[RikudouGoku]

Alright, here is the Version 1 mod for the EDX Pro. Stuff in 2 pieces of LOW-density tuning foams (not high density like on the DQ6). Removes the peaks, while retaining everything else.

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-14: GS Audio GT12X review https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/gs-audio-gt12x.25605/reviews#review-27501

Rank: D+

Nothing like the graph they showed, a shame...

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-16: Tanchjim Echo review: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tanchjim-echo-tws.25608/reviews#review-27511

Rank: B

Their first TWS, looking forward for their next one if this is what they started with.

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-16: Final Audio VR3000

Its…nothing special…not especially tight nor fast bass (has some texture but pretty meh), vocals are pretty decent though, treble is actually bright there is a real peak at 8k but not particularly airy. Soundstage and imaging are very average.

But seriously, why the **** cant they have decent channel matching???

They are literally losing to a 15 usd KZ… (makes KZ´s QC look TOTL.)

not the first time this happened either…

@Final Audio You guys need to step up with your QC you cant have iems priced like yours (and without replaceable cables) with this kind of garbage channel matching, I am seriously considering removing all your iems from my ranking because the QC is an absolute JOKE.

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-17: KZ EDX Pro review: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kz-edx-pro.25613/reviews#review-27518

Rank: B

If you want a lot of bass for a beater set, this is pretty good.

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-18: Sony MDR-EX1000 cheaper alternative:

Take the Sony MDR-EX800ST, remove the foam and the plastic "disk" inside the nozzle and you have the EX1000.
(FYI: This is a risky mod since you are likely to ruin the plastic disk or/and the foam!)


Impressions:
Bass: a bit tighter/faster and more textured on the EX1000, but nearly identical.

Mids: Very similar tonality, but a bit cleaner and more detailed on the EX1000.

Treble: a bit cleaner and more detailed on the EX1000 but peakier and more fatiguing, slightly warmer on the EX800ST.

Soundstage is a bit wider and airier on the EX800ST. Imaging and separation are identical. Detail is a bit better on the EX1000.

Conclusion: After removing the foam (and the plastic “disk”) in the EX800ST, they are extremely similar, the biggest difference is that the EX800ST has an airier and a bit wider soundstage, while the EX1000 seems to have more detail (COULD be because of the brighter tonality, they are that close…). If you are using PEQ, they both respond similar to it and you also have the possibility of blocking (tape or blutack) the vent on the EX800ST to turn it into a basshead iem.

TLDR: Get the EX800ST remove the foam and you have the EX1000.

(You can add some regular mesh filters to protect it against dust/wax since otherwise nothing is blocking the way. )

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-19: KZ ZEX Pro/KZ x Crinacle CRN: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kz-zex-pro-kz-x-crinacle-crn.25618/reviews#review-27528

Stock rank: D+
PEQ rank: A-


Unusual tuning for KZ, but the 8k peak is a big bottleneck. It is kind of of a "default win" for them though, since there is nothing else like this in this price range. (And PEQ fixes most of the issues I have with it.)

Here is the preset:
Peak: 4200hz, Q: 2, gain: -3db
Peak: 7000hz, Q: 5, gain: -3db
Peak: 8000hz, Q: 3, gain: -5db
High-shelf: 11 000hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 3db

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-22: Added rankings for:

K´s K300: C-

QianYun Qian39: S

Final Audio VR3000: C (All iems from Final Audio have a BIG QC warning.)


Update on what I got incoming:

Sony MDR-CD900ST (+ Yaxi ST2pads)
CCA CRA
KZ BA10
Tin Hifi T3 Plus

None of these will arrive before the year is over though, so my gear of the year post will be posted soon.

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021 Gear of the Year​

Now that 2021 is almost over, here is my audio gear of the year.

Rules:

• Not limited to 2021 products
• Products with known QC problems are disqualified (for example, no Urbanfun ISS014 (driver uncertainty/mmcx failure) or LZ A6 (moisture issue))
• Nr 1 is the winner and nr 2 is the runner up.
• Exotic driver are the iems that include a driver other than DD/BA.

IEMS:

Single driver count/type:

1. Sony EX800ST (PEQ and filterless or BluTack)
2. Tanchjim oxygen

Hybrid/multi-driver:

1. Sony XBA-N3
2. GS Audio GD3A

Exotic driver:

1. Shuoer EJ07m
2. LZ A7 (Pop-Red or Modded Pop-Black)

Earbuds:

1. K´s LBBS
2. QianYun Qian39

Headphones:

1. Hifiman Sundara
2. 1More H1707

Last year’s prediction for 2021:

“I hope to see more budget friendly EST iems coming in 2021. 2020 was the year when we got more EST choices from the Tri Starlight to the Penon Volt, but most of them were in the same (super expensive) price range. So, I hope we get cheaper EST iems (Sonion EST) so that more people can try them. But I mostly want chi-fi to improve with QC, because having an iffy QC even for the 100-300 usd range is not OK with me. I am also looking to give BA only iems another chance (or 2...), since it seems we are getting closer to the point where, BA´s sounds like a DD in both bass texture and timbre.”

