The discovery thread!

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I was already interested in the Defiant based solely on its looks (the green one, obvs). Sounding great is a bonus!

Yes! Big surprise for me. Kind of hit me in the feels like the TRN Shell did, where it’s like, this shouldn’t hit so good, especially for the asking price, but it does. I guess it’s because it does a lot right, and very little wrong. It’s not a master of detail or treble extension, but it doesn’t have to be, because it’s a very capable musical beast.

 

[Khumbaba]

New iem "Tien Peng" from tangzu. Launch on 28 may.

 

[Thie]

Nice BlackJam Deal

Code : BKJM88

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_EugJjXs

 

[4ceratops]

Nice BlackJam Deal

Code : BKJM88

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_EugJjXs

I don't recommend buying because this cable from NiceHCK is very hard and microphonic due to the sturdy textile braid.

 

[Thie]

I don't recommend buying because this cable from NiceHCK is very hard and microphonic due to the sturdy textile braid.

Yeah like Dunu Lyre mini and many textile… but if you don’t dance on your sofa it works good

 

[thaslaya]

Finally, I'm caught up on the thread after a fun filled weekend celebrating the fantastic ladies in my life. I hope everyone is not only finding joy in their audio equipment but also in their friends and family . Before I get into the multiquote, I'll share my latest review for the iFi GO blu (Head-fi and blog). Since it's about 4 years old, it won't be much of a "discovery" for most of us, but I'm really glad I got the opportunity to do a dedicated review since I owned one in the past and loved it. The TL/DR is basically that it's a great little device but overdo for an update. Hopefully iFi has one in the works because the portable DAC/amp market is only becoming increasingly competitive as of late.

Coming to Discovery Thread everyday
Coming after 3 days and taking notes for 5 hours

Anyway

Here is my take on the Letshuoer Mystic 8 -

This is me too . I need more hours in the day to keep up here and with my ever growing pile of products for review. I'm glad to see the tariffs haven't decimated the thread though and the news that they will lower is not only good for the hobby but hopefully a step back towards the norm.

Also, I've been wondering where both @MakeItWain and @pk4425 have gotten to? Both have been MIA for over a week. They both off on a two-person hike of the Andes together?

I've never seen them in the same room. How do we know they are actually different people? 🕵‍

Appreciate the search party for my whereabouts. I'm not in South America -- I'm in Indiana.

I'm working the Indy 500. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. every day for 20 straight days. Fingers welded to a keyboard and eyes glued to a laptop screen non-stop. Every day is like riding the Banzai Pipeline on a long board and just hoping you make it to shore in one piece.

You'll see my name on many stories at these two sites (https://www.indycar.com/ and https://www.indynxt.com/), and I edit every one that doesn't have my byline. Also source, size and post all photos, post all stories, direct my two writers and arrange the order of all editorial and video content on both sites. I'm also the mayor of the Island of Misfit Toys for media members with questions and needs because I've been around so long.

My days:
6:30 a.m.: Get up. Shower. Eat. Light workout.
8 a.m.: Get to track. Start balls-out work.
9 p.m.: Get back from track. Cook dinner. Eat. Watch hockey.
11 p.m.: Go to bed.

Rinse, wash, repeat for 20 straight days, and I'm in the midst of 41 consecutive days without a day off due to races before and after the 500. I know there are far more taxing jobs, but this month is my annual ultimate test of mental and physical stamina. It's relentless sausage grinder -- probably why I want to retire after next season. I've done this for 30+ years, and I turn 60 at the end of this month. Sometimes I feel like I'm 80.

So, yeah, I'm going to be scarce posting and reading here until June. Good timing, though, as the Mango Maggot's import taxes on the American people (let's call them what they are, folks) have evaporated my interest in nearly all new models, as @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 said. Plus, I'm quite stoked with my current lineup and content to wait out this madness or pursue new models on the used market down the line.

Carry on, boys. Happy listening. I'll eavesdrop when I can. Hope you're all well, and Happy Mother's Day to the moms in your life.

