Just traded my SZA and cash for a Mext MKII...gonna miss the Szalayi! 
Oriolus Szalayi IEM discussion thread
- Thread starter Charlyro222
- Start date
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I'm surprised the Isabellae is flying under the radar. It's so well tuned. Guitar plucks and male vocals are sublime. I will have to look at reborn.
I'm surprised the Isabellae is flying under the radar. It's so well tuned. Guitar plucks and male vocals are sublime. I will have to look at reborn.
Lightspeed12
500+ Head-Fier
The isabellae gets mentioned quite few times on the water cooler thread on head-fi & seems pretty popular with some of the hi end iems.
JayF
100+ Head-Fier
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All this talk about the Isabelle just made me order a pair! I've considered them on and off over the past year so finally decided to pull the trigger.
holsen
Headphoneus Supremus
Miss mine too, BUT it is fun to experiment around this hobby. My Szally made room to keep my MEXT Indigo!Just traded my SZA and cash for a Mext MKII...gonna miss the Szalayi!
Hanesu
1000+ Head-Fier
I let go my NCM Bella for the Szalayi. Miss it, too, but the same time very much enjoy the Szalayi (except of its design - I am already thinking of customizing it somehow...lol).
I agree, letting go and trying out new things makes our hobby exiting!
Btw: Is there a MEXT Indigo? Or is this a typo and you mean MEST Indigo?
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holsen
Headphoneus Supremus
oops, that's a typo. I meant MEST Indigo but I had the MEXT too and LOVED it!I let go my NCM Bella for the Szalayi. Miss it, too, but the same time very much enjoy the Szalayi (except of its design - I am already thinking of customizing it somehow...lol).
I agree, letting go and trying out new things makes our hobby exiting!
Btw: Is there a MEXT Indigo? Or is this a typo and you mean MEST Indigo?
Good morning everyone. I've owned my pair of Oriolus Szalayi (SZA) for over a month now. And I've been running them on balance with Qudelix 5k using 4.4mm female to 2.5mm male adaptor. I am using the included cable and Clarion Tri Tips size M.
I use SZA for my daily listening - bass heavy music, (Hiphop, metal, Kpop, Citypop, 80s metal, soundtracks (instrumental)), movies, video games, youtube, etc.
Overall, I think SZA are very pleasant to listen to as is. They sound big, thick, rich, warm, very easy on the ears. The bass is no doubt the star of the show, and gives me the mini-subwoofer experience inside my ear. The treble is not sharp, which allows me to crank the volume much higher than my 7hz Timeless without wincing.
However, at times, the richness in the sound works too well to the detriment of SZA. They would sound a tad too thick for their own good, and the elements in the tracks at times just meld together into a blob (a big blob) instead of being separated and distinct from one another. There is also a lack of air and some bluntness in the sound as well. And to my findings, it's not because of the bass is overpowering, but because the mids and treble have some quirks that need to be ironed out.
I referred to HBB graph of SZA (thank god there's a graph for these), and EQed them on the Qudelix 5k. Here are my current EQ for these IEMs, which will boost the separation/layering/imaging of the sound without affecting the rich tonality. The vocals are a bit more sharpened, and defined, so that they are separated, don't meld together with the rest of the elements. - If you have the same problem with these IEMs like me, please feel free to try this EQ and let me know what you think. Peace.
Preamp: -1.5 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 24 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 1.000
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1500 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 3.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2100 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 3.200
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3220 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 3.200
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4000 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 5.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 7000 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 4.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 8200 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 5.000
I use SZA for my daily listening - bass heavy music, (Hiphop, metal, Kpop, Citypop, 80s metal, soundtracks (instrumental)), movies, video games, youtube, etc.
Overall, I think SZA are very pleasant to listen to as is. They sound big, thick, rich, warm, very easy on the ears. The bass is no doubt the star of the show, and gives me the mini-subwoofer experience inside my ear. The treble is not sharp, which allows me to crank the volume much higher than my 7hz Timeless without wincing.
