Ocharaku Flat-4 KAEDE (Maple)

[Idsynchrono_24]

Apart from Lab 1, piano forte, ftg334, 1plus2, ref 1 - which other iems do you recommend over Flat 4 Kaede?

I wasn't a fan of the 334, 1plus2 or Ref 1 actually. Off the top of my head, I prefer the K3003, UERM, EQ-8, FX850 and DITA Answer to the KAEDE. Piano Forte is too idiosyncratic and unusual to recommend over KAEDE.

As for K3003 vs. Kaede, they aren't too dissimilar but the K3003 has better treble and less prominent bass. The Kaede is more open feeling (from memory) though. I find the Flat-4 IEMs sound more similar to one another than dissimilar and that the differences are largely cosmetic and price (!) related. The SUI is a great and inexpensive way to get a taste of the F-4 lineup.

 

[sonickarma]

I wasn't a fan of the 334, 1plus2 or Ref 1 actually. Off the top of my head, I prefer the K3003, UERM, EQ-8, FX850 and DITA Answer to the KAEDE. Piano Forte is too idiosyncratic and unusual to recommend over KAEDE.

As for K3003 vs. Kaede, they aren't too dissimilar but the K3003 has better treble and less prominent bass. The Kaede is more open feeling (from memory) though. I find the Flat-4 IEMs sound more similar to one another than dissimilar and that the differences are largely cosmetic and price (!) related. The SUI is a great and inexpensive way to get a taste of the F-4 lineup.

Thanks for responding. For me the Flat 4 - Kaede (and Kuro) are very unique - I prefer them over the Piano Forte (X-CC), K3003,EQ-8, FX-HA-1100, Dita Truth. I own them all currently except the EQ-8 (but i had previously).
 
I suppose everyone has different tastes - a lot of people rate the 334, 1plus2 and Ref 1 - but it's not for you.
 
I am still interested in seeing rinchoi's list of top IEMs - I know he is very much into the science aspect of audio experience validation.
 
For me the Kaede especially takes listening to a different sublime level - if I had to pick 1 iem and no other it would be a hard choice between the Kaede and the Lab 1.
 
If anyone wants to swap their Kaede for my K3003 - PM me (always welcome a backup set

)

 

[audionewbi]

The only strange thing I hear currently with kaede II is sometimes the sound comes across like I am listening to the music through a small tunnel. Similar kind of effect to listening to sound through an empty toilet paper roll.
This gives the soundstage good width but I suppose I need some getting used to.

Also micro-detail are great however currently it is on par with ckr10. Maybe sometimes ckr10 becomes too artificial in over emphasising microdetails in the high frequency but kaede II does it much more elegantly.

Kaede II has excellent lower extension but to me the sub-bass is not louder than k3002, k3003 has a more emphasis on sub-bass.

 

[Idsynchrono_24]

Yeah it's an unusual presentation. I remember feeling kind of let down by SUI when I first heard it, only later to remark upon how immensely layered the sound felt. Takes time to adjust as with anything else 
 

 
Thanks for responding. For me the Flat 4 - Kaede (and Kuro) are very unique - I prefer them over the Piano Forte (X-CC), K3003,EQ-8, FX-HA-1100, Dita Truth. I own them all currently except the EQ-8 (but i had previously).
 
I suppose everyone has different tastes - a lot of people rate the 334, 1plus2 and Ref 1 - but it's not for you.
 
I am still interested in seeing rinchoi's list of top IEMs - I know he is very much into the science aspect of audio experience validation.
 
For me the Kaede especially takes listening to a different sublime level - if I had to pick 1 iem and no other it would be a hard choice between the Kaede and the Lab 1.
 
If anyone wants to swap their Kaede for my K3003 - PM me (always welcome a backup set 

)
 

Yeah once you hit a certain level, the tiniest things make or break it for you. I think the EQ-8 is my current favorite phone, or rather it's the thing I grab the most at the moment. 

 

[recarcar]

Not trying to sound hyperbolic as I've only been listening to them a short time, but listening  to Black Up by Shabazz Palaces on these is magical. So effortless and textured. Addictive  

 

 

[audionewbi]

I've started my amp matching for Kaede II. It came down to wagnus and 627x. I never quiet appreciate what Wagnus offered with any of my gears (expect TH900). O boy Am I glad I kept this amp. Kaede II paired with Wagnus offers a sound which challenges and outclasses k812 and TH900. If offers all the micodetail and soundstage one craves for.

Paired with 627x sound becomes less open but much more fuller sounding and also the background noise (the static noise) is less present. 

This two amp is just doing Kaede II wonder. I cannot say which is better but 627x is more compact, rechargeable battery with the use of 627 opamp whereas wagnus is fully discrete, needs AA battery and battery last for 4 hours.

 

[recarcar]

Really been enjoying these phones. I have been finding them particularly great for a lot of hip hop records I listen to. Madvillainy has been sounding wonderful:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q5nQKHen7M ("curls")
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmD1zui_BpM&list=PLt_RpT22Vja3LPgRqG82ePQjS5V0aC1qk&index=11 (Avalanches "tonight")
 
I am finding them pretty versatile even with some poorly recorded stuff. 

 

[audionewbi]

Yes I am also quiet puzzle on how forgiving they can bee at times. I was not expecting it at all.

 

[recarcar]

I was also very surprised. Their timbre is very interesting and it is on the brighter side to my ears but it has not become fatiguing or shrill. It could definitely just be the music I have listened to with these though. Any impressions in terms of how the Kaede reproduces vocal timbre? It's a really interesting presentation to me but tonally speaking, it can at times sound unconvincing. Although they do not sound mid recessed IMO, they have such a unique presentation in the mid range that is difficult to describe. I am still getting to know them and perhaps I am just unfamiliar with this kind of presentation, but one thing I can say is that they, IMHO, have a very engrossing and incredibly unique sound to them. 

 

[audionewbi]

kaede II has dethrone my Dita truth (at least on vocal and how well balance it is).

I still love dita bass decay but darn kaede manages to maintain a very nice balance without lossing that nice warmth of vocals. 

 

[nino9]

Ocharaku kaede II balanced, kaede aka II, kaede aka II balanced
 
 
http://www.fujiya-avic.jp/blog/?p=17728

 

[recarcar]

  Ocharaku kaede II balanced, kaede aka II, kaede aka II balanced
 
 
http://www.fujiya-avic.jp/blog/?p=17728

Looks like they are going to be limited to 50 units in total (10 balanced of Kaede type II, 10 of the balanced Aka Kaede type II and 30 of the the Aka Kaedes type II non balanced) and might be impossible to get outside of Japan. Seems like they are limiting these to the Fujiya-avic headphone festival. Hope I'm wrong. 

 

[recarcar]

I reread the page and it looks like the 20 balanced models will only be sold at the festival and cannot be purchased anywhere else (including from Ocharaku themselves). But they will sell the unbalanced AKA version with the longer nozzle at their store and will take pre-orders for it at the festival. Seems like it might be really tough to get their balanced version but might signal that it could be a common thing for them moving on. 

 

[audionewbi]

I am liking Kaede II so much that I think I am going to refer to it as a corner stone of my head-fi experience. From now on all things will be either pre or post kaede. 

 

[recarcar]

  I am liking Kaede II so much that I think I am going to refer to it as a corner stone of my head-fi experience. From now on all things will be either pre or post kaede. 

That's a lot of praise! How are you feeling about its treble quality (and quantity) compared to other phones you have? Are you using the stock comply or spinfits?