The discovery thread!

[theintention]

I got mine, too. It's going back. Not much bass, and what there is, isn't very good. And the treble? It extends well, I'll give it that. It extends all the way into my reptilian brain. I've just spent the last two days sticking my toungue out and hissing at perfect strangers because of it.

Yeah, I don't like it...

Haha yeah I don’t see a world where I use these once my Neo 5 gets here. I want to do a little comparison with everything I have when the two I have on order get here though, little “lessons learned” in the budget space before I move up to the next price tier… whatever that even is yet!

 

[Fantomax]

With my EST50 I think I have found a balance that is difficult to improve. They're really special to me and so damn fun and engaging, bass-heavy, thick and detailed... that's what I'm looking for most of the time.
Of course, I have no experience on many IEMs, especially the ones around the kilobuck or higher.
Anyway I find some features that I like even in cheaper sets, despite if in the end I always go back to them. They are my soft spot.
I think everyone has one.

I completely agree with this fantastic review:

ISN EST50 Review​

 

[Surf Monkey]

Haha yeah I don’t see a world where I use these once my Neo 5 gets here. I want to do a little comparison with everything I have when the two I have on order get here though, little “lessons learned” in the budget space before I move up to the next price tier… whatever that even is yet!

The Neo 5 is great. You’ll dig them for sure.

 

[cobrabucket]

With my EST50 I think I have found a balance that is difficult to improve. They're really special to me and so damn fun and engaging, bass-heavy, thick and detailed... that's what I'm looking for most of the time.
Of course, I have no experience on many IEMs, especially the ones around the kilobuck or higher.
Anyway I find some features that I like even in cheaper sets, despite if in the end I always go back to them. They are my soft spot.
I think everyone has one.

I completely agree with this fantastic review:

ISN EST50 Review​

The Neo 5 is great. You’ll dig them for sure.

Love, love, LOVE both the EST50 and Neo 5!

 

[Redcarmoose]

I think I'm going to be tracking that GK200 as well, it's a configuration I don't have and it's an attainable price to add to the collection. Especially with some sale-based incentives.

Well my humble review had me guess the GK100 was most like the AKG k701 if you can believe that? Though the k701 is excellent at vocals, and somehow the GK100 went around that ability. So? If the company continues along and adds vocal ability, the GK200 will be really cool. Just gobs of GK100 spatialization and light airy detail, then dialed in abilities, the GK200.......I’m guessing?

The GK100 with a detailed-out, but speedy and pronounced bass that sits in a pocket and floats. You would only understand this bass if you had heard the k701.

That is if the GK200 is a continuation of the GK100 tuning theme. Still the way the GK100 does everything is quite special and fun. A lot of sound and a big itemized stage for the money? Plus it is 100% unique in the IEM world, I like that. The ISN CS02 went and made everything amber colored, smoothed out the highs and toned them a slight bit down, while adding authority?

 

[Lifted Andreas]

Hello everyone, I've been away for a while but somehow found my way back.

Whats everyone thoughts on the return of the AK chips? Namely found in the Shanling UA3 and JCally AP90? (AK4493SEQ)

I have been looking at getting a new dongle to pair with my Sennys that are naturally a warm headphone, but I also have some IEMs that are more towards analytical.

My current options - JCally AP90, AkLIAM with the same AK4493SEQ, Truthear SHIO (2xCS43198) and the new FiiO KA13 (2xCS43131).

I've watched some reviews, and read some reviews... my head is kinda spinning at the moment. Some say pairing the CS chips with warmer headphones will add too much warmth, then again others say it sounds neutral to them... so at this point my conclusion is that I will need to buy 2 DACs.

Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[cobrabucket]

Hello everyone, I've been away for a while but somehow found my way back.

Whats everyone thoughts on the return of the AK chips? Namely found in the Shanling UA3 and JCally AP90? (AK4493SEQ)

I have been looking at getting a new dongle to pair with my Sennys that are naturally a warm headphone, but I also have some IEMs that are more towards analytical.

My current options - JCally AP90, AkLIAM with the same AK4493SEQ, Truthear SHIO (2xCS43198) and the new FiiO KA13 (2xCS43131).

I've watched some reviews, and read some reviews... my head is kinda spinning at the moment. Some say pairing the CS chips with warmer headphones will add too much warmth, then again others say it sounds neutral to them... so at this point my conclusion is that I will need to buy 2 DACs.

Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance!

CS43131 sounds pretty neutral in my Penon Tail, to me at least.
Should be a good pairing.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I have just done a review where I placed the UA3 side-by-side of various devices. The Shanling UA3 offers an overall smooth approach to bass, where it goes low but also gets slightly soft down there....into the lowest zone, but it is full! The UA3 can go as loud as you would ever want it to be, even powering some full-size headphones. When you combine the softer pace and not clunky, it offers a romantic tone, and even has a smooth yet detailed top-end too. Very special and different. Though take all this with a grain of salt as I’m no Dongle expert? I’ve only tried three Dongles and a few desktops and DAPs. Sources are not really my specialty?

Hello everyone, I've been away for a while but somehow found my way back.

Whats everyone thoughts on the return of the AK chips? Namely found in the Shanling UA3 and JCally AP90? (AK4493SEQ)

I have been looking at getting a new dongle to pair with my Sennys that are naturally a warm headphone, but I also have some IEMs that are more towards analytical.

