The discovery thread!

[Vonbuddy]

So how different are the two iems, the AQ7 and AQ7 Pro?

 

[AmericanSpirit]

New Softears IEM?

Faceplate says Studio 4. 3BA+1DD?

 

[Leonarfd]

Interesting, softears are usually expensive for what they are. But nonetheless excellent IEMs.

Because of the name perhaps a neutral reference sound?

New Softears IEM?

Faceplate says Studio 4. 3BA+1DD?

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Interesting, softears are usually expensive for what they are. But nonetheless excellent IEMs.

Because of the name perhaps a neutral reference sound?

Yea sounds like a neutral studio reference monitor.

They have Reference Sound V: 5BA (2bass BA + 2mid BA + 1 tweeter )

Volume : 2 BA + 1DD

If studio 4 is RSV’s dynamic bass driver version, it will make it pretty interesting.

If all BA, it will be a good rival to Symphonium Meteor which also is a 4BA composition.

It’s the last picture Softears posted during the Chinese new year holiday. Started from RSV. So it is less likely that Studio 4 is a different face plated RSV.

Cerberus

Turii

Volume

RS10

 

[Leonarfd]

Got a feel much is coming over the next months, I need a lock on my wallet now

 

[rggz]

Yea sounds like a neutral studio reference monitor.

They have Reference Sound V: 5BA (2bass BA + 2mid BA + 1 tweeter )

Volume : 2 BA + 1DD

If studio 4 is RSV’s dynamic bass driver version, it will make it pretty interesting.

If all BA, it will be a good rival to Symphonium Meteor which also is a 4BA composition.

It’s the last picture Softears posted during the Chinese new year holiday. Started from RSV. So it is less likely that Studio 4 is a different face plated RSV.

Cerberus

Turii

Volume

RS10

When they showed the prototypes of Studio4 and Studio2 in 2022 they were both presented as all-BA. But, curious if they've kept that config for the final version.

 

[kmmbd]

Sennheiser IE200​

First Impressions​

Received the Sennheiser IE200 a couple days back, and have been listening to them over the weekend.

This will probably be one of the most popular options under USD$200 this year. The driver inside is very capable (the same driver as IE300, IE600, and probably even IE900, though only the latter three got the Helmholtz resonator).

First impressions are good. Safe tuning with the "end of the nozzle" tip position. Bass has nice rumble, and mid-bass isn't devoid of body and slam (unlike certain "reference" tunings). Very safe throughout without sounding boring or lifeless.

At 119.00 dB/V SPL (or 101.00 dB/mW SPL) sensitivity, the IE200 are tad more difficult to drive than most of the competition. Should be fine with most dongles, however.

The IE200 do not quite have the "engagement factor" of the IE300, however, which also has much better treble sparkle and definition. In turn, IE300 are more fatiguing in comparison.

Also, many are comparing this to the IE600 which seems odd to me. The IE600 are superior on every single aspect. So not sure if such a comparison does the IE200 any favor.

One negative I found so far: the stock cable. The ergonomics and sheathing are not to my liking at all, and it has this terrible smell out of the box that hasn't gone away yet.

Nonetheless, overall a very safe, natural tuning, and I can see myself recommending these. Full review in the works which should have more comparisons.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The EU versions of some older Sony DAPs and Apple dongles have volume restrictions as per their laws, but forcing it to other non EU countries that have no such laws is a weird move from Sony. I'm seeing quite a lot of folks on the Sony DAP threads refunding their low gain only Sony DAPs or outright boycotting it. Or they are bypassing this (like what @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 did) by buying from countries without volume lock and importing it in (it is more expensive though).

I am pretty sure these returns and lack of sales will hit Sony in their pocket, so maybe they might change their minds about this. Or maybe someone like MrWalkman can do a firmware mod to unlock the high gain?




Look forward to your review on it! Thanks for taking one for the team!

I think more power on tap is definitely worth the extra outlay. With the low gain/volume cap, these DAPs are quite limited to IEMs and low demand gear.




Bravo! Reinforced hearing protection is the way to go in noisy workplaces! Hearing conservation is very important!

Someone on the Sony thread brought up tenso, which I haven't used since ironically when I ordered my Sony A17 (the difference between 64GB and 16GB in internal space was too much to want the US version). So I went this route again, and as you said is more expensive, but still less than I paid for say the Opus #3 (ugh!), so I think it'll be worth it? Yes sir, i'll review it for sure.

 

[Carpet]

I looked at a few reviews. The size of the earphones might be too big for me. Most reviews were ok. Of course Crinacle was pretty critical.

Crinacle likes sub-bass focus over mid-bass. That works well for giving control to the bass, but not warmth and weight. Depends on whether you are more into analytical or musical tunings. I recall he liked the DT200 the most out of the Audiosense lineup.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Sennheiser IE200​

First Impressions​

Received the Sennheiser IE200 a couple days back, and have been listening to them over the weekend.



