Quill Acoustics Satin: Impressions and Discussion

[Silverlinings]

Just noticed the shipping dates on these are now May 20th. I guess they’re either very popular or the shipment just got pushed back. I’m interested in these and the Mephisto’s. I think I’ll have to get in to musicteck at some point when he has them and demo.

 

[MusicTeck]

Just noticed the shipping dates on these are now May 20th. I guess they’re either very popular or the shipment just got pushed back. I’m interested in these and the Mephisto’s. I think I’ll have to get in to musicteck at some point when he has them and demo.

The second batch sold out last night, and the estimated arrival date for the third batch is May 20th.

All orders placed by April 24th will be shipped according to the original ETA of around April 29th. Orders placed today and onward will be fulfilled based on the new ETA.

 

[phoebephilo]

Lepic Nuon BOOST Spatial Acoustics Silicone Eartips
Bore size: very narrow with short dome
Stem length: long
Feel: firm and flexible

Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

Also interested in trying these, although they are quite expensive ($40). How would they compare to Divinus Velvet Wides?

 

[YudaZzZ]

It is MUCH nicer!!



Satin is seriously CHONK. But they're a comfortable and surprisingly VERY light, not quite as comfortable as the much smaller Noble Onyx, but considerably more comfortable than the sharp/smooth angular geometrically shaped Novus. But maybe some of us have ears shaped like the Novus shells

I used this nifty little switch (Thanks to @MusicTeck) to compare 3 sets at a time:

Ohhh the switch seems a awesome thing! Are those 3 white buttons (mid pressed down)? Press LR would lift the middle? I want one....

 

[skcheng]

Excellent explanation. Do u guys have a demo to hear? Just curious.

If you ever make it out to NJ, feel free to borrow my Satin set. I can drop them off at MT which is just minutes away from my office/home.

Posting for him!

Excellent review!! Regardless of cost, Satin Quill has become one of my favorites, and my actual favorite with certain music genres.

Also interested in trying these, although they are quite expensive ($40). How would they compare to Divinus Velvet Wides?

I like the Divinus Velvet Wides, but they don't fit me so great. But I'll try to compare them.

Ohhh the switch seems a awesome thing! Are those 3 white buttons (mid pressed down)? Press LR would lift the middle? I want one....

Definitely comes in handy!! Can easily compare 3 sets of IEMs. And it's not expensive. I think MusicTeck has a few more.

 

[YudaZzZ]

OK. Leo is speaking here.

Recently, I've had many customers who are wondering about the differences between the Final Satin and NYC Proto, as well as the differences between Satin and AOO. As I am part of the tuning of Satin, I believe I am the best person to answer these questions.
1. The FR measurement of Satin/Satin Proto.
First, I want to apologize. Yesterday, I shared a screenshot of the final Satin's measurement with a customer, but I forgot to remove the 1/12 smooth, so it looks a bit lumpy. Now, please use this graph as a reference for the future.

Satin vs. NYC Proto Aligned at 1 kHz



After the CJ NYC, I collected a lot of feedback from audiophiles, and I spent extra hours with the prototype. I noticed a tiny metallic sound coming from that prototype. So, I asked John to go through the entire FR spectrum step by step to identify where that metallic tone comes from; then we found it — 9 kHz. We rearranged the treble layout and driver placement to eliminate the 9k peak.

However, my concern was that if we tamper with the treble too much, it will affect the engaging signature, the amazing instrumental texture, and the clarity of the treble; Satin will no longer be Satin. Thanks to the brilliant John and his decades of experience in acoustic treatment, he raised a point. If we control the peak energy of the treble and reduce the sustain of each note in the treble a little more, it will give us better treble definition and a cleaner treble attack, problem solved.

Now we can look at the spectrogram comparison:
NYC Proto:

Final Satin:

As you can see, we basically reduced the peak energy by about 5% and also reduced the duration of the peak energy by about 10% in this specific frequency range. John fine-tuned the treble duct like a surgeon, and also replaced the entire capacitors and resistors until he achieved this point.

