Introducing the FATfreq x Effect Audio: Quantum

[Random Lunatic]

I have the Timeless 1, and it is also interesting, but I find it less resolving and thinner, with poorer bass, poorer treble, and not as good mids. Some might come from what we see in these graphs, but much of the difference likely lies in other elements of their execution, including possibly a different driver or the same driver with tweaks. They certainly have some secret sauce that makes their IEMs very effective.

I had given up listening to the Timeless 1 because my other units were better balanced, tonally, and timbrally. But the Quantum beats all those units!

Weirdly, the Quantum is making me look again at the Grand Maestro. However, I do not see this one leaving my rotation.

However, be aware of recency biases, which are psychoacoustic. So if I grab my Monarch mkIII alone, it sounds slightly treble biased with good mids and decent bass. When I listen to it after the Quantum, it sounds shrill, with bad bass and exaggerated mids. The Quantum is, to me, the more realistic device. The MkIII is not bad, but it is different. Everything seems different!

Honestly the major concern for me is from having been fooled into buying things like the Dioko, with its tinny shrill top end and lacking bass - and seeing the same 8k peak on the Quantum and only marginally more bass just has me worried it'll be dioko all over for me. On the other hand I did really like the Tin P1 Max, before it broke.

 

[Or1onSLi]

Honestly the major concern for me is from having been fooled into buying things like the Dioko, with its tinny shrill top end and lacking bass - and seeing the same 8k peak on the Quantum and only marginally more bass just has me worried it'll be dioko all over for me. On the other hand I did really like the Tin P1 Max, before it broke.

Is nothing like the Dioko. It’s not one peak in one specific frequency that determines the sound: internal cavity shape, material of the shell, insertion depth, impedance of the headphone…it all contributes to the perception of the sound.

Bass in these is proper. If you want bassehead, Sony-like, bass you need to look to something with a DD. This is a more neutral set which needs a lot of power to shine.

 

[Random Lunatic]

Is nothing like the Dioko. It’s not one peak in one specific frequency that determines the sound: internal cavity shape, material of the shell, insertion depth, impedance of the headphone…it all contributes to the perception of the sound.

Bass in these is proper. If you want bassehead, Sony-like, bass you need to look to something with a DD. This is a more neutral set which needs a lot of power to shine.

On the Dioko it sadly IS pretty much that single peak that ruins the whole thing, because its so extreme. Adding bass helps balance it out, but needs a LOT of work to fix. All of what you mentioned there just contributes to what the resulting frequency response is - that being said its going to take some more and better quality measurements out there to really reliably know whats going on with these of course. Without hearing them anyway.
But I think the peak on the quantum's graph may genuinely just be a coupler resonance based on peoples descriptions of hearing it. I.e. an artifact of the measurements.

I have both the Deuce, Scarlet Mini and Blon BL01 for the more extreme bass enjoyment. My hope would be that thse could fulfill a more neutral/balanced role, without lacking bass. Like a Meteor or BLON 03, but better quality (loved those, regardless of price by the driver is failing on one side)

 

[Or1onSLi]

Inun

On the Dioko it sadly IS pretty much that single peak that ruins the whole thing, because its so extreme. Adding bass helps balance it out, but needs a LOT of work to fix. All of what you mentioned there just contributes to what the resulting frequency response is - that being said its going to take some more and better quality measurements out there to really reliably know whats going on with these of course. Without hearing them anyway.
But I think the peak on the quantum's graph may genuinely just be a coupler resonance based on peoples descriptions of hearing it. I.e. an artifact of the measurements.

I have both the Deuce, Scarlet Mini and Blon BL01 for the more extreme bass enjoyment. My hope would be that thse could fulfill a more neutral/balanced role, without lacking bass. Like a Meteor or BLON 03, but better quality (loved those, regardless of price by the driver is failing on one side)

I understand. Yeah, a good measurement with a proper rig would help understand better.

 

[MakeItWain]

On the Dioko it sadly IS pretty much that single peak that ruins the whole thing, because its so extreme. Adding bass helps balance it out, but needs a LOT of work to fix. All of what you mentioned there just contributes to what the resulting frequency response is - that being said its going to take some more and better quality measurements out there to really reliably know whats going on with these of course. Without hearing them anyway.
But I think the peak on the quantum's graph may genuinely just be a coupler resonance based on peoples descriptions of hearing it. I.e. an artifact of the measurements.

I have both the Deuce, Scarlet Mini and Blon BL01 for the more extreme bass enjoyment. My hope would be that thse could fulfill a more neutral/balanced role, without lacking bass. Like a Meteor or BLON 03, but better quality (loved those, regardless of price by the driver is failing on one side)

@Ineras has graphed his Quantum - he can echo my thoughts that it's resonance or just graphed that way but, in actual listening, it's not harsh.

