So do you agree with me when i told you EST50 has a great matching with iBasso ?Out of the two pictured I tend to use the copper variant more but that's only because it's 4.4mm. I should have made the silver plated one 4.4mm as well but will do that once I order more wire.
This and the DX240 sound superb, everything else is just gathering dust these days
Absolutely but to be fair, everything I've tried so far sounds good with iBasso
Took a quick pic of ISN's very affordable, quality cables.
I don't think the S8 is trash. It just doesn't synergize with NEO 5 as well as S4 does. S8 is a very nice stock cable at the NEO 5's price point in my opinion.Got the 10usd cable offering for ISN Neo 5, since stock cable was trash. This is better, ordered the new tips also from Penon.
Since its Penon stuff its testing with Penon Tail dongle instead of my DAPs
Trash is harsh word by me, will edit it kinder.
Read it. Nice article and nice cables, have a few of them. Nice to see the Vocal cable with award from @Bosk, just wish they could re-release it with neutral design or sleeved in fabric.
Total agreement with you I really like S4 with Neo5 and Aroma Air dac amp close the circleNews Flash:
Penon is changing out the S8 included cable with the ISN Neo 5 for the S4. When I did my ISN Neo 5 review I tried all kinds of cables. But.......last night a 2Pin S4 arrived in the mail. Previously I only had MMCX of the S4, and the adapters were only allowing me to add 2Pin to an MMCX plug.
Long story short really there is a big difference to the S4 with the Neo 5. This was something that probably should have been included at the start, but better late than never. Rome wasn't built in a day and everyone is learning at some point. I mean KZ has probably come out with three or four new models of earphones since ISN released the Neo 5 with the S8. Instead of making more and more earphones, they are perfecting what they sell.
While I did try a bunch of cables with the Neo 5, some folks may have less choices right from the get go. Or if they have choices, then possibly they still don't have a cable like the S4. To tell you the truth, the S4 is a enigmatic cable despite its retail price, and despite now being included with the new ISN Neo 5.
Results:
So I have a long history of using the S8, in fact it was one of the main cables I used during my ISN EST50 review last year. And while very even and natural, it's really not offering the stage of the S4. Some already know this from experience, of having on hand already the S4 and S8 cables. But to kind of add a little power to this conversation. The S4 opens-up the Neo 5. It makes the Neo 5 live up to it's potential as an earphone. Of course if you already have the Neo 5 then there is a good chance it came with the S4 cable. Getting the update is really really important as not only is the stage bigger, but there is more detail inside the imaging. The Neo 5 is actually way more complex than I first gave it credit for. I will be the very first person to tell you that after my review is all finished and posted on Head-Fi, there is still a learning process which takes place as I interface continuously with the IEM in question. Reviews are a liquid thing, even though we look at them as final and offering all there is to know about a particular IEM.
First off the S4 bass with the Neo 5 is more elaborate coming from a slightly more refined area. Such a placement throws out any furry baggage, offering almost a style of simple clarity and positioning that wasn't possible with the S8. I didn't know this in my review? I didn't have the S4 at the time.
The midrange is now expanded into a new stage getting better separation and enhanced involvement. Vocals hold a slightly more forward stance which while the S8 vocals were not bad, it is not arguable that this way is better. Vocals are more upfront and alive, holding more life? Sorry I know of no other way to describe them?
The new S4 treble is simply better elevated. But what comes along with that elevation is harmonics, enhanced areas that were most likely sitting there almost submerged there waiting to be brought into focus.
The total end-results are more clarity and naturalness with added involvement due to such gifts. Quite simply the stage (mainly) is of a different IEM than the S8/Neo 5.
The new Neo 5 with S4 additive!
Cheers!
️ 
I will have mine soon, can't wait reallyNews Flash:
Penon is changing out the S8 included cable with the ISN Neo 5 for the S4. When I did my ISN Neo 5 review I tried all kinds of cables. But.......last night a 2Pin S4 arrived in the mail. Previously I only had MMCX of the S4, and the adapters were only allowing me to add 2Pin to an MMCX plug.
Long story short really there is a big difference to the S4 with the Neo 5. This was something that probably should have been included at the start, but better late than never. Rome wasn't built in a day and everyone is learning at some point. I mean KZ has probably come out with three or four new models of earphones since ISN released the Neo 5 with the S8. Instead of making more and more earphones, they are perfecting what they sell.
While I did try a bunch of cables with the Neo 5, some folks may have less choices right from the get go. Or if they have choices, then possibly they still don't have a cable like the S4. To tell you the truth, the S4 is a enigmatic cable despite its retail price, and despite now being included with the new ISN Neo 5.