Satin vs. AOO Aligned at 1 kHz

I heard some audiophiles stating the similarity between AOO and Satin. I was sincerely shocked. Because to my ears, the only possible commonality between these two amazing IEMs is that they both have great bass quantity and quality. However, upon seeing the graphs, I now understand where the question originates.

They both share a similar W-shaped sound. However, the way we treat the timbre/texture and the overall sound is entirely different.
Satin Spectrogram

AOO Spectrogram


Again, in the mid, upper-mid, and treble ranges, AOO used an approach to create longer sustain, resulting in a much airier and laid-back sound. Saitin, on the other hand, offers shorter sustain, resulting in a cleaner, more revealing, and more physical texture. I think everyone who has tried both IEMs will agree with me on that. This leads us to the third topic — Planar vs. ESTs.

3. Planar vs. ESTs
At this point, some of us should have heard the treble and ultra-high frequencies from both types of drivers. In short, the ESTs are known for more air and better extension after 14k. Well, planar has a faster response, thus sounds more physical and has a harder attack. John and I both have a long time of experience playing actual instruments. I dare call myself a musician, but John certainly is or was. As the first collaboration between the two parties, we aim to showcase our genuine expressions. We know it could be a little risky, as the larger market is less familiar with the planar timbre and texture in the IEMs. However, we are willing to take it because we love the authentic texture of this Silken Planar so much. What is unique about this specific planar driver is that it is very responsive to the changes in acoustics structure, which gave John a lot of space to play with it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Side Notes: I saw that a few audiophiles were curious about why there has to be a rise in the upper midrange. Well, this is just my personal indulgence-- a little therapy for my obsession with J-pop and J-rock. If you know me well, I am still playing drums in a J-rock/metal cover band .

Already, I hope this message answers most of the questions. If you are curious about Satin or want to share your playlists for me to test, or anything I can help with, feel free to email me!

Terrific insights~ It's hard to love something we don't truly understand, yet brands still rarely lift the curtain like you do, appreciated

 

[phoebephilo]

I like the Divinus Velvet Wides, but they don't fit me so great. But I'll try to compare them.

Thanks for the help! The iem tip database is such a useful tool. Interestingly the Velvet Wides are the only tip I find to fit me well.

 

[Yefry]

Can someone talk about the scene width, height, depth etc?

I like the immersive IEMs that people usually call holographic

 

[YudaZzZ]

Can someone talk about the scene width, height, depth etc?

I like the immersive IEMs that people usually call holographic

I am keen to hear impressions about these as well, because I have heard feedback about Satin's treble being a bit lackluster. I personally like treble...

 

[Audioenophile]

Here are some of my early impressions of Satin after owning it for a week. I have not posted much about it yet because I want to give it ample time to open up, and I want to get over the honeymoon phase. I've been swapping cables a bit and trying it with various devices too. It's a really great IEM.

Satin is a fun IEM with fantastic technical abilities, but is not a "technical" or "analytical" IEM. It is, first and foremost, a tremendous musical IEM. It does instruments like no other. I haven’t spent enough time with the Bird or others that are known for top tier mids, so I can’t say this emphatically. However, out of all the IEMs I’ve heard, Satin does instruments like no other. It presents music in a very realistic way that is unique because I have not heard other IEMs that sound this way.

The bone conduction doesn’t go too far like it does on other IEMs. You feel the deep impact of the bass, but it doesn’t rumble your bones. It’s all very balanced. IMHO, the BC driver is perfectly implemented.

It does bass better than the best IEMs out there, and mids are on par with the best, but it’s the beautiful harmonics, note weight and extension of the instrument notes that, to me, stand out. Guitar, acoustic bass, hand drums, chimes, horns, piano all sound so full and realistic. Instrument notes have excellent weight, sustain and decay.

Treble detail is plentiful, but not a highlight of Satin. I would not call it lackluster, as you mention above; rather, I would say that treble details are presented in an impactful way, with lots of note weight, but there's not a lot of sparkle up top. There's a nice black background to hear the treble details, but there's not a lot of note extension. I too am a treble lover, and I do wish there was more treble extension. So I plan to keep my Annihilator.

