[ramkvp]

Thank you for the kind words ^^
As for my favorites among what I owned, u12t+sp2000t and utopia+hugo tt2 come to mind.
I listen to a wide arrange of genres, and the u12t does most things well. The sp2000t (tube amp mode) adds a little warmth to the u12t, which I really enjoy.
The utopia is a great natural headphone with a little warmth, and the clinical tt2 pairs well with it.

As to what stayed...
I have a few speaker setups that I listen to, so the head gear that stays is normally according to value, not according to sound quality.
So, I normally have my hidition nt-1 ciem (best cheap ciem imo, right now $275 new), and a few buds (lbbs and serratus), as well as a sr25 mk1 or 2 (for portability)
At any given time I normally have either a u12t or a z1r as well.
I tend not to keep headphones for a long times since I have speakers, and they tend to get a bit heavy on my head. ^^

Thank you. U12t and Z1R seem to be winners. Your collection makes sense. Headphone is a middle ground which does not make sense if you can swing IEMs and speakers. I'm an IEM guy myself. I like the portability.

 

[291079]

135. 64 audio tia trio (W) vs campfire audio solaris se:

Tia trio: sounds more as a whole, better layering, tighter bass, more natural, better bass/mids/treble balance, leaner treble.

Solaris se: more bass, airier, more recessed mids, more transparent, clearer background detail.

 

[291079]

136. 7hz timeless (W) vs moondrop stellaris:

Timeless: more bass, more natural, better layering, wider soundstage, airier, clearer, more expansive, comfier.

Stellaris: leaner mids, has more of a planar/metallic ring to it (especially cymbals and male vocals), harsher treble, better instrument separation, feels a little congested.

I was not a big fan of the stellaris in its comparisons with other planar iems. Its leanness sounds a bit harsh to my ears.

 

[291079]

137. tgxear serratus (W) vs k's earphone bell-lbbs:

Serratus: more bass, wider soundstage, more natural, fuller notes, better imaging, smoother overall, bass tends to overpower mids, vocals more veiled, nothing offensive, better background detail.

Lbbs: leaner mids, harsher treble, a little clearer, more metallic sounding, better bass/mids/trebel balance, better instrument separation, more transparent, tighter bass, sounds more as a whole.

 

[ian91]

137. tgx ears serratus (W) vs k's earphone bell-lbbs:

Serratus: more bass, wider soundstage, more natural, fuller notes, better imaging, smoother overall, bass tends to overpower mids, vocals more veiled, nothing offensive, better background detail.

Lbbs: leaner mids, harsher treble, a little clearer, more metallic sounding, better bass/mids/trebel balance, better instrument separation, more transparent, tighter bass, sounds more as a whole.

Interesting comparison! Stand alone impressions for me is that Serratus has a very clean midrange that is in no way veiled by bass - in fact it needs more midbass for my taste. I haven't heard Lbbs so maybe that comparison still stands...

All a matter of taste and heavily subjective I suppose...!

 

[291079]

Interesting comparison! Stand alone impressions for me is that Serratus has a very clean midrange that is in no way veiled by bass - in fact it needs more midbass for my taste. I haven't heard Lbbs so maybe that comparison still stands...

All a matter of taste and heavily subjective I suppose...!

Yes, likely everything in this hobby, taste and subjectiveness reign. ^^

I have tended to notice that standalone and comparative impressions are a different ball game though (which is why I actually started this thread)
In a standalone impression you are normally comparing it with your "ideal" frequency curve, one which probably does not exist in any item.
But when you are A/Bing 2 items, that ideal frequency does not factor in, but only the actual frequency curves of the two items.
So, it's no surprise that you hear things differently when A/Bing.
Perhaps if I was doing a standalone review, I might not have thought that the bass tends to overpower mids ^^

 

[291079]

138. fiio m11s (W) vs ibasso dx170:

M11S: a little leaner treble, slightly wider soundstage, tighter bass, better instrument separation, leaner mids, more height, clearer, better bass/mids/treble balance, 2.5mm, faster processor.

Dx170: more bass, more forward mids, smoother overall, volume wheel, better button placement, lighter, higher resolution screen.

 

[291079]

139. oriolus traillii vs 64 audio u12t (W):

Traillii: wider soundstage, more analog sounding, smoother treble, more natural, better layering, overall fuller notes.

U12t: clearer, more transparent, leaner mids, airier, more bass, better background detail, sounds more as a whole, better instrument separation, overall thinner notes, more forward mids, a little more height.

Although this may seem like a classic tonality vs technicality match the tonality of the u12t is not that unnatural. Sure, it is a little to the lean side, but nothing makes you say, “wow that sounds real off.” Thus, the u12t is a little less natural, but a lot more technical, and that makes it my preferential monitor for now.

 

[Thomastb]

Any plans to get 64 audio u18s and u18t?

 

[291079]

Any plans to get 64 audio u18s and u18t?

I have a plan to get the u18t over the summer (we'll see how that goes ^^)
but nothing for the u18s atm

 

[o0genesis0o]

139. oriolus traillii vs 64 audio u12t (W):

Traillii: wider soundstage, more analog sounding, smoother treble, more natural, better layering, overall fuller notes.

U12t: clearer, more transparent, leaner mids, airier, more bass, better background detail, sounds more as a whole, better instrument separation, overall thinner notes, more forward mids, a little more height.

Although this may seem like a classic tonality vs technicality match the tonality of the u12t is not that unnatural. Sure, it is a little to the lean side, but nothing makes you say, “wow that sounds real off.” Thus, the u12t is a little less natural, but a lot more technical, and that makes it my preferential monitor for now.

U12T is more technical than the birds? Shocking (but good to know) finding for U12T owner like myself

What do you use to drive them?

 

[291079]

U12T is more technical than the birds? Shocking (but good to know) finding for U12T owner like myself

What do you use to drive them?

The strength of the bird is in its tonality and soundstage. Resolution and transparency belong to the u12t imo.
Tbh, I just use whatever i happen to have at that time. mostly AK, chord or ibasso.

 

[291079]

140. chord mojo 2 (W) vs a&k se200 akm:

Mojo 2: clearer, more transparent, airier, wider soundstage, better instrument separation, more height, better background detail, a little more forward mids, tighter bass, better layering, leaner mids, faster.

Se200: more bass, a little more natural, a little sharper treble.

 

[291079]

141. tgxear serratus vs 64 audio u12t (W):

Serratus: more bass, airier, wider soundstage, more height, nothing sounds harsh, but bass tends to overpower mids, bad microphonics.

U12t: clearer, more transparent, leaner mids, leaner treble, better bass/mids/treble balance, more forward mids, better tighter bass, faster, much better vocals.

I normally don't pit a $200 earbud against a $2000 iem, but I've seen some in the tgx ear thread saying that for them the serratus is up there with their totl iems. Although I really like the serratus I am not of the opinion that it can compete with totl iems or cans.

 

[291079]

142. ibasso dx300 w/ amp11 (W) vs a&k se200 akm:

Se200: leaner mids, leaner treble, a little more bass, more black background.

Dx300: wider soundstage, smoother notes overall, better background detail, more natural, better layering, but more sibilant.