Multi-Custom In-Ear Monitor Review, Resource, Mfg List & Discussion (Check first post for review links & information)

[Lindskog]

Is it possible to get the NT6s with silicon tips like average joe's?

 

[Lindskog]

Also I would like to have a cable with microphone for use with my Iphone. Does any one know of a 2 pin connector cable (JHA standard) that has remote control and microphone? 


 

 

[Vic29]

  Also I would like to have a cable with microphone for use with my Iphone. Does any one know of a 2 pin connector cable (JHA standard) that has remote control and microphone? 


 

http://www.thomann.de/fr/inear_stagediver_phones_kabel.htm

 

[Lindskog]

Thanks!
 
Do you know about the qualitiy? Is there any alternatives?

 

[tupac0306]

Is it possible to get the NT6s with silicon tips like average joe's?

They don't do it anymore

 

[Mimouille]

I agree that SE5 fits the bill but you need a powerful source to make it sing IMO, vs. NT6 that is easier to drive.

 

[average_joe]

  Picked these up yesterday. Kumitate Lab Hybrid.
3 balanced armatures and 2 dynamic drivers. 
 
They sound almost too good to be true for 540$ (the faceplates cost extra) 
 
 

 
Love the artwork and thanks for your thoughts on your CIEM lineup!  There seems to be a wave of hybrids coming to town.  The AAW products are also available with a lower and similar price point.  The Lear BD4.2 was designed to be more accurate than their LCM5 with lower distortion and less coloration.  There is also another company I know of that is working on a hybrid that may have a bit of uniqueness to it.
 

  I haven't posted much in this thread lately, so I figure I'm due. Here's a few pics of my latest customs.
 
 
 
Lear LCM-BD4.2 - quad balanced armature plus dual dynamic, vented shell, with adjustable bass tuning, titanium faceplate:
 
Noble Kaiser 10 - 10 drivers per side, with a fairly understated (but looks better in real life) sparkle design which I call "Cosmic Swirl":
 
 
Noble 5C with Switch option - 5 driver design, plus the Switch option which enables a completely different crossover with single-driver "Reference" sound, faceplate is also a "Cosmic Swirl" but this time a little more bold:
 
 
Reviews to come on all of them, eventually. 

 
Nice!  I have the Lear on the way still vs. in my hands thanks to major shipping delays.  I am a bit envious of the Noble stuff…the Wizard is amazing with the artwork.  I have seen some pretty good artwork out there, but his stuff seems to be on another level now as to my eye, his art just keeps getting better and better.
 

  Hi everyone. I'm looking to move to TOTL and wanted to bounce my thoughts off you. In the bright/analytical camp I'm considering the NT6 Pro and 1plus2 as they seem to get the best feedback. On the warmer side I'm looking at the SE 5way which similarly seems to be at the top. I've done a lot of reading and wanted to see if my impressions are accurate. I listen to pop, rap and heavy metal, and will ONLY be using an unamped phone with Google Music 320 kbps. No interest in getting into AMP/DAC/DAP. I like boosted bass, energy, detail, sparkle without sibilence, large soundstage. I dislike veil/congestion/wall of sound, small soundstage, sibilence, eSSSSSSSSSSy female vocals. I find while I like dynamic/hybrids, they tend to be too slow on heavy metal, resulting in less detail and a veil/wall of sound which I hate. I like to listen at medium to slightly high volume although this may be because I am often in environments with background noise (airplane). I'm not a quiet contemplative listener who sits in a quiet room focused on the music though.
 
NT6 Pro: treble might be harsh and fatiguing, incredible detail and wow factor. Harder to drive than 1plus2 but easier than SE 5way. Soundsig adapts to the music which sounds really smart.
 
1plus2: biggest most impressive soundstage. Otherwise similar to NT6 Pro. Universal (good resale, poor isolation). 
 
SE 5way: incredible detail without being harsh, and easiest to listen for extended periods. Less wow upfront but grows on you over time. Soundstage is smaller than 1plus2 but better/on par with NT6 Pro. Like the NT6 Pro, soundsig seems to adapt to the music. Best isolation and comfort. Hardest to drive. 5way has the most inconsistent reviews - many are thrilled, but more than a few are really really disappointed. This seems to be due to inconsistent anatomy and 5 sound tubes, perhaps the sound tubes get kinked causing a poor experience for some. Only ships to EU, which seems easily overcome by travel/friends/forwarding service.
 
