I regularly keep an eye on Rhapsodio, which is probably because the first cable I considered buying was one of Sammy's creations. I think he is doing some really interesting stuff like the new Zombie hybrid. Although I am not always sure if Rhapsodio's IEMs will fit my preferences because I understand Sammy is a bit of a treble-head.
flinkenick's 17 Flagship IEM Shootout Thread (and general high-end portable audio discussion)
Oh yesh hahaha, but he also knows what the public likes (he posts in Facebook that his customers like more bass). The Solar has a nice smooth shimmery treble for instance.
I have come across quite a lot of positive comments about the Solar, very interesting. Perhaps I will get a chance to hear them at Canjam London.
Kerouac
Headphoneus Supremus
Unrelated to anything above but thought I'd bring some random musings:
The AAW900s are sooo disappointing! They're like the brilliant student who doesn't study for a test and gets a B. They've got so much ability, but are hampered by their tuning. The bass is yearning to be let off the leash and the treble is doing wonkey stuff to create unwanted brightness. When fixed via EQ they're world class, but if you're the type who takes their IEMs as-is, you'll be left wanting more. I'm a fan, but only because I bought them so am invested in making them work for me. Doesn't help at all that AAW seems to have forgot that they were going to make and send treble filters to their purchasers.
...And now back to your regularly scheduled programming of puppies and randomness!
Recently I had the AAW W900 and the qdc Gemini on a loan for some weeks. Beforehand I had high expectations of the W900, but it also failed to impress me. It was good, but just didn't touch me.
The qdc Gemini however surprised me being such a great all-rounder. If I was starting in this hobby and only wanted one great sounding ciem, that one would be very high on my shortlist.
Based on the 3 Rhapsodio iems I've had, I wouldn't have guessed that Sammy's a treblehead
The RTi1 was bass shy and made especially female voices sound very sweet. The RDB4 Mk2 and Solar however are more bass oriented monsters imo. Solar was my first step into customs (had it as a universal first). Although it might not be the most technically impressive one (looking at my Zeus) that I have here, I still love its beautiful warm signature.Matched with a Norne special silver prototype (something inbetween the Therium and Silvergarde) cable, it really does shine from my LPG
Last edited:
Had chance to visit QDC factory in Shenzhen and decided to bring you small report: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/visit-at-qdc-custom-in-ears-from-china.866722/
ivo001
100+ Head-Fier
Hi, I was looking at your Headphonelist website.
Are the scores in the Multi-IEM comparison list still accurate, or are they outdated as some reviews are from 2012/2013?
While looking for <$100 IEM the JVC HA-FXT90 seems to be decent, and is listed as $78.
However when I check Ebay, it looks to be available for just $25? Are these fakes? Are these considered now that great anymore compared to 2017 products in the same price range? Is this a crazy deal?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/JVC-HA-FXT...hash=item3add6c402a:m:m5loWYrf9gyehH_SVuPEuHg
Are the scores in the Multi-IEM comparison list still accurate, or are they outdated as some reviews are from 2012/2013?
While looking for <$100 IEM the JVC HA-FXT90 seems to be decent, and is listed as $78.
However when I check Ebay, it looks to be available for just $25? Are these fakes? Are these considered now that great anymore compared to 2017 products in the same price range? Is this a crazy deal?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/JVC-HA-FXT...hash=item3add6c402a:m:m5loWYrf9gyehH_SVuPEuHg
Kinda want to change my name to flinkenick77 now to join you guys' awesome club.Hey '77, I've tried the original JH13 and JH16 side by side before and prefer 13 by a mile. They're designed as stage monitors and JH16 has that unique ability to get the artists pumped for the track. But for casual listening, the midbass bloat is too much and puts a haze over the rest of the spectrum. Also, to compensate for said bloat, the treble is tuned sharper. JH13 is better balanced and a very good all-rounder, and even then some say it has too much midbass (to me not really, it's awesome). AFAIK the new v2's keep the same tuning but with adjustable bass knobs, so you have more options if there's too much bass bloat. But I'd still pick 13 over 16 any day.
