Yes there will be more pics as these are just little pieces of art. Guys, their lacquer process is just sick. They do everything under a microscope unlike some companies out there. Every little bubble is burst so you have a perfect finish on them and it shows. The 3D look of the faceplate doesn't show up in a pic. It's one of those have to see it to believe it. I'm still in shock at how great they fit out of the box. They said my audiologist did a great job getting past the bends in my ear canal's as well as a full impression of my outer ear (what do we call this again? Sorry, with the MS, I have many cognitive issues and forget stuff). The impressions were done just like they asked on their site so it just works easier for them as well as me.
As for impressions, they need to burn in. I"m going to try and get a legit 100 hours on them playing various music at fairly loud levels that won't cause damage. This isn't the thread to tell me that burn in doesn't matter please. I do this as I do hear differences, especially when dealing with silver, palladium or platinum. Copper also needs it, but with the special wiring used in these as well as the Effect Audio cable that also needs burn in, I want them to be on their best behavior when I listen critically and write down everything. It also takes me a lot longer to put thoughts in order to make sense. I'd love to get a front page on the site, so I want to really go over things before putting them out.
I will however share various thoughts during burn in. Everything you have read is true. The bass hasn't started to tighten up yet, however it's still worlds better to my ears than what I heard at Canjam with other's IEM's. Part of this could easily be that the CIEM's are just giving the proper fit adn angle to listen to. The highs are very extended and just so natural. The word Natural is the first thing that comes to mind when I put on some James Taylor and then some Ricky Lee Jones (the original recording of Pop Pop). I use a lot of male vocals for the mid to lower mids as I want to know if it will give me a true chest voice and will I get that decay of the note. The female voices I listen to give me the true mids. Will I get that emotion and delicacy of what they are singing. How veiled will they be? These are not veiled much at all. Let's see if burn in uncovers the last few veils.
I LOVE the music on Jazz at the Pawn Shop. It's a 1940's recording from Sweden and you can hear the clinking of the glasses and smell the smoke in the room as you listen to the piano and other instruments. Just a wonderful recording and difficult for so many 2 channel systems to reproduce properly, let alone a CIEM. I will need to get the correct 'color' of the sound in this one or it's not going to pass the test for me.
Another MUST listen to record is the audiophile recording of Sheffield Records Drum and track record. It's fun to listen to and it originally was used by many of us to set up our turntable arms and cartridges. If you have ever tried to set up a TT from attaching the motor board, the arm board, the plinth to these and then the arm and cartridge, you appreciate things like this record along with the digital devices that finally came out for the tracking forces, azimuth etc.. I could relearn to do this if my life depended on it, but I forget half of what we used to do, lol. I do however, listen for fun to this track record.
Ron Tutt's drum improv is sensational. I was a drummer and know how he packed his bass drum on this recording. So far he's spot on with the Phantom's. I'd die to get a pair of Legend X in that is burned in, just for this record, lol! There are a few minor details off the top of my head with just one play through, but let's see how it will play out once burned in. What really has struck me is the sound stage and also the imaging within the depth and width of the stage. There is a cut by Sinade O'Connor on Two Rooms (covers of Elton John hits) singing Sacrifice. If any of you like Elton John, this and Live from Austrailia are a must listen. Sacrifice was recorded in a cathedral if I recall correctly. All I know is that on my 2 channel system that is very high end, this song gives me not just width and depth, but also HIGHT like you often won't get in a recording. It was masterfully done and I quickly put it on to give the Phantom a whirl. I was floored that an IEM could give me what it did and it should only get better.
What strikes me so far is that the vocals are in-between the speakers if you would. They may be a spec behind them, but I can't fully tell yet as each recording is different. I need to play things that I know how they were recorded (I knew a few folks who were in the venue when recordings were done. I'll call my buddy Joe in Houston to verify some stuff (he owns a high end 2 channel store there and was a producer etc...), but it's nice to have an idea of how things were put down to see how accurate things are.
That's a lot to for just a under 48 hours with them, but so far they are so much better than others I auditioned before putting my good money down on a CIEM. So far, I can see what all the Buzz is about. I will be selling my ZMF Ori's with the top of the line Audio Arts 15' cable as these are better and so much more comfy and easier to use, plus they are portable. Maybe my daughter will want my Noble Savant's. I already bought my wife a pair of universal Bravado's so that I can also listen to them.
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Daniel, congrats and enjoy.