When looking at the broader spectrum of TOTL CIEMs, it seems that from bright/analytical/harsh/airy/open to dark/musical/thick/congested it goes something like:
 
NT6 Pro, NT6, 1plus2, Ref1, SE 5Way, K10, JH Roxanne, Fitear lineup.
 
So the SE 5way is a fairly safe bet being in the middle with similar transparency/detail to the left hand side, without being overly dark and congested like the right hand side (unless you have anatomy problems). Another approach would be to buy some 1plus2 to learn more about my preferences, and resell it. My endgame is CIEM though, which I prefer for comfort and isolation.
 
I'm coming from the Dunu DN1000 which I loved due to the energy, detail and soundstage, but did sound a little eSSSSSSSy at high volume on some tracks with female vocals, so I would prefer a slightly thicker vocal note without losing clarity and detail. On lower volume it was very very enjoyable though.
 
Any thoughts or things I've missed and should consider would be greatly appreciated. And thanks to all the TOTL CIEM mafia who have been super super helpful, patient and generous with their sage wisdom. Thanks for reading. 

 
Looks like you have done your research.  Who would reshell the 1plus2 if you get that?  The DN1000 has a V-shaped sound sig, and while it is good, it is not close to the level of performance of the TOTL IEM/CIEMs you mentioned.  I would say it is possibly closest in sound sig to the Unique Melody products (well, the PP6 at least), with a somewhat similar V-shape to it.  I think the NT-6 pro and NT-6 would be out due to their colder presentations even though the NT-6 pro is also V-shaped.
 
Rhines Custom Monitors and Vision Ears Stage series also perform well and the Stage 4 is reminiscent of the sound you like with the DN1000, but I haven't heard their new offerings.  I did think the performance of the Stage 4 demo was pretty good.
 
Just some food for thought.  The SE5 could be your end-game, but the sound sig is different than that of the DN1000, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and given the difference in performance levels, it could convert any preferences you have
 

  Is it possible to get the NT6s with silicon tips like average joe's?

 
They offered the silicone tips as a way to improve fit when their tech wasn't the greatest, from my understanding.  Once they got a tech that was better at making the shells, they abandoned the silicone.  There really isn't a benefit IMO, since there is acrylic below the silicone, and they are quite stiff.  Mine are now discolored and look quite bad, but still fit and sound the same.
 
Quote:

  Thanks!
 
Do you know about the qualitiy? Is there any alternatives?

 
I don't know of any alternates that fit the standard 2-pin.

 

[AmberOzL]

  Just some food for thought.  The SE5 could be your end-game, but the sound sig is different than that of the DN1000, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and given the difference in performance levels, it could convert any preferences you have

Yep, it definitely did with me.
 
Joe, I am also very curios of your Lear review. I hope we won't wait a lot

 
Do you think you can give any hint about the unique hybrid?

 

[average_joe]

  Yep, it definitely did with me. 

 

 

  Joe, I am also very curios of your Lear review. I hope we won't wait a lot

 
I hope so too, but I am making no promises 

  I will at least post my impressions when they are ready in a much shorter time.
 

  Do you think you can give any hint about the unique hybrid?

 
In 1-2 weeks or so...

 

[sithjedi333]

Originally Posted by average_joe /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Looks like you have done your research.  Who would reshell the 1plus2 if you get that?  The DN1000 has a V-shaped sound sig, and while it is good, it is not close to the level of performance of the TOTL IEM/CIEMs you mentioned.  I would say it is possibly closest in sound sig to the Unique Melody products (well, the PP6 at least), with a somewhat similar V-shape to it.  I think the NT-6 pro and NT-6 would be out due to their colder presentations even though the NT-6 pro is also V-shaped.
 
Rhines Custom Monitors and Vision Ears Stage series also perform well and the Stage 4 is reminiscent of the sound you like with the DN1000, but I haven't heard their new offerings.  I did think the performance of the Stage 4 demo was pretty good.
 
Just some food for thought.  The SE5 could be your end-game, but the sound sig is different than that of the DN1000, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and given the difference in performance levels, it could convert any preferences you have

 
Thanks AJ,
 
I wouldn't reshell the 1plus2, I would keep them stock. I'm not really wedded to the DN1000 soundsig, it's just of the limited few I've tried, it sounds nice. I actually don't like recessed mids, I guess my preferred soundsig would be boosted bass and flat mids and treble. Yeah if the NT6es are even colder, they're probably out. I'm not sure what cold means though, the glossary says lacking in body or warmth which sounds undesirable, but I thought the Pro had boosted bass (or adaptive boosted bass)?
 
