[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

For past couple of decades, I’ve consumed 4 Ultimate Ears TF10Pro, each of them lasts around 4years of daily use, so I’d consider 4-5 years is an average driver lifetime if you use it daily. I have many IEMs that still sounding fine that I barely used, but my15years old ER4S’s left driver is getting unstable as well, it sometime make buzz noise.

To my experience, simpler mechanical dynamic drivers lasts longer, like 16 years old JVC FX500, it still sounds totally fine, and old Balanced Armature drivers are subject to depletion. My old pair of CIEM UERM is already dead. UE5EB, the world’s first hybrid IEM is still alive because I only clocked less than 10 hours on it due to world’s worst sounding tuning it has.

I have my Soundmagic E80's, which a decade later, are still going strong. Only other IEM I have that's not an oldie that was newly purchased is my ZA Doppio, which has been going strong since 2015. All my others were sold, died, or are newer re-purchases or purchases.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Yea I was listening to EA500 with RedAg last night, very nice sparkling it can generate. Better performing than Moondrop single DLC KXXS, and slightly behind Kato. For $69, EA500 is very recommendable as a single DD IEM if someone is looking a bright neutral signature.

Not very hard to outperform the KXXS. LOL I own it. It ranked in the middle/middle lower half of my collection. It's an uninspired if serviceable single DD that would be good for someone's daily driver for pop or hip hip and rock?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I heard rumors Larry the tuner is recommending this cable for the Legato? It's on at good price so I picked one up today as well. $27 CAD

C$ 113.70 40%OFF | NiceHCK BlackCat HIFI Earphone Cable Zinc Copper Alloy Oil Soaked Wire 3.5/2.5/4.4mm MMCX/0.78mm 2Pin for P1 Max SALNOTES ZERO
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKs7MVo

I can totally see this recc'd for a bassy set to give some air and sparkle up top. Certainly improved the sound of the Wu Zetian. I can believe Larry said that. I just picked up another set on sale too. It's going to go on my SR5.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Legato is a dual DD, and the P5 is a hybrid, so kind of different transducers apples to oranges kind of comparison. Also at different price ranges. But these 2 are quite different fundamentally.

FWIW, the Legato is way more basshead than the more warm U-shaped P5. P5 has a nice subwoofer like boosted subbass, but the Legato's bass is a few leagues ahead in quantity - it can rumble the jaw and give a visceral rumbling all the way to the chest LOL.

Legato is technically inferior, and a bit muddier, but has a more natural timbre than the P5.

There are not many bona fide basshead IEMs at the sub $100 region, short of perhaps the KBEAR Rosefinch (which is much worse in technicalities), and perhaps some of the old school TFZ types, so bassheads will really enjoy the Legato. So it is quite a specialist IEM, and perhaps will not be a good companion for classical music or for those wanting a "reference" signature, but if you are an EDM or hiphop aficionado, and want something fun and different from the usual harman fare, then the Legato is unique in that way.





Short of lousy QC from the factory, I guess if you do sensible things, like not dropping the IEM, or exposing them to extreme temperatures/moisture, the drivers can actually last a long time. I have BA and DD containing IEMs that are almost 20 years old and are still going strong. From my IEM journey, usually it is the cables that die first, rather than the driver, assuming you baby your gear.

Lol ok Legato sounds like a bass cannon then maybe similar to my GS Audio ST10.

Thanks for the inputs! I got brief idea of Legato

 

[ywheng89]

@KopitehC The discovery thread

 

[baskingshark]

XDUOO XD05 Pro

Does size matter? Who wants a gargantuan Dac/Amp?

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=625238066283310&set=a.581454577328326

 

[r31ya]

XDUOO XD05 Pro

Does size matter? Who wants a gargantuan Dac/Amp?



https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=625238066283310&set=a.581454577328326

Ah, XD05 series, the "Technically Portable" DAC/AMP.
Fortunately or unfortunately it sounds great and have easily replacable OPAMP if you into that level of customization.

