The discovery thread!

[Discordiain]

Let me rec this read for a bit of perspective on the dac/cable "reality" https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Reality-Evolution-Truth/dp/0393254690

Nothing is real.

 

[Okcerg]

Nothing is real.

...and nothing to get hung about...

 

[perrew]

Nothing is real.

but quite fascinating how similar humans perceive things

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Nothing is real.

...and nothing to get hung about...

 

[MakeItWain]

I'm a relatively low volume listener, and I enjoyed the AB immensely. It delivers musicality and technicality, and does so with low volumes (imho). Bass is present, but not overbaked (like a lot of these IEMs released lately).

What I mean by a high volume champion is that it's able to be cranked to higher volume listening with little to no issues and get an even fuller picture of the sound. Works well with low/moderate. But it's a nice tuning that can work cranked up.

 

[kalibri]

With this level of certainty you must be correct.

EVERYTHING in this world is a measurable metric and we know EVERYTHING about ANYTHING already.

My sarcasm is hardly measurable, but oh is it here.

I am correct and your sarcasm (even if not of the greatest quality) is indeed measurable and I can confirm with my sarcasm measuring device.

I also reject your straw man, I never claimed we know everything about anything already.
I'm just claiming that in the natural world, everything is measurable and something like a cable only needs fairly basic instruments (there is one such cable measured I know of and the video is on YT - the changes are not significant enough though).

Now, if a cable makes you all tingly inside I'm not the one to rain on your parade, just don't frame it as "wow this cable really changes the sound" because I will ask for receipts and you have none.

Why do you think there is no squig.link for cables?

 

[caryking]

Damn, you guys got real deep!

 

[nikbr]

This reminds me of physicist Sean Carroll's claim that the entire universe is encapsulated in a single, measurable wave function that we simply have yet to capture. No sarcasm. Just pure, existential dread.

Freaky thought for sure.

I really like the way these look, but not a lot of impressions yet in the wild.

I've got them lined up for review after Nunchaku and Que UTG even though these are my personal unit without the need to review at all. If that's too long of a wait I can try and post some thoughts this weekend.

Now, if a cable makes you all tingly inside I'm not the one to rain on your parade

I'm not the guy that's all about that wire, but yeah, ha, that's precisely what you're doing. No worries though, plenty a guys like you here, so as all things in life currently, let's split into two camps and argue about irrelevant nonsense despite the truth most plausibly laying somewhere inbetween.

 

[Conan1974]

If I didn’t already have the M4, I’d 100% go for this. The M4 is banger little piece of kit and I couldn’t recommend it more.

It’s a little more of a V-shaped sound, but the mid bass is kind of star of the show. It makes my Monarchs sound so fun… I love it. Hardwired makes a big difference but BT sounds great too.

I love that.

I’m 30, just turned it in April, and I feel old.

It really does put things in perspective. Peace and love, my friend.

You turned 30 and You feel old? Why
I am on my way to 51

 

[BS5711]

I'm not the guy that's all about that wire, but yeah, ha, that's precisely what you're doing. No worries though, plenty a guys like you here, so as all things in life currently, let's split into two camps and argue about irrelevant nonsense despite the truth most plausibly laying somewhere inbetween.

The truth is, at least in very large part, already explained by basic human psychology and its influence on audio perception.

Could there be other factors at play ?

Sure, but most of the differences folks claim in most normal circumstances with cables, solid state sources etc are demonstrably explained by psychology not audio science.

Let’s be honest, the “subjectivist” camp of those that implicitly trust their ears above all else are as complicit in the sense of division as the “objectivists”. You and several others have openly mocked my comments only because they deviate from your beliefs, and there are “plenty of guys like you here” also !

 

[krafty]

Since we are talking about cables again..... I guess I am in the cables matter camp. I want to believe cables make a difference but it doesn't always work out in our favor. It certainly isn't the most expensive cable wins.....

I have a fairly expensive cable (NiceHCK Ace Orpheus) that I really really want to like but every time I put it on an iem I am disappointed. It just seems warm or possibly lacking openness, air, something up there. Nothing major. When I put a much cheaper (but still good) cable back on the iem gets back to what I like. I haven't measured it (squig) and don't plan to. I haven't checked resistance. I just know it differs. It is possible we don't see this because the squigs aren't that accurate in the treble regions? I haven't researched it and don't plan on doing so. I also can't convince myself that I am not hearing what I hear even though it is the cable I want to be using. I always take it off and put it in the back up box. I am sure in some metric it measures different than the other cables - just don't know what that is yet. Doesn't really matter what that is.

I have multiple other cables that pretty much all sound the same.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I am correct and your sarcasm (even if not of the greatest quality) is indeed measurable and I can confirm with my sarcasm measuring device.

I also reject your straw man, I never claimed we know everything about anything already.
I'm just claiming that in the natural world, everything is measurable and something like a cable only needs fairly basic instruments (there is one such cable measured I know of and the video is on YT - the changes are not significant enough though).

Now, if a cable makes you all tingly inside I'm not the one to rain on your parade, just don't frame it as "wow this cable really changes the sound" because I will ask for receipts and you have none.

Why do you think there is no squig.link for cables?

Why do you think squigs are inconsistent from IEMs? Why do many say it's just a baseline, while others seem to worship the lines? Why can't we get any consistency at all, or consensus? I'd rather go by my own perceptions, that go by something that's either lying to me on a whim ("oh this sounds different than it graphs), or "yeah, that peak is an artifact. Ignore it." or "You can't graph stage and depth and technicalities". Ok...yeah, that really boosts my confidence in graphs. I got more confidence in the cable "myths" than a squig.

Oh and standard reply from our friend the science guy in 3..2..1...

 

[kalibri]

I'm not the guy that's all about that wire, but yeah, ha, that's precisely what you're doing.

Nah man, just enjoy if that's what makes you happy

 

[BS5711]

Oh and standard reply from our friend the science guy in 3..2..1...

No standard reply this time, I have given up having any interest in trying to rationalise this stuff with you.

You think you have it all figured and no amount of logic will ever sink in because that would unravel everything you believe to be true in audio.

Fact is your ears are not infallible measuring tools and your perceptions aren’t necessarily reality. To quote yourself, ignorance is bliss, I guess.

Feel free to continuing to tell others how a piece of wire sounds and all the other nuances of electronic gear. Folks will have to figure out for themselves if your ears are providing tangible technical facts that they should grasp hold of or simply your subjective and easily influenced perception.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

1. Tanchjim Fission
2. KBear Cepheus
3. KZ AM16

Three new IEMs lined up for review. I like them all for various reasons, but the Fission is the most technical, AM16 has the most visceral bass, and the Cepheus has the most mid bass punch and energy. Fission has the most treble extension, while the Cepheus and AM16 are very similar in treble delivery and texture. Very new meta. Safe treble extension and lifted bass.

I've throw the Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant in there as a new comparo, but obviously, already reviewed it, so no new review for that one, but it makes for a fine comparo unit.