I've followed the Rhines/Vision and from what I can gather, after a lot of initial excitement, the TOTL mafia cooled off on them, especially given the high pricetag. 
 
We'll see how the 1plus2 is and go from there. I have a pair on the way. Probably SE 5way next. Welcome to any suggestions though.
 
Thanks again.

 

[Ivabign]

I don't think anyone reshells a 1+2 - half the magic is in the enclosure....

 

[SilverEars]

   
 
 
Thanks for sharing again.  I have some catching up to do!
 
In some ways I am surprised by your #s and in other ways not, but am not saying that is not what you are hearing.  I could almost say the NT-6 with the Whiplash Hybrid V3 cable is better than the SE5. The 0.1 difference in overall score is more about the bass capability and my weighting system, which I would like to tweak a bit, but haven't found the time.  I was listening to both the NT-6 + WHV3 and SE5 with a new high-end desktop DAC I can't disclose and kept going back to the NT-6.  Maybe it was just that combo, but the NT-6 really does change character with the cable.
 
Some day I will probably post all my #s, but for now here are my overall scores (for anyone that missed them).  
 
Also, I have added the InEarZ IE-P250 and Perfect Seal Sportbud Silver to the buyer's guide in the sub-$300 recommendations section.
 
Perfect Seal has provided a "launch discount" code for the Sportbud Silver that brings the price down to $212.50, which I think is an excellent price for the performance.  The code is on this page.

I've been looking at Rin's cable measurments on his NT6 review(what a coincidence), and notice he shows the cable load graphs showing skews of 1dB from 2ohm difference of impedance.  I curious what the impedance of the Whiplash is?  I figure, as long as I can match the impedance of that cable, it cause the same changes to the NT6's FR.  I'm curious if you are hearing changes with the treble as the impedance drops at the treble region to close to 6ohms.  The high impedance cable he measured was up to 2.4 and the low is 1.3.  Wonder what the difference of the value of the impedance of the stock cable and the whiplash cable.  Wonder how the whiplash cable would affect the sound.  As you can see the cable is purely resistive, a flat line through the spectrum, but when checking the power drop with frequency, the cable with high resistance skews at the treble region, but 1dB.  I wonder how this affects the output? If the cable is 2.4ohms, that's still close to 1/3 of the treble impedance.  The cable can drop the treble power as the right cable graph shows.  I wonder if the Whiplash is getting rid of the treble peaks?
 

 

shwl: Nordost 7N, OCC-7N silver-plated
rubin: Hidition old stock, Hidition new stock, 5N copper, DIYer(fate)'s flourescent cable, Nordost 7N
udauda(Rin): $20 Furutech cable from Ebay, Ultimate Ears stock

My friends have sent me seven cables for this analysis, and my two cables are added to the pot. As expected, the OCC-7N silver plated cable and the Ebay furutech have the highest conductance, while rubin's Nortost 7N performs worse than others, indicating my friend rubin has been completely scammed.

And the actual electrical conductivity of each cable goes like this:

OCC-7N > Furutech > UE stock > shwl's Nordost 7N > New Hidition stock > 5N > Old Hidition stock >  Fate's DIY flourescent cable > rubin's Nordost 7N

 

[project86]

   
 
I've followed the Rhines/Vision and from what I can gather, after a lot of initial excitement, the TOTL mafia cooled off on them, especially given the high pricetag. 
 

 
 
There is no TOTL mafia. Capisce?

 

[tomscy2000]

Or more like they never take sides against the family...
 
I was impressed by the Stage 5 demo I heard. I'll probably have a quick overview of the Rhines demos up in a day or so.
 

 
I might actually buy a pair. (Okay, almost certainly)
 
The only reason is that their retailer made me an offer I can't refuse (payment plan). Otherwise, I wouldn't have the Euros to spend on something like this.

 

[Idsynchrono_24]

^Man that was the most confusing post for a sec there. All I saw was Stage 5 and the form factor which made me think, "oh hey, maybe Stagediver have finally added some treble to their phones" then I saw Rhines and was like, "...wat." Then I reread your post and was like, "ooooh." :l