[peareye]

Does anyone have an opinion of how close does the Heaven VI come to conveying the sound of the Lab 1?
 
or are they not that similar?
 
Thanks

 

[cooperpwc]

  Does anyone have an opinion of how close does the Heaven VI come to conveying the sound of the Lab 1?
 
or are they not that similar?
 
Thanks

 
Both excellent but not too similar. The Heaven VI is all about the euphonics. It has heavenly mids with vocals especially compelling. The soundstage is reasonably wide and has good imaging because of the single BA. The Heaven VI does everything well. It is my go-to IEM.
 
The Lab 1 is all about ambience. It does things in the soundstage that are difficult to describe. Layering... pinpoint imaging L to R but oddly 3D from front to back... a dome like concert hall in your head... Like I said, it is difficult to describe.
 
I am of a small group who think that the Lab 1 is contender for most compelling headphone in the world. But it is not especially accurate or fast. It can't replace my HD800. The Heaven VI is also an all-round better performer across genres.
 
(It sounds like the Heaven VII and VIII might be closer in ambience to the Lab 1 but I have not heard them.)

 

[peareye]

I know I can afford the Heaven VI...it's the others that have  me worried!
 
...it does sound like I should start with the Heaven VI first and see where that takes me...I'm not really looking for accuracy; just the experience!

 

[cooperpwc]

Heaven VI is a great IEM. I prefer it to my Westone ES5 which is a very well regarded custom IEM.
 
YMMV of course.

 

[peareye]

Thanks...now the search for one begins!

 

[cooperpwc]

A couple more points about the Heaven Vi. They isolate better than the Lab1. I travel with both but on airplanes and trains I always use the Heaven VI. (Conversely, at my destination kicking back with a cigar, I always listen to the Lab 1.) The isolation does make the Heaven VI a better all purpose go-to IEM.
 
With Heaven VI, be sure to use the B tips (wide bore). I don't know why they even include the A tips. The wide bore gives some depth to the soundstage.

 

[cooperpwc]

 
Cowon P1 - Not the best paired but ok when Amp'ed
 
For me order of best pairing is:
 
Tera Player + Portaphile 627 Micro (OPA627BP)
Calyx M + NXT-2AK
Tera Player + NXT-2AK
Tera Player
AK240SS + NXT-2AK
QLS QA360
RWAK120 Titan
AK120II
 
Haven't tried other pairings!

 
Have you not tried the Lotoo Paw Gold with the Lab 1? That pairing interests me!

 

[peareye]

  A couple more points about the Heaven Vi. They isolate better than the Lab1. I travel with both but on airplanes and trains I always use the Heaven VI. (Conversely, at my destination kicking back with a cigar, I always listen to the Lab 1.) The isolation does make the Heaven VI a better all purpose go-to IEM.
 
With Heaven VI, be sure to use the B tips (wide bore). I don't know why they even include the A tips. The wide bore gives some depth to the soundstage.

Sounds like these would be good for me in a few weeks...doing a ten hour to Prague. The plane's drone was so distracting last summer, i almost bought a pair of Bose NC.

 

[peareye]

Ordered a new pair of Heaven VI's just now...coming from Japan...

 

[sonickarma]

   
Have you not tried the Lotoo Paw Gold with the Lab 1? That pairing interests me!

Yes that works very well as well, I have so many sources/DAPs, I didn't list them all earlier.

 

[lescanadiens]

Thank you for the feedback.
Definitely you have awesome taste and combos!

Cowon P1 - Not the best paired but ok when Amp'ed

For me order of best pairing is:

Tera Player + Portaphile 627 Micro (OPA627BP)
Calyx M + NXT-2AK
Tera Player + NXT-2AK
Tera Player
AK240SS + NXT-2AK
QLS QA360
RWAK120 Titan
AK120II

Haven't tried other pairings!

 

[proedros]

does anyone know which of the three is the most balanced/analytical/detailed ?

Heaven 6-7-8
 
thanx

 

 

[noxa]

Not heard personally but it seems the VII is the one tuned for a more linear and analytical sound.

 

[cooperpwc]

  Ordered a new pair of Heaven VI's just now...coming from Japan...

 
Excellent! (I got mine from Japan too.)
 
I had a fantastic session last night with the Calyx M and Heaven VI beside a river up here in Northern China. I just cannot fault this combination. It sounds great.
 
I declare that if someone asks me: "what should I get for a portable personal stereo?', my reply is that for about $1500 you cannot go wrong with the M and VI. 

 

[peareye]

By coincidence, i listened to the calyx and a&k 100ii side by side probably about 6 months ago...with the Heaven V....i eliminated the a&k within a few minutes....
 
it sounded so digital compared to the calyx. The calyx sounded so much more analogue, coherent and involving...you know when you just listen to the music and 
 
not the equipment....
 
I guess that's it: with the a&k 100ii, i was listening to the equipment and with the calyx, i was listening to the music....
 
 
now if only it was cheaper!