Hi there,
Got the Symbio W tips for my S8F this morning. I put them against my favorite tips, the Final E tips. A few pictures first:
My portable audio set-up being mentioned in my signature, I just want to add that the music selection listened for the comparison is eclectic, from classical to OST, Dub, Electronic, Ambient, Vocalists, 80's 90's Pop and Jazz.
To make it short w/o to much read:
SYMBIO W
- Confort is supreme. Unbeatable for my ears. Maybe 10-15% better than the Final E
- Bigger tip hole (ouverture) than the Final E, slightly wider soundstage with crispier sound and amazing detail retrieval
- SS became a tad brighter, but not sibilant, I insist on that.
- Bass is tight and precise
- Mids took a very faint step back, but not recessed in any kind
- 3 pairs of tips for USD 15.-, this is very cheap for getting that confort level and this built quality, as the Symbio W seem to be made to last forever
Verdict: 9/10
FINAL E
- The slight narrower tip hole brings a bit of warmth in the SS, which is welcomed for me and that kind of revealing IEMs. The details are not sacrified, though.
- The Final E tips are solid but not as solid as the Symbio W
- Bass hits a bit harder and is even tighter than with the Symbio W
- Mids are more forward, but we are talking personal taste here
- Treble is airy, never harsh and smoother than with the Symbio W
Verdict: 9/10
So what then? 9/10 for both. Yes. The Symbio W and Final E totally outclassed any tips I tried with the S8F so far, meaning the JVC Spiral Dots, the Sony Silicon and triple confort and the Fearless stock ones.
Hey guys, you can get 2 slightly different sound flavours with an USD 30.- investment. They are not night and day, but depending on your music taste and SS preferences, they do make a differences. Much more than a fancy cable IMO. Buy both if you can and experiment yourself. In any case, Final and Symbio just nailed the tips topic. Bravo!
