[baskingshark]

The Cambridge Audio SE1 beryllium earphones were on sale for $20 on Amazon USA in February this year. They have good sound quality, have a fixed cable, and the oddity of putting the mic and button at the cable Y-split.

Yeah thanks for the reminder. I had the Cambridge Audio SE1 previously but gave it away. It wasn't $20 originally though, that was some one off firesale pricing to clear stock. As @RikudouGoku says I think originally it was north of $60. But it was quite a nice set in sound quality, I wouldn't have bought it at full pricing, though $20 is a steal.

I think @lgcubana is gonna get the Jade Audio EA1 and he already has the Fiio FD1. Thanks for taking one for the team, respect!! Look forward to your impressions and comparisons. If the EA1 can hit near the same sound quality as the FD1 for less than half the price, I think it might be a new yardstick for beryllium DD sets at an affordable price.

 

[jant71]

Urbanfun has a cheaper beryllium...

 

[RikudouGoku]

Urbanfun has a cheaper beryllium...

When were these released? Are you sure they are beryllium and not "noble metal"?

 

[nraymond]

Anyone have thoughts on the BGVP Zero (single EST driver)? Haven’t found any reviews yet...

 

[RikudouGoku]

Anyone have thoughts on the BGVP Zero (single EST driver)? Haven’t found any reviews yet...

It is not an est driver.

 

[zenki]

If EA1 actually has a decent tuning then...
This means war

 

[nraymond]

It is not an est driver.

The Zero has a low-voltage electrostatic driver. My understanding (perhaps mistaken) was that EST is a short-hand for electrostatic. Is that not the case?

 

[SciOC]

It is not an est driver.

Well, Neither are the sonion ESTs, so there's that.... They're all electrets or magnetostats. I'd assume it's similar to the shuoer singer.

 

[RikudouGoku]

The Zero has a low-voltage electrostatic driver. My understanding (perhaps mistaken) was that EST is a short-hand for electrostatic. Is that not the case?

Well, Neither are the sonion ESTs, so there's that.... They're all electrets or magnetostats. I'd assume it's similar to the shuoer singer.

The sonion ESTs actually has an energizer connected to it

While the Zero, Shuoer Tape/singer does not. So i assume that all 3 of them use a magnetostat/electret. (the Tape and the singer is confirmed to be using a magnetostat by: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-world-s-first-magneto-static-earphone-hpsd-e70#/)

 

[SciOC]

The sonion ESTs actually has an energizer connected to it


While the Zero, Shuoer Tape/singer does not. So i assume that all 3 of them use a magnetostat/electret. (the Tape and the singer is confirmed to be using a magnetostat by: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-world-s-first-magneto-static-earphone-hpsd-e70#/)

The sonion EST is still an electret design. I thought it was a "real" electrostatic until it was pointed out to me that it says electret right on the official spec sheet.

It basically killed my interest in them in a heartbeat....

 

[RikudouGoku]

The sonion EST is still an electret design. I thought it was a "real" electrostatic until it was pointed out to me that it says electret right on the official spec sheet.

It basically killed my interest in them in a heartbeat....

Then I wonder what the difference between the Sonion EST and the Magnetostats in the Tape is...

 

[Slater]

When were these released? Are you sure they are beryllium and not "noble metal"?

Roughly 2-3 years ago

And yes, they are beryllium.

Originally, the “Urbanfun Hifi” was released as a single hybrid, with a beryllium dynamic + BA.

Then they released an “Urbanfun colorful” version, which was a beryllium dynamic only.

 

[PhonoPhi]

When were these released? Are you sure they are beryllium and not "noble metal"?

Noble metals won't do anything good for the DD membrane, they are heavy and relatively soft, while what is needed is light and rigid.

Beryllium and carbon (be it graphene-like, carbon nanotubes or diamond-like (DLC)) are the best materials.

BUT the implementation is everything: if some Be or carbon in any form just sprinkled over the membrane, it will only help some marketing (for those gullible), nothing else.

 

[RikudouGoku]

Noble metals won't do anything good for the DD membrane, they are heavy and relatively soft, while what is needed is light and rigid.

Beryllium and carbon (be it graphene-like, carbon nanotubes or diamond-like (DLC)) are the best materials.

BUT the implementation is everything: if some Be or carbon in any form just sprinkled over the membrane, it will only help some marketing (for those gullible), nothing else.

The noble metal thing was a joke on the fact that you dont know if you get the beryllium version or what they call "noble metal" (aluminum-magnesium alloy) with the ISS014

 

[audio123]

The sonion EST is still an electret design. I thought it was a "real" electrostatic until it was pointed out to me that it says electret right on the official spec sheet.

It basically killed my interest in them in a heartbeat....

Real electrostatic IEMs are Shure KSE1200/KSE1500 & Stax SR-002.