[courierdriver]

I have a couple of those adapters because not all of my daps have balanced output. I don't want to stress the connectors by frequently changing cables.

Yup...that's me exactly. Whenever I buy a new earphone, I always buy a decent aftermarket balanced cable to go with that particular earphone, because I don't want to have to keep changing out the cable. It helps avoid weakening the pins or mmcx connectors by frequent cable swaps. I might change a cable 2-3 times on any new set...after that, whatever I pick stays on unless it breaks (which has never happened to me yet). The adapter idea is a great option because most people I know don't have balanced sources and it makes it hard to just hand them my earphones and say, "Here...give these a try if you wanna get better sound for not much money".

 

[courierdriver]

Are you talking about -
1.) Connecting a Balanced (2.5mm TRRS) Earphone to an Un-Balanced (3.5mm TRS) Source?
-or-
2.) Connecting an Un-Balanced (3.5mm TRS) Earphone to a Balanced (2.5mm TRRS) Source?

#1 is easy - just connect a 3.5mm TRS Plug to a 2.5mm TRRS Socket, like this:
Left+ = 3.5mm Tip -to- 2.5mm Ring2
Right+ = 3.5mm Ring -to- 2.5mm Ring1
GND = 3.5mm Sleeve -to- 2.5mm Tip (R-) and Sleeve (L-)

#2 is trickier, since the (L-) and (R-) signals are separate, and most Balanced Amplifiers will be damaged if you short them together.
So, to protect the amplifier channels, you need to add some series (current limiting) resistance, when tying them to the common GND of the Un-Balanced Earphones.
That can be done by connecting a 2.5mm TRRS Plug to a 3.5mm TRS Socket, like this:
Right- = 2.5mm Tip -to- 4Ω - 8Ω Resistor -to- 3.5mm Sleeve (GND)
Right+ = 2.5mm Ring1 -to- 3.5mm Ring
Left+ = 2.5mm Ring2 -to- 3.5mm Tip
Left- = 2.5mm Sleeve -to- 4Ω - 8Ω Resistor -to- 3.5mm Sleeve (GND)

EDIT: Had the Left- and Right- references swapped on #2. Fixed now.

Option 1 is me. Just looking for an adapter to do this though.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv]

I didn't try spiral dots because I thought this IEM was already bright and I didn't want to make them more bright with wide bore tips like Spiral Dots.

The cable is not noisy for me.

Spiral Dots are one of the few wide bore where it attenuates the highs and brings up the bass.

 

[antdroid]

Spiral Dots are one of the few wide bore where it attenuates the highs and brings up the bass.

That's the opposite of how I've heard when I used it. I'll give it a try a little bit later (after this football game is over)

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv]

Sweet spot!! @antdroid gave me the thought of switching out my silicone Spiral Dots and replacing them with my gel Spiral Dots from my FW01, and on the NX7 with the pure copper cable, these things are really groovin' now! Much better bass presence, and I got the treble resolution back I lost with the copper over silver. I'm a happy camper at the moment.

 

[DBaldock9]

Option 1 is me. Just looking for an adapter to do this though.

There's one made with an Eidolic Plug & Jack, available from several vendors in the USA.
The Eidolic 2.5mm TRRS Jack is the best one I've found, for keeping a good, secure connection on a 2.5mm TRRS Plug.
I bought mine from Lindsay, at Impact Audio Cables a couple of years ago (when they were less expensive), but they're $83 now - https://www.etsy.com/shop/ImpactAudioCables
There are also Eidolic connectors / adapters available from Norne Audio [ http://www.norneaudio.com/ ] and Double Helix Cables [ https://doublehelixcables.com/ ]

 

[courierdriver]

There's one made with an Eidolic Plug & Jack, available from several vendors in the USA.
The Eidolic 2.5mm TRRS Jack is the best one I've found, for keeping a good, secure connection on a 2.5mm TRRS Plug.
I bought mine from Lindsay, at Impact Audio Cables a couple of years ago (when they were less expensive), but they're $83 now - https://www.etsy.com/shop/ImpactAudioCables
There are also Eidolic connectors / adapters available from Norne Audio [ http://www.norneaudio.com/ ] and Double Helix Cables [ https://doublehelixcables.com/ ]

Thanks alot! I'll check those out too, along with some of the ones @hakuzen recd in the Low priced budget thread.

 

[courierdriver]

Yep these past few weeks we have been having a lot of great CHIFI releases. It's really the golden age for CHIFI. I wouldn't have imagined multi driver IEMs retailing at 20 - 50 bucks just 3 years ago.

