[jogawag]

I've had the ksearphone lbbs for a little over a year and a half now and one of the drivers is slowly giving up the ghost. Maybe someone here can recommend something that will last longer.

Budget: 50€
Source: PC, smartphone (apple usb-c dongle)
Preferred connection: 3.5TRS
Listening level & session duration: maximum room volume, 6h+
Preferred music genre: I use it as a daily driver only for videos, podcasts, audiobooks
Preferred shell and foam pad type: i know the MX500 fit well and the lbbs fit well too, standard full foam pad (small hole)
Favorite sound signature: I liked the lbbs, I also own a dt990 which I like, but I would say for this use case neutral-slightly warm would fit well

Temperament X6 : upgraded version of Ksearphone LBBS

 

[fordgtlover]

Thanks all for the answers. Does anybody know if Serratus can be driven properly by Sony WM1A on high gain? 300 Ohm seems like it might be a little steep for my dap.

I'm running the Serratus out of a iFi Blu and it seems fine.

 

[mt877]

Temperament X6 : upgraded version of Ksearphone LBBS

I'm going to wait for the next major AE sale where prices drop and look into getting the Temperament X3, which is the Onmyoji version. Too bad @WoodyLuvr is not in this thread anymore. I'd like to understand the significance of the Onmyoji labeling. Different shell material or Japanese made voicecoil, driver... or what?

 

[fooltoque]

Very nice build. He is indeed a successful driver. I still prefer it in the transparent MX500 case and for the fact that it is "easier" to use

I tried copying you here, because I liked the color scheme.

It sounded great stock, but I experimented with some white tuning foams and brought it a bit warmer, closer to my tuning preference. I think it is tuned similar to RW-3000, but with more slam.

Speaking of the color scheme, is that blue tape around the wires inside the shell in yours?

 

[mt877]

I tried copying you here, because I liked the color scheme.

It sounded great stock, but I experimented with some white tuning foams and brought it a bit warmer, closer to my tuning preference. I think it is tuned similar to RW-3000, but with more slam.

Speaking of the color scheme, is that blue tape around the wires inside the shell in yours?

Very nice!

 

[jogawag]

I'm going to wait for the next major AE sale where prices drop and look into getting the Temperament X3, which is the Onmyoji version. Too bad @WoodyLuvr is not in this thread anymore. I'd like to understand the significance of the Onmyoji labeling. Different shell material or Japanese made voicecoil, driver... or what?

Sorry, but all I could find was a review saying that the Temperament X3 diaphragm uses the same diaphragm as the Onmyoji.
The shell material is said to be aluminium, unlike the Onmyoji.

 

[mt877]

Sorry, but all I could find was a review saying that the Temperament X3 diaphragm uses the same diaphragm as the Onmyoji.
The shell material is said to be aluminium, unlike the Onmyoji.

Thanks for the info. Maybe more details will be revealed as more people get the X3 model.

Edit: According to WoodyLuvr, in this post, he mentions that Onmyoji from 2020 and 2021 used aluminum shell. Onmyoji mid-year 2023 switched to titanium shell. Now X3 version Onmyoji late 2023 edition is back to aluminum shell.

 

[baskingshark]

Has anyone experienced it Pislo px and pislo pxvv ?

I auditioned these 2 at the last Can Jam. About 45 min each. But as the show room floor was a bit noisy, do take my impressions with a pinch of salt.

Take note that these 2 are full-range piezo drivers, not single DD, which is quite an audacious driver config. So the price is also very audacious for a earbud.

The PXVV is Pislo’s so-called entry-level earbud, retailing at close to $700 USD! It is fashioned from wooden shells, and has a prepackaged DSP dongle included. In stock form, the PXVV is midcentric, with a typical earbud sub-bass roll-off. With the DSP dongle applied, the soundstage becomes huge. So it is a highly technical earbud due to the piezos, a little thin in note weight, but bass excursion is not its forte. Technical junkies will like it.

Pislo’s flagship, the PXTI is a PXVV on steroids. The PXTI costs a sobering USD$1699, but is much more technical than the PXVV. Sub-bass roll-off too. But we are talking diminishing returns from the PXVV, and if customers are already giving the evil eye for their "entry-level" $700 PXVV, I'm not sure who will have the balls to pay $1700 USD for a earbud!

 

[fooltoque]

For most of us 130 bery is the favorite

Is this the driver? The link on the DIY Google Sheet is broken, and I'm not sure how much I need to worry about copycats on AliExpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004043844441.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.64887925OrJyFc&algo_pvid=751c67a2-12c2-4ece-b973-90e05f64fdec&algo_exp_id=751c67a2-12c2-4ece-b973-90e05f64fdec-0&pdp_npi=4@dis!JPY!4181!2551!!!27.88!17.01!@2103080e17054669198314982e377b!12000034147554867!sea!JP!4416735372!&curPageLogUid=F0opcpOMKr8F&utparam-url=scene:search|query_from:

Also, can anyone tell me how easy it is to drive? I'd like to try it, since it sounds like it would be right up my alley, but my wife also just asked for a pair of buds (with purple cables. She sees the pretty buds I made and suddenly she's interested after all this time lol) so I need to make something she can drive with a simple USB-C dongle.

