The discovery thread!

[ian91]

I guess Oriolus wasn't the only company that use generic chi-fi shells when building IEMs that command top dollar.

I think that's pretty unfair. Resin-based shells are comfortable, ergonomic and light weight and are not solely a feature of Chi-fi, they're used worldwide. As for the actual colour/motif, that's always a matter of opinion and you'll never please everyone. I had no issue with the build quality of the Traillii or Isabellae. The price is another matter - even when accounting for driver costs and manufacturing TOTLs are extortionate.

 

[baskingshark]

New Astrotec IEM coming, called the Summer.

https://www.facebook.com/astrotecaudio/posts/2244189659079028

 

[audio123]

I guess Oriolus wasn't the only company that use generic chi-fi shells when building IEMs that command top dollar.

I would never guess that the Audio Jewel is an insanely expensive flagship if someone told me to guess an IEM's price and the only thing I had to judge was the shell.

Driver config gives the price away tho.

Regardless of brands, shells or driver config, sound quality is priority to me.

 

[WAON303]

Expensive boy: https://hifigo.com/products/softears-turii-ti-titanium-in-ear-earphone-1

I think this might be the most expensive single DD IEM I've seen, can't think of a single DD IEM more expensive than the Turii Ti.

 

[mochill]

New Dita prepatua

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Expensive boy: https://hifigo.com/products/softears-turii-ti-titanium-in-ear-earphone-1

I think this might be the most expensive single DD IEM I've seen, can't think of a single DD IEM more expensive than the Turii Ti.

This will be a complete bomb. Mark my words. This is going NOWHERE.

 

[saldsald]

New Astrotec IEM coming, called the Summer.

https://www.facebook.com/astrotecaudio/posts/2244189659079028

Never heard of the brand and I think it is called AM850 MK2 as I found it on Taobao and it is engraved near the nozzle. "Summer" is probably the official release date?

 

[Redcarmoose]

OK, I got the Reecho SG-01 OVA in earlier today, I've been doing some listening straight out of the box (no burn-in yet, so take that as you will) and I have to say I am quite unexpectedly blown away by this earphone. I don't always see eye to eye with @Dsnuts on everything but from what I am hearing he is 100% right that this is redefining what $50 can buy you these days. I've also been enjoying the Moondrop Kato lately and these Reechos actually get shockingly close. Yes I would definitely choose the Kato if I had to pick one, but the Reecho is 1/4 of the price and gets you way more than 1/4 of the SQ. And I would take these Reechos over the Aria in a heartbeat.

The SG-01 OVA has a nice balanced U-shaped tonality. The emphasis leans a bit toward the quite high quality bass you are getting for the price (moderately elevated and slightly sub-bass biased, with absolutely outstanding extension for a budget IEM), but this does not at all overshadow either the mids or the treble. There is a mild amount of warmth in the lower mids, giving male vocals a nicely bodied presentation. Upper mids in their turn are slightly emphasized over the lower, giving female vocals and strings a nice energy and presence but staying shy of any sort of shoutiness. Lower treble is emphasized over the upper, but once again these display a shocking extension for a budget single-DD, easily surpassing many IEMs I have heard at multiples of the SG-01 OVA's price point. This allows enough air to keep an open and balanced presentation despite the emphasized low end.

Technically it is likewise extremely accomplished for the price. The soundstage is not only wide but also fairly tall, although unsurprisingly it struggles somewhat more with depth as do most IEMs at this price point. The imaging is quite good, not holographic but very focused and well-defined on both X and Y axes. Instrument separation and layering are likewise excellent. Resolution is certainly respectable and nothing to complain about, although this is another area where it cannot totally break free of the constraints of a budget model as the leading edges in the transients tend to be somewhat on the blunt side.

I would be remiss not to add that comfort is superb for my medium-small ears, and the modestly sized and well-shaped shells make them an excellent candidate for side sleeping (they are flush with my ears).

So you've got an extremely refined and versatile tuning combined with surprisingly competent technicalities for a budget single DD, in a very comfortable shell, at an extremely attractive price point. I am fairly certainly this will displace the venerable (to me at least) Tin T2 Plus as my default $50 rec, and some may even prefer it to my default sub-$100 rec in the Dunu Titan S if they are looking for a more substantial bass response than the neutral-bright Titan S can provide.

This is my introduction to Reecho as a company, and so far I am nothing but impressed. I'll continue listening, burning them in, and will publish a full review in the coming weeks.

Cool! Glad to hear it! Mine should arrive shortly!

 

[baskingshark]

Never heard of the brand and I think it is called AM850 MK2 as I found it on Taobao and it is engraved near the nozzle. "Summer" is probably the official release date?

Astrotec released quite a few earbuds, and they had a flagship IEM recently, the pheonix6, and a budget one called the Vesna.

 

[WAON303]

This will be a complete bomb. Mark my words. This is going NOWHERE.

Not sure about that, Softears has good tuners but the pricing on most of their IEMs is tough to swallow.

It's going to be tough competition when the IE600 is like 30% the price.

 

[Jmop]

Expensive boy: https://hifigo.com/products/softears-turii-ti-titanium-in-ear-earphone-1

I think this might be the most expensive single DD IEM I've seen, can't think of a single DD IEM more expensive than the Turii Ti.

Your ears better be soft to fit that design..

 

[r31ya]

KZ EDX Ultra with crap mspaint job to get the db scaling the same with crin EDX Pro graph
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004251513870.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.37e02e0esqNkur





Despite the ads for better bass, its the treble that change the most. more linear treble response...
At $20 its now slightly pricier than CCA CRA, brave pricing.

 

[jant71]

Despite the ads for better bass, its the treble that change the most. more linear treble response...
At $20 its now slightly pricier than CCA CRA, brave pricing.

Buuut, what if you can get it for $16.99... https://www.kztws.com/products/kz-edx-ultra

 

[WAON303]

KZ EDX Ultra with crap mspaint job to get the db scaling the same with crin EDX Pro graph
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004251513870.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.37e02e0esqNkur





Despite the ads for better bass, its the treble that change the most. more linear treble response...
At $20 its now slightly pricier than CCA CRA, brave pricing.

Oh good, more generic v-shape tuning.

Just stick with the CRA / CRA+ tuning and copy paste away KZ

 

[Surf Monkey]

Muse HiFi Power review.



I disagree with his assessment of the bass end. To my ear it’s very rich and more aggressive than the S12. The Muse mids are good too. Where we agree is when he (tries to) describe the high end. The treble is tuned weirdly. It’s very bright and detailed but it also has a couple dead spots. As he concludes, this is probably someone’s ideal tuning, but it isn’t for the average listener. It doesn’t really sound natural.

The Power isn’t a bad set. I like mine a lot, but it does need the right albums/tracks to soar. Personally, I think it’s tuned more for orchestral and female vocal than it is for rock. That’s probably why I’ve had trouble bonding with it but instantly loved the S12.