[Singaravelan]

And so I answer my own question.

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-w3-ii

I was wondering why all off the sudden there's a Bluetooth receiver for like $50. Turns out it released this January.

Sure I lose the 4.4mm but taking advantage of it would actually mean dropping another $15 minimum on a 4.4mm cable because my HE400SE doesn't include one despite how supposedly power hungry this headphone is.

Edit: Unfortunately, this also means this product is so new, there's hardly any information out there. Doesn't help that it seems to have released rather quietly.

Looks good#

We have a review from a member ( @hokagoteatimereviews )
who also runs a YouTube channel of late.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hiby-w3-ii-bluetooth-cs43131-dongle.27044/reviews

 

[hokagoteatimereviews]

Looks good#

We have a review from a member ( @hokagoteatimereviews )
who also runs a YouTube channel of late.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hiby-w3-ii-bluetooth-cs43131-dongle.27044/reviews

Thanks for tagging me and my review

If you have any questions I am open to answer them.

 

[Nimweth]

The CCA Trio is the quintessential ALL-AROUNDER. You will be absolutely hard pressed to find another IEM, either it be in it's price bracket, or up to $100, where you can definitively say this thing can handle a swath of genres like a champ. Now, if you're a stickler for top end resolution as a necessity to declare it a true "all arounder", then you'll find fault in my words, but if you're ok with really good resolution, and pretty good mid bass kick, but not truly punchy, then yes, you will find gospel in my description, and join me that the Trio is going to treat your entire library, regardless of genre, very professionally and adeptly.

What switch setting do you use on the Trio? I am using 1000 at the moment.

 

[Singaravelan]

What switch setting do you use on the Trio? I am using 1110 at the moment.

It comes with all switches on eh... Got to push the switches away from 'on' , right?. There is 'on' and 'ke' text on the iem and switches are already close to on/ke side

 

[Nimweth]

It comes with all switches on eh... Got to push the switches away from 'on' , right?. There is 'on' and 'ke' text on the iem and switches are already close to on/ke side

Yes that's right. Up is on, down is off.

 

[Leonarfd]

New AüR Audio model is out soon, been shared only a few teasers. Codename A234. That number 2 look tastefully done for my bass cravings

 

[o0genesis0o]

New AüR Audio model is out soon, been shared only a few teasers. Codename A234. That number 2 look tastefully done for my bass cravings

I’d go with 8.

I guess 2dd+3Ba+4EST?

 

[JEHL]

So, I know they're very different devices but given the similar asking prices between the W3II and the Dawn Pro...

I assume at the end the the W3II is probably more versatile given that is a bluetooth receiver unless I intend to get the 4.4mm cable for the HE400SE which is another $15 minimum.

 

[Ace Bee]

Today I borrowed the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 from @gadgetgod for a quick listen. Here are my initial impressions:

1. The build is better compared to the previous DZ4 and S15. The finish is not rubbery, rather matte plastic. I was always paranoid that those rubbery finish will eventually trap dirt and become dirty.
2. The fit is VERY comfortable. Snug fit, no discomfort, practically disappears. very satisfactory.
3. The sound is dead neutral, done right. I am not a fan of neutral sound, sounds pretty lifeless to me. However, Letshuoer has managed to strike a balance with just the bare minimum amount of bass and the neutral mid and highs such that it does not feel hollow, and yet never feels thick. The sound is overall a bit on the thinner side. Even though the bass is quite audibly restrained, the subbass still reaches deep and it can be felt. The midbass is where I miss a bit of body. May be people with a taste for neutral sound will appreciate it more.
4. The midrange is VERY transparent and highly detailed, and is utterly devoid of uncomfortable peaks. Really feel very refined and etheral, but lacks body.
5. The treble is just sweet- clear, well-defined, extended, but not piercing. Just the way it is supposed to be.
6. The soundstage is pretty big - wide and tall, but depth seems a bit less.
7. Overall it is an outstanding interpretation of neutral sound done right. I really do not prefer this kind of sound, so it is not for me, but I cannot deny the very nice refinement I can hear throughout the spectrum.

 

[lgcubana]

Considering how AliExpress cable vendors/manufacturers tend to over inflate the MSRP, to show a dramatic markdown. I'm surprised that customers are seeing the value, in a blind buy cable, that's marked down from $199.99 to $159.

Any guesses, as to what these two cables are ?