 

[Random Lunatic]

@Ineras has graphed his Quantum - he can echo my thoughts that it's resonance or just graphed that way but, in actual listening, it's not harsh.

Thats good to hear - its weird because I see a lot have that peak and its never an issue, just coupler resonance, and then others like the dioko, where it completely destroys the IEM - probably more to why the dioko didn't sound good, but that peak is certainly prominent.
But thank you for chiming in on that.

 

[SCYJ]

Honestly the major concern for me is from having been fooled into buying things like the Dioko, with its tinny shrill top end and lacking bass - and seeing the same 8k peak on the Quantum and only marginally more bass just has me worried it'll be dioko all over for me. On the other hand I did really like the Tin P1 Max, before it broke.

Whenever you see an 8k peak, just assume that with proper tips + insertion depth, that peak energy gets shifted upwards few khz and adds to the treble air.

 

[karloil]

I gave up with tips! Doesn't matter what tips I use (silicone or sticky ones) - I still hear that popping sound when it looses seal (only on my left ear).

In the end, I settled with the Azla Crystals - keeps the popping sound to a very very minimum

 

[SCYJ]

I gave up with tips! Doesn't matter what tips I use (silicone or sticky ones) - I still hear that popping sound when it looses seal (only on my left ear).

In the end, I settled with the Azla Crystals - keeps the popping sound to a very very minimum

Might have to try different shaped tips. Have you tried the Velvets/Velvets Wide?

 

[Random Lunatic]

Whenever you see an 8k peak, just assume that with proper tips + insertion depth, that peak energy gets shifted upwards few khz and adds to the treble air.

True, that does generally hold true

I gave up with tips! Doesn't matter what tips I use (silicone or sticky ones) - I still hear that popping sound when it looses seal (only on my left ear).

In the end, I settled with the Azla Crystals - keeps the popping sound to a very very minimum

popping? From the driver/iem itself, or just from the rubber loosing contact with/unsticking from your ear?

 

[karloil]

Might have to try different shaped tips. Have you tried the Velvets/Velvets Wide?

Yes, tried both. Same results. Tried Prism WB, Baroques, Spiral Dots ++, Azla (Standard, Crystal), Final E, Spinfit (Omni, Neo, CP100, W1), even some generic WBs that I have - same popping sound when loosing seal. Never had this issue with my other IEMs and only happens on my left ear. Gave up....just settled with the lesser evil.

popping? From the driver/iem itself, or just from the rubber loosing contact with/unsticking from your ear?

Nope, it's not the IEM, nothing rattling in it. It's from the tips loosing seal. I can simulate the same popping sound on the right side when I deliberately move the IEM. So weird - only with this IEM, only on the left

 

[audioaura]

On the Dioko it sadly IS pretty much that single peak that ruins the whole thing, because its so extreme. Adding bass helps balance it out, but needs a LOT of work to fix. All of what you mentioned there just contributes to what the resulting frequency response is - that being said its going to take some more and better quality measurements out there to really reliably know whats going on with these of course. Without hearing them anyway.
But I think the peak on the quantum's graph may genuinely just be a coupler resonance based on peoples descriptions of hearing it. I.e. an artifact of the measurements.

I have both the Deuce, Scarlet Mini and Blon BL01 for the more extreme bass enjoyment. My hope would be that thse could fulfill a more neutral/balanced role, without lacking bass. Like a Meteor or BLON 03, but better quality (loved those, regardless of price by the driver is failing on one side)

Yeah, that Dioko peak really does sabotage the whole tuning — EQ helps, but it’s a full-time job. And I agree, the Quantum peak does seem more like a measurement quirk than an actual dealbreaker. Love your bass trio! I’ve got a soft spot for IEMs that can slam but still stay clean.

 

[Or1onSLi]

True, that does generally hold true

popping? From the driver/iem itself, or just from the rubber loosing contact with/unsticking from your ear?

It’s the eartip losing seal…I have the same problem because of the shape of my left ear canal. I have to say, tho, that in my case I found the right angle to avoid that turning the left IEM slightly forward.

 

[RedCurry]

I ordered my Quantum on Saturday and just received a message from Fedex that it'll be delivered tomorrow. I was expecting at least a week so this is a nice surprise. I guess Fatfreq sorted out their production and logistics issues.

 

[Random Lunatic]

I ordered my Quantum on Saturday and just received a message from Fedex that it'll be delivered tomorrow. I was expecting at least a week so this is a nice surprise. I guess Fatfreq sorted out their production and logistics issues.

That’s great to hear - a third blunder on that front would have been real bad…


I hope there will be more impressions and reviews soon - would love to see more comparisons to other iems.
Fx other FatFreq iems and other planars.

Have they mentioned which driver they’re using anywhere?