Just sharing my recent quick listens to a couple of IEMs and headphones at the HK audio show a week ago. Current rig is a WM1Z, with a 4.4mm Brise UPG001 cable to the Z5. So seeing all the IEMs in the show that were available to try, I thought I would see how they sounded. I tried the Final Fi-ba-sst (I could not get a good seal), Dita Dream and Truth with their interchangeable 4.4mm plug, Audeze LCD-i4, iSine 20. Except for the Ditas with their interchangeable plugs which I used the 4.4mm, all the rest were using 3.5 TRS plug. Also a listen to the Noble Kaiser Encore (I have the K10). Also Headphones: Fostex TH900, Audeze LCD-3 and LCD-4, Stax SR009, and one of the L model Stax with rectangular headpiece (don't remember which one as I did not take a picture of it).
Caveats: The listening session was very short, and in a noisy environment. Music source I could control, as I used my WM1Z. No A/B'ing possible, not volume matched, as there were too many people in line to try them. So just a quick subjective listen/impression. I had a thought that I would see if any of them overwhelmed me, so I would look into it in more detail. And I was really curious how they would sound, compared to the Z5s.
The one that I liked, and that I would explore further, was the Dita Truth.
Now, I hasten to add that this is not a proper audition, and I do not believe I had time to hear what the various IEM/earphones are capable of, but taking advantage of these all sitting there and available for a quick listen, one after the other, in a short space of time, it was interesting to get a quick subjective impression. And I was happy that I was not overwhelmed by any particular one, to the point where I was infected with the urge to get it, so I'll just take that as fortunate for me. I am not going to give any evaluation, as there was not enough time to form anything other than a quick and biased impression, so apologies if this is a story with no conclusion.
What I can say is that in this quick try out, with the mismatches in cable, TRS versus 4.4mm Balanced, etc., the Z5 holds up quite well in the areas of stage and prat, which pulls you into the music. And you forget to dissect and analyze the music. Which I suspect many of the IEMs/Earphones I tried would also be able to do, in a better controlled trial. For a fair comparison, would need to use better/different cables, through the 4.4mm balanced out, etc. Ideally, with the same 4.4mm plug and cable into each IEM/Earphone, even though this would not account for different synergy from different set ups. But I will probably never be able to get these ideal conditions, so am happy just to get a brief, imperfect listen.
