Fir Audio Thread - Discussion and Impressions

[dpeterfy32]

I've tried the Orphy, OTL, FTS, Yatono 8w and Shiro 8w with the Rn6. The Rn6 actually pairs well with a broad range of cables (unlike the Xe6 which is more finicky in that regard). But the Shiro 8w in particular is by far the best pairing I've tried. It of course makes a big improvement in the technicalities, like all of the aforementioned cables. But in addition it makes the sub-bass more impactful and articulate; it leans out the mid-bass a little bit; and it's just PERFECT for the treble.. you get bite, crunch and detail with no excessive brightness/harshness/energy. I don't even know how to describe it, it's like there's a bit of thickness to the treble -- it's detailed but not thin, nor is it dark.

Put it to you this way -- I opted to sell the Fei Wan in favor of keeping the Rn6, even though the general perception on head-fi seems to be that the FW is in a higher category of performance.

The FW does have better staging, but when amped (I use Tur08 or TsuSC), and with the Shiro 8w, the Rn6's technicals are about as good in every other respect (the cable & amp also help give the Rn6 more stage depth). Then you add the visceral impact of the kinetic bass, and the fantastic treble and tuning... I'd say with the Shiro8w and an amp, it's still in the summit-fi category, even today.

what is the full exact name of Shiro 8w and Yatono 8w cable?

 

[Kozwoz]

I don’t think I have ever seen anybody ranking the Fei Wan higher than RN6, also HBB ranked RN6 higher than the Jewel in his last speed run video. I do trust HBB as he listened to a lot of high end stuff. And again it’s all subjective.

I also respect his opinions but he regularly dismisses Xe6 as just a basshead iem. Anyone that's listened to Xe6 for any extended amount of time knows it's much more than that.

 

[dpeterfy32]

I also respect his opinions but he regularly dismisses Xe6 as just a basshead iem. Anyone that's listened to Xe6 for any extended amount of time knows it's much more than that.

then he has not yet heard the full bass range that the xe6 can.

 

[MRT-Man]

what is the full exact name of Shiro 8w and Yatono 8w cable?

They’re made by Brise. Shirogane 8w and Yatono 8w.

 

[elnineteenth]

I also respect his opinions but he regularly dismisses Xe6 as just a basshead iem. Anyone that's listened to Xe6 for any extended amount of time knows it's much more than that.

I think most people trying the universal XE6 don’t think it’s a good iem, I don’t know if it’s a fit issue due to heavy shells and bad seal.

Now I have the XE6 as a custom that thing slaps veeery hard yet it still has crazy details, separation, and dynamics. I was wondering how even Crinacle gave it a D score it’s crazy to me. I went back to Mest2, GAEA and yet still XE6 has better technical performance

I think the only iems that I disagree with HBB rating are the underrating of the XE6 and overrating of the Scarlet mini. Other than that I think he’s legit as we have the same preference.

 

[OhmsClaw]

@elnineteenth
Because he's hates bass. His tuning preferences are tone deaf if you've ever tried his EQ presets for a wide variety of assets.

He'll give props to the Maestro all day and dismiss EE/FiR 24/7/365

When I tried the XE6 I was super pumped I got the Rn6 for my purposes/library/variety and also blown away it wasn't at all a "bass head iem"

Edited for a weird quote response that replied to MRT-Man

 

[elnineteenth]

@elnineteenth
Because he's hates bass. His tuning preferences are tone deaf if you've ever tried his EQ presets for a wide variety of assets.

He'll give props to the Maestro all day and dismiss EE/FiR 24/7/365

When I tried the XE6 I was super pumped I got the Rn6 for my purposes/library/variety and also blown away it wasn't at all a "bass head iem"

Edited for a weird quote response that replied to MRT-Man

I mean yeah I don’t know what he’s deal with Empire ears but he seems to not like or enjoy most of their stuff, I can’t comment tho because I haven’t tried them. Pretty sure EE stuff better than the Scarlet because SM only has bass.

But boy that XE6 is in a different league of TOTL performance I’d say Both XE6 and RN6 have the same technicalities but due to the different toning of the two you will be able to hear the details easier on RN6 comparing to XE6 both are fantastic.

It will be interesting to compare the two to the Grand maestro when I get it.

 

[Visceral]

Look at Crin grading criteria. Both Xe6 and Rn6 and almost every EE IEM are extremely ‘colored’. He grades off a ‘natural’ baseline response curve. He’s not saying they are terrible IEM’s that people won’t enjoy, he’s just grading it from his reference.