This will probably be one of the most popular options under USD$200 this year. The driver inside is very capable (the same driver as IE300, IE600, and probably even IE900, though only the latter three got the Helmholtz resonator).



First impressions are good. Safe tuning with the "end of the nozzle" tip position. Bass has nice rumble, and mid-bass isn't devoid of body and slam (unlike certain "reference" tunings). Very safe throughout without sounding boring or lifeless.



At 119.00 dB/V SPL (or 101.00 dB/mW SPL) sensitivity, the IE200 are tad more difficult to drive than most of the competition. Should be fine with most dongles, however.

The IE200 do not quite have the "engagement factor" of the IE300, however, which also has much better treble sparkle and definition. In turn, IE300 are more fatiguing in comparison.

Also, many are comparing this to the IE600 which seems odd to me. The IE600 are superior on every single aspect. So not sure if such a comparison does the IE200 any favor.

One negative I found so far: the stock cable. The ergonomics and sheathing are not to my liking at all, and it has this terrible smell out of the box that hasn't gone away yet.



Nonetheless, overall a very safe, natural tuning, and I can see myself recommending these. Full review in the works which should have more comparisons.

I'll be trying to tune it so it doesn't have that bass lift like the IE300. It's why I sold my IE300, which was the first Senns IEM I sold off in years. I'll take that front of the nozzle tuning.

 

[baskingshark]

I looked at a few reviews. The size of the earphones might be too big for me. Most reviews were ok. Of course Crinacle was pretty critical.

I bought the original Audiosense AQ7 on day 1. It was quite bad IMO, sold it away a few weeks later at a huge loss. Would have graded it 2/5.

The tonality is weird. It is mostly neutral with sub-bass emphasis, but there are some weird spikes in the upper mids/treble, so it can't be described as "neutral" per se. Imaging is weird too, though micro-details are superb. Worst part was the BA timbre.

Haven't tried the Pro version, but got my wallet burned on the original, so kind of once bitten twice shy. Maybe someone who has tried both the original and Pro versions can chime in.

Crinacle likes sub-bass focus over mid-bass. That works well for giving control to the bass, but not warmth and weight. Depends on whether you are more into analytical or musical tunings. I recall he liked the DT200 the most out of the Audiosense lineup.

The DT200 is a warm neutral set with excellent timbre (for a pure BA set) and tonality. Very pleasant tuning.

Though it is a one trick pony, as the technicalities are like C grading. Narrow soundstage, veiled micro-details, lackluster clarity. So at that $100ish USD pricing, not acceptable in my book to just ace timbre/tonality and neglect technicalities. If it were a cheap $20 BLON BL-03, that's okay to have C technicalities but A+ tonality. But not at the $100 bracket, where other bigboys can do at least above average in all departments.

Sennheiser IE200​

First Impressions​

Received the Sennheiser IE200 a couple days back, and have been listening to them over the weekend.



This will probably be one of the most popular options under USD$200 this year. The driver inside is very capable (the same driver as IE300, IE600, and probably even IE900, though only the latter three got the Helmholtz resonator).



First impressions are good. Safe tuning with the "end of the nozzle" tip position. Bass has nice rumble, and mid-bass isn't devoid of body and slam (unlike certain "reference" tunings). Very safe throughout without sounding boring or lifeless.



At 119.00 dB/V SPL (or 101.00 dB/mW SPL) sensitivity, the IE200 are tad more difficult to drive than most of the competition. Should be fine with most dongles, however.

The IE200 do not quite have the "engagement factor" of the IE300, however, which also has much better treble sparkle and definition. In turn, IE300 are more fatiguing in comparison.

Also, many are comparing this to the IE600 which seems odd to me. The IE600 are superior on every single aspect. So not sure if such a comparison does the IE200 any favor.

One negative I found so far: the stock cable. The ergonomics and sheathing are not to my liking at all, and it has this terrible smell out of the box that hasn't gone away yet.



Nonetheless, overall a very safe, natural tuning, and I can see myself recommending these. Full review in the works which should have more comparisons.

Thanks for the first impressions and look forward to your final review! Would be interested to see how this set stacks up against some midFI single DD benchmarks like the Tanchjim Oxygen or KATO.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Something interesting.

Now we will have KZ on S tier

 

[AmericanSpirit]

When they showed the prototypes of Studio4 and Studio2 in 2022 they were both presented as all-BA. But, curious if they've kept that config for the final version.

Thanks for the input! That will be interesting. Symponium Meteor rival it maybe

 

[InvisibleInk]

Something interesting.

Now we will have KZ on S tier

Did his hearing go, causing him to lose his mind? Happens to us all sooner or later, I guess.

 

[PhonoPhi]

Something interesting.

Now we will have KZ on S tier

That is long overdue.
KZ will tigerly oversee the rest of the cats