jkleejk
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2008
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Recently I was honored to audition this new IEM from Music Valley (Hong Kong based company); it is called SPI (Silver Prologue One), which is dynamic driver IEM.
Initial info from the owner, telling me that its SQ is similar Sennheiser IE8, which make me thrill.
When I gotten the SP1 packaging, I am quite impressed. Nice compact colorful packing. Inside the box I can find 3 sets of good quality tips which is similar to Sony Duo Color Tips (small, medium & large size) & 1 set of olive tip (medium size). Furthermore it comes with 1 small pouch, 1 DAP stand & 1 clip, which I find it very practical & useful (it is promotional gifts). There are so many goodies available in such a small packaging, pretty impressed.
For SP1 IEM itself, the design is quickly gotten my attention where each of the shell corners has a weird looking extruded compartment, which I think useful to extend the space of the shell & also to make it more ergonomic. Each shell is decorated with 1 small & 1 medium size aluminum brushed finish plate, which enhances the cosmetic. Meanwhile cable wise is thin but very comfortable, just like Westone cable without braided.
Sound Quality:
Bass:
Initially impression, the bass is very similar with IE8 in terms in quantity/depth but lacks of details. I can say it is about 50% of IE8 bass quality. SP1 bass is more forward & IE8 sound more laidback, which is Sennheiser Sound signature, which I love so much.
When I tweak IE8 bass knob to max, IE8 turn into a bass monster, which SP1 can hardly catch up with it. But not many people like this overwhelming bass & I have to confess that I like it so much & I find it soothing & fun; but it will sacrifice the mid/high details in this manner. It is depend on what you are looking for.
Mid/High:
Compare with IE8, SP1 sounds more blunt & less sparkle. Sometimes when I listening to Axl Rose voice, it sounds a bit harsh/recessed with IE8, but SP1 has no issue with that. Again SP1 has less detail in this department. Here I find mid/high is muffled & all those instruments are push 2-3seats row back compare to IE8.
Soundstage:
This department is IE8 excel most, I can conclude IE8 feels like I am in a concert hall & SP1 is just contain in my bedroom.
Isolation:
I found SP1 medium size tip has better isolation compare to IE8, & it is more comfort too as SP1 is much smaller size & cable is thinner & easier to handle. IE8 has bigger shell & thicker cable causes its own weight pull it downward, which makes wearing less comfortable & air leak sometimes. Lucky IE8 has ear hook which help to improve this issue lots.
*I am using IE8 (minimum bass knob mode) as my benchmark/comparison >my IE8 has marked 600+hours burning so far & SP1 has touch 100+hours mark.
Here is my rigs setup:
Macbook Pro>AMB Mini3>SP1 / IE8 (min bass knob mode)
Cowon D2 (no EQ setting)>AMB Mini3>SP1 / IE8 (min bass knob mode)
Source:
All 320bits Mp3 songs:
1.Nirvana Unplugged in NY – The Man Who Sold The World
-SP1:
oK. Cobain vocal is a bit muffled & feel like he is been pushed his seat few step away from the original location; instrument separation is pretty good as those instrument has been brought into the front
oMid/High is more forward with moderate clarity & details, cello /violin sounds are sweet
oBass is very good & impactful as K. Novoselic bass notes & Dave Grohl drum bass can be easily identified
oLive music sound is less real as I felt that everyone are squeezed into more congested space.
-IE8:
oClear K. Cobain Vocal & good instrument separation where I can really differentiate those acoustic guitar & cello/violin playing.
oGood mid/high, which made the slight guitar distortion riff, sounds so sweet & mellow.
oBass is fantastic especially on those clean drum playing with clean snare; good depth & good decays
oThe live sound is very realistic where I can pin point those instrument location easily
2.Duran Duran – Come Undone
- SP1:
oSimon vocal is soothing & clear; back vocal is muffled.
oMid/High are both good as those electric guitars with flanger distortion sounds awesome & terrific
oBass notes are very clearly distinguished & the drum bass is very impactful with good quantity.
o This is studio recording so don’t expect a concert hall recording & I can easily distinguish keyboard playing effect, guitars, drum, snare & vocal.
