[Nick24JJ]

I thought the Sands was special with EDM?

I think the Sands have the potential to be special with EDM. With the proper cable, tips, and EQ.

May I ask you a question? As a reviewer, do you feel that you should own and use some popular devices, like the Qudelix-5K, and perhaps the FiiO BTR7 and UTWS5, with all the IEMs you review, so that you could give a clear impression about the synergy?

 

[ExTubeGamer]

Thank you for confirming about the Pre Gain!

I am sorry but I cannot speak about the Sands, yet. I will try to clarify this matter, once and for all, from Thursday 9 onwards when I will be off shift for 7 consecutive days. The Sands is the only IEM that imposed EQ to me. With Bad Guy's EQ they sound nice, right now, but I need more time. Right now, I am listening to YouTube and the resolution is excellent. This is important because, as you know, YouTube is not the best source when it comes to sound quality, but for me it is vital because only there I can discover and listen to all the amazing DJ sets, like from EPHIMERA Tulum, for example, or old beloved tunes like from Progressive Classics. So, since YouTube sounds pleasant and revealing for me, I assume Amazon Music Unlimited, as well as my .WAV files will sound even better.

That is encouraging. The Sands is the only IEM that makes me feel almost like an idiot. I paid them, I purchased the PAC cable, it was faulty, I replaced it. And now I am trying to EQ them. I never had to do anything like this before.

It is important for me to bring them to my taste.

And, I also hope/pray/wish that my IMR Rah 2023 will open up and start playing the midrange and treble the way it is supposed to sound.

I am constantly testing out new cables on my Sands. This baby needs cables with very high resolution.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I think the Sands have the potential to be special with EDM. With the proper cable, tips, and EQ.

May I ask you a question? As a reviewer, do you feel that you should own and use some popular devices, like the Qudelix-5K, and perhaps the FiiO BTR7 and UTWS5, with all the IEMs you review, so that you could give a clear impression about the synergy?

Well, I agree it would be nice to have more sources, but the five I use seems to have all the bases covered? Meaning yes, it’s almost endless as far as the source choices nowadays. I like to think I have bases covered being I use the Shanling UA3 Dongle with both a laptop and a phone. I also often will try a simple phone output. My main 2 devices are the midrange centered WM1A and V shaped WM1Z, then later I always try stuff with the Sony TA-ZH1ES desktop.

Often maybe the 2 DAPs have a way of making ear-candy from the IEMs I try out. Some have even questioned the validity of using such devices as they seem to naturally enhance whatever IEM you use with them. I also use MrWalkman’s firmware which adds warmth to the WM1A as well as girth and soundstage.

All and all I feel with using the wide range of equipment that it gets a realistic idea of the IEMs, though at times it’s definitely a colored tone. But I’ve had the two players since 2017-2018 so I’m pretty used to any color they may do? It’s almost to late to change, as I’ve become totally used to them. I do have a few other devices like a Schiit amp, a FiiO E17K Alpen 2 and a Cambridge DacMagic, but it’s rare to use them. The Woo Audio 3 is also an amp I never use, but once in a while I do use it.

Still over the years, and especially the last year, my findings about the personality of IEMs very much align with the people I know and respect who are using different sources, but the same IEMs. Such concepts are not just coincidence or happenstance but let me know that maybe I’m using the correct gear. Once in a while I will though have an extraordinary example of a replay that I still like but many have had issues with. The Moondrop Planar Stellaris was one such example, where I used a pure copper cable as well as the TA desktop to find a way in with the playback. Surly these were different results than many who simply tried the Stellaris off 3.5mm using a phone. I was an outsider in giving that particular IEM a great review. Though I truly meant everything I wrote about it.

The Sands can be bright too, yet with the PAC480 cable and WM1Z it’s amazing. Burn-in helped out a ton too. I find the Sands unique in the IEM world, giving a level of soundstage and detail for greater than the price bracket it resides in. Though it does maybe take someone who understands what it’s doing?

Meaning no matter what, it may not be for everyone. You have to strive for what it offers and cater to the Sands needs for a darker source and cable, but once you find the system for it, the Sands delivers, I feel?

IEMs are often like dog breeds in that you need to acclimate to the personalities at hand. At times they just are not your dog, they don’t act in a way you want, even though they would be a perfect dog for the guy down the street. Yet once zoned in on your dog, you find love in both the good and not-so-good antics they do!

 

[Nick24JJ]

@Redcarmoose

Yeah...the Sands can deliver. My problem seems to be that I have to cater to the Sands needs, instead of the Sands catering to my needs. No worries, I will resolve the matter.

Regarding the sources, my personal and subjective opinion is that every reviewer should own or be able to test the IEMs with some popular devices. Like the Qudelix, or even the FiiO UTWS5. An example is the complete lack or bad synergy between the Sands and the UTWS5, something I discovered after purchasing them.

​

 

[Redcarmoose]

Well, Dsnuts and I aligned perfectly with what we came-up with as far as results with the Sands, though we have different sources. Remember it’s everything upstream, the tips, the cable and the DAP. Also many, many people have had luck with the Sands, not utilizing the very same equipment. After a while there are parallels to find inside of many different pieces of gear. I mean playback can only be so many different ways, where eventually synergy will be found.

