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

[Barra]

Just posted this in the EarWerkz thread, but thought it might be better placed here:

Wow, a seven way design. I would be interested in a comparison to my nt6pro - both are bottlenecked with 3 bores. It would also be interesting to hear a comparison with the se5 to see if more bores or more crossover point win. Obviously implementation is everything, but I always felt the extra crossovers took the hiditions and the se5 to the top of the sq charts with the extra 2 bores giving the se5 the advantage.

What issues are you hearing specifically in soundstage - does it sound like the band is performing in a small closet, or is placement smirred? Is this a final design or are that still tuning?

BTW, are they going to be at CANJAM this year with demos? I'm going to make it for the first time this year so any suggestions on upgrades to my nt6pro that I can demo at CANJAM would be appreciated. Is the harmony pro going to be there?

 

[piotrus-g]

Wow, a seven way design.
Is the harmony pro going to be there?

You may want to ask Shini44 about his 7 way project I know he had some of the TOTL IEMs
 
We don't have any distributor in USA - so the answer is no, there will be no H8Pro unless someone bring his personal custom IEM.

 

[MikePortnoy]

I hope someone brings H8P, and headfiers can see the beauty

 

[Barra]

 

Wow, a seven way design.
Is the harmony pro going to be there?

You may want to ask Shini44 about his 7 way project I know he had some of the TOTL IEMs
 
We don't have any distributor in USA - so the answer is no, there will be no H8Pro unless someone bring his personal custom IEM.

That's too bad, I would have loved to hear the H8Pro - it is getting compared favorably to the SE5 and my NT6pro that sit comfortably at the top of AJs charts. Do you know anyone there that could host a listening party for you? Sent you a PM.

 

[zachchen1996]

 
You may want to ask Shini44 about his 7 way project I know he had some of the TOTL IEMs
 
We don't have any distributor in USA - so the answer is no, there will be no H8Pro unless someone bring his personal custom IEM.

 
Is your "Anzu" CIEM supposed to be even better than the Harmony 8 Pro?
Shini44 informed me that it is 10-driver, 5 way electrically, 7-way acoustically.

 

[Barra]

 

 
You may want to ask Shini44 about his 7 way project I know he had some of the TOTL IEMs
 
We don't have any distributor in USA - so the answer is no, there will be no H8Pro unless someone bring his personal custom IEM.

 
Is your "Anzu" CIEM supposed to be even better than the Harmony 8 Pro?
Shini44 informed me that it is 10-driver, 5 way electrically, 7-way acoustically.

Wow, that sounds interesting. Is this what piotrus-g was referring to as Shini44's 7-way project? Where do I hear more about the Anzu?

 

[rawrster]

So I'm thinking about getting one if my customs remolded and didn't want to create a new thread for something simple. joe or anyone else, what are your thoughts about the mmcx connector that more companies seem to be moving to. Westone and Shure have moved into that direction but wondering if you felt one of the two is superior to the other. I might ask for that connector if it seems to hold up better.

 

[Mython]

So I'm thinking about getting one if my customs remolded and didn't want to create a new thread for something simple. joe or anyone else, what are your thoughts about the mmcx connector that more companies seem to be moving to. Westone and Shure have moved into that direction but wondering if you felt one of the two is superior to the other. I might ask for that connector if it seems to hold up better.

 
 
Also depends, to a certain extent, on whether you're an aftermarket-cables fan or not (I'm not

)
 
You'd have more options for aftermarket cables if you went with the old 2-pin connector.

 

[average_joe]

Regarding AJ and Jason's impressions, Harmony 8 P is a top level ciem. I am happy to get one. I think it must be almost as good as Se5 an Nt6..

 
On the same playing field, but the SE5 is quite different from the H8P and NT-6.
 

Just posted this in the EarWerkz thread, but thought it might be better placed here:

Wow, a seven way design. I would be interested in a comparison to my nt6pro - both are bottlenecked with 3 bores. It would also be interesting to hear a comparison with the se5 to see if more bores or more crossover point win. Obviously implementation is everything, but I always felt the extra crossovers took the hiditions and the se5 to the top of the sq charts with the extra 2 bores giving the se5 the advantage.

What issues are you hearing specifically in soundstage - does it sound like the band is performing in a small closet, or is placement smirred? Is this a final design or are that still tuning?

BTW, are they going to be at CANJAM this year with demos? I'm going to make it for the first time this year so any suggestions on upgrades to my nt6pro that I can demo at CANJAM would be appreciated. Is the harmony pro going to be there?

 
I answered most of this here.
 
Alclair will be at Can Jam and I recommend giving the RSM a listen.
 

  Is your "Anzu" CIEM supposed to be even better than the Harmony 8 Pro?
Shini44 informed me that it is 10-driver, 5 way electrically, 7-way acoustically.

 
I am all ears
 

So I'm thinking about getting one if my customs remolded and didn't want to create a new thread for something simple. joe or anyone else, what are your thoughts about the mmcx connector that more companies seem to be moving to. Westone and Shure have moved into that direction but wondering if you felt one of the two is superior to the other. I might ask for that connector if it seems to hold up better.

 
The 2-pin connector is still much more prevalent, but the MMCX connector seems to be slowly gaining ground.  As far as which is better:
- The MMCX can't have pins broken off inside sockets or bend
- The 2-pin doesn't rotate freely
 
I can't say I prefer one over the other.

