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

[Barra]

  everything i've read about the two is the pro is more v-shaped and the treble isn't as smooth.  whereas the NT6 (was inches away from buying it myself!) has a flatter response aside from a treble spike above where sibilance normally occurs.

My TF10 had a pronounced V-shape that pushed back the mids and bloated the bass with a constant SSSS sound. This certainly is not what I am hearing with my NT6pro. It sounds very flat and integrated across the frequency range. What is unique is the crystal clarity from not having any unintended warmth and the extreme extension on both sides adding detail and sub-bass that most IEMs or full size cans miss. The result is a very natural sound stage. Where I find it fatiguing if at all is when amped at high volume where the bass is real punchy with extreme quality and the extension of the highs drives additional detail. But it sounds so good, I don't really care. BTW, with my AK100 II, the NT6pro treble is buttery smooth.

 

[SilverEars]

I love 5way Ref. But recently I started to wonder how accurately or inaccurately they present the music. To check this I need truly reference CIEM (if such CIEM really exists).
I don't like very bright CIEMs with harsh treble.

Yes, if you own atleast two CIEMs you have a better sense of the performance of each one since, you have a reference to compare one another.

 
Quote:

Everytime I put on nt6 after a long time, I was like wow this is such a reference, super technical, beautiful sounding CIEM, so much more neutral than se5. But then after 1 hour, I start to get bothered by its treble.

I haven't heard the SE5, but I agree with this.  If you don't listen to the NT6 for awhile, you notice it's performance more significantly as the ears are probably not accustomed to it's sound since it's been some time.  

  Are you talking about the NT6-Pro which is in your signature? I'd agree about the harsh treble of the Pro but not sure about the non-pro version.
 
Personally I prefer the timbre of my UERM over the NT6 Pro but the NT6 Pro does have better clarity and bass extension.

For me the opposite with the NT6.  The timbre is what makes it so realistic sounding compared to the UERM.  Could be the less emphasis of the treble than the pro, but then again I've not heard the pro.
 
After this comparison I realized, you can't really know how realistic it sounds or it's timbre by the graph.  Sure, it could look reference from the graph, but can timbre be guessed from it?  It can sound flat, but sounding realistic is another aspect.

 
SilverEars, as far as I remember you had Japanese versoin of dx100. How did it pair with NT6?

It pairs well with the NT6, but the AK100 II is better at it.  The harsh recordings are better controlled, and doesn't lack the detailing which the AK sources do well in, and the dynamics of the recording.  Soundstage sounds fun with the R10, but I find the AK100 II soundstage is recording dependent.

 

[AmberOzL]

Dat NT6Pro graph and peak around 10k.. Just looking at the graph hurts my ears... Damn that's bright ciem for sure.
 
As for the reference ciem discussion. I heard NT6 but it was built for my friend so my fit wasn't perfect obviously, you are free to take my impressions as pinch of salt.
 
I think it is more "reference" type of sound than SE5way. The bass actually hits surprisingly deep even without a proper lock/key fit though it never ever goes out of recording and add some flavor in the music. It just gives whatever is there. Mids are bright and thin-ish though the clarity is absolutely on high end level. Treble is what is troubling me unfortunately. As a warm/organic signature lover, the treble bothered me. Not by its quality but by its quantity. I don't deny the clear and airy sound but while tupac could resist 1 hour, I was done after 15-20 minutes of audition, it was just too bright for me. Though, I am seriously sensitive on high region so maybe for someone who likes its treble hot and sparkly, it might be a perfect reference type ciem, as I also agree that it has fairly flat signature and quite analytical. It reminded me of my old, first audiophile purchase, German MAESTRO GMP8.35D Studio Monitors. Closed back full sized cans that are designed for studio use and absolutely clarity (considering their price point). Back then I loved its clarity and wasn't bothered by treble amount but after I spent months with it, I knew I wanted to get something smoother on treble..

 

[gyx11]

Perfect Seal isn't that well-known in the CIEM world, but I thought I'd just copy my post from the dedicated thread:
 
I just came back from a local IT show where a distributor (Treoo) had the range of Perfect Seal CIEM demos on display. I managed to audition the PS6 and PS8.
 
I spent about 5 minutes with the PS8, and I felt it was quite decent. Perfect Seal's TOTL reference CIEMs. Instrument separation was very good. Bass had slightly too little presence for my liking, but it did hit quite hard. The bass extension was great as well. Overall presentation was quite neutral. Note thickness was slightly on the dry and thin side, but it did help to accentuate details nicely. Treble was well extended with good sparkle. For the $850, I would say it's a decent buy, but I wouldn't go for it unless I was into professional recording because it doesn't really suit my sound signature preference.
 
The PS6, I spent approximately 10 minutes with it. It was unbelievably good. I would have stayed there for much much longer had the situation been ideal, but unfortunately I came 30 minutes before the fair was closed for the day, and I did not bring my DAP along with me as it was somewhat of an unscheduled trip down. For the retail price of $650, it's an absolute no brainer. I wouldn't put it as the absolute best CIEM I've ever heard simply because I don't have enough time to form a definitive opinion on it, but I can tell you that it does not give away anything at all to the best that I've heard (Noble K10, Custom Art Harmony 8 Pro, Shure SE846). When I learnt that Treoo offered a promo price of $799 SGD for it during Black Friday (that's currently about USD $580), I felt like kicking myself for not having heard the PS6 back then or I'd have surely jumped on it without hesitation
 
The bass of the PS6 is arguably the best that I've ever heard. It was so good that I'm highly tempted to hijack the H8P from my girlfriend (I got the H8Ps for her) to bring it down for a 1-on-1 comparison. The bass is north of neutral, and it is clean, non-instrusive, highly textured, goes down really deep, has great reverb. If you asked me to name one thing about the bass that I would have changed/tweaked, I'm going to say that I can't.
 
