The discovery thread!

[Carpet]

The Bluetooth version does not connect to my TV like my other DAC/amps. Anyone have any success with this. I use them for watching movies. Any suggestions on a Bluetooth tube DAC/amp that competes with this one?

The Bluetooth version of what? It's better to Reply to a post so people can see your comments in context.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

What is curious is that absolutely no IEM, buds, headphones worsen after burning. Or at least I never read him, they always improve....

curious....

it's rare, but it've had it happen. Either with too much bass or the treble extension settled too much. So it happens, but that's based on my preferences. For another ear, the change may have been heard for the better, and not worse. So subjective this hobby.

 

[wdelta06]

Perhaps this thread is not the most appropriate place to ask this question, but it is also one of the most frequent and busiest threads. Maybe someone can help me.

I have quite wide ear canals, even the left one is larger than the right one. That gives me some headaches. In the end, I usually make my own tips which are a kind of homemade symbio mandarine. I buy tips with a wide inner canal (4.5mm) and a 13.5mm outer diameter. Then, I buy cheap foam tips (T400 or T500, size L or M), from which I remove the inner core (it's a chore) and then insert it into the silicone tips. Finally, I wrap them with micropore tape so that the foam doesn't crack and remains consistent. The result are quite fat tips.







Sometimes, I experiment with foam tips that I have lying around and other silicone tips that come in. But I usually use the base mentioned above.



Sometimes, I don't find the right seal and the bass escapes me. Sometimes I have had to resort to strange tips, like these blue ones that arrived with the Penon FAN, which I have used with great results in the NiceHCK F1. Luckily, I've been able to find such tips easily on AliExpress.



But the ultimate tips are the bi-flange tips that came with the Rose Mini2 MKII 2.0 (maybe with some others that I can't remember). These tips save me from adjustment when nothing works. The problem is that I only have two pairs and they are very used. I tried to contact Rose through their Facebook (the only way I know how to contact them) but they never replied.



To the good people on the forum who know where to find these tips, I would be enormously grateful.

Good sir,

Perhaps this thread is not the most appropriate place to ask this question, but it is also one of the most frequent and busiest threads. Maybe someone can help me.

I have quite wide ear canals, even the left one is larger than the right one. That gives me some headaches. In the end, I usually make my own tips which are a kind of homemade symbio mandarine. I buy tips with a wide inner canal (4.5mm) and a 13.5mm outer diameter. Then, I buy cheap foam tips (T400 or T500, size L or M), from which I remove the inner core (it's a chore) and then insert it into the silicone tips. Finally, I wrap them with micropore tape so that the foam doesn't crack and remains consistent. The result are quite fat tips.







Sometimes, I experiment with foam tips that I have lying around and other silicone tips that come in. But I usually use the base mentioned above.



Sometimes, I don't find the right seal and the bass escapes me. Sometimes I have had to resort to strange tips, like these blue ones that arrived with the Penon FAN, which I have used with great results in the NiceHCK F1. Luckily, I've been able to find such tips easily on AliExpress.



But the ultimate tips are the bi-flange tips that came with the Rose Mini2 MKII 2.0 (maybe with some others that I can't remember). These tips save me from adjustment when nothing works. The problem is that I only have two pairs and they are very used. I tried to contact Rose through their Facebook (the only way I know how to contact them) but they never replied.



To the good people on the forum who know where to find these tips, I would be enormously grateful.

Have the same problem...
These are the only eartips that work for me and they just barely fit my left ear canal...

(link: https://www.amazon.com/Earphones-Pl...efix=iem+eartips+extra+large+,aps,102&sr=8-59)

 

[Kordonrules]

The Bluetooth version of what? It's better to Reply to a post so people can see your comments in context.

My bad wrong thread.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

I was watching this review video from the IEM shop manager’s YT channel (ENG CC available)


and noticed he recommended this burn-in website (Available in JP/CN/EN)

https://www.chord-m.com/en/?runin=open

A 60min pre-coded burn-in session.

Interesting!

Also I was intrigued by that IEM, looked up FR, found it a very unique one, so placed an order.

 

[Carpet]

I was watching this review video from the IEM shop manager’s YT channel (ENG CC available)


and noticed he recommended this burn-in website (Available in JP/CN/EN)

https://www.chord-m.com/en/?runin=open

A 60min pre-coded burn-in session.

Interesting!

Also I was intrigued by that IEM, looked up FR, found it a very unique one, so placed an order.

Er, I'd check the reviews for the CVJ Angel Wings. As I recall the word that jumps to mind is "Mistake"!

 

[Carpet]

Good sir,

Have the same problem...
These are the only eartips that work for me and they just barely fit my left ear canal...

(link: https://www.amazon.com/Earphones-Plus-replacement-earbud-earphones/dp/B07C46Q9P4/ref=mp_s_a_1_59?crid=FS5M0TF88WQ7&keywords=iem+eartips+extra+large&qid=1674777193&sprefix=iem+eartips+extra+large+,aps,102&sr=8-59)

Moondrop Spring tips and Spinfit CP100 come in an XL size at 14mm. KBEAR 07 Large (the yellow ones are slightly smaller at 13.75mm (but cheaper). You could also try large foam tips, they are designed to expand out so are likely to have a bigger external diameter than equivalent silicon tips. I can get away with medium foams sometimes but never medium silicon tips.

