The discovery thread!
Mar 8, 2024 at 4:17 AM Post #96,691 of 106,544
You hit the nail on its head with this one. Maybe that upcoming AFUL 2+1 carries this tuning but with better tech? Imaging they can hit the tech of P8 and tuning of Magic One with only 3 drivers. My ideal EDC for sure
Yes it’s exciting. Timmy from gizaudio was teasing a collab and it could make great sense.
 
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Mar 8, 2024 at 4:21 AM Post #96,692 of 106,544
I reckon i read somewhere the Singolo was supposed to be released soon?
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 4:26 AM Post #96,693 of 106,544
Yes it’s exciting. Timmy from gizaudio was teasing a collab with them and it could make great sense.
Look at you, getting chummy with manufacturers 😂 do you talk to Aful or hifigo for all these juicy gossip?

I need to finish my backlog first anyway.



I have given up on the FatFreq Scarlet Mini. The subbass makes me physically uncomfortable. If anyone wants bass, this is it.

The Maestro Mini was much more balanced and versatile. I find myself listening to anything with it. I’m considering Annihilator and MSE now.

I’m finalizing my notes on the Jialai Carat. It’s one of the case where I say “good for the price”. It has short and stubby nozzles, so if you grab one, be prepared for tip rolling a lot.

I have AFUL dongle coming for review. Looking forward to test it with the magic one. Let me know if you have any questions that you want me to cover in the review.

Have a good weekends, everyone!
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 4:43 AM Post #96,694 of 106,544
I reckon i read somewhere the Singolo was supposed to be released soon?
I want to say tomorrow 11 pm gmt. My guess is some reviews or something will drop tomorrow hyping it.
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 4:45 AM Post #96,695 of 106,544
** Cross post from Simgot thread, because I thought this one is actually really good and deserve the praise it is getting.

Here it goes guys, some adventure over this great IEM.

First of all... Thanks @Damz87 and Simgot to make the Australian tour happen.

Simgot EA-1000 "Fermat": A Deep Dive into Innovation

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Portable world is spilling innovation and experimentation on an crazy level in recent years. Constantly pushing boundaries in the pursuit of the next best sonic experience. This product names are also being infected by this innovation seeking. How Simgot got to EA 1000 "Fermat" name, it's still a mystery to me, but hey… have you seen other products names around?

But I much prefer the lore and character chose for this IEM than the usual waifu going around the Chi-fi world. Feels like they actually put some thought into creating this IEM and everything around it.

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Back to Science and what makes this thing interesting…. This one has a unique blend of design and technology. I will go through them quickly and will go through that fun round of sonic impressions using traditional Metal songs from the brutal riffs of Death to the soaring vocals of Ronnie James Dio and some lesser-known bands that are good to check them out.


A lesson on how to innovate without a price tag:

The EA-1000 boasts a sleek and sophisticated design, with a lightweight, ergonomic form factor crafted from shinny Chrome metal. This ensures a comfortable fit, even for extended listening sessions, and durability. But the true innovation lies within. Here are some key features that set the EA-1000 apart:

  • 2nd Generation Dual-Magnet Dual-Cavity Dynamic Driver (DMDC)with Sputter Deposition Purple-Gold Diaphragm Technology (SDPGD Technology): Mate, what a mouthful name for a DD, but this big name is actually doing something beautiful to the sound signature of this IEM. Simgot promises that the Purple-Gold diaphragm helps pushing deep bass while the DMDC design enhances dynamic range, transient response, and widens the frequency range. I think they delivered what they promised. This driver plays a crucial role in delivering a natural and detailed sound, while throuwing deep rumble bass.
  • Passive Radiator: a 6mm passive radiator is also integrated in this design. This thing is playing some miracle on the signature's soundstage and extensions. Really noticeable the effect of this driver.
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  • Three Tuning Nozzles: Simgot provides three sets of interchangeable tuning nozzles with the EA-1000. These nozzles subtly alter the sound signature, allowing listeners to tailor the IEMs to their preferences. We'll explore the impact of these nozzles further in the "Sound Characteristics" section.
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Jumping into what it matters:

Alright, let's delve into the heart of this impressions: how does the SimGOAT EA-1000 really sound? As usual, I'll use some songs that I love and can represent well the capabilities of this shinny beast.


