The discovery thread!

[hlb96]

Well according to guy that sold the DC Elite on classifieds, because he changed his mind in less than 15 minutes to also offer it to someone else while I was at church. First to pay would get it. Well, I am just being bitter. Anyway I guess everyone here needs to pony up more money for a better dac.

“Sorry man but hey looking just going too be real with you bro. Save up a few hundred more and get the Questyle cma 18p it's honestly on another level and it's all you'll ever need. Yes it's form size is a bit bigger but the sound is on another level all around and you won't have too look for a few years or the rest of your life seriously.”

 

[Redcarmoose]

My take on the new Kiwi ears KE4:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kiwi-ears-ke4.27504/reviews#review-35561

Kiwi ears KE4 for the win!

Comparisons:
Top row: Kiwi ears Orchestra Lite 10BA. The 2X 10mm DD x 2BA KE4
Bottom row: TANGZU Fudu Verse 1 1DD x 2BA, SHOZY P20 14.5mm Planar and the Kiwi ears Quintet 1DD +2 BA + 1Planar + 1PZT

The Kiwi ears Quintet 1DD +2 BA + 1Planar + 1PZT:
Any one that knows me knows I have pushed this Quintet as the second coming of Jesus. I mean for $219.00 it really is a lot of music for the dollar. As a Hybrid using four methodologies of drivers, Kiwi ears are really throwing a lot out at you. For a while, especially before 2019 there was kind of a ceiling to where brands didn’t offer as much treble detail and involvement till you spent at least $500.00 or over. Sure there were some examples of treble detail but they didn’t give you a kicking bass with it. To me and in my humble opinion the Quintet made progress to change all that. And when I reviewed it there were no other reviews, I just wrote about what I thought. Since I made a July 2023 thread to help celebrate the Quintet I have come to read others' impressions and of course when that happens you learn more. The main difference between the two is the KE4 is way more relaxed than the hyper treble and upper midrange encountered with the Quintet. So what is on offer is a safer tune, yet also not holding quite the separation or cut itemization held as fireworks upon encountering the Quintet. Studying graphs here you could be forgiven for not seeing the Quintet bass speed and sculpturing….because that is special, a special Hybrid ability. It is this separation in the mid-bass from the lower mids that brings about the feeling of more detail and vividness…….not to mention the almost edgy upper midrange and treble. To where really if you simply ignore the upper half, the Quintet makes the lower half of the KE4 sound almost congested? And until this point in the review that wasn’t an issue that I noticed? It may look like the KE4 has slightly more bass on paper, except this is a case of better Quintet defined bass sounding like more bass than it is.

Then:
Except here the KE4 does huge amounts better in the timbre department, and depending who you are and the style of listening you do, that single factor could in-fact mean the world?

Good things:
Some of the best timbre put out of any IEM produced by Kiwi ears, and better than much of the similar priced competition
Great fitting (read comfortable) and superior noise occlusion
Scales up to a grand event with your best gear
Even, complete and correct tune
Balanced and smooth, slightly warm yet detailed
Great Hybrid separation and sculpturing of items in the stage, better than you would guess
Comes with a full set of new Kiwi ears Flex ear-tips
2X 10mm isobaric DDs
Custom RAB 32257 BA for those mids
Knowles RAD 33518 BA for treble
Comes with Allegro Mini DAC/Amp for just $10.00 more

Stuff of concern:
A slight issue of mid-bass interfering with lower-midrange clarity
Could have possibly added a tad more vocal energy into the tune........as there was room for it

New thread for those that want more information.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kiwi-ears-ke4-guitar-god-universal-iem.974254/

 

[grogg]

This next week is gonna be awesome for incoming goodies. Tomorrow is DCE and CB19, Tuesday is my tube amp, and Wednesday is the Inawaken Dawn. Then the only thing that will remain incoming until 11.11 should be the KZ Saga (they haven't sent them out yet). At this rate, they'll arrive on 11.11.

For the Saga are you going with the bass version or balanced?

 

[r31ya]

Hexa 2?

 

[thaslaya]

True about western companies, plus also, I'd add, western companies aren't really into wired IEM sales. They long abandoned that sector for TWS sales. If there was more TWS traction in this thread, then yes, those companies would get more pub, but this thread is still wired in the majority.

There are also a TON of Chi-fi TWS to be found too. It's actually crazy how many companies make them and most of the cheap <$100 sets will range from not bad to complete garbage.

IMO the best way to go about a collab as a reviewer is to just let your name speak for itself and not take any criticism (or praise) personally.

I agree wholeheartedly. Also not only should their name speak for itself but the product too. If they signed off on the final tuning and everything then let it stand on its on merits. Criticisms should also be welcome as long as they are constructive and not personal.

Some of those Youtube influencers could stick a cable in their morning bowel movement, and there'd be no shortage of folk queuing up to pre-order a turdbrid.

What a joy to both hearing AND smell that would be.

