The discovery thread!
Oct 10, 2024 at 4:55 AM Post #128,131 of 132,722
Mail Call - Lucky 🍀 to have it really , Thank Goodness there weren’t any Porch Pirates 🏴‍☠️



C4718A7A-3413-4ECC-989C-B97D51B5467F.jpeg


PSA - Anyone in Australia that has ordered the HiBy R4 Eva - It’s quite possible your last mile tracking is with DHL. (Except no tracking details are given)
I found this outside our front door this morning for anyone to take. Didn’t even have to sign for it, so I’m considering myself very lucky.

2B571A40-3F98-455C-9DA5-FF73274598AD.jpeg


Doing a bit of cleaning at the time. When this arrived. The preparation for the SD Card will take some time.

14 Hours to Make a Copy of my Original R4 SD Card to the New 1.5 TB SD Card. Good thing I only have to do this once. There are other quicker ways to do this, but I want an exact mirror of my other original HiBy R4 contents , so I’m quite happy to wait.

trim.C17A142A-B3B6-4944-B5A9-0B8157399297.gif


Unboxing Preview

trim.F92EDBE1-2478-4002-978F-E7AB4D29F76E.gif


Switching on Preview.

I’ll be Loading Apps and checking thermals and comparing my original settings to the new version at some stage. But so far All good!.

What I can tell you is I really like the user interface. The app icons , the “power on” and “power off” display is a Nerds dream. I love it.

The included case is nothing to get excited over , but serves its purpose and I like its durability.

I will update firmware shortly and check 4.4mm and 3.5 mm outputs are working correctly too. Haven’t even listened to it yet.

Will update soon.

That’s all for now.
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 5:02 AM Post #128,132 of 132,722
1000036541.jpg
Just posted my newest review for the Oriolus Monachaa. This is the first Oriolus set that I've heard (I didn't make time to try the Traillii at CanJam unfortunately), and while it is indeed a looker, I'm not a huge fan of its sound. This set features 4 DDs per side and has really great bass but the vocals sound a bit detached from the rest of the tuning. Though I must say, it is absolutely fantastic for instrumental genres. I'm really grateful for the Watercooler tours for all the opportunities to try such cool, high end gear!
Looking at the gear you used and the price / reputation of this IEM, I can already envision folks dismissing because you don’t have enough source device and your cable is not expensive enough to “tame this beast”, and such high end IEM requires “careful pairing”, but when pairing well, “it’s the best thing I have ever heard in my life” 😂

It’s $2000. It’s better be the best thing ever right out of the box, listening to YouTube voice over. IMHO.
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 5:12 AM Post #128,133 of 132,722
Absolutely understood.

I just dislike what seems to be blatant dishonesty in that they are quite apparently still MQA but they have attempted to hide them as FLAC.

Why not just leave them as MQA and be honest that they are replacing as much as they can but some will remain, at least for the moment ?

I don't have any personal grip with MQA but I do have a gripe with Tidal apparently being underhanded about their management of the removal of MQA.
What can I say?
The compatible DACs I have identify them as MQA when they receive the bitperfect stream. And also ROON.

I think the reasons why they hide the thing are essentially commercial, that is, the promise made to users, and the termination of the agreement with MQA itself (royalties to be paid).

I haven't come across any MQA tracks ever since Tidal made the big change. I'm surprised you're still seeing them. Are they offline downloads? I checked the Duran Duran song you linked and Tidal plays it as 16-bit FLAC.
Yes I know, the Tidal app identifies them as standard 16/44.1 flac, but they are not.

