SerenaxD
100+ Head-Fier
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- Dec 20, 2012
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So my new toy just came in...
I'd love to hear impressions of SQ comparisons between the FLC8S and any of the newer models. The FR graphs that Forrest posted a while back looked awfully similar...
Anybody able to share any comparisons yet?
Do the new models fit a bit better in the ear .. I mean are they comfortable?
Just want to share some initial impressions on the 8N. My impressions are quite positive, and I want to be careful with my writing, as I don't want to start any hype given the fact that I don't have many other IEMs in the price range to compare. Just the Senn IE80S and the Simgot EN700Pro. And I prefer the 8N over both those IEMs.
First things first, the tuning system. I don't like the bass tuning filters as they are made of rubber-like material and seem quite delicate for continuous swaps. Not only they could easily wear out, but if you are not careful when swapping them, you could easily lose them given their diminutive size and bouncy nature. Especially, DON'T CHANGE THE BASS FILTERS IN A ROOM WITH CARPET FLOORING. The mid-high filters are fine as they are screwable type and are made of metal. But I guess these things are no news for people who already own the 8S.
So the sound... in its default config (Grey, Grey, Gold), 8N has a balanced, slightly warm and a slightly laid-back sound. This kind of tuning is right up my alley. But for someone preferring a neutral sound with detailed treble, the default config will come across smooth and quite laid-back. The placement of the presentation is neither forward nor backward and the stage is very spacious. Definitely wider than deep. So the lateral separation of instruments is very good while the layering is average. The note structure is quite neutral with the right amount of warmth and body. It doesn't display any strong characteristics that would swing the crowd in one direction or the other. Also it is not too neutral to a point it is boring either. A balanced sound that works with most genres and allows for prolonged listening without fatigue is what it is. Actually, for people preferring an exciting sound might find this config a touch boring.
With the DD in place for bass, you do get the nice natural decay and sub-bass rumble. Its just a touch north of neutral and is slightly warm. Actually the warmth really is from the slightly-toned-down treble than the bass itself. The mid-range is sufficiently bodied without favouring either instruments or vocals. While the mid-range is far from being soft, it lacks just a bit of dynamics. Also the upper-midrange is a bit on the smoother side. If you are someone who prefers the female vocals to soar and string instruments to have some bite, the default config may not rock your boat. While the treble is not excellently linear, it doesn't have any annoying peaks in an aim to artificially boost articulation and resolution. The treble extension is average and so is the resolution. Again, this is a $350 IEM, so you can't expect high-end level performance here.
While this IEM doesn't achieve any unparalleled feats, I really can't seem to find any negative aspect about the IEM in terms of the sound. I will test other filters and report back later. For now, I am very much satisfied.
Weill, I find it quite tip and insertion depth dependent, so you can play with that rather than just the filters.
I completely agree! In fact, I've had pleasant surprises from tip rolling even after years of owning certain IEMs. Tips can have a bigger impact on FR than tuning filters.Totally agree here. It's the Nr.1 biggest impact on sound in IEMs no matter the price, so you should have ALOT of different shapes to try with. And if you find a favourite doesn't mean it will work on a different IEM. All about spending those 30 mins testing different tips with your reference tracks, sorting out what does'nt work and ending up with the best canditates to compare one final time. Perhaps fiddling slightly with EQ and this this special case fiddling with filters.
lol 30 mins - more like 3 hoursTotally agree here. It's the Nr.1 biggest impact on sound in IEMs no matter the price, so you should have ALOT of different shapes to try with. And if you find a favourite doesn't mean it will work on a different IEM. All about spending those 30 mins testing different tips with your reference tracks, sorting out what does'nt work and ending up with the best canditates to compare one final time. Perhaps fiddling slightly with EQ and this this special case fiddling with filters.
Well, I settled on the tips just a few days ago, so technically I couldn't settle on the tips for two weeks. I narrowed the choice down to a handful of pairs but just when I thought I had found the perfect tips I would hear a certain song that didn't sound quite right and back to the piles of tips, which resulted in playing with tips I didn't think would work initially and then came the extra pain of fiddling with the insertion depth.I was gonna say, it's been a few days and I still can't settle on a tip.
Also of note, after messing with filters I wish I hadn't clipped my fingernails last week, lol.
Weill, I find it quite tip and insertion depth dependent, so you can play with that rather than just the filters. Personally I did quite the extensive tip rolling to find the best option for my taste. Right now I'm using the blue-core Noble tips that don't compress at the bore and due to the somewhat tighter core can easily by adjusted at a specific place on the nozzles, so I can get just the right insertion depth and seal. This way I get a clearer and rawer sound with sharper edges of the notes while still retaining natural presentation and timbre. My second favorites are the mee m6's single flanges, they give a smoother and more musical presentation that is still more focused than with the stock tips. The Noble ones are the winners for me with the extra rawness in the vocals and instruments. It is a less forgiving sound for bad recordings, but is also more realistic.