RHA S500i Review Programme Applications Now Open!

[Hisoundfi]

Awesomesauce! Thanks again for the opportunity to cover your product!

 

[B9Scrambler]

Oh man! Thank you for this opportunity. I will pm you in a few hours when I have access to a reliable internet connection. Congrats to everyone who was selected!

 

[nmatheis]

Looks like these are arriving tomorrow Friday

 

[nmatheis]

Just got them in this afternoon. Took a few obligatory smartphone pics and a quick listen before putting these on the pink noise burn-in rig.

Quick first impressions are:

• Typical classy RHA packaging
• Small, lightweight, minimalist housings that are somewhat reminiscent of Final Audio
• BTW, thanks RHA for putting clear L/R markings on the housings and a dot on the left strain relief for blind operation - it's the little things sometimes, isn't it
• I know the T20 are built to be rugged, but boy do I prefer S500i's cable so far - thinner, less microphonic, and y-splitter isn't at my belly button
• Sound is crisp and punchy with nice energy up top out of the box - reminds me a but of some other micro-driver IEM I tried recently

Hopefully your UPS driver won't squish your box :wink_face:

 

[moedawg140]

Just got them in this afternoon. Took a few obligatory smartphone pics and a quick listen before putting these on the pink noise burn-in rig.

Quick first impressions are:

1. Typical classy RHA packaging
2. Small, lightweight, minimalist housings that are somewhat reminiscent of Final Audio
3. BTW, thanks RHA for putting clear L/R markings on the housings and a dot on the left strain relief for blind operation - it's the little things sometimes, isn't it
4. I know the T20 are built to be rugged, but boy do I prefer S500i's cable so far - thinner, less microphonic, and y-splitter isn't at my belly button
   
5. Sound is crisp and punchy with nice energy up top out of the box - reminds me a but of some other micro-driver IEM I tried recently

 

Spoiler: Spoilered for spoiler police.

Hopefully your UPS driver won't squish your box

 
Nice impressions.  Make sure to listen for differences when you burn them in.  This is one IEM that I found where at least one area of the entire frequency (upper midrange) altered for the better (in my opinion) as the IEM was burned in.  For reference, I currently have at least 750 hours burn in on mine.
 
In the S500i's price range, this is one of the best sounding IEM's that I've listened to. Great job, RHA!

 

[nmatheis]

moedawg140: Yes, I fully expect the upper mids / lower treble to relax a bit. Out of the box, I think they'd be too energetic for a lot of people - especially those younger than me who're still gifted with bat-like hearing

 

[moedawg140]

moedawg140: Yes, I fully expect the upper mids / lower treble to relax a bit. Out of the box, I think they'd be too energetic for a lot of people - especially those younger than me who're still gifted with bat-like hearing

Definitely energetic, but ultimately strident to my ears upon initial listen - but who knows, some people may enjoy strident.

 

[Hisoundfi]

nmatheis

Similar to the Duke?

 

[nmatheis]

moedawg140: I was being polite, since I fully expect them to relax. I don't expect RHA would be marketing if they retained this sound signature. Not RHA's style

Hisoundfi: Once you get yours, put them in and see what you think. I'm not saying they're on the same level as the Duke, but I did think of them when I pressed play :wink_face:

 

[moedawg140]

moedawg140: I was being polite, since I fully expect them to relax. I don't expect RHA would be marketing if they retained this sound signature. Not RHA's style

I did not assume or insinuate that you were and/or were not being polite, my apologies if you felt that way. As for RHA's marketing and style, I do not work for them so there is absolutely no way that I or anyone would know their exact style, or what RHA's intentions are since that is not fully disclosed publicly.

Regardless, from initial listening sessions, the S500i sounded strident to me (especially in the upper midrange area of the frequency), and upon burning them in, the sound altered into a coherent and pleasing sound signature.

 

[nmatheis]

moedawg140: Miscommunication, my man.

I simply meant that I didn't want to call them strident because I've had similar experience with micro-driver IEM - harsh / strident sound at first that relaxes into a detailed, energetic sound after burn-in. You were just more direct. And I've heard several IEM from RHA, so I wouldn't expect them to release a strident IEM given their house sound.

This is one IEM that would benefit from being burned-in a bit before boxing, although that's not gonna happen at this price point. It's certainly going to surprise the RHA fanboys out there upon first listen :wink_face:

 

[moedawg140]

@moedawg140: Miscommunication, my man.

I simply meant that I didn't want to call them strident because I've had similar experience with micro-driver IEM - harsh / strident sound at first that relaxes into a detailed, energetic sound after burn-in. You were just more direct. And I've heard several IEM from RHA, so I wouldn't expect them to release a strident IEM given their house sound.

