[Incarnation]

Ello guys, currently looking around for a mid tier-ish dap. Which of the 3 would you recommend? Opus #1, fiio x5 gen 3 or ak70? Disregarding price, just for SQ

 

[Mimouille]

I don't think there are really any sides to take here, we pretty much agree on the same thing. I have no qualms with a gradual rise (found on the PP8 for instance, but it peaks at 3-4k) since the effect still remains that the sub-2k frequencies are not in relative emphasis as compared to the higher target bumps. Hell, even the QDC 8SH/Gemini have an emphasis at 1.5k, but the massive difference is that it plateaus at said frequency and is boosted all the way to 4-5k.

The Audeze portaplanars on the other hand have a PEAK (I think people are misunderstanding my wording here, peak = highest point of the frequency response and therefore will NEED an incline thereafter to be classified as such) of 1.5k which is causing the unnatural sound. The DSP masks that 1.5k peak by boosting the 3-4k frequencies to an even higher degree so the 1.5k PEAK shifts to a 2-3k PEAK.

 

[Mimouille]

Ello guys, currently looking around for a mid tier-ish dap. Which of the 3 would you recommend? Opus #1, fiio x5 gen 3 or ak70? Disregarding price, just for SQ

I would consider Ak70 mk2 because it looks cool, or the Hiby R6 currently on indigogo

 

[ezekiel77]

Ello guys, currently looking around for a mid tier-ish dap. Which of the 3 would you recommend? Opus #1, fiio x5 gen 3 or ak70? Disregarding price, just for SQ

What I've read so far, Shanling M3S ($279) and Cayin N5ii ($369) are both worthy of your consideration.

 

[PinkyPowers]

Ello guys, currently looking around for a mid tier-ish dap. Which of the 3 would you recommend? Opus #1, fiio x5 gen 3 or ak70? Disregarding price, just for SQ

I would wait a couple weeks and get the new Cayin N5II. I've had the pre-production unit for over a month, and it's killer. A hair better than Opus#1. MUCH better than X5III. I haven't heard the AK70, so I can't speak on that.

 

[Deezel177]

Jomo just announced a brand new IEM called the Haka. The UIEM version will have a 3D-printed shell and the model will make its debut in PortaFest next week. Hyped!

 

[Mimouille]

Jomo just announced a brand new IEM called the Haka. The UIEM version will have a 3D-printed shell and the model will make its debut in PortaFest next week. Hyped!

Must GIF everything

 

[Wyville]

Jomo just announced a brand new IEM called the Haka. The UIEM version will have a 3D-printed shell and the model will make its debut in PortaFest next week. Hyped!

This is entirely your fault, btw, but.... @ryanjsoo, we have another job for you! Roving reporter. We need all the deets on this new and prototype stuff.

 

[ryanjsoo]

This is entirely your fault, btw, but.... @ryanjsoo, we have another job for you! Roving reporter. We need all the deets on this new and prototype stuff.

Will be sure to take as many sneaky smartphone pics as possible during the festival. That new Oriolus looks intriguing too.

 

[Wyville]

Will be sure to take as many sneaky smartphone pics as possible during the festival. That new Oriolus looks intriguing too.

Awesome! Looks like there will be a lot of interesting new stuff to try out. Enjoy it!

 

[Deezel177]

This is entirely your fault, btw, but.... @ryanjsoo, we have another job for you! Roving reporter. We need all the deets on this new and prototype stuff.

Oh... don't worry. Give me a few weeks and I'll have a thing or two to say about the Haka too.

 

[ryanjsoo]

Oh... don't worry. Give me a few weeks and I'll have a thing or two to say about the Haka too.

Looking forward to your take Dan, Jomo make some stunning designs! And taking requests now! I'll hunt down hose newbies but let me know if there are any models that are of particular interest!

 

[ustinj]

Where do you guys think Andromeda would place in the list?

I personally preferred the Andromeda over the Katana while I had them.

 

[Wyville]

Oh... don't worry. Give me a few weeks and I'll have a thing or two to say about the Haka too.

Just yesterday I was saying to Nic how impressed I was with what you have been able to build up in such a short time since joining THL and you still keep surprising me. Great work man! Looking forward to it!

 

[Deezel177]

Looking forward to your take Dan, Jomo make some stunning designs! And taking requests now! I'll hunt down hose newbies but let me know if there are any models that are of particular interest!

Anything FitEar would be great! Simply because you can't get any info on them anywhere else.

Just yesterday I was saying to Nic how impressed I was with what you have been able to build up in such a short time since joining THL and you still keep surprising me. Great work man! Looking forward to it!

Thanks, man. It's been a lot of work and near-equal measures of disappointment and joy, but I've been extremely blessed and I couldn't feel any luckier. Speaking of looking forward to things, mystery-awesome-vocals-IEM review will be up in a few days. Stay tuned...