Night Oblivion Butastur thread

[-rowan-]

Synergy is so important with the Butastur.
The more I listen, the more I’m convinced the Butastur is like water in its sheer transparency. Everything else in the chain has the potential to colour it.

With the old N3 Pro on triode tube mode, H570 tips and stock cable. Big thiccc warm sound and deep weighty bass. I have little doubt it’s the N3 Pro’s doing rather than Butastur’s, but it’s one of the more extreme examples of how a source can colour the Butastur’s sound.

 

[nikbr]

Synergy is so important with the Butastur.
The more I listen, the more I’m convinced the Butastur is like water in its sheer transparency. Everything else in the chain has the potential to colour it.



With the old N3 Pro on triode tube mode, H570 tips and stock cable. Big thiccc warm sound and deep weighty bass. I have little doubt it’s the N3 Pro’s doing rather than Butastur’s, but it’s one of the more extreme examples of how a source can colour the Butastur’s sound.

Very well put. I am still finding my footing with the Butastur, but all the potential is there. I have already written off the VE Prime DAC + RA2B-FE as source because it presents Butastur as very hollow and numb. I also tried adding a 50ohm impedance adapter and the change wasn't sufficient.

 

[wdelta06]

I put Clarions on mine out of curiosity, and Butastur becomes even brighter, doesn't seem like the best synergy. I do think people might like the Azla Max on Butastur, but it's only shifting the sig a little in the opposite direction. Probably not enough to redeem Butastur if you already aren't vibing with it, so they most likely aren't worth the hail mary. But if you already have them! The H570 do sound a bit too treble-y to me and I actually like the stock green core Penon tips they come with better. Tips can only do so much of course...and tip rolling ad nauseum trying to make something work for you is just exhausting and often not worth it imo.

(I didn't see your edit before making this comment btw)

Finally played around with different configuration on my eartips (wide-bore)... And... FLIPPIN WooooooooW!

Now previous comments about her sound signature make so much more sense... impactful ethereal bass, solid soulful mids, rock-solidly realistic treble, sublime vocals (to me anyway).

Expect significant changes in playback with small-ish changes to the chain (source-cable-tips)... unbelievably noticeable differences.

I'm gonna get stoned for this, but...
She (in 0-0 setting) sounds like Dunu Talos (no BA) & SoundRhyme SR8 (1-1) squigs had a baby... and that's one helluva mix!

Controversial... probably, but for this simple knucklehead who loves music, it's a simple way to approach, understand, & appreciate this beautifully complicated, sophisticated, & special set.

Having SR8 & Butastur in the same iem inner circle feels like leaving the hobby is realistic & possible...maybe?

Excellently executed AS... well done, Bravo Bravo!

 

[Dsnuts]

So got the Butastur this weekend and out of the box they reminded me of an older legendary IEM that I have in my collection. None other than the Empire Ears former flagship the Zeus which is actually a 14 BA IEM vs the 10 in the Butastur. Their tuning angles both fall into the neutral tuning category except for one major difference that tilts the Butastur as the better value. The Butastur actually is tuned better than the former $2,300 flagship. The issue with the old Zeus is 3 fold. It is tuned a bit brighter than the Butastur, lacks low bass and is overly sensitive at 10 ohms. The only advantage to the Zeus is that it has a wider stage otherwise the Butastur is actually the better sounding, better tuned IEM going for the same type of tuning.

I noticed the Butasturs included cable is limiting how they can sound. If you guys find them to sound a bit thin or lack dynamics. You need to try other sources and more importantly a better cable. its included cable is what they can provide for the price. A good copper cable is definitely agreeable with the tuning but both Effect Audio cables I tried them with enhance them to be way better than what you're getting out of the box. Fusion1 and Cadmus FE.

I agree with @-rowan- that the Butastur is very transparent of what you put into it. That saying good stuff in you get better stuff out using the Butastur. Overall I am impressed with these as all of you are. No way this sound will be sold at the price they are going for even a few years back. The price to performance is very good on this one. I think the folks involved with this project did an outstanding job. @AmericanSpirit, miss your posts on the discovery thread my friend. These have already garnered a cult like following for a good reason. Will have much more to say as I get to know them but for now I am just burning them in.

