[Xinlisupreme]

I think this is the first time I've heard of an earphone containing an active and passive driver configuration. It's something I've heard of but wasn't too familiar with until I looked it up today.

Basically, a passive radiator is contained within the same enclosure as the active one, only it lacks a voice coil, magnet assembly, and wiring to power. It's essentially inert where its only purpose is to resonate from the sound pressure created by the active speaker. They're super useful in scenarios where space is a requirement and porting isn't possible. The result is a speaker that is able to create deeper bass than otherwise wouldn't be possible without having a port. It's a pretty elegant solution to have in an earphone.

I know I'm arguing with marketing but the Eclipse could be better described as a single DD or DD with an asterisk.

With that said, I did buy a pair and have had it for less than a day now. With regards to deep bass, the Eclipse is no slouch. It's early days yet but I think I'm even more impressed with the volumetric warmth of the mids and highs. It's been great for electronic music where digital tones are more analog sounding.

This song in particular is a great example.

Did you compare Eclipse with Macbeth Ti?

 

[Ruprit]

Did you compare Eclipse with Macbeth Ti?

Definitely. Of the earphones I own, those two are always within arm's reach.

Like the Eclipse, the Macbeth Ti is small, has a titanium shell, and is very comfortable. I use the same combination of eartips (JVC Spiral Dot++) for both since the nozzle size is practically the same.

For my personal tastes, I'd describe the Macbeth Ti as perfectly tuned, I'm pretty sure the frequency measurement will overlay almost exactly with the 64 Nio, Technics TZ700, and even the Eclipse! They sound great, clear, open, airy, a huge soundstage with no noticeable peaks or recesses in the frequency range. It has a bass emphasis with some deep bass extension yet it manages to remain clear and un-muddied, unlike the Nio.

I'd use a lot of boring adjectives like reference and uncolored to describe the the Macbeth Ti because it has that TZ700 nature of being a bit too clinical sounding. It doesn't really add anything to the sound and comes away a bit lifeless. It's like sitting alone in an empty white room while eating your favorite meal. You have this clash of two strong emotional responses that this earphone is excellent but also a bit boring.

A weakness of the Macbeth Ti is the BA driver which can have occasional graininess in some tracks.

It's a brilliant earphone to have in my small collection but maybe not the one I would use as my main.

Funnily enough, the Eclipse is pretty similar. I'd say the frequency response is largely the same, though the Eclipse has a small peak near 5k that is occasionally noticed, but never bothersome. I'd say the detail remains, but it's not as light or airy as the Macbeth Ti. I wouldn't call it dark or heavy, but there is some weight in the upper regions that the Ti does not have. With the right eartips the Eclipse opens up to become almost speaker-like in sound stage (JVC is tops for me, wasn't a fan of AZLA). Bass extension is almost exactly the same, though the Eclipse does edge it by going that tiny bit deeper. Somehow, the Eclipse's one active driver has zero issues in the control and speed department. That's new for me because single DD driver earphones I've owned usually fall apart when things get too hectic and extension, on either end, is called for. I guess that's where the beauty of the passive driver comes in.

On paper, the two are largely the same. Again, if you were to overlay the frequency measurements of the two, they'd have more similarities than differences. Yet, the Eclipse has this warm analog sound that is enriching. It's one of those sounds that adds to the music, for better or worse depending on personal preference. I listen to a lot of electronic music and that warmth can really aid in what is typically computer generated sound. I find the Eclipse to be relaxing and cozy to listen to. It's not the earphone you reach for if your after a heightened listening experience. But it's one I prefer after a stressful day. It's engaging to listen to and so natural sounding. Voices sound so real.

If anything it's a great lesson in the larger issue of placing all your trust in a frequency measurement graph. Personally, I have to rely on it because there's no where near me to try these things out. It'll give me an idea of what something might sound like and any problem areas to look out for. Yet it will never tell the whole story. On paper, the Nio, TZ700, Macbeth Ti, and the Eclipse should all sound more or less the same. Of course they don't and the hard part for me is attempting to describe these tuning differences.

I hope this ramble helps.

 

[Scubadevils]

Definitely. Of the earphones I own, those two are always within arm's reach.

Like the Eclipse, the Macbeth Ti is small, has a titanium shell, and is very comfortable. I use the same combination of eartips (JVC Spiral Dot++) for both since the nozzle size is practically the same.

For my personal tastes, I'd describe the Macbeth Ti as perfectly tuned, I'm pretty sure the frequency measurement will overlay almost exactly with the 64 Nio, Technics TZ700, and even the Eclipse! They sound great, clear, open, airy, a huge soundstage with no noticeable peaks or recesses in the frequency range. It has a bass emphasis with some deep bass extension yet it manages to remain clear and un-muddied, unlike the Nio.