Lower: Head crushing

For our journey into the low end, let's start with the end with legendary metal band, Death. In tracks like "Symbolic" and "The Philosopher," the EA-1000 delivers impactful and controlled bass. The rumble of the kick drum is there and authoritative without overwhelming the rest of the instrumentation. It can be somewhat palpable. This allows the intricate bass lines to shine through, providing a solid foundation for sound signature.


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Mids: A Stage for Vocals and More

Moving into the midrange, let's explore the iconic vocals of Ronnie James Dio 🤘🏽, both in his solo career and his time with Heaven and Hell. The EA-1000 excels in this area, rendering Dio's powerful voice with remarkable clarity and presence. Every nuance and inflection are faithfully reproduced (as far as I can tell from what I expect from his voice), allowing listeners to connect with the emotional intensity of his performances. Additionally, instruments like guitars and keyboards occupy their own space within the mix, maintaining their distinct timbre and texture. Not everything is perfect, in some specific cases lower mids may sound a bit thin for some. That didn't bother me.


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Upper: A Smooth Criminal

The treble response of the EA-1000 deserves careful consideration. It leans towards the neutral side, avoiding excessive brightness or sibilance. This ensures cymbals and percussion instruments retain their shimmer and definition without becoming fatiguing during extended listening sessions. 3D soundtracks, like those found in video games and certain movies, benefit from this balanced treble response, creating a natural and immersive sonic environment. But again, not all is perfect, I found that on Fire In The Distance's album Air Not Meant For Us, the treble sounded a bit grainy. Issue easily sorted with a Cardas Clear or EA Code 24c or Ares S+Cadmus 8w cables.


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Tuning the Experience (or better saying, expectations):

The three included tuning nozzles play a significant role in tailoring the sound signature of the EA-1000. I prefer to say that these modules are more of an expectation tuner. For a $200 IEM that doesn't want to please everyone, this kind of added feature is actually the best way to reach further grounds.

  • Silver Nozzle: This nozzle delivers the most balanced and neutral sound signature, ideal for those who prefer a pure and uncolored listening experience.
  • Gold Nozzle: This nozzle adds a touch of warmth and fullness to the sound, particularly noticeable in the midrange. This can be beneficial for genres like classic rock and acoustic music.
  • Black Nozzle: This nozzle offers a slightly brighter character, emphasizing the treble frequencies. This might appeal to listeners who enjoy a modern, crisp sonic presentation, particularly for electronic music and certain pop genres.

The Last Note:

The Simgot EA-1000 "Fermat" represents an interesting achievement for audiophiles seeking innovative technology and a captivating listening experience, for a fair price. When I mean fair price I can heartfully say that this beats some well praised under $1k IEMs (wink Aurists) for my tastes. Its ergonomic design, unique driver configuration, and three included tuning nozzles offer a level of customization that is really appealing at this price. But aside from the physical achievements, what Simgot got with the sound profile and technicalities is something to take the hat off. While it may not be the silver bullet we all seek, it does what it purposes really well.



Well done, Simgot. You deserve the praise you have been receiving.



PS.: The upgrade cable may be worth a try, but you can also find good alternatives in this price range.

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---- Picture Dump because this one is quite photogenic ----

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Mar 8, 2024 at 5:35 AM Post #96,697 of 106,544
All similar, yet all similarly fail on treble extension, though they are "great" midfi.

And the last stretch of the extension is where technicalities and air sit there with all extra details. That makes the Letshuoer cadenza 4 different from all of those.

Sonus have the extension but no "bites" on lower trebles, that made soft tizzy sounds without the real transient attack from like cymbals or hihats and perhaps unnatural treble softness.


