Flare Audio – FLARES® – (R2.x successor) KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

[LuckyNat]

i just need less sibilance, a little more punch to bass. and maybe a tad more midbass.

you surely don't mean less than the R2? Definitely something the R2s don't do (unless is there on the recording of course).

That's one week down since the "a matter of weeks" message! Am putting money in a jar, ready.

 

[james444]

i just need less sibilance, a little more punch to bass. and maybe a tad more midbass.

 
Agreed, smoother treble would obviate the need for foamies, or additional teabag filters in case of silicone tips. For me, personally, bass is just about right though.

 

[xoxiax]

I agree also with the sibilance appreciation. Comparing the same songs with other headphones (and same source, obviously), it shows that tendency, it could clearly be bettered (right at this moment leonard cohen is enlarging his sssss pronunciation in a way my audeze sine's restrain completely) .
 
For the bass i'd love also, how can i say it, a little bit more of roar and kick, more weight and impact, that effect of voiding the air some good cans or subwoofers have. At home it sounds very good, but the street use reduces the rumble and the kick considerably, so a little bit more, if they manage to keep it in its zone preserving it from invading the mids, would be very well received by some of us (considering other messages at flare's forums).
 
If i remember well, they're going to release two or three models, so maybe they could offer that different signature with one of them...or better, a bass dial as the Senn's ie 80 had  to keep us all happy (well, in some way the flares had it spinning in and out the back cap, but it was a risky game increasing the possibility of losing them if you didn't step up the pressure of the endcap´s thread with @james444 rings mod)
 
And by the way, in respect to the the frustrated bunch of faithful waiters who have been expecting the new model for almost one year now, will they, at least, contact us to be warned for early bird discounts or something??? No news, no compassionate lies, no communication in any way with us, their freakiest online community of fanatic followers with proved fidelity, the genuine Flared people who only have a brand on their eyes...

 

[myemaildw]

I agree also with the sibilance appreciation. Comparing the same songs with other headphones (and same source, obviously), it shows that tendency, it could clearly be bettered (right at this moment leonard cohen is enlarging his sssss pronunciation in a way my audeze sine's restrain completely) .

For the bass i'd love also, how can i say it, a little bit more of roar and kick, more weight and impact, that effect of voiding the air some good cans or subwoofers have. At home it sounds very good, but the street use reduces the rumble and the kick considerably, so a little bit more, if they manage to keep it in its zone preserving it from invading the mids, would be very well received by some of us (considering other messages at flare's forums).

If i remember well, they're going to release two or three models, so maybe they could offer that different signature with one of them...or better, a bass dial as the Senn's ie 80 had  to keep us all happy (well, in some way the flares had it spinning in and out the back cap, but it was a risky game increasing the possibility of losing them if you didn't step up the pressure of the endcap´s thread with @james444
 rings mod)

And by the way, in respect to the the frustrated bunch of faithful waiters who have been expecting the new model for almost one year now, will they, at least, contact us to be warned for early bird discounts or something??? No news, no compassionate lies, no communication in any way with us, their freakiest online community of fanatic followers with proved fidelity, the genuine Flared people who only have a brand on their eyes...

The bass is nice and huge on flare stainles, it seemed small, and I don't detect sinilance, extension to highs isn't there either. It's midhead iem with mids being nice and best.

how do mids compare between flare and audeze sine? which has better mids? thanks

 

[james444]

  For the bass i'd love also, how can i say it, a little bit more of roar and kick, more weight and impact, that effect of voiding the air some good cans or subwoofers have. At home it sounds very good, but the street use reduces the rumble and the kick considerably, so a little bit more, if they manage to keep it in its zone preserving it from invading the mids, would be very well received by some of us (considering other messages at flare's forums).

 
Personally, I tend to think that's a limitation of microdriver technology and not just related to bass amplitude. I've never heard a microdriver being able to convey bass weight and authority quite like larger dynamic drivers. For instance, the Sony EX1000 and 7550 with 16mm drivers have less bass amplitude than the Flares, but convey more authority imo. Same goes for my modded Fostex 02n with 9mm drivers. Of course that's just a subjective impression. YMMV.

 

[Jackpot77]

Personally, I tend to think that's a limitation of microdriver technology and not just related to bass amplitude. I've never heard a microdriver being able to convey bass weight and authority quite like larger dynamic drivers. For instance, the Sony EX1000 and 7550 with 16mm drivers have less bass amplitude than the Flares, but convey more authority imo. Same goes for my modded Fostex 02n with 9mm drivers. Of course that's just a subjective impression. YMMV.

Would the pressure balancing tech that Flare have implemented in the R2 series prohibit a real "slam" from the bass response as well by design? I certainly didn't have any issues about lack of bass with my R2As, but interested to know if the benefits of the design they are using come with any inherent tradeoffs?

