[KuroKitsu]

@SLC1966 Always 8 eh Mark?

I'm always at 4, so that makes me SLC1966/2 I guess

 

[Rockwell75]

@SLC1966 Always 8 eh Mark?

I'm always at 4, so that makes me SLC1966/2 I guess

I'm probably going to settle on 4 eventually myself. I just need to decide on the 4th...

 

[SLC1966]

@SLC1966 Always 8 eh Mark?

I'm always at 4, so that makes me SLC1966/2 I guess

I agree with @Junmoe62 . It just comes down to preference based on my mood or type of music at the moment. There are a lot of good IEM choices out there right now. And with quality streaming these are pleasurable music times. 8-tracks, albums, cassettes, and CDs are all downstairs while I am upstairs streaming away!

I grew up playing a lot of tennis and baseball so I am full of superstitions in order to keep my game on! Things in even numbers is one of my "next at bat" rituals. So I need to have an even number of IEMs. 10 IEMs causes nervousa big time. 4 or 6 is what I should be at. Anything under that then I miss the variety. Time to go back to not stepping on any white lines when changing sides of the tennis court after every odd number of of games!

 

[Rockwell75]

Ta da! Second time in my life I've re-purchased an IEM.

 

[jwbrent]

I agree with @Junmoe62 . It just comes down to preference based on my mood or type of music at the moment. There are a lot of good IEM choices out there right now. And with quality streaming these are pleasurable music times. 8-tracks, albums, cassettes, and CDs are all downstairs while I am upstairs streaming away!

I grew up playing a lot of tennis and baseball so I am full of superstitions in order to keep my game on! Things in even numbers is one of my "next at bat" rituals. So I need to have an even number of IEMs. 10 IEMs causes nervousa big time. 4 or 6 is what I should be at. Anything under that then I miss the variety. Time to go back to not stepping on any white lines when changing sides of the tennis court after every odd number of of games!

I used to be the same way about always wanting even numbers of gear, or serial numbers ending in an even number (on some of my more exotic hifi purchases, I would even request an even serial number).

I’ve loosened up a bit on this, case in point, 7 iems is now my perfect number to own, one for every day of the week.

(actually, after these last two purchases, I’m broke, so 7 it is)

 

[twister6]

An IEM Synopsis:

In August of last year, I posted a rudimentary synopsis of the IEMs I had at that time. This post is a response to that post. I have always wanted to respond to my own post so this is my chance. Also, I wanted to reply to my own post so that the reader can see the original post as reference. I have not read the original post again so not sure how similar my thoughts are on the few IEMs I still have from August.

I posted in August with the intent of using that post to help others understand those IEMs and as a catalyst to help motivate me to sell some of the IEMs I had at that time. My goal was to get down to about 4 IEMs. I have failed at that. I tend to get stuck at 8 no matter how I try to reduce the ridiculous unjustifiable number of monitors I have.

Here is a rudimentary summary of my current lineup. I hope it helps others understand these IEMs better. My personal goal this time is to stick with these 8 for a while (at least a few weeks).


Oriolus Traillii

The hype was huge in this thread until it got its own thread. This IEM is about an expansive stage. So far left to right that it curls up on each side like a “Handlebar Mustache.” I can hear both sides of the stage outside my head and lifted up a bit. Sometimes I inadvertently reach to the left and right of me to reel in the notes. The mids are not recessed but they are stretched out which reduces any forwardness of them. The second most notable strength of this monitor is the timbre. Very realistic. It is like the perfect opened backed dynamic driver headphone from ultra-lows to ultra-highs even though it does not have a dynamic driver in it and it is closed.


VE Erlkonig LE

Musicality in every beautiful sense possible. Goosebump inducing musicality. The timbre is correct until you hear the Traillii. Then you realize they splashed more fun into the mix for the Erlkonig. You have 4 signatures to play with on this one. I prefer number 2 which has a mid bass bump but keeps everything else the same. The forward mids are what grab me the most on the Erlk. Any type of music is a joy with this IEM. It has a great stage. Just not as wide as the Traillii. But depth and height are as good as it gets.


VE Elysium

My preferred IEM. I have owned the Traillii and Erlk twice already. Well, Elys I have owned three times now. As my therapist says “you cannot reason with the unreasonable.” So, I have stopped trying to find reason in my personal audio. I just ride the wave. I rode the LX wave 5 times.

Elysium is the single DD IEM I spent a long time looking for even though it is not a single DD IEM. The DD mids are the best mids I have ever heard. The timbre is correct and even more so the emotions that come from the notes produced by the DD of this IEM are beautiful. BA bass is exactly where I want it on the Elys. The Estat treble IMHO is as good as any I have heard. It took VE 2 ½ years to develop this IEM and that does make sense IMHO after hearing it.