Thanks.

I wouldn't last one season so kudos Paul on lasting 30 years! You really have to have a passion for it to make it that far

I dunno… I smell a cover up.

But seriously, good to hear from you both. Good luck in your respective occupations! I just hit my big downtime for the year (my academic year just ended last week), so I’m looking for the party!

You throw the party and invite the thread! I'll bring the bangers I have like the Wan'er, Piccolo, and Orca

Oh guys...the Ziigaat Arcanis is truly a flagship in the best way imaginable, an insanely balanced set with amazing detail, technicality and fast transients, I literally fell in love with it from the first listen, well tuned, excellent coherence of the armature drivers, the sound delivery is very solid, neutral and smooth, I love everything about this set, just plug in and enjoy, no shouty added brightness just natural and natural delivery, and it sounds completely different from the ZiiGaat Lush, here we have a more mature and truly audiophile sound with better detail and resolution, tighter and more textured bass, it's really too good and everything I expect from a true flagship is there.

Glad you're enjoying this one but I haven't quite figured it out myself yet. I have it on loan and admittedly I need to spend more time tip ahd source rolling but initial impressions were kind of lackluster for the price

They don't show up for me (I'm also in the US), but I won't mention why because the mods keep deleting any of my posts with the "t" word in it.

Treble? Technicalities? Totally not the idiot in charge?

Something came. Something big came.

 

[pk4425]

I wouldn't last one season so kudos Paul on lasting 30 years! You really have to have a passion for it to make it that far

If passion is a synonym for insanity or masochism, you are correct, sir.

 

[caryking]

Sounds to be XINHS is fudging with the tax, so they can continue to charge more for their cables? I got one thing to say to them for that, and it's something I can't say here without risk of banning. I already see some stores bringing down their pricing accordingly (like for my IEM cases), so if XINHS doesn't follow suit soon, they will be on my no-buy list

I did some research today on the Tariffs…. Prior to the increase in tariffs, the Cables coming out of China had a 4.9% tariff. With the changes announced today, that number dropped to 30%, plus the 4.9%. With that, I’m a buyer. Now, I need to find a seller on Aliexpress that follows this pricing plan. Let me show an example:

So, this is what I’m trying to figure out.

Subtotal: $30.04
Tariff at 34.9%: $10.48
Extra Discount: $1.00
Total: $39.52

Difference: $29.80 <— Is this difference shipping?

What’s everyone’s thought on this? Also, anybody have any vendors, on Aliexpress that might sell according to the proper new tariff?

 

[theintention]

Myself
Nah but honestly the reviewers I watch/read most are the ones who I talk to and have come to know their preferences and them mine. @Jaytiss @MakeItWain @EnigmaFotos @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 @AudioAmigoReviews @theintention @domq422. I have swapped sets many times with these fellas and they never let me down on recommendations or advice

Aww thanks man, this means a lot especially since my health has really made me dial back my postings and reviews. I still have some outstanding stuff I REALLY need to post…

But Tonight's Como Discovery is the Wonderous Oriolus from Japan - Szalayi and the Astell&Kern Kann Max with a custom cable from GY HiFi

The Discovery was how well the Szalayi with that much bass can sound just as amazing with classical music as it plays Metallica!

What a incredible and special IEM this is.
I traded my Beloved Softears Twilight for it and glad I did.

I never really miss gear after I sell it, can usually feel satisfied with the reason I sold it… I can’t get over the Szalayi. I may need to readd it to the collection.

---

Been spending a lot of time with the DX180. Killer DAP, and I hardly feel like I reach for the DC-Elite anymore.

Also been getting more organized, here are my favorite album releases so far of 2025… what an incredible year.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I did some research today on the Tariffs…. Prior to the increase in tariffs, the Cables coming out of China had a 4.9% tariff. With the changes announced today, that number dropped to 30%, plus the 4.9%. With that, I’m a buyer. Now, I need to find a seller on Aliexpress that follows this pricing plan. Let me show an example:




So, this is what I’m trying to figure out.

