Hi all.
I bought my 846, 2 weeks ago after auditioning them twice at my work place. I am not an audiophile, please excuse my use of simple layman terms.
My first impression of the demo set was the bass and how music sounded 'full'. But as soon as it played B01 Miyagi from
Pianoforte Evangelion, the sounded started to 'crackle' and I was left disappointed because I really like the fidelity of the sound that came out of the 846.
After 3 weeks later, I auditioned the demo set again and this time, it played the test tracks well so much so that I threw my entire library at it and it did not falter, it held strong and played everything with confidence even though it was quite noisy in the shop.
I was enthralled. Then I remembered the price tag which was $1448.99 and left the shop to ponder. I listened to my E70 which sounded hollow in comparison to the 846. I was hooked. I went back and bit the bullet.
As I listened to music from my Note 5 with the largest Shure silicon ear tips, I really like the bass and the fidelity of the sound played through stock Samsung Music app. Then I used Jetaudio and played with the EQ, but couldn't really get the sound I wanted coz Godot Black coffee would start to sound 'muddy' around the 1 minute mark onwards when it hits louder frequencies. AGC function was used to regulate the volume of the music in my library because my ears hurt at high frequencies especially to female vocals like May'n if I keep to the same volume level unless I manually tune it down.
I started fitting all the eartips included in the box, triple flange modded to bi-flange, yellow foam tips, Olives. Had the best success with Largest silicon tips and bi-flange. But silicons tend to break seal when I moved my jaw unless I clench my teeth and widen my mouth into a grin during insertion. Bi-flange didn't quite worked on the left ear as seal breaks due to jaw movement unless inserted as above-mentioned. Even large spinfit didn't do the job well.
Went back to bi-flange (Right ear) and silicon (Left Ear), used Poweramp, eqed to the sound I want (basically flat except upping of lows). The magic was lost. What had impressed me in the first place wasn't there. Somehow, I couldn't discern the placement of instruments on the soundstage as all sounds are vying for attention. The only consolation I had was that the bass is still nice. EQed to flat for a few days and found the sound too shrill at times.
I ordered the Westone star tips (orange/ silicone) and auditioned it using the slight bump to low, otherwise flat eq. Seal is good. comfort is good. how about the sound? Wasn't impressed at the first song I listened too. Female vocals for Gundam Unicorn RE0096 sounded soft. Then, tried Chant 1 - Making of a cyborg 2.0 version to test it for drum and vocal clarity. It sounded ok. Tested clarity again using 'Sou dayo' Nakajima Megumi. It sounded better. Pimk monsoon, Diamond Crevasse all started to sound better. Tested B01 Miyagi and KK A09 Miyagi and they sound good. Then I played Okuribito-Ending and that's when I realized. Soundstage imaging. I could roughly tell which direction the instruments being played is coming from, something which I couldn't get while using all the eartips mentioned above.
The more I listened, the more I enjoyed the rhythm of the music that especially Yoshida brothers- A Hill with no name. With the Westone star tips, music just sounded clearer.
Now I am not sure if my 846 is started to benefit from burning in, or the Westone just does it for me with regards to the seal. I felt rejuvenated even though I had a tiring day at work. Good sounds really help to raised one spirits I guess.
The 846 didn't disappoint me in the end. But my wife can never know the price tag for these. lol
