[cleg]

As I am one of those "non-english speakers having Alien+", I think I should share my brief impressions. I'll do a video with initial impressions later (for those who are OK with accent), meanwhile — my thoughts

1. Really nice design. Nothing ultra-facny, but still superb. Solid metal case, really slim (important for pocket carrying), pleasant sense of cold metal.
2. Display is average, on bright Montenegrin sun I see nothing. So, I need to cover it with hand to see at least anything.
3. Controls are OK, but separate reset button is too much IMHO.
4. Menu is logical and simple. It's plaintext, but it's OK.
5. Player doesn't support well different diacritics. So, no Serbian language here. Russian is supported, but w i t h s p a c e s. Anyway, plain English is supported, and font in new FW is really nice. Shozy told that adding more characters is limited by hardware.
6. There are some features lacking (most of all I miss current track memorizing on shutdown and in-track navigation), but it's also intentional limitation
7. Despite the above, player is lightning fast and reliable. And controls are pretty OK
8. Sound. Sound is great, it's typical "Shozy house sounding", with powerful lows, lively mids and non fatiguing highs. This small thing has lots of power, so digital volume added in recent FW is really nice feature.
9. It's not dry and lifeless monitoring sound, Alien+ is emotional and engaging.

 

[Jmop]

Have you heard the original Alien/Gold for comparisons? Also do you hear hiss with sensitive IEMs?

 

[msiekkb]

Yes, Alien Gold and Silver have hiss.

 

[Jmop]

I'm referring to the Alien+

 

[cleg]

Have you heard the original Alien/Gold for comparisons? Also do you hear hiss with sensitive IEMs?

No, I didn't listen to original models. Hiss is present with most sensitive models, but with normal sensitivity IEMs (e.g. Dunu DN-3001) I can't hear any.

 

[Jmop]

Ah ok, thanks for the reply.

 

[yacobx]

This thing is great. Very powerful

 

[msiekkb]

 

[Jmop]

Comparisons to Gold sound wise???

 

[msiekkb]

Gold is smooth, because bass in Alien+ is hard, better controlling and layers, and deeper. Mids in Gold signature very similar, but layers and details better in Alien+. Highs are strong highlighted, but never sharp, and this same of the rest frequency more details and layers. In Alien+ instruments is are real weight and size. Holographic in new Alien is amazing, every instruments is shown independently, with air between instruments.

Full review soon.

 

[Jmop]

Sounds pretty similar. Curious if it's a worthy upgrade.

 

[msiekkb]

If you want more details, much better layer, perfect holographic, and big size and weight instrument than upgrade is very worthy. If you like smooth like vinyl sound no take Alien+.

 

[Jmop]

I do really enjoy the analogue sound of the Alien. Thanks for the input.

 

[msiekkb]

Alien+ sounds organic and analogue, but bass is harder than Gold.

 

[yacobx]

Alien+ sounds organic and analogue, but bass is harder than Gold.

The alien plus has caps in it. Please take all impressions before 200 hours with a grain of salt. The sound will continue to evolve.