 

[james444]

Would the pressure balancing tech that Flare have implemented in the R2 series prohibit a real "slam" from the bass response as well by design? I certainly didn't have any issues about lack of bass with my R2As, but interested to know if the benefits of the design they are using come with any inherent tradeoffs?

 
I don't think so, since other microdrivers I've heard felt similar. Maybe it's the amount of air being displaced by the diaphragm, but I can't say for sure. Larger drivers just seem to sound more "authoritative" to me, regardless of bass amplitude.

 

[tarhana]

you surely don't mean less than the R2? Definitely something the R2s don't do (unless is there on the recording of course).

That's one week down since the "a matter of weeks" message! Am putting money in a jar, ready.

 
i definetly hear sibilance. not just on voices but on hi-hats, rings etc. too. recently read about in some forum or reddit, ear shape affecting the hearing spectrum. maybe your ears don't pick the peak on the 2-5khz.
 
 

   
Agreed, smoother treble would obviate the need for foamies, or additional teabag filters in case of silicone tips. For me, personally, bass is just about right though.

 
yeah treble is rolled off but it's still too harsh. i use wax guard and foamies but still sometimes it makes me shiver
 
btw james what's your impressions on fostex te02n? should i buy it? does it compliment the r2a?
 
 
new flares will have open back design if you look at the prototypes. i wonder if they created new drivers?

 

[james444]

  btw james what's your impressions on fostex te02n? should i buy it? does it compliment the r2a?

 
The TE-02n are awesome. Modding them has been a favorite pastime of mine. It's a long story... (google for TE-02n mod, can't link to it here).
 
Contrary to the Flares, the modded Fostex sound very smooth and have zero sibilance. Sadly they're being discontinued and getting hard to find now.
 
I hope the new Flares will be a step up in refinement, 'cause I really like the form factor of the R2A/R2PROs.

 

[betula]

 I wouldn't say the R2pros are sibilant with harsh treble, pretty much on the contrary. Source and tips probably play a role here. (I use Mojo and custom tips.)
The R2pros might not have the punchiest bass and maybe they are not the most refined IEMs, but they do have a very natural, well-balanced, coherent, smooth, easy-listening sound which is engaging.
 I always thought, with the Nighthawks I already found the smoothest and most fatigueless treble and overall sound, but the R2pros are even smoother, and easier to listen to. The R2pros are not as refined and spacious as the Nighthawks, but in natural presentation they are very close. The Nighthawk might be more fun and sounds a bit more exciting in comparison, and the R2pro might not have the most detailed summit-fi sound ever, but its coherent wholeness is a relief and joy to the tired ears. Bass is also there, when the recording calls for it, I never really missed bass with the pros. A 5mm driver will probably never be able to produce the dynamic and punchy low-end some people miss here, but the pro's sound quality and bass is more than impressive for two tiny bullets what they are. These are about natural and balanced sound, not thumping bass or shimmering treble. (And SQ is easily comparable to mid-fi full sized headphones imo.)
I love the R2pros for what they are. Tiny IEMs with a very natural, coherent, smooth sound for my travelings. Very interested, what Flare's next shot will be. It has been a long year of promises and waiting.

 

[holden4th]

I've had sibilance from my R2As but that was tip related. No problems with the Spinfits or Orotons but quite clearly heard with the Spiral Dots. The SDs did the same to my IE80s.

 

[all999]

The original Flares are designed for use with Complys, trying any other silicones or foams always ended up as more or less a disaster. My R2S are non sibilance with really good and big bass (midbass accent) and good treble. But their greatest strenght is midrange. The best I've ever heard on iems. Looking forward to see what Flare Audio is cooking there.

 

[myemaildw]

The original Flares are designed for use with Complys, trying any other silicones or foams always ended up as more or less a disaster. My R2S are non sibilance with really good and big bass (midbass accent) and good treble. But their greatest strenght is midrange. The best I've ever heard on iems. Looking forward to see what Flare Audio is cooking there.

MID HEAD iem, love it for mids, nothing beat it yet, even noble x doesn't beat r2s mids

 

[mochill]

Cardas , fx1200, gr07x, Hera , zero are midheads iems

 

[LuckyNat]

   
i definetly hear sibilance. not just on voices but on hi-hats, rings etc. too. recently read about in some forum or reddit, ear shape affecting the hearing spectrum. maybe your ears don't pick the peak on the 2-5khz.
 
 
 
yeah treble is rolled off but it's still too harsh. i use wax guard and foamies but still sometimes it makes me shiver
 
btw james what's your impressions on fostex te02n? should i buy it? does it compliment the r2a?
 
 
new flares will have open back design if you look at the prototypes. i wonder if they created new drivers?

 
It is definately a new driver - berillium domes from what I remember.
 
The peak you speak of is still what I'd call midrange - upper midrange, but still midrange. Sibilance is considered to be in the 8 - 16Khz range. So perhaps its something else?