This is one IEM that would benefit from being burned-in a bit before boxing, although that's not gonna happen at this price point. It's certainly going to surprise the RHA fanboys out there upon first listen

 
No worries, sir or ma'am.  
 
In my eyes, I was not "more direct", I said what I thought it sounded.  I take what you say as what you say, not trying to think anything more or less of what you say.  If you say "energetic", I take it as that.  If you really meant to state strident, then it may be best to just say it.  You can also dismiss my suggestion altogether and say whatever you would like as well.  As such, I will not assume and I will say how I feel about a product, because omission and/or not saying how anyone truly hears and/or feels for an area such as sound signature impressions is highly detrimental to the readers, the product and the manufacturers as well.
 
No matter how many products one has heard from a manufacturer does not mean that automatically warrants an assumption and/or expectation about a new product for a multitude of reasons - for example, different versions of driver(s) and different driver(s) completely, tuning, housing material, size of housing material, bore size and corresponding optimal bore size for specific sized ears/ear canals that may affect different choosing of sizes-fit-all tips fitting for different bore sizes and housings, cable material differences, etcetera.
 
The S500i is a great sounding IEM that may or may not be jarring at first listen, but once it is burned in, it sounds smooth, with punch and clarity, especially with a coherent and resolute DAP/source. 

 

[Hisoundfi]

No worries, sir or ma'am.  

In my eyes, I was not "more direct", I said what I thought it sounded.  I take what you say as what you say, not trying to think anything more or less of what you say.  If you say "energetic", I take it as that.  If you really meant to state strident, then it may be best to just say it.  You can also dismiss my suggestion altogether and say whatever you would like as well.  As such, I will not assume and I will say how I feel about a product, because omission and/or not saying how anyone truly hears and/or feels for an area such as sound signature impressions is highly detrimental to the readers, the product and the manufacturers as well.

No matter how many products one has heard from a manufacturer does not mean that automatically warrants an assumption and/or expectation about a new product for a multitude of reasons - for example, different versions of driver(s) and different driver(s) completely, tuning, housing material, size of housing material, bore size and corresponding optimal bore size for specific sized ears/ear canals that may affect different choosing of sizes-fit-all tips fitting for different bore sizes and housings, cable material differences, etcetera.

The S500i is a great sounding IEM that may or may not be jarring at first listen, but once it is burned in, it sounds smooth, with punch and clarity, especially with a coherent and resolute DAP/source. 

While I think everyone is perfectly entitled to an opinion, and everyone's is to be respected, I think what nmatheis was trying to do is make sure we aren't coming to any quick assumptions that would make people dismiss the product before a final conclusion can be drawn on it.

I'm fairly confident as well that these micro dynamic drivers will perform better with some miles on them. So if they appear strident right out of the box, this will most likely change with time.

I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on my review sample. Hopefully they will be here tomorrow.

Cheers guys

 

[moedawg140]

While I think everyone is perfectly entitled to an opinion, and everyone's is to be respected, I think what nmatheis was trying to do is make sure we aren't coming to any quick assumptions that would make people dismiss the product before a final conclusion can be drawn on it.

I'm fairly confident as well that these micro dynamic drivers will perform better with some miles on them. So if they appear strident right out of the box, this will most likely change with time.

I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on my review sample. Hopefully they will be here tomorrow.

Cheers guys

You are free to write and say whatever you like, however I would appreciate it if you do not interject to attempt and/or try to clarify what nmatheis is conveying because you do not know one hundred percent what nmatheis means and/or is trying to say with regard to your interpretation and explaination of what he is saying in his posts. Thank you.

The S500i sounds great, and a fitting compliment to higher priced IEMs as well.

 

[Hisoundfi]

You are free to write and say whatever you like, however I would appreciate it if you do not interject to attempt and/or try to clarify what nmatheis is conveying because you do not know one hundred percent what nmatheis means and/or is trying to say with regard to your interpretation and explaination of what he is saying in his posts. Thank you.

The S500i sounds great, and a fitting compliment to higher priced IEMs as well.

I think what you were trying to say is...

"Yes my mistake, I'll make sure to not bash a product a company was kind enough to provide me with a sample of before giving it a fair shake. I know that isn't fair to them or the people reading this thread. I come to find out that they aren't harsh and sound pretty good."

I'm not %100 sure that's what you meant, but I'm feeling extra inerpret-ish at the moment

Smile buddy, life's too short to take something like discussing headphones to a personal level.