Exceptional in Every Detail: Say Hello to the IE 600

[firesign]

First thing is that I am reflecting actual listening experience since I have the IE600 for testing.

Then, I do not disagree, after all you already know that only personal listening experience is the one that matters in the end.

My concern is that a lot of people get influenced a lot by the graphs and then their brains gets affected by the graph to hear things that otherwise they wouldn't.

Let's make an assumption - experiment.

A brand releases the "X" new headphone.
Then we select a number of listeners from expert reviewers to everyday users.
They are not allowed to browse into frequency response graphs.
They can listen to whatever music they want but not frequency sweeps or test tracks.
Then we ask them to draw a frequency response graph or narrate their experience based on the listening tests.

I bet that the outcome will be deeply surprising and most of them will not be able to draw the actual line or sufficiently tell where a dip or a peak is.

What I am telling is that frequency response graphs are only valid for establishing a basic line of reference.
Nothing more and don't let them influence your brain.

While reviewing an earphone I try not to browse into graphs.

I understand what you say perfectly.

And I don't think I knew how to draw a graph of the sound I'm hearing, starting from scratch. But fortunately there are databases of graphs, measured under the same conditions and with the same equipment, that allow us to compare. And that is where the secret lies, in the comparison.

If you have or have tried a model whose high mids, or highs, are at your limit, you can know by comparing its graphs that another model with a greater amount of high mids or highs, and the same amount of bass, will be annoying. You can extract several important ideas (like the one above) from a comparison of the graphs, which allow you to make a preliminary idea of its sound.

Not all of us are lucky enough to be left or even given the headphones to test them or do a review, and many of us don't have a store nearby where we can try them. Thanks to the existence of the graphs, we can at least get some first ideas of whether their sound suits our tastes, or not. And if we do make a purchase, at least not do it completely blind.

For me, those ideas have always been much more fruitful than relying on the opinion of any reviewer, whoever they may be. Simply because I don't listen to the same music as them, nor do I like the sound in the same way as them.

 

[Ichos]

Perfectly understandable as long as you are able to draw a line and don't let the graph do a brain washing.

Regarding the reviewers, it is needed to establish a connection with couple of them who seem to be honest and quite close to your listening habits, so you can trust them.
A good stating point is to find a review of something you own and know in order to find out if you coordinate with this particular reviewer.

No I think that we must stop derailing the thread anymore.

 

[ericpalonen]

Have you been able to confirm this?

No problem - confirmed. Just be able to provide a proof of purchase.

 

[MozartMan1201]

Looks great. Would like to audition this with my AKG N5005.

 

[frix]

Most german retailer expect availability mid july.

 

[rggz]

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09SKPP459
For those in a hurry, the IE600 is in stock on Amazon JP right now. (+ ~26USD shipping to the US - the total is roughly the same as the HiFiGo).

A small tip, you can change the language on amazon JP to English and it becomes way easier to navigate.

 

[sspkt]

Might that be a Timeless upgrade? Kinda similar signature, if it has at least same detail level but more lively tone, it might be worth triple the price.

 

[XERO1]

It doesn't sound like W profile.
Graphs are deceiving, don't judge something without personal experience.

Just wanted to make a quick point about the limited usefulness of only using FR graphs to judge an IEM's overall sound quality.

According to the graph below, both of the IEMs should sound nearly identical to each other. Both cost $300, both use a single DD and both are from well-respected manufacturers. I had both of them side by side for a while (I used the same Final eartips on them) and IMHO, the FD5 sounded significantly better than the HS1300SS in every category - bass, mids, treble, tonality, soundstage, etc.



Directly comparing them really showed me that a FR graph only gives you a very rough sketch of what any IEM will actually sound like when you hear it for yourself.

 

[Ichos]

Just to make a quick point about the limited usefulness of only using FR graphs to judge an IEM's overall sound quality, according to the graph below, both of the IEMs should sound nearly identical to each other. Both cost $300, both use a single DD and both are from well-respected manufacturers. I had both of them side by side for a while (I used the same Final eartips on them) and IMHO, the FD5 sounded significantly better than the HS1300SS in every category - bass, mids, treble, tonality, soundstage, etc.



Directly comparing them really showed me that a FR graph only gives you a very rough sketch of what any IEM will actually sound like when you hear it for yourself.

Unfortunately I am allowed by the system to like this post only once!!

 

[frix]

who is going to bite the bullet and buy the IE600 from asia. I'm tempted

 

[dennisgerrard]

who is going to bite the bullet and buy the IE600 from asia. I'm tempted

no need. the vocal performance is just average

 

[firesign]

Just to make a quick point about the limited usefulness of only using FR graphs to judge an IEM's overall sound quality, according to the graph below, both of the IEMs should sound nearly identical to each other. Both cost $300, both use a single DD and both are from well-respected manufacturers. I had both of them side by side for a while (I used the same Final eartips on them) and IMHO, the FD5 sounded significantly better than the HS1300SS in every category - bass, mids, treble, tonality, soundstage, etc.



Directly comparing them really showed me that a FR graph only gives you a very rough sketch of what any IEM will actually sound like when you hear it for yourself.

And what I was referring to is that all tastes are personal, even yours (and mine, of course). And that it is entirely possible that the HS1300 sounds significantly better to me than the FD3 (in this case I do not know, I have not been able to test any of them).

At least the graph gives me an idea that they share a similar profile. But as I said before, the graph is still a reference, not an absolute truth. A simple comparative reference to get an idea of the tonality of one headphone compared to another, if you do not have the opportunity to try them, and not make a purchase completely blind.

 

[firesign]

who is going to bite the bullet and buy the IE600 from asia. I'm tempted

I've been tempted too, but I can wait until summer, and have a 3-year guarantee or even the possibility of returning it if I don't like it.

 

[ericpalonen]

no need. the vocal performance is just average

Where did you hear it?

 

[Ichos]

Where did you hear it?

Maybe speculating from graphs...