If you ‘slip’ them into a compatible MQA DAC (e.g. HIBY EVA), it intercepts the MQA bitstream. Even ROON. This is not a complaint of mine, let’s be clear. I prefer to have the music track I like, rather than nothing 😂
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 5:32 AM Post #128,134 of 132,722
I don’t want to pull your legs or anything but here is my E3000



To be fair, newer model might be a bit better



I do have a soft spot for this brand. Looking forward for their new S series and A6000

That E3000 graph looks like RMA territory to me. brutal lol
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 5:52 AM Post #128,135 of 132,722
AFUL MagicOne at $83 at Amazon is borderline theft for an excellent, unique IEM: https://www.amazon.com/HiFiGo-Magic...y-Technology/dp/B0CM5PMWGY?tag=headfi-20&th=1

I know I'm a hypocritical mofo for promoting this while chastising people for buying everything, but this is a special IEM at a great price. Probably unlike anything else in many's collections as a single-BA set with some bass. Gets the Disco Cheap F*ck Seal of Approval! :)
AFUL MagicOne - is a keeper. I like this a lot . Thanks Again. 🙏
I see that as a good thing depending on the music 👍
Yeah my Phat Bass playlist could literally vibrate my dials off the shock at 4.5 Bass.
Thanks for confirming! Sounds like a hardware issue on my R4 EVA unit then.
I was worried about being an early adopter of the OG HiBy R4 . It only got warm but can check the thermals with an App. I’m hoping your experience with this 4.4mm balanced cut out issue, is something that’s Not Hardware related. From memory someone had an original HiBy R4 that did something similar to this , and the firmware update fixed the detection of the output port.
HIBY R4 x EVANGELION landed :beyersmile:

DSCF6884.jpg
Congratulations 🎉
Even if I vacuum the day before its dusty next day, so yes I do clean-up right before every shoot 🤣

Been running the R4 for an hour now streaming Tidal and Bandcamp, no bugs or problems. The soundquality is very good, on the neutral side similar to DX180. Might have tad more impactful weight into the low end, but need more testing to confirm that. Listened with both Cadenza 12 and Origin, if there is an anime tuning its not something I really can notice. But its hard to say without owning both versions.

Little insane we can get a Android DAP of this quality for such little money, ill drop some more photos here:

DSCF6883.jpg
DSCF6874.jpg
DSCF6875.jpgDSCF6881.jpg
DSCF6878.jpg
DSCF6886.jpgDSCF6888.jpg

C2340054-363F-46E1-B040-158051728063.gif
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 6:34 AM Post #128,136 of 132,722
Shanling is releasing a 10 BA set (using Knowles, Sonions and custom BAs) in the AE10.



Comes with two tuning switch switcheroos and a vegan approved leather case.




https://www.linsoul.com/products/shanling-ae10
Shanling has been way, way too busy lately. Check out the 2 new source units they offer now.
Screen Shot 2024-10-10 at 5.52.13 PM.png
Screen Shot 2024-10-10 at 6.30.00 PM.png
What about Moondrop!

There are actually two versions of this player, this is the pricy one. All aluminum and 3.5mm and 4.4mm out put! And the unit works as a sound card!
Screen Shot 2024-10-10 at 11.53.17 AM.png


Edit:
Here is the original the Discdream 2 Ultra got its ideas from in the beginning..........though also still available.
Screen Shot 2024-10-10 at 6.37.02 PM.png



2nd edit:
There is also another CD player that was released with the Discdream 2 Ultra simply called the Discdream 2.
 
Last edited:
Oct 10, 2024 at 6:35 AM Post #128,137 of 132,722
Oct 10, 2024 at 7:27 AM Post #128,138 of 132,722
Oct 10, 2024 at 7:28 AM Post #128,139 of 132,722
Yikes, looks like another Must-Have for all Australians 🇦🇺

1000021864.jpg

Green and Gold is terribly tempting for an Aussie, like the SR9 look was for me.

But the way I’ve been banging on about a certain IEM lately , you’d think the flag I represent changed colours.

IMG_2161.jpeg
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 8:11 AM Post #128,140 of 132,722
Shanling has been way, way too busy lately. Check out the 2 new source units they offer now.
Screen Shot 2024-10-10 at 5.52.13 PM.pngScreen Shot 2024-10-10 at 6.30.00 PM.pngWhat about Moondrop!

