[MakeItWain]

Mail call!

I also still have an Aful MagicOne to review as well... Notes all done, just about fully writing out my thoughts.

Also the S12 2024 has been with me since CanJam but I forgot to share that I had it. Thanks again @thaslaya

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

Do we have any indication of pricing for the Aful P7? TDM pretty much hyping it up in the new Tea Pro review. Now to see how the new CKLVX D62 stacks up with its

Mail call!

I also still have an Aful MagicOne to review as well... Notes all done, just about fully writing out my thoughts.

Also the S12 2024 has been with me since CanJam but I forgot to share that I had it. Thanks again @thaslaya

Nice haul right there!

 

[Scubadevils]

Mail call!

I also still have an Aful MagicOne to review as well... Notes all done, just about fully writing out my thoughts.

Also the S12 2024 has been with me since CanJam but I forgot to share that I had it. Thanks again @thaslaya

I've been so close to buying the S12 2024 several times now, but held back due to a mix of other units I've bought or have inbound for review... hard to resist though based on the wonderful impressions I'm reading!

Project M is absolutely fantastic, possibly my IEM of the year as I've noted before... but Maven II a strong contender also, even though very different sets but similar in that they offer a lot more than their price suggests in their respective price segments. Staying with DITA, Mecha is only a few weeks away and I'm incredibly keen to hear that too... especially given what DITA themselves said: "tuned to be the antithesis to the Project M, it’s meant to be warm, buttery and musical as opposed to the tinkly highs of the Project M"

In other news, still really enjoying KE4 and took some shots earlier today for my upcoming review... I like this one, the light worked well. I actually find taking photos incredibly relaxing, great down time after a stressful week at work!

 

[Ineras]

@ToneDeafMonk were you able to replace the DC Elite knob? I don't see a set screw to loosen, and I don't wanna use too much pulling force.
I'd like to install a taller knob; it's a bit difficult to adjust volume when it's inside a pocket.

 

[pk4425]

Mail call!

I also still have an Aful MagicOne to review as well... Notes all done, just about fully writing out my thoughts.

Also the S12 2024 has been with me since CanJam but I forgot to share that I had it. Thanks again @thaslaya

Damn, man: That's a Murderer's Row in that pic! Like the 2024 Yankees' starting lineup!

Eager to read your impressions of the MagicOne.

 

[Syan25]

I've been so close to buying the S12 2024 several times now, but held back due to a mix of other units I've bought or have inbound for review... hard to resist though based on the wonderful impressions I'm reading!

Project M is absolutely fantastic, possibly my IEM of the year as I've noted before... but Maven II a strong contender also, even though very different sets but similar in that they offer a lot more than their price suggests in their respective price segments. Staying with DITA, Mecha is only a few weeks away and I'm incredibly keen to hear that too... especially given what DITA themselves said: "tuned to be the antithesis to the Project M, it’s meant to be warm, buttery and musical as opposed to the tinkly highs of the Project M"

In other news, still really enjoying KE4 and took some shots earlier today for my upcoming review... I like this one, the light worked well. I actually find taking photos incredibly relaxing, great down time after a stressful week at work!

Nice bokeh. I thought it was the most boring faceplate considering Kiwi's other models...

But you've made it look better.

 

[o0genesis0o]

This is that hobby phenomenon/mentality that price = performance peak. This is what the manufacturers want us to think, so we gobble up their expensive gear like candies. Not criticizing you directly, because this is the prevalent thought process throughout this hobby, but by this standard of thinking, the Dita Project M is a toy because it's "only" $325.00 vs their Dream XLS at $2,200. Or the ISN H60 is a disappointing toy because it's priced at $350 vs their Voltage, priced at $1,500. Both are fantastically valued, as you know. The Fiio FH1s looks just like the JD10 (might be similar or the same shell), and it actually looks and feels really nice in the hand, and sonically, it's one of my favorite 1+1 IEMs that is sold at $30.00USD. It's a fun, v shaped bassy but clear budget set that stands out for me. Maybe at $7.00, the JD10 will be a budget gatekeeper? I have no idea. There's no reviews yet, and it's not released to the public yet. Maybe wait and see the reactions, because it might end up being a toy at that price, or it might end up defying expectations at it's price point?

