This is not me who thinks that he does not like BA drivers. It is Bob himself. I had telephonic conversations with him many times in the past and whenever we talked about BA drivers or number of BA drivers in the IEM, he always expressed his displeasure with BA drivers and told me he would not use BA drivers in future. That's the reason you see when he started IMR, I guess BA drivers were only introuduced in his recent models.
For Elan+ and others, if i am not wrong it was DM at the same time and Seraph, but not sure, anyway I have his message in email. This was sent to many people in the end of past year. There was a time he was moving manufacturing from UK to Germany, having some other problems. So a kind of compensation.
Thank for bringing it up. These kind of comments really help me examine my own hearing and often take me on a journey..in this case listening to the treble area of cymbals !!
Ah got ya, see what you mean now. Thanks
I can't really divide my brain adaptation/mood influence and real burn in results unfortunately. But I remember my first listening experience was wow, I had nothing to complain about (of course it was mostly emotional). And that time I've paired it with Toppind DX3PRO+ which is very detailed and powerful and with crispy and raw sounding Hiby FC4 actually having almost the same result in sounding. Then I moved to Bangladesh and was always using M11S for a few weeks. Step by step it was coming a feeling of something wrong in terms of sound. So I put Elans to the box and moved to Snowy, that is always perfect with no doubts. After some months I stared experiments with all possibilities I have trying to fix the problem of Elan+. Listening different cables, listening without top filter and occasionally got that FC4 sound much more vivid then M11s. Now waiting for Cayin RU7 not because of pairing with Elans+, but just for interest and to get an idea of were should I go further choosing the new DAP, to R2R architecture or othr type of DAC. I hope on this way forward my Elans+ will shine, but thanks God - am atheist)) So.. will see.Thank for bringing it up. These kind of comments really help me examine my own hearing and often take me on a journey..in this case listening to the treble area of cymbals !!
To be fair the M11 is pretty soft.
I sometimes find that IEMs can sometimes only give you everything they can when the best causes and conditions come together or in other words 'synergy' for that specific unit
I very much suspect that a couple hundred hours more of burn in may well bring all the drivers into their own burn in needs and then they can all work together in the way they were designed to
Thinking about it more technically...In that BA drivers need way less time to arrive at their optimal performing state than dynamic drivers it would make sense that you would get a lot of more 'treble energy' fresh out of the box
Ive always found that OOTB IMR can be very fun and lively
but then settle down and as many others wil attest here you always seem to go through a period where they just do not sound good any more, usually between the 200-400 mark
and then suddenly out of the blue they sound incredible again! Hard to believe but it has happened and been reported here time and time again !
Eventually you get a more refined and mature experience of sound than OOTB hinted at
Anyway, best of luck. I hope it all works out for you.
I could not be happier with my Elan+ but must confess they have gone through a lot of different sound signatures and even now something like 700-850 hours later they again sound quite different
I can't really divide my brain adaptation/mood influence and real burn in results unfortunately. But I remember my first listening experience was wow, I had nothing to complain about (of course it was mostly emotional). And that time I've paired it with Toppind DX3PRO+ which is very detailed and powerful and with crispy and raw sounding Hiby FC4 actually having almost the same result in sounding. Then I moved to Bangladesh and was always using M11S for a few weeks. Step by step it was coming a feeling of something wrong in terms of sound. So I put Elans to the box and moved to Snowy, that is always perfect with no doubts. After some months I stared experiments with all possibilities I have trying to fix the problem of Elan+. Listening different cables, listening without top filter and occasionally got that FC4 sound much more vivid then M11s. Now waiting for Cayin RU7 not because of pairing with Elans+, but just for interest and to get an idea of were should I go further choosing the new DAP, to R2R architecture or othr type of DAC. I hope on this way forward my Elans+ will shine, but thanks God - am atheist)) So.. will see.Thank for bringing it up. These kind of comments really help me examine my own hearing and often take me on a journey..in this case listening to the treble area of cymbals !!
To be fair the M11 is pretty soft.