Hey '177, objectively yes, the JH13 mids are its weakest spot. Thin, reedy, second (third?) fiddle to the bass and treble. Also it has a smallish soundstage compared to the flagships of today. Imaging remains excellent, and the ability to get you psyched for the track. Great for rock. Then you hear some Diana Krall and want to reach for something else. It was untouchable in 2009 when it was released though.
Dude, watch Captain Planet... you need the element of HEART
I HAVE BOTH WANNA GET POISONED???!!
Sammy's doing way more promo work in Facebook, but there is some love in the thread. A lot of us like @Kerouac, @flinkenick, @PinkyPowers and @proedros hung out in the Rhapsodio thread before switching base here bcos more nonsense is tolerated here haha.
Hi buddy thanks for your interest in THL, but I'm afraid you're referring to @ljokerl. This is his multi-comparison thread:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mul...audio-earphones-added-04-03-16-p-1106.478568/
Last edited:
PinkyPowers
Reviewer: The Headphone List
For Zeus, they were both awesome in different ways. But I do think Leo had the edge.
Pinky did you forget to leave the cable with the Zeus when you returned it to me?
So it seems like my slumber is coming to end; in December I’m going to gradually start firing up the cylinders to comment on a number of very interesting products. I’m going to start with something that might not seem very spectacular from the outside, but is slowly becoming a personal contender for best product of the year.
A few weeks back I had my 1Z modded, with as highlights quality platinum-based solder and PW Audio 1960 4-Wire internal cabling (which is actually an 8-wire cable due to its coaxial design, that retails as a $2K iem cable). The mod is the second product that iem and cable specialist Music Sanctuary has released under their own brand name, which consists of modifications of existing products by upgrading components; the other being the recently released cable Eos in cooperation with Effect Audio, which uses the same high-grade solder.
In my previous post I expressed content for the improved performance in terms of resolution and especially transparency, as well as growing appreciation for the different signature – be it after an adaptation period, as the altered signature was a departure from its original tuning. Therefore, I also felt restraint in unequivocally endorsing the mod, as it might not be to everyone’s liking. Although the signature can overall be considered balanced, it includes a lifted treble around 10-12 KHz, which gives the tuning a different direction.
For while the lifted treble provides an enjoyable touch of sparkle, the treble itself is brighter and colder in tone. As a result, the sound is highly detailed, but not completely smooth in its note release. The articulated sound vaguely leans towards a ‘reference’ approach: excelling at performance, though coming at the cost of some of its naturalness and coherency, at least when compared to a player like the RW AK380cu. Overall, the 4-Wire mod provides a resolved sound that retains a warm and fairly accurate midrange, with an added touch of sparkle that may or may not be appreciated, depending on preference.
But Music Sanctuary pried the 1Z open yet again, with one goal in mind: fitting in the 1960 8-wire cable. As the cable is essentially a 16-core headphone cable, its thick size only fits the balanced output considering the available space. I pride myself on making balanced statements, trying to keep difference preferences in my mind. And practically speaking, there’s always some downside to each upside. The 8-wire mod makes this problematic, as I find it nothing short of spectacular.
The 4-Wire’s articulate treble could be considered engaging, but there is a trace of brightness in its attack. The 8-wire on the other hand has an even further but more linearly extended upper treble. Accordingly, the 8-wire creates a warmer treble tone, benefiting the timbre and overall coherency. As a result, the 8-wire presents higher resolved notes, yet with a significantly smoother note release. And while the differences in stage between the 4.4 and SE output in the previous mod were reduced to a minimum, the 8-wire in turn creates a more spacious stage in all directions. So where the 4-wire has a well-separated, articulated sound consisting of a warm midrange with a brighter treble, the 8-wire sounds more natural and accurate, providing higher resolved detail in a smoother manner.
