The discovery thread!

[mikaik]

So you like being fooled by your imprecise perception and just enjoy music in your free time?! What if all of your enjoyment is actually just a fake construct - you ought to think about that during your free time!

And it's not my only oddity, I also prefer to eat food, rather than read the recipe, drink the wine instead of checking the amount of tannins, and so on
On a more serious note, as long as it brings me pleasure I don't care if it's real or placebo or mass hypnosis. We all approach this hobby differently.

 

[BS5711]

-

 

[thaslaya]

Had a little surprise land on my doorstep yesterday.

So far I've spent very little time with it but a quick impression:

Softears Studio 2 is about what you'd expect - a budget version of the Studio 4. Without having both in front of me to compare, I would say the 2 gets at least 90% the performance of the 4, making the latter mostly redundant. Though I will say that the Studio 2 actually has pretty darn good sub-bass extension and weight for BA bass. More to come after I finish the other 10 things on my plate

 

[Okcerg]

https://nypost.com/2025/05/08/busin...to-as-low-as-50-as-soon-as-next-week-sources/

Let's hope these rumors are true!

 

[Dandelion777]

50% is still so nutty lol. slowly dying inside.

 

[BS5711]

You guys are very funny.

If you go to restaurants all the time you don't need to understand a recipe, if you have to cook for yourself not knowing how to read a recipe isn't a great place to start from if you want to enjoy good food.

If you want to spend money on expensive wine all the time you don't need to know much about wine to enjoy it, if you want to get wine that you will really enjoy without breaking the bank it helps to know something about wine, I live in wine country so I speak from experience

The parallel is I like to dig a bit deeper and understand stuff so I know where to spend my money to get maximum bang for buck and therefore enjoy the music better. I have established that for me spending more money on DACs and amplifiers and cables doesn't yield sonic bang for buck so my money goes in IEM and headphones where it actually has returns. If others want to just assume things and be lead by comments that this amp sound like that and that amp sounds like this that is great for them but it doesn't work for me.

As was said above, we all approach this differently. I enjoy what I do, I get the results that I want from the gear I have by understanding what actually matters and I enjoy the music and listening experience better as a result. I don't see that humor in that but you are welcome to have a chuckle of course.

 

[caryking]

So what you need is a monocrystalline copper (single crystal copper) with gold plating and silver/palladium plating). This will hit those marks you're looking for with the P-M. There's plenty of those types out there, so happy choosing.

Are you thinking about something like this?

https://ivipq.com/collections/earph...8934501-7492975-39060312-7492976-39060315-0-0

Or, where can I find something that me in the States?

 

[kalibri]

making the latter mostly redundant

The piano black finish on the Studio 4 will never ever be made redundant

 

[jbfps116]

Just purchased … another IEM. (My last for a long time lol.) ONLY because I got a $20 off coupon if I use Sezzle through Amazon. (Also, the pressure of snatching up Amazon local shipping sets to evade tariffs was a factor here.)
So I have a Shanling Tino incoming for about $50! Dual DD that people say is a bit more on the musical side of things, which might be the answer to my concern that the Castor Pro Bass was too … dry or thin in the mids. It will be my first Shanling set and I’m kinda excited. Plus, I love the look.

 

[shade105]

XINHS K15. The perfect synergy sister for the H60. I keep buying cables for it, and yet, I keep circling back to the K15.

Thanks!

 

[Hypops]

You guys are very funny.

If you go to restaurants all the time you don't need to understand a recipe, if you have to cook for yourself not knowing how to read a recipe isn't a great place to start from if you want to enjoy good food.

If you want to spend money on expensive wine all the time you don't need to know much about wine to enjoy it, if you want to get wine that you will really enjoy without breaking the bank it helps to know something about wine, I live in wine country so I speak from experience

The parallel is I like to dig a bit deeper and understand stuff so I know where to spend my money to get maximum bang for buck and therefore enjoy the music better. I have established that for me spending more money on DACs and amplifiers and cables doesn't yield sonic bang for buck so my money goes in IEM and headphones where it actually has returns. If others want to just assume things and be lead by comments that this amp sound like that and that amp sounds like this that is great for them but it doesn't work for me.

As was said above, we all approach this differently. I enjoy what I do, I get the results that I want from the gear I have by understanding what actually matters and I enjoy the music and listening experience better as a result. I don't see that humor in that but you are welcome to have a chuckle of course.

And you claim that you aren't poo pooing the rest of us? Come on. Just enjoy what you enjoy and let us enjoy what we enjoy and stop with the smug superiority nonsense already.

 

[jbfps116]

The ultimate Tangzu Wan'er showdown!
2 VS original (OG) VS SE!

Each IEM is outfitted with cables and tips that I think enhance the sound the best. (2 and SE on pure copper cables, OG on silver-plated.) Playback is R4 through DC-Elite.

Song 1: "Unity" by Royksopp. Winner: Wan'er 2
When I switched from the 2 to the OG, it was like a cloud covering the sun. Literally. The 2 is just THAT much more CAPABLE with the bass, and the electronic treble sizzle. Aaaaand... the SE isn't any better than the OG here. It has quite a chunk less bass, and the treble is... SLIGHTLY clearer, but not enough of an improvement to make it sound better overall. The 2's treble is definitely a but more forward than any of the other sets, and the bass is SO much better and cleaner while not sounding too warm like the OG.

