I've got the 4.4mm stock cable and the 2.5mm stock cable. Both are excellent to me. I didn't like the stock tips, so am now on the Azla Sedna Earfits Large. Spiral Dots and Azla Xelastecs also work well for me. Something I'm aware of, in using Amazon HD, 2.5mm balanced with my Radsone ES100, or FiiO BTR3 (3.5mm) as a USB dac/amp, the power does not seem to be enough unless using the ubiquitous UAPP. So I use my own music folders or Tidal through UAPP, which allows 'Hardware volume control' through UAPP and really unleashes the FiiO BTR3's and especially the Radsone's balanced power.....and sounds great. I could imagine some users underpowering the S12, which is quite easy if is using an Android phone without using UAPP. Looking forwards to your comments on the S12, Timeless quandary.
s12 like any iem is not perfect, it is bright border sibilant so it can get fatiguing having so much information in the trebble. adding bass with equ to s12 tames down the fatiguing trebble (balancing of all frequencies done in our brain i guess). no idea why the vent mod to boost bass did not work for me on s12 it almost cancels the sound when i push on the iems inside my ears, weird, it doesn't do that canceling effect on my modded heart mirror, so i ended up using an eq to boos t the bass on s12, give it a try, it is surprising how our brain no longer pay attention to trebble hotness when we add bass or is it frequency masking ? i am not an expert in acoustics but it helped with the trebble fatigue on my heart mirror and my s12. precision i am not adding bass to s12 because it lacks bass like heart mirror, s12 stock bass is plenty enough, i add bass to s12 to attenuate this trebble fatigue, i am trading a bit too much subbass for less trebble fatigue
I was choosing between the two but went for the S12 because I am curious how planar sounds. I believe they'll be more complementary sets rather than rivals. I think Olina will probably be the safer option for most.
It does with my mini twin tube amp, The Little Bear 4x. It sounds very analogue as the tubes warm up. I guess it will sound even better with proper tube amps. Mainly I use them 4.4 mm, stock cable (which is excellent) with my HiBy R5 which is a bit warm. Personally I don't find that my particular S12 gives away the euphonic aspects. I have compared it A/B with a lot of similar priced IEMs, including a well received much more expensive hybrid IEM and I don't find that sweet musical euphonic sound is all lost with my set. Maybe they just suit my ears/brain because there are divided opinions on them. I use them as my go to set and I have burned them in over many hours. Generally I don't need to EQ them but they take EQ very well. Mind you I can only hear to about 13khz nowadays as I age. I find the bass strong, detailed yet well rounded and pleasing even without EQ.
Well, one can make a headphone more euphoric by matching with the right components, but can’t make a colored headphone sound clean. So it’s a good thing. Glad that you like the S12 with a tubeamp, I think I’ll take the same path. Thanks!