Taken together, the 8-wire modded 1Z can be described as having a lightly warm tone with a beautiful timbre, and overall excellent tonal balance. Combined with high resolution and transparency, as well as its characteristic black background, the MS mod is pretty close to what I would consider a reference player; but not the modern interpretation of the term, but what it was originally meant to imply. A benchmark product in all facets of audiophile sound reproduction: accurate tone, excellent performance, both in resolution as well as smoothness.
So while reader discretion was advised based on signature preference for the 4-wire mod, I’m struggling to find any noticeable weaknesses that might put someone off. As a nice byproduct of the limited space, it retains the 4-Wire mod for the single end, giving the outputs two different sounds rather than just one better and inferior one. The single ended 4-Wire mod pairs better with darker iems, providing a welcome touch of clarity. Even so, I practically don’t see myself really using it unless it’s necessary. So please forgive me for somewhat uncharacteristically praising it without restraint, but it’s very rare for me to find a product I can fully endorse, according to every angle I judge equipment. The mod might be pricey, but I find it justified when you consider the ratio of its original price to the improved SQ. I personally consider it an immediate upgrade in both signature and performance.
WM1Z/A MS 2/4/8-wire Mod
Spec list:
1. New Pentaconn 4.4mm socket (to ensure that solder used on the socket is fresh, and not contaminated by existing solder)
2. 1960s wiring mod for both single ended and balanced outputs
3. Exotic Mitsubishi Heavy Industries precious metal-based solder used for all soldering, existing solder will be cleaned off prior to soldering with the precious metal-based solder.
4. 1960s wire for the DC ground wiring
5. Isolation of inductor coils and capacitors with shielding products from Japan (Oyaide and fo.Q)
Price (including free DHL/FedEx shipping):
2-wire (single 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $549
4-wire (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $699
4-wire single ended, 8-wire balanced (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $899
Contact:
info@music-sanctuary.com
A few weeks back I had my 1Z modded, with as highlights quality platinum-based solder and PW Audio 1960 4-Wire internal cabling (which is actually an 8-wire cable due to its coaxial design, that retails as a $2K iem cable). The mod is the second product that iem and cable specialist Music Sanctuary has released under their own brand name, which consists of modifications of existing products by upgrading components; the other being the recently released cable Eos in cooperation with Effect Audio, which uses the same high-grade solder.
In my previous post I expressed content for the improved performance in terms of resolution and especially transparency, as well as growing appreciation for the different signature – be it after an adaptation period, as the altered signature was a departure from its original tuning. Therefore, I also felt restraint in unequivocally endorsing the mod, as it might not be to everyone’s liking. Although the signature can overall be considered balanced, it includes a lifted treble around 10-12 KHz, which gives the tuning a different direction.
For while the lifted treble provides an enjoyable touch of sparkle, the treble itself is brighter and colder in tone. As a result, the sound is highly detailed, but not completely smooth in its note release. The articulated sound vaguely leans towards a ‘reference’ approach: excelling at performance, though coming at the cost of some of its naturalness and coherency, at least when compared to a player like the RW AK380cu. Overall, the 4-Wire mod provides a resolved sound that retains a warm and fairly accurate midrange, with an added touch of sparkle that may or may not be appreciated, depending on preference.
But Music Sanctuary pried the 1Z open yet again, with one goal in mind: fitting in the 1960 8-wire cable. As the cable is essentially a 16-core headphone cable, its thick size only fits the balanced output considering the available space. I pride myself on making balanced statements, trying to keep difference preferences in my mind. And practically speaking, there’s always some downside to each upside. The 8-wire mod makes this problematic, as I find it nothing short of spectacular.
