PhonoPhi
Headphoneus Supremus
If mine (your reply is not directed), I would take as much responsibility as I can - AS16 pro should work well for your preferences for world music and acoustic jazz, I hope.Thank you for your assessment, I am sold on them! Mine are on their way.
Out of my favourite IEMs, given my biased tastes, AS16 pro would be a safer universal recommendation along with TRI I3 and BA10 (based on their sound, minus other factors).
If to take I3 planar mids and replace 29689 in AS16 pro, it would make one of the mighty IEM.
AS16 pro mids are the best of all-BA KZ (BA10 are close) and are the main point where it can be transformed to a better IEM, I think (?)
Then you have TK2 - one of the closest match for 18 Ohm impedance on balanced, so you can make the best comparison and share your impressions.
Finally, thank you for your kind and insightful words on another thread. I do need to take a break from HeadFi, to disengage a bit.
$40 is even better!For the only all-BA KZs that I own, the ASF has grown less appealing even though I dialed it in with the right tips/fit. I just think it sounds very "average" - not great but not terrible either. And it's also fussy with some of my sources unlike other KZs. But the AS12 has grown on me but it's also a specialty IEM like the Heart Mirror, which I also recently picked up. The AS12 is perfect for string quartets and solos - however, I don't have a lot of these kinds of recordings in my library. The HM is more of an all-arounder for classical music if I use them with Azla Crystal tips which seems bring up the bass a bit more.
The ASF only set me back like $24 at the time. And AS12 set me back like $22. 1 out of 2, for that price, isn't bad at all.
I'm tempted to get the AS16 Pro but I don't really need another IEM right now....and a store on Ali has it for $40 right now
ASF are one of the blandest KZ all-BAs, perhaps less balanced mighty "new BA" bass, yet nothing really wrong with them, and I would still take them over the recent mighty KZ/CCA DDs.
AS12 and HM are a mighty and well-matched pair. If your music does not push lhe limits of the resolution of HM - then HM are definitely a sharply resolving DD closest to BAs. I love the fit.
No needs to upgrade.
I did not mention that AS16 pro are my "100-th" physical pair (counting duplicates and for parts/tests), but I can't grow even a second pair of ears. One more reason to take some break.
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