[andrewwardell]

What is AM? I'm trying to expand my music library so please don't mind my noob question.

Going to go out on a limb and say he’s referring to Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino by the Arctic Monkeys

EDIT1: it’s totally not a noob question if you haven’t heard of them

 

[papa_mia]

Going to go out on a limb and say he’s referring to Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino by the Arctic Monkeys

EDIT1: it’s totally not a noob question if you haven’t heard of them

Cool, will definitely check them out.
Thanks.

 

[Colors]

Going to go out on a limb and say he’s referring to Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino by the Arctic Monkeys

EDIT1: it’s totally not a noob question if you haven’t heard of them

He’s right.

If you haven’t listened to them before, you might want to listen to their past hits first. The new album is very different from their usual work and takes time to like (I’m on my fifth listen). Best to listen at night time because it sounds very warm.

 

[papa_mia]

He’s right.

If you haven’t listened to them before, you might want to listen to their past hits first. The new album is very different from their usual work and takes time to like (I’m on my fifth listen). Best to listen at night time because it sounds very warm.

So do I need to use some cool signature iems or daps to balance out the tonality?

 

[Colors]

So do I need to use some cool signature iems or daps to balance out the tonality?

Yes, or use even more warm IEMs and make the sound super soft and sweeter

MD+ sounds great with the album using any of the stock tips though (I’ve already tried). I really like MD+’s tuning. It removes a lot of veil while stopping short of sounding clinical like the ER4XR.

 

[Bosk]

I received my Massdrop Plus today, here are some brief impressions!

The included package of case, tips, cable and IEM cleaning tool is quite good, the case especially is a nice size for portable use and will protect the earphones better than leather equivalents. The IEM's ergonomics are superb as others have said, and feel like they were made especially for my ears. My two gripes there are that the IEM sockets are recessed to such a large extent that some of my 2pin cables won't fit, and the nozzles are quite thick and short. They are terrifically comfortable though, and isolation is brilliant.

Regarding sound, they are tuned to be fairly non-offensive on any given frequency with no annoying peaks, yet detail levels are good and it feels like aside from the very highest frequencies nothing is missing. The sound is fairly spacious and very non-fatiguing, so I get the feeling being able to listen to music for long periods without any annoying ergonomics or sound characteristics will be their greatest quality.
Compared with my U8s with M15 modules, they do lack quite a lot of bottom end impact, the soundstage is good but not quite as wide and noticeably slimmer in depth, and they don't scale nearly as well with my AK380 & ALO CDM combo. The differences between the two IEMs are much less magnified through my AK70 MKII.

Overall I'm quite happy with the Massdrop Plus. For $300 I would not call them a bargain, but do think they're a very good safe purchase for the majority of audiophiles as its hard to imagine many people disliking their sonic signature or excellent ergonomics. A balanced cable included in the box with a 3.5mm adapter would be ideal, but I think a Massdrop Plus and AK70 or equivalent mid-range DAP would ably satisfy most people. To get the most out of them I would suggest changing the tips (I'm using JVC Spiral Dots which offer maximum clarity, Spinfits are also quite good) and upgrading to an aftermarket cable as I suspect a copper cable like the Effect Audio Ares II would help fill in their bottom end quite nicely.

 

[Colors]

I received my Massdrop Plus today, here are some brief impressions!

The included package of case, tips, cable and IEM cleaning tool is quite good, the case especially is a nice size for portable use and will protect the earphones better than leather equivalents. The IEM's ergonomics are superb as others have said, and feel like they were made especially for my ears. My two gripes there are that the IEM sockets are recessed to such a large extent that some of my 2pin cables won't fit, and the nozzles are quite thick and short. They are terrifically comfortable though, and isolation is brilliant.

Regarding sound, they are tuned to be fairly non-offensive on any given frequency with no annoying peaks, yet detail levels are good and it feels like aside from the very highest frequencies nothing is missing. The sound is fairly spacious and very non-fatiguing, so I get the feeling being able to listen to music for long periods without any annoying ergonomics or sound characteristics will be their greatest quality.
Compared with my U8s with M15 modules, they do lack quite a lot of bottom end impact, the soundstage is good but not quite as wide and noticeably slimmer in depth, and they don't scale nearly as well with my AK380 & ALO CDM combo. The differences between the two IEMs are much less magnified through my AK70 MKII.

Overall I'm quite happy with the Massdrop Plus. For $300 I would not call them a bargain, but do think they're a very good safe purchase for the majority of audiophiles as its hard to imagine many people disliking their sonic signature or excellent ergonomics. A balanced cable included in the box with a 3.5mm adapter would be ideal, but I think a Massdrop Plus and AK70 or equivalent mid-range DAP would ably satisfy most people. To get the most out of them I would suggest changing the tips (I'm using JVC Spiral Dots which offer maximum clarity, Spinfits are also quite good) and upgrading to an aftermarket cable as I suspect a copper cable like the Effect Audio Ares II would help fill in their bottom end quite nicely.