Satin provides a really big and realistic soundstage, which sounds more like a concert hall where the engineers actually put an effort into the acoustics of the room, or maybe even more like a properly treated studio. There's plenty of space for each instrument, and excellent separation, but there's no echo or cavernous sound like I hear on the Bird. Compared to the APX SE, which has a massive soundstage and a more arena-like presentation, Satin keeps things a little closer, allowing instruments to maintain that beautiful, full-bodied sound and note weight. When I hear music in arenas, the music never sounds as good as when I hear it in a concert hall with proper acoustic treatments. Satin is that beautiful concert hall.

Leo told us all that Satin is sensitive to cable swapping, so I'm trying out various cables. I really like the Effect Audio Leonidas II with Satin, which is palladium plated silver, so it offers excellent energy, yet maintains a natural, full-bodied sound, and also provides high levels of detail and a fantastic soundstage. I also tried Eletech Raphael, which is a beautiful match for Satin, aesthetically, and it accentuates the mids beautifully, but has a bit less treble extension. The stock PW Audio cable sounds the most full-bodied of the few cables I've tried, and I feel more of the tactile sensation from the BC driver, but it does not seem to offer as much treble detail and extension.

 

[Aetherhole]

Here are some of my early impressions of Satin after owning it for a week. I have not posted much about it yet because I want to give it ample time to open up, and I want to get over the honeymoon phase. I've been swapping cables a bit and trying it with various devices too. It's a really great IEM.

Satin is a fun IEM with fantastic technical abilities, but is not a "technical" or "analytical" IEM. It is, first and foremost, a tremendous musical IEM. It does instruments like no other. I haven’t spent enough time with the Bird or others that are known for top tier mids, so I can’t say this emphatically. However, out of all the IEMs I’ve heard, Satin does instruments like no other. It presents music in a very realistic way that is unique because I have not heard other IEMs that sound this way.

The bone conduction doesn’t go too far like it does on other IEMs. You feel the deep impact of the bass, but it doesn’t rumble your bones. It’s all very balanced. IMHO, the BC driver is perfectly implemented.

It does bass better than the best IEMs out there, and mids are on par with the best, but it’s the beautiful harmonics, note weight and extension of the instrument notes that, to me, stand out. Guitar, acoustic bass, hand drums, chimes, horns, piano all sound so full and realistic. Instrument notes have excellent weight, sustain and decay.

Treble detail is plentiful, but not a highlight of Satin. I would not call it lackluster, as you mention above; rather, I would say that treble details are presented in an impactful way, with lots of note weight, but there's not a lot of sparkle up top. There's a nice black background to hear the treble details, but there's not a lot of note extension. I too am a treble lover, and I do wish there was more treble extension. So I plan to keep my Annihilator.

Satin provides a really big and realistic soundstage, which sounds more like a concert hall where the engineers actually put an effort into the acoustics of the room. There's plenty of space for each instrument, and excellent separation, but there's no echo or cavernous sound like I hear on the Bird. Compared to the APX SE, which has a massive soundstage and a more arena-like presentation, Satin keeps things a little closer, allowing instruments to maintain that beautiful, full-bodied sound and note weight. When I hear music in arenas, the music never sounds as good as when I hear it in a concert hall with proper acoustic treatments. Satin is that beautiful concert hall.

Leo told us all that Satin is sensitive to cable swapping, so I'm trying out various cables. I really like the Effect Audio Leonidas II with Satin, which is palladium plated silver, so it offers excellent energy, yet maintains a natural, full-bodied sound, and also provides high levels of detail and a fantastic soundstage. I also tried Eletech Raphael, which is a beautiful match for Satin, aesthetically, and it accentuates the mids beautifully, but has a bit less treble extension. The stock PW Audio cable sounds the most full-bodied of the few cables I've tried, and I feel more of the tactile sensation from the BC driver, but it does not seem to offer as much treble detail and extension.

As someone who is eagerly and a bit impatiently waiting for mine to arrive (still crossing fingers this week it’ll happen), I appreciate the detailed impressions so far and look forward to hearing more thoughts about it.

In particular the topic of treble in caught my attention, as I think it will be more to my liking. I really enjoyed the Anniliator 23’s treble, but it seemed always and ever present. PMG APX SE’s treble was also similar in style, though a bit less in your face about it. I’m a little bit treble sensitive, so when I hear your description, the quill being detail being plentiful, that sounds just about right.