Also I saw this on a WhatsApp group I'm in
First the Pilgrim, now the Apostle. Savior/Messiah next?

 

[superuser1]

Two words: Vulture capitalism

Any impressions on the KA15?

 

[InvisibleInk]

There are also a TON of Chi-fi TWS to be found too. It's actually crazy how many companies make them and most of the cheap <$100 sets will range from not bad to complete garbage.

I agree wholeheartedly. Also not only should their name speak for itself but the product too. If they signed off on the final tuning and everything then let it stand on its on merits. Criticisms should also be welcome as long as they are constructive and not personal.

What a joy to both hearing AND smell that would be.

Also I saw this on a WhatsApp group I'm in
First the Pilgrim, now the Apostle. Savior/Messiah next?

God save us from the price of The Messiah, when it cometh.

 

[Ozboyblu]

Mail Call.

Tiandirenhe TD3081-1 Bluetooth Ear Hooks

First Impressions are good.

Connected the ear hooks with the KZ ZS12 Pro X

Things I like so far . It was easy to pair with my HiBy R4. Great that you have a choice of LDAC and AptX Bluetooth codec.

Early days , but really good so far.

 

[baskingshark]

Any impressions on the KA15?

Bought it on the 1st day it was released last week on Aliexpress. Now waiting for the slow boat from China.

I think last week was a mid autumn festival for them and it was a huge multi-day holiday, so all logistics were delayed, seems the tracking is still inside mainland China. Anyways, will update once it comes!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Well according to guy that sold the DC Elite on classifieds, because he changed his mind in less than 15 minutes to also offer it to someone else while I was at church. First to pay would get it. Well, I am just being bitter. Anyway I guess everyone here needs to pony up more money for a better dac.

“Sorry man but hey looking just going too be real with you bro. Save up a few hundred more and get the Questyle cma 18p it's honestly on another level and it's all you'll ever need. Yes it's form size is a bit bigger but the sound is on another level all around and you won't have too look for a few years or the rest of your life seriously.”

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/questyle-cma18-portable-cma18p.27062/reviews

From the cons, not sure paying $200+ more would be a wise choice with your money? Plus it looks like a huge brick. The DCE is probably worth paying full price for (I got a slight discount) or waiting for another drop in the classifieds? I'll let you know tomorrow my impressions of it.

 

[r31ya]

Bought it on the 1st day it was released last week on Aliexpress. Now waiting for the slow boat from China.

I think last week was a mid autumn festival for them and it was a huge multi-day holiday, so all logistics were delayed, seems the tracking is still inside mainland China. Anyways, will update once it comes!

btw do you have Onix Alpha?

both Onix Alpha and Fiio KA15 are using the same DAC/AMP Combo, Cirrus CS43198 DAC + SGM8262 OP-AMP.
it should be interesting to compare the two, especially Onix Alpha being the current king of sub $150 DAC/AMP dongle

Fiio KA13 also use the same SGM8262 AMP but pairing it with Cirrus 43131 DAC instead.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The Tripowin Altea is the most underrated budget cables in audio IMHO. It's one of the best soundstage expander cables, and it's also build so well, looks great, and goes well with my Penon FAN 3, Dita Project M, Aur Audio Aure, and CCA Trio. Just bought another one on sale on Amazon for 20% off. One of my favorite cables. Oh and the circular chin slider actually WORKS.

 

[MakeItWain]

Hexa 2?

Also I saw this on a WhatsApp group I'm in
First the Pilgrim, now the Apostle. Savior/Messiah next?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

My take on the new Kiwi ears KE4:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kiwi-ears-ke4.27504/reviews#review-35561

You never heard the Quartet?! I just recently sold it, but for a long time, it was my favorite IEM for reggae and hip hop. The dual DD isobaric bass KICKED!! When i first bought it, I was pissed off big time, because it was dark and too bassy and many agreed with me, but for some reason, I didn't give up on that one, and I kept in at one point on the burn station for 2 days straight, and then I cable and tip rolled, and went wide bore, silver cable, and these things opened up, and the bass became much tighter and with slam! For those mentioned genres, they KILLED! But then the S12 (2024) came along and knocked it off it's reggae perch, and so it became expendable, and so I reluctantly let it go, but that was a good one you missed from KE. Pretty much the same tech as the KE4, just tuned differently.

 

[baskingshark]

btw do you have Onix Alpha?

both Onix Alpha and Fiio KA15 are using the same DAC/AMP Combo, Cirrus CS43198 DAC + SGM8262 OP-AMP.
it should be interesting to compare the two, especially Onix Alpha being the current king of sub $150 DAC/AMP dongle

Fiio KA13 also use the same SGM8262 AMP but pairing it with Cirrus 43131 DAC instead.

Yep I have the Onix Alpha (overhyped dongle IMO - untextured bass, sharp upper mids and too coloured signature. Multiple phone compatibility issues too). I'm just keeping it around for the sake of comparisons since someone will inevitably ask how does it compare etc etc.

Will definitely do comparisons for the 2.