[Bubblejuice]

First impressions.

Really nice build, perfectly ergonomic - easy to get a fit for me.

Cable is really well built, personally I like the formable ear guides - understand others may not. Cable covering is microphonic though (one of the issues with cloth) - so going to depend on your activity, what you're wearing, and how you manage placement.

Connectors are brilliant. Very firm.

So far have tried Comply, Symbio, Shure Olive (stretched), and Sony Isolation (Sony Hybrid + foam inner). All of them gave me practically perfect fit. I like the Shure Olive and the Sony Hybrid the best. Comfortable. Brilliant seal.

Filters are interesting. Black and Blue have very heightened upper-mids and tend to get a little glarey or grainy for me. I can see why LZ used this tuning though. Doing it this way sets them above the bass, and masks the warmth to a certain extent. For people who like a cooler signature with more mid-range energy, the blue and black will likely be their preference. I just find them a little over-done. There is very little between the blue and the black. Blue is very slightly brighter. Blue and Black give a very V shaped sound.

Grey and Red are very different from Blue and Black and the upper mid-range (2-5 kHz) is the biggest difference. Where Blue and Black both rise to a big peak at 2 and 3.5 kHz, the Grey and Red instead have a shallow slope to a 3 kHz. Because the amplitude of the peak is lower, there is less masking, and overall these two sound a lot warmer, and the sub-bass is a lot more noticeable.

All 4 filters have an enhanced sub-bass presence, and all have a minor peak in the lower treble at 7 kHz which gives great definition to cymbals. The Blue and Black are too much for me personally, but the Red and Grey are really good. Both bass and treble extension is very good. Lower mids are a little recessed, but tonally things sound relaxed rather than excessively scooped.

My personal preference at this stage is the Red filter. Good balance overall - just with an enhanced sub-bass.

Will post graphs later.

I really like your review of the FLC8s. How do you these the A5s compare?

 

[Brooko]

I really like your review of the FLC8s. How do you these the A5s compare?

For me, the ergonomics and overall build quality of the A5 is better. FLC8S has more tuning options - so you can fine tune a little better. I think LZ has a couple of good options with the filters, but he needs something mid-way between the two options he has. Black and Blue sound very similar. Grey and Red sound very similar. There needs to be an option between them IMO. Fortunately the red with a little less sub-bass (some gentle EQ) really does sound very good.

I'll have some more info by the weekend I think.

 

[audio123]

Does anyone have experience yet of trying different cables with the A5? Cable noise is something I would prefer to do without and wondering if there are any good combinations for this IEM?

As you requested! iBasso CB13 & Alo Litz. I personally feel the CB13 improves the A5 more significantly than the Alo Litz. The performance is extra organic with the CB13.

 

[Brooko]

Any chance you could measure the impedance of the cables, and maybe get a frequency response graph done of the results of the cable changes?

 

[SteveKiwi]

For me, the ergonomics and overall build quality of the A5 is better. FLC8S has more tuning options - so you can fine tune a little better. I think LZ has a couple of good options with the filters, but he needs something mid-way between the two options he has. Black and Blue sound very similar. Grey and Red sound very similar. There needs to be an option between them IMO. Fortunately the red with a little less sub-bass (some gentle EQ) really does sound very good.

I'll have some more info by the weekend I think.

By any chance do the A4 filters fit the A5?

 

[TimeSnow]

By any chance do the A4 filters fit the A5?

Nope

 

[SteveKiwi]

Nope

Thanks TimeSnow

 

[rav101]

Thanks for looking into this. I'm fairly new to the high end iem market so still learning. Are these two cables only available in 2.5mm balanced versions or can you get 3.5mm versions? I'm likely going to be using my A5's through standard equipment (such as a mobile phone) rather than specialist gear like high end daps.

Also, from what I can see, the cb14 is about £150 where the a5 costs £205. Do you have any cheaper cables to hand that you could test. More around comfort, reduction in cable noise as we can't expect massive improvements in sound quality from the cheaper cables?

Any additional insight you could provide is greatly appreciated!!!

As you requested! iBasso CB13 & Alo Litz. I personally feel the CB13 improves the A5 more significantly than the Alo Litz. The performance is extra organic with the CB13.

 

[TimeSnow]

Thanks for looking into this. I'm fairly new to the high end iem market so still learning. Are these two cables only available in 2.5mm balanced versions or can you get 3.5mm versions? I'm likely going to be using my A5's through standard equipment (such as a mobile phone) rather than specialist gear like high end daps.

