[Haidar]

How do the Piano Forte VIII, IX, and X sound relative to one another? 
 
Has anyone heard earphones that are more euphonic & tube-like than these?
For example, Earsonics SM3, Radius HP-TWF21, Audio-Technica CKW1000ANV...

 

[james444]

Quote:

How do the Piano Forte VIII, IX, and X sound relative to one another? 
 
Has anyone heard earphones that are more euphonic & tube-like than these?
For example, Earsonics SM3, Radius HP-TWF21, Audio-Technica CKW1000ANV...

 
Can't speak for the Piano Fortes, since I only have the VIII, but I own both the brass (1601SB) and steel version (1601SS) of their predecessors and they sound 95% the same, with only very minor differences.
 
In fact, that's the reason why I went for the cheaper PF VIII over the pricier PF IX, but I can't rule out the possibility that there may be a larger sound difference between brass and steel in the Piano Forte series.

 

[MuppetFace]

Quote:

How do the Piano Forte VIII, IX, and X sound relative to one another? 
 
Has anyone heard earphones that are more euphonic & tube-like than these?
For example, Earsonics SM3, Radius HP-TWF21, Audio-Technica CKW1000ANV...

 
The PF VIII, IX, and X are very similar sounding to my ears. As you go up the ranks they get warmer however. Despite being twice the price, the X isn't "better." It's simply the same idea taken to its logical conclusion: the most mid-centric, warm, and fluid of the bunch.
 
Other three you mention (Earsonics, Radius, AT) are going to have more bass / lower end presence. The PFs are much more mid-centric. The PFs also have the most expansive presentation, with the Radius coming the closest of the others IMHO.

 

[ianmedium]

Very much enjoying the huge dynamic range of Muddy Waters Folk singer album. I found 'Long Distance' on youtube for you to listen to. This album is fantastic with the PF's!

[VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kgvlvo5OLA[/VIDEO]

 

[seeteeyou]

.

 

[tomscy2000]

I spoke to an acquaintance of mine close to FAD (and is also a collector, and uses a 1601SC as a daily IEM) who heard the Heaven VI, and his personal opinion is that he feels the VI isn't much of an improvement over the IV... I don't know what to make of it, whether the VI is not as good as we hope, or whether the IV is better than we give it credit for. I do think the IV is enjoyable, just a bit bland in the grand landscape of ostentatious FAD 'phones. I'm actually a bit curious about the Heaven II now, which has their new BA driver... even though it's going to be the lowest-end Heaven, it might actually prove to be an interesting one. Personally, I'm a bit saddened by the disappearance of the vent holes... from what it seems, the new tubular Heaven line uses an air bladder to equalize air pressures.

 

[tomscy2000]

I have to confess --- I have a never-ending and logic-defying love affair with the FI-BA-SS. I really, really enjoy putting them away for 2-3 weeks at a time and use my standard fare before breaking them out for a few hours of pure aural bliss. There is just something incredibly special about them. I know a lot of people here have the same feeling about the PF IX & X --- my vice is the FI-BA-SS.
 
As an aside, I'm probably going to be taking these with me (they're my brightest earphones) to audition the Ultrasone Tio and IQ. We're already hearing the expected about these things, but I got a sudden pang of morbid curiosity and just had to try them out.

 

[ianmedium]

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts of the ultrasones in comparison to the SS. I must admit I have yet to hear an ultrasone headphone that I have liked. They just leave me cold, I find their presentation of music flat and lifeless in the ones I have tried so I must admit I had to look up the ones you mentioned as I tend to ignore the company!

 

[tomscy2000]

Quote:

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts of the ultrasones in comparison to the SS. I must admit I have yet to hear an ultrasone headphone that I have liked. They just leave me cold, I find their presentation of music flat and lifeless in the ones I have tried so I must admit I had to look up the ones you mentioned as I tend to ignore the company!

 
Like I said, morbid curiosity...

 

[james444]

Quote:

I have to confess --- I have a never-ending and logic-defying love affair with the FI-BA-SS. I really, really enjoy putting them away for 2-3 weeks at a time and use my standard fare before breaking them out for a few hours of pure aural bliss. There is just something incredibly special about them. I know a lot of people here have the same feeling about the PF IX & X --- my vice is the FI-BA-SS.

 
I feel exactly the same way about my FI-BA-SS (although I do appreciate the 1601 and PFs, too). I hadn't listened to them for quite some time now, but when I returned from my Sennheiser IE800 audition today, I simply felt compelled to pick them up and listen to the same "Un poco Allegretto e grazioso" I had heard with the Senns an hour earlier. Needless to say, it took only a few bars into music until I found myself smiling all over the face...

 

 

[eke2k6]

Speaking of the FI-BA-SS, there's a track that I truly regret not listening to when I had it:
 
The version I have is actually performed by Adriana Kohutkova, not this specific one.
 

 

[cooperpwc]

After barely listening to them for the last few weeks - travel and just kind of not motivated - I am having a great PF IX day. With these headphones it is a mood thing. When I am ready for them, they just blow me away. Listening to Replacements' Let It Be, Strawb's Hero And Heroine, and a bunch of other rock.

 

[MuppetFace]

Quote:

As an aside, I'm probably going to be taking these with me (they're my brightest earphones) to audition the Ultrasone Tio and IQ. We're already hearing the expected about these things, but I got a sudden pang of morbid curiosity and just had to try them out.

 
Expected as in ear-shedders? I was wondering if the IQ might be saved if Ultrasone had little to do with it, but I guess they tuned it for that "Ultrasone magic?"

 

[tomscy2000]

Quote:

  Expected as in ear-shedders? I was wondering if the IQ might be saved if Ultrasone had little to do with it, but I guess they tuned it for that "Ultrasone magic?"

 
Unfortunately, morbid curiosity has been put on hold. The store that had them sent them away for a loan and it won't return for another 3 weeks or so... guess I'll have to damage my hair cells later...

 

[seeteeyou]

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