 

[Joe Bloggs]

I don't use EQ either. On every one of my devices the sound loses definition and focus just by enabling the function, even before making any adjustments. The same thing happens with MSEB on my Hidizs AP80 Pro X.

Digital EQ is not an inherently lossy process. Most would not alter the data even one bit if set to on without settings. Your brain is playing tricks on your ears.

Hell, I can't find one single set of transducers in the world that DSP can't improve on, loudspeaker or earphones, so I guess I would find the sound mystically inferior, whenever I see the EQ button off, even if nothing's been dialed in for the EQ yet?

The main reason for that is the high Q resonance peaks found on almost all IEMs above 4kHz (which may or may not show up in coupler measurements which have smoothing applied to them). Which physical mods can in most cases do nothing about, unless you can live with a long cork of foam in your nozzles together with foam eartips to make sure that no sound waves bounce back. And then, good luck getting a good tonal balance from such a configuration without EQ

Of course, one cannot use EQ to negate such resonances, unless one knows how to listen for and tune them out via interactive tone generator testing, so maybe this doesn't apply to most people.

(the above are personal opinions only, not representing that of any company)

 

[Ferdinando1968]

I recently had the opportunity to spend a few weeks with 5 well-known “ChiFi” IEMs, the KiwiEars Orchestra Lite, FiiO FH15, 7Hz Legato, Hidizds MP145, and YanYin Canon 2, herewith my impressions. While I’ve gravitated to the more expensive end of the IEM pool recently, I still think there’s plenty of interesting things to be heard at pretty much every price point, including a few here.

Many thanks to Linsoul, FiiO, Hidizs and YanYin for the kit and as ever to @Damz87 for organising these tours in Australia!

KiwiEars Orchestra Lite
$249
8x Balance Armature Drivers



Fit & Ergonomics
Orchestra Lite are simple standard-sized acrylic shells that are easy to fit well. These have a nice finish that feels about right for the price.

Tuning
These are bass-absent, upper-mid forward, and shouty. The HiBy R8 II is the best source I had available with this IEM, and it is passable with tracks that are inherently bass-heavy to start with; anything that isn’t feels thin and shouty, especially female vocals. Not good.

Technical
Orchestra Lite have a wide-ish stage that is rather shallow and not particularly tall; a wide, rather flat oval shape. Detail retrieval is mediocre, with pushed upper mids trying to eke out what the rather average drivers are capable of. The problem with this IEM is with all that extra energy, I’m found myself often turning the volume down which defeats the purpose of being able to hear what details this IEM does extract.

Summary
This is really not a good IEM at all. I can handle bass-lite, for example the Campfire Andromeda 2020 has been a favourite of mine for several years now; but at least the way bass is implemented on Andro, is with a nice a shelf of mid-bass that provides needed warmth. Andro’s resolution & detail are also so much better than this. Yes Andro is/was much more expensive, but I think you are much better off saving the $250 and looking elsewhere.

I'm a little surprised by your opinion on the ORCHESTRA.

Personally I find it to be a rather bass-oriented set (for a BA), not very detailed, but quite musical (for a BA).

But we know that listening is truly subjective.

Could the different synergy with the source explain this difference in judgment?

 

[baskingshark]

Here's a review of the NiceHCK DB2, an ultra-budget hybrid: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/nicehck-db2.27009/reviews#review-33327

Pros:
Well accessorized
Nice faceplates
Solid build
Ergonomic fit
Easily driven
Decent imaging
Relatively sibilant-free
Big sub-bass for a "fun" sounding signature

Cons:
Driver flex
Slight BA timbre
Bass lacks texture
Aggressive and shouty upper midrange
Lower mids are overly recessed
Treble rolls off early
Average soundstage, not too detailed


Graph here, 8 kHz is a coupler artefact:

 

[gadgetgod]

New AüR Audio model is out soon, been shared only a few teasers. Codename A234. That number 2 look tastefully done for my bass cravings

I am still waiting for my Neon Pro to reach me lol.

 

[Singaravelan]

Yes that's right. Up is on, down is off.

Trio arrived in the afternoon. Few hours into it, Very good!

I settled on 'down up up down' . To my ears, in metal music on this setting, less of bleed , more clarity and guitar stuff shines.

That could just be my preference, Overall though, Much more spacious than I anticipated. Busy music too doesn't get congested too easily, the stage is pretty decent! Has the required sauce in the clean and open mids; played vocals pretty well.

@FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 you got a winner at this price! V happy with both the Bassilicious castor and the more refined Trio. Yay!