The discovery thread!

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

MAIL CALL!!!

Kiwi Ears Septet is in da hizzouse!! Bought off Amazon, so no tariffs or extra taxes, with the early bird discount thrown in!!

Way too early impressions....

That open back design delivers SOUNDSTAGE!! But not just soundstage, but this IEM delivers spatial cues that have depth and height, to go along with width. Actually, I'm inclined to day there's more depth than width? It's a fascinating stage, that provides a unique dimensionality. Sub bass rumble. On the track Miracle and Streetfight by Ambrose Akinmusire, there's a bass "buzz" that actually buzzed by ears. Got my ears tickled! Now, you can tell the ultra highs are piezo, as it's there, the timbre. It's crisp. It's like a cross between the EW300, Raptgo Bridge, and Geek Wold GK10. Not as wispy as the EW300, but not as harsh as the Bridge, it's a crisp extention, with some piezo texture. The micro planar texture is also audible, so treble extension, air, shimmer, and texture are right in my wheelhouse. Incisive is the key word. The treble AND the midrange are incisive, resolute, and transparent. CLEAN. CLEAR. SPATIAL. I want to source roll, and listen some more, so that's about all I will comment on at this point, but this IEM speaks FWAL2 language fluently, and the Septet is winner winner chicken dinner!! SO FAR. More listening to go...plus I want to see if the midrange has note weight or if it's thin? Ok.

 

[Hypops]

Is it just me, or is Autotune being used in this otherwise lovely piece?

I really want to enjoy the song, but the metallic vocal slurs I'm hearing are just... eck! unless, somehow I'm wrong and there's no Autotune being used... bit I'm fairly sure I hear it .
The track sounds really good on the Phoenixia...

Caroline Polachek has been hounded for years by people accusing her of using autotune. She's practiced and practiced to get her voice to do that. No, she doesn't use autotune, but, yes, it sounds like it. You can find a number of live demonstrations floating around of her doing autotune-inspired vocal effects totally "analog." It's a trip.

 

[Waqar]

Low gain, normal safe listening level (20). PO. 3.5mm. Volume steps normal and smooth in delivery. No noise or excessive volume increase or decease.

Interesting i am using the balanced output 4.4 maybe thats it. I have to investigate further i guess.

 

[Vonbuddy]

2. Just bought the Septet on Amazon (1 day delivery) thru Linsoul for $250.00 with the coupon!! Americans, Linsoul has the Septet on American soil, and before the tariffs and taxes got added, so this is the way to go. I thought I was going to be out of the Septet business due to the Trump tax, but somehow Linsoul got some Septet's across the pond before the scourge. https://www.amazon.com/Linsoul-Kiwi-Ears-Septet-Audiophiles/dp/B0F2DNJQQM/ref=sr_1_1

I also got the Ellipse, which I like very much. Very much my preferential sound. Well built headphones with good sonics.

So now instead of the Penon Archangel being my last IEM purchase until Can Jam, it turned out to be the IEM I thought would be that last buy, until the scourge happened, but somehow, I was able to skirt that premium thru Amazon. I was able to use my $50.00 Amazon gift card, and I saved $20.00 with a coupon!! So $70.00 off!! Ok, now I'm tapped out (unless there's a reversal of fortune soon?).

So if you buy from Linsoul they don't include the tariffs? It gets added later?

 

[Hypops]

So if you buy from Linsoul they don't include the tariffs? It gets added later?

The "de minimis" exemption just expired (again) on Friday. It's currently the weekend. Maybe the change doesn't go into effect until Monday? Guess we'll know soon enough.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

So if you buy from Linsoul they don't include the tariffs? It gets added later?

No. The sets that are on Amazon that are from Linsoul were shipped to the U.S. warehouses before the tariffs. Once that stock is gone, I'm sure you'll see an increase in price, but as long as it's sitting in a U.S. Amazon warehouse pre-tariff and tax, well, it's affordable.

 

[r31ya]

... i forgot which recent iem with wood membrane?

Twistura is releasing theirs, Twistura Woodnote,
1x DD, with wood fiber composite diaphragm, approx $125

rich box, 4 sets of eartips, 3.5/4.4mm cable, tuning nozzle and box.

With graph that somehow reminds me of KZ ZA12,

---

is this wood DD starting become a new trend?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

... i forgot which recent iem with wood membrane?

Twistura is releasing theirs, Twistura Woodnote,
1x DD, with wood fiber composite diaphragm, approx $125



rich box, 4 sets of eartips, 3.5/4.4mm cable, tuning nozzle and box.