- IE8:
oSimon & those ladies back vocal are very clear, I can hear in certain vocal note “….who do u need …who do u love ..” where IE8 really excel.
oSuperb mid/high, the tambourine sounds so crystal clear, flanger distortion even more details that ever.
oBass Drum is enormous & wonderful, each beats go till my heart.
oAs usual IE8 is best in this department, I can felt the concert hall effect.
3.Linkin Park – In Pieces/Shadow Of The Day
- SP1:
oChester voice is very clear & sweet but I feel like he is standing a couple seats away from me compare to IE8; it sounds less harsh.
oMid/High are fairly good & I felt slightly muffled.
oMid Bass is fairly good here but SP1 more excel in the deep bass.
oThis is studio recording so don’t expect a concert hall recording & I can easily distinguish keyboard playing effect, guitars, drum, snare & vocal.
- IE8:
oChester crystal voice is in his best level, each words can be heard pronounce clearly, never sunken by the enormous bass department of IE8
oThe mid/high, snare/violin is clearly heard, Brad guitar’s solo is never sounds so good before.
oThe Eletronica & Rob Bass Drum playing are impactful & fast, each beats penetrate thru my heart; I also can hear clearly Phoenix bass note, which means the bass details is most superior.
oAs usual IE8 is best in this department, I again can felt the concert hall effect.
Verdicts:
For USD$80 price tag & with so many goodies included, I can say so far this is the best IEM I had ever auditioned with that price range. In my opinion it is better than Sennheiser CX300 even CX500 at some instant. It is not fair to compare with IE8, but at this moment I only has IE8 with me. Surprisingly the SP1 bass is pretty good (50% of IE8 quality), with 1/5 price of IE8.
SP1
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6319/picture1pmf.png
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/874/picture2s.png
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6033/picture3d.png
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3070/picture4gwp.png
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2673/picture5y.png
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5397/picture6q.png
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1251/picture7e.png
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9580/picture8y.png
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9327/picture9d.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6351/picture10k.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4413/picture11.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/1627/picture12g.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6757/picture13.png
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6332/picture14g.png
Clip
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7153/picture1x.png
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6180/clip01h.jpg
Stand
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1893/stand01t.jpg
Pouch
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/2870/pouchf.jpg
Initial info from the owner, telling me that its SQ is similar Sennheiser IE8, which make me thrill.
When I gotten the SP1 packaging, I am quite impressed. Nice compact colorful packing. Inside the box I can find 3 sets of good quality tips which is similar to Sony Duo Color Tips (small, medium & large size) & 1 set of olive tip (medium size). Furthermore it comes with 1 small pouch, 1 DAP stand & 1 clip, which I find it very practical & useful (it is promotional gifts). There are so many goodies available in such a small packaging, pretty impressed.
For SP1 IEM itself, the design is quickly gotten my attention where each of the shell corners has a weird looking extruded compartment, which I think useful to extend the space of the shell & also to make it more ergonomic. Each shell is decorated with 1 small & 1 medium size aluminum brushed finish plate, which enhances the cosmetic. Meanwhile cable wise is thin but very comfortable, just like Westone cable without braided.
Sound Quality:
Bass:
Initially impression, the bass is very similar with IE8 in terms in quantity/depth but lacks of details. I can say it is about 50% of IE8 bass quality. SP1 bass is more forward & IE8 sound more laidback, which is Sennheiser Sound signature, which I love so much.
When I tweak IE8 bass knob to max, IE8 turn into a bass monster, which SP1 can hardly catch up with it. But not many people like this overwhelming bass & I have to confess that I like it so much & I find it soothing & fun; but it will sacrifice the mid/high details in this manner. It is depend on what you are looking for.
Mid/High:
Compare with IE8, SP1 sounds more blunt & less sparkle. Sometimes when I listening to Axl Rose voice, it sounds a bit harsh/recessed with IE8, but SP1 has no issue with that. Again SP1 has less detail in this department. Here I find mid/high is muffled & all those instruments are push 2-3seats row back compare to IE8.
Soundstage:
This department is IE8 excel most, I can conclude IE8 feels like I am in a concert hall & SP1 is just contain in my bedroom.
