Greetings music lovers from the great state of Texas!
I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and thank all those responsible for developing and managing a great forum. Unlike some, I've not been browsing or into the earphone hobby for long but after 20-30 minutes of browsing this Forum, I had to join! So again, much appreciation to those that put the effort in to keep this Forum going, and to ALL those members that create this unique experience and keep it FUN!
My love for music began at the young age of nine. I was enamored and simply captivated by the beauty and craftsmanship of those classic 70's components (Pioneer, Sansui, Sony, Harman Kardon, etc.). I hung out at the local shops where owners and employees allowed me to audition the equipment for hours! They were also kind enough to take an interest and educate me. This would prove to be the foundation of my love for all things music and electronics. Sadly, with the deterioration of these "brick and mortar" shops, this opportunity no longer exists, which greatly affects the overall attraction and entrance into the hobby; therefore, it's our responsibility to "nurture" those new audiophiles and help them on their path.
My passion quickly grew into a hobby at the age of 14 when I landed employment at a local 12-volt shop. I remained employed at various shops until landing my final job with Pioneer Electronics and closing out my audio employment at the age of 31. There are no words nor enough space to properly describe the fun, enjoyment, and education of the "ride" and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been able to make a living from my life's passion! I am now 54 and remained enamored with all things audio; both the music and education of all things new still "drives" me forward and flames my passion as if I were still visiting those shops 40 years ago!
As some may know, the recent flooding in Texas over the past several years have affected many, including myself. Last September my house flooded and all equipment had to be stored and remains that way. I have never been a fan of headphone listening or the product channel but with the recent flooding, I was forced to engage them and I'm finding the entire IEM prospect extremely intriguing and beyond FUN! They say there's a "silver lining in every dark cloud," well, without the flooding I may never have engaged this hobby. I find this to be an entirely new "frontier" to explore and my passion and enjoyment dictates pursuit and further exploration.
As with all things audio/sound related, experience plays a huge role in our appreciation; as we grow our understanding and experience, our appreciation and passion grows, increasing our desire for improved performance. And the fact that I have no experience with the IEM channel of this hobby has opened-up an entirely new frontier for me to explore; something not often encountered by someone with over 40 years of experience. Again, I consider myself blessed to have this opportunity and very much looking forward to maximizing it!
I recently purchased a set of BLON BL-03's with an upgraded cable to use with my iPhone and was blown away with what I was hearing - I've never had anything "plugged into my ear" create this type of performance - and off of a phone! Realizing this is complete ENTRY-LEVEL stuff, I became extremely intrigued and am now "hooked!" I can't stop watching reviews and seeking knowledge. Two weeks ago I purchased a set of Shozy 1.1's and really like their signature as well, both seem to excel in different ways. The fact that I'm still streaming Tidal from a phone with no proper DAC/AMP is very exciting as I can see and imagine the possibilities! I'm hoping you fellow "head-fi'ers can help with some guidance and possibly keep me from wasting too much coin along the way!
To help you help me, I've listed some personal information about my preferred music and listening habits below:
1. GENRES - I listen to all genres of music. I love jazz, including classic jazz that's recorded well. Recently found a great Dave Grusin homage to Duke Ellingtion and wow! Recorded very well and sounds great through these Shozy's. But depending on my mood, sometimes there's nothing that will do but some great guitar work from Stevie Ray or Al di Meola. And at other times, I need the soft soothing sounds of Yo Yo Ma's bow! And of course, being from Texas, the affinity for some classic country or some Aaron Lewis is never far away from the playlists.
2. TONE - I'm not a "bass-head" as some would call it. I want balanced bass in relationship to the overall spectrum, not heavy or weak, rather as the producer intended. I guess it could be said that I seek "neutrality." I find the mids in the Shozy 1.1's a little more "laid-back" or "less forward" than the Blons yet the treble a bit cleaner. Looking forward to the day I'm better able to associate an IEM curve to my preferred signature.
3. VOLUME - I don't listen to music at very loud volume levels. My phone readout usually stays around half-way or slightly above, depending on the environment and what I'm doing. While writing or engaging in computer work, the volume is typically less than half way. I realize this is completely relative to equipment but since I only have a phone, I have no other means to convey volume. I really appreciate equipment that can produce great dynamics at low volumes as this is a most difficult task.
So, with that, I hope most reading this will gather a good understanding of who I am, what I like, my music and listening preference, and what I'm trying to achieve. I've went on long enough but I want those interested in helping to have enough information to be able to provide proper guidance. And I'm hoping that I will also be able to help others as my experience grows and contribute to the discussion.
Have a great weekend and thanks for allowing me to be a part of this community Head-Fi