I'd use a lot of boring adjectives like reference and uncolored to describe the the Macbeth Ti because it has that TZ700 nature of being a bit too clinical sounding. It doesn't really add anything to the sound and comes away a bit lifeless. It's like sitting alone in an empty white room while eating your favorite meal. You have this clash of two strong emotional responses that this earphone is excellent but also a bit boring.

A weakness of the Macbeth Ti is the BA driver which can have occasional graininess in some tracks.

It's a brilliant earphone to have in my small collection but maybe not the one I would use as my main.

Funnily enough, the Eclipse is pretty similar. I'd say the frequency response is largely the same, though the Eclipse has a small peak near 5k that is occasionally noticed, but never bothersome. I'd say the detail remains, but it's not as light or airy as the Macbeth Ti. I wouldn't call it dark or heavy, but there is some weight in the upper regions that the Ti does not have. With the right eartips the Eclipse opens up to become almost speaker-like in sound stage (JVC is tops for me, wasn't a fan of AZLA). Bass extension is almost exactly the same, though the Eclipse does edge it by going that tiny bit deeper. Somehow, the Eclipse's one active driver has zero issues in the control and speed department. That's new for me because single DD driver earphones I've owned usually fall apart when things get too hectic and extension, on either end, is called for. I guess that's where the beauty of the passive driver comes in.

On paper, the two are largely the same. Again, if you were to overlay the frequency measurements of the two, they'd have more similarities than differences. Yet, the Eclipse has this warm analog sound that is enriching. It's one of those sounds that adds to the music, for better or worse depending on personal preference. I listen to a lot of electronic music and that warmth can really aid in what is typically computer generated sound. I find the Eclipse to be relaxing and cozy to listen to. It's not the earphone you reach for if your after a heightened listening experience. But it's one I prefer after a stressful day. It's engaging to listen to and so natural sounding. Voices sound so real.

If anything it's a great lesson in the larger issue of placing all your trust in a frequency measurement graph. Personally, I have to rely on it because there's no where near me to try these things out. It'll give me an idea of what something might sound like and any problem areas to look out for. Yet it will never tell the whole story. On paper, the Nio, TZ700, Macbeth Ti, and the Eclipse should all sound more or less the same. Of course they don't and the hard part for me is attempting to describe these tuning differences.

I hope this ramble helps.

Great descriptions of both TZ700 and Eclipse, I haven't heard Macbeth Ti. I'm trying Eclipse tonight with Spiral Dot++ and indeed very nice - such an expansive stage. Eclipse really is a very engaging listen, that sub bass shelf is fantastic for letting everything else shine with a resulting hint of warmth, but still nicely detailed. A shame they still seem quite under the radar, not many owners I'm aware of, and they definitely deserve more attention - certainly at least for people who appreciate a nice DD, and of course in this case with the added magic of the passive driver.

I've been thinking lately about reducing my collection to just 3 single DDs, Eclipse would certainly be one, as would Turii Ti, the last spot would cause me quite a difficult time to decide though!

 

[Ruprit]

Thanks!

I'd love to know what it is that's keeping folks from giving them a try. In general, do you know if DD earphones are less popular?

There's something about the way a well tuned DD presents sound that comes across as natural and organic. That attribute has become one of those non-negotiable factors in deciding whether or not I'll keep an earphone.

Good luck with deciding the third and final DD. I do think something like the TZ700 or Macbeth Ti will always have a place in any collection just because it presents the music as is, without any coloration.

The Turii Ti is on my "one day" list when I feel feel safe in breaking my self-imposed budget.

 

[Scubadevils]

Thanks!

I'd love to know what it is that's keeping folks from giving them a try. In general, do you know if DD earphones are less popular?

There's something about the way a well tuned DD presents sound that comes across as natural and organic. That attribute has become one of those non-negotiable factors in deciding whether or not I'll keep an earphone.

Good luck with deciding the third and final DD. I do think something like the TZ700 or Macbeth Ti will always have a place in any collection just because it presents the music as is, without any coloration.

The Turii Ti is on my "one day" list when I feel feel safe in breaking my self-imposed budget.

I think a lot seem to focus on multi driver sets, certainly at the sort of price point of Eclipse and beyond. Definitely a community of DD lovers out there though, just not enough have tried Eclipse!

I seriously doubt I'll be able to reduce to 3 tbh - I still love TZ700 too for exactly the same reasons, excellent reference tuning with a bit of a bass boost - always amazes me what it's capable of out of such tiny shells. Most of my single DDs have a relatively specialist position in my collection, another example being the FW10000 which I reach for when listening to classical music, very hard to beat in that regard.

