[NellieG]

 

[jon parker]

 

[roygbiv6]

Still enjoying the Bone Conduction drivers in the Astra but I have been wondering where the Opus Mia will fit in in terms of my listening enjoyments. Listening to the following cleared that up.
When the song really gets going the effect of 3D immersion gets a bit too much (although the clarity and separation of everything is top notch)
but listening again with the Opus the more grounded centred sound really suits this kind of music 'better' You have a more 'dry' less coloured sound that rocks - There is a more defined punchy clarity

I think that's what great about having a couple of IMR IEM's - You can really appreciate what their individual strengths and different approaches to music presentation are . . .
Unless you are NellieG of course who just listens to dance music (joking - sorry, couldn't resist)
Actually this is probably the rock equivalent of what our Dear Nellie so loves?

Anyway - Its a great song to test how well your IEM's handle complex sound
EDIT: Cant remember which song it was that prompted the insight but both are great for testing certain aspects
and anyway who doesn't like proper quality Viking Rock
Ps: you gotta listen for a couple minutes before it all kicks off

It is amazing how equally good the Astra and Elysium are but also how different they are.

They each have their forte Elysium is the best I've heard for vocals, guitars, string bass & piano. I think it is the peak of the planar IMRs. Astra excels at electronic stuff for me but really they can both do the others forte very well just the peak performance is them doing what they are best at. As the Astra burns in more they become a better allrounder tho and I enjoy them more for rock say.

I like to take the time to get to know each one. I like to hear what Bob does with all of his drivers & I have liked getting the ones I have & hearing what they all bring & do differently. Going from R1 - R2. What does a bigger more refined Aten driver add? Then what if you add a planar or estats to that? Then put them all together. Then replace the Aten with ADLC & add bc. Then CNT with or without bc & whatever is next.

I think my Astras have got more 3d since going beyond 300 hours. It seems like the bc & drivers are more in unison and complimenting each other more.
It can be a memorable experience when it all comes together. The way the music images in your head. Like you can see it feel and hear it all at the same time.

Also thanks to you I ended up buying all the Tinariwen albums on hdtracks.

 

[jon parker]

It can be a memorable experience when it all comes together. The way the music images in your head. Like you can see it feel and hear it all at the same time.

Also thanks to you I ended up buying all the Tinariwen albums on hdtracks.

Ive stopped burring in the Astra's now at 500 hours ! The last time I tried with various filters though I still couldn't find quite enough warmth or body (with my set up) - Luckily I have an old filter that just bring s them to perfection in terms of balance of everything. Perfect.
They do very well with just about anything you throw at them but give them something real 'sweet' sounding and boy do they purrr happily
Tinariwen!! I just listening to them last night. The first time I saw them was on youtube KEXP session and I thought why are these idiots dressed up like that but then I actually listened. When I realised they were genuine I listened a bit more and then that amazing rhythmic Arabian blues sound hit me and I was sold. They are super nice people and very down to earth and real. The music is so so good. Very 'real' - Would be great to do a road trip with that music as your backdrop

 

[roygbiv6]

Ive stopped burring in the Astra's now at 500 hours ! The last time I tried with various filters though I still couldn't find quite enough warmth or body (with my set up) - Luckily I have an old filter that just bring s them to perfection in terms of balance of everything. Perfect.
They do very well with just about anything you throw at them but give them something real 'sweet' sounding and boy do they purrr happily

Did you notice any change between 300 & 500 hours. I'm thinking mine are ready to try different filters now. They were already superb but have improved so much over the last couple of days.

Tinariwen!! I just listening to them last night. The first time I saw them was on youtube KEXP session and I thought why are these idiots dressed up like that but then I actually listened. When I realised they were genuine I listened a bit more and then that amazing rhythmic Arabian blues sound hit me and I was sold. They are super nice people and very down to earth and real. The music is so so good. Very 'real' - Would be great to do a road trip with that music as your backdrop

Oh man I'm so glad you posted that KEXP session. I know what you mean it made me chuckle the look with the sennheisers over the head gear.

I love the first one & the 2nd one let me know was on the right tracks when Lanegan appears. That was an unexpected treat.

 

[jon parker]

Did you notice any change between 300 & 500 hours. I'm thinking mine are ready to try different filters now. They were already superb but have improved so much over the last couple of days.