 

[DynamicEars]

Just received my Truthear HOLA / HALO

Not a review unit, bought with my own money

First impressions (FLAC & mp3 & spotify high quality), with Fiio M11 Plus ESS version :

Sub Bass can reach quite deep, great in this class, not the deepest I ever heard but can fight in $200 class, good texture but with smears on edges from low to upper bass (entire range), burn in "may" get them tighter / better but no guarantee, I suspect because of the filter damper too that usually cause smears / bloats.
Mid and upper bass control quite good, again with smears on edges, quite tactile on speed, medium punch.

Bass is more dominant than midrange and trebles, taking overall balance more towards L shaped, and little bit hazing other frequencies (again burn in maybe helps, but not a guarantee)

Mids not recessed but definitely not forward, have decent note weight, not thin vocals and instruments, harman target lover will feel need more forward high mids especially on female vocals but not for me as I like to hear in loud volume (this set quite hard to drive or need more volume to sound nicer, played on 110/120 medium gain similar with my Z1R), wide bore eartips is a must for upping resolution with boosting presence region 4-5khz, but even with wide bore, they slightly lacks of presence thus lead to "average resolution", hearing with narrow bore will made these IEMs sounded more low-fi, avoid narrow bore eartips at any cost.

Trebles is very safe and too safe for me, the dip on 6khz area is too low, made sparkles sounded far away and absolutely not bitey enough for me, lacks of brilliance that made this set little unbalance with bass dominance. Lower trebles need to be boosted. Maybe good for treble sensitive folks, but for normal user treble details need more works. For trebleheads, definitely lack of detail, resolution and air. Upper trebles boost helps but nothing much. Biggest cons for me is on 6-12khz area.

Soundstage is medium, with good instrument separation and average imaging level, full stop. Nothing special with the imaging, just average good (which is normal for the price) and definitely no layering. Struggles on busy tracks with hazy pin points.

Details are good enough.

Remember these are my very early impressions out of the box, and my impressions based on my personal experience. I don't do scoring as this is an early impression, but to summary up :
+very good fit and lightweight
+decent note weight
+deep bass and good texture
+good driver overall
+decent technicalities for the price
-too safe tuning on mids and trebles, inbalance tuning
-smears on bass edges
-trebles are distant, need lot of works in this area

Tonality can be changed after burn in, and I'm curious about the damper on nozzle, will do measurement later on original and without damper, and what mod can be done later.

TLDR, overall good set for the price, but nothing special and not necessary to buy if you have something else great on this price. For entry level that wanna jump into rabbit hole, can be a good first IEM. Forgot about how Aria sounded, but maybe Aria just slightly better, but mind this one is half the price of Aria, but definitely KATO is on few level ahead.
I have lot of Intime Sora variants, slightly higher price and fixed cable, but with similar tuning and tonality, the Soras are better sets.
Reminder again, all based on OOTB and burn in will benefit more on LCP drivers, I have high hope.

Cheers and best regards!

*Edited : typo and correction

 

[Mr.HiAudio]

too safe for me

do they have a thin tight mesh behind the main metal mesh?

 

[DynamicEars]

do they have a thin tight mesh behind the main metal mesh?

The grill itself is tight with small holes, and yes I suspect from the smears on bass region and too safe lower trebles, high chance they do.
I will do measurement with default grill, and take out the grill, and see what mod we can do with the Hola

 

[Leonarfd]

If you find any mod increasing the treble of the HOLA, share it please @DynamicEars. Or other mods, it's ao cheap there's no danger trying to mod IMO.

While nothing is critically wrong I don't get the dancing effect or foot tapping. Lack some soul.

Paired it for now with a wireless neck cable for workouts.

 

[baskingshark]

Just receive my Truthear HOLA / HALO

Not a review unit, bought with my own money

First impressions (FLAC & mp3 & spotify high quality), with Fiio M11 Plus ESS version :

Sub Bass can reach quite deep, great in this class, not the deepest I ever heard but can fight in $200 class, good texture but with smears on edges from low to upper bass (entire range), burn in "may" get them tighter / better but no guarantee, I suspect because of the filter damper too that usually cause smears / bloats.
Mid and upper bass control quite good, again with smears on edges, quite tactile on speed, good punch.

Bass is more dominant than midrange and trebles, taking overall balance more towards L shaped, and little bit hazing other frequencies (again burn in maybe helps, but not a guarantee)

Mids not recessed but definitely not forward, have decent note weight, not thin vocals and instruments, harman target lover will feel need more forward high mids especially on female vocals but not for me as I like to hear in loud volume (this set quite hard to drive or need more volume to sound nicer, played on 110/120 medium gain similar with my Z1R), wide bore eartips is a must for upping resolution with boosting presence region 4-5khz, but even with wide bore, they slightly lacks of presence thus lead to "average resolution", hearing with narrow bore will made these IEMs sounded more low-fi, avoid narrow bore eartips at any cost.