EE Odin

Technical wonder! The notes provide the best clarity I have ever heard. The bass brings the most texture to the table I have ever heard. Super coherent for such a driver complex IEM. The music from this monitor comes at you. Relentlessly.


Noble Sultan

Hello, let’s have fun. The party IEM. I want to go out and have a blast IEM. Best fun set up of any IEM I have heard. LX for example is fun and complex but the L shape may not be for everyone. The Sultan is fun and coherent. The W shape has everything coming at you. Like the Odin this IEM has people that love it and sleep with it and others that spend a night with them and walk away. Each to his or her own.


Noble Zephyr

Best IEM for the price of $1400 or under that I have ever heard. Extremely well-tuned IEM. Reminds me of the Solaris 2020 but with better mids. Reminds me also of the Tia Trio but with better engagement. The Zephyr is smooth and coherent with a slight bump in the mids to increase the engagement of this IEM. The DD bass is smooth and textured.


UM Mason V3+ with Phanes cable

I owned a couple of its predecessors (Maestro V2 and Mason V3). V3+ is of the same family just a little more detailed than the others. Extremely smooth IEM. Thick notes. Fatigue is never an issue. All notes are thick from the bass through the treble. An IEM for long sessions. The EA Dual-Tone Phanes cable allows the opportunity to easily switch between the EA Leonidas 2 cable and a Silver, Gold and Palladium alloy cable.


Noble Katana

“Cuts Like a Knife” from Bryan Adams. Every note is exact and the stage is not wide but all instruments can be identified on the stage. Along with exact notes the sub bass stands out on the Katana. I use this IEM for when I go on a walk. Every note coming from it cuts through any ambient noise.

"I have owned the Traillii and Erlk twice already" - do you mean you purchased, sold, and re-purchased Traillii again?

 

[SLC1966]

"I have owned the Traillii and Erlk twice already" - do you mean you purchased, sold, and re-purchased Traillii again?

Yes, I bought back the one I sold Same with Erlk (twice). No comment.

 

[jwbrent]

Yes, I bought back the one I sold Same with Erlk (twice). No comment.

Nice that you had a willing partner.

 

[jwbrent]

Are there any Odin owners who have bought the Mest MKII? I’m really amazed at the soundstage size, 360 degrees around in all directions. I commented earlier that it may be better in this regard than the Odin, so some other viewpoints would be nice whether to confirm or disagree.

 

[Jackpot77]

Really enjoying the MEST Mk2 at the moment - it's a little thicker in the mids than the original, so it makes the stage feel a little less spacious than the OG MEST for me (although the stage dimensions are the same). Never heard the Odin, but can confirm that the MEST Mk2 definitely has one of the biggest stages I've ever listened to, and definitely the most immersive.

Anyone got a comparison between the MEST and the Jolene yet?

 

[SeeSax]

@SLC1966 Always 8 eh Mark?

I'm always at 4, so that makes me SLC1966/2 I guess

It's true, I once shipped him a surprise IEM to make it nine and he refused the delivery and it came back to me.

 

[ranfan]

@SLC1966 Thanks for sharing your impression and thoughts on your collection Mark What a collection you've gathered. Having tried most IEMs at the store here, I think you can rest assured to have among in your possession the top of the top monitors to have been released currently.

Amazing write as always, I enjoy reading your posts.

There is one I'd add though if you're looking for a neutral and transparency specialist..

 

[Tristy]

Are there any Odin owners who have bought the Mest MKII? I’m really amazed at the soundstage size, 360 degrees around in all directions. I commented earlier that it may be better in this regard than the Odin, so some other viewpoints would be nice whether to confirm or disagree.

I’ve read somewhere that the MEST (mk1 I believe) had an impressive stage but it was lacking in terms of depth and realism in its imaging when compared to Odin?

 

[1TrickPony]

Really enjoying the MEST Mk2 at the moment - it's a little thicker in the mids than the original, so it makes the stage feel a little less spacious than the OG MEST for me (although the stage dimensions are the same). Never heard the Odin, but can confirm that the MEST Mk2 definitely has one of the biggest stages I've ever listened to, and definitely the most immersive.

Anyone got a comparison between the MEST and the Jolene yet?

Oh yeah, soundstaging on the MEST is really sweeeet. Makes OST tunes sound more epic than usual. The slight V goes the distance here.

 

[KuroKitsu]

Are there any Odin owners who have bought the Mest MKII? I’m really amazed at the soundstage size, 360 degrees around in all directions. I commented earlier that it may be better in this regard than the Odin, so some other viewpoints would be nice whether to confirm or disagree.

The Jolene really stalled my hopes of moving my Lolas quick and easy.

I tried suggesting that I get an exception for the MKII to the missus. It was refused in spectacular fashion.