 

[moots27]

The bass and dynamics are really quite incredible even though its a BA set
I do see why people say its a tad thin. Theres a slight airiness to the vocals. But I actual enjoy that. And if you dont like it, the bass switch reduces some of the air too which helps with that if you are sensitive to that.
Butastur is a high value iem for what it offers, diminishing returns are gonna hit really hard after this set.
Its somehow even more sensitive than my hola. Theres a very slight hiss on my phone and sounds fine on my iemagni/modi. But iemagni is a tad warm (not a bad thing just depends on what im listening to). Regardless its extremely resolving. The contrast in volume (dynamics) is incredible. Its especially apparent listening to movie sound tracks (hans zimmer) which are produced to have very low and very high moments of impact and volume. I have yet to try them with the actual h570 tips they were developed with.
From my experience the cable swaps havent done much, but they are quite tip sensitive and does affect sound noticeably.

 

[nikbr]

Before I make my promised source test on Butastur, I had to try some tip and cable rolling again. This IEM is amazingly sensitive as many have said before. And what I ended up doing was a surprise to myself too. I went back to stock cable instead of NiceHCK BlackCat, went back to 00 switch setting instead of 10, and I put on possibly the brightest pair of tips I own, Tangzu Tang Sancai widebore. This allows Butastur to shine at what it's good at and doesn't try to force it out of its comfort zone.

 

[nihalsharma]

I had a brief session with the Butastur today just to make up my mind for buying it. Such a great iem it is. What a lovely tuning!

1. The Azla Sedna Light tips really fit very well on it. Better than Spinfit w1 and H570 eartips(which the maker has suggested).

2. Just for the sake of it, I changed the cable on it to the cable which comes with Kublai Khan which is just decent, nothing great. I am sure there is a slightly better dynamics, not much but surely it’s there. I don’t have a better cable than this so can’t say much.

 

[Danx3k]

Arrived today

Edit: I purchased it on a whim and had regrets afterwards - not because I thought it might be trash, I just wasn’t too sure if the tuning would be for me.

Well, I’m happy to report that I’m very impressed with it and enjoying it a lot.

 

[nikbr]

Finding the best source for Butastur.

Meet the contestants, from left to right: Penon Tail, Fiio BTR7, Venture Electronics Megatron.


Night Oblivion Butastur is a highly sensitive IEM meaning that it responds to every part of the equation very transparently. Understanding the differences between the three contestants was thus even easier than with AüR Audio Aurora.

I used the same tunes as with AüR Audio Aurora, so please revisit that post to see those.
I used a different approach this time. Below are the categories and how the three sources compare.

Bass quantity: This one goes to Tail (going forward presented as 'T') ahead of BTR7 ('B') and then Megatron ('M'). T seemingly boosts lows the most.

Bass extension: T reaches the lowest, but at a cost which is reflected in following categories. B comes 2nd, M 3rd.

Bass texture: B wins, then M, last is T which is overly fake sounding due to the bass boost.

Midbass punch: M is slightly more punchy than B and that a bit more than T.

Mid forwardness: M places mids more upfront due to lesser bass and treble presence. 2nd B, 3rd T.

Mids resolution: B takes this one with an overall most convincing resolution capability, 2nd is M, 3rd T.

Vocal naturalness: T somehow manages to present vocals the most naturally to my ears, 2nd is shared between M and B.

Piano timbral accuracy: B does it better than M and T.

Guitar timbral accuracy: B does it the best, but not by much. 2nd would be M, 3rd T.

Brass timbral accuracy: B edges T and last is M. B's digitalish nature allows more bite in the brass presentation.

Note weight: B has noticeably better note weight vs M and last is T.

Treble extension: B extends the most effortlessly, second is T which struggles a bit, and third M which is all about mids.

Treble naturalness: B sounds most precise and without strain, second is T, third M.

