Fit for a Bat! – Flagship IEMs Shootout (8:CT6E, 7:H8P, 6:JH13, 5:K10, 4:BD4.2, 3:A12, 2:W500, 1:SE5U)

[Wil]

Just placed an order for the non-ahmorph variant of the w500..the wait begins!

 

[Carlsan]

Massdrop really has to get some of these discounted, the W500 would be fine in my book. 
 
That is excluding the H8P which I did get from Massdrop when it dropped. 

 

[jmills8]

Where'd you get them?

Welcome No plans for Lear at the moment.

Thanks
No problem. I'm just glad you're back to the basshead side. Ha.
Lifted this from my Lear LCM BD4.2 review:

[COLOR=333333]The AAW W500 and the Lear LCM BD4.2 are the two CIEMs in this shootout that are hybrids, pairing dynamic drivers for the bass; with BA drivers for the rest of the spectrum. The AAW W500 has one dynamic bass driver, while the Lear LCM BD4.2 boasts two. Little wonder that I frequently got people asking me about how the two compare. Well, the Lear has some of the bass best I've ever heard, but the AAW W500 is even better. The AAW's bass hits like a sledgehammer, with more weight and authority than any other IEM I've heard- including the Lear. Its bass is also a bit faster, and decays in an even more textbook fashion. Interestingly, while it's a bit like an uber-dynamic in the above qualities, it also is tighter and cleaner than the Lear's low-end. It's not all negative for the Lear, though- its bass has a naturalness of tone that's clearly better; and also boasts a bit more detail. Getting to the sub-bass, it's safe to say that both these IEMs easily reach into the deepest reaches of the sea, feeding on hapless minions for breakfast. But the AAW has better slam in the darkest corners of the bass, with a more enveloping and bountiful presentation.[/COLOR]

The w500 issues is its horrible Mids and Treble.As for Bass the w500 has bass but most that have a Dynamic Driver will have bass but the focus is how good and compared to what. The Sony Z5 with its 16 mm Drivers have superior bass compared to the w500. The Lear with two tiny DD is good and its mids and treble work well together but I choose the Z5.

 

[Kerouac]

Quote:  
The w500 issues is its horrible Mids and Treble.As for Bass the w500 has bass but most that have a Dynamic Driver will have bass but the focus is how good and compared to what. The Sony Z5 with its 16 mm Drivers have superior bass compared to the w500. The Lear with two tiny DD is good and its mids and treble work well together but I choose the Z5.

Interesting...
Did you have the chance to A-B test these iems? I have the Z5 and think it's great (especially bass), but I almost can't imagine that it outperforms or would have gotten a higher score than the (both also much more expensive) W500 and BD4.2 in FFAB

 
Anyway, I wouldn't know as I only have the Z5 in my (small) collection without the chance to audition the other 2

 

[jmills8]

Interesting...


Did you have the chance to A-B test these iems? I have the Z5 and think it's great (especially bass), but I almost can't imagine that it outperforms or would have gotten a higher score than the (both also much more expensive) W500 and BD4.2 in FFAB :blink:


 


Anyway, I wouldn't know as I only have the Z5 in my (small) collection without the chance to audition the other 2 :rolleyes:

I had all three at the same time for over a week.

 

[Kerouac]

I had all three at the same time for over a week.

Wow, in that case you could do a very serieus comparison between those 3 (c)iems

I wish I had the chance...

 

[jmills8]

Wow, in that case you could do a very serieus comparison between those 3 (c)iems


I wish I had the chance...

Obvious the one I have the Z5. Between the other two I would get the Lear 4.2 but the Solar would be the smart choice.

 

[Kerouac]

Obvious the one I have the Z5. Between the other two I would get the Lear 4.2 but the Solar would be the smart choice.

Well, maybe I'm smart then

Anyhow, I would love to A-B test the Solar against some (also looking at K10) of these FFAB contenders.
 
