F.Audio Xs-03, Sound PART 3
Quick test with various Iem, using the other Xs-03 (normal PO output)
With Yamaha Eph-100 (single DD, 16 Ohm 120 $, discontinued) Good amount of bass that goes quite deep, mids are forward and warm, highs with fair detail and air, but a little too bright. Not bad.
With NiceHCK Nx7 (Dual DD + 4BA + 1 Piezo, 55 Ohm 75$) Deep, articulated and powerful sub-bass, the mid-bass is precise but recessed, low mids are nice but recessed too, high mids neutral, female voices are better than male. Highs are extended, detailed and crisp, a little harsh sometimes. Fun sound, a bit colored .
With KZ-Zs10 (1DD + 4BA, 32 Ohm 30$,)
Thunder bass, deep and boomy. Mids neutral, sometimes overshadowed by the mid-bass. Highs crisp and quite extended, fair amount of detail. Fun sound, great for the price.
With KZ AteS (single DD, 16Ohm 10$) Punchy bass with fair amount of sub, mids warm not very clear highs veiled with few detail. But for the price they don't sound bad at all!
With Shure SE420 (2BA, 22 Ohm, 150$ 10 years ago) Precise but light bass, forward and warm mids, veiled dark highs. Too relaxing.
After those tries, I think about Xs-03 + Ue900s and I realized they miss something.... bass! I concentrated on Xs-03 + Ue900s clarity, naturality, detail, of mids and highs that are amazing and way better than any aforementioned Iem , the bass is here, precise, balanced, fair depth, but not enough energetic... BA usually are inferior to dynamic drivers about it. Then, last but not least at all, there is another one...
With NiceHCK M6 (Dual DD + 4BA, 17 Ohm 98$) I expected a lot from those, after reading many good to excellent reviews, one explaining how those Iem are best paired with neutral and bass-recessed DAP... as Xs-03 is! They replaced Ue900s on the "balanced" Xs-03.
Very nice! Here is the strong bass, with good sub-bass but a bit too enhanced upper bass so I applied custom Eq lowering 80Hz by 2dB and 200Hz by about 3-4 dB, achieving a satisfyng bass response, with sub-bass freed from excessive upper bass thump (the only downside of M6) Mids have great naturality and clarity, they match Ue900s with a bit more warmth. Highs are smoother than Ue900s, less bright, never fatiguing, detailed and nicely extended. I like them, they will remain here.
Sorry my beloved Ue900s, you must stay with Aigo Z6 Pro!