Stage dimensions: M sounds a bit more open than B and T struggles especially with depth, so it's very 2D.

Imaging: B images the best, so it's easiest to follow single instruments and find their placement, second is T, last is M despite being the most open.

Detail retrieval: B's ability of presenting details is better than T and that is better than M which hides details.

Dynamics: B does not struggle with quick sound pressure changes, behind is T, last is M.

Warmest to coldest: M sounds the warmest due to lack of treble, second is T which has boosted bass and low mids, coldest is B.

Most analog to most digital: M sounds the most analog or 'musical', T is inbetween, B is technical but still retains musicality.

Overall winner is the Fiio BTR7.

 

[rinaldi1412]

Hi, Did anyone tried the Butastur and the seeaudio neo. And can say a bit about the differences between them? thank you

 

[Danx3k]

Hi, Did anyone tried the Butastur and the seeaudio neo. And can say a bit about the differences between them? thank you

Jordan literally compares it to the Neo.

 

[Orikx]

I would actualy like to sell the Penon 10th and buy these, the 10th is amazing but I am looking for something to mix and master with and these look just the right kind of IEM for that.

 

[Danx3k]

So just some brief early impressions having had the Butastur for just over a day now.

My Set up/ configuration:

I prefer the switches in 1-0 configuration. I think this is where it sounds best, for my preferences.

I’ve tried the other configurations and whilst I like them, 1-0 is my preference. In this configuration I’d say it’s neutral-slight lean towards bright, sounding,

I’m using spinfit W1’s. I know the “recommended ear tip” is the H750, but I personally greatly dislike them. I think the latex irritates my skin in my ear canals. So they’re are complete no-go for me.

I prefer W1s particularly for this iem as they give a seller insertion. The nozzles are a little in the short side, but the W1s remedy this.

I did try the Sedna Earfit Lights, but found they made the tuning brighter than the W1’s.

I’ve paired it with my PW Audio Copper 28 V2 cable. Im not particularly a cable-believer, but I bought this cable to pair with my Neon Pro, as it’s light and thin, which I like. However due to issues with pressure build up, I had to part ways with it.

Therefore, I took the opportunity to give the cable a “dance partner” in the Butastur. All I can say is, it sounds good paired with the Butastur. Would it sound better or worse with another cable? I’ve no idea.

I listen to the Butastur primarily on my Hiby R6 Pro II Dap - as I do with all my iem’s.

I have adjusted “Air” (10-20khz) in MSEB by +25 as I really like extended treble/ boosted in the upper frequencies. This is just a personal preference and I use this setting for all my iem’s.

Positives:

Its by far the most detailed and resolving set I have - without (in my opinion) sounding too bright or spicy.

Despite being extremely resolving, I don’t find the Butastur fatiguing and can listen for several hours.

Layering and separation is excellent

Timbre is spot on, no colouration. Everything sounds natural and as it should.

Whilst being extremely detailed, It doesn’t sound cold or analytical and is very enjoyable to listen to.

I would describe it as having a delicate note weight, not thin - in my opinion.

Good quality bass.

The iem’s are tiny and you barely notice them in your ears. I have no idea how they managed to fit 10 drivers in each shell!

Nitpicks:

Soundstage is average

With certain music genres it lacks a bit of weight and impact.

I’d prefer more sub bass and mid bass. The Butastur is kind of light in this area, even with the first switch on (up position) - for my tastes.

I’d like a bit more treble extension, but this is a nitpick I have with all my current iem’s.

Closing thoughts:

Overall I’m very happy with the set. The Butastur offers something different to my other iem’s.

I wouldn’t even say it’s necessarily bad that it doesn’t suit all music genres, as I don’t want a one-iem-fits-all solution. I like that I have different iem’s and options for different genres of music that I listen to.

 

[rinaldi1412]

Jordan literally compares it to the Neo.

Thanks Mate..

 

[Yodamanjaro]

Still waiting for mine in the mail. It'll be my first all-BA set but reading these reviews have me excited.