Isolation:
I found SP1 medium size tip has better isolation compare to IE8, & it is more comfort too as SP1 is much smaller size & cable is thinner & easier to handle. IE8 has bigger shell & thicker cable causes its own weight pull it downward, which makes wearing less comfortable & air leak sometimes. Lucky IE8 has ear hook which help to improve this issue lots.
*I am using IE8 (minimum bass knob mode) as my benchmark/comparison >my IE8 has marked 600+hours burning so far & SP1 has touch 100+hours mark.
Here is my rigs setup:
Macbook Pro>AMB Mini3>SP1 / IE8 (min bass knob mode)
Cowon D2 (no EQ setting)>AMB Mini3>SP1 / IE8 (min bass knob mode)
Source:
All 320bits Mp3 songs:
1.Nirvana Unplugged in NY – The Man Who Sold The World
-SP1:
oK. Cobain vocal is a bit muffled & feel like he is been pushed his seat few step away from the original location; instrument separation is pretty good as those instrument has been brought into the front
oMid/High is more forward with moderate clarity & details, cello /violin sounds are sweet
oBass is very good & impactful as K. Novoselic bass notes & Dave Grohl drum bass can be easily identified
oLive music sound is less real as I felt that everyone are squeezed into more congested space.
-IE8:
oClear K. Cobain Vocal & good instrument separation where I can really differentiate those acoustic guitar & cello/violin playing.
oGood mid/high, which made the slight guitar distortion riff, sounds so sweet & mellow.
oBass is fantastic especially on those clean drum playing with clean snare; good depth & good decays
oThe live sound is very realistic where I can pin point those instrument location easily
2.Duran Duran – Come Undone
- SP1:
oSimon vocal is soothing & clear; back vocal is muffled.
oMid/High are both good as those electric guitars with flanger distortion sounds awesome & terrific
oBass notes are very clearly distinguished & the drum bass is very impactful with good quantity.
o This is studio recording so don’t expect a concert hall recording & I can easily distinguish keyboard playing effect, guitars, drum, snare & vocal.
- IE8:
oSimon & those ladies back vocal are very clear, I can hear in certain vocal note “….who do u need …who do u love ..” where IE8 really excel.
oSuperb mid/high, the tambourine sounds so crystal clear, flanger distortion even more details that ever.
oBass Drum is enormous & wonderful, each beats go till my heart.
oAs usual IE8 is best in this department, I can felt the concert hall effect.
3.Linkin Park – In Pieces/Shadow Of The Day
- SP1:
oChester voice is very clear & sweet but I feel like he is standing a couple seats away from me compare to IE8; it sounds less harsh.
oMid/High are fairly good & I felt slightly muffled.
oMid Bass is fairly good here but SP1 more excel in the deep bass.
oThis is studio recording so don’t expect a concert hall recording & I can easily distinguish keyboard playing effect, guitars, drum, snare & vocal.
- IE8:
oChester crystal voice is in his best level, each words can be heard pronounce clearly, never sunken by the enormous bass department of IE8
oThe mid/high, snare/violin is clearly heard, Brad guitar’s solo is never sounds so good before.
oThe Eletronica & Rob Bass Drum playing are impactful & fast, each beats penetrate thru my heart; I also can hear clearly Phoenix bass note, which means the bass details is most superior.
oAs usual IE8 is best in this department, I again can felt the concert hall effect.
Verdicts:
For USD$80 price tag & with so many goodies included, I can say so far this is the best IEM I had ever auditioned with that price range. In my opinion it is better than Sennheiser CX300 even CX500 at some instant. It is not fair to compare with IE8, but at this moment I only has IE8 with me. Surprisingly the SP1 bass is pretty good (50% of IE8 quality), with 1/5 price of IE8.
SP1
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6319/picture1pmf.png
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/874/picture2s.png
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6033/picture3d.png
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3070/picture4gwp.png
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2673/picture5y.png
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5397/picture6q.png
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1251/picture7e.png
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9580/picture8y.png
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9327/picture9d.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6351/picture10k.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4413/picture11.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/1627/picture12g.png
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6757/picture13.png
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6332/picture14g.png
Clip
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7153/picture1x.png
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6180/clip01h.jpg
Stand
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1893/stand01t.jpg
Pouch
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/2870/pouchf.jpg