Also interesting to hear that it does bass better than the best IEMs as well as the comparisons on soundstage to the APX SE. The APX SE was a bit mid-recessed and while I don’t mind that at all, it wasn’t a standout on the set either.

Really looking forward to getting these in and spending a lot of time with them! Thanks again for your impressions.

 

[EnigmaFotos]

Here are some of my early impressions of Satin after owning it for a week. I have not posted much about it yet because I want to give it ample time to open up, and I want to get over the honeymoon phase. I've been swapping cables a bit and trying it with various devices too. It's a really great IEM.

Satin is a fun IEM with fantastic technical abilities, but is not a "technical" or "analytical" IEM. It is, first and foremost, a tremendous musical IEM. It does instruments like no other. I haven’t spent enough time with the Bird or others that are known for top tier mids, so I can’t say this emphatically. However, out of all the IEMs I’ve heard, Satin does instruments like no other. It presents music in a very realistic way that is unique because I have not heard other IEMs that sound this way.

The bone conduction doesn’t go too far like it does on other IEMs. You feel the deep impact of the bass, but it doesn’t rumble your bones. It’s all very balanced. IMHO, the BC driver is perfectly implemented.

It does bass better than the best IEMs out there, and mids are on par with the best, but it’s the beautiful harmonics, note weight and extension of the instrument notes that, to me, stand out. Guitar, acoustic bass, hand drums, chimes, horns, piano all sound so full and realistic. Instrument notes have excellent weight, sustain and decay.

Treble detail is plentiful, but not a highlight of Satin. I would not call it lackluster, as you mention above; rather, I would say that treble details are presented in an impactful way, with lots of note weight, but there's not a lot of sparkle up top. There's a nice black background to hear the treble details, but there's not a lot of note extension. I too am a treble lover, and I do wish there was more treble extension. So I plan to keep my Annihilator.

Satin provides a really big and realistic soundstage, which sounds more like a concert hall where the engineers actually put an effort into the acoustics of the room. There's plenty of space for each instrument, and excellent separation, but there's no echo or cavernous sound like I hear on the Bird. Compared to the APX SE, which has a massive soundstage and a more arena-like presentation, Satin keeps things a little closer, allowing instruments to maintain that beautiful, full-bodied sound and note weight. When I hear music in arenas, the music never sounds as good as when I hear it in a concert hall with proper acoustic treatments. Satin is that beautiful concert hall.

Leo told us all that Satin is sensitive to cable swapping, so I'm trying out various cables. I really like the Effect Audio Leonidas II with Satin, which is palladium plated silver, so it offers excellent energy, yet maintains a natural, full-bodied sound, and also provides high levels of detail and a fantastic soundstage. I also tried Eletech Raphael, which is a beautiful match for Satin, aesthetically, and it accentuates the mids beautifully, but has a bit less treble extension. The stock PW Audio cable sounds the most full-bodied of the few cables I've tried, and I feel more of the tactile sensation from the BC driver, but it does not seem to offer as much treble detail and extension.

Awesome impressions.

Instruments and soundstage are truly the highlights of the unique sound of Quill. Very very musical with wonderful resolution that brings to life the instruments in your ears.

Regarding treble. It’s not pronounced but more natural. Beautiful actually and like the rest of the instruments, sounds awesome. Cymbals really stand out for their naturalness.

As someone who is eagerly and a bit impatiently waiting for mine to arrive (still crossing fingers this week it’ll happen), I appreciate the detailed impressions so far and look forward to hearing more thoughts about it.

In particular the topic of treble in caught my attention, as I think it will be more to my liking. I really enjoyed the Anniliator 23’s treble, but it seemed always and ever present. PMG APX SE’s treble was also similar in style, though a bit less in your face about it. I’m a little bit treble sensitive, so when I hear your description, the quill being detail being plentiful, that sounds just about right.

Also interesting to hear that it does bass better than the best IEMs as well as the comparisons on soundstage to the APX SE. The APX SE was a bit mid-recessed and while I don’t mind that at all, it wasn’t a standout on the set either.

