[Hypops]

Today, I received a rather sinister-looking tome, from a brand unheard before: ARTPICAL! Don't ask me the meaning, I am still searching for it. But apparently, they have a well-established website: https://artpical.com/



Inside the tome was their entry (?) level single DD offering, the Lucifer! I received it courtesy of gdaudio.hk . Here is the product page for ease of Google Translate: https://www.gdaudio.hk/products/artpical-lucifer-in-ear-monitor
So apparently it is a 64 Ohm 10mm Titanium diaphragm DD iem. Quite unique, I must say. About the sound, I would say I was comparing it with the 634EARS LOAK2-TX01, and was taking mental notes of the differences - TX01 is slightly wider, with slightly more details, but Lucifer is almost similarly spacious, with a fuller midrange and almost similar note definition, etc., when I first paid attention to the price.

ARTPICAL Lucifer costs 2980 HKD, or around 380 USD
634EARS LOAK2-TX01 costs 127800 JPY, or around 895 USD (Currently, but just a few months ago it was around 820 USD iirc. Yen has recovered well it seems.)

That's it. The rest of my opinion will be in my full review.

Ha! Did anyone tell them they used the Star of David instead of a pentagram? Oops!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Ii it a discovery if the iem is 7 years old? Well it was for me here's my first impressions of the Fidue Virgo A85

In these days of 2 week life spans of iems where an iem is released hyped then forgotten about. I received the FIDUE Virgo (A85) an iem released in 2017 that was $399. Now the build quality is fabulous even compared to today's $400 offerings with a very professional packaging. What do they sound like, surely they can't match up to today's releases with all the advancement in technology? At first straight out of the box I felt they probably didn't, but then when I started cable and tip rolling everything changed. The sound signature is a bright nuetral with mids and treble favoured of bass slam. Not my usual preferences a little bit thin sounding due to the lack of bass, then I had a what if moment! I put on my Penon Black Liquor eartips and a good quality copper cable, the Penon OCC849 and wow what a transformation.

The bass was now meaty and dynamic, the quality of that bass is superb full of details and texture. True there's not a large quantity but there's enough to balance out the signature. The mids are super clean and free of any bass bleed. Male vocals sound good with no extra colouration but female vocals sound amazing, pure soaring with no edge or sibilance just sweet and rounded treble it's crystalline with no jagged edges just glorious. Cymbals sound natural with good decay guitars are detailed with every resonance clear and sweet. A perfect iem for jazz and acoustic music. Classical Orchestral music sounds wonderful with really impressive staging wider than I'm used so. So you could say I'm surprised but are they worth $400?
Probably not but here's the good part, Penon have just reduced them to $149 Inc a a pair of their excellent Black Penon Liquor eartips as a free gift. I will be giving these a full review because they are worth it. In fact I think they are my new favourite nuetral set. Fidue are a brand I wasn't aware of but the Virgo A85 really makes me want to dig deeper to see what other gems they have to offer. The lesson I have learned from this experience is just because it's an older set doesn't mean it's not worth investigating and there's a real possibility you're going to strike gold
.
Link to Penon store
https://penonaudio.com/fidue-virgo-a85.html


Description
FIDUE VIRGO A85 2BA+Dyanmic Driver Hybrid Audiophile MMCX In-ear Monitor

Description

Powerful·Touching Soul Reality of Vocals Spectacular Clarity of Instruments
Custom-made Premium Armature & Exclusive Dynamic Drivers

3-way Hybrid Driver Technology
Covered by3-way Hybrid Drivers, full-range frequency response makes you experience real voice of singers, as well as exquisite performance of melody.
Fidue elaborately customized the Dual-Balanced Armature for Virgo to present the full sound of beautiful vocals and distinct details of instruments.
By using polymer diaphragm with unique texture & permanent magnet in exclusive chamber, FIDUE developed an excellent Bass Dynamic driver for Virgo, which present natural & rich dynamic response in low-frequency.
Accurate Divide Design & 3D Acoustic Chamber