I think it’s not that folks are saying $7 IEM would sound bad, but JD10 gave them false hope that it would be an upgrade of the beloved JD7.

One has to be specially bad at their job to mess up a budget single DD nowadays, IMHO. I have no doubt this JD10 would be at least listenable.

Hey everyone, just popping in real quick to share a couple new articles I wrote:

CanJam SoCal 2024 Show Report​

A Survival Guide to Your First Audio Show​

Precog is back, as spicy as ever

My key takeaway:

• He makes me want a STORM and an Anni 2023 again.
• I should go to gym.

 

[Ineras]

Looks great! I’m getting it to have it compete with the 3 QKZs I ordered haha. One thing… can I use a usb C to Lightning adapter to my iPhone and have the DSP still work properly?

Who knows. Might be a QKZ or KZ budget killer!

I don't think this model comes with the dsp. The JD10 TC shows coming in November.

 

[MakeItWain]

I've been so close to buying the S12 2024 several times now, but held back due to a mix of other units I've bought or have inbound for review... hard to resist though based on the wonderful impressions I'm reading!

Project M is absolutely fantastic, possibly my IEM of the year as I've noted before... but Maven II a strong contender also, even though very different sets but similar in that they offer a lot more than their price suggests in their respective price segments. Staying with DITA, Mecha is only a few weeks away and I'm incredibly keen to hear that too... especially given what DITA themselves said: "tuned to be the antithesis to the Project M, it’s meant to be warm, buttery and musical as opposed to the tinkly highs of the Project M"

S12 2024 is a very good planar IEM. I actually really like it. I don't think you'd be disappointed in them at all.

Project M will be interesting, going to bust those out tonight for a bit and start taking notes.

Damn, man: That's a Murderer's Row in that pic! Like the 2024 Yankees' starting lineup!

Eager to read your impressions of the MagicOne.

MagicOne is good, man. Spoiler alert. It's got that special sauce even if I usually want bass or more bass (as a bass addict).

 

[o0genesis0o]

Haven't been moved to pick any up, though the MP145 would be a pick up if had for under $70?

Go for it just ensure that it’s the newer version (which seems almost 100% the case). If the cable is soft and easy to handle, it’s likely the good one.

Catching up on 20+ pages here… excuse me, gentlemen.

I’m not a fan of anime’s at all, but this design is so kooky that it works. I really do love the radical design of it. I can see using this outside and someone asking about it, sparking a conversation. This happens to me all too often in stores when I have my IEMs in. People always see the cable and think it’s something of jewelry lol

The R4 looks like a piece of gadget from the show itself. It was no brainer that they should make an Eva version since they released the R4 OG.

---

@MakeItWain dare I say MagicOne a … magical one?

(AFUL, MagicOne with TOTL tech where?)

 

[Jmop]

I think it’s not that folks are saying $7 IEM would sound bad, but JD10 gave them false hope that it would be an upgrade of the beloved JD7.

One has to be specially bad at their job to mess up a budget single DD nowadays, IMHO. I have no doubt this JD10 would be at least listenable.



Precog is back, as spicy as ever

My key takeaway:

• He makes me want a STORM and an Anni 2023 again.
• I should go to gym.

I’ve only owned the JD3 from the Jade line, it was alright I think.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Very tempting! If I'm making an early Christmas list here ... this might make a really nice pairing with those HeartField Blancs, no?

So to answer your question I did try the HeartField Blanc IEM with both Dongles. There is a smooth rendition from both but as you can see the Ladder DAC only goes to 48kHz. Not a big deal..........though remember the BLANCs were kinda made for a low output DAC/Amp Dongle like the R1. With only 5BAs the BLANC is one of the easiest IEMs to drive typically using 1/2 the power of its DD Hybrid IEM brothers.

And while even with the BLANC I could almost max out the R1, but it was super-super loud. Though you have to remember the way the 1st R1 came to me the max-out was distortion at a certain place? The other wild thing about the R1 was just the treble at a certain volume held distortion, but way higher volume than you would regularity use it at. Also strangely even if the volume was all the way off, this possibly defective unit showed a faint center (MacBook Air) channel of music playing? Still for all other full-size headphones really the R1 is so low power it would not work. Where the ACMEE 4X offered a slightly narrower stage, it is just the R1 has a giant stage. Plus the way the R1 does imaging formed and separated analog examples with more separation at hand. Plus when you get down to it, the ACMEE 4X is offering a more regular (than we are used to) style of approach, which is fine!