They are weird - Ive had bad experiences with both the Astra and the Opus Mia around the 280 hour mark - in the last few days they seem brighter than normal ?? Hard to say though - maybe my ears are cleaner ?
I wrote to Bob asking about the tuning - This was around the 280 mark. Using the same filters he said he had a different experience, hearing a low end a bit north of audiophile
I'll go back over the filters soon but Im definitely not getting the bass I think I should. With the old/custom filter im using it is essentially perfect as an audiophile bass IEM & im ok with that but with the stock filters . . . I would have to say not good enough and they would have gone back as being not fit for purpose. As I say though I need to go back and revaluate BUT if Im right and it is the tuning, I do think that -You DONT charge a flagship price for a flagship IEM that has a 'specialist' or weird sound / tuning - You do your 'alternative' tunings in the $3-400 price bracket. A Flagship IEM should be excellent and actually excel at everything - Bass, mids and highs.
Thats not to say it isn't capable of being outstanding - It can be, and when it is = WoW
but.... my Opus Mia has a LOT more low end even on gray/red filter than the Astra has on Black !? and that does not make sense
Either way to HAVE to use the heaviest bass filter to even touch upon a barely adequate amount of bass. . . Im not 100% why this is the case, whetehr its the tuning or there is a fault or if Bob just feel that the clarity and higs is what he feels is 'very very special'

 

[roygbiv6]

They are weird - Ive had bad experiences with both the Astra and the Opus Mia around the 280 hour mark - in the last few days they seem brighter than normal ?? Hard to say though - maybe my ears are cleaner ?
I wrote to Bob asking about the tuning - This was around the 280 mark. Using the same filters he said he had a different experience, hearing a low end a bit north of audiophile
I'll go back over the filters soon but Im definitely not getting the bass I think I should. With the old/custom filter im using it is essentially perfect as an audiophile bass IEM & im ok with that but with the stock filters . . . I would have to say not good enough and they would have gone back as being not fit for purpose. As I say though I need to go back and revaluate BUT if Im right and it is the tuning, I do think that -You DONT charge a flagship price for a flagship IEM that has a 'specialist' or weird sound / tuning - You do your 'alternative' tunings in the $3-400 price bracket. A Flagship IEM should be excellent and actually excel at everything - Bass, mids and highs.
Thats not to say it isn't capable of being outstanding - It can be, and when it is = WoW
but.... my Opus Mia has a LOT more low end even on gray/red filter than the Astra has on Black !? and that does not make sense
Either way to HAVE to use the heaviest bass filter to even touch upon a barely adequate amount of bass. . . Im not 100% why this is the case, whetehr its the tuning or there is a fault or if Bob just feel that the clarity and higs is what he feels is 'very very special'

That does sound odd & I do wonder if there is a fault somewhere.

Mine got bright probably at around 280 hours. That phase going was one of the things I loved past 300 hours.

I've done a lot of comparing between the Astra & Mest2 as I think they are very similar. But I love just love the Mest2 bass. The Astra was definitely lacking in bass early on compared to this but has filled out in stages and compares well it now. I still prefer the Mest2 bass but I prefer the Astra overall. If you could add that bass to the Astra then wow.

I really think you would like the Mest2 btw. But also probably you would prefer the Elysium.

I had the Elysium in listening to Kyuss when I read your post. So a lot of bass there with Kyuss and the Elysium lol. I switch to the Astra and bass is not lacking at all. I'm still on double black filters but I don't think you should have not enough bass at that. That don't sound right at all.

Listening to some of my bass test tracks & bass is there and on point. Not as good as Elysium for string bass or texture but close.

This is my favourite bassline and I love this live version and it sounds great on the Astra.





That is a pretty chill song for Kyuss but nice bass.

I had some people just rock up at my house today which kind of annoyed me as I was busy with work. My sister & her friend who are both professional singers. A guy who used to be in a big 80's pop band and now produces & a drummer they are recording with who has toured with massive acts like Massive Attack.

Anyway I was too busy to spend a lot of time with them but gave them the Astra & Mest2 and my 220 and said tell me which is better.

They all preferred the Astra & that was a pretty instant thing. They said the Mest2 was superb but the Astra does have an instant wow factor.

 

[holsen]

I had some people just rock up at my house today which kind of annoyed me as I was busy with work. My sister & her friend who are both professional singers. A guy who used to be in a big 80's pop band and now produces & a drummer they are recording with who has toured with massive acts like Massive Attack.

Anyway I was too busy to spend a lot of time with them but gave them the Astra & Mest2 and my 220 and said tell me which is better.

They all preferred the Astra & that was a pretty instant thing. They said the Mest2 was superb but the Astra does have an instant wow factor.

Thanks for this..... I'm still waiting for my Astra to arrive but lurking and watching this thread had started pusing me in the diection of buyers remorse as the decision for me was between MEST 2 and Astra - this post gives me a little hope! I look forward to sharing my experience soon.

