Wanted to share a few thoughts on the hybrid+ versus tri-silver if helpful for others.
Few points of context:
-Tri-silver is X8, rhodium plated 4.4
-Hybrid+ is X6, also rhodium plated 4.4
-DAP is a DX320, using Amp12EX
-music is via Apple Music, 24-bit, genre is deep/progressive EDM (lane 8, Jerro, anjunadeep, etc)
-I focused my comparisons on the EXT and U18s
This was an interesting comparison for me, in that with the EXT I came away definitely preferring the hybrid+; with the 18s, it’s a toss up, more dependent on mood, specific characteristics of a track, etc.
With the EXT:
The tri-silver is a touch brighter to my ears. If there are tracks that exhibit any tendencies towards harsh mids/treble and/or sibilance, the tri-silver will expose those, while the hybrid+ will smooth that harshness over. The hybrid+ digs deeper in sub-bass. I found the tri-silver to be slightly more resolving and better at retrieving that last bit of detail, but not by much. Staging sounded similar to me between the two. Because I have an acute aversion to harsh upper mids/lower treble, the hybrid+ is the better pair-up for me with the EXT.
With the U18s:
Simmilarly, the tri-silver is brighter, but not to the point where I would pick the hybrid+ over it solely on the basis of treble…I am wondering if this comes down to Tia treble vs estat treble (full disclosure - the treble on the 18s may be my favorite treble of any IEM i’ve heard). In other words, i don’t hear the same tendancies to harshness or sibilance with the 18s and tri-silver as i heard with the EXT and tri-silver. Bass impressions are similar with the EXT - the hybrid+ def brings more slam and emphasis. Interestingly, I heard the stage on the 18s/tri-silver pairing to be slightly wider than the 18s/hybrid+.
Conclusions?
-no silver bullet or easy answers…the ”better” cable will depend on synergy and your sound preferences….as always I suppose!
-hyrbrid+ and EXT for me all day!
-with the u18s, it’s a toss-up
-the differences I’m hearing I’m sure come down to synergy and the core characteristics of the IEMs (i.e., tia treble vs estat treble)
-both are amazing cables and I’m definitely not saying one is better than the other…they both have their place in my collection without a doubt; two masterpieces by Christian and team at
@PLUSSOUND
Hope this helps…I’ll be doing some more A/B between the hyrbid+ and PPH next.