[dharmasteve]

I'm using the X 1.0.0 at the moment. Bass-Head setting. Bass guitar and double-bass strings are top notch. Treble, now these have a lot of hours on them, is smooth. I'm sure the vent 'driver', smooths the sound out in a good way. The bass has great resolution and the treble no harsh edges. Even the mids and vocals have opened up. This is the most cable and tip dependant IEM I have come across and with a cable and tips we enjoy....a great IEM. Great recc @Dsnuts.

 

[Sheeno101]

How do the treble/details on the TSMR-X compare to IEMs with ESTs? Particularly those under $600 like the 10th AE and the EST50. I'm feeling really happy with my IEM collection at the moment (particularly if the incoming Doscincos live up to my bass expectations), so don't think I'll be making any more purchases for quite a while, but I'm wondering if it's worth me even considering EST IEMs when Black Friday rolls around or if I'm better off waiting for the next piece of revolutionary tech to enter the market. I know that tech isn't everything and tuning is more important, and that the 10th AE / EST50 will e.g. have fuller and more lush mids than the TSMR-X, but between my other IEMs (like the Quattro) and also EQing what I have, I'm happy on the tuning front so am more interested in what other tech could bring that I might be missing.

Also on the tech front, how much of a difference do people think the venting "driver" on the TSMR-X makes? Comparing it to my other DD/4BA hybrids in the Performer 5 and Canon II, the TSMR-X definitely has better bass response (which might just be from tuning and the extra driver) and better treble/detail (could just be tuning or the better Sonion BAs), so interested to know what people with wider collections think Interesting that dharmasteve suggests it may smooth out the treble - the TSMR-X are certainly way less fatiguing than my S12 Pros, even my Performer 5s!

Finally, for any trip-hop fans, this song is a ride with the TSMR-X: Machine Gun by Portishead. Works with both 1xx and 01x settings. More a song for a brooding evening than to kick the day off with though!

 

[Sheeno101]

Sorry for double post, but something else I thought interesting to share was that in Akros' review of the TSMR-X, he suggested the 011 setting is bassier than the 010 setting, which led him to believe the third switch's purpose is to add a bit of bass, albeit less than the second and much less than the first switch. This seemed wrong in light of the fact that the Tansio website describes the third switch as attenuating/reducing bass, but also makes sense when you think that the 000 setting has no bass, so 001 does add bass to that.

I assumed it must have been placebo on his part considering Tansio only seem to think there are 3 viable tuning options, but then he showed the graphs which support his beliefs here, and it does indeed seem that the 010 and 011 settings have different bass responses to each other, as do the 110 and 100 settings to a lesser degree. Considering what @statuefiddle suggested a few days ago, maybe the resistance change isn't so negligible from having multiple switches on after all.

Man I wish Akros posted his graphs to squiglink. He reviews so many great sets that often have very few or no graphs elsewhere. I'd love to play around with auto EQing the TSMR-X!

 

[Sheeno101]

[delete]

 

[dharmasteve]

How do the treble/details on the TSMR-X compare to IEMs with ESTs? Particularly those under $600 like the 10th AE and the EST50. I'm feeling really happy with my IEM collection at the moment (particularly if the incoming Doscincos live up to my bass expectations), so don't think I'll be making any more purchases for quite a while, but I'm wondering if it's worth me even considering EST IEMs when Black Friday rolls around or if I'm better off waiting for the next piece of revolutionary tech to enter the market. I know that tech isn't everything and tuning is more important, and that the 10th AE / EST50 will e.g. have fuller and more lush mids than the TSMR-X, but between my other IEMs (like the Quattro) and also EQing what I have, I'm happy on the tuning front so am more interested in what other tech could bring that I might be missing.

Also on the tech front, how much of a difference do people think the venting "driver" on the TSMR-X makes? Comparing it to my other DD/4BA hybrids in the Performer 5 and Canon II, the TSMR-X definitely has better bass response (which might just be from tuning and the extra driver) and better treble/detail (could just be tuning or the better Sonion BAs), so interested to know what people with wider collections think Interesting that dharmasteve suggests it may smooth out the treble - the TSMR-X are certainly way less fatiguing than my S12 Pros, even my Performer 5s!

Finally, for any trip-hop fans, this song is a ride with the TSMR-X: Machine Gun by Portishead. Works with both 1xx and 01x settings. More a song for a brooding evening than to kick the day off with though!

Good question. From my listening the ESTs on the Penon 10th they add a quality to the treble that is hard to explain. It's hard to find the right adjective. The ESTs add a certain 'liquid' quality to the sound of the 10th. Not particularly more details just a certain quality. The highs on the Penon 10th, to me, are beguiling. But to put the qualities of both IEMs into a comparison, the better bass resolution of the TSMR X makes them equally enjoyable and the X treble is also smoothly special. Different but equal. The ESTs add a little more musicality, but the two DDs make the TSMR X the most enjoyable bassy IEM I know and I've had quite a few bass specialising IMR IEMs. Both give me great pleasure and enjoyment.

 

[statuefiddle]

Sorry for double post, but something else I thought interesting to share was that in Akros' review of the TSMR-X, he suggested the 011 setting is bassier than the 010 setting, which led him to believe the third switch's purpose is to add a bit of bass, albeit less than the second and much less than the first switch. This seemed wrong in light of the fact that the Tansio website describes the third switch as attenuating/reducing bass, but also makes sense when you think that the 000 setting has no bass, so 001 does add bass to that.

I assumed it must have been placebo on his part considering Tansio only seem to think there are 3 viable tuning options, but then he showed the graphs which support his beliefs here, and it does indeed seem that the 010 and 011 settings have different bass responses to each other, as do the 110 and 100 settings to a lesser degree. Considering what @statuefiddle suggested a few days ago, maybe the resistance change isn't so negligible from having multiple switches on after all.