Turii Ti is wonderful, a very unique set that gives me great joy to listen anytime I reach for it.

 

[Ruprit]

I think a lot seem to focus on multi driver sets, certainly at the sort of price point of Eclipse and beyond. Definitely a communite of DD lovers out there though, just not enough have tried Eclipse!

I seriously doubt I'll be able to reduce to 3 tbh - I still love TZ700 too for exactly the same reasons, excellent reference tuning with a bit of a bass boost - always amazes me what it's capable of out of such tiny shells. Most of my single DDs have a relatively specialist position in my collection, another example being the FW10000 which I reach for when listening to classical music, very hard to beat in that regard.

Turii Ti is wonderful, a very unique set that gives me great joy to listen anytime I reach for it.

I didn't even think to consider cost in relation to driver count. I'm definitely a snob when it comes to requiring a DD as part of the setup. Beyond that though, I don't care about the total count or makeup. Tuning is always what will make or break it.

 

[Xinlisupreme]

Definitely. Of the earphones I own, those two are always within arm's reach.

Like the Eclipse, the Macbeth Ti is small, has a titanium shell, and is very comfortable. I use the same combination of eartips (JVC Spiral Dot++) for both since the nozzle size is practically the same.

For my personal tastes, I'd describe the Macbeth Ti as perfectly tuned, I'm pretty sure the frequency measurement will overlay almost exactly with the 64 Nio, Technics TZ700, and even the Eclipse! They sound great, clear, open, airy, a huge soundstage with no noticeable peaks or recesses in the frequency range. It has a bass emphasis with some deep bass extension yet it manages to remain clear and un-muddied, unlike the Nio.

I'd use a lot of boring adjectives like reference and uncolored to describe the the Macbeth Ti because it has that TZ700 nature of being a bit too clinical sounding. It doesn't really add anything to the sound and comes away a bit lifeless. It's like sitting alone in an empty white room while eating your favorite meal. You have this clash of two strong emotional responses that this earphone is excellent but also a bit boring.

A weakness of the Macbeth Ti is the BA driver which can have occasional graininess in some tracks.

It's a brilliant earphone to have in my small collection but maybe not the one I would use as my main.

Funnily enough, the Eclipse is pretty similar. I'd say the frequency response is largely the same, though the Eclipse has a small peak near 5k that is occasionally noticed, but never bothersome. I'd say the detail remains, but it's not as light or airy as the Macbeth Ti. I wouldn't call it dark or heavy, but there is some weight in the upper regions that the Ti does not have. With the right eartips the Eclipse opens up to become almost speaker-like in sound stage (JVC is tops for me, wasn't a fan of AZLA). Bass extension is almost exactly the same, though the Eclipse does edge it by going that tiny bit deeper. Somehow, the Eclipse's one active driver has zero issues in the control and speed department. That's new for me because single DD driver earphones I've owned usually fall apart when things get too hectic and extension, on either end, is called for. I guess that's where the beauty of the passive driver comes in.

On paper, the two are largely the same. Again, if you were to overlay the frequency measurements of the two, they'd have more similarities than differences. Yet, the Eclipse has this warm analog sound that is enriching. It's one of those sounds that adds to the music, for better or worse depending on personal preference. I listen to a lot of electronic music and that warmth can really aid in what is typically computer generated sound. I find the Eclipse to be relaxing and cozy to listen to. It's not the earphone you reach for if your after a heightened listening experience. But it's one I prefer after a stressful day. It's engaging to listen to and so natural sounding. Voices sound so real.

If anything it's a great lesson in the larger issue of placing all your trust in a frequency measurement graph. Personally, I have to rely on it because there's no where near me to try these things out. It'll give me an idea of what something might sound like and any problem areas to look out for. Yet it will never tell the whole story. On paper, the Nio, TZ700, Macbeth Ti, and the Eclipse should all sound more or less the same. Of course they don't and the hard part for me is attempting to describe these tuning differences.

I hope this ramble helps.

Thank you very much, it’s a very helpful post and I’d chose Eclipse over Macbeth Ti even if cost more than double… sigh
I’m not sure Macbeth would match very well with DX320X but would be good, who knows?

 

[Scubadevils]

I didn't even think to consider cost in relation to driver count. I'm definitely a snob when it comes to requiring a DD as part of the setup. Beyond that though, I don't care about the total count or makeup. Tuning is always what will make or break it.

Yes, 100% - in spite of trying several multi driver sets in the top tier, I always seem to come back to the humble DD. I love the diversity of tunings, and how each set I own has strengths for various segments of my library.

