Apologies in advance for the lengthy multi-post, but you know, time zones...
One thing I've never managed to reconcile is the correlation between resolution and harshness.
It's not necessarily resolution on its own, but resolution + FR emphasis + track. So a highly resolving IEM that's upper-mid emphasised playing a track with lots of upper-mid energy (that may or may not have iherent recording flaws) will be harder on that track than a lower resolution IEM with less midrange emphasis. Wouldn't it be lovely if an IEM could just adapt itself to every track and hide the flaws...maybe that's what we mean by 'safe' tuning?
My main gripe with the Evo has never really been about tuning, it’s been about that “grain/harshness” I am hearing.
To me, EVO is revealing grain/hardness in tracks where, with my other IEMs, that FR range has either been recessed, de-emphasised, or just plain less resolving. Busy testing one of five different versions of Pink Floyd's 'Time' and the electric guitar solo (3:12 - 4:09) definitely sounds more forward and 'harder/grainier' on EVO than it does on LX or IE 900 (with the IE 900 being partocularly 'light' in this FR, which was a conscious tuning choice). That the EVO is more resolving than both IEMs means I'm also hearing every grain compared to the 'smoothed over' rendition I'm getting with the other IEMs. Now, switch to another Pink Floyd classic, 'Hey You' from The Wall, and a very similar guitar solo sounds ever so smooth and resolving and pitch-perfect on EVO, with plenty of crunch and edge but no grain or hardness, depsite the forwardness...with the caveat here that The Wall recording is
far superior to all five versions (including the DSD) of Dark Side. Which tells me
recording quality is key. Hence high resolution + upper-mid emphasis + poor/compressed recording = not ideal EVO fodder.
So that 4-5khz bump is what some folks are bothered by, I'm assuming Crin’s was straight out of the box, and as noted above there's no measuring bone conduction (that I'm aware of).
@gLer I wasn't able to listen to those tracks (I will later tonight), was it simply overload distortion?
On these particular tracks (esp
Island) it's not so much distortion as it is compression with over-emphasised upper-mid/lower-treble energy burned in to the track (at least that's how I hear it).
I prefer a wide bore tips with this. Put on the Spiral dots and now the leading edge is slightly smoother, better balance and spaciousness overall.
Definitely! Spiral Dot are a bit too diffuse for me and flatten the stage somewhat. To my ears, AET07 add back some sharpness/focus sans harshness, while expanding the stage, and the bass kicks more precisely. Narrow-bore like Final E has always messed up the mids too much for my liking, though it's ok with EVO (I just happen to prefer the comfort/sound of the 07s).
Switched out to Orphy and ohhh my goodness! I have a much better filled mid-bass to low-mids, smooth extension on both ends, very musical!
Oh yes...switched out to Cardas Clear (1950s equivalent) and the stage is wider, bass more precise and controlled without losing kick, and upper-mids/treble more delicate (yet still energetic). The irony here, for me, is that with all the hoo-ha about Genesis failures with the first batch, chances are folks will be switching Genesis out for 'better' cables as a matter of course.
Listening to Massive Attack’s “Angel - remaster” starting at 00:13 and noticeable through 01:12 where vocals start, the 2nd rhythmic deep bass beats starts but at the end of every beat - it’s ends with metallic-like hollow echo. It becomes more noticeable again at 5:44 and 06:00 until end. Hard to describe it sounds almost like hitting a hollow wooden block - it’s a bit disconcerting and shows on both the Socrates and Aeneid and all ear tips from Final E, Azla SendaEarFits short and Xelastics.
I think I'm hearing what you're hearing, but to me it sounds like EVO is resolving something in that second bass note that I couldn't hear with my other IEMs. It sounds more precise too. That said it's so subtle, it's hardly something I'd even pay attention to if you didn't mention it, but FWIW I enjoy that track more on EVO than LX or IE 900.
I honestly think that could be an extreme case of the BCD working some unique voodoo? Echo is one of the potential effects of the W10 I imagine. Less noticeable as the subbass starts ramping up.
Could well be, as I've heard extra detail and aspects of tracks I'm very familiar with on EVO that I haven't heard with other IEMs. Also, EVO empasising different FR more than the other IEMs means my focus is pulled more to part of tracks the others previously glossed over, and vice versa. It's definitely not your run-of-the-mill safe tuning, and will likely take some brain burn-in time, especially if you're switching between IEMs. Something that sounds 'wrong' on EVO usually does so in direct comparison to other IEMs, or because it's presented differently to what you're used to. But give it a few listens, and some exclusive ear time, and you'll notice the ship 'righting itself' to the point where switching to other IEMs just makes them sound veiled or lacking in cerrain areas. (Also, the reverse can be true, if EVO sn't your cup of tea).
Or perhaps it's on the recording but only being heard the first time. I'm hearing tape bleed and all sorts of other little anomalies with the EVO that I haven't heard before.
Yep, like I said above, I'm hearing new parts to tracks I know well. I don't think it's a case of EVO adding anything, rather a combination of specific FR emphasis, higher resolution than most IEMs I've heard, and the 'unknown quantity' that is BCD. Since my BCD hearing is somewhat better than my air conduction (ear drum) hearing (as confimed by my last audiologist visit), it's very likely I'm able to hear and feel things with EVO that I simply can't with other IEMs. This effect is likely less prominent if you have equally excellent air/BCD hearing.
But Odin actually sounded quite good and balanced which pushed me to try the Evo. Odin was a little bit too dry and brittle throughout the spectrum for me.