Man I wish Akros posted his graphs to squiglink. He reviews so many great sets that often have very few or no graphs elsewhere. I'd love to play around with auto EQing the TSMR-X!

Combining switches should make some small difference. I'm curious to know if you find it audible, or good! Give it a try and let us know!

 

[-rowan-]

I know that tech isn't everything and tuning is more important, and that the 10th AE / EST50 will e.g. have fuller and more lush mids than the TSMR-X, but between my other IEMs (like the Quattro) and also EQing what I have, I'm happy on the tuning front so am more interested in what other tech could bring that I might be missing.

From my listening the ESTs on the Penon 10th they add a quality to the treble that is hard to explain. It's hard to find the right adjective. The ESTs add a certain 'liquid' quality to the sound of the 10th. Not particularly more details just a certain quality. The highs on the Penon 10th, to me, are beguiling.

I don’t have the X (yet, maybe) but I would say that 10th AE mids, while very well tuned, can be a bit grainy compared to something more refined like the Volt, and indeed the Quattro if you have it.

Penon have a good record of solid EST implementation though - off the top of my head I recall the Volt, EST50, Impact and 10th - and they are well worth experiencing if you get the chance to try them. So if you’re in the market for a tribrid with good mids and EST highs, I’d wait for the Voltage, Penon’s follow up to the Volt.

 

[iscorpio71]

I don’t have the X (yet, maybe) but I would say that 10th AE mids, while very well tuned, can be a bit grainy compared to something more refined like the Volt, and indeed the Quattro if you have it.

Penon have a good record of solid EST implementation though - off the top of my head I recall the Volt, EST50, Impact and 10th - and they are well worth experiencing if you get the chance to try them. So if you’re in the market for a tribrid with good mids and EST highs, I’d wait for the Voltage, Penon’s follow up to the Volt.

I am waiting on the Voltage. It's supposed to drop later this month, hoping it's better-priced than its predecessor.

 

[ldo77]

How do the treble/details on the TSMR-X compare to IEMs with ESTs? Particularly those under $600 like the 10th AE and the EST50. I'm feeling really happy with my IEM collection at the moment (particularly if the incoming Doscincos live up to my bass expectations), so don't think I'll be making any more purchases for quite a while, but I'm wondering if it's worth me even considering EST IEMs when Black Friday rolls around or if I'm better off waiting for the next piece of revolutionary tech to enter the market. I know that tech isn't everything and tuning is more important, and that the 10th AE / EST50 will e.g. have fuller and more lush mids than the TSMR-X, but between my other IEMs (like the Quattro) and also EQing what I have, I'm happy on the tuning front so am more interested in what other tech could bring that I might be missing.

I agree with @dharmasteve.
It's not easy to explain, especialy as it's so DAP or cable dependant, but I would say, for my ears, the treble goes (a little) further but not higher, with TSMR-X.
With Dx240 I prefer 10th's treble. But with the Fiio M15, I prefer TSMR-X's treble.
Both of them had great treble.

 

[Erkil]

Have anybody asked or know what the second tool delivered with the X is for? There is one simcard slot tool for the switches, and then another one that fit in the small hole in the film retarding driver. Have no clue what it’s for.

 

[Sheeno101]

Combining switches should make some small difference. I'm curious to know if you find it audible, or good! Give it a try and let us know!

Very interesting, I've just tested them out and I think they do appear to have a difference when multiple switches are on - but I'm always sceptical of my ears so would love to hear what others who own a set think.

From my (very brief) testing, it appears that each switch increases bass, with the 1st adding a lot, the 2nd adding a fair bit, and the third adding a little. This means you have a few viable options:

• 001 - reduced bass, bright and treble focused
• 010 - solid bass hit, but well balanced
• 011 - noticeably bassier than 010, getting into being a bass-heavy tuning
• 100 - huge, bass-dominant
• 111 - even more bass than 100, seems warmer to my ear too

You also have 110 and 101, but I feel like the first bass switch is so dominant, you may as well turn both the other switches on if you want to get even more bass out of it.

I think the most interesting setting is 011, as a middle ground between 010 and 100 - which Akros highlighted in his review too But needs some more testing I think!

 

[Sheeno101]

Good question. From my listening the ESTs on the Penon 10th they add a quality to the treble that is hard to explain. It's hard to find the right adjective. The ESTs add a certain 'liquid' quality to the sound of the 10th. Not particularly more details just a certain quality. The highs on the Penon 10th, to me, are beguiling. But to put the qualities of both IEMs into a comparison, the better bass resolution of the TSMR X makes them equally enjoyable and the X treble is also smoothly special. Different but equal. The ESTs add a little more musicality, but the two DDs make the TSMR X the most enjoyable bassy IEM I know and I've had quite a few bass specialising IMR IEMs. Both give me great pleasure and enjoyment.

And thanks for the extra information about the EST sets all Liquid, smooth treble does sound very appealing and something I'd like to try. Not enough for me to covet any new shiny toys for the foreseeable future, but I'll certainly keep a look out for Penon 10th, EST 50 and (depending on price) Voltage deals come 11/11, as well as whatever else hits the market in the meantime.

 

[PeacockObscura]

My final destination cable a perfect match both aesthetics and sound

 

[DagsJT]

My final destination cable a perfect match both aesthetics and sound

Hmm I’ve always seen crystal copper with gold plated. Not sure I’ve seen gold plated really. Nice colour scheme to match the IEM’s

 

[Thieme]

I am on the Ivipq-129 myself now, looks even better IMHO. Can't really comment much on the sonic differences tho. I think my ears are not sensitive enough to pick them up.