@Redcarmoose

Yeah...the Sands can deliver. My problem seems to be that I have to cater to the Sands needs, instead of the Sands catering to my needs. No worries, I will resolve the matter.

Regarding the sources, my personal and subjective opinion is that every reviewer should own or be able to test the IEMs with some popular devices. Like the Qudelix, or even the FiiO UTWS5. An example is the complete lack or bad synergy between the Sands and the UTWS5, something I discovered after purchasing them.

​

At the same time I feel for you. I hope you find the answer to the riddle.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I am constantly testing out new cables on my Sands. This baby needs cables with very high resolution.

I’m always amazed at some of the cables people feel are best with the Sands.

 

[Nick24JJ]

At the same time I feel for you. I hope you find the answer to the riddle.

Thank you
I appreciate it!

Just to take something useful out of our interaction, can you please suggest me one or two albums (not just songs) to measure and assess the resolution of the Sands? As a point of reference, which albums would you suggest that can test their clarity and resolution = detail retrieval?

 

[ExTubeGamer]

I’m always amazed at some of the cables people feel are best with the Sands.

My new Tripowin Altea works very well with the Sands. Outstanding clarity. Soon my ISN S16 will arrive and then I am going to compare them.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Thank you
I appreciate it!

Just to take something useful out of our interaction, can you please suggest me one or two albums (not just songs) to measure and assess the resolution of the Sands? As a point of reference, which albums would you suggest that can test their clarity and resolution = detail retrieval?

The litmus test for the complete Sands system (for me) would be if it could do this album correct. Meaning it’s not recorded exactly hot, but there are sound elements which can push the wrong IEM into the wrong directions, like off brand BAs which many think are fine..........sound wrong with this album. Especially guitar playback in Chemical Redemption!

Then these are my go to albums to show both vocals and decays/reverbs!
Cheers!

DCD

Also the album Anastasis has amazing sound on any IEM, not just the Sands!

 

[Redcarmoose]

Also this album which somehow gets its mood transferred? That and the vocals and guitar tones. Tha Sands IS a vocal specialist IEM, IMO.

 

[Alchempissed]

I've got a set of mint Sands if anyone is looking for a deal on a pair. FWIW, I ended up using a DUNU cable with it and I had zero issues; I just prefer the Yanyin Canon.

 

[Penon]

Tansio Mirai TOTL Flagship IEM

 

[Alchempissed]

Tansio Mirai TOTL Flagship IEM

*checks wallet, sighs*

 

[Nick24JJ]

Just remember that the Sands in bright, that’s its nature and it is a double edged sword in that if you can find a way to balance that brightness it’s also maybe one of the Sands best qualities.

So literally everything affects the signal. The cable, the DAP, the music. I don’t have Amazon Music Unlimited but after 25 years I pulled out my 80’s albums from my school days and sure enough they were mixed thin. Meaning back when New Order was new the sound the producers wanted was a very fast, bass shy tone. After listening to all these records on my new turntable I finally pulled the exact albums I was using so many years ago, only to find them not audiophile at all. We just came through years of bass heavy music in the 1970s and producers were looking to change things up, smaller bookshelf speakers were the rage, and people were getting rid of their floor standers for the exact same reason, too boomy. It was an amazing time in the recording industry and you can imagine how different the music was, it was trying to actually sound different and taking away the bass tone was how they achieved it.

The PAC480 is really the ticket with the Sands, the other thing you can try is narrow-bore tips, just look through your collection and find the smallest circumstance of output port on the end of the tips. Combine that with a good air-tight seal and it will maybe work out, only remember that the sound starts in the file and you can’t always add what is not there to begin with. But I use the WM1Z, the PAC480 and wide-bore tips as I don’t need to tone down the treble. It really depends on the individual and the sonic needs of their personal sound/tone preference.

Your DAP or Dongle quality plays just as important roll, believe me, I deal with trying to find the best synergy everyday. Each amp and DAC has a character and you simply need to experiment to find the best combo. Some IEMs need a faster midrange, but the Sands needs your most lovingly deep dark source. Good luck!

Hi, I hope you are well

I am having some free time today, and since my IMR Rah 2023 require around 10 more days of burn-in, I've started my day by listening to my Tansio Mirai Sands. Dip switches position 1-0-0 = enhanced bass, PAC480 3.5mm cable and, the most important part, the tips I marked in the attached picture, which come from the stock tips of my Raptgo Hook-X.

I've listened to some .WAV files via UAPP on my phone and, for a few hours now, I'm listening to Infected Mushroom full discography from Amazon Music Unlimited. I really enjoy it very much! So much that I have depleted the battery of my FiiO BTR7 and I am now listening with my Qudelix-5K. It is on the bright side, perhaps a tad brighter than I'd prefer but at the same time the sound is crisp, full of energy, with a ton of details! The bass is definitely present and sounds very good to me. I am not using any EQ.

I am really happy that I can enjoy the music with my Sands. I haven't listened to them for quite some time and I was starting to doubt my purchase.

Now it feels good!

 

[Redcarmoose]

New TSMR TOTL!