I'm even considering a custom (would be the first in my life) SE5 atm, based on Jasons review. Have to raise the budget (by selling some stuff) first though and then decide between the reference and ultimate...I also see they have a (much cheaper) SE4 reference...would like to know how that one compares to the SE5 also, but nobody seems (can't find any SE4 posts) to have it

 

[Libertad]

My friend go custom you wont regret it just be warned once you go past this gateway into customs there is no going back to anything else it just wont add up trust me 

 

[jmills8]

Well, maybe I'm smart then


Anyhow, I would love to A-B test the Solar against some (also looking at K10) of these FFAB contenders.


 


I'm even considering a custom (would be the first in my life) SE5 atm, based on Jasons review. Have to raise the budget (by selling some stuff) first though and then decide between the reference and ultimate...I also see they have a (much cheaper) SE4 reference...would like to know how that one compares to the SE5 also, but nobody seems (can't find any SE4 posts)

Yes by reading one will desire the 5 way. I had the 5 way then when the H8P came out I bought the H8P then K10 then NT6P then the Z5.

 

[Mimouille]

Yes by reading one will desire the 5 way. I had the 5 way then when the H8P came out I bought the H8P then K10 then NT6P then the Z5.

And which one do you prefer? Btw the 5way ref and ultimate are quite different.

 

[jmills8]

And which one do you prefer? Btw the 5way ref and ultimate are quite different.

when I bought there was only one 5 way. I listen to many styles of music and I enioy deep bass that has a punch with clear treble and smooth mids.I am enjoying the Z5 with the Arrow amp. The Solar beats the 5 way, H8P, K10, NT6P.

 

[Mimouille]

when I bought there was only one 5 way. I listen to many styles of music and I enioy deep bass that has a punch with clear treble and smooth mids.I am enjoying the Z5 with the Arrow amp. The Solar beats the 5 way, H8P, K10, NT6P.

Thanks, this Solar seems interesting.

 

[Kerouac]

  My friend go custom you wont regret it just be warned once you go past this gateway into customs there is no going back to anything else it just wont add up trust me 

Thanks for the advise and that's exactly what I'm afraid of

 
Till now I always bought universals, also because they keep better resell (will sell my V6S one of these days) value. When I buy a custom, I must be pretty sure of the fact that I will like it...unfortunatelly I don't have enough audio budget to buy lots of them and as auditioning them is not possible over here, I have to base my choice on what I read about them. So, because of this I'm extremely happy with and thankfull for the FFAB reviews.
 

Btw the 5way ref and ultimate are quite different.

Are they that different? I think you've heard/had them both, right?
I looked at this post / chart by tupac0306: http://www.head-fi.org/t/549298/review-spiral-ear-se-5-way-reference-a-new-level-of-resolution-review-posted-5-15-12/2220#post_11875080 and it seemed that they were not that far off each other => still in doubt between them

Btw, I was also positively surprised how good the 1p2 (which I have and like) does in this comparison
 

Thanks, this Solar seems interesting.

 
The Solar sounds amazing: http://www.head-fi.org/products/rhapsodio-10ba
For me it was only possible to compare it to a few iems and I would really like to know how it holds up to other totl iems...there will be a Rhapsodio in the next FFAB, but it's the Rti2 instead of the Solar. When you look at Metalboys Solar review you see he also has a 5SE. But his one was reshelled by Custom Art => I don't know how much that influences the sq (in a negative way?) compared to the original Spiral Ear one.

 

[fiascogarcia]

The Solar sounds amazing: http://www.head-fi.org/products/rhapsodio-10ba For me it was only possible to compare it to a few iems and I would really like to know how it holds up to other totl iems...there will be a Rhapsodio in the next FFAB, but it's the Rti2 instead of the Solar. When you look at Metalboys Solar review you see he also has a 5SE. But his one was reshelled by Custom Art => I don't know how much that influences the sq (in a negative way?) compared to the original Spiral Ear one.

I'm surprised SE could be reshelled.  I thought they had built some sort of anti- reverse technology protection nto their construction.