Due to the differences of acoustic performance between dynamic and armature, engineers from FUDE tuned the Virgo precisely by Electronic Divider & Acoustic Chamber, to make all drivers of Virgo as one.
FIDUE designed individual chamber for every driver by 3D analysis technique, to avoid acoustic interference between drivers.
FIDUE tuned the energy from three drivers by precise electronic frequency division technique, ensuring smooth transition between drivers.
Light & Robust Aluminum Jacket through CNC Technology

FIDUE carved the aluminum shell through high-precision CNC Technique to ensure the shell light and robust.
Silver-plated OFC Audiophile Cable for Full-range Balanced

Normally, voice of copper is plumper, while voice of silver is higher resolution. Virgo uses the audiophile lever silver-plated OFC music cable, combining the advantages of copper & silver, to ensure that the sound details are reproducing excellently.
Ultra-fit Wearing Experience with Ergonomic Curve Design

Over-ear waring style was originally used for personal monitoring system to guarantee the musicians always wearing earphones firmly on the stage. And now, over-ear wearing style can make you comfortable and concentrate on your favorite music, anytime, anywhere.
Specification

Model: FIDUE A85
Color: Silver
Drivers: Armature × 2 & Dynamic × 1
Frequency Range: 7-41000Hz
Impedance: 20Ω
Sensitivity: 107dB
Max Input Power: 50mW
Distortion: <1%
Plug: 3.5mm stereo gold-plated
Cable: 1.3m Silver-plated OFC Cable
Package

Fidue virgo
4 pair Silicone Tips
1 pair Comply T500 Foam Tips
Cleaning Tool
Storage Box
Airline Adaptor
3.5 to 6.3 Stereo Adaptor

What's with all the Fidue products suddenly being features, both new and old? Is the founder greasing some palms? I owned this one when it debuted, as well as the A73 and A71. Loved the Fidue A73. Fanstastically tuned 1 + 1 with excellent transients and bass. The left ear died. Bad QC. Didn't like the dual dynamic A71, not due to sound, which was pretty good, but because the fit sucked. Not good ergonomics, which was a plague of many Fidue products. Folks found them hard to get a good fit. This one? Sounded almost spot on how you describe them. Close to my preference, but even I found them kinda bass shy. Still, I enjoyed them for what they are, until the left ear died. Once again, QC issues. Apparently this is something that also plagues Fidue? So yeah, after a few years of daring to pull the trigger on their piezo IEM, the Asteroid, I couldn't bring myself to do it, despite good reviews, due to the fear of QC issues.

 

[pk4425]

Be patient. You want a nice cheap option for lots of flavors, I'll hook you up when I do my "yard sale". I'll even give you dibs on picks.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Grand Oriveti Supremacy have landed. What an unboxing experience and a fantastic looking set!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Ha! Did anyone tell them they used the Star of David instead of a pentagram? Oops!

Oh crap!! I just noticed that! OOOOOPS!!

 

[fidgeraldo]

the Lucifer!

And how do you order a pair? Hmm, I have plenty of ideas, but it's better to keep them for myself this time. Lucifer...hmm.
Cool looking IEMs...

Cheers!

 

[Syan25]

Today, I received a rather sinister-looking tome, from a brand unheard before: ARTPICAL! Don't ask me the meaning, I am still searching for it. But apparently, they have a well-established website: https://artpical.com/



Inside the tome was their entry (?) level single DD offering, the Lucifer! I received it courtesy of gdaudio.hk . Here is the product page for ease of Google Translate: https://www.gdaudio.hk/products/artpical-lucifer-in-ear-monitor
So apparently it is a 64 Ohm 10mm Titanium diaphragm DD iem. Quite unique, I must say. About the sound, I would say I was comparing it with the 634EARS LOAK2-TX01, and was taking mental notes of the differences - TX01 is slightly wider, with slightly more details, but Lucifer is almost similarly spacious, with a fuller midrange and almost similar note definition, etc., when I first paid attention to the price.