Subtotal: $30.04
Tariff at 34.9%: $10.48
Extra Discount: $1.00
Total: $39.52

Difference: $29.80 <— Is this difference shipping?

What’s everyone’s thought on this? Also, anybody have any vendors, on Aliexpress that might sell according to the proper new tariff?

Shipping used to be FREE with all orders over $10.00. Now, look at that shipping cost. $40.38?! That's not absorbing costs. That's passing it along to the consumer. GY (XINHS) makes great cables though.

---

After spending the late evening and early morning groovin' to the ISN H20 thru TOOBS as well as my Sony NW-ZX100 (beautiful synergy), my Monday daily Trio consists of the ISN EBC80, Oriveti Lowmaster, and Juzear x ZEOS Defiant. The Defiant makes another appearance, since I'm gearing up to publish my review on Wednesday, and today's music playlist is METAL. So I'll be comparing the EBC80 metal BOSS vs the Defiant metal BOSS. I'm throwing in the Lowmaster to see if it's decent for metal?

 

[bithalver]

If passion is a synonym for insanity or masochism, you are correct, sir.

Masochism, no; but some insanity is needed to be sane; for strong passion, more.

 

[bixby]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Well, I am taking a chance on the Simgot EW300. These will be my interim pair until I figure out where to go on the upper end. If anyone wants a lightly used pair of Tangzu Heydays, mine are up on ebay, seller name there is cymruroots and I ship from Colorado.

 

[caryking]

Shipping used to be FREE with all orders over $10.00. Now, look at that shipping cost. $40.38?! That's not absorbing costs. That's passing it along to the consumer. GY (XINHS) makes great cables though.

I’m trying to figure this out! I’m asking multiple sellers on Aliexpress trying to understand these prices. If they would follow the new tariff, I’m a buyer!

 

[bixby]

I did some research today on the Tariffs…. Prior to the increase in tariffs, the Cables coming out of China had a 4.9% tariff. With the changes announced today, that number dropped to 30%, plus the 4.9%. With that, I’m a buyer. Now, I need to find a seller on Aliexpress that follows this pricing plan. Let me show an example:




So, this is what I’m trying to figure out.

Subtotal: $30.04
Tariff at 34.9%: $10.48
Extra Discount: $1.00
Total: $39.52

Difference: $29.80 <— Is this difference shipping?

What’s everyone’s thought on this? Also, anybody have any vendors, on Aliexpress that might sell according to the proper new tariff?

I’m trying to figure this out! I’m asking multiple sellers on Aliexpress trying to understand these prices. If they would follow the new tariff, I’m a buyer!

One thing to remember, sellers do not care about tariffs, they do not pay them, YOU DO!.

Second, since de minimus went away, packages sent via the dirt cheap China Post and delivered by our illustrious USPS have minimum per package rates of $100 til June then correction $200 from June 2 (or did that change today?).

Or they can send via another carrier like DHL or UPS or Fedex and have them chose the tariff amount of 30% ++ (for now). I would be very wary about buying anything shipped out of China. Could be the shipping vendor a particular seller is using is factoring in the new rate into the shipping rate............then again DHL may be knocking on your door asking for more money when they try to deliver, as the tariff is paid by the buyer.

 

[caryking]

One thing to remember, sellers do not care about tariffs, they do not pay them, YOU DO!.

Second, since de minimus went away, packages sent via the dirt cheap China Post and delivered by our illustrious USPS have minimum per package rates of $100 til June then $150 (or did that change today?).

Or they can send via another carrier like DHL or UPS or Fedex and have them chose the tariff amount of 30% ++ (for now). I would be very wary about buying anything shipped out of China. Could be the shipping vendor a particular seller is using is factoring in the new rate into the shipping rate............then again DHL may be knocking on your door asking for more money when they try to deliver, as the tariff is paid by the buyer.

The seller care about the tariff if they want to sell in the US market. Regarding the shipping, I really don’t know how that works for these sellers. Are you saying that if my package is greater than $100 or $150, they my offer free shipping?