I get what you’re saying, and I think it’s completely fair to expect world-class sound across the board at such a high price point. It sounds like you’re pretty satisfied with U12t. If I were you, I would consider that a win, and perhaps consider sailing off into the sunset to enjoy the music
But the reality is, there are many that will not share your opinion, and not enjoy U12t anywhere near as much as you do. A common complaint about U12t is that it lacks engagement, is boring, and/or find the smoothed out transients too soft and unexciting. Some have even said that they find the bass quite textureless. I’m sure you will most likely disagree with those opinions and that’s totally fine (fwiw, I thoroughly enjoy U12t too). But the point I’m trying to make is, a U12t may not be worth it’s $2k price tag to these people at all, and these same people may absolutely love Phonix’s sound profile and find it much more valuable than U12t, even at $4k. So it’s all relative.
I have a lot of IEMs. This has nothing to do with how I feel about the U12T/A. If you re-read my posts, I think you will find that I spend more time discussing the Vision Ears VE8 when referencing an IEM I personally love.
The U12T/A is certainly great for it’s price-point, but as I stated (I think twice now?) it’s a great all-arounder, but no one specific portion of it’s sound is what I would consider to be world-class. The much lauded bass could be considered the closest aspect of the signature approaching that level, and is perhaps currently the best in the world for BA bass, but in my opinion, is the equivalent of only really, really good DD bass… It’s not what I would consider top-tier bass, irrespective of driver type. And I would agree with the assessments that it is, if not a “boring” sound, certainly a predictable one… again, what I would call a lack of personality or POV. The reason I referenced the U12 is that it is widely considered to be one of the reigning champs at it’s price-point, due largely to how balanced and cohesive it is, and due to what it manages to do with BA bass… the two key issues I find the Phonix struggles with.
It’s all respect here, but I feel I need to say that I find your reply just a little disingenuous… I think I’ve been pretty clear that my critique of the Phonix has to do with the capabilities of the IEM itself. To essentially abandon discussion of the Phonix itself and make the statement that the issues I raise with the IEM are colored due to some love affair with the U12 seems to suggest that I am suffering from a touch of fanboyism, perhaps? At least that’s how I took it.
I have been on this forum a while. I started out, like many, often championing whatever had put me on a ramen diet for a month. But over the years, I think I have developed a small reputation for shooting straight when it comes to talking about how I hear something, good or bad, and for having a decent ear.
The Phonix is a very new IEM, and not many people have heard it yet. I think my input is valuable, even if it conflicts with what you hear, and I believe it would be a disservice to “sail off into the sunset with the U12”. Just speaking from personal experience, I know that whenever I am considering a new IEM -especially one costing what the Phonix does- I like to read forum discussions that feature the gamut of opinions, from the good to the bad and back again. I can’t imagine I’m alone there.
And again, if I did have to sail off into the sunset, does it have to be with the U12? That particular IEM hovers around 6th or 7th in my “only one IEM on a desert island” scenario, ha ha.
In any event, I hope you are not offended by anything I’ve written. If you’d like to debate any of my statements on the Phonix, I’m certainly game- I love a good discussion on audiophillia, even if everyone isn’t seeing eye to eye, and simply hearing things differently. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that those are my favorite discussions, because I tend to learn something, seeing things from another’s point of view. Not to harp on the VE8 again, but it took a rather (ahem) “spirited” discussion with a buddy for me to try that IEM again, after (an admittedly) too short initial audition. The result was I listened to the IEM again, saw his point, and while I still hear the deficiencies of the IEM, the good bits outweigh the bad bits for me, and it’s become a favorite… at least for very specific listening sessions. It the only thing I reach for when I am on a Talking Heads binge, for instance.
