flinkenick's 17 Flagship IEM Shootout Thread (and general high-end portable audio discussion)

[Deezel177]

I'm on the fence about the A12t as well, to the point where I've had it customized and checked into my cart on the 64 Audio site... I can't afford them but oh well

But I also remember @Deezel177 mentioning a prototype EE model that was basically a Zeus with more bass... And now there's this mystery IEM he's teasing us with. Darn this hobby.

Anyone been able to hear the prototypes of A/U12t & Tia Trio and compare with the EE prototypes? Or anything else coming up? Aghhh I can't wait until CanJam NYC it's too far away! (I'm IEM-less at the moment... ordered the iBasso IT01 to hold me over until I make a decision)

EDIT: Also curious about FIBAE 3

Hopefully the two latest 64Audio demos will be available by the time I visit MS in a week-and-a-half; I too am intrigued by the A12t. The Proto-X is a really unique IEM, but based on its perforated design, you might want to look elsewhere if you're heavy on isolation. If you're not, then keep waiting, bud.

Man, I really don't understand what you want from me; you tease me for teasing future reviews and then you mention the FIBAE 3?!
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*takes a sip of hot cocoa* Ahh... I can't wait for Christmas.

 

[Wyville]

I'm on the fence about the A12t as well, to the point where I've had it customized and checked into my cart on the 64 Audio site... I can't afford them but oh well

But I also remember @Deezel177 mentioning a prototype EE model that was basically a Zeus with more bass... And now there's this mystery IEM he's teasing us with. Darn this hobby.

Anyone been able to hear the prototypes of A/U12t & Tia Trio and compare with the EE prototypes? Or anything else coming up? Aghhh I can't wait until CanJam NYC it's too far away! (I'm IEM-less at the moment... ordered the iBasso IT01 to hold me over until I make a decision)

EDIT: Also curious about FIBAE 3

Have you read Piotr's background story of FIBAE 3 (link)? It has quite a bit of lift and extension in the treble, with some pretty special stuff going on with the bass, to create a highly revealing but still "Custom Art" signature. It is very different from what I have seen from Custom Art before and really surprised me when Piotr told me about it, but very cool!

 

[kubig123]

Have you read Piotr's background story of FIBAE 3 (link)? It has quite a bit of lift and extension in the treble, with some pretty special stuff going on with the bass, to create a highly revealing but still "Custom Art" signature. It is very different from what I have seen from Custom Art before and really surprised me when Piotr told me about it, but very cool!

You should really consider the Fibae 3, and the price is not to bad either, especially compared to the U12t!

 

[fuhransahis]

Hopefully the two latest 64Audio demos will be available by the time I visit MS in a week-and-a-half; I too am intrigued by the A12t. The Proto-X is a really unique IEM, but based on its perforated design, you might want to look elsewhere if you're heavy on isolation. If you're not, then keep waiting, bud.

Man, I really don't understand what you want from me; you tease me for teasing future reviews and then you mention the FIBAE 3?!
.
.
.
*takes a sip of hot cocoa* Ahh... I can't wait for Christmas.

Shoot, I am indeed heavy on isolation as I listen on my commute most of the time, hence why I'm considering going CIEM vs IEM for the first time (while I also want Apex cause of my usual listening levels). So sounds like I might be buying A12t semi-blindly regardless. But the Trio sounds good too. But then the SE5U is not far off in price if I am able to get it at all due to fit. But it's still expensive. But if I buy the Trio it has better resale. But CanJam is kinda close but still too far away. But... But.....

 

[subguy812]

Yes let's try to stick to more mature and productive topics, like a responsible diet. So, who likes bananas?

OMG...no banana eating gif's Nic? I like bananas but I actually prefer a nice Summer Sausage

 

[Deezel177]

Shoot, I am indeed heavy on isolation as I listen on my commute most of the time, hence why I'm considering going CIEM vs IEM for the first time (while I also want Apex cause of my usual listening levels). So sounds like I might be buying A12t semi-blindly regardless. But the Trio sounds good too. But then the SE5U is not far off in price if I am able to get it at all due to fit. But it's still expensive. But if I buy the Trio it has better resale. But CanJam is kinda close but still too far away. But... But.....

If you consider customs fees, shipping, etc., the SE5U will actually cost a-hundred-or-two dollars more than the A12t. Based on Tia-equipped IEMs in the past, I reckon the SE5U and the A12t will have differing signatures; one darker and one neutral-bright. I don't how far they'll go with the Tia driver in the A12t, but I hope they preserve its naturalness and sub-bass rumble. What you can do in the meantime is get a FIBAE 2, see how well your ears agree with silicone, and then by the time you've reached a conclusion, CanJam will be just around the corner!