See, Desktop 1MW power on the go, as long you don't mind that its bigger than your phone.

jokes aside, i love that the newer version have battery bypass switch so when you use it mostly as desktop dac it won't ruin the battery as it will directly power the dac/amp via usbc

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

I can totally see this recc'd for a bassy set to give some air and sparkle up top. Certainly improved the sound of the Wu Zetian. I can believe Larry said that. I just picked up another set on sale too. It's going to go on my SR5.

Normally I find Silver or SPC cables to do that not a strait Copper cable unless the Zinc does something. Time well tell and try it out?

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

XDUOO XD05 Pro

Does size matter? Who wants a gargantuan Dac/Amp?



https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=625238066283310&set=a.581454577328326

YES please now!

 

[inscythe]

I heard rumors Larry the tuner is recommending this cable for the Legato? It's on at good price so I picked one up today as well. $27 CAD

C$ 113.70 40%OFF | NiceHCK BlackCat HIFI Earphone Cable Zinc Copper Alloy Oil Soaked Wire 3.5/2.5/4.4mm MMCX/0.78mm 2Pin for P1 Max SALNOTES ZERO
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKs7MVo

Well, I have them all here:

 

[baskingshark]

Ah, XD05 series, the "Technically Portable" DAC/AMP.
Fortunately or unfortunately it sounds great and have easily replacable OPAMP if you into that level of customization.



See, Desktop 1MW power on the go, as long you don't mind that its bigger than your phone.

jokes aside, i love that the newer version have battery bypass switch so when you use it mostly as desktop dac it won't ruin the battery as it will directly power the dac/amp via usbc

Wow 1MW portable!!

Imagine though, if you bring this up a plane, tons of security guards will jump on you for thinking the audiophile is brandishing a bomb.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Just posted SR5 cable notes including MixPP / RedAg /BlackSoul / DragonScale / Hazy /Limpid Pro

The best sounding one was DragonScale but from cost to performance I find either of following are good match:
KBear Hazy | if you want to tame bass) RedAg | if you want more transparency and OK with original
bass level

SR5 cable impressions:
NiceHCK MixPP: Make note thinner, couple db of 7khz+ boost, nice feeling of sparkle


KBEAR Hazy: Very nice and neutral, open up air for 10khz+ which matches to SR5 very well. It reduces bass in an exchange so if anyone feel bass is excessive to their liking Hazy is your choice.


NiceHCK RedAg: Increase transparency, I see a increase in perceived resolution, it also brings vocal forward, so I feel there are 1-3khz emphasis as well. The tonal balance is not too far from KBEar Hazy, it also boost 10khz+ and bass more than Hazy, so if you don’t like bass Hazy, if you like some bass, RedAg.

KBEAR Limpid Pro: Upper mid focused neutral tuning with slight treble boost. 6khz also gets some boost, if you are sibilance sensitive, try to avoid.

NiceHCK BlackSoul: Make note thicker, mainly mid range boost, and slight mid-bass boost too, the treble remains natural yet inoffensive, sub-bass get tamed.


NiceHCK DragonScale: Natural and neutral across all band, a hint of slight warmth and increase gain levels for all frequencies. Basically upgraded version of KBEAR Hazy.

 

[ywheng89]

Just posted SR5 cable notes including MixPP / RedAg /BlackSoul / DragonScale / Hazy /Limpid Pro

The best sounding one was DragonScale but from cost to performance I find either of following are good match:
KBear Hazy | if you want to tame bass) RedAg | if you want more transparency and OK with original
bass level

I have the Hazy, bang for buck!

 

[s2kphile]

Just posted SR5 cable notes including MixPP / RedAg /BlackSoul / DragonScale / Hazy /Limpid Pro

The best sounding one was DragonScale but from cost to performance I find either of following are good match:
KBear Hazy | if you want to tame bass) RedAg | if you want more transparency and OK with original
bass level

Glad you like the Dragonscale. I found it the best for the SR05.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

ugh, host server lag caused a double posting, hope it gets fixed soon.

Aside from the Black Cat, my favorite new cable is the Hazy. Absolutely beautiful cable, that feels good, is pliable and doesn't tangle easily, and sounds fantastic!