[dhruvmeena96]

I can tell you that filling up the ear canal and immerse part of the driver in resin does reduce distortion a lot.

You have to pay attention to the vents of the drivers though, some ED have an almost invisible vent that needs to stay open.

Moi doing universal set on cheap alibaba/aliexpress shells

Now tell

Resin are dammmmm expensive and I have wasted a lot. So no more customs for me until or unless I get someone who makes custom here in India

Resin filling

Well I cannot do with any of my setup

All have some vents here and there

Hmmmmmm

 

[dhruvmeena96]

I prefer this type of tuning but everything after 1kHz should be dropped by 2dB.

And bass boost should be after 150Hz and going up to 85dB on this graph at its end point.

And filling up the treble roll off at 10kHz and above to the level of dB where 2kHz is playing...


This is my preference and my improvement over Harman kardon tuning

 

[eunice]

I tried Finale 2 (ED + FED) vs. Finale 3 (ED + FED + CI) vs. BS6 + Zobel

For a start, they are all phenomenally good.

BS6: Still best bass, slight inaccuracies in mids but very good highs.

Finale 2: The silkiest and most accurate reproduction I have ever heard. Slight bass roll-off below ~50Hz.

Finale 3: Bass is back in volume compared to Finale 2, but bass is slower and with less impact than on BS6. Sometimes the bass slightly boomy.
I guess I don't like the CI bass, I have not liked the bass in any of the CI builds so far.

But most importantly Finale 3 looses some of the perfection of Finale 2 in mids/highs. Maybe the CI bleeds into the higher frequencies or the low impedance kills it. This effect is very amp dependent.
On the small dragonfly black the difference in mids and highs between Finale 2 and Finale 3 is not as strong as on my Audio-GD NFB-11.

But, the most ridiculous thing happens with the dragonfly on iPhone: at 01:54 in https://tidal.com/browse/track/45717895 exactly when a big orchestral hit is supposed to play, the dragonfly resets itself. Every time for a normal listening volume.



This is how I rank Finale 2/Finale 3 and BS6 on my phone with Dragonfly black

- Portishead - numb https://tidal.com/browse/track/1765483
1) Finale 3, 2) BS6, 3) Finale 2
- Yosi Horikawa - Letter https://tidal.com/browse/track/15666684
1) Finale 3, Shared 2) BS6 and Finale 2

- Minnesota Orchestra - Samson et dalia, Op 47: Bacchanale https://tidal.com/browse/track/45717895
1) Finale 2, 2) BS6, 3) Finale 3

- Billie Eilish - Bad Guy https://tidal.com/browse/track/106538979

1) BS6, 2) Finale 2, 3) Finale 3

- Postmodern Jukebox Haley Reinhart - Black Hole sun https://tidal.com/browse/track/97251270

1) Finale 2, 2) Finale 3, 3) BS6

- Savages - Husbands https://tidal.com/browse/track/19927133

1) BS6, 2) Finale 2, 3) Finale 3

- Dense and Picka - Hands up (Acid Mix) https://tidal.com/browse/track/105792701

1) BS6, 2) Finale 2, 3) Finale 3

So the jury is still out on what's best, but there is room to improve the Finale design.

And for all of you trying to decide what to build, Finale 3 is the hardest and most expensive I have built so far. Three bore CIEM, ridiculous tubing/damper setup (5 dampers!), it brought me to my limits. I had a slightly oval tube on one of the FED and the sound was noticeably different on one side.

Price, build complexity together with the amp dependent sound is kinda the reason I would not suggest building the Finale 3. Finale 2 and BS6+Z are very safe bets. BS6+Z as the best allrounder and Finale 2 as the best accuracy with a very good DAC/Amp.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

I tried Finale 1 (ED + FED) vs. Finale 2 (ED + FED + CI) vs. BS6 + Zobel

For a start, they are all phenomenally good.

BS6: Still best bass, slight inaccuracies in mids but very good highs.

Finale 1: The silkiest and most accurate reproduction I have ever heard. Slight bass roll-off below ~50Hz.

Finale 2: Bass is back in volume compared to Finale 1, but bass is slower and with less impact than on BS6. Sometimes the bass slightly boomy.
I guess I don't like the CI bass, I have not liked the bass in any of the CI builds so far.

But most importantly Finale 2 looses some of the perfection of Finale 1 in mids/highs. Maybe the CI bleeds into the higher frequencies or the low impedance kills it. This effect is very amp dependent.
On the small dragonfly black the difference in mids and highs between Finale 1 and Finale 2 is not as strong as on my Audio-GD NFB-11.

But, the most ridiculous thing happens with the dragonfly on iPhone: at 01:54 in https://tidal.com/browse/track/45717895 exactly when a big orchestral hit is supposed to play, the dragonfly resets itself. Every time for a normal listening volume.