 

[mt877]

Is this the driver? The link on the DIY Google Sheet is broken, and I'm not sure how much I need to worry about copycats on AliExpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004043844441.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.64887925OrJyFc&algo_pvid=751c67a2-12c2-4ece-b973-90e05f64fdec&algo_exp_id=751c67a2-12c2-4ece-b973-90e05f64fdec-0&pdp_npi=4@dis!JPY!4181!2551!!!27.88!17.01!@2103080e17054669198314982e377b!12000034147554867!sea!JP!4416735372!&curPageLogUid=F0opcpOMKr8F&utparam-url=scene:search|query_from:

Also, can anyone tell me how easy it is to drive? I'd like to try it, since it sounds like it would be right up my alley, but my wife also just asked for a pair of buds (with purple cables. She sees the pretty buds I made and suddenly she's interested after all this time lol) so I need to make something she can drive with a simple USB-C dongle.

You linked to the correct driver. A simple USB-C or Apple dongle will drive it. You'll have to tune the buds specifically for the dongle though. I found some buds tuned for DAP use needed to have the low end adjusted (increase the bass) for dongle use or the buds didn't sound quite right. YMMV.

 

[jeejack]

I tried copying you here, because I liked the color scheme.

It sounded great stock, but I experimented with some white tuning foams and brought it a bit warmer, closer to my tuning preference. I think it is tuned similar to RW-3000, but with more slam.

Speaking of the color scheme, is that blue tape around the wires inside the shell in yours?

Nice build !
I use shrink tube and not a knot. Did you use white tuning paper on the shell also? Do you feel that something is missing from the sound you have now?
BTW, This cable is not very good, you will notice this in time

 

[Kyonnie]

For most of us 130 bery is the favorite

130 bery is really good; it's up there with 500-600 bery. personally, It's one of my favorites. I mainly use it for watching movies and playing video games.

Also, can anyone tell me how easy it is to drive? I'd like to try it, since it sounds like it would be right up my alley, but my wife also just asked for a pair of buds (with purple cables. She sees the pretty buds I made and suddenly she's interested after all this time lol) so I need to make something she can drive with a simple USB-C dongle.

It's pretty easy to drive. I personally pair mine with an Apple Dongle through an Android phone without any problem.

Nice build !
I use shrink tube and not a knot. Did you use white tuning paper on the shell also? Do you feel that something is missing from the sound you have now?
BTW, This cable is not very good, you will notice this in time

Does the heat-shrink tube restrict the airflow?

 

[fooltoque]

Nice build !

Imitation is the best flattery

I use shrink tube and not a knot. Did you use white tuning paper on the shell also? Do you feel that something is missing from the sound you have now?

I used Y4 tuning paper on the driver only.

As far as the sound goes, I think the overall balance is good. Trumpets can sound a bit harsh, but otherwise I've been listening to it for probably 6 hours now without fatigue. I DO feel something is missing, but I'm not convinced that this feeling is not just because my other earbuds sound different. The driver really adds impact and color to each note, and overall I think it is probably the best bud I have, although it depends on music and mood.

BTW, This cable is not very good, you will notice this in time

I honestly found it harder than I expected to find a good cable to use. This one was much thinner than I was expecting (although that's what my wife likes about it).
I've been browsing the DIY thread all day to try to find a cable solution, but so far haven't been able to decide. I'm also happy to try braiding my own, but there are a lot of different wires on Aliexpress, and it's hard to understand what the finished product would be like.

Edit: This is my current Chrome tabs (after closing some)

 

[Kyonnie]

I honestly found it harder than I expected to find a good cable to use. This one was much thinner than I was expecting (although that's what my wife likes about it).
I've been browsing the DIY thread all day to try to find a cable solution, but so far haven't been able to decide. I'm also happy to try braiding my own, but there are a lot of different wires on Aliexpress, and it's hard to understand what the finished product would be like.

I used to salvage cables from unused or broken IEMs like many others from the DIY Earbuds thread, but after being spoiled with detachable cables, I just get mine from XIHNS or other custom cable makers; they're priced competitively and last me longer than those no-name premade DIY cables. I'm also been thinking of making my own lol. Maybe you can ask @saldsald about it haha

 

[jeejack]

Does the heat-shrink tube restrict the airflow?

Yes, I want to do that with transparent shells