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

[AmberOzL]

I am also interested in those new Hidition ciems. When I am going to be able to get them is a different story though.

 

[Mimouille]

A brief impression of the Lear LCM BD4.2 & LUF BD4.2 has been posted in my review preview page.

Also, two new cable reviews have been posted.

I am working on catching up on some of my reviews that have been in the works for a while...

The Australian tour of the Lear seems to be VERY underwhelmed by the Lear, yet you seem to like it, I was surprised.

 

[project86]

I like it too, thus far anyway. I've been PMing with Svyr about it from the get go, and it's interesting how different we hear it. I wonder if anything has changed behind the scenes, or if there's some other explanation. I know Lear did make several tweaks here and there so perhaps the version Joe has and the one I have is different from the one on tour? Still trying to figure out the sound but I'm not hearing what they report. 
 
Of course, this is for the custom molded version. Not sure about the universal yet - I have one for comparison but haven't spent much time with it. I do think the fit is.... difficult, compared to most others. 

 

[average_joe]

  Thanks Joe.
Is it fully silicone shell or is it acrylic filled with silicone? I've never seen any silicone shell that looks like those.

 
It is 100% silicone.  I asked for something different than a standard clear or colored shell and this is what I received.  It looks interesting in person and I don't have any complaints.
 

  Great work joe. Interested to see what Viento R can do.

 
Coming soon
 

 
Nice. I'm very interested in the Fusion 11.  Looking forward to more comparisons when you have time.

 
Time is the key here.  I wanted to get some initial thoughts, but the review is a little ways off.
 

The Australian tour of the Lear seems to be VERY underwhelmed by the Lear, yet you seem to like it, I was surprised.

 

  I like it too, thus far anyway. I've been PMing with Svyr about it from the get go, and it's interesting how different we hear it. I wonder if anything has changed behind the scenes, or if there's some other explanation. I know Lear did make several tweaks here and there so perhaps the version Joe has and the one I have is different from the one on tour? Still trying to figure out the sound but I'm not hearing what they report. 
 
Of course, this is for the custom molded version. Not sure about the universal yet - I have one for comparison but haven't spent much time with it. I do think the fit is.... difficult, compared to most others. 

 
I haven't given the universal much ear time either so I can't say much until I can compare the two.  In my experience, the majority of head-fi people typically prefer a more mid-forward presentation than the BD4.2 provides, and the treble isn't necessarily bright, so the details, while there, don't jump out at you.  Are there specific things people don't like, or specific IEMs/CIEMs they have compared?
 
I did let a few audiophile family members try the universal from a good source with a very spacious 24 bit track and they all were quite impressed.  I haven't yet tried to figure out source performance, but that could be part of it also.

 

[AmberOzL]

   
I haven't given the universal much ear time either so I can't say much until I can compare the two.  In my experience, the majority of head-fi people typically prefer a more mid-forward presentation than the BD4.2 provides, and the treble isn't necessarily bright, so the details, while there, don't jump out at you.  Are there specific things people don't like, or specific IEMs/CIEMs they have compared?
 
I did let a few audiophile family members try the universal from a good source with a very spacious 24 bit track and they all were quite impressed.  I haven't yet tried to figure out source performance, but that could be part of it also.

I remember reading they were complaining about the price tab. The sound is OK but no where close to asking 1k+ apparently.

 

[Fox2twenty]

Hi Joe, just catching up on the thread since last year and I'm interested in the new Sonion AcuPass drivers. In your AcuPass comparison it seems the AcuPass would be preferred now over the TWFK by Knowles.

So, I had/have a set of 1964 V6Stage's that I lost in a recent move. That's not the point though I'm pretty sure the V6, Miracle, and other larger setups were based on the TWFK to some extent right? So, are there any plans in the works to produce 4-driver, 6+driver setups etc with multiple AcuPass drivers?

Like:
Low- AcuPass
Mid- AcuPass
High- AcuPass etc.......

PS- the thread is still awesome, especially with the TOTL mafia chiming in once in awhile.

 

[highwind2008]

Very nice post, thank you Joe for the objective information provided!

 

[piotrus-g]

iPhone IEM no, there is no point of such configuration because:
1. AcuPass is big
2. It's high-output woofer-tweeter setup.

However some companies use AcuPass with addition of another woofer or tweeter. F.e. cosmic ears or livezoner

 

[Fox2twenty]

iPhone IEM no, there is no point of such configuration because:
1. AcuPass is big
2. It's high-output woofer-tweeter setup.