What happened to this thread? We have a Can Jam soon. A crinacle collab releasing today, a Cadenza 4 to talk about and this:

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Cat least 3 graphs have been out and have similar results, and all of you are wronggggg, you didn't use a capable measurement rig like usss!! 
-KZ-


My Cadenza 4 is super delayed, getting one to review. But probably still a month away, due to new 2024 import rules of Norway.

I have anyways a lot of fun with the Campfire Bonneville and the Kinera Verdandi now, but would be nice with a cheaper set I actually dare take with me to work also.
The cadenza 4 is one of few that I feel have really great tuning, especially on midfi class. Would like to hear your impression on this set. I can wait for a month.




Here is going to be (supposedly soon) unveiling of the new Kiwi ears Crinacle Collaboration?

Edit:
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Again, fail on treble extension and this time worse on the distance between lower mids and pointy high mids, and too dip lower trebles. A dark set, not my type.


Nice mid and bass 👍. Is it single or dual DD? How the heck did they manage to force a DD to conform to that curve?

The treble is just sad, though
yeah sad trebles and no extensions.


don’t be hateful. Your graphs are not correct. You are just saying that because you listen to the graph not the IEM

(As per KZ rep)

You beat me with those lines 😄

Just receive it a few minutes ago, Jialai Carat

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Everytime I see Jialai Carat, I always misspelled it for Jia lat @baskingshark
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 5:57 AM Post #96,698 of 106,544
All similar, yet all similarly fail on treble extension, though they are "great" midfi.

And the last stretch of the extension is where technicalities and air sit there with all extra details. That makes the Letshuoer cadenza 4 different from all of those.

Sonus have the extension but no "bites" on lower trebles, that made soft tizzy sounds without the real transient attack from like cymbals or hihats and perhaps unnatural treble softness.



Cat least 3 graphs have been out and have similar results, and all of you are wronggggg, you didn't use a capable measurement rig like usss!! 
-KZ-



The cadenza 4 is one of few that I feel have really great tuning, especially on midfi class. Would like to hear your impression on this set. I can wait for a month.



Again, fail on treble extension and this time worse on the distance between lower mids and pointy high mids, and too dip lower trebles. A dark set, not my type.



yeah sad trebles and no extensions.




You beat me with those lines 😄


Everytime I see Jialai Carat, I always misspelled it for Jia lat @baskingshark
I realize that the response graph is all you have to go on, though I normally don’t give the graph that much power to qualify or disqualify an IEM. I mean it’s only a graph?
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 6:39 AM Post #96,699 of 106,544
I realize that the response graph is all you have to go on, though I normally don’t give the graph that much power to qualify or disqualify an IEM. I mean it’s only a graph?

Graphs are easy to learn hard to master thingy. Once you spent too long with graph and read and write (measure), you'll at some point have very close perception between graph and tonality. Especially when you are playing with EQ, boost up 30hz +5db and hear with your favorite song, what sit there, boost up 1000hz and listen what the changes, for every major frequencies. I don't know but after years (actually I'm one of early adopter of this rig, not long time after crinacle before squig was created and before lot of reviewer have the measurement rigs) the FR is more like a tonality cue to compare from 1 IEM with another. It can roughly tell you like 70% how it sound, on the tonality and tuning mostly but can't tell you the rest like how tight is the bass, is it dampened or not, is it have ringing or trails of the transients (and how much), or the depth of the soundstage, nor the imaging and layering. But the proportion of frequencies are there. I just write in KZ thread too about this as response to KZ rep.
It's more like synopsis of the movie, where we can read and know roughly what kind of movie is this before we decided to buy the ticket but all the fun, action, twist, jumpscare, etc aren't showed there. More like a pre filter before we spend the money, not everyone can buy every IEM release.
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 7:05 AM Post #96,700 of 106,544
Graphs are easy to learn hard to master thingy. Once you spent too long with graph and read and write (measure), you'll at some point have very close perception between graph and tonality. Especially when you are playing with EQ, boost up 30hz +5db and hear with your favorite song, what sit there, boost up 1000hz and listen what the changes, for every major frequencies. I don't know but after years (actually I'm one of early adopter of this rig, not long time after crinacle before squig was created and before lot of reviewer have the measurement rigs) the FR is more like a tonality cue to compare from 1 IEM with another. It can roughly tell you like 70% how it sound, on the tonality and tuning mostly but can't tell you the rest like how tight is the bass, is it dampened or not, is it have ringing or trails of the transients (and how much), or the depth of the soundstage, nor the imaging and layering. But the proportion of frequencies are there. I just write in KZ thread too about this as response to KZ rep.
It's more like synopsis of the movie, where we can read and know roughly what kind of movie is this before we decided to buy the ticket but all the fun, action, twist, jumpscare, etc aren't showed there. More like a pre filter before we spend the money, not everyone can buy every IEM release.
That’s cool to have that much confidence about graph interpretation, I don’t but to each his own.
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 7:50 AM Post #96,701 of 106,544
Had some great hours listening to jazz and soul today with Kinera Verdandi, very holographic and slightly intimate soundstage. Gives Verdandi an romantic presentation on some music, female Vocals on soul is beautiful and engaging.

