Feb 7, 2024 at 6:00 AM Post #94,336 of 144,714
I’m curious how many 7mm midrange Graphene drivers you have heard before? I had never heard one before the GK10. As such they start out slightly hindered then become more pliable and responsive. That’s why at least 1/2 of Head-Fi believe in burn-in.
I still haven’t listened to a single one of my IEMs, they’re all burning in still. Might listen to them once I’m an old man myself and I understand the magic.
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:14 AM Post #94,337 of 144,714
That same half of Head-Fi has also hasn’t had a single case of burn-in making an IEM worse for some reason
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:19 AM Post #94,338 of 144,714
Ouch. Is there any recommendable IEM from this brand? Their configs look so interesting.

The GeekWold GK100 is an extremely resolving IEM under $200 USD. You can hear some fine nuances in tracks that similarly priced IEMs cannot pick out.

However, it is quite bright, and perhaps not for treble sensitive. It goes for technicalities over musicality, so the sound is a bit sterile and timbre is not that natural.

I think for analytical heads that want to hear every micro-detail in the music, the GK100 can be recommended, not for treble-sensitive or timbre/musical seekers.

Geekwold GK100.jpg





@baskingshark Hi! I remember your review of Penon Fan2. Had got it after reading yours and @ToneDeafMonk YouTube review. (this was before I joined this forum).
I found the Fan2's mids absolutely intoxicating - i think you used that term as well in the review iirc. What I want to know is why is it so? Is it something in the curve/tuning, or the drivers or something else? I would like to know so that to keep that in mind in any future iem purchases. Want that mids. The treble, especially extension and airiness and details it brings out isn't too great there on Fan2s but those mids-intoxication is great. While the soundstage isn't as wide, the depth is pretty good too. But yeah those mids: what makes them intoxicating?
thanks.

The Penon Fan 2 and Sony M9 are both lauded for their lush midrange (8 kHz is a coupler peak, measurements above 8 kHz are not accurate).
Penon Fan 2 versus Sony M9.jpg


I suspect this is due to the gentle descend from 200ish Hz - 600 Hz (around the lower midrange), instead of a steep drop off like some other V-shaped IEMs. And both these IEMs are warm neutral and are not that bright in the upper treble, nor are the very bassy/basshead.

So this combination seems to add a lot of heft to the lower mids and lets it not be overshadowed by bass/treble?

If you like something like the Penon Fan 2, the next logical step up would be the Sony M7 and M9. The M9 is better than the Fan 2 in technicalities, but we are talking about 5x price differential and major diminishing returns. The M7 is just a tinge less technical than the M9, and not as good in soundstage/treble extension, but can hit around 80% - 90% or so of the M9 for substantially cheaper.





For anyone buying the OD200. Be sure to try the metal nozzle instead of the black, I for one found the black that was already on in the package of OD200 to bright.

Ya I found the black nozzle too bright and shouty in the upper mids. The silver one is less harsh, though we lose a bit of resolution. The silver one is my preferred config too.






So................ burn-in or not? Burn-in doesn't matter maybe? Just burn them in for fun for a couple of days. In this very thread I reported vocals as dark then they changed with burn-in.

It's OK the original GK10 has polarized reviews too. Dsnuts was slandered and whole groups of posts were erased......also in this very thread. Lucky we only have small differences in how IEMs sound, not like the big world's problems like war. Peace....out! :)

I burned in the GK10S for 48 hours and have been using it the past week for testing (so maybe add another 10 or so hours to that 48 hours)? ie near 60 hours?

Different strokes for different folks, but I have never heard a bad IEM magically be salvaged to a golden swan after burn in. Changes are quite subtle, but YMMV.