 

[elnineteenth]

Look at Crin grading criteria. Both Xe6 and Rn6 and almost every EE IEM are extremely ‘colored’. He grades off a ‘natural’ baseline response curve. He’s not saying they are terrible IEM’s that people won’t enjoy, he’s just grading it from his reference.

Bro the coloration is what we are looking for. Not trying to get a natural set with bass boost bs.

I want an engaging fun set.

How do you Compare the Canpur to XE6 ??

 

[dpeterfy32]

Bro the coloration is what we are looking for. Not trying to get a natural set with bass boost bs.

I want an engaging fun set.

How do you Compare the Canpur to XE6 ??

need completely linear tuning in the studio to make music, but it also tires the ears. listening to music requires a much smoother, calmer, smooth tone, with much more bass to be able to enjoy it.

 

[OhmsClaw]

I mean yeah I don’t know what he’s deal with Empire ears but he seems to not like or enjoy most of their stuff, I can’t comment tho because I haven’t tried them. Pretty sure EE stuff better than the Scarlet because SM only has bass.

But boy that XE6 is in a different league of TOTL performance I’d say Both XE6 and RN6 have the same technicalities but due to the different toning of the two you will be able to hear the details easier on RN6 comparing to XE6 both are fantastic.

It will be interesting to compare the two to the Grand maestro when I get it.

I had the SM on tour for a week... I only needed 3 days to send it on its way.

It's an overpriced meme. Very impressive that so much bass comes out of such a small shell, but it's eventually fatiguing and not suitable for any genre that's not a bass exhibition. Vocal trance was unlistenable

The Mini and Scarlet don't hold a candle to EE. The Grand, however, looks like it brings the goods but it's also a $2000+ jump in price

 

[elnineteenth]

It's an overpriced meme. Very impressive that so much bass comes out of such a small shell, but it's eventually fatiguing and not suitable for any genre that's not a bass exhibition. Vocal trance was unlistenable

The Mini and Scarlet don't hold a candle to EE. The Grand, however, looks like it brings the goods but it's also a $2000+ jump in price

well for me I owned the Scarlet mini for three months and definitely it’s overpriced and it under delivers.

The shells aren’t vented properly to release the pressure build up which results in huge fatigue over one hour of listen.

The build quality on the Scarlet mini is especially very poor as I had two units back to back that broke on me. The drivers started distorting for some reason with channel imbalance.

The only iem from Fatfreq that I think could compete with XE6, and RN6 is the Grand Maestro and I’m waiting on a unit to arrive in the near future hopefully.

For $800 you get good amount of bass but everything else is very pushed back and while I think it’s fun for what it could do, it’s not worth owning. Also, it’s very very hard to drive.

I actually recommend the Xenns UP over Scarlet all day long because it brings great bass, mids, vocals, yes it needs a little bit more treble to cut through that bass which can be improved by swapping the stock cable and using a decent source.

 

[dpeterfy32]

well for me I owned the Scarlet mini for three months and definitely it’s overpriced and it under delivers.

The shells aren’t vented properly to release the pressure build up which results in huge fatigue over one hour of listen.

The build quality on the Scarlet mini is especially very poor as I had two units back to back that broke on me. The drivers started distorting for some reason with channel imbalance.

The only iem from Fatfreq that I think could compete with XE6, and RN6 is the Grand Maestro and I’m waiting on a unit to arrive in the near future hopefully.

For $800 you get good amount of bass but everything else is very pushed back and while I think it’s fun for what it could do, it’s not worth owning. Also, it’s very very hard to drive.

I actually recommend the Xenns UP over Scarlet all day long because it brings great bass, mids, vocals, yes it needs a little bit more treble to cut through that bass which can be improved by swapping the stock cable and using a decent source.

Grand Maestro costs half as much as xe6, not a category.

 

[elnineteenth]

Grand Maestro costs half as much as xe6, not a category.

Not really half GM with upgraded cable and all modules is 3.4K without is 2.9 and the XE6 is 3.9k

 

[Beh0lder]

Not really half GM with upgraded cable and all modules is 3.4K without is 2.9 and the XE6 is 3.9k

Xe6 gets even pricier if you opt for the new custom metal shells just saw them on their IG profile https://www.instagram.com/p/C-W5ivzOii7/?igsh=cWF0ZzhhYjh3eWo5

This is straight FiRe, their new faceplates also kick ass. I've already picked a design, now I'm patiently waiting for the nextest frontier of IEMs