Song 2: "Everything Is" by Gungor. Winner: Wan'er 2
Almost like the warmer male vocals on the OG better than the 2 here... But when the first chorus hits, it's a mud-fest. The 2 is just way more competent and detailed. The SE's sound isn't as warm as the OG here, which is nice, but again, it fails to maintain clarity and incisiveness during the intense chorus. In this regard, the Wan'er 2 is EASILY in the ranks of very resolving and capable single DD IEMs like the ZVX Pro and Kefine Klean. (Not sure if it could reach the hushed echelons of the SP01, but it's certainly an aspiring apostle!)

Song 3: "Red Virgin Soil (Live)" by Agnes Obel. Winner: Wan'er 2
In a non-vocal piece like this, I thought maybe the differences in clarity would be harder to determine... well, it's not. The OG just is more... almost hazy or blurry compared to the 2. The SE sounds a little clearer than the OG, but it's still not on par with the 2.

Song 4: "Halfway to Heaven" by Celine Dion. Winner: Wan'er 2
Again, the 2 is just SO clear and detailed, those opening chimes sound AMAZING. The OG's warmer sound DOES sound fairly good with this older song, but realistically, it's technically inferior (pun intended!) The SE's bass is too light... the bass is just anemic coughs on the drums here. Again, the 2 takes the victory here. It doesn't sound too bright or clinical, but while it's not as warm as the OG, I still think it wins the battle here, although fans of warm, organic sound MIGHT prefer the OG.

Song 5: All is Soft Inside" by AURORA. Winner: Wan'er 2
The 2 is bright, clean, yet portrays this soft music and vocals quite sweetly. When the bass line kicks in, it's definitely clear and punchy, but not overbearing, just like the song should be played. The OG is again, smooth and melodic. This is easily the best song out of the five for the OG, even though the bass isn't as clearly defined as on the 2. I could almost see myself liking the OG again if I just listened to music like this! The SE's treble/vocals also sounds good here, and the cellos near the beginning sound cleaner than the OG. But again, the bass is rather light, and hard to hear above the elevated vocals, at times.

So it's a clean sweep for the Wan'er 2! Often, when it's a closer battle, I listen to some more song comparisons other than these main 5 I usually use. Such efforts are clearly not needed here because the 2 is just THAT good.

I had been hanging on to the OG and the SE till the bitter end, but the 2 is just SO much better, it puts them to shame. So, two more IEMs are going in the CULL pile. As pretty as they are on the outside, the internals just aren't measuring up to 2025 standards, much less their own COMPANY'S new standards of awesomeness. I'll be listening to the very appropriate "Anthem" by Epsen Eriksen Trio on the Wan'er 2 as I pack up the Wan'er [blue/gold edition] and the stunning copper/pearl SE

~In summary, I think the Wan'er 2 sounds MUCH nicer than the price suggests. If you thought the Wan'er OG was an amazing bargain, prepare to FAINT when you hear the 2.

***What other showdowns would anyone want to see, among my Owned IEMs in my signature, obviously. I intended at least a few: a planar showdown, and a single DD showdown.

 

[BS5711]

And you claim that you aren't poo pooing the rest of us? Come on. Just enjoy what you enjoy and let us enjoy what we enjoy and stop with the smug superiority nonsense already.

I assume you didn't read what I wrote in detail or I wrote it in a manner that didn't convey my meaning clearly.

Yes I poo poo stuff that others had said, that is very obvious and would be hard for me to hide from, not that I care to.

What I didn't do was poo poo anything based on concepts and ideas that I read somewhere and parroted.

That is what started the conversation, you were critical about my blind test efforts based on concepts and ideas of others not your own experiences because you are not interested enough to try it for yourself. I don't care that you don't try it but you could very easily refrain from critique and let me post and assess for myself if anybody gives a s...t rather than tell me you don't and point out why you think you know better.

I made my comments based on my own experiences and a little understanding how typical sources, typical cables and typical IEM are likely to behave together and what is likely to genuinely affect sound versus what might be based only on flawed perception.

How about you and our other mate ignore my content and stop feeling like you have to comment because you believe something different.

I get that you would see my comments as smug superiority complex driven but, you know, you and our other mate come across that way to me, seriously. You have a poke and a dig and talk like you know better with no indication of any doubt about that whatsoever. That is great but don't pretend that is something other than a sense of superiority at your end. Perhaps you don't come across to some here as you think you do as you type your responses. A little self awareness would be good if slagging me off, most things are not a straightforward black and white deal and it is logical that your actions are also part of what creates these conflicts not mine alone, I think would be deluded to think otherwise.

Please feel free to literally or digitally ignore me if my content upsets you and you can't refrain from rebuttal because you disagree and believe you know better. Despite that you likely don't see it I actually do that very frequently. I have had my say in the past and generally leave things alone these days. I did a few tests that some might be interested in, posted some comments and get greeted with criticism from you, our mate a one other.

If you don't care just leave it alone, easy and it saves this b..s..t.

You have said your piece, our mate has said his and I have said mine, can we please just drop it there, feel free to pop in something if you want that last word but I am leaving it there for the sanity of all concerned.

Thank you.

 

[Barndoor]

Oh dear, at it again....

Anyway, despite my early resistance to the Aether hype train, I have to say that I have hardly taken it out of my ears over the last couple of weeks. Nothing else has had much of a look in.

Today is wfh and new music Friday. Today's treat Thom Yorke and Mark Pritchard

 

[Jaytiss]

Campfire Alien Brain. So great.