However, at times, the richness in the sound works too well to the detriment of SZA. They would sound a tad too thick for their own good, and the elements in the tracks at times just meld together into a blob (a big blob) instead of being separated and distinct from one another. There is also a lack of air and some bluntness in the sound as well. And to my findings, it's not because of the bass is overpowering, but because the mids and treble have some quirks that need to be ironed out.
I referred to HBB graph of SZA (thank god there's a graph for these), and EQed them on the Qudelix 5k. Here are my current EQ for these IEMs, which will boost the separation/layering/imaging of the sound without affecting the rich tonality. The vocals are a bit more sharpened, and defined, so that they are separated, don't meld together with the rest of the elements. - If you have the same problem with these IEMs like me, please feel free to try this EQ and let me know what you think. Peace.
Preamp: -1.5 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 24 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 1.000
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1500 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 3.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2100 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 3.200
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3220 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 3.200
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4000 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 5.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 7000 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 4.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 8200 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 5.000
Lightspeed12
500+ Head-Fier
Try the azla sednaearfit vivid tips with your oriolus for what i think are the best for these iems out of everything I have tried. Hope you enjoy them.
Tanalasta
1000+ Head-Fier
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It's gorgeous. Also with piano and vocals. I would have been very happy if these forums didn't lead me down the path of ... the Summit-fi options.
But then I pick up the Trailii..... and it just doesn't compare.
Would love to audition the SZA and/or compare with the Audeze Planar. Unfortunately I don't have ready access.
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Isabellae led me to SZAs. It’s tonality is different, not quite as lush as Isabellae. Also I found SZA to be incoherent, meaning the tonality shifted across the driver types. I don’t think it was executed particularly well
Hanesu
1000+ Head-Fier
Well, Isabellae is a one driver - it’s rare to have a similar coherency with a multi driver. But I must say, I don’t exactly share your experiences with SZA. I think it is definitely more on the coherent side for what it is. Of course it’s not a Trailii though…
Interesting.. I love both the Isa and Reborn and didn't notice any incoherency issues on the latter. Both have a certain magic that has a special place in my heart..
Am all prepped for the SZA to complete the mini trio, unfortunately the big
is out of reach 
Am all prepped for the SZA to complete the mini trio, unfortunately the big
is out of reach
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DrewVz
1000+ Head-Fier
Just picked up a UM MEXT. Struggled finding some really good tips, I went through a bunch of my favorites but the sound was either too thick, too warm, too brittle, or too muffled without much separation. Then I pulled the Clarion TRI tips off of my Szalayi and threw them onto the MEXT. Holy moly what a shock. Just like how the Szalayi turned from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan, so did the MEXT. Unbelievable soundstage with tremendous height. Very immersive. Super accuracy and layering with incredible detail and solid bass. Nothing stands out, super well balanced. The treble could possibly use a bit more air, but otherwise it's virtually perfect and completely inoffensive.
I'm just really shocked that the TRI tips came to the rescue again for another IEM. Essentially the ONLY two IEMs in my collection that benefit from these tips. And not just a small improvement, but a complete 180-degree turnaround. I'm loving these things. Now the only question is whether or not the Szalayis are unique enough for me to keep in my collection, because the MEXT are giving them a huge run for their money at the moment. Very grateful to the Szalayi and this thread for showing me the light with these Clarion tips. They're miracle workers when installed on the right IEM.
I'm just really shocked that the TRI tips came to the rescue again for another IEM. Essentially the ONLY two IEMs in my collection that benefit from these tips. And not just a small improvement, but a complete 180-degree turnaround. I'm loving these things. Now the only question is whether or not the Szalayis are unique enough for me to keep in my collection, because the MEXT are giving them a huge run for their money at the moment. Very grateful to the Szalayi and this thread for showing me the light with these Clarion tips. They're miracle workers when installed on the right IEM.
Hanesu
1000+ Head-Fier
Imo SZA looks much nicer with a silver cable (here: Canalworks)!
Lil bit of Aroma Jewel vibes actually...
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