Trebles is very safe and too safe for me, the dip on 6khz area is too low, made sparkles sounded far away and absolutely not bitey enough for me, lacks of brilliance that made this set little unbalance with bass dominance. Lower trebles need to be boosted. Maybe good for treble sensitive folks, but for normal user treble details need more works. For trebleheads, definitely lack of detail, resolution and air. Upper trebles boost helps but nothing much. Biggest cons for me is on 6-12khz area.

Soundstage is medium, with good instrument separation and average imaging level, full stop. Nothing special with the imaging, just average good (which is normal for the price) and definitely no layering. Struggles on busy tracks with hazy pin points.

Details are good enough.

Remember these are my very early impressions out of the box, and my impressions based on my personal experience. I don't do scoring as this is an early impression, but to summary up :
+very good fit and lightweight
+decent note weight
+deep bass and good texture
+good driver overall
+decent technicalities for the price
-too safe tuning on mids and trebles, inbalance tuning
-smears on bass edges
-trebles are distant, need lot of works in this area

Tonality can be changed after burn in, and I'm curious about the damper on nozzle, will do measurement later on original and without damper, and what mod can be done later.

TLDR, overall good set for the price, but nothing special and need to buy if you have something else great on this price. For entry level that wanna jump into rabbit hole, can be a good first IEM. Forgot about how Aria sounded, but maybe Aria just slightly better, but mind this one is half the price of Aria, but definitely KATO is on few level ahead.
I have lot of Intime Sora variants, slightly higher price and fixed cable, but with similar tuning and tonality, the Soras are better sets.
Reminder again, all based on OOTB and burn in will benefit more on LCP drivers, I have high hope.

Cheers and best regards!

If you find any mod increasing the treble of the HOLA, share it please @DynamicEars. Or other mods, it's ao cheap there's no danger trying to mod IMO.

While nothing is critically wrong I don't get the dancing effect or foot tapping. Lack some soul.

Paired it for now with a wireless neck cable for workouts.

Agree with you guys, HOLA is a bit too boring, L shaped, lacking treble sparkle. Too safe IMHO.

Which is ironic, as the Japanese name of the HOLA (赫) on the box, means brightening, illumination, or sparkling. It is not a bright or sparkly set at all, technicalities are also bang average.

With so many sub $20 budget champs coming out on a weekly basis, not sure if the HOLA might be forgotten in a few weeks. Being average (or even just above average) is as good as a death sentence in the cut-throat ultra budget CHIFI segment.




I think wide bore ear tips may boost the treble a bit, maybe EQ too.

 

[Nimweth]

What is curious is that absolutely no IEM, buds, headphones worsen after burning. Or at least I never read him, they always improve....

curious....

Occasionally there is no change and sometimes a poor sounding IEM remains that way, but in general, I have found burn in tends to bring improvements, sometimes small, sometimes more significant. In owning over 100 IEMs I have yet to hear one get worse.

 

[Carpet]

What is curious is that absolutely no IEM, buds, headphones worsen after burning. Or at least I never read him, they always improve....

curious....

I would like to think that IEM manufacturers take into account the effect of what the driver will sound like after the DD surrounds loosens up etc. But then "Throw it against the wall and see what sticks!" came to mind, so I doubt that applies universally.

 

[DynamicEars]

As I read several reports that X7 strangely acts differently by aging which is pretty rare for a BA IEM, but I also see on X7’s instructions recommending 10-72 hours of “warm up”, I may give it a try.

TRN actually provided detailed phase of burn-in sessions I may give it a try.

So I couldn't stop laughing when @AmericanSpirit posted about TRN instruction to burn in, most of you were laughing because of that "silly" method,
but for me, actually because they are copying the method of the 1more assistant app.
The written instruction made the burning process like so complicated when actually there is an app for burning your headphones / earphones that goes through that processes (contains step 1 to step 4)
with automatically adjust the volume level, with timing, with different soundwave, pink noise etc.

All you have to do is just press the play button and put them into your drawer (just need to charge your device if low on batt)

So if you have unused Android / IOS device you can download "1MORE ASSISTANT" for burn in,
simply connect your IEM, rename, and press play button, check on battery. THe app will do the burn in process, from step 1 that Shu Jin, automatically set the volume lower with white noise, break after 2 hours session and auto continue, and when you want to listen, just pull out the IEM and the app will pause the burn in process and can continue later from where you stop. After finish with step 1, the app will automatically continue with step 2, adjust the volume by itself and so on.
Ridiculous but very helpful app for burn in, I've been using it for few years.
For those who never know, you can download it on google play / app store. Its free!

And there my Hola in burn in process with 1app. Not an advertisement since I have no connection nor affiliate with them of course.


Let see how the burn in affecting the LCP driver in HOLA few days later..