This is how I rank Finale 1/Finale 2 and BS6 on my phone with Dragonfly black

- Portishead - numb https://tidal.com/browse/track/1765483
1) Finale 2, 2) BS6, 3) Finale 1
- Yosi Horikawa - Letter https://tidal.com/browse/track/15666684
1) Finale 2, Shared 2) BS6 and Finale 1

- Minnesota Orchestra - Samson et dalia, Op 47: Bacchanale https://tidal.com/browse/track/45717895
1) Finale 1, 2) BS6, 3) Finale 2

- Billie Eilish - Bad Guy https://tidal.com/browse/track/106538979

1) BS6, 2) Finale 1, 3) Finale 2

- Postmodern Jukebox Haley Reinhart - Black Hole sun https://tidal.com/browse/track/97251270

1) Finale 1, 2) Finale 2, 3) BS6

- Savages - Husbands https://tidal.com/browse/track/19927133

1) BS6, 2) Finale 1, 3) Finale 2

- Dense and Picka - Hands up (Acid Mix) https://tidal.com/browse/track/105792701

1) BS6, 2) Finale 1, 3) Finale 2

So the jury is still out on what's best, but there is room to improve the Finale design.

And for all of you trying to decide what to build, Finale 2 is the hardest and most expensive I have built so far. Three bore CIEM, ridiculous tubing/damper setup (5 dampers!), it brought me to my limits. I had a slightly oval tube on one of the FED and the sound was noticeably different on one side.

Price, build complexity together with the amp dependent sound is kinda the reason I would not suggest building it.

I was able to improve it though

CI-22960(100ohm version)
Dual yellow damped instead of three.
Software didn't show the lag

I was able to hear the bass lag in certain tracks

Well you can use high impedance BK also(for tight punchy bass hit)
CI-22960
HODVTEC with zobel, L-pad damping, and added series resistance with single yellow damper

The ultimate is Sonion 38D1XJ007Mi/8a with one yellow damper.

Its fast




Final 2 is dual driver FED and ED
Final 3 is triple driver.
Final 1 is a project going on(I have to make it single driver)

 

[dhruvmeena96]

Hello guys. Did anyone use RAB-32257 (Bellsing) and GK-31732 together? Did anyone have experience in reworking the crossover for this stuffing?

It works flawlessly if you make the GK dual spot share same 2mm tube

It can go like MASM setup

With GK replacing GQ

Tubing is also same as MASM
Damping scheme is also the same

But I think MASM is better and leaner


And if possible, add a SWFK at 9kHz



Update 1:

RAB32063( non bassy non vented RAB) only supported

MASM pro tube styling

Same damper config

Everything same except GQ swapped to GK


Hmmmm

CI bass slam is above RAF, RAB 32033. Soundstage is deeper and imaging is aggressive.

Liking it till now.

Orignal MASM pro extends more and has relaxed but accurate imaging


Update 2:

I am naming this MASM Renaissance experimental(car lover may know the meaning behind this name)


It has the very unique sound.

BS6 zobel + MASM pro + Sony XB90EX

Leaning more toward MASM

It has a very big bass presentation (not boosted or extended, but I think the wall of bass is big) something like SONY XB90EX

MASM like upper mids.


And the overall signature seems like BS6 + zobel


It has some of the good points from all the above mentioned IEM.

Hmmm

I will try individual damping of TWFK and CI then


Update 3:

Mom likes it

This is
Renaissance from now on.

GK
Brown damper near spout
White damper in between
2mm ID/ 20mm length

RAB 32063
No damper
Resonator
2mm ID/16mm length
Zobel



Sound analysis:
Fun tuning, L-shape, deep subbass rumble and impact
Extremely detailed and imaging is aggressive. It wants you to listen all details rather than relaxing one, which offers you which detail you wanna pick.

Vocal are grand like. I mean, something like Audeze LCD 2 C. Female vocal are sharp

Sibilance in check. On borderline of detailed and sibilant like the MASM.

Here, I think treble is smooth and more resolving

 

[eunice]

Well you can use high impedance BK also(for tight punchy bass hit)
CI-22960
HODVTEC with zobel, L-pad damping, and added series resistance with single yellow damper

Could you calculate a HODVTEC + FED or HODVTEC + FED + ED version for me?

I have HODVTEC here and I love it’s bass. I also have the Sonion 33AJ007i/9 if that would fit. Since I do not like the CI-22955 I don’t know if I should try the CI-22960.

Final 2 is dual driver FED and ED
Final 3 is triple driver.
Final 1 is a project going on(I have to make it single driver)

Oh, then I got it wrong. Sorry. I thought finale 1 is first iteration (ED+FED)

 

[dhruvmeena96]

Could you calculate a HODVTEC + FED or HODVTEC + FED + ED version for me?

I have HODVTEC here and I love it’s bass. I also have the Sonion 33AJ007i/9 if that would fit. Since I do not like the CI-22955 I don’t know if I should try the CI-22960.



Oh, then I got it wrong. Sorry. I thought finale 1 is first iteration (ED+FED)

CI22960 is high impedance CI22955 which can be damped with less dampers.
So you won't loose speed

HODVTEC is what I dont recommend though. Its lazy and slow driver(no offence)
HODVTEC will need Zobel, L-pad and then two yellow dampers

You can try Sonion 33AJ007i/9 with dual yellow
First 1/4 distance away and other at 3/4 distance away.