There are actually two versions of this player, this is the pricy one. All aluminum and 3.5mm and 4.4mm out put! And the unit works as a sound card!Screen Shot 2024-10-10 at 11.53.17 AM.png

Edit:
Here is the original the Discdream 2 Ultra got its ideas from in the beginning..........though also still available.
Screen Shot 2024-10-10 at 6.37.02 PM.png
Are you planning on getting a CD transport?
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 8:44 AM Post #128,141 of 132,722
How's the fit on the massager? Have you noticed any issues with the energy transfer? Have you tried power cable swapping or the massaging tip swapping?

LOL’d 😂😂

10 char….
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 9:03 AM Post #128,142 of 132,722
It’s not BA-fast like Cantor. It’s more about thumpy and rumble this time. The transient edge is still quite crisp, so when I hear bass line, I can feel clear, repeated kicks somewhere down the throat on in the middle of the head.
I associate thump with midbass ( not sure if I'm right), so the midbass and subbass are both elevated in a nice way?
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 9:11 AM Post #128,143 of 132,722
Please, can you guys stop being so Quotable???

Ey folks

I ordered the BQEYZ WINTER ULTRA on the latest aliexpress choice day.
Any impressions of them? I'm really hyped after enjoyed the BQEYZ WIND (one of my best iems of 2024)

1728483449924.png
Looking forward to your impressions. After taking the Cloud for a spin, I'm impatiently awaiting any new releases - I was given no timeline either, so it might be a while.

That’s awesome. Dogs love music.

Our dingo X husky loves this song. Every time it’s played on the HomePod she goes nuts.

Specially at 1:11 sec, mark.


That's a gorgeous dog, and his tune of choice is ... fun, that's for sure.

Ya I can't take the PM either. I'm sure it's great for trebleheads but that ain't me. If this was my only IEM, I'd rather go without.
Wow that last sentence is definitely not how I feel about the PM, but it's spicy even for my treble-loving ears. In fact, despite not being fully in love with it, I'm still contemplating whether I should send it back to my friend at all or wait and hope he forgets it's his 🤔 @Erkil

Maven II is very good and I think reasonably priced considering a lot of UM's other models. As for the Mecha, I head between $500-700 hopefully. I think it depends on the final shell material and manufacturing method.
I think I could stomach one sub 2kUSD bill ... at a stretch.
No way, is the Mecha really targeting that price range? 😍 If it's just a bit calmer in that 8-11kHz range than the PM, I'm in.

Little insane we can get a Android DAP of this quality for such little money
But all the reported bugs would do my head in.

Everyone must look to the heavens tonight to see the phenomenon that occurs once every 76 years. No, not Halley's Comet, silly. Me opening my money clip and buying something!
I've got my telescope ready!

Wooohooo, Honda! Some weird blue things on ropes are covering half of the steering wheel, though ...

On another note, some of y'all may remember that a few months ago I bought my 3 groomsmen Kefine Delcis as gifts, and as of this morning, one has ordered a Blessing 2, and another one of them picked up the Hype 4 in the Prime day sale.

Indoctrination successful. Go me.
Wow congrats, that's a huge achievement!
I can only wish to be as influential on my friends ... but wait, what friends? 🥲

You sneaky person.

Edit: headfi censored me!

ab371a8c-70f9-43c3-bbfb-37e4e28d94fa_text.gif
It's people like you we need censoring for. You could have hurt my flowery feelings!

I've only heard the Hype 2 and from what I remember, it was fairly easy to drive. Haven't heard the Hype 4.

Oh and make sure you change the output from phone out (PO) to line out (LO) so you're not double amping. Your DX180 will save a lot on battery life with line out.
Right, so in your opinion an external Amp does not change the sound of the Hype 2/4 at all. I'll need to test some more, but I'm not sure I'll agree on that.
Yep, switched to LO, of course.

yeah Nuraphone - that was it. I don't know why those seemed so threatening given my daily use of IEMs but the ear insert just looked like all kinds of wrong lmao :cold_sweat::upside_down:

6yvz4sjt.png
Looks like all those nightmare-material-approved headphones AI comes up with.
 