 

[jon parker]

HA! Talk about Ghost in the machine - As soon as I have a bit of a moan these bloody princess IEM's start to behave themselves !
Just had a quick listen to Billie Eilish and the rafters are moaning under the power of the low end !?!
It makes me appreciate more what a tight and controlled bass is in comparison to a looser but more enveloping low end. In other words the low end is very qualified
I think also, in general I prefer a more tube like low end - The Astra has a world class type of digital controlled sound
Listening to Amok by Atoms for Peace is pretty ear blowing
I am finding as well that they really only want to behave if you give them top class mixed/mastered albums.
When the stars align - they really are exceptional

 

[roygbiv6]

Thanks for this..... I'm still waiting for my Astra to arrive but lurking and watching this thread had started pusing me in the diection of buyers remorse as the decision for me was between MEST 2 and Astra - this post gives me a little hope! I look forward to sharing my experience soon.

No probs.

I'll be listing my Mest2 for sale soon. They are superb & that bass. I will miss that bass. But they are not getting much ear time and that is what tells me the most.

At first the Astra were comparing well to a fully burned in Mest2 but were not quite there and there were more songs I preferred on the Mest2. But as the Astra has burned in they have overtaken them. It's a long road with these estats and the ADLC too I guess.

I'm glad I heard them as I now know how good these IMRs are but if I could go back in time and tell myself to be patient and wait for the Astra i'd do that lol.

 

[holsen]

Ah... Hope and positively expectant anticipation restored!

 

[roygbiv6]

HA! Talk about Ghost in the machine - As soon as I have a bit of a moan these bloody princess IEM's start to behave themselves !
Just had a quick listen to Billie Eilish and the rafters are moaning under the power of the low end !?!
It makes me appreciate more what a tight and controlled bass is in comparison to a looser but more enveloping low end. In other words the low end is very qualified
I think also, in general I prefer a more tube like low end - The Astra has a world class type of digital controlled sound
Listening to Amok by Atoms for Peace is pretty ear blowing
I am finding as well that they really only want to behave if you give them top class mixed/mastered albums.
When the stars align - they really are exceptional

Interesting as that is exactly how I would describe the Elysium bass - looser & more enveloping. It handles string bass better but I love the Astra bass on electronic or digital stuff.

I also totally agree on they like being fed good quality music. Like the Semper here.

Was only gonna listen to a couple of songs lol and it's late again.

 

[jon parker]

Interesting as that is exactly how I would describe the Elysium bass - looser & more enveloping. It handles string bass better but I love the Astra bass on electronic or digital stuff.

I also totally agree on they like being fed good quality music. Like the Semper here.

Was only gonna listen to a couple of songs lol and it's late again.

Im still learning my musical preferences to be honest or perhaps better to say, Im still learning what my ears like - Intellectually I would think that I would like something but then my ears seem to insist on other aspects !!

Had another quick session last night and today and came to another conclusion / revelation
The Astra are 'reference' tuned IEMs !
If Bob had said that in the first place I would have had no complaints
I was expecting the classic bass head low end but got something else.
I was I admit slightly worried about the new ADLC driver for just this very reason...that the bass would be a higher quality, tighter and more qualified. On paper that sounds amazing but perhaps in some cases the bass of a particular song or album is better suited to the Aten / ceramic driver

Anyway, by 'reference' I mean - tuned to only give you exactly what is there on the recording - nothing added and nothing taken away. (Although the BC driver adds the sound of / space of / and feel of the room and a bit more as well)
the frequency response in and of itself molds itself exactly to what you give it !

Approaching the Astra from the POV of it being a reference IEM makes perfect sense to me and helps me to happily accept them as they are
We live and learn
EDIT: Yeah I agree - bass on electronic music with the Astra is exceptional - I would go as far as to say - It couldn't be better!
Im going to go back to the Opus Mia and observe if it does indeed suit bass OTHER than electronic music better
I kinda know the answer already but will be fun to try

 

[NellieG]

Im still learning my musical preferences to be honest or perhaps better to say, Im still learning what my ears like - Intellectually I would think that I would like something but then my ears seem to insist on other aspects !!

EDIT: Yeah I agree - bass on electronic music with the Astra is exceptional - I would go as far as to say - It couldn't be better!
Im going to go back to the Opus Mia and observe if it does indeed suit bass OTHER than electronic music better

We all come around to finding the real music eventually

 

[jon parker]

We all come around to finding the real music eventually

Indeed, we are all holding out for you...real instruments...real people ahhhhh