Thanks for the feedback guys, yeah this is why I stepped away for awhile to enjoy my Sultan. Waiting to see if anything could fill my dream spot! Unfortunately either I'm too picky/needy or i should just cave and buy the Thummim because it's what I've been looking for. Haha!
The Thummim ticked almost all my boxes for sound preferences, build quality, cable, etc. based on reviews, but the she'll design has kept me from pressing GO so far
I get physical ear fatigue from even some standard shaped IEMs, or even just firm tips after a few hours. Again, that is a no go for me because i have to be able to press play and just disappear for hours no qualms or distractions pulling me out of the experience.
If Oriolus makes a Trailli hardshell, or offers that special order I would possibly consider it. But I'm not a fan of those who just hike up their prices absolutely unfoundeldy. With plastic bits, basic designs, standard stock cable, etc.
For me, the Thummim was one of the first Summit price beakers that could support it's claim. Unique shell design with high quality expensive material, great tech inside, $1k cable, fancy packaging, great sound. Still seemed to be a lot, but at least added things to suggest why the price increase. same with Erl. I didn't buy the Erl when it first came out because the silver was too scratch inducing and the IEM was just way too heavy in my ears, but again, there was things that justified the price.
Trailli? Jumps out of nowhere to $6k, with absolutely none of that except sound. Sound may be great, but tuning is just a part of the work you offer, and if it's basic shell and parts then the IEM isn't proprietary or new, they just hit good on a particular tuning. Repricing a whole catagory and only having the sound be done right just doesn't sit right with me. They just took out a cash rake basically and for some reason people went with it. Which is interesting considering Oriolus was an unknown besides their amps some people such as me have had in the past.
Erlk and Thummim were much criticized and slow to get traction due to their extra high pricing. Erlk was a well established brand. So, yeah Oriolus pop was interesting to me.
Maybe go to 3500 like most TOTL in plastic clothes and cheap gear but without the cables bundle, expensive/fancy shell, extra offerings, etc. like UM at least did with the FuSang, i just don't believe they've justified the price difference.
I've listened to multi million dollar studio gear and setups. Sound, form & function. All vital. Sound only doesn't matter if kit breaks in a year and you charge me more then double the price bracket. Someone always makes new gear that sounds better or just as good for cheaper, and what stays in the studio for years is gear that stands the test of time, durability, useability and beautiful sound.
People should start thinking of making art, classic pieces that stand the test of time and gain value over time or hold it. Much other segments of audio gear has this. Unfortunately, this segment seems to rely on mass reproduction and tweaking. Not much made to last. Brands undercut their own products with quick new release, etc. In business, these companies do not often last long unless they get mainstream traction and sell cheap gear at high brand prices (I.e Bose, etc.) Either way, not quality companies just money ships. An issue with consumerism that we constantly experience the lash backs of in most industries but have yet to finally accept the situation and change course.
Robotics will only make this worse as well, when all uniqueness is stamped out and mass reproduction takes out ingenuity & creative flair, artisan quality and products will be much a needed break for us humans.