Anyways, it may be unit variation/QC? I know the original GK10 had some complaints about different batches sounding different? FWIW, I have perfect channel balance on both sides of the GK10S on my graphing rig, so at least we know the set I have has an intended tuning. QC lottery is always something to keep in mind for CHIFI.
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:19 AM Post #94,339 of 144,714
I’m curious how many 7mm midrange Graphene drivers you have heard before? I had never heard one before the GK10. As such they start out slightly hindered then become more pliable and responsive. That’s why at least 1/2 of Head-Fi believe in burn-in.
How strange peoples beliefs. 50% 'believe' this, 50% 'believe' that, 50% believe this and that and then control 50% for believing this or that or kill 50% for believing this or that. 50% believe everything we believe in is a placebo. 50% believe everything is as they believe. Just listening and getting some peace and enjoyment is a good antidote to the 'belief' insanity.
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:21 AM Post #94,340 of 144,714
image.jpg


Day 2 with Hiby Yvain.

This is going to be a divisive IEM, given the rather glacier reception within my little audio circle. However I can’t stop listening to these. They are mid-centric in the purest sense, IMHO. It does have an emphasis in the upper midrange. It does have a hump around 250Hz to 500Hz. But it’s neither thick and dense, or bright and shouty. Instead, the normal sounding midrange is pushed forward, not unlike Etymotic target.

What’s nice about these is the sheer technical performance. That forward midrange is nicely detailed, such that the details themselves become the entertainment. There is pitch black background (partially due to the strong isolation) with clear space between instruments. What I like the most is the timbre accuracy and distinction. It’s easy to peel apart an orchestra with this IEM. I’m particularly impressed by how the woodwind section sounds with these. The positioning of the instruments is also precise.

Noted that the treble is rather subdued, despite the resolution. I have no harshness problem listening to Shivers by Ed Sheeran (my torture test for shout and sibilance). Cymbals and hats are less prominent than, say, the Pula PA02.

Bass quantity is not much. Certainly less than most Harman-inspired nowadays. This IEM does not give you more bass than the actual mix, though if the track is supposed to be bassy, it will give you the right amount.

The BA woofer here is quite good, with snappy attack and is capable of rendering low frequency details like the textured rumble of lower strings of cellos or bass notes of bass guitars. I think the woofer here is better than the dual sealed woofers in my Andro or the ones in KiwiEars Orchestra Lite.

So, what’s the catch? A few:
  • Not much bass quantity. I wouldn’t pick these for very fun music.
  • The midrange is pushed forward. In my case, it’s pushed too much that it might overshoot and localise at the back of my head in some tracks.
  • It’s a fully sealed IEM.
  • It’s very sensitive.
  • I constantly needed to adjust volume. Sometimes it’s 10/100. Sometimes I need 30/100.
I’ll make a video about these later. Will grab them if I find a very good deal. They pair well with R3 II.
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:22 AM Post #94,341 of 144,714
That same half of Head-Fi has also hasn’t had a single case of burn-in making an IEM worse for some reason
No I respect everyone’s opinions. It is just worth a try if someone is having issues with understanding an IEM. Maybe it will help maybe it will not. The reason you didn’t hear about problems is because human beings rarely have negative things to say about the break-in process. In the 1970s if you took a Corvette off the showroom floor and took it on the freeway it would last about 10 minutes. Shoes can feel better after being warn. There are lots of examples of things working better after being broken-in, IEMs are no different. Manufacturers also recommend burn-in.
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:32 AM Post #94,342 of 144,714
The GeekWold GK100 is an extremely resolving IEM under $200 USD. You can hear some fine nuances in tracks that similarly priced IEMs cannot pick out.

However, it is quite bright, and perhaps not for treble sensitive. It goes for technicalities over musicality, so the sound is a bit sterile and timbre is not that natural.

I think for analytical heads that want to hear every micro-detail in the music, the GK100 can be recommended, not for treble-sensitive or timbre/musical seekers.








The Penon Fan 2 and Sony M9 are both lauded for their lush midrange (8 kHz is a coupler peak, measurements above 8 kHz are not accurate).


I suspect this is due to the gentle descend from 200ish Hz - 600 Hz (around the lower midrange), instead of a steep drop off like some other V-shaped IEMs. And both these IEMs are warm neutral and are not that bright in the upper treble, nor are the very bassy/basshead.

So this combination seems to add a lot of heft to the lower mids and lets it not be overshadowed by bass/treble?

