(graph from KZ discord, comparison with EDA-bal from Xerus)
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CCA Lyra is on sale now.
While i want to say that Lyra is CCA takes on EDA-Bal, the shell is different and the DD housing is different.
So while it have similar tuning, there might be more differences.
Their last budget IEM, the OLA was very good in technicalities but had an Achilles' heel of a bad fit. Their previous Tanya was quite good, warm and bassy and analoguish, hope this one will be good.
Their last budget IEM, the OLA was very good in technicalities but had an Achilles' heel of a bad fit. Their previous Tanya was quite good, warm and bassy and analoguish, hope this one will be good.
I've published my review of the SuperTFZ FORCE1. It's a competent and well-tuned V shaped IEM that does most things right. Despite the fact that it's pretty far from my target frequency response preference, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know it. It isolates very well and could be a great on-the-go daily driver for many people.
I've been using M11 Plus ESS (will be mentioned as M11E) for almost two months. I believe I spent enough time with it to share some opinion about it and make a comparison with Ibasso DX160. They're in different price range and ofc M11E performs better as expected. I'm just trying to give some idea for those who are looking for an upgrade.
The packaging is classic. I liked the case they sent along with it. It has really nice texture and well protective but makes it even more bigger.
The built is really good, feels solid. The screen has an tempered glass installed in the factory already. Not like DX160 being sent seperately.
Here is side by side the physical comparison:
M11E is definitely bigger, chunkier. That makes it less portable comparing it to DX160. I was barely using it outside so I didn't mind that change much.
I'll not go into the specs and details as they're available online. So, I'll jump into my personal experience.
Short battery life, sluggish performance, wireless connectivity of DX160 is the reason why I made this decision.
Beginning with the most obvious one, DX160 has such short usage time, somewhere between 5-8h depending on if Wi-Fi is on or what kind of headphones you use. That's okay for the price they're asking. But the standby time was pissing me the most. If you leave it aside for a day, the battery goes down by 15-20%. That's ofc due to chip that they used on DX160 which drains the battery like crazy.
I had 2020 version of DX160 so that means the screen panel is worse as they were no longer using the screens from Sharp. They used better buffers to compensate that but that doesn't change the fact that the screen is super bright even on the lowest level which is another factor that consumes the battery and makes it difficult to use in low light conditions. Ibasso confirmed that it's the minimum level that hardware supports. Having such bright screen doesn't mean only a disadvantage though when you use they device under sunlight. It looks very vivid also comparing it to M11E humble screen. M11E has slightly smaller screen size. Not too bright but definitely better with its color adjustment.
Here is side by side comparison when you set the brightness to minimum:
And when you set it on max:
Ibasso looks gorgeous though with its full HD screen(M11E has 720p+) which also has really good screen to body ratio.
On the other hand, M11E is absolutely crazy with its usage time 14-16 hours. The standby time is extra crazy. Fiio claims 1000H. As I don't have time to test that, I'd only mention that the battery level drops only 1-2% if you leave it aside for an entire day! It's doesn't matter even if you leave it with Wi-Fi on! I can't imagine leaving ibasso with Wi-Fi on.
The user experience with M11E is great. Faster SD 660 cpu, better WI-FI connection, having all the connections(2.5,3.5,4,4).
When it comes to sound experience. I'd say M11E is neutral with better emphasis and better resolution on the higher end comparing it to DX160. DX160 is slightly warm with the better emphasis on the lower end. I hear more texture in the mid section with M11E. It's very nice DAP for neutralists. Soundstage is more or less the same in both. I'd say it's more holographic and capturing on M11E. You don't get a day and night difference with sound quality. However definitely better performance while using it.
And interesting factor to mention! When it comes to output power. I'd like to confidently mention that DX160 gives more juice than M11E. Yes, it's true and I confirmed with another user who has both DAPs in M11E's thread. Such a small compact device like DX160 makes my over-ear headphones go crazy on both 3.5 and balanced outputs.
After the purchase I ended up selling my DX160. I'd honestly mention that it had really good sound quality for a ridiculous price. However, performance and good user experience are also very important. I'd definitely recommend.
Yes I have both and have similar impressions more or less.
M11 plus ESS have better sound quality overall, more neutral, exception on infamous glare of sabre chip (they don't have that glare which is good point), better true details.
Dx160 soundstage have nice large soundstage not losing too much to M11 plus ESS, and yes i confirmed they have better power both on 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced despite being smaller.
While M11 plus ESS have more natural sound, the warmer DX160 have more crispier and oomph effect on overall sound signature, the have coloration like steroid on transient that adding fun effect, like a guilty pleasure, less natural but nice on dopping, similar like "sharpen edited photos" that you will find it wow even though you know it is less natural.
Overall the M11 plus ESS is better here and there and more natural but the DX160 is great budget DAP on the sound with great price with a note slightly laggy performance because of the processor chip and bad battery life.
Currently trying to daily driving this thing.
Very impressive for a $19 iem.
It have its trade off against its KZ-Eda balanced. Eda balanced have more forward vocals and sparklier treble. But man, the fuller vocals (albeit a bit recessed) and soundstage is very impressive. again its a very good for a freakin $19 single dd.
KZ drama have its dividend as it force kz to improve its tuning and drivers instead of adding new one. Hopefully KZ tunings and drivers quality fully matures before they redip their toes in multi drivers iems.
Yes I have both and have similar impressions more or less.
M11 plus ESS have better sound quality overall, more neutral, exception on infamous glare of sabre chip (they don't have that glare which is good point), better true details.
Dx160 soundstage have nice large soundstage not losing too much to M11 plus ESS, and yes i confirmed they have better power both on 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced despite being smaller.
While M11 plus ESS have more natural sound, the warmer DX160 have more crispier and oomph effect on overall sound signature, the have coloration like steroid on transient that adding fun effect, like a guilty pleasure, less natural but nice on dopping, similar like "sharpen edited photos" that you will find it wow even though you know it is less natural.
Overall the M11 plus ESS is better here and there and more natural but the DX160 is great budget DAP on the sound with great price with a note slightly laggy performance because of the processor chip and bad battery life.
It's nice to see we share the similar opinion. I wonder when Ibasso will release another disrupter like dx160.
I wouldn't say no to an improved version. Some might say there's dx240 already with the same body factor. However, the price jump from 399$ to 999$ is a little too much. Would be nice to see ibasso filling 600-700$ range.
BLON desapareceu na mediocridade nos últimos tempos, o BL-03 ainda é sem dúvida o modelo mais lendário, com lançamentos recentes sendo bastante "meh" e abaixo do esperado.
Então, como se destacar da concorrência acirrada. Sim, usando um anime babe waifuu em seu pacote.
BLON leva esse truque um passo adiante... Nomeie seu próximo IEM como "FAT GIRL"
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