LZ-A4 Impressions and Discussion Thread

[bhazard]

Do share you choice of balanced cable!

I use the Fiio MMCX balanced cable, but there are a lot of new ones that appeared within the past month with the aliexpress sellers.

 

[nealh]

I use the Fiio MMCX balanced cable, but there are a lot of new ones that appeared within the past month with the aliexpress sellers.

I'm ignorant what's the benefit of a balanced cable?

 

[DBaldock9]

  Anyone try the A4 Balanced yet? Hot damn I'm in love again.

I received my A4 at about the same time as my custom balanced cable from Impact Audio Cables arrived ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/ImpactAudioCables ).  NOTE: If you're considering a cable from Impact, check with Lindsay about his discounts for Head-Fi Forum Members.
 
The only balanced device I've got, is my Onkyo DP-X1(B), and the A4 on the Impact Cable sounds great, especially playing the music tracks on the Chesky "Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc" (24-Bit / 192 KHz), downloaded from HDtracks.

 

[loungecat]

I received my A4 at about the same time as my custom balanced cable from Impact Audio Cables arrived ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/ImpactAudioCables ).  NOTE: If you're considering a cable from Impact, check with Lindsay about his discounts for Head-Fi Forum Members.

The only balanced device I've got, is my Onkyo DP-X1(B), and the A4 on the Impact Cable sounds great, especially playing the music tracks on the Chesky "Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc" (24-Bit / 192 KHz), downloaded from HDtracks.

That's funny y that's exactly, what I'm doing except through tidal, same dap, and headphones

 

[Razornova]

I received my A4 at about the same time as my custom balanced cable from Impact Audio Cables arrived ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/ImpactAudioCables ).  NOTE: If you're considering a cable from Impact, check with Lindsay about his discounts for Head-Fi Forum Members.

The only balanced device I've got, is my Onkyo DP-X1(B), and the A4 on the Impact Cable sounds great, especially playing the music tracks on the Chesky "Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc" (24-Bit / 192 KHz), downloaded from HDtracks.

Which model did you get? Not sure what to look for when pairing with the A4

 

[DBaldock9]

Which model did you get? Not sure what to look for when pairing with the A4

When I contacted Lindsay about a custom balanced cable, with a right-angle 2.5mm TRRS, he checked with his parts vendors, and none were available.  (The only 90° 2.5mm plug I could find for DIY, is snap-together plastic model, which would have to be ordered from the UK.)
.
So, I purchased what he suggested (and uses with his own Shure 846's) - the Eidolic E-2.5GC at one end of a 4-ft, 2-strand Type 6 Copper Litz cable, the Eidolic E-SX3 Splitter, and the Eidolic EM-CXP (MMCX) connectors for the earphones.  This specific cable still isn't listed on his Etsy page, but he does have a photo of the 4-strand version.  The 2-strand cable was less than $90, and if I had been in-town during the Christmas holiday, I probably could have picked it up - since he's in one of the northern suburbs of Houston...

  Instead, he shipped it to where I was spending the holidays.
 
Contact Lindsay, mention that you read about his cables on Head-Fi, and see what he recommends for your requirements.
 
 
Take Care,
David Baldock

 

[Razornova]

When I contacted Lindsay about a custom balanced cable, with a right-angle 2.5mm TRRS, he checked with his parts vendors, and none were available.  (The only 90° 2.5mm plug I could find for DIY, is snap-together plastic model, which would have to be ordered from the UK.)
.
So, I purchased [COLOR=444444]what he suggested (and uses with his own Shure 846's) - the Eidolic E-2.5GC at one end of a 4-ft, 2-strand Type 6 Copper Litz cable, the Eidolic E-SX3 Splitter, and the Eidolic EM-CXP (MMCX) connectors for the earphones.  This specific cable still isn't listed on his Etsy page, but he does have a photo of the 4-strand version.  The 2-strand cable was less than $90, and if I had been in-town during the Christmas holiday, I probably could have picked it up - since he's in one of the northern suburbs of Houston...[/COLOR] :bigsmile_face:   Instead, he shipped it to where I was spending the holidays.

[COLOR=444444]Contact Lindsay, mention that you read about his cables on Head-Fi, and see what he recommends for your requirements.[/COLOR]


[COLOR=444444]Take Care,[/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444]David Baldock[/COLOR]

Cool info cheers! I'll need to check if they do international shipping though

 

[peter123]

I'm ignorant what's the benefit of a balanced cable?

You can run them balanced with it

JK, jk.

The fact is that on all of my sources with balanced output that output does perform better than the single ended output on the same device (the difference is not as big in all devices but it's still there).

Better separation, wider stage and a more dark background in addition to more power is the common changes on all of them (I've only got five portable balanced sources that I use with IEM's so not the largest test population though).