Thanks for this. I actually have the Ares II. Have you tried it?

 

[Bosk]

Thanks for this. I actually have the Ares II. Have you tried it?

I used to own one but sold it earlier this year (was the 3.5mm version and I now use 2.5mm cables) so I haven't tried one with the Massdrop Plus, but from what I remember of the Ares II's sound it would match the Massdrop Plus really well. After spending so much time listening with the U8s its hard not to feel the Massdrop Plus have a critical shortage of midbass, though its more because the U8s are over the top in that regard. Basshead earphones & headpones tend to sound more speaker-like, and closer to the sound of live instruments in my opinion which is one of the reasons I like them.

 

[snip3r77]

I'm just thinking if the MDP has the fitear MH334 type of darkness and bass/sub-bass?

 

[Ziggomatic]

Can anyone compare the Plus to Audio-Technica's triple BA configurations, either the ATH-IM03 or the ATH-e70? The Plus sounds right up my alley, but the reviews make it sound very similar to the IM03...

 

[andrewwardell]

...well that IEMatch I ordered turned up...smaller than I imagined, and I have to add ~25% more volume to drive my current IEMs with it (even when the V20 switches to line level) but I definitely think there’s something to it. Back to waiting for the Plus now...or the new cable which might not actually fit.

 

[Colors]

So I tested my MD+ with an Ares II cable:

The sound becomes softer and more warm. Male vocals and bass is improved (more clear and detailed). Sub-bass presence increases. Goes from neutral with slight bass boost to a more down sloping (warm and sweet?) signature. Soundstage goes wider.

SQ definitely improves but I actually really like the old stock cable too. Everything sounded just right on it. I think I might just keep it on stock.

EDIT: Nm, my ears are getting used to the sound. It definitely improves the overall clarity of the IEM and “fills in” the low-end of the MD+ as @Bosk mentioned. More body.

I’m terrible at pictures. Here you go:

 

[Bosk]

So I tested my MD+ with an Ares II cable:

The sound becomes softer and more warm. Male vocals and bass is improved (more clear and detailed). Sub-bass presence increases. Goes from neutral with slight bass boost to a more down sloping (warm and sweet?) signature. Soundstage goes wider.

SQ definitely improves but I actually really like the old stock cable too. Everything sounded just right on it. I think I might just keep it on stock.

EDIT: Nm, my ears are getting used to the sound. It definitely improves the overall clarity of the IEM and “fills in” the low-end of the MD+ as @Bosk mentioned. More body.

I’m terrible at pictures. Here you go:

Thanks for lending your impressions Colors!

It sounds like the Ares II is a decent match, improved sub-bass and a wider soundstage are two things the Massdrop Plus would really benefit from. It could be some of the upper-end sparkle from the stock cable that you're missing, perhaps a cable that mixes both silver and copper would be an even better match. Like say the Effect Audio Eros II, PWAudio Saladin or Han Sound Redcore.

I plan to upgrade the cable on my Massdrop Plus in the near future (currently using a cheapish Aliexpress 2.5mm silver-plated copper cable which is nothing special) and will likely choose on one of those I mentioned or something similar. Definitely one that includes copper because a pure silver cable may lack the extra bass impact I feel these earphones really need.

 

[Colors]

Thanks for lending your impressions Colors!

It sounds like the Ares II is a decent match, improved sub-bass and a wider soundstage are two things the Massdrop Plus would really benefit from. It could be some of the upper-end sparkle from the stock cable that you're missing, perhaps a cable that mixes both silver and copper would be an even better match. Like say the Effect Audio Eros II, PWAudio Saladin or Han Sound Redcore.

I plan to upgrade the cable on my Massdrop Plus in the near future (currently using a cheapish Aliexpress 2.5mm silver-plated copper cable which is nothing special) and will likely choose on one of those I mentioned or something similar. Definitely one that includes copper because a pure silver cable may lack the extra bass impact I feel these earphones really need.

I actually have a pair of pure silver cables too Using with my Bravados. Tames the bass (which it already has a lot of), brings forward the mid vocals and extends the upper treble more (which is what it needs). Perfect fit.

Thanks for the information on the silver plated copper cables. Maybe what the MD+ needs.

 

[andrewwardell]

The Florea I ordered is made with SPC, I’ll see if there’s any obvious differences between it and the stock cable when it turns up. Still probably going to keep that Redcore cable on my long-term upgrade list.