[jmills8]

When considering price things become more complicated because you would have to take into account more than just the sound. This shootout was never meant to be a "bang for the buck" type of shootout, but rather one purely about sound. That is why I ignore the price and look more at things like the Warbler's single BA driver, Dita's single DD driver, 64 at 18 BA drivers and AAW with their hybrid design. I like seeing how innovative different manufacturers have been to reach a certain sound signature and push its performance. And one signature might be more challenging than another. A more specialised signature will focus its strengths in one area with a trade-off in another, possibly causing a lower overall score.

Like I have said before, this shootout has not chanced my opinion of the Custom Art H8.2, it in fact further verified that its signature is something I would like, and it has added to that the UE18+ Pro, which apparently does what I like a little bit better. It is interesting to see that Ultimate Ears does it with fewer drivers, but the again, they are a very different company.

And UE was the second company which started making custom iems. The first was Future Sonics.

 

[Kerouac]

The remaining six all have something to prove, and provides a tasty backdrop to the rest of the shootout.
Zeus - Can it live up to the hype?
A18 - Can it live up to the asking price?!
Warbler - How far can the underdog go?
SE5U - Does the legend still have what it takes?
Maestro v2 - A respected reviewer named it his #1, can it claim one more title?
W900 - Can the hybrid be the best solution for ultimate fidelity and put an end to DD vs BA bickering?

Tasty tasty weeks to come.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up

And somehow I wasn't surprised by your closing line, having your avatar in mind

 

[Wyville]

Yep, that pretty much sums it up

And somehow I wasn't surprised by your closing line, having your avatar in mind

Getting hungry now! (For the coming weeks. )

 

[jmills8]

Getting hungry now! (For the coming weeks. )

Once its over then what ?

 

[Wyville]

Once its over then what ?

Starvation... Hopelessness... a deep sense of loss... Or I'll just pester Nic via PM.

Nic: [Block member]

 

[Mimouille]

The remaining six all have something to prove, and provides a tasty backdrop to the rest of the shootout.
Zeus - Can it live up to the hype?
A18 - Can it live up to the asking price?!
Warbler - How far can the underdog go?
SE5U - Does the legend still have what it takes?
Maestro v2 - A respected reviewer named it his #1, can it claim one more title?
W900 - Can the hybrid be the best solution for ultimate fidelity and put an end to DD vs BA bickering?

Tasty tasty weeks to come.

If I look at the weaknesses I am aware of on the top 6:

Zeus XIV : very hissy, quite colored
Tsar : price
Warbler : one driver can only go so far technically
Se5 Ultimate : less midbass punch and treble sparkle than some might want. You sometimes need something more edgy
Maestro V2: don't know tried too briefly but wasn't impressed
W900: I found the midbass a bit fatiguing at times and the treble clearly lacks air

 

[subguy812]

If I look at the weaknesses I am aware of on the top 6:

Zeus XIV : very hissy, quite colored
Tsar : price
Warbler : one driver can only go so far technically
Se5 Ultimate : less midbass punch and treble sparkle than some might want. You sometimes need something more edgy
Maestro V2: don't know tried too briefly but wasn't impressed
W900: I found the midbass a bit fatiguing at times and the treble clearly lacks air

Mim that was one of your most negative posts yet...you have set your all time record

 

[ForceMajeure]

wallet half full i would say (cause i am not buying into buying hyped/overpriced ciems)

I am talking price-wise old sport when i say about winners/losers

if a 1200$ ciem trumps a 1850$ ciem , then there is clearly a winner/loser (or overachiever/underachiever) pattern in my mind at least

cheers

 

[Mimouille]

Mim that was one of your most negative posts yet...you have set your all time record

Maybe I was unclear. These are the negatives. All these iems are awesome. You can only rank them by also assessing their relative weaknesses.

 

[jmills8]

Mim that was one of your most negative posts yet...you have set your all time record

Or the blunt truth.

 

[fiascogarcia]

I still have a chance to be 4 out of 5. Anybody with all of their picks still in the game?

 

[noplsestar]

Maybe I was unclear. These are the negatives. All these iems are awesome. You can only rank them by also assessing their relative weaknesses.

So the only weakness of Tzar is the price? Come on, you can do better


Edit: So if money doesn't count, it would be your #1?

 

[rskbug]

^ Yeah, Mimoulle. What will be your first three or five rankings in order of your personal preference and likability.

 

[andra555]

If I look at the weaknesses I am aware of on the top 6:

Zeus XIV : very hissy, quite colored
Tsar : price
Warbler : one driver can only go so far technically
Se5 Ultimate : less midbass punch and treble sparkle than some might want. You sometimes need something more edgy
Maestro V2: don't know tried too briefly but wasn't impressed
W900: I found the midbass a bit fatiguing at times and the treble clearly lacks air

what about VE8 ?

 

[FastAndClean]

Warbler is already a winner at 1099