 

[kubig123]

OMG...no banana eating gif's Nic? I like bananas but I actually prefer a nice Summer Sausage

be carefully, you are invoking @Mimouille!

 

[noplsestar]

Shoot, I am indeed heavy on isolation as I listen on my commute most of the time, hence why I'm considering going CIEM vs IEM for the first time (while I also want Apex cause of my usual listening levels). So sounds like I might be buying A12t semi-blindly regardless. But the Trio sounds good too. But then the SE5U is not far off in price if I am able to get it at all due to fit. But it's still expensive. But if I buy the Trio it has better resale. But CanJam is kinda close but still too far away. But... But.....

OMG, now that‘s an insane gif! Loving it! But that doesn’t mean I want see more of those, because I don’t want to stop sleeping well hehehe
But nonetheless it’s a very sweet variation of all the dog gifs

 

[Wyville]

You should really consider the Fibae 3, and the price is not to bad either, especially compared to the U12t!

Spoke to Piotr about it, but based on the signature I am pretty confident FIBAE 3 is not my cup of tea and he thought so as well. But that's okay, I believe Piotr has something else in development (I have no idea what) and the FIBAE TOTL will come at some point too. Plenty to look forward to!

Edit: I always seem to forget, but I still very much like the H8.2, which have a wonderful bass.

 

[kubig123]

Spoke to Piotr about it, but based on the signature I am pretty confident FIBAE 3 is not my cup of tea and he thought so as well. But that's okay, I believe Piotr has something else in development (I have no idea what) and the FIBAE TOTL will come at some point too. Plenty to look forward to!

I'm really curious too about a possible FIBAE TOTL, may be it will be able to surpass the SE5U, Piotr deserve it!

 

[Deezel177]

OMG, now that‘s an insane gif! Loving it! But that doesn’t mean I want see more of those, because I don’t want to stop sleeping well hehehe
But nonetheless it’s a very sweet variation of all the dog gifs

It's from the David Cronenberg classic: Scanners. It's a great flick overall and I'd highly recommend it. Once you're done sweating and throwing up, The Fly makes it a great double feature.

Spoke to Piotr about it, but based on the signature I am pretty confident FIBAE 3 is not my cup of tea and he thought so as well. But that's okay, I believe Piotr has something else in development (I have no idea what) and the FIBAE TOTL will come at some point too. Plenty to look forward to!

Plenty indeed...

 

[Raketen]

I'm wondering how y'all do the bank deposit for SE5? I was trying to do a similar transaction with Europe recently but couldn't find any services in the US that allowed "person to business" international cash transfers, I think some banks do but mine only allow "person to person"- all of the services like Xoom and Western Union seem to have this same restriction.

 

[kubig123]

I'm wondering how y'all do the bank deposit for SE5? I was trying to do a similar transaction with Europe recently but couldn't find any services in the US that allowed "person to business" international cash transfers, I think some banks do but mine only allow "person to person"- all of the services like Xoom and Western Union seem to have this same restriction.

I did a regular wire transfer from my bank, following the introduction provided by SE.

I didn’t encounter any problem.

 

[Mimouille]

be carefully, you are invoking @Mimouille!

I do appreciate a good sausage myself.

Particularly the process of making them.

On a less serious topic than the art of sausage, I think in the battle of SE5 and other TOTL, the material is something to take into account. I don't know how Nic feels, but to me silicone has its pros and cons. On the pro side, it is slightly more comfortable especially if you ears are sensitive. It is more dense and slightly more isolating (except if you compare with filles acrylic. But also, I haven't tried other silicone iems, but feel they give a special texture to the sound. I am quite curious about the FIBAE.

As for myself, I have had so many fit issues and changes in ear canal over the years that customs are a no go. I am mostly eying high end universals, mostly dynamics such as IE800S and RE2000, looking at the new Oriolus Mellianus 10ba as well.

I exclude 64 Audio from my scope despite me appreciating the Fourte, because I think nothing justifies their price policy. They could have stayed in the 2k area like everybody else, but thought, hey these morons will pay (I include myself, no insult intended to anyone), why not.

 

[sansfin]

They could have stayed in the 2k area like everybody else

The LCD-i4 in comparison even looks reasonably affordable..

Anyway, to quench my impulse of collecting I might just settle with a used pair of KSE 1500 while watching all of you enjoying the new Tia offerings..