My current options - JCally AP90, AkLIAM with the same AK4493SEQ, Truthear SHIO (2xCS43198) and the new FiiO KA13 (2xCS43131).

I've watched some reviews, and read some reviews... my head is kinda spinning at the moment. Some say pairing the CS chips with warmer headphones will add too much warmth, then again others say it sounds neutral to them... so at this point my conclusion is that I will need to buy 2 DACs.

Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Lifted Andreas]

CS43131 sounds pretty neutral in my Penon Tail, to me at least.
Should be a good pairing.

Interesting, thank you!

Would you say the Penon Tail still sounds natural even when used with warmer headphones/iems?

I have just done a review where I placed the UA3 side-by-side of various devices. The Shanling UA3 offers an overall smooth approach to bass, where it goes low but also gets slightly soft down there....into the lowest zone, but it is full! The UA3 can go as loud as you would ever want it to be, even powering some full-size headphones. When you combine the softer pace and not clunky, it offers a romantic tone, and even has a smooth yet detailed top-end too. Very special and different. Though take all this with a grain of salt as I’m no Dongle expert? I’ve only tried three Dongles and a few desktops and DAPs. Sources are not really my specialty?

Wow okay thank you, thats somewhat contradicting from what I have heard and read so far.

From what I can decipher so far, the AK44493SEQ which is the same chip in the UA3 has been outed as possibly sounding borderline sibilant on more analytical headphones/iems. Which is crazy to say regarding an Asahi Kasei DAC chip. They have a reputation of being the smoothest sounding out there, in the past at least. Now though it seems that Cirrus Logic has taken that crown, and AK's patented "Velvet Sound" is no longer so velvety.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Interesting, thank you!

Would you say the Penon Tail still sounds natural even when used with warmer headphones/iems?



Wow okay thank you, thats somewhat contradicting from what I have heard and read so far.

From what I can decipher so far, the AK44493SEQ which is the same chip in the UA3 has been outed as possibly sounding borderline sibilant on more analytical headphones/iems.

I don’t hear anything near sibilant sounding? In fact it has an almost extra lower midrange and mid-bass hump, ever so slightly. I would judge it as walking a nice line between smoothness and detail? I’m only comparing to the WM1A which is more mid foreword. The WM1Z which has more low authority and bright sparkling highs. The Apple Dongle which is sterile leaner and boring. And the Hiby R3 II which offers a slightly clearer bass and maybe even resolution.......as an M signature. That’s all I know, and none of them are sibilant, but you know sound personalities are individual

 

[SynaestheticA]

Looks like Some IEMs are coming out with "Snapdragon/APTx Lossless Audio" and Bluetooth 5.3. This is capable of transmitting CD quality sound with true lossless transmission. No compression/codec; direct 16/44.1 digital transmission via Bluetooth. (Also Need Newer Android phone that can also transmit the Lossless Audio.)

- I noticed that this one shows a "Wool Composite" diaphram on it's 7mm DD Driver. Never head of Wool being used. Always thought a stiffer diaphrem was better?






Link to More Info and "EarlyBird Pricing": https://www.myearfun.com/promo/earfun-free-pro-3-early-bird-special

This kinda reads like you've just discovered TWS. Boy have I got a surprise for you

 

[Redcarmoose]

To me the Chip in the UA3 continued the velvet tradition. Except I have never heard other AK chips, so what do I know? Though one issue with the Dongle is hooking it up it can all of a sudden go full-output on you. That has happened about 4 times to me. And I have read it other places too. Also some have had issues up-dating the firmware were it bricked-up? But I will never update the firmware as I like it the way it is.

Interesting, thank you!

Would you say the Penon Tail still sounds natural even when used with warmer headphones/iems?



Wow okay thank you, thats somewhat contradicting from what I have heard and read so far.

From what I can decipher so far, the AK44493SEQ which is the same chip in the UA3 has been outed as possibly sounding borderline sibilant on more analytical headphones/iems. Which is crazy to say regarding an Asahi Kasei DAC chip. They have a reputation of being the smoothest sounding out there, in the past at least. Now though it seems that Cirrus Logic has taken that crown, and AK's patented "Velvet Sound" is no longer so velvety.

 

[cobrabucket]

Interesting, thank you!

Would you say the Penon Tail still sounds natural even when used with warmer headphones/iems?



Wow okay thank you, thats somewhat contradicting from what I have heard and read so far.

From what I can decipher so far, the AK44493SEQ which is the same chip in the UA3 has been outed as possibly sounding borderline sibilant on more analytical headphones/iems. Which is crazy to say regarding an Asahi Kasei DAC chip. They have a reputation of being the smoothest sounding out there, in the past at least. Now though it seems that Cirrus Logic has taken that crown, and AK's patented "Velvet Sound" is no longer so velvety.

Neutral, yes. Natural, depends on the IEM.

 

[cobrabucket]

Any idea when the Timeless 2 was going to launch?
Linsoul mentioned early October on the reservation page but I haven't heard anything about them in a while.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Any idea when the Timeless was going to launch?
Linsoul mentioned early October on the reservat6ion page but I haven't heard anything about them in a while.

Well, there was multiple reviews on it, though contrasting? I’ve been told there will be a slight delay in launch.