This to me has been a big surprise and the differences is big enough for me to also build a balanced desktop system. I'd expect the differences to be less obvious there due to better shielding, power supplies etc but maybe I'll be surprised again....

 

[Lohb]

  For those friends who like to use blue front filter but afraid of more brightish sound try this mod ( block the front vent) 

Need to give this a try with backs off and black fronts, see if the bass tightens, but the sound-stage expansion remains.

 

[peter123]

The last couple of days I've used the M1s a lot paired with the A4's most of the time. These are my findings so far, early days, ymmw, yada yada and all that.

To start with the M1s it delivers a crystal clear, razor sharp and super high resolution sound. Clinical yes, boring? Most certainly not! Usually this kind of sound signature mean reduced bass impact and bright potentially fatiguing upper frequency reproduction. I find nothing of this to be true with the M1s, bass impact and drive is excellent an the HE400i that can be strident in the top end with some sources doesn't show any of that with the M1s.

Those of you familiar with the A4's know that it's a very fun sounding pair of IEM's offering high resolution combined with a very non-fatiguing overall presentation. The combined strengths of the M1s and A4's makes a pairing that's a pure bliss to listen to, simply amazing and a must try for anyone having both of these around or knowing someone who does.

Synergy/matching is for real people and the A4/M1s is a great proof of it.

All comments are from using the balanced output on the M1s and black b/red f filters on the A4's. I also use Spiral Dot tips with them.

 

[TwinACStacks]

Slightly off topic but I just got the Limited Edition LZ A2 Pros off the burner @ 200 Hours. I must say they are quite impressive. I'm going to need to A/B these with the A4. Very similar house sound with the Pros (I think) being a tad more Bass heavy with more rolled off Highs. At this point I would say they are a viable option to the A4 for those concerned with too much brightness. As all LZ they have that very refined sound quality.
 
IMHO, Easily the 2nd best LZ offering so far....
 

TWIN

 

[DBaldock9]

Cool info cheers! I'll need to check if they do international shipping though

If you take a look at this thread - http://www.head-fi.org/t/781661/impact-audio-cables-review-a-fresh-source-of-quality-sound-not-quantity-price - you'll see that Head-Fi'ers from all over have bought cables from Lindsay.

 

[bavinck]

You can run them balanced with it

JK, jk.

The fact is that on all of my sources with balanced output that output does perform better than the single ended output on the same device (the difference is not as big in all devices but it's still there).

Better separation, wider stage and a more dark background in addition to more power is the common changes on all of them (I've only got five portable balanced sources that I use with IEM's so not the largest test population though).

This to me has been a big surprise and the differences is big enough for me to also build a balanced desktop system. I'd expect the differences to be less obvious there due to better shielding, power supplies etc but maybe I'll be surprised again....

I find on larger, more power/current hungry headphones balanced makes a bigger difference. Also, if an amp has balanaced and se output the designer likely optimized the design for balanced, which explains why it sounds better. In a situation where balanced amp and a se amp (both optimized respectively) were tested I bet the difference would be minimal for headphones and nothing for earphones.

My rule of thumb, get a good amp and use the best output it has. If you got balanced, use it. If you don't have balanced, don't worry about it and use the se.

Just my 2c

 

[bavinck]

Need to give this a try with backs off and black fronts, see if the bass tightens, but the sound-stage expansion remains.

I tried that and found the soundstage opened a bit, but the bass was more diffuse. What do you find?

 

[bavinck]

The last couple of days I've used the M1s a lot paired with the A4's most of the time. These are my findings so far, early days, ymmw, yada yada and all that.

To start with the M1s it delivers a crystal clear, razor sharp and super high resolution sound. Clinical yes, boring? Most certainly not! Usually this kind of sound signature mean reduced bass impact and bright potentially fatiguing upper frequency reproduction. I find nothing of this to be true with the M1s, bass impact and drive is excellent an the HE400i that can be strident in the top end with some sources doesn't show any of that with the M1s.

Those of you familiar with the A4's know that it's a very fun sounding pair of IEM's offering high resolution combined with a very non-fatiguing overall presentation. The combined strengths of the M1s and A4's makes a pairing that's a pure bliss to listen to, simply amazing and a must try for anyone having both of these around or knowing someone who does.

Synergy/matching is for real people and the A4/M1s is a great proof of it.

All comments are from using the balanced output on the M1s and black b/red f filters on the A4's. I also use Spiral Dot tips with them.

Interesting, thanks so much for the impressions!

As you find good synergy between the a4 and my (yes I agree synergy is real), would that imply the m1 is a brighter source? I find the a4 pretty smooth. How does the m1 handle your brighter earphones? Similar to your 400i?