 

[tupac0306]

Regarding AJ and Jason's impressions, Harmony 8 P is a top level ciem. I am happy to get one. I think it must be almost as good as Se5 an Nt6..

I think I said this before, apart from bass, H8p and SE5's frequency spectra are like gloves, fit right with each other in terms of sound signature.  SE5 does has a bit more treble extension and linearity than H8P. NT6 is something that sits in the middle. No any noticeable humps and cuts apart from 11K Hz.
 
All of these three are top class, and combing them can cover almost everything genres of music.
 
With that said, SE5 is more acceptable to more ears IMO. 
 
NT6 is again half/half, some people will find it really technically super with smooth sound. Some people may find it a bit bright, and can't be listened for a long period of time (including me).
 
H8P IMO is for a bit experienced head-fier, who can really appreciated the sound it's trying to achieve, because it's very precise, and sounds amazing if the right music is played. With that said, it's not a monster for vocals since it does has a sense of sharpness. 
 
I guess NT6P is similar to H8P.

 

[MikePortnoy]

On the same playing field, but the SE5 is quite different from the H8P and NT-6.

So, do you mean technicaly similar but different signatures?

I think I said this before, apart from bass, H8p and SE5's frequency spectra are like gloves, fit right with each other in terms of sound signature.  SE5 does has a bit more treble extension and linearity than H8P. NT6 is something that sits in the middle. No any noticeable humps and cuts apart from 11K Hz.

All of these three are top class, and combing them can cover almost everything genres of music.

With that said, SE5 is more acceptable to more ears IMO. 

NT6 is again half/half, some people will find it really technically super with smooth sound. Some people may find it a bit bright, and can't be listened for a long period of time (including me).

H8P IMO is for a bit experienced head-fier, who can really appreciated the sound it's trying to achieve, because it's very precise, and sounds amazing if the right music is played. With that said, it's not a monster for vocals since it does has a sense of sharpness. 

I guess NT6P is similar to H8P.

Thank you my friend for the description. Please let me ask you one more, which one has the most stable dark background regarding separation?

 

[piotrus-g]

   
Is your "Anzu" CIEM supposed to be even better than the Harmony 8 Pro?
Shini44 informed me that it is 10-driver, 5 way electrically, 7-way acoustically.

It is not technically better than H8P it also sounds different as it was custom tuned. Honestly speaking I don't think there would be much customers for such products as its highs were like NT6Pro x 2 or 3 quantity wise.
 

  Wow, that sounds interesting. Is this what piotrus-g was referring to as Shini44's 7-way project? Where do I hear more about the Anzu?

Shini just put some further impressions http://www.head-fi.org/t/663051/new-custom-iem-company-custom-art-discussion-review-and-impressions-thread/1620#post_10936949

 

[Shini44]

oh got few people contacting me about the Anzy suddenly O-o no wonder what is going on XD
 
yes the Treble quantity is there but its not harsh by any mean, after all its Peter's work ^^ 
 
Project info:
hmm the project been done like while ago,started around 8 months ago, it was V1 1st then V2, and were the 2800 mid driver been replaced with another one, and got updated from 8 drivers to 10 drivers,5 way electrically and 7-way acoustically.

Sound:
fun bass/treble, the treble extend like the 1plus2 but never on the harsh side, the bass is punchy and fun but never boomy nor LQ, 

both treble and bass is so clean and very very well textured i was able to tell each bass note perfectly were no CIEM ever were able to do that , even coming from the Mentor i was like holy **** this make the mentor so unclean / clear bass/treble wise
 
the bass and treble can beat the TH900 hands down, yes hands down bro, and the mids is sweet lush and creamy, nice female vocal, its not behind nor forwards mids, 
 
TH900 was the best thing i had for fun sound sig, i sold it twice due getting the Mentor 1st then the Anzu, the Anzu made me forget about the TH900 forever, on all the aspects too, the CIEM world changed the last year, its thew new era people ^^
 
What am i working on right now?
trying to make the Mentor sound with a very clean bass/treble like the Anzu and as fun, going to test different amps and cables, its even my 2nd Mentor CIEM with extra Treble as asked from Stephen, why the Mentor? i like the SE535 kind of mids, its not the best quality but the quantity rocks for J-pop's Female Vocals, its a matter of preferance.
 
Am i going to sell the Anzu?
the Anzu is limited and not for production still i don't know i love it but since many people want the Anzu i will give it a 2nd though ,
but thats just in case i were able to make the Mentor able to make me forget the epic Anzu.. going to be hard and long testing, money throwing but i hope i make it work  
 
ah peter your awesome tuning are giving me a hard time switching to different CIEMs!!! LOL!!! 
 

  I am all ears
 

 
i can lend it to you so you review it for fun , it will be an honor to get my CIEM reviewed by you, even though its limited but as i said for fun

 

[tupac0306]

So, do you mean technicaly similar but different signatures?
Thank you my friend for the description. Please let me ask you one more, which one has the most stable dark background regarding separation?

SE5 of course.

 

[AmberOzL]

  SE5 of course.

@portnoy83 Did you read that? Did you read that my friend? SE5way way to go and I have it and you don't

 
(Sorry to derail the thread, it is a just a joke between me and him)
 
On the other hand, I think we are quite lucky to live this golden age of ciems I believe. So many high end monitors come and we have a chance to appreciate their quality. Different sound signatures for every other persons taste yet still achieve the highest technical capability.
 
Tupac, when will you retire running after ciems or there is no end in sight?