 

[Ruprit]

Thank you very much, it’s a very helpful post and I’d chose Eclipse over Macbeth Ti even if cost more than double… sigh
I’m not sure Macbeth would match very well with DX320X but would be good, who knows?

Sure thing!

Another issue might be hunting a Macbeth Ti down. I couldn't find a clear answer as to whether or not they were a limited run or just out of stock everywhere. I used the proxy shipper, From Japan and got them from, fujiya-avic.co.jp.

Yes, 100% - in spite of trying several multi driver sets in the top tier, I always seem to come back to the humble DD. I love the diversity of tunings, and how each set I own has strengths for various segments of my library.

I had actually applied a stigma to single driver setups after a very poor listening session with a single full range bookshelf speaker. It took me a while to become more open to the idea that a single DD earphone could actually compete or even exceed multi driver configurations.

 

[Scubadevils]

Sure thing!

Another issue might be hunting a Macbeth Ti down. I couldn't find a clear answer as to whether or not they were a limited run or just out of stock everywhere. I used the proxy shipper, From Japan and got them from, fujiya-avic.co.jp.



I had actually applied a stigma to single driver setups after a very poor listening session with a single full range bookshelf speaker. It took me a while to become more open to the idea that a single DD earphone could actually compete or even exceed multi driver configurations.

Oh I see you’ve the Intime Sho DD - curious to get your impressions on that, @Ace Bee recommended to me a while ago and I’d forgotten about it.

 

[Ruprit]

Oh I see you’ve the Intime Sho DD - curious to get your impressions on that, @Ace Bee recommended to me a while ago and I’d forgotten about it.

I stand by that for ~$100, you could do A LOT worse.

 

[acuinus]

With the right eartips the Eclipse opens up to become almost speaker-like in sound stage (JVC is tops for me, wasn't a fan of AZLA). Bass extension is almost exactly the same, though the Eclipse does edge it by going that tiny bit deeper.

so far I've tried the stock tips - none
stayed in my left ear canal for more
than half an hour! further, I switched
to azla sednaearfit long regular, those
that I previously used on turii ti - it’s
better there: they have matte rubber
silicone that is less prone to slipping,
but the sound is noticeably boosted
on the upper-mid, pushing the presence
forward and slightly preventing the
separation of plans, and the latter
my boon was radius deep mount -
thank god! they sit like a leprechaun
in a pot: they have an amazing ability
to build a scene and a character that
does not overlap with the overlay of
frequencies, without prevailing one
over the others... In general, I’m waiting
for transparent radius for comparison

Turii Ti is wonderful, a very unique set that gives me great joy to listen anytime I reach for it

The Turii Ti is on my "one day" list when I feel feel safe in breaking my self-imposed budget

Yeah, guys, absolutely! now with my
chosen eartips I can feel sleepless
nights of pleasure even longer) and
regarding the change of cables, I
suddenly experienced a dramatic
improvement: on eclipse there was
a copper pw attila, and on turii ti -
hybrid ea eros s, and when I did
the opposite, I got an unprecedented
match; I set myself the goal of just
a small rearrangement, and I already
have 2 G.O.A.T. +

 

[acuinus]

Hello guys! I suddenly had a subject
here - some of the owners of Eclipse (you,
@Scuba Devils , perhaps, in the first place)
compared at least from memory with the
Aroma Jewel ? in presence (4.5-6 kHz)
they are too similar...

 

[baskingshark]

Hello guys! I suddenly had a subject
here - some of the owners of Eclipse (you,
@Scuba Devils , perhaps, in the first place)
compared at least from memory with the
Aroma Jewel ? in presence (4.5-6 kHz)
they are too similar...

I auditioned both at the recent CanJam Singapore.

The Aroma Jewel kills the Eclipse in technicalities (soundstage, clarity, instrument separation, micro-detailing, imaging), and it is not a close fight.

For a kilobuck IEM, the Eclipse has actually below average technical chops (IMHO), and the bass isn't very tight. Would have expected more for this pricing.

 

[Scubadevils]

Yes Jewel and Eclipse very different beasts, I’d describe Turii Ti as somewhat more similar to Jewel.

In my opinion and with more time, Eclipse is incredibly musical and engaging - the powerful low end sets a smooth foundation that works very well in particular for slower and more relaxed genres. I’ve actually noticed that the bass firms up with different sources, I was very impressed when pairing just yesterday with the LPGT Ti. It’s definitely not overly strong on technical capabilities, but that can at times be a trade off to musicality, as I often wrestled with in the case of Jewel.