While still also really good, the R1 was just weird. Weird in that it actually amplified sections of sounds in a very different place inside the stage. Sounds besides being very analog were also of a more rounded character and it was not as detailed, not trying to be. I'm using 44.1kHz at 24bit files and they were more inside simple sheets of sound holding a more spread-out and not as filled-in style of R1 Ladder DAC style. Really having both would be complementary as the R1 would not do full-size, and offers a very alternative sound that kind-of took the edge off of the all BA set, making it sound less digital (whatever that means)? The R1 smoothes and rounds the tone, that and offers an expanded stage that while not able to do all the bit-rates, is still valuable as an alternative (different from the norm) style of sonic enlightenment. The R1 runs at room temperature (ACMEE 4X a little warm only), The HeartField R1 has that strange analog volume wheel, the ACMEE 4X has a two position up or down volume button.............. where click to the right and volume goes up, click to the left and volume goes down.

While the R1 works always, there was that question of the faint music sound heard even when the (analog wheel) volume 100% off with the MacBook Air? And of course the off to the side sonic artifact still lingering to make a style of industrial reverb delay when the music stopped on the Samsung Phone? Maybe the next R1 replacement unit I get in will have these issues, maybe not?

To tell you the truth I can live with these subtle quirks of life, due to the stage and sound the HeartField R1 does. But where the ACMEE 4X was all business and worked flawlessly, it was not noticeable but probably there that the tone of the ACMEE 4X was slightly more mid-bass over sub-bass. Still the stage was large holding a detailed and smooth midrange with still all the details in the treble, but a slight ACMEE 4X easy going stance to the treble that lended itself to all day listening. Really both Dongles here walk the smoother walk, though it should be noted that due to the power output of the R1 a lesser bass imaging and while still fully functioning, there would and could be slightly less authority if the R1 is used with DD IEMs due to their natural power requirements being more than full BA designs. Still yesterday with the cellphone I seemed to notice the lower power style (bass tone) of the R1 and BLANC combo, yet today with the MacBook Air it became a non-issue? I do know that each device can at times have different outputs from the TypeC USB port. Like the HiBy R3 II does (I think) 3.0 output into the USB signal, where the Samsung Phone is probably less, as is the protocol of regular TypeC USB putting out less juice than USB 3.0. To where here in this instance I figure the HeartField R1 is making differences finally totally heard and affected by the different TypeC protocols......I guess this is the big difference? Like Apple Phones are notorious for not getting all the power output to Dongles.

I can't wait to try other full BA sets with the R1 Dongle............. qdc Anole V3 here I come, Night Oblivion Butastur 10 BA set...................here I come!

 

[Jmop]

1. Letshuoer S12 24 - Balanced tuning with big soundstage. Pretty resolving for its price point.
2. qdc x FitEar Superior EX - Neutral-warm tuning with very big soundstage. Smooth, relaxing listen.
3. Audeze Maxwell - They're not IEMs, but you did say headgear. They're wireless headphones that can be paired with Bluetooth or with a wireless USB dongle for PCs and gaming consoles. They're advertised as a gaming headset, but they're still the best sounding headphones I've heard around this price point. They're also closed-back, but they sound very open due to being built for competitive gaming, which means soundstage and imaging are spot on.

Just saw the graph of the QDC, why did I not look into these? Very promising for a single DD. Is this an upgrade from the Que??

 

[MakeItWain]

@MakeItWain dare I say MagicOne a … magical one?

(AFUL, MagicOne with TOTL tech where?)

 

[pk4425]

The S&S tips might be the wrong tips for the Nuo,

Thanks for the tip -- pun intended. You are correct, sir, based on further tip rolling tonight.

Using the Divinus Velvet on the Nuo and liking what I'm hearing much more than with the Dunu S&S. Bass bloat is tamed a bit, vocals are a bit more forward, and treble isn't as spicy.

I'm going to try Liqueur Orange and Black and see how they respond. But yeah, I dig the Nuo more with the Velvets, for sure.