The 4-Wire’s articulate treble could be considered engaging, but there is a trace of brightness in its attack. The 8-wire on the other hand has an even further but more linearly extended upper treble. Accordingly, the 8-wire creates a warmer treble tone, benefiting the timbre and overall coherency. As a result, the 8-wire presents higher resolved notes, yet with a significantly smoother note release. And while the differences in stage between the 4.4 and SE output in the previous mod were reduced to a minimum, the 8-wire in turn creates a more spacious stage in all directions. So where the 4-wire has a well-separated, articulated sound consisting of a warm midrange with a brighter treble, the 8-wire sounds more natural and accurate, providing higher resolved detail in a smoother manner.
Taken together, the 8-wire modded 1Z can be described as having a lightly warm tone with a beautiful timbre, and overall excellent tonal balance. Combined with high resolution and transparency, as well as its characteristic black background, the MS mod is pretty close to what I would consider a reference player; but not the modern interpretation of the term, but what it was originally meant to imply. A benchmark product in all facets of audiophile sound reproduction: accurate tone, excellent performance, both in resolution as well as smoothness.
So while reader discretion was advised based on signature preference for the 4-wire mod, I’m struggling to find any noticeable weaknesses that might put someone off. As a nice byproduct of the limited space, it retains the 4-Wire mod for the single end, giving the outputs two different sounds rather than just one better and inferior one. The single ended 4-Wire mod pairs better with darker iems, providing a welcome touch of clarity. Even so, I practically don’t see myself really using it unless it’s necessary. So please forgive me for somewhat uncharacteristically praising it without restraint, but it’s very rare for me to find a product I can fully endorse, according to every angle I judge equipment. The mod might be pricey, but I find it justified when you consider the ratio of its original price to the improved SQ. I personally consider it an immediate upgrade in both signature and performance.
WM1Z/A MS 2/4/8-wire Mod
Spec list:
1. New Pentaconn 4.4mm socket (to ensure that solder used on the socket is fresh, and not contaminated by existing solder)
2. 1960s wiring mod for both single ended and balanced outputs
3. Exotic Mitsubishi Heavy Industries precious metal-based solder used for all soldering, existing solder will be cleaned off prior to soldering with the precious metal-based solder.
4. 1960s wire for the DC ground wiring
5. Isolation of inductor coils and capacitors with shielding products from Japan (Oyaide and fo.Q)
Price (including free DHL/FedEx shipping):
2-wire (single 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $549
4-wire (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $699
4-wire single ended, 8-wire balanced (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $899
Contact:
info@music-sanctuary.com
Last edited:
Crikey Nic, that sounds pretty darn awesome! Two signatures in one DAP and amazing performance. What's not to like about that!?So it seems like my slumber is coming to end; in December I’m going to gradually start firing up the cylinders to comment on a number of very interesting products. I’m going to start with something that might not seem very spectacular from the outside, but is slowly becoming a personal contender for best product of the year.
A few weeks back I had my 1Z modded, with as highlights quality platinum-based solder and PW Audio 1960 4-Wire internal cabling (which is actually an 8-wire cable due to its coaxial design, that retails as a $2K iem cable). The mod is part of a series of products that iem and cable specialist Music Sanctuary will be releasing under their own brand name, which will initially consist of modifications of existing products by upgrading components. Another example would be the recently released cable Eos in cooperation with Effect Audio, which uses the same high-grade solder.
In my previous post I expressed content for the improved performance in terms of resolution and especially transparency, as well as growing appreciation for the different signature – be it after an adaptation period, as the altered signature was a departure from its original tuning. Therefore, I also felt restraint in unequivocally endorsing the mod, as it might not be to everyone’s liking. Although the signature can overall be considered balanced, it includes a lifted treble around 10-12 KHz, which gives the tuning a different direction.
For while the lifted treble provides an enjoyable touch of sparkle, the treble itself is brighter and colder in tone. As a result, the sound is highly detailed, but not completely smooth in its note release. The articulated sound vaguely leans towards a ‘reference’ approach: excelling at performance, though coming at the cost of some of its naturalness and coherency, at least when compared to a player like the RW AK380cu. Overall, the 4-Wire mod provides a resolved sound that retains a warm and fairly accurate midrange, with an added touch of sparkle that may or may not be appreciated, depending on preference.