The bass was so good that I spent most of the 10 minutes just in appreciation for it. Impressions of the mids and highs will be shorter, but I can say that they do not disappoint as well. Mids were positioned in such a way that it allowed the bass to shine, but had still enough presence to give it authority. The treble was very smooth and yet detailed at the same time. The overall sound was very neutral with a tinge of warmth owing to the bass tilt. Soundstage was excellent for an IEM, one of the best I've heard so far.
 
Compared to the PS8, the PS6 was definitely the more musical CIEM. Note thickness was noticeably denser. Bass was tons more satisfying. The PS8 was probably the more resolving of the two, but the PS6 had a much better cohesive sound to my ears. The PS6 reminded me of my Sportsbud Silver in many ways (3Desque soundstage, note thickness, bass rumble), but essentially does everything twice as good, if not even better. The PS8 was far different from either of them.
 
Only a few people may get what I'm about to say next, but at the IT fair, there happened to be a kingly CIEM audio company having its range of CIEM demos available as well. I can't mention the name due to forum rules, but I did try its flagship 10 driver CIEM, and came away very impressed by it as well, but ultimately still thought that the PS6 was an effortless match for it, at about half the price.
 
I'm broke at the moment, but I can tell you with assurance that if a similar promotion for the PS6 popped up tomorrow, I might just take a visit to the bank to secure a loan.

 

[lbbef]

I thought that there was only 1 booth carrying CIEMs at the IT Show (Red Fusion One/Treeo)?

 

[gyx11]

Ibbef, that is correct.
 
Treoo is the local CIEM distributor for LEAR, Perfect Seal, Westone, and the-brand-which-shall-not-be-named

 

[Mython]

  Dat NT6Pro graph and peak around 10k.. Just looking at the graph hurts my ears... Damn that's bright ciem for sure.
 

 
 
 
I still can't take NT6 or NT6 Pro reviews seriously.
 
I mean absolutely no disrespect to any owners/reviewers.
 
All I mean is that, AFAIK, Hidition have produced at least 2 different tunings of the NT6 (and the same thing with the NT6 Pro), so the goalposts keep moving. I don't see why Hidition can't at least differentiate the different tunings - even if it's only a, b, c, or Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, etc.
 
 
.

 

[Idsynchrono_24]

I have no idea if that graph is accurate but jesus. I'd like James to take a crack at modding that LOL. How many layers of alcohol swab is it gonna take to bring that puppy back down to Earth :l 

 

[SilverEars]

   
 
 
I still can't take NT6 or NT6 Pro reviews seriously.
 
I mean absolutely no disrespect to any owners/reviewers.
 
All I mean is that, AFAIK, Hidition have produced at least 2 different tunings of the NT6 (and the same thing with the NT6 Pro), so the goalposts keep moving. I don't see why Hidition can't at least differentiate the different tunings - even if it's only a, b, c, or Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, etc.
 
 
.

I know there were atleast two tuning of the NT6 based on what I've seen of the graphs that Hidition accompanies with their CIEM which were posted by recent purchaser and another how purchased long ago.  The earlier tune that had that peak and the bass incline, and the new tune didn't. ​I have the more recent tune.
 

Everytime I put on nt6 after a long time, I was like wow this is such a reference, super technical, beautiful sounding CIEM, so much more neutral than se5. But then after 1 hour, I start to get bothered by its treble.

tupac's graph had the peak and the bass incline, so could be for the comment above.  I find NT6 to be dependent on the source so it depends on what source you feed it, and of course the type of recording too.

 

[Mimouille]

NT6 is a bit fatiguing but when driven by 901, still among the top 3 sounds I have heard from a portable setup.

 

[malifact]

Hi there, I wanted to ask a general CIEM question.  I just got my Rooth LS8+ (really nice CIEM by the way, but I’ll post about it in the Rooth thread).  I haven’t had a CIEM for a while and while the LS8+ feels comfortable when it is in my ears, I do experience some discomfort after I remove it.  Is it a case of my ears getting used to the earphones, or could there be a fit issue?  I didn’t think it could be the latter as the isolation from outside noise is very good and they don’t feel loose in my ears.  I'm hoping I don't need a refit.

 

[MikePortnoy]

 

 

 
 
Just got freshly made my SA43's pictures from Alf.
 
Seeing the internals of M-Fidelity SA43 is really interesting. Clear shell looks amazing.  Playing with switches will be joyful experience. 

 

[shakur1996]

Mike pls report back once you spend appropriate time with them

 

[MikePortnoy]

  Mike pls report back once you spend appropriate time with them

 
Sure mate I have read that it has a spacious stage. Comparison with Lear in this matter would be very interesting. I like this kind of products whose tunings haven't been changed for years. 

 

[somanydynamos]

Is anyone able to advice on which UE has a similar sound signature (or close) to InEar Stagediver 2?