Oct 10, 2024 at 9:29 AM Post #128,144 of 132,722
But all the reported bugs would do my head in.
Some have problems and some dont, mine been flawless for the little time I had it. And if we know one thing about HIBY are very good at improving stuff with firmware updates. But yeah, I read some complaints and it seem to be more with the new R4 Eva than what's usual from new HIBY realeses.

Worst DAP I had with issues was Cayin N7, so many factory resets and issues...

Also had quite many freezes on DX180, also an issue where it's not starting without holding the on button for 1min to force it to start. Less after last firmware. My biggest issue with DX180 and actually only thing I really dislike, the 4.4mm is too tight and make it hard plug some cables in and out. The 4.4mm socket also cuts out sound on few cables unless I take it a little out after inserting the cable fully.
 
Last edited:
Oct 10, 2024 at 9:43 AM Post #128,145 of 132,722
cross-posting from KZ sub again ...

There are few albums I've come across that rival the works from my own definition of the Holy Trinity in rock: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Black Sabbath. These are the altars that shaped my appreciation of music growing up - material I've been listening to, literally, for all my life. It's not without consideration or weight when I say that Mastodon's Crack the Skye is a rock album that transcended its genre, rose above the charts, and earned its place burning among the stars to sparkle eternally with the other giants against the black void of the universe.



I had the honor and excitement to live in Oakland for a few years, the hometown of sludge metal band Neurosis, not to mention High on Fire and countless other bands. Scott Kelly, Neurosis' front man, happens to be a close friend of Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor who poured his heart and soul into this album and asked Scott if he would take the mic for the title track. As the band started working through the material and the ideas there, they knew that they were working with something deeper and bigger than their previous albums this time.

These were hard, lean years for me personally, living on a wish and a prayer under a boozy umbrella of cool breezed and endless summer nights. I vividly recall having this album on repeat while walking the City and moving around on the east side, making frequent travel between SF and Oakland on the BART. Far removed from the tech bro enclaves of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area is home to a creative circuit that can quickly turn your life into a blur of cocktail lounges, beer taverns, tattoo parlors, art galleries, underground parties, illegal after-hours clubs, street art, beautiful faces, and cold mornings waiting for the taco truck to open up for business. When I first really heard this album end-to-end it was already a year old. Both the lyrics and the music hit me like a ton of bricks out of nowhere. Mastodon was playing in my ears more often than not. They were my close companion. People can say what they want about California, but just when you need it the most, it usually has a way to help pick yourself up if you keep your eyes and your mind open to it. (my image, spotted in Berkeley)



It wasn't until long after I'd moved away from Cali and my life had changed for the better that I learned the meaning behind this album and title track. The original marketing promo and story was that this was a concept album about a paraplegic kid who travels into the galaxy to make battle with the forces of good and evil or something else wild and off-the-wall like that. But the truth under the title and intensity came from a much darker and personal place: Brann's 1 year younger sister, Skye Dailor, who tragically died by suicide at the age of 14. As Brann said in the documentary - it was like the sky cracked. Scott Kelly didn't take the collaboration lightly, and the result is harrowing. Outside of Diamanda Galas, this is one of the most intense vocals I've ever heard recorded, and this entire album is among the heaviest ever laid down from any band.



So why am I posting this. Well, today is World Mental Health Day. In honor of that, I'm sharing both the documentary and the track which was just re-released on a 15 year anniversary edition to Head-Fiers after grabbing my trusted ZS12 Pros to let this rip as loud as I could bear it, once again, like the screaming arrows depicted in the song. Be safe out there, check up on your close friends and family members, and take care of yourself. If you're out there and you feel alone - you're not. Help will come if you look for it and there is jack sh!t to be ashamed of. Sometimes being strong is just making it through the day and that's all that matters. \m/



cheers
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top