Personally, I'm more inclined to get some budget single DD IEMs like the BLON BL-03 for their timbre and less detailed but musical presentation, rather than more multi BA/hybrid type IEMs. Or maybe those IEMs with tunable filters/switches so we can get different sound signatures.

So far, I've got 2 single DD sets (although not super low budget) in the Moondrop Kanas PRO and the TFZ NO.3. I like them both very much for how they present sound, but sometimes I like a more detailed presentation, so hybrid/multi BA is also something I enjoy. The fact that both the BLON 3 and DB3 exist at their relatively low prices (as well as the KZ ZSX, CCA C12 and TRN V90, at around $50), makes it much more affordable to get great sounding gear, that sells for a quarter to half the cost of Western TOTL earphones, with SQ that approaches 90+%.

 

[Nabillion_786]

@chickenmoon I am in absolute love with the ath ckr100! The bass and vocals are absolutely amazing! That 13mm driver givers soo much power to the sound and vocals sound forward and effortless along with the best bass I've ever heard. These excel in bass, vocals and clarity with a really enveloping stage aswell. The only minor negatives I would say is that I hear slightly more details from oxygen/kpe and at rare times that upper midrange can be a bit too much as from time to time I can hear some thin characteristics in random places. All in all this was the upgrade I was looking for. Thanks a lot for directing me to these.

 

[chickenmoon]

@chickenmoon I am in absolute love with the ath ckr100! The bass and vocals are absolutely amazing! That 13mm driver givers soo much power to the sound and vocals sound forward and effortless along with the best bass I've ever heard. These excel in bass, vocals and clarity with a really enveloping stage aswell. The only minor negatives I would say is that I hear slightly more details from oxygen/kpe and at rare times that upper midrange can be a bit too much as from time to time I can hear some thin characteristics in random places. All in all this was the upgrade I was looking for. Thanks a lot for directing me to these.

Glad you like them, I was afraid you might not.

 

[mbwilson111]

Option 1 is me. Just looking for an adapter to do this though.

I use this one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FC1RDDG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FM8QLVX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

iBasso also has one for a few more dollars.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/iBasso-2-5mm-Balanced-Single-Adaptor-Gold/dp/B07C28VWFW

 

[nraymond]

Option 1 is me. Just looking for an adapter to do this though.

I use a couple, one at home, and one I travel with. At home I use the DUNU DC-11 which runs about $15.90 (also available from vendors on AliExpress):

https://penonaudio.com/dunu-dc-12dc-11.html

I travel with a Fiio adapter, though they've updated the one I have and replaced it with the BL35 for $15:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FC1RDDG/

 

[Dsnuts]

Another one for the ladies.. TFZ Queen LTD

1. Product Name: The Fragrant Zither TFZ QUEEN LTD In Ear Earphone
2. Type: In-ear
3. Brand: The Fragrant Zither(TFZ)
4. Model: QUEEN LTD
5. Impedance: 24Ω
6. Headphone sensitivity: 107db/mW
7. Frequency range: 5-40000Hz
8. Interface: 3.5mm
9. Cable Length: 1.2m±5cm
10.Color: Blue/ Purple/ Green / Black 4 colors
11.Whether with mic: No
12.Earphone plug type: Line type
3rd gen TFZ earphone using tesla magnet, diamond like carbon driver going for $72. There is no possible way this could sound worse than the Pink lady.

 

[mbwilson111]

Another one for the ladies.. TFZ Queen LTD

1. Product Name: The Fragrant Zither TFZ QUEEN LTD In Ear Earphone
2. Type: In-ear
3. Brand: The Fragrant Zither(TFZ)
4. Model: QUEEN LTD
5. Impedance: 24Ω
6. Headphone sensitivity: 107db/mW
7. Frequency range: 5-40000Hz
8. Interface: 3.5mm
9. Cable Length: 1.2m±5cm
10.Color: Blue/ Purple/ Green / Black 4 colors
11.Whether with mic: No
12.Earphone plug type: Line type
3rd gen TFZ earphone using tesla magnet, diamond like carbon driver going for $72. There is no possible way this could sound worse than the Pink lady.

whoa... looks too expensive for me though

It is difficult for me to justify spending a lot on iems when I actually prefer earbuds.... especially the ones my husband makes.

 

[Dsnuts]

So when will he start sending samples? and what does he call em. Pandabuds?