Hi guys. I posted this in the Nasty Trinity thread. Someone asked about Hunter impressions there. So I obliged. But I liked my comparison to the Icarus 3 and my description, so I thought I would copy over here. Hope you guys don't mind the double post. I would rather talk here than the Nasty Trinity Thread.
Re-posted:
I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to get the Hunters. I listen to them just about every day. I also sent my email to get the Litz cable, and I received them relatively quickly. So I've been listening balanced through a RSA Kobicon connector. The Hunters have over 100 hours, but the cable doesn't yet.
I find them to be clear and detailed. I have gunmetal filters and feel that the bass sound and impact is perfect. I initially liked the red and the silver for bass too, but it felt like my seal was too tight and caused too much pressure with filters that didn't have a port hole. The soundstage is wide and well presented. I put JVC Spiral Dots on them for tips. I think that the wide bore tips really helped open up soundstage.
I'm using the Hunter with Cayin N3 and RSA Intruder.
FLAC 16/44 > N3 > usb out > RSA Hunter > Trinity Balanced Litz cable > Hunter burnt titanium > Gunmetal Filter > JVC Spiral Dots.
Here is my review of the N3. The Hunter was the primary iem used.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ca...lity-digital-audio-player-black.22343/reviews
I also recently received the Icarus 3. I've only got about 30 minutes on them. I was doing some testing between the Hunter and the Icarus 3. The Icky3 does have a fun sound to them. But I much more prefer the detail retrieval of the Hunter. I was listening to a recent rip of Chicago's greatest hits. I listened to the song "I'm a Man" It starts out with a deep thudding bass line. And there is someone snapping their fingers in time. It sounds like it is coming from behind you. Very faint. One of those things that makes you look around to see if you wife came into your office. Then drums enter. Third percussion sticks in the far left sound field with cowbell added next. Organ come in on the right side.
With the Hunter everything sounds clear and natural, you hear the finger snaps behind you, and you can place the location of the instruments as they come into the song. With the Icky3, you cannot hear the finger snaps, the sound field is closed in, and the percussion sticks sound dull and lifeless. I much more prefer the clarity of the hunter.
I have not yet figured out where the Icky3 fits in my life. I have the N3>Intruder>Hunter sitting next to me on my desk at work. I use ipod nano>RSA Predator>Trinity Delta VII for out and about. I use Fiio M3>Trinity Delta (Original) while cutting the grass.