Earbuds Round-Up

[fooltoque]

Solid advice. Especially, if you've already heard and developed a liking for something higher up. After that, continuing to buy budget items rather than saving up for what you really want can often just become an exercise in pacifying yourself with a new toy which also can be and often is more expensive than simply saving for that next level headphone (or whatever) to begin with.

That said, there's also something to be said for knowing when enough is enough and you're not willing to justify going higher. Just don't ask me when that is...

This is slightly different, but I bought so many TWS IEMs trying to find one that worked for me. Everyone seemed to be so happy with them that I was always sure the next one would be better. Now that I found earbuds, they are all sitting in a drawer getting obsolete. I probably could have bought 2 Arya's with what I spent on them.

Especially, if you've already heard and developed a liking for something higher up.

I think this is the key part. With hindsight, I would not have made half my earbud purchases, but it is hard to justify paying for a top tier item when you don't yet really understand what the benefits are, and there is always the chance you'll buy something you don't like anyways. So I don't feel bad making smaller purchases to educate myself.

 

[Gavanater7]

When do you think the Earbud timeline will be updated for 2023?

 

[samandhi]

When do you think the Earbud timeline will be updated for 2023?

Normally @WoodyLuvr adds stuff as they come out (or before if he can get the information). Either he has stopped updating it, or he has just been too busy (co)running the Discord server to update it. You could head over there and ask him (he doesn't frequent here as much as he used to) if he doesn't answer on here. If you have the Timeline document opened up, then you will see the discord server at the end of it (IIRC).

 

[DBaldock9]

Adding to my Smabat M4 driver assortment :
.
Previously purchased -
Stock Body & wheel looking driver
ST-10s
SuperOne
Balanced Armature
1x extra set of Stock Body assemblies
Set of Damper assemblies
.
Just ordered -
"Red"
"Green"
2x sets of Green Body assemblies

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Adding to my Smabat M4 driver assortment :
.
Previously purchased -
Stock Body & wheel looking driver
ST-10s
SuperOne
Balanced Armature
1x extra set of Stock Body assemblies
Set of Damper assemblies
.
Just ordered -
"Red"
"Green"
2x sets of Green Body assemblies

Wow, so you're a fan of the M4s then, huh?

Seriously though, which are your favorites and what foam setups and sources/signal chains are you using them with?

 

[syazwaned]

Adding to my Smabat M4 driver assortment :
.
Previously purchased -
Stock Body & wheel looking driver
ST-10s
SuperOne
Balanced Armature
1x extra set of Stock Body assemblies
Set of Damper assemblies
.
Just ordered -
"Red"
"Green"
2x sets of Green Body assemblies

How is the M4?

 

[o0genesis0o]

Apparently there is a Fiio FF1 coming. I saw this on the post of a Japanese Twitter user. The unit is priced around 3000 Yen.

 

[fooltoque]

Apparently there is a Fiio FF1 coming. I saw this on the post of a Japanese Twitter user. The unit is priced around 3000 Yen.

I'm so interested in this. Are they trying to ride the IEM (Chu) trend of bringing high end sound to a low price? I doubt I'd want it for myself, given the options I already have, but I have friends interested in flatheads who stopped hard when they saw the price of the FF3.

 

[davjac84]

New shiny in the house ❤

 

[imackler]

New shiny in the house ❤

Do you have other buds you'[l be comparing it to?

 

[JAnonymous5150]

New shiny in the house ❤

Someone's about to have one helluva good day! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy mine. Happy listening!


BTW, make sure you come back and let us know how they work out for you, okay?

 

[samandhi]

New shiny in the house ❤

Congrats on your new shiny!

I am eagerly awaiting your impressions.

 

[Ronion]

@FiiO, are we getting an FF1? If so, can we get some details on the design?

 

[DBaldock9]

Wow, so you're a fan of the M4s then, huh?

Seriously though, which are your favorites and what foam setups and sources/signal chains are you using them with?

How is the M4?

After seeing the Smabat Super One driver mentioned here various times - I decided to try the M4, with the Super One driver, and an actual 150-Ω ST-10s driver (my ST-10s are 300-Ω).
On my M4 earbud drivers, I use Hiegi donut foams.
I've listened to the M4 connected to my HiBy RS6 DAP; my work PC using my Cayin RS6 and S.M.S.L. sAp-9 Amp; and at home with my Topping D70 DAP and KAEI TAP-1S Amp.
Out of the four drivers that I've got so far (ST-10s, Super One, Balanced Armature, Stock), I prefer the overall sound of the ST-10s.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

After seeing the Smabat Super One driver mentioned here various times - I decided to try the M4, with the Super One driver, and an actual 150-Ω ST-10s driver (my ST-10s are 300-Ω).
On my M4 earbud drivers, I use Hiegi donut foams.
I've listened to the M4 connected to my HiBy RS6 DAP; my work PC using my Cayin RS6 and S.M.S.L. sAp-9 Amp; and at home with my Topping D70 DAP and KAEI TAP-1S Amp.
Out of the four drivers that I've got so far (ST-10s, Super One, Balanced Armature, Stock), I prefer the overall sound of the ST-10s.

Thanks for the thorough, succinct rundown. While I had them, the M4s Super One driver was a highlight, but in the end Injust couldn't find my sweet spot with them so they moved on to a friend of mine who loves them more than I ever would have which makes me happy.