With graph that somehow reminds me of KZ ZA12,




---

is this wood DD starting become a new trend?

No, because not enough IEMs feature this, plus the trend belongs to JVC for the last 15 years. Would have loved to have owned the FW10000, and there's one on sale used for $800, which I would have snapped up had I not already bought the Archangel, M21, and Septet. BROKE.

 

[mikaik]

... i forgot which recent iem with wood membrane?

Twistura is releasing theirs, Twistura Woodnote,
1x DD, with wood fiber composite diaphragm, approx $125



rich box, 4 sets of eartips, 3.5/4.4mm cable, tuning nozzle and box.






With graph that somehow reminds me of KZ ZA12,




---

is this wood DD starting become a new trend?

wood fiber composite diaphragm,

That's a fancy name for cellulose, isn't it?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Septet is like a cross between the Simgot EM6L and the Juzear 81T, with the soundstage of the KZ ZVX Pro. It truly is a unique listening experience.

It responds deliciously to TOOBS, but even more so to r2r. Thru the Cayin Ru6, the Septet is fabulously unique in sonic delivery and textured.

So my current top 10 as of 05.05.2025 is as follows :

1. Penon Archangel
2. ISN H60
3. Dita Project M
4. Letshuoer Cadenza 4
5. ISN EBC80
6. Kiwi Ears Septet
7. DUNU DK3001BD
8. 7Hz FIVE
9. Letshuoer DX1
10. Aur Audio Aure

Honorable mentions : AFUL Performer 7, Fengru CF3, ISN H20, Sound Rhyme SP01, Tangzu Wu Zetian, Softears Volume S

Top 10 under $100 :

1. CCA Trio
2. Sound Rhyme SP01
3. KZ ZVX Pro
4. Simgot EW300
5. ISN H20
6. KZ Decet
7. TRN Shell
8. KZ ZS12 Pro X
9. Pirole Resin/KZ PR3
10. Zero Audio Tenore

 

[Okcerg]

Septet is like a cross between the Simgot EM6L and the Juzear 81T, with the soundstage of the KZ ZVX Pro. It truly is a unique listening experience.

It responds deliciously to TOOBS, but even more so to r2r. Thru the Cayin Ru6, the Septet is fabulously unique in sonic delivery and textured.

So my current top 10 as of 05.05.2025 is as follows :

1. Penon Archangel
2. ISN H60
3. Dita Project M
4. Letshuoer Cadenza 4
5. ISN EBC80
6. Kiwi Ears Septet
7. DUNU DK3001BD
8. 7Hz FIVE
9. Letshuoer DX1
10. Aur Audio Aure

Honorable mentions : AFUL Performer 7, Fengru CF3, ISN H20, Sound Rhyme SP01, Tangzu Wu Zetian, Softears Volume S

Top 10 under $100 :

1. CCA Trio
2. Sound Rhyme SP01
3. KZ ZVX Pro
4. Simgot EW300
5. ISN H20
6. KZ Decet
7. TRN Shell
8. KZ ZS12 Pro X
9. Pirole Resin/KZ PR3
10. Zero Audio Tenore

ZVX Pro, which you could get for $12 before tariffs, is such a HUGE VALUE iem! Kudos to KZ for bringing good sound that almost everyone can afford.

 

[Vonbuddy]

No. The sets that are on Amazon that are from Linsoul were shipped to the U.S. warehouses before the tariffs. Once that stock is gone, I'm sure you'll see an increase in price, but as long as it's sitting in a U.S. Amazon warehouse pre-tariff and tax, well, it's affordable.

This also applies to buying directly from them?

 

[caryking]

Could you please check how many hi-res stickers it would take to get the sound quality equal to having one of those?

Try the top row first and go from there….

 

[gadgetgod]

... i forgot which recent iem with wood membrane?

Twistura is releasing theirs, Twistura Woodnote,
1x DD, with wood fiber composite diaphragm, approx $125



rich box, 4 sets of eartips, 3.5/4.4mm cable, tuning nozzle and box.






With graph that somehow reminds me of KZ ZA12,




---

is this wood DD starting become a new trend?

Man the graph seems too flat in the bass region, and then that pickup in the upper mids and lower-treble are definitely going to bring those vocals ahead.

 

[PeacockObscura]

My thoughts on the EPZ Q1pro
Are here
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/epz-q1-pro.27055/reviews