But Music Sanctuary pried the 1Z open yet again, with one goal in mind: fitting in the 1960 8-wire cable. As the cable is essentially a 16-core headphone cable, its thick size only fits the balanced output considering the available space. I pride myself on making balanced statements, trying to keep difference preferences in my mind. And practically speaking, there’s always some downside to each upside. The 8-wire mod makes this problematic, as I find it nothing short of spectacular.
The 4-Wire’s articulate treble could be considered engaging, but there is a trace of brightness in its attack. The 8-wire on the other hand has an even further but more linearly extended upper treble. Accordingly, the 8-wire creates a warmer treble tone, benefiting the timbre and overall coherency. As a result, the 8-wire presents higher resolved notes, yet with a significantly smoother note release. And while the differences in stage between the 4.4 and SE output in the previous mod were reduced to a minimum, the 8-wire in turn creates a more spacious stage in all directions. So where the 4-wire has a well-separated, articulated sound consisting of a warm midrange with a brighter treble, the 8-wire sounds more natural and accurate, providing higher resolved detail in a smoother manner.
Taken together, the 8-wire modded 1Z can be described as having a lightly warm tone with a beautiful timbre, and overall excellent tonal balance. Combined with high resolution and transparency, as well as its characteristic black background, the MS mod is pretty close to what I would consider a reference player; but not the modern interpretation of the term, but what it was originally meant to imply. A benchmark product in all facets of audiophile sound reproduction: accurate tone, excellent performance, both in resolution as well as smoothness.
So while reader discretion was advised based on signature preference for the 4-wire mod, I’m struggling to find any noticeable weaknesses that might put someone off. As a nice byproduct of the limited space, it retains the 4-Wire mod for the single end, giving the outputs two different sounds rather than just one better and inferior one. The single ended 4-Wire mod pairs better with darker iems, providing a welcome touch of clarity. Even so, I practically don’t see myself really using it unless it’s necessary. So please forgive me for somewhat uncharacteristically praising it without restraint, but it’s very rare for me to find a product I can fully endorse, according to every angle I judge equipment. The mod might be pricey, but I find it justified when you consider the ratio of its original price to the improved SW. I personally consider it an immediate upgrade in both signature and performance.
WM1Z MS 4/8-wire Mod
Spec list:
1. New Pentaconn 4.4mm socket (to ensure that solder used on the socket is fresh, and not contaminated by existing solder)
2. 1960s wiring mod for both single ended and balanced outputs
3. Exotic Mitsubishi Heavy Industries precious metal-based solder used for all soldering, existing solder will be cleaned off prior to soldering with the precious metal-based solder.
4. 1960s wire for the DC ground wiring
5. Isolation of inductor coils and capacitors with shielding products from Japan (Oyaide and fo.Q)
Price (including free DHL/FedEx shipping):
2-wire (single 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $549
4-wire (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $699
4-wire single ended, 8-wire balanced (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $899
Looking forward to all the other stuff you will have us drooling over!
Last edited:
So it seems like my slumber is coming to end; in December I’m going to gradually start firing up the cylinders to comment on a number of very interesting products. I’m going to start with something that might not seem very spectacular from the outside, but is slowly becoming a personal contender for best product of the year.
A few weeks back I had my 1Z modded, with as highlights quality platinum-based solder and PW Audio 1960 4-Wire internal cabling (which is actually an 8-wire cable due to its coaxial design, that retails as a $2K iem cable). The mod is the second product that iem and cable specialist Music Sanctuary has released under their own brand name, which consists of modifications of existing products by upgrading components; the other being the recently released cable Eos in cooperation with Effect Audio, which uses the same high-grade solder.
In my previous post I expressed content for the improved performance in terms of resolution and especially transparency, as well as growing appreciation for the different signature – be it after an adaptation period, as the altered signature was a departure from its original tuning. Therefore, I also felt restraint in unequivocally endorsing the mod, as it might not be to everyone’s liking. Although the signature can overall be considered balanced, it includes a lifted treble around 10-12 KHz, which gives the tuning a different direction.
