[ranfan]

Luckily I have a great audiologist and she has been checking my ear to make sure there is no damage. The main problem for my recovery is that I rely heavily on music to help me manage my ADHD and so I keep using my IEMs as much as I can without causing too much discomfort. That is of course sailing very close to the wind, but is typical of my particular brand of stupidity.

This morning though I tried a few headphones to see what the comfort would be like and it was not as bad as I expected, so I might have to consider getting something like the Meze 99 Classics or Neo to help avoid using IEMs for a while. Will have to discuss that with my more sensible half.

You can try using earbud placing it over-ear/upside-down like IEM, and not inserting it all the way. Gently-placed at the outer ear-canal, so there is a small gap/space for air to flow. I listen this way whenever I'm on my computer. It's more comfortable/secure, more convenient to detach/attach, plus it bothers less when wearing glasses (at least for me). Some earbuds have amazing sound for their price. Alternatively if only one side of your ears hurt, you can just listen to a radio. I'm pretty sure your sensible half would find it cool. This way, she and everyone around can also listen to your music, win-win

Spoiler

 

[Wyville]

You can try using earbud placing it over-ear/upside-down like IEM, and not inserting it all the way. Gently-placed at the outer ear-canal, so there is a small gap/space for air to flow. I listen this way whenever I'm on my computer. It's more comfortable/secure, more convenient to detach/attach, plus it bothers less when wearing glasses (at least for me). Some earbuds have amazing sound for their price. Alternatively if only one side of your ears hurt, you can just listen to a radio. I'm pretty sure your sensible half would find it cool. This way, she and everyone around can also listen to your music, win-win

Spoiler

I have been using the VE Monk+ in just that way for a while now, but while the sound is amazing for the price and I do feel voices are unbelievably good, they fail miserably with classical music. I did think about the VE Zen balanced, but it is not available yet here in the UK (it is coming) and I am unsure if it will be close to the sound quality I get from my Ei.3.
That said, the radio is a pretty good idea! I might even look cool while commuting on the London Tube (for the few precious seconds that I will survive)!

 

[Kerouac]

Oh no, you're never going to win with that one in your top 5. Let me tell you how the top 5 is going to end up looking, as per my highly accurate prediction:
#5 Custom Art Harmony 8.2... Dang!

Haha...so logically wise, the ones you had in mind for the #13-17 spots will probably end up in Nics final top 5
My advise: avoid casinos!!!

 

[Wyville]

My advise: avoid casinos!!!

Like the plague!

 

[Overkill Red]

Looking forward to the full shootout!

Also, glad to hear that others are finding their impressions of the ADEL vs non-ADEL Zeus variants to be similar to mine!

 

[ericr]

Excellent build quality and craftsmanship!

 

[13candles]

Excellent build quality and craftsmanship!

Dang..... Those look really sweet if i might add!

And which DAP are you gonna be hooking them up with?

Also, some quick sound impressions when you are able to!

 

[twister6]

Excellent build quality and craftsmanship!

Switch to M20 module (if you want more bass and tamed treble peaks) and try with pure copper, like No5, and enjoy the audio bliss

 

[seamon]

Amaizing shootout
How is Sony xba Z5 compaired to other flagship, just curious

It's better than Zeus XRA according to one guy on the Empire Ears thread.
(JK)


Anyway, how tf is Warbler Prelude still alive in this shootout?

 

[Sound Eq]

Yeah, I am learning that now too. When you get issues with your ears, ADEL becomes a mighty attractive option and it really does not matter that much if the sound is somewhat affected by it. For myself, I am still waiting to see what my ears do over the coming weeks and if I can use my Ei.3 once they come back from their reshell to universal fit. I have several options in mind with EE ADEL topping the list as the best option, although not necessarily the most realistic because of their high price. Ideally I would pick one of the EE ADEL that would best compliment my Ei.3, which has plenty of bass and fun. So I could go for something more focused on the mids and detail retrieval such as the Athena ADEL (if I understand it correctly).

*sigh* If only I were financially independent. Sadly my dad did not work hard enough for me to scrounge the money off of him, despite my clear instructions when I was younger that I wanted to grow up to be a millionaire (ie. inherit his hard earned cash).

where can i read more about the empire ears adel athena, and does it really have more fun sound and bass than the zeus xr adel, or zeus xiv adel

 

[Wyville]

where can i read more about the empire ears adel athena, and does it really have more fun sound and bass than the zeus xr adel, or zeus xiv adel

I honestly don't know, I have not heard the Athena or any of the Zeus. Jack from Empire Ears recommended me the Athena because I prefer a warmer sound with strong mids for vocals and enough detail for complex classical music such as symphonies. The Apollo was also an option suggested by Jack, which I understand to be the most engaging of Empire Ears. Again, I have not heard them, so this is purely based on a chat with Jack via PM.

 

[Ike1985]

Switch to M20 module (if you want more bass and tamed treble peaks) and try with pure copper, like No5, and enjoy the audio bliss

I respect twister6 and am sure his setup is glorious but I say M15 all the way, it's all preference.

 

[twister6]

I respect twister6 and am sure his setup is glorious but I say M15 all the way, it's all preference.

Have you been using M15 all along with A18, even when you were talking about their powerful bass, instead of M20?

 

[Ike1985]

Have you been using M15 all along with A18, even when you were talking about their powerful bass, instead of M20?

I've been going back and forth and keep coming back to M15 every time. Bass is powerful with either module in the 40-300Hz range. Love that thick punchy and textured "upper sub bass" (is that even a word lol) and mid bass, plenty of meat on them bones with M15 for me. I'm also pairing with Mojo and Mojo + CDM. What source you using?

 

[ranfan]

It's better than Zeus XRA according to one guy on the Empire Ears thread.
(JK)

Anyway, how tf is Warbler Prelude still alive in this shootout?

Better in bass maybe

Since we're entering the interlude of the shootout, I'm guessing the end to the Prelude is about to come.