The discovery thread!

[jbfps116]

You have rarely let me down with your rec's, and typically when you hit on something and I try it, it's pretty much conforms to my liking, but something tells me you might be overhyping the CK2V? Maybe it's because you're one of the only disciples for this IEM, delivered with this much hype (liking it to an $800 IEM that's gotten universal positive acclaim, in the Nautilus). So though you do create ample interest, it's also a bit side eye'ing just how much hype you're giving this set vs others.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/myer-audio-cklvx-ck2v.27887/
While it doesn't quite have EVERY quality I like to see in IEMs, it's pretty dang amazing. One of the absolute best values in ChiFi ever!
EDIT: yes I just published a review of the CK2V. It’s not as long or detailed or filled with song examples and comparisons as some of the reviews I’ve seen, but I have a LOT of IEMs I should review so I don’t want to take forever on each one haha. Besides, I’m just not always super good at describing the fine nuances of sound.

What do you think about this?

Oh wow... wow. that would sound amazing... [not sure about the rolled-off sub, but it's still at a nice level so...] Sadly there's almost no way I can get my hands on these yet

 

[BS5711]

Here's the thing. My words. Not yours. Not everyone is OBSESSED with the science of sound as you are, so more folks find a lane (a reviewer or trusted source), and base their impressions, purchases, or trust in that person, and then typically, if you have a high degree of success in sonic matching, then that person becomes your ride or die. If the percentage turns out to go the other way, typically, you'll look elsewhere. Most folks, and I do say this respectfully, most folks don't read my review and then daydream "yeah, not sure I can trust his point of view. It's probably just psychoacoustic drivel, his brain is playing tricks on him, and yeah, since he hasn't done a blind taste test with 4 dacs and 3 IEMs, it's just mumbo jumbo." Please folks, correct me if I'm wrong here? I don't think that's what's going on? So if that's where your mind goes when you read reviews, my friend, that is entirely on YOU. Your obsession. It does not negate the reviews of others. It does invalidate what they hear. It does not make blissful ignorance bad or biased. It just means that if you're obsessed with audio science that much, then you're not as free as you think, or appear to be. Music is supposed to be freeing. I choose to live by that ethos. You do you, but it's not on us to adapt to you. Or even for you to adapt to us. It's the freedom of somewhere in between.

That is absolutely fine, people are free to do what they like, I said that I fully understood that most others don't care but some probably do, maybe even lurkers that don't even sign in. If somebody does and they take something from my posts great, if not no problem, nothing lost but a tiny bit of page real estate and my time.

I am certain you have a preconception that your experience would be very different to mine but as I said to Nik, you simply can't know that without trying. I know that isn't how you are wired so you won't try it, no problem. People like me offer a counterpoint, where is the harm, no you don't need to adapt to me or me to you but I offer my experiences and people can make what they want of it.

Frankly I know your opinion, there really isn't even a need to respond to me, you could just slide past it, you don't have to play the gatekeeper here and save people from my ramblings. If my handful of posts about these switchbox comparisons upsets somebody or people think I am laughable that is fine, I don't care, not everybody has to agree with me or even be interested, in fact I fully acknowledge most people will glaze over because my comments are at odds with their own experiences, fine.

For correctness I am not obsessed by any aspect of audio at all, I just have a desire to understand anything that I do so I dig a bit deeper than some. It might not come across that way here because all you see of me is posts that present that one facet of me. Same situation with you, frankly the obsession comment could easily be flipped around. Not being rude, funny or smart, that just seems common sense observation, you post a lot more than I do just about different stuff. That is fine, I don't care or mean any disrespect, but if you are labelling people you need to be a little self aware also.

You said that ignorance is bliss, that is fine from a personal perspective but if I understand that is a reviewers perspective how do I know just how much importance they put on genuinely understanding the apparent differences that they talk about.

You are welcome to do you and I will do me, you don't have to feel the need to openly object to my posts just because you disagree or don't care. I don't agree with much of your comments about the impact of source devices, digital filers, cables etc etc but I just skim by and keep schtum.