If you like something like the Penon Fan 2, the next logical step up would be the Sony M7 and M9. The M9 is better than the Fan 2 in technicalities, but we are talking about 5x price differential and major diminishing returns. The M7 is just a tinge less technical than the M9, and not as good in soundstage/treble extension, but can hit around 80% - 90% or so of the M9 for substantially cheaper.







Ya I found the black nozzle too bright and shouty in the upper mids. The silver one is less harsh, though we lose a bit of resolution. The silver one is my preferred config too.








I burned in the GK10S for 48 hours and have been using it the past week for testing (so maybe add another 10 or so hours to that 48 hours)? ie near 60 hours?

Different strokes for different folks, but I have never heard a bad IEM magically be salvaged to a golden swan after burn in. Changes are quite subtle, but YMMV.

Anyways, it may be unit variation/QC? I know the original GK10 had some complaints about different batches sounding different? FWIW, I have perfect channel balance on both sides of the GK10S on my graphing rig, so at least we know the set I have has an intended tuning. QC lottery is always something to keep in mind for CHIFI.
Well, I do agree that there could be other forces at work here, and sure the IEM interpretation process is totally individualistic. Funny that the GK10S rears its head to be under the same controversy as the original Geek Wold GK10. The 7mm DD midrange driver seemed to change and if placebo for me, sure I will accept that. Except my first impressions were very different from what the GK10 turned out to be in the end, maybe more, really more than most IEMs I encounter? They (the IEMs) all can’t be well received by everyone. :) Cheers!
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:06 AM Post #94,343 of 144,714
That same half of Head-Fi has also hasn’t had a single case of burn-in making an IEM worse for some reason
Why would an IEM be made to sound steadily worse as it plays? Whether or not you accept burn-in as a real effect, any manufacturer that released an IEM that quickly deteriorated would get a flood of returns and poor reviews.

That said, IMR is notorious for long burn-in times and some of their models (such as BC2023) do sound worse before they get good.
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:21 AM Post #94,344 of 144,714
I think whether you believe in burn in or not, it’s poor that any company sells an iem with a recommended burn in time.

If they feel it needs X amount of hours burn in, then they should be doing this as part of the manufacturing process and before it’s packaged/shipped. Sling you a product and then saying, yeah it will sound substandard until it’s been used for a significant period of time, just doesn’t sit right with me.
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:34 AM Post #94,345 of 144,714
I think whether you believe in burn in or not, it’s poor that any company sells an iem with a recommended burn in time.

If they feel it needs X amount of hours burn in, then they should be doing this as part of the manufacturing process and before it’s packaged/shipped. Sling you a product and then saying, yeah it will sound substandard until it’s been used for a significant period of time, just doesn’t sit right with me.
The things we do for this hobby. I mean my hobby would be a % easer if I didn’t burn-in. And the thing is that I get confirmation (perception wise) that it works with almost every IEM. Some a little and some a lot. I think the manufacturers that recommend it don’t simply have the time or energy? Woo Audio asks for 200 (I forget) maybe 300 hours till there 300b Woo Audio 5LE tube amp sounds as it should. I just don’t see them burning in a whole room full of tube amps all the time. And yes, IMR has wicked long times suggested. Most of the time I feel 75 -100 hours works for most products, yet then there are always the long ones, those are typically DD drivers. We often do seven full days just to be certain. But electrical equipment changes too, my Sony TA-ZH1ES got way smoother after 200 hours? But in fact I would love it if it was not true, that would save me so much trouble.
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2024 at 8:09 AM Post #94,346 of 144,714
<Snip>
The Penon Fan 2 and Sony M9 are both lauded for their lush midrange (8 kHz is a coupler peak, measurements above 8 kHz are not accurate).


I suspect this is due to the gentle descend from 200ish Hz - 600 Hz (around the lower midrange), instead of a steep drop off like some other V-shaped IEMs. And both these IEMs are warm neutral and are not that bright in the upper treble, nor are the very bassy/basshead.

So this combination seems to add a lot of heft to the lower mids and lets it not be overshadowed by bass/treble?

