

 

[WoodyLuvr]

WoodyLuvr's Top Ten Flathead Earbuds by Aesthetics Only

Spoiler: 2017 - Ksearphone w/ Final Acoustics 海神波塞冬 Poseidon; 215Ω

Spoiler: 2018 - Ucotech ES-P1; 160Ω

Spoiler: 2019 - Audio-Technica "Iron Triangle" ATH-CM2000TI; 16Ω

Spoiler: 2017 - MoonDrop Liebesleid; 24Ω

Spoiler: 2019 - MoonDrop Chaconne 夏空; 24Ω

Spoiler: 2019 - DQSM Audio Turandot; 16Ω

Spoiler: 2018/2021 - PISLO by ArtVano PX HIFI; 31Ω | PXVV; 32/122Ω

Left: 2018 - PISLO by ArtVano PX HIFI; 31Ω
Middle & Right: 2021 - PISLO by ArtVano PXVV; 32/122Ω

Spoiler: 2016 - 1More (Xiaomi) E1008; 32Ω

Spoiler: 2017>2021 - Ksearphone Temperament Bell Series

Left: 2018 - Ksearphone Temperament 钛铃 Bell-Ti; 120Ω
Right: 2020 - Ksearphone Temperament 蓝精铃 Bell-Blue; 32/33Ω (aka "Bell Smurf")

Spoiler: 2017>2019 - Ourart Series

Left: 2017 - Ourart Ti7; 32Ω
Middle: 2018 - Ourart ACG; 35Ω
Right: 2019 - Ourart QJ21; 45Ω

 

[regancipher]

First thought on the LinkBuds:

Sound is really nice, much better than the Buds Live. Far more depth and warmth to the overall sound, and almost like wearing normal TWS on higher volumes.

Calls are not as impressive as I thought they would be. Your voice sounds a little muffled even with no ambient sounds to confuse them. They deal with ambient sounds such as cars and wind pretty well though.

Touch controls on the skin is mad, doesn't work every time but works most of the time.

Comfort - jury is out. When I smile they seem to come a bit loose even with the largest wings. Actually, the largest wings make my ears feel a little sore over time. With smaller wings they feel less stable. The Buds Live are definitely much more comfortable and much less prominent, at least for me.

I'll post full review in due course. I also recently reviewed the Apesonic Mist which try to achieve the same thing. Don't buy them, they're awful!

 

[waynes world]

My Top Ten Earbuds by Aesthetics Only

Spoiler: 2017 - Ksearphone w/ Final Acoustics 海神波塞冬 Poseidon (215Ω)

Spoiler: 2018 - Ucotech ES-P1 (160Ω)

Spoiler: 2019 - Audio-Technica "Iron Triangle" ATH-CM2000TI (16Ω)

Spoiler: 2017 - MoonDrop Liebesleid (24Ω)

Spoiler: 2019 - MoonDrop Chaconne 夏空 (24Ω)

Spoiler: 2019 - DQSM Audio Turandot (16Ω)

Spoiler: 2018 - PISLO by ArtVano PX HIFI (31Ω)

Spoiler: 2016 - 1More (Xiaomi) E1008 (32Ω)

Spoiler: 2018 - Ksearphone Temperament 钛铃 Bell-Ti (120Ω; aka "Titanium Ling")

Spoiler: 2020 - Rose Technics Maria II (14Ω)

They are all indeed beautiful! And I am woefully aesthetically deprived lol!

 

[pr0b3r]

My Top Ten Earbuds by Aesthetics Only

Spoiler: 2017 - Ksearphone w/ Final Acoustics 海神波塞冬 Poseidon (215Ω)

Spoiler: 2018 - Ucotech ES-P1 (160Ω)

Spoiler: 2019 - Audio-Technica "Iron Triangle" ATH-CM2000TI (16Ω)

Spoiler: 2017 - MoonDrop Liebesleid (24Ω)

Spoiler: 2019 - MoonDrop Chaconne 夏空 (24Ω)

Spoiler: 2019 - DQSM Audio Turandot (16Ω)

Spoiler: 2018 - PISLO by ArtVano PX HIFI (31Ω)

Spoiler: 2016 - 1More (Xiaomi) E1008 (32Ω)

Spoiler: 2018 - Ksearphone Temperament 钛铃 Bell-Ti (120Ω; aka "Titanium Ling")

Spoiler: 2020 - Rose Technics Maria II (14Ω)

Another great looking buds is the OurArt QJ21, at least for me though. Nice build and finish. Feels good in the hands too. Just quite a hit or miss on fit though.