ED30761 is necessary though.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

To everybody who are interested in technology

Meze Audio Rai penta IEM technology demystified

The pressure equalization system is technology like APEX module or Asius filters I.e to lower ear pressure

But it doesn't use any plug and play adapters.

Its very simple technology, which works

A vent in front of DD and a vent in back of DD calculated in such a manner that when pressure returns from our ear towards the DD, it equalises the pressure between two vents.

The vent at back of DD is considerably bigger( the tri dot and fidget spinner design vent is designed to give maximum air flow with least isolation loss) then the vent in front of DD.

The vent in front of DD is like normal IEM vent, which helps in releasing direct pressure. But the back pressure let's the dynamic driver stay at certain position, plus added ear pressure from BA, can lead to pressure stagnation in ear canal, so they made the DD back vent large enough to release maximum build up pressure from back and let the DD move according to returning pressure...plus the front vent again relieves us from the stagnated pressure.

So its like convention earphone with buildup pressure release. I think it works way better than APEX and asius tech as it tries to maintain environmental pressure inside ear instead of isolation all air and making it move like spring inside ear

 

[Kulgrinda]

My first finished universal IEM. Insides are GQ + RAB 32033 with zobel, really liking this setup.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

My first finished universal IEM. Insides are GQ + RAB 32033 with zobel, really liking this setup.

It looks really cool


Another science thingie

Imaging

Or sound localization

Sound localization is a listener's ability to identify the location or origin of a detected sound in direction and distance. It may also refer to the methods in acoustical engineering to simulate the placement of an auditory cue in a virtual 3D space (see binaural recording, wave field synthesis).

The sound localization mechanisms of the mammalian auditory system have been extensively studied. The auditory system uses several cues for sound source localization, including time- and level-differences (or intensity-difference) between both ears, spectral information, timing analysis, correlation analysis, and pattern matching.

These cues are also used by other animals, but there may be differences in usage, and there are also localization cues which are absent in the human auditory system, such as the effects of ear movements. Animals with the ability to localize sound have a clear evolutionary advantage.



And I wanted to talk about cone of confusion or hazy imaging

Most mammals are adept at resolving the location of a sound source using interaural time differences and interaural level differences. However, no such time or level differences exist for sounds originating along the circumference of circular conical slices, where the cone's axis lies along the line between the two ears.

Consequently, sound waves originating at any point along a given circumference slant height will have ambiguous perceptual coordinates. That is to say, the listener will be incapable of determining whether the sound originated from the back, front, top, bottom or anywhere else along the circumference at the base of a cone at any given distance from the ear. Of course, the importance of these ambiguities are vanishingly small for sound sources very close to or very far away from the subject, but it is these intermediate distances that are most important in terms of fitness.

These ambiguities can be removed by tilting the head, which can introduce a shift in both the amplitude and phase of sound waves arriving at each ear. This translates the vertical orientation of the interaural axis horizontally, thereby leveraging the mechanism of localization on the horizontal plane. Moreover, even with no alternation in the angle of the interaural axis (i.e. without tilting one's head) the hearing system can capitalize on interference patterns generated by pinnae, the torso, and even the temporary re-purposing of a hand as extension of the pinna (e.g., cupping one's hand around the ear).

As with other sensory stimuli, perceptual disambiguation is also accomplished through integration of multiple sensory inputs, especially visual cues. Having localized a sound within the circumference of a circle at some perceived distance, visual cues serve to fix the location of the sound. Moreover, prior knowledge of the location of the sound generating agent will assist in resolving its current location.


This is what happens in real life open environment imaging

In closed set, the imaging is decided by speaker tuning and the technical prowess. Technical prowess kinda make resolution more.......


Taking a break from building iem
(Still finalizing Final 1 driver selection)

And sharing science lesson

 

[dhruvmeena96]

My first finished universal IEM. Insides are GQ + RAB 32033 with zobel, really liking this setup.

Which shells are these
I would also like to buy some

 

[Kulgrinda]

Which shells are these
I would also like to buy some

These are home made. Kz zsr was the inspiration, but these are adjusted to my preference. Fit is really good, they do not stick out of the ear much. Driver and wire fit was very snug. For the next pair if the same or bigger will be used I'll make a bit bigger shell, still have the original agar agar forms.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

@piotrus-g

Wow, Man...
FIBAE 7 looks insane in specs(for me)
Dual Sub-Low, Single Low-Mid, Dual Mid-High, and Two Top-Firing Tweeters


Well....I wanted to ask about top firing tweeter

Are they top spout or something else????
Or something like TIA driver

Hmmmm

 

[piotrus-g]

@piotrus-g

Wow, Man...
FIBAE 7 looks insane in specs(for me)
Dual Sub-Low, Single Low-Mid, Dual Mid-High, and Two Top-Firing Tweeters


Well....I wanted to ask about top firing tweeter

Are they top spout or something else????
Or something like TIA driver

Hmmmm

Thanks!
Top Firing Drivers are drivers without a spout with opening on top - something like Ultimate Ears' True Tone drivers.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

Thanks!
Top Firing Drivers are drivers without a spout with opening on top - something like Ultimate Ears' True Tone drivers.

Hmmm
Nice