Results:
So I have a long history of using the S8, in fact it was one of the main cables I used during my ISN EST50 review last year. And while very even and natural, it's really not offering the stage of the S4. Some already know this from experience, of having on hand already the S4 and S8 cables. But to kind of add a little power to this conversation. The S4 opens-up the Neo 5. It makes the Neo 5 live up to its potential as an earphone. Of course if you already have the Neo 5 then there is a good chance it came with the S8 cable. Getting the update is really really important as not only is the stage bigger, but there is more detail inside the imaging. The Neo 5 is actually way more complex than I first gave it credit for. I will be the very first person to tell you that after my review is all finished and posted on Head-Fi, there is still a learning process which takes place as I interface continuously with the IEM in question. Reviews are a liquid thing, even though we look at them as final and offering all there is to know about a particular IEM.
First off the S4 bass with the Neo 5 is more elaborate coming from a slightly more refined area. Such a placement throws out any furry baggage, offering almost a style of simple clarity and positioning that wasn't possible with the S8. I didn't know this in my review? I didn't have the S4 at the time.
The midrange is now expanded into a new stage getting better separation and enhanced involvement. Vocals hold a slightly more forward stance which while the S8 vocals were not bad, it is not arguable that this way is better. Vocals are more upfront and alive, holding more life? Sorry I know of no other way to describe them?
The new S4 treble is simply better elevated. But what comes along with that elevation is harmonics, enhanced areas that were most likely sitting there almost submerged there waiting to be brought into focus.
The total end-results are more clarity and naturalness with added involvement due to such gifts. Quite simply the stage (mainly) is of a different IEM than the S8/Neo 5.
The new Neo 5 with S4 additive!
Cheers!
Any comparison with h50 (that I didn't like)News Flash:
Penon is changing out the S8 included cable with the ISN Neo 5 for the S4. When I did my ISN Neo 5 review I tried all kinds of cables. But.......last night a 2Pin S4 arrived in the mail. Previously I only had MMCX of the S4, and the adapters were only allowing me to add 2Pin to an MMCX plug.
Long story short really there is a big difference to the S4 with the Neo 5. This was something that probably should have been included at the start, but better late than never. Rome wasn't built in a day and everyone is learning at some point. I mean KZ has probably come out with three or four new models of earphones since ISN released the Neo 5 with the S8. Instead of making more and more earphones, they are perfecting what they sell.
While I did try a bunch of cables with the Neo 5, some folks may have less choices right from the get go. Or if they have choices, then possibly they still don't have a cable like the S4. To tell you the truth, the S4 is a enigmatic cable despite its retail price, and despite now being included with the new ISN Neo 5.
Results:
So I have a long history of using the S8, in fact it was one of the main cables I used during my ISN EST50 review last year. And while very even and natural, it's really not offering the stage of the S4. Some already know this from experience, of having on hand already the S4 and S8 cables. But to kind of add a little power to this conversation. The S4 opens-up the Neo 5. It makes the Neo 5 live up to its potential as an earphone. Of course if you already have the Neo 5 then there is a good chance it came with the S8 cable. Getting the update is really really important as not only is the stage bigger, but there is more detail inside the imaging. The Neo 5 is actually way more complex than I first gave it credit for. I will be the very first person to tell you that after my review is all finished and posted on Head-Fi, there is still a learning process which takes place as I interface continuously with the IEM in question. Reviews are a liquid thing, even though we look at them as final and offering all there is to know about a particular IEM.
First off the S4 bass with the Neo 5 is more elaborate coming from a slightly more refined area. Such a placement throws out any furry baggage, offering almost a style of simple clarity and positioning that wasn't possible with the S8. I didn't know this in my review? I didn't have the S4 at the time.
The midrange is now expanded into a new stage getting better separation and enhanced involvement. Vocals hold a slightly more forward stance which while the S8 vocals were not bad, it is not arguable that this way is better. Vocals are more upfront and alive, holding more life? Sorry I know of no other way to describe them?
The new S4 treble is simply better elevated. But what comes along with that elevation is harmonics, enhanced areas that were most likely sitting there almost submerged there waiting to be brought into focus.
The total end-results are more clarity and naturalness with added involvement due to such gifts. Quite simply the stage (mainly) is of a different IEM than the S8/Neo 5.
The new Neo 5 with S4 additive!
Cheers!
The Neo 5 with S4 is more open and has a better stage, the H50 you always have to take control of the upper midrange brightness meaning with an example like the Penon Vocal Cable it's too bright for my tastes and needs anchoring into the bass. Where a cable like the Penon Vocal doesn't accentuate the lows enough, in fact it takes (away) the ISN H50 critical sub-lows. Where the Vocal cable works with the Neo 5. But no I haven't actually sat down and compared directly the Neo 5 with the new S4 cable and the H50 with the included cable.......that would be fun to do, when I get some time. From memory though the Neo 5 is incredibly different. Where the H50 has a more trim low end, with faster pace, with forward mids.....and that's why I fell in love with it, before I found out all the cable creativity with the ISN EST50. And the Neo 5 does actually have nice midrange, combined with a more heavy lower midrange emphasis which is a big departure for ISN. Also the Neo 5 6 kHz peak is normally a recess with all ISNs, including the H50. But even with the S4 cable your going to find the Neo 5 with more emphasis in the bass department. Why didn't you like the H50?