I sometimes find that IEMs can sometimes only give you everything they can when the best causes and conditions come together or in other words 'synergy' for that specific unit
I very much suspect that a couple hundred hours more of burn in may well bring all the drivers into their own burn in needs and then they can all work together in the way they were designed to
Thinking about it more technically...In that BA drivers need way less time to arrive at their optimal performing state than dynamic drivers it would make sense that you would get a lot of more 'treble energy' fresh out of the box
Ive always found that OOTB IMR can be very fun and lively
but then settle down and as many others wil attest here you always seem to go through a period where they just do not sound good any more, usually between the 200-400 mark
and then suddenly out of the blue they sound incredible again! Hard to believe but it has happened and been reported here time and time again !
Eventually you get a more refined and mature experience of sound than OOTB hinted at
Anyway, best of luck. I hope it all works out for you.
I could not be happier with my Elan+ but must confess they have gone through a lot of different sound signatures and even now something like 700-850 hours later they again sound quite different
As to my experience, the matter is mostly the style of recording, which frequencies are more or less emphasized, if de-esser applied properly etc. The "flat" iems will show all the drawbacks of improper record, but iems with its own character as IMR demands a corresponding type of recording. Some of doom/stoner metal I can't listen in Elans+ as the bass is sooo over the rest of freqs.Ah got ya, see what you mean now. Thanks
Ive never been a fan of BA drivers, or AK dac chips! They just never sound quite natural enough. Sometimes subtle but still
As far as BA in Elan+ as Ive just been writing my set has just and is currently turned into quite a warm rich set whihc has only developed this past week so I assume its still on its burn in journey.
In the past it was very treble focussed. Made me think this is Bob's treble IMR but now its the opposite !?
I love this hobby
Almost forgot...Ive never heard a BA sound in Elan+ but with my set being warm now I'm really looking forward to seeing how it develops as he said on the original posting: (interestingly looks like it is focused mainly around the mids and not the treble)
'The dual balanced armature elevates the midrange and vocal presentation to another level. This also helps with placement of the micro details and staging. The dual balanced armature also mirrors the bone conduction motor and so the staging is vastly increased'
Also, since the original posting the recc' burning time has increase to 500 hours and he added
'ELAN+ IS NOT FOR POORLY RECORDED/MASTERED TRACKS'
Which is an interesting statement
Sure, brain is a complex device) After I wrote above negative messages about Elan+ and started listening them again, I realised they are not so bad as I described)) With maximum possible deepest insertion - almost to the pain - I hear splashes of cymbals much better and overall sound seems not so muddy in Gateways, but still far from 8BA. Actually some problem with fit is present for me. I would like IMR make filters longer to go deeper in ear or may be the angle is something not perfect for me, so tips are my saviours. But I never experienced such problems with other iems.
Bob created longer filters for the model: VIRUS in his previous venture Trinity Audio. But, I guess the longer filters were not a great hit and it was discontinued. I had those filters and I personally didn't find them comfortable. Longer filters probaly would not have worked in the current models having BC drivers. BC drivers requires more contact with the skin for optimal performance and Longer filters will keep the IEM more exposed outside.
Looks gorgeous!!!Just received the touring package from @EffectAudio for evaluation the Fusion 1, cadmus 8w and the real star of the show for me the Anniversary Eros S attached to my IMR Titan it's taken my favourite iem to the next level opening the spacious stage even further forcing more nuances out of the music tightening the bass impact without losing any of the texture just breathtaking. I really wish I hadn't joined these 2 together as I can't unhear the obvious improvements to an already impressive iem adding the aesthetics and wonderful ergonomics
A true winner.
I used to be, a cable is about ergonomics and aesthetics. My thinking if doesn't sound worse it's a bonus kinda guy. With the Titan being so revealing and unique sounding I really noticed a positive improvement to the sound signature with the Eros S anniversary and yes it's a thick supple beautiful cable that matches my Titan with a lovely tight fitment to the connections.
While not cheap it's an "affordable" cable as a special purchase for a £1.5k iem