As I already said, I know it isn't something that many are interested in so my posts were few and I am done.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/myer-audio-cklvx-ck2v.27887/
While it doesn't quite have EVERY quality I like to see in IEMs, it's pretty dang amazing. One of the absolute best values in ChiFi ever!
EDIT: yes I just published a review of the CK2V. It’s not as long or detailed or filled with song examples and comparisons as some of the reviews I’ve seen, but I have a LOT of IEMs I should review so I don’t want to take forever on each one haha. Besides, I’m just not always super good at describing the fine nuances of sound.

Oh wow... wow. that would sound amazing... [not sure about the rolled-off sub, but it's still at a nice level so...] Sadly there's almost no way I can get my hands on these yet

Excellent review. Thanks for sharing it. Appreciate it.

---

Before my jazz obsession that started in late 2023, I was a devout and equally as obsessed METAL HEAD. Since 1980 (before that I was a disco kid. Sorry. lol). So my playlists were 95% metal, hard rock, and grunge (harder alternative). So I was always rating my IEMs and headphones by how well they played back my beloved metal music. So here's my top 12 current favorite METAL BOSSES...

Pirole Resin. KZ Libra X.
KZ ZVX Pro. CCA Trio. Tangzu Wu Zetian.
Tanchjim Bunny, Letshuoer DX1, Letshuoer S12 (2024)
Sound Rhyme SP01. ISN EBC80. ISN H60.

Ok, that's only 11. That slot up top is blank for a reason, and it's because we have a brand new entrant into the METAL BOSS top 12 list, and that IEM is...

Juzear x ZEOS Defiant!!

I just got hit over the head with the genre of CHOICE for the Defiant. METAL!! Decided to throw on my metal playlist with the Defiant, and I haven't been able to separate myself from these IEMs. Cemented to my ears. WOW. It's like these were made with metal in mind! They slide right there within the top 12, and rising, along with the CCA Trio, ISN H60, and the SP01 as the cream of the crop very best (btw, yes, the Archangel should also belong, but I haven't done enough metal playlists with it yet).

 

[r31ya]

Paul Wasabi rambles on KZ AM16,
seems he read these thread and immediately points out that its no "budget" variation
this is a bit lower freq focused than Variations's upper freq focus.



Per Paul, KZ having idea of making 16BA iems and then tuned it like Zenith which are to sound thicker, less technical but still there with more volume. More musical than tech show off.
supposedly that style would be easier to reach with all-DD or hybrids.
but KZ being kz...

 

[jghjkhfd]

Oh wow... wow. that would sound amazing... [not sure about the rolled-off sub, but it's still at a nice level so...] Sadly there's almost no way I can get my hands on these yet

I just don't know if I should pull the trigger on them. Will VP-07 be an great Phoenixia sidegrade or not? Maybe Ineras has something to say about it...

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Paul Wasabi rambles on KZ AM16,
seems he read these thread and immediately points out that its no "budget" variation
this is a bit lower freq focused than Variations's upper freq focus.



Per Paul, KZ having idea of making 16BA iems and then tuned it like Zenith which are to sound thicker, less technical but still there with more volume. More musical than tech show off.
supposedly that style would be easier to reach with all-DD or hybrids.

Hey @paulwasabii, did you receive the Lime Ears sets? I forgot to get the tracking number from the glove box! lol

KZ AM16 would be a fun one to add, but not while we live in this trade climate. $45.00 with coupons in any normal world, but $80+ atm. So not worth PTT yet.

I haven't chosen any daily trio's today, thanks to the Defiant hogging all my ear time, but I think tonight I'd gonna dig deep deep into the rotation for stuff that I haven't listened to for months?

My brain is tricking me into loving the Defiant for metal while using the Sony NW-A306 untethered! Dammit!! Why brain?! WHY?!

 

[BS5711]

My brain is tricking me into loving the Defiant for metal while using the Sony NW-A306 untethered! Dammit!! Why brain?! WHY?!