Also, from what I can see, the cb14 is about £150 where the a5 costs £205. Do you have any cheaper cables to hand that you could test. More around comfort, reduction in cable noise as we can't expect massive improvements in sound quality from the cheaper cables?

Any additional insight you could provide is greatly appreciated!!!

There are DEFINITELY cheaper options available. I bought one for my A4 that didn't IMPROVE the sound, but it didn't make it any worse either.

These are what I bought:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B072J9G66G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Top notch comfort and ZERO cable noise.

There's plenty like it available on Amazon, etc.

 

[rav101]

There are DEFINITELY cheaper options available. I bought one for my A4 that didn't IMPROVE the sound, but it didn't make it any worse either.

These are what I bought:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B072J9G66G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Top notch comfort and ZERO cable noise.

There's plenty like it available on Amazon, etc.

Thanks buddy, I saw them on Amazon the other day but without knowing the brand I had no idea if they were any good. Always glad to get some form of informed opinion. I'm gonna try out the stock cable and take it from there and this would likely be a first choice

 

[Podster]

Any chance you could measure the impedance of the cables, and maybe get a frequency response graph done of the results of the cable changes?

Does he even know how to do that? I always thought his only form of measurement was his ears and keen since of hearing?

Audio, have you ever posted metered graphs and I've just missed them?

Whatever you do Paul don't let the establishment win You sir are a bigger man than that and over the years have brought some of the best findings to the table around here

 

[TimeSnow]

Thanks buddy, I saw them on Amazon the other day but without knowing the brand I had no idea if they were any good. Always glad to get some form of informed opinion. I'm gonna try out the stock cable and take it from there and this would likely be a first choice

I have been using it for... I don't know... two months... and frankly it seems better built than the stock A4 one, which is known for having issues.

Cables CAN make things sound different - I have two cable for my HE-560s and they don't sound very similar which kinda blew my mind - but luckily this one just sounds the same. And the angle at which it terminates is much less annoying than the stock A4 one.

 

[Brooko]

They won’t even respond to my PMs Tim. It’s clear to me they don’t want me here anymore. I see it less that the establishment wins, and more that someone else will gain an asset. Either way I’m disappointed given the contributions I’ve made here in the last 7 years that I’m being treated like this.

I just need to find a platform now for any future reviews I still have in the pipeline.

 

[Brooko]

I have been using it for... I don't know... two months... and frankly it seems better built than the stock A4 one, which is known for having issues.

Cables CAN make things sound different - I have two cable for my HE-560s and they don't sound very similar which kinda blew my mind - but luckily this one just sounds the same. And the angle at which it terminates is much less annoying than the stock A4 one.

Try measuring the volume output of your two cables. In my experience - and especially with headphones - acrual sound changes more often than not are because of a difference in impedance. One will be slightly louder than the other because of the change. It might only be 1dB. We hear louder as better. Often the difference in cables (apart from the aesthetics) can be negated simply by volume matching properly

The good thing is - this can save you a lot of money in the long run.

I do buy cables - but only to change flexibility, connection type etc. never for sonic differences (unless you are talking multiple-BA IEMs where occasionally a cable change can affect frequency response)

 

[Podster]

They won’t even respond to my PMs Tim. It’s clear to me they don’t want me here anymore. I see it less that the establishment wins, and more that someone else will gain an asset. Either way I’m disappointed given the contributions I’ve made here in the last 7 years that I’m being treated like this.

I just need to find a platform now for any future reviews I still have in the pipeline.

Time to build your own site and Blog Paul, some of the reviews that (they) have been letting fly and what will inevitably be the end of several good reviewers on here will set a president for future readers in here. I've seen a lot of businesses crumble to petty jealousies I'd sure hate to think that Jude would have any idea of this, I thought he was running a respectable ship but with some of the less evidenced based reviews that newbies have been allowed to put out (especially some front pagers) I've become quite disappointed with Head-Fi as evidenced by my recent lack of post.

It appears some have built themselves some throw down templates of past reviewers verbiage that if one were to really compare would find they could basically lay one of these reviewers type right over and older reviewers post and there would not be a stray line in sight! I'm sure my musings are about to get me scolded maybe even kicked out but I do know how to email right to the top I've actually been borderline on this for a couple months now but this childish CRAP going on with you has about pushed me over the edge. That's basically what's happened in my country right now bull is ruling and integrity is lost You just make sure I'm kept in your loop as I'll for sure stay loyal and be for team PB

OK boys (and I mean that in the literal sense), hit me with your best shot as I have a great screenshot of this post