ctsooner22
1000+ Head-Fier
The Phantom isn’t exactly warm per se. Its stage has a clean, black ambience due to its excellent treble extension. By comparison, IEMs like the Warbler Prelude, the Harmony 8.2 or the UE18+ to some degree have a warmer atmosphere - not veiled, but there’s a richness in the air that somewhat congeals the instruments together if you get what I mean; a very light fog. The Phantom doesn’t have that at all, it has a stable black background. But, the Phantom may have the illusion of warmth to some, because of its linear upper-treble. The Phantom doesn’t have much sparkle or bite up top, so its sense of attack isn’t as sharp as some might like. But, its stage is free of any “glue” or warm air, so it’s an impressive technical performer nonetheless.
Thanks Daniel. That's exactly what I mean when I say warm. To me, it's all about a fullness of the note. In live music you will hear violin or viola...you can tell the difference if the recording gives it to you AND you have the right device to produce it. Warm to me is the warmth that surrounded me at the Hollywood Bowl listening to Johnny Legend and Steven Tyler adn Stevie Wonder all singing together for the finale a few years ago on opening night. It was intro to their Hall of fame and my daughter and I were in LA looking at colleges who recruited her. I got GREAT seats and it was special. The sound was some of the best with the LA Philharmonic supporting them all. Just amazing and you could hear the separation and the soundstage. Just huge. My daughter sings and she even commented on it. Just a warmth. Plenty of bite when called for and it's live. That's so hard and expensive for IEM or 2 channel to reproduce. Most can't as there is that congestion that Daniel mentioned in different words. The Phantom isn't perfect. Transducers just aren't. They all are compromising when it comes to making a reference one like Phantom is. I personally love the compromise they made. Not all will/do. That's called choice. It's an awesome thing.