Just out of curiosity, how does the 10AE hold up against the sr8?
The 10AE and SR8 have different strengths and different approaches.
The
10AE more analogue in it's sound. Do you want hifi with clearer separation, more nuances and details? Or don't you care as much whether you can pinpoint where exactly an instrument or sound came from?
SR8 being more balanced across the spectrum, with better separation, imaging and details SR8 is more relaxed in the treble, but still retains a lot of detail. SR8 is better suited for high quality, well mastered songs.
10AE is more fun, more pronounced and fluffier bass and better treble sparkle which could get hot or fatiguing for some. 10AE is better for poorly mastered, old recordings as it doesn't reproduce flaws in the recording as clearly as the SR8.
SR8 is more correct sounding, but is still very much musical and engaging. Just less engaging than the very fun 10AE.
Which you prefer, is ultimately up to you.
Quoting my own analogy I made in a PM:
The soundstage and imaging on the SR8 is
far superior to the 10AE. It's like comparing the technique of someone who goes for a jog every now and then vs an athlete. The jogger doesn't necessarily do anything wrong when you see them move, but when you see the beautiful steps of the athlete, you see how graceful it
could be. You can
see (or in this case, hear) that the SR8 does these things amazingly. Honestly, it's by far the best example I have heard in an IEM. And while the 10AE isn't bad, when you have them side by side, the soundstage and imaging just feels mediocre compared.
Another analogy, more in the ballpark of what the 10AE aims to be:
The 10AE is more like you in your 20s. You're going out, you blast music from a pair of KRK Rokit R6s while jumping in the shower with a cold beer on the shower rack. Frozen pizza thrown in the oven. You've got a good buzz going, you feel the rhythm of the music, you sing along in the shower and you're getting pumped for a night out with friends. The music is like a nightclub, tuned to play club music at it's best. It's a blast! Is it necessarily the most correct sounding? Who cares? Are you having fun? Hell yes!
While the SR8 is you in your 30s. You've invested in a pair of higher end speakers now. Less fun than the R6, but not as sterile as studio production monitors. More
soulful speakers.
You prefer to sip some wine, while you dance and swing in between washing and chopping vegetables and slicing strips of meat before throwing it into the pan. Your cat comes in, and you lift them up and twirl around with them in your arms. The cat reluctantly let's you pester them because they know you love them, and they love you. The meal and wine, and sound of the SR8 is more exquisite. It's sophisticated, but still has that liveliness to it. You're not boring just cause you appreciate a good meal and good wine, before going out to meet friends. The musical, fun, music loving soul is still in there in you (the SR8), but there is less wooing and holding up your arms to show you are having a good time. Now you nod and tap your feet to the music instead, and that's alright.
I started writing about specific songs which I thought differentiated the sets better, but I expect this will be enough for now. Post would also become more of a review at that point.