Did you swap to a different source and all of a sudden hated the IEM and music ?

That would be a case of your brain playing tricks on you.

Said tongue firmly in cheek

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I ended up picking a rather odd Wednesday daily trio! I certainly went deep and picked out the Sennheiser IE800, with my set being 10 years old (almost 11). Haven't listened to these since I got my now sold Sennheiser IE900, so I'm back down 100. Also pulled the TRN ST7. 2DD+5BA set that are still, to this day, one of the best budget IEMs on the market (though they've since been upgraded with the Shell). Been awhile. Lastly, I'm going with a new set that I just haven't been able to give much attention to. The TimeEar Blossom. Gonna throw it and the others on the Cayin Ru6 and give it some r2r love.

 

[jbfps116]

Paul Wasabi rambles on KZ AM16,
seems he read these thread and immediately points out that its no "budget" variation
this is a bit lower freq focused than Variations's upper freq focus.



Per Paul, KZ having idea of making 16BA iems and then tuned it like Zenith which are to sound thicker, less technical but still there with more volume. More musical than tech show off.
supposedly that style would be easier to reach with all-DD or hybrids.
but KZ being kz...

What he said about Zenith and I guess, AM16 where you have to turn up the volume up to hear treble details, makes sense. I try not to listen to my sets at too loud of volume and that’s probably why I like sets like CK2V because they sound detailed at lower volumes.

And from his general description of the AM16, I don’t think I’d be super interested in it.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

What he said about Zenith and I guess, AM16 where you have to turn up the volume up to hear treble details, makes sense. I try not to listen to my sets at too loud of volume and that’s probably why I like sets like CK2V because they sound detailed at lower volumes.

And from his general description of the AM16, I don’t think I’d be super interested in it.

Zenith, Saga, Decet, PRX, and now AM16. Loud listens. Much like the Explorer. The running theme? More meta tuning than v's or u's.

The absurdity of these tariff's in plain sight! Most of these cables were under $100.00 just a few weeks ago, and a couple here, like the MOZI, with the personal coupon, could have been had for about $60? Now look at these jacked prices!! Might as well save your $$$ and buy your cables from Musicteck or Bloom? Cheaper.

 

[kalibri]

The absurdity of these tariff's in plain sight! Most of these cables were under $100.00

They still are. You guys are screwed unfortunately.

 

[r31ya]

What he said about Zenith and I guess, AM16 where you have to turn up the volume up to hear treble details, makes sense. I try not to listen to my sets at too loud of volume and that’s probably why I like sets like CK2V because they sound detailed at lower volumes.

And from his general description of the AM16, I don’t think I’d be super interested in it.

if you hear in lower volume,
i suppose crin tuning would be good option. he also hear in lower volume to preserve his ear health and apparently tuned some of his stuff to be good for low volume listening.

KZ is still (mostly) playing it safe in treble/high freq avoiding their old sibilant complaint.
something which in turn causing it to lose some of the high freq details in low volume.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Crin has obviously sold a lot of Truthear Zeros, Variations, Diokos, and Dusks?! Good for him!! Bring that ching!! $$$$



@r31ya - Exactly. CrinEar Meta would require louder listening due to the meta tuning, but the Daybreak and Reference would be tuned more V and U, so lower volume listening IEMs. The Meta, not so much.

 

[Okcerg]

Zenith, Saga, Decet, PRX, and now AM16. Loud listens. Much like the Explorer. The running theme? More meta tuning than v's or u's.


The absurdity of these tariff's in plain sight! Most of these cables were under $100.00 just a few weeks ago, and a couple here, like the MOZI, with the personal coupon, could have been had for about $60? Now look at these jacked prices!! Might as well save your $$$ and buy your cables from Musicteck or Bloom? Cheaper.

Man, that sucks!! What a circus. Meanwhile in countries with non-orange leaders:

 

[Barndoor]

Man, that sucks!! What a circus. Meanwhile in countries with non-orange leaders:

Well I might as well join the smugness - AU$11.39 is about US$8