Really looking forward to getting these in and spending a lot of time with them! Thanks again for your impressions.

Indeed the bass is something special. And I hear the APX much like you. Soon my friend.

 

[Cirilion]

All the impressions are forcing me to want it a lot. Musical with a concert hall stage sounds amazing and the design is very refreshing I must say. With which IEMs is the resolution comparable would you say?

 

[Yefry]

Thanks for the detailed impressions, much appreciated, Satén sound seems to fit me exactly, technical but natural and musical, good sub-bass extension and good soundstage abilities

Unfortunately I never got to listen to PMG APX but I consider Macbeth and GM to be two IEMs with a very good soundstage and more than enough for me, so, Saten soundstage is at least comparable to one of those two IEMs??

That doubt would practically pave the way for Saten to have my full attention!

 

[YudaZzZ]

Here are some of my early impressions of Satin after owning it for a week. I have not posted much about it yet because I want to give it ample time to open up, and I want to get over the honeymoon phase. I've been swapping cables a bit and trying it with various devices too. It's a really great IEM.

Satin is a fun IEM with fantastic technical abilities, but is not a "technical" or "analytical" IEM. It is, first and foremost, a tremendous musical IEM. It does instruments like no other. I haven’t spent enough time with the Bird or others that are known for top tier mids, so I can’t say this emphatically. However, out of all the IEMs I’ve heard, Satin does instruments like no other. It presents music in a very realistic way that is unique because I have not heard other IEMs that sound this way.

The bone conduction doesn’t go too far like it does on other IEMs. You feel the deep impact of the bass, but it doesn’t rumble your bones. It’s all very balanced. IMHO, the BC driver is perfectly implemented.

It does bass better than the best IEMs out there, and mids are on par with the best, but it’s the beautiful harmonics, note weight and extension of the instrument notes that, to me, stand out. Guitar, acoustic bass, hand drums, chimes, horns, piano all sound so full and realistic. Instrument notes have excellent weight, sustain and decay.

Treble detail is plentiful, but not a highlight of Satin. I would not call it lackluster, as you mention above; rather, I would say that treble details are presented in an impactful way, with lots of note weight, but there's not a lot of sparkle up top. There's a nice black background to hear the treble details, but there's not a lot of note extension. I too am a treble lover, and I do wish there was more treble extension. So I plan to keep my Annihilator.

Satin provides a really big and realistic soundstage, which sounds more like a concert hall where the engineers actually put an effort into the acoustics of the room, or maybe even more like a properly treated studio. There's plenty of space for each instrument, and excellent separation, but there's no echo or cavernous sound like I hear on the Bird. Compared to the APX SE, which has a massive soundstage and a more arena-like presentation, Satin keeps things a little closer, allowing instruments to maintain that beautiful, full-bodied sound and note weight. When I hear music in arenas, the music never sounds as good as when I hear it in a concert hall with proper acoustic treatments. Satin is that beautiful concert hall.

Leo told us all that Satin is sensitive to cable swapping, so I'm trying out various cables. I really like the Effect Audio Leonidas II with Satin, which is palladium plated silver, so it offers excellent energy, yet maintains a natural, full-bodied sound, and also provides high levels of detail and a fantastic soundstage. I also tried Eletech Raphael, which is a beautiful match for Satin, aesthetically, and it accentuates the mids beautifully, but has a bit less treble extension. The stock PW Audio cable sounds the most full-bodied of the few cables I've tried, and I feel more of the tactile sensation from the BC driver, but it does not seem to offer as much treble detail and extension.

Thanks for the terrific write up~

The impression I saw was very short, mostly just a set of dichotomous judgements, hence why I was seeking more nuances while waiting for 20th May batch.

BCD aside (I feel they can be quite dependent on ear shapes), your impressions of low end and mids are indeed great news! I started following Satin since a very early impression saying it has vibe of the Bird. Finally filling the gap of a mid centric musical set!

Especially appreciate your sensible and nuanced treble impressions~ Sounds like a thoughtful implementation, look forward to the set and some cable swapping, EQ etc... will post impression after (in like a month...)