[fxim]

Stock tips didn't fix, swapped to sony hybrid for good seal.

After owning im02 for 2 weeks the sounds of the base is tighter and trebles are smoother.

With a flat braided cable swap from Taobao which I ordered through a friend, the treble was increased especially around the 5-8k range and the bass became a tint smoother.

Pairs well with the Hidizs AP100 dap for very neutral, clear, transparent and analytical sound

 

[mikroski]

I have to blind buy my first iem. Due to my illness (heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure), I'm not good to go for audit. So please kindly give me some advise.
 
My system now is Jriver 19 -> North Star DSD DAC -> Woo WA7 -> ATH-W5000
 
My problem is that W5000 seem too heavy for me now.
 
Please advise which one in IM series suit my taste.
 
1. Sweet vocal (mid). (I love mid sound of W5000, ESW11LTD, Mad Dog, and Alpha Dog)
2. sparkle high but not piercing
3. good details but not analytical
4. not too much bass for all day listening
 
Thanks in advance for any comment
 
Please feel free if there is another choice.

 

[twister6]

^ I suggest IM03.

 

[MartinDF]

You're better off going the CIEM route. 1964 V3 sounds right up your alley. You'd normally start to spend more money the more you get into the hobby; seeing the experience you have with other headphones I wouldn't dare recommending something of lesser quality than the V3.  

 

[earfonia]

  I have to blind buy my first iem. Due to my illness (heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure), I'm not good to go for audit. So please kindly give me some advise.
 
My system now is Jriver 19 -> North Star DSD DAC -> Woo WA7 -> ATH-W5000
 
My problem is that W5000 seem too heavy for me now.
 
Please advise which one in IM series suit my taste.
 
1. Sweet vocal (mid). (I love mid sound of W5000, ESW11LTD, Mad Dog, and Alpha Dog)
2. sparkle high but not piercing
3. good details but not analytical
4. not too much bass for all day listening
 
Thanks in advance for any comment
 
Please feel free if there is another choice.

 
I suggest IM03.

 

[mikroski]

  ^ I suggest IM03.

 
 

  I suggest IM03.

Thanks earfonia and twister6
 

  You're better off going the CIEM route. 1964 V3 sounds right up your alley. You'd normally start to spend more money the more you get into the hobby; seeing the experience you have with other headphones I wouldn't dare recommending something of lesser quality than the V3.  

1964 V3 was my first choice. I already prepare my custom artwork. But I have to drive for one and a half hour to make impression, I think I can't do this with my current condition. Anyhow, when I get better, if I don't satisfy with UIEM, I will try CIEM. Thanks
MartinDF
 
 

 

[Yggdrassilious]

When I purchased IM02 I auditioned 03 and 04 as well. And I have been thinking about IM03 ever since. But then again the IM03 costs almost twice as much as the IM02

 

[OlyPanda]

AT-HDC5/1.2.

Oh my. I just purchased these (literally unpacked them minutes ago), and maybe it's just because they are new, but I can hear a huge difference in my IM02. 

The first thing you hear is the change in soundstage. The soundstage seems like it has expanded outwards, towards the left and right of the listener, more than forwards and backwards (or up and down). The much wider soundstage maintains the already excellent instrument seperation of the IM02.

The second noticeable difference is the change in treble. Treble becomes a bit more prominent, clarity increases, ALMOST to the point of being sibilant. For me this is very sensitive territory. One little push in the upper frequencies, and cymbals, "S"s, etc become unpleasant. This was only noticeable in poorly recorded songs. If you have songs in which you can barely handle treble spikes, this cable MIGHT make you cringe. Thankfully not me. 

Lastly, I can't comment on bass too much. I've just (minutes ago) started using this cable and frankly, the initial impressions above stand out more than anything else. It might have improved some, but the change pales in comparison to those of the soundstage and treble.

I am very happy with this acquisition, and while I can not speak for the cable of Lunashops (which I also considered, and believe has the same, or similar effect), I can only recommend this product whole heartedly. 

 

[ThE-1cY]

Whenever I stop a video or the video finishes on YouTube, there are sometimes one or two "pop" noise. This noise also occurs when I'm using chrome. Is this called electrical hissing noise that usually occurs with highly sensitive/ low impedance IEM such as IM 02?

FYI, I'm using IM 02 on ipad.

Update: I'm also able to create the "pop" noise by bringing up and down the keyboard in ipad.

 

[twister6]

  AT-HDC5/1.2.

Oh my. I just purchased these (literally unpacked them minutes ago), and maybe it's just because they are new, but I can hear a huge difference in my IM02. 

The first thing you hear is the change in soundstage. The soundstage seems like it has expanded outwards, towards the left and right of the listener, more than forwards and backwards (or up and down). The much wider soundstage maintains the already excellent instrument seperation of the IM02.

The second noticeable difference is the change in treble. Treble becomes a bit more prominent, clarity increases, ALMOST to the point of being sibilant. For me this is very sensitive territory. One little push in the upper frequencies, and cymbals, "S"s, etc become unpleasant. This was only noticeable in poorly recorded songs. If you have songs in which you can barely handle treble spikes, this cable MIGHT make you cringe. Thankfully not me. 

Lastly, I can't comment on bass too much. I've just (minutes ago) started using this cable and frankly, the initial impressions above stand out more than anything else. It might have improved some, but the change pales in comparison to those of the soundstage and treble.

I am very happy with this acquisition, and while I can not speak for the cable of Lunashops (which I also considered, and believe has the same, or similar effect), I can only recommend this product whole heartedly. 

 
Yeah, due to analytical nature of IM02, I always worried higher quality cable will push it over the sibilance limit   Depending on your ear tolerance, it could be right on a borderline.  With IM50, the effect of replacement cable has more impact on low end.  I think IM03 is where it hits the sweet spot!  But as it was pointed out by others, IM03 is more expensive (though a different sound signature to in comparison to IM02).

 

[ThickT]

There is not a single im01 review or impression besides earfonia's initial statements.

There must be at least one person out there thats heard it. Right?

 

[OlyPanda]

Yeah, due to analytical nature of IM02, I always worried higher quality cable will push it over the sibilance limit   Depending on your ear tolerance, it could be right on a borderline.  With IM50, the effect of replacement cable has more impact on low end.  I think IM03 is where it hits the sweet spot!  But as it was pointed out by others, IM03 is more expensive (though a different sound signature to in comparison to IM02).

Hey, I read your review of the Lunashop cable!
I'm definitely very sensitive to the treble in my IM02 right now, but I think I'll try it out a bit longer. I can always switch to Comply Foam's TX500. These tips seem to tame treble while increasing bass.

I still can't get over the increase of spatial projection that comes with these cables. Initially I found the soundstage unsettling, since I didn't associate it with my IM02. I checked multiple times if the IEM had dropped out of my ear, because I found the sound coming from farther away than I thought was physically possible (when taking the distance of the driver to the ear into consideration). The sound originated from a location that was farther away than the driver itself!

I've gotten used to it now! Still enjoying the cable. Will have to do some direct comparisons to the stock cable one I get home.

 

[earfonia]

I'm waiting for my Lunashops cable to arrive...

 

[pwnzorzz]

This is an excellent review. Just got the IM07, really pleased.

 

[earfonia]

This is an excellent review. Just got the IM07, really pleased.

 
Glad you like it!