If you like something like the Penon Fan 2, the next logical step up would be the Sony M7 and M9. The M9 is better than the Fan 2 in technicalities, but we are talking about 5x price differential and major diminishing returns. The M7 is just a tinge less technical than the M9, and not as good in soundstage/treble extension, but can hit around 80% - 90% or so of the M9 for substantially cheaper.
Oh okay. Thanks for that explanation. so 2k to 6k gentle dip, shall remember that!

Just checked the graphs of couple other IEMs I like.
Aful p8: that slopes down from 200 to 300 may be before its already on the ascent by 4k in that lower mid range.
Sivga Nightingale: flatlines almost from 200 to 400, before gently dips to 900 almost
Also saw Aful One (which I haven't heard): it slopes pretty gently from 200 to almost 800 even ...
Z1R seems to slope gently from 200 to 400 before flatlining to 800

That Sony M7 seems to start the Great Gentle Dip from 90-100 hz itself, all the way to 800!

Anyways, thanks a ton. Will keep a look on the graphs if the mood seizes like today, and try to make sense if i can.
Of course, I can always blame stuff on burn-in (just kidding Carmoose! )
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 8:12 AM Post #94,347 of 144,714
Now, domq422 vs @Leonarfd about Meteor, fight! :dt880smile:
Your love is very much appreciated, brother, thank you so much! 💪

The LAST person I wanna go head to head with in terms of reviewing is @Leonarfd 😅 he’s a gentleman and scholar at that stuff, he’s perfected his craft!
Either the unit of Meteor I was testing from my friend @Erkil was a lemon, or we talk about seal problems fu__ing up.
There’s a good chance this was the case, brother. The first pair I listened to sounded like this, very veiled in the upper mids. I think my experience was due to the source pairing at the time because using my desktop stuff it sounds warm and laid back but the details are still there. They do take some serious power to shine though. The low impedance really does make them subject to serious differences when it comes to sources.

I’m working on getting a pair of Crimons from Symphonium next, I’m hoping that goes through so look out for that one coming next!
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 8:20 AM Post #94,348 of 144,714
Hello Everyone!

Recently I found this IEM and caught my attention: DTTN LING in aliexpress


FENGRU DTTN Ling 1 Dynamic + 3 Balanced Armature Hybrid Driver In Ear Earphones Vocal HIFI Earplugs Detachable 2Pin for Audiophile
Feature:
1. Product Name: FENGRU DTTN Ling In Ear Earphone
2. Type: In-ear
3. Brand: FENGRU
4. Model: Ling
5. Impedance: 16Ω
6. Earphone sensitivity: 116dB/mW
7. Frequency range: 20-20000Hz
8. Plug: 3.5mm
9. Cable Length: 1.2m
10.Color: Grey/White
11.Whether with Mic: No
12.Earphone plug type: Line Type
13.Cable Interface: 2Pin
14.1 X 10mm graphene Dynamic + 2X BELLING 29689 BA + 1 X Knowles 33518

I almost never buy anything without reading a good review or waiting for someone to test it and say how it performs, at least what sound signature it has, but this time I just fell in love with this design and cable, and ordered them already! they are coming soon.

Does anyone know or have tested them?
 
Feb 7, 2024 at 8:50 AM Post #94,350 of 144,714
The things we do for this hobby. I mean my hobby would be a % easer if I didn’t burn-in. And the thing is that I get confirmation (perception wise) that it works with almost every IEM. Some a little and some a lot. I think the manufacturers that recommend it don’t simply have the time or energy? Woo Audio asks for 200 (I forget) maybe 300 hours till there 300b Woo Audio 5LE tube amp sounds as it should. I just don’t see them burning in a whole room full of tube amps all the time. And yes, IMR has wicked long times suggested. Most of the time I feel 75 -100 hours works for most products, yet then there are always the long ones, those are typically DD drivers. We often do seven full days just to be certain. But electrical equipment changes too, my Sony TA-ZH1ES got way smoother after 200 hours? But in fact I would love it if it was not true, that would save me so much trouble.
I'm not sure that's an acceptable reason though is it. Imagine buying a TV and being told the picture is substandard until you've watched it for 200hours. I think its fair to say you'd expect it to be working at the intended ability as soon as you unbox it and set it up. Just my opinion ofc.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top