[jim723]

How does the JH13v2, Angie, Rosie, Roxanne compare to S8F and S8P?

Well, I did compare the S8F and S8P with a pair JH13v2 (re-shelled) and my impression is that S8F/S8P have slightly better (wider) soundstage and dynamic than JH. JH is smoother and probably a little more refined. The JH will most likely be less fatiguing. However, please take my comment with a grain of salt since my JH13 has been re-shelled.

 

[thesheik137]

First Impressions: Fearless S8Z

A very good release from Fearless. First impressions are that it's not as bassy or upperbass-bloated in bass compared to the S8F. However I'd have to warn that if you find the S8F intense, the S8Z may be even more forward with the sound. Hihats in One Ok Rock's Cry Out were aggressive but filled with air and shimmer. Crash and ride cymbals sound a bit uneven somewhere within the treble response (more of the lower treble side) but sport excellent extension into the upper treble.

It sounds less warm than the S8F and has a more energetic presentation. High resolution sound and would say this is the best from Fearless. Will definitely give this another go tomorrow and update what I think/hear.

 

[wayofthedawn]

s8z graph from official taobao

I asked around at different shop, if they had any clue about the Fearless Audio S8Z, and this is what i got told:
"S8Z is balanced tuning, compared with s8f, the low frequency is lighter, the middle frequency is forward, and the high frequency extension is not too exciting"

Again this is just what i got told, i don't own the Fearless Audio S8Z myself!

 

[toranku]

S8Z measures similarly to S8F but with less bass.

 

[SilverEars]

S8Z measures similarly to S8F but with less bass.

It doesn't, but less bass part is true.

 

[toranku]

It doesn't, but less bass part is true.

It does. A buddy with an IEC-711 compliant mic (very similar setup to crinacle's with a different source) measured it in front of me and compared it.

 

[SilverEars]

It does. A buddy with an IEC-711 compliant mic (very similar setup to crinacle's with a different source) measured it in front of me and compared it.

I was basing off of Crin's S8F graph and the previous posted graph from Taobao, but will have to see if it's really different or similar to the Taobao graph. You can post your friend's graph if you have it.

 

[toranku]

I'd like to emphasise that this is not the same rig as crinacle's (it differs in the source aspect). You can see that the entire FR only differs by 1-2dB. The methodology for measurement is different here as well - tips are not used to seal the earphone to the coupler. Uses blu-tack instead since that's what my friend prefers. This is why the graph of S8F looks different than from crinacle's.

Measurements should only be compared on the same rig. Do not compare crin's graph with whatever fearless puts out because it will not be a fair comparison as the variables are different.

Edit: While they are similar on graph, the S8Z sounds better to me and sport better clarity in the entire spectrum.

 

[ErkH]

fearless probably use narrow eartips for their measurment, sometimes tips with narrow nozzle could decrease resonance peak at 4k.

Edit: toranku's s8z graph looks very similar to fearless's s8z graph. I guess the tuning of s8z is different than s8f, seems to have less 4khz and more 6-8khz.

I have never listened to s8z/s8f before, but judging on the graph above, I think s8z's 6-8khz response will probaly driving me carzy while s8f's 6-8khz response seems acceptable to me.

 

[SilverEars]

Edit: While they are similar on graph, the S8Z sounds better to me and sport better clarity in the entire spectrum.

They are not similar in graph, but does resemble the Taobao measurement. It's not as simple as different rig results in radically different results. So far, they are not similar at all, unless you can show a measurement that does show similarities.

 

[toranku]

They are not similar in graph, but does resemble the Taobao measurement. It's not as simple as different rig results in radically different results. So far, they are not similar at all, unless you can show a measurement that does show similarities.

Look again. It's within 1-2dB. The curve is very similar. The vertical scale is very stretched. If I were to manipulate the graph by decreasing the vertical scale, it would look even more similar.

 

[Marcusch]

I wonder if either you may have a pair of defective S8F or it might be the 4.4 mm cable. I have had the chance to demo several Fearless models (S8F, S8P, S10, ACME8) with my DX160 and didn't hear any hissing. I do agree though that the soundstage and dynamic are the best with both S8F and S8P. The soundstage is slightly smaller with ACME8 and even smaller with S10. I didn't try the 4.4mm output on DX160 because I don't have the right cables.

Yeah that's what I am suspecting too a defect cable or IEM. Sending back to the manufacturer after Lunar New Year as they are having holidays until 6 February.

I did further test with my home rig on a 3.5mm cable. Out of Aune X1S it's dead silent no hiss unless I turn it up all the way to max volume .

iPhone 4S almost no hiss similar to Hiby R5.

iPhone 4 very very slight hiss similar to Sony ZX507

iPod Nano 2G noticeable hissing similar to iBasso DX160.

Sound quality: AUNE X1S >iPhone 4s = iPod Nano 2G > iPhone 4

Temporary iPhone 4S will be my portable DAP until the manufacturer fixed the hissing issue.

 

[mxxl]

I'd like to emphasise that this is not the same rig as crinacle's (it differs in the source aspect). You can see that the entire FR only differs by 1-2dB. The methodology for measurement is different here as well - tips are not used to seal the earphone to the coupler. Uses blu-tack instead since that's what my friend prefers. This is why the graph of S8F looks different than from crinacle's.

Measurements should only be compared on the same rig. Do not compare crin's graph with whatever fearless puts out because it will not be a fair comparison as the variables are different.

Edit: While they are similar on graph, the S8Z sounds better to me and sport better clarity in the entire spectrum.

Whats with the channel imbalance in the upper treble?

 

[thesheik137]

Whats with the channel imbalance in the upper treble?

It's not channel imbalance it's 2 different iems. S8Z and S8F. Look at the upper right corner.

 

[mxxl]

It's not channel imbalance it's 2 different iems. S8Z and S8F. Look at the upper right corner.

Oh, I see. Treble looks much better than the s8f then.