ARTPICAL Lucifer costs 2980 HKD, or around 380 USD
634EARS LOAK2-TX01 costs 127800 JPY, or around 895 USD (Currently, but just a few months ago it was around 820 USD iirc. Yen has recovered well it seems.)

That's it. The rest of my opinion will be in my full review.

That is a gorgeous set...gotta say - I'm envious...

 

[Ace Bee]

Ha! Did anyone tell them they used the Star of David instead of a pentagram? Oops!

Apparently, six is a major part of the design. There are six feathers on each earpiece too.

 

[Leonarfd]

Grand Oriveti Supremacy

My unit landed today, what a premium and beutiful flagship they have made here. Sound is balanced with some warmth, really enjoying this listening with HIBY R8 II. Will not say to much about the sound before I have more time with them. Some photos for now:

 

[hlb96]

No bro. Mercury is a legit store, but even through the official store on Amazon, they are not shipping until next week, so don't expect that to ship until next week at the earliest.

My item has shipped from the official store.

 

[Ace Bee]

And how do you order a pair? Hmm, I have plenty of ideas, but it's better to keep them for myself this time. Lucifer...hmm.
Cool looking IEMs...

Cheers!

From here

 

[Jmop]

Holy crap, completely forgot about Fidue lol, never owned an iem from them but wow.

 

[gadgetgod]

Today, I received a rather sinister-looking tome, from a brand unheard before: ARTPICAL! Don't ask me the meaning, I am still searching for it. But apparently, they have a well-established website: https://artpical.com/



Inside the tome was their entry (?) level single DD offering, the Lucifer! I received it courtesy of gdaudio.hk . Here is the product page for ease of Google Translate: https://www.gdaudio.hk/products/artpical-lucifer-in-ear-monitor
So apparently it is a 64 Ohm 10mm Titanium diaphragm DD iem. Quite unique, I must say. About the sound, I would say I was comparing it with the 634EARS LOAK2-TX01, and was taking mental notes of the differences - TX01 is slightly wider, with slightly more details, but Lucifer is almost similarly spacious, with a fuller midrange and almost similar note definition, etc., when I first paid attention to the price.

ARTPICAL Lucifer costs 2980 HKD, or around 380 USD
634EARS LOAK2-TX01 costs 127800 JPY, or around 895 USD (Currently, but just a few months ago it was around 820 USD iirc. Yen has recovered well it seems.)

That's it. The rest of my opinion will be in my full review.

These look absolutely stunning <3

 

[cobrabucket]

Gentlemen, the Tansio Mirai Shock is amazing!
My IEM purchases this year might be done.
That is all.
Carry on.

 

[theintention]

Today, I received a rather sinister-looking tome, from a brand unheard before: ARTPICAL! Don't ask me the meaning, I am still searching for it. But apparently, they have a well-established website: https://artpical.com/



Inside the tome was their entry (?) level single DD offering, the Lucifer! I received it courtesy of gdaudio.hk . Here is the product page for ease of Google Translate: https://www.gdaudio.hk/products/artpical-lucifer-in-ear-monitor
So apparently it is a 64 Ohm 10mm Titanium diaphragm DD iem. Quite unique, I must say. About the sound, I would say I was comparing it with the 634EARS LOAK2-TX01, and was taking mental notes of the differences - TX01 is slightly wider, with slightly more details, but Lucifer is almost similarly spacious, with a fuller midrange and almost similar note definition, etc., when I first paid attention to the price.

ARTPICAL Lucifer costs 2980 HKD, or around 380 USD
634EARS LOAK2-TX01 costs 127800 JPY, or around 895 USD (Currently, but just a few months ago it was around 820 USD iirc. Yen has recovered well it seems.)

That's it. The rest of my opinion will be in my full review.

The Michael looks so good