The tactile feel of the BC is addictive, not overdone. But changing over to a set without it makes me miss it in the bass.

Require quite deep fit for me to get the best sound out of Verdandi, without some of the BC effect is less noticable and sound overall is brighter.

Thanks for the feedback.
I always wonder what BC would bring in sound !?
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 8:17 AM Post #96,702 of 106,544
I'm taking this careful and highly selective approach too, from now on. I feel this hobby is actually the most expensive in its 1st year. Then, you get to grips with your preferences and, more critically, your uncontrolled wallet shrinkage.
My experience contrasts yours. During my first year, I was reluctant to spend over $75. Then I got a one way ticket, on the JVC HA-FD01 hype train.

While it’s true that I buy less products now, one mid-fi IEM costs as much as three or more less expensive units.
 
Mar 8, 2024 at 9:19 AM Post #96,703 of 106,544
I want to say tomorrow 11 pm gmt. My guess is some reviews or something will drop tomorrow hyping it.
How is this not the same driver?
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Mar 8, 2024 at 10:09 AM Post #96,704 of 106,544
Different tones and vocals. I think the Magic one does something special. The Pula is fine, but it is also 180. I mean it's hard if you look at a value proposition in hifi. I find the pula to have a nice tone overall, but lacks details and imaging but has excellent mids and low end. It's a fun set for the price but doesn't have anything special. The magic one to me adds something to vocals that just sounds clean and pure.
I'll chime in as a MagicOne owner who never has heard the Pula: The MagicOne just has a certain cohesiveness to the sound, the sought "musicality," that just hits different.

The torrent of releases from ChiFi companies is a wonder for our ears (and torture for our wallets). But the speed at which some releases hit the market sometimes causes me to wonder how much cohesive sound really matters to some of these tunings.

Take the Simgot EA500 LM, for example (and I know I'm about to get pelted with rocks and garbage for this take). Its individual parts are terrific. Rich sub-bass, adequate mids and clear, crisp treble. But the tuning did nothing for me. It was as if all these great parts were tuned individually and just thrown into a shell. The sound wasn't cohesive or musical enough for me; it sounded like an audio experiment, not a concert hall, recording studio or club.

I'm big on tone, timbre and warm musicality over the ultimate in detail and imaging. The EA500 LM failed to pass that test for me. The MagicOne passes it with beautiful sonic colors.
 
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Mar 8, 2024 at 10:10 AM Post #96,705 of 106,544
You hit the nail on its head with this one. Maybe that upcoming AFUL 2+1 carries this tuning but with better tech? Imaging they can hit the tech of P8 and tuning of Magic One with only 3 drivers. My ideal EDC for sure
Thanks for causing this 58-year-old to drool like he was 18 months old again. :)
 

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