In 2021, we did indeed see the rise of even more EST iems at a more affordable price than the last year (from average of 800 to 500 usd).

As for QC, well nothing has changed much IMO. For example, the “everyone gets a different tuning” on the Geek Wold GK10.

BA iems on the other hand…have all pretty much disappointed me at least the ones I have tried. So, if I were to give them another chance, it probably would be something higher priced.

Prediction for 2022: We are going to see more budget brands learning how to tune, thus forcing the higher priced brands to try harder or lose their standing. More iems with multi-DD setups will come out, be it multi-DD hybrids or standalone multi-DDs.



hope you guys have a merry Christmas and thank you for your support.

 

[syazwaned]

2021 Gear of the Year​

Now that 2021 is almost over, here is my audio gear of the year.

Rules:

• Not limited to 2021 products
• Products with known QC problems are disqualified (for example, no Urbanfun ISS014 (driver uncertainty/mmcx failure) or LZ A6 (moisture issue))
• Nr 1 is the winner and nr 2 is the runner up.
• Exotic driver are the iems that include a driver other than DD/BA.

IEMS:

Single driver count/type:

1. Sony EX800ST (PEQ and filterless or BluTack)
2. Tanchjim oxygen

Hybrid/multi-driver:

1. Sony XBA-N3
2. GS Audio GD3A

Exotic driver:

1. Shuoer EJ07m
2. LZ A7 (Pop-Red or Modded Pop-Black)

Earbuds:

1. K´s LBBS
2. QianYun Qian39

Headphones:

1. Hifiman Sundara
2. 1More H1707

Last year’s prediction for 2021:

“I hope to see more budget friendly EST iems coming in 2021. 2020 was the year when we got more EST choices from the Tri Starlight to the Penon Volt, but most of them were in the same (super expensive) price range. So, I hope we get cheaper EST iems (Sonion EST) so that more people can try them. But I mostly want chi-fi to improve with QC, because having an iffy QC even for the 100-300 usd range is not OK with me. I am also looking to give BA only iems another chance (or 2...), since it seems we are getting closer to the point where, BA´s sounds like a DD in both bass texture and timbre.”

In 2021, we did indeed see the rise of even more EST iems at a more affordable price than the last year (from average of 800 to 500 usd).

As for QC, well nothing has changed much IMO. For example, the “everyone gets a different tuning” on the Geek Wold GK10.

BA iems on the other hand…have all pretty much disappointed me at least the ones I have tried. So, if I were to give them another chance, it probably would be something higher priced.

Prediction for 2022: We are going to see more budget brands learning how to tune, thus forcing the higher priced brands to try harder or lose their standing. More iems with multi-DD setups will come out, be it multi-DD hybrids or standalone multi-DDs.



hope you guys have a merry Christmas and thank you for your support.

Nice One Buddy. I discovered your review this year, make the decision to buy LBBs and M2s pro based on you review. Love it so much!

Goku, have you consider any Blur or Fiio EM5 in your Earbuds review?

 

[RikudouGoku]

Nice One Buddy. I discovered your review this year, make the decision to buy LBBs and M2s pro based on you review. Love it so much!

Thank you for the trust!

Goku, have you consider any Blur or Fiio EM5 in your Earbuds review?

Yes, someone is gifting me the Blur Mx64 special tuning edition (along with the AKG N400).


No plans for that Fiio though.

 

[syazwaned]

Thank you for the trust!


Yes, someone is gifting me the Blur Mx64 special tuning edition (along with the AKG N400).


No plans for that Fiio though.

You are lucky my friend!

 

[Prelim]

EDX Pro vs Kbear KS1, what would you choose for basshead user?

 

[RikudouGoku]

EDX Pro vs Kbear KS1, what would you choose for basshead user?

Sorry, dont have that kbear.

But the EDX Pro might be better.

 

[RikudouGoku]

2021-12-28:

Sony MDR-CD900ST (stock pads) impressions:
Bass: flat and rolled-off sub-bass. Clean due to the speed and tightness, quantity is on the lower side for my preferences though but pretty good quality with impressive texture.

Mids: forward vocals, especially female vocals, great quality and very good tonality. Was expecting the 3.5k peak to kill my ears, but it doesn’t bother me at all.

Treble: Somewhat dark treble, but very good tonal balancing due to the low bass quantity and 3.5k peak making the female vocals brighter. So, it doesn’t end up being too dark. Fatigue free treble.

Tech: soundstage is on the narrower side (although if you are mainly an iem user like me, it shouldn’t bother you too much) for a headphone. Detail, separation and imaging are quite impressive considering it doesn’t have much of a tonality boost. Timbre is very good.

Overall: extremely impressed by this ancient headphone (released in 1985!), this is for vocal lovers that want a fatigue free treble. (Will review this.)



Regarding the Yaxi stPad2, they SUCK. Legit, avoid them like the plague. It does increase the bass (which I would like) but then it also decreases the mids AND increases the treble a LOT (treble-head level). If you want to change the sound to this degree, just get something else….