For while the lifted treble provides an enjoyable touch of sparkle, the treble itself is brighter and colder in tone. As a result, the sound is highly detailed, but not completely smooth in its note release. The articulated sound vaguely leans towards a ‘reference’ approach: excelling at performance, though coming at the cost of some of its naturalness and coherency, at least when compared to a player like the RW AK380cu. Overall, the 4-Wire mod provides a resolved sound that retains a warm and fairly accurate midrange, with an added touch of sparkle that may or may not be appreciated, depending on preference.
But Music Sanctuary pried the 1Z open yet again, with one goal in mind: fitting in the 1960 8-wire cable. As the cable is essentially a 16-core headphone cable, its thick size only fits the balanced output considering the available space. I pride myself on making balanced statements, trying to keep difference preferences in my mind. And practically speaking, there’s always some downside to each upside. The 8-wire mod makes this problematic, as I find it nothing short of spectacular.
The 4-Wire’s articulate treble could be considered engaging, but there is a trace of brightness in its attack. The 8-wire on the other hand has an even further but more linearly extended upper treble. Accordingly, the 8-wire creates a warmer treble tone, benefiting the timbre and overall coherency. As a result, the 8-wire presents higher resolved notes, yet with a significantly smoother note release. And while the differences in stage between the 4.4 and SE output in the previous mod were reduced to a minimum, the 8-wire in turn creates a more spacious stage in all directions. So where the 4-wire has a well-separated, articulated sound consisting of a warm midrange with a brighter treble, the 8-wire sounds more natural and accurate, providing higher resolved detail in a smoother manner.
Taken together, the 8-wire modded 1Z can be described as having a lightly warm tone with a beautiful timbre, and overall excellent tonal balance. Combined with high resolution and transparency, as well as its characteristic black background, the MS mod is pretty close to what I would consider a reference player; but not the modern interpretation of the term, but what it was originally meant to imply. A benchmark product in all facets of audiophile sound reproduction: accurate tone, excellent performance, both in resolution as well as smoothness.
So while reader discretion was advised based on signature preference for the 4-wire mod, I’m struggling to find any noticeable weaknesses that might put someone off. As a nice byproduct of the limited space, it retains the 4-Wire mod for the single end, giving the outputs two different sounds rather than just one better and inferior one. The single ended 4-Wire mod pairs better with darker iems, providing a welcome touch of clarity. Even so, I practically don’t see myself really using it unless it’s necessary. So please forgive me for somewhat uncharacteristically praising it without restraint, but it’s very rare for me to find a product I can fully endorse, according to every angle I judge equipment. The mod might be pricey, but I find it justified when you consider the ratio of its original price to the improved SQ. I personally consider it an immediate upgrade in both signature and performance.
WM1Z/A MS 2/4/8-wire Mod
Spec list:
1. New Pentaconn 4.4mm socket (to ensure that solder used on the socket is fresh, and not contaminated by existing solder)
2. 1960s wiring mod for both single ended and balanced outputs
3. Exotic Mitsubishi Heavy Industries precious metal-based solder used for all soldering, existing solder will be cleaned off prior to soldering with the precious metal-based solder.
4. 1960s wire for the DC ground wiring
5. Isolation of inductor coils and capacitors with shielding products from Japan (Oyaide and fo.Q)
Price (including free DHL/FedEx shipping):
2-wire (single 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $549
4-wire (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $699
4-wire single ended, 8-wire balanced (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $899
Contact:
info@music-sanctuary.com
*cracks knuckles* *looks for discounted WM1A online*
Crikey Nic, that sounds pretty darn awesome! Two signatures in one DAP and amazing performance. What's not to like about that!?
Looking forward to all the other stuff you will have us drooling over!
Everyone here is in for a treat.
Users who are viewing this thread