However some companies use AcuPass with addition of another woofer or tweeter. F.e. cosmic ears or livezoner

Thanks! Great info. Btw, I haven't seen it explained anywhere , maybe it's a trade secret, but how does the H8 have a 3-way crossover and a full range set up at the same time? Anyway, thanks for the quick response

 

[piotrus-g]

Thanks! Great info. Btw, I haven't seen it explained anywhere , maybe it's a trade secret, but how does the H8 have a 3-way crossover and a full range set up at the same time? Anyway, thanks for the quick response

It is 3 way from electrical perspective - 4woofers have the same crossover point (but two of them have different acoustical parameters) one dual driver full-range and dual tweeter.

 

[average_joe]

My initial impressions of the Hidition Viento-R with quick comparisons to the NT-6 and NT-6 pro can be found here.
 

  I remember reading they were complaining about the price tab. The sound is OK but no where close to asking 1k+ apparently.

 
I wonder what specific complaints are.  Maybe they will be apparent when I am comparing the LCM vs. LUF.
 

Hi Joe, just catching up on the thread since last year and I'm interested in the new Sonion AcuPass drivers. In your AcuPass comparison it seems the AcuPass would be preferred now over the TWFK by Knowles.

So, I had/have a set of 1964 V6Stage's that I lost in a recent move. That's not the point though I'm pretty sure the V6, Miracle, and other larger setups were based on the TWFK to some extent right? So, are there any plans in the works to produce 4-driver, 6+driver setups etc with multiple AcuPass drivers?

Like:
Low- AcuPass
Mid- AcuPass
High- AcuPass etc.......

PS- the thread is still awesome, especially with the TOTL mafia chiming in once in awhile.

 
I don't have anything to add to piotrus-g's reply about the why not use multiple AcuPass drivers, but when a TWFK is used, there seems to be other bass drivers used in conjunction.  The AcuPass alone, while offering a very good price/performance ratio isn't going to compete with well tuned custom BA configurations. 
 

Very nice post, thank you Joe for the objective information provided!

 
You are welcome and thanks for reading!
 

  It is 3 way from electrical perspective - 4woofers have the same crossover point (but two of them have different acoustical parameters) one dual driver full-range and dual tweeter.

 
Thanks for sharing.  Is better to let a driver run full range than cross it over both on the high and or low ends for your midrange drivers?

 

[tupac0306]

Thank you for the impressions joe. 
 
The difference between Viento-R vs NT6 could well due to the sound change did by hidition (so viento-R maybe designed to sound like "NT6"). If you compare the frequency charts of the most recent NT6s and the ones we have, you can see that the new version (without silicone tips) have a peak at 5K Hz which is absent in the older ones, so better "instant clarity" (clearer sounding). And the peak at 11 Hz is not as sharp as the old ones, so the details are less articulated? and warmer presentation? And the upper-mid sections 2-4 KHz is not as forward as the older ones, so less vocal density, more distant. This is just a wild guess though. Does Viento-R pairs with hybrid V3 well? if you have tried it. Actually with the hybrid V3, I found NT6 has a lot of bass impact. A lot actually, more than SE5's.
 
old
 
new

 

[Mython]

   
old
 
new

 
 
I reckon Hidition are doing both themselves and their new customers a serious disservice by messing around with an existing model - it means all the reviews of the older incarnation become totally useless to people trying to decide if the NT6 might be the right CIEM for them, and many people will not even realise that the NT6 has been changed.
 
Just call it an NT6.5 or NT7, and there would be much less confusion.
 
Moving the goalposts and keeping the model number identical is stupid, stupid, stupid.
 
 
 
Treble has been mentioned, but the bass looks to have been significantly boosted in the new model, too.
 
 
(cheers for the FR graphs, Tupac

)

 

[SilverEars]

   
 
I reckon Hidition are doing both themselves and their new customers a serious disservice by messing around with an existing model - it means all the reviews of the older incarnation become totally useless to people trying to decide if the NT6 might be the right CIEM for them, and many people will not even realise that the NT6 has been changed.
 
Just call it an NT6.5 or NT7, and there would be much less confusion.
 
Moving the goalposts and keeping the model number identical is stupid, stupid, stupid.
 
 
 
Treble has been mentioned, but the bass looks to have been significantly boosted in the new model, too.
 
 
(cheers for the FR graphs, Tupac

)

I think that's the pro.  The first is the NT6 V1 which is more similar to the pro when it comes to bass with more treble emphasis.  Here is the NT6 from a recent purchaser and looks like my FR which I believe is the V2.
 

 

[zachchen1996]

 
Treble has been mentioned, but the bass looks to have been significantly boosted in the new model, too.

 
The 2nd pic is my NT6-Pro's FR graph.