[-rowan-]

I only buy IEM cables for the looks and the feels, but I happily spend far too much money on quality interconnects. Unlike IEM cables, interconnects are a difference I can hear.

Can we talk interconnects? I likewise hear differences between interconnects (I can sometimes hear differences between cables too but it’s clearer with ICs).

I’ve amassed a few good 4.4mm ICs and now I’m in the market for a decent 3.5mm to 3.5mm IC and I don’t actually know where to begin. Not knocking the cheap generic-looking stuff but I literally can’t tell one from the other on AliEx.

Easiest option might be to get a 3.5mm Totem IC since I already have a 4.4mm one and know what to expect, but I wanted to see if anyone has any other suggestions.

Personally, I grabbed a nice(r) IC cable. It broke after 3 months of light use. 10/10 not buying IC cable again.

I didn't want to mention, but my "nicer" IC was a Penon Maybe I'm just unlucky.

Oof sorry to hear. Out of curiosity, which IC of theirs was it?

Btw as a longtime customer of theirs, I can’t help but feel that QC on their cables has slipped a bit in the last year or two. Their customer service has always saved the day and willingly repaired or replaced the items. Of course I’d still rather not have to go through the hassle to begin with, but they usually do it so quickly (except when there’s a holiday) that I really can’t complain.

Are you copying my mind? That was almost exact list to mine, even the impressions you wrote about each of them except I don't have Yu Xuan Ji incoming and I haven't PTT the M. Hawk because still confuse what cable I should get for my Shock, seems like M.Hawk pair well too. Does it tame the edges like palladium plated OCC? I have DragonScale cable on my cart but not sure if it is overrated, another one is ivipQ 121 - purple color that match with Shock appearance.

I haven’t heard OG Dragonscale but I have DragonScale 2, so did a quick A/B using
Shock, Velvet wide bores and DC Elite out of my phone. Shock dials at my usual settings of 3.8B 3T.

DragonScale 2 has more bass, to the point it feels a bit congested. If I was using the Shock with this, I’d probably dial down the bass a bit. With M.Hawk, its bass is more textured and detailed without losing visceral impact. Upper mids and lower treble on the DS2 seem to be thinner and brighter, and it seems to draw its clarity from a brighter, more aggressive lower treble presentation. M.Hawk sounds clearer with crisper edges and detail, yet more natural and balanced. No prizes for guessing which one’s staying on my Shock.

I am willing to bet Tansio Mirai has sold more X and Shock models than any other they have sold in the past.

I’d been circling the brand since Land, and Tansio finally got me on board with Shock so I’d say they were successful on that count at least.

 

[Leonarfd]

Ya and its working. I am willing to bet Tansio Mirai has sold more X and Shock models than any other they have sold in the past.

It's well deserved, both of them are really good
I tried ask to join in on the review of both of them, but Chi ignore all my messages..

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

BD is out. I believe @MakeItWain and @thaslaya both said I wouldn't dig it, and Axel's video put the nail in that coffin. I like my punch, as I'm a metal listener and jazz listener, and not so much pop and electronic music, and hip hop, where the sub bass is the main feature. I need punchy resolving with full midrange for the super speedy double bass and kick bass drums for metal, and the midrange spatial cues more spacious and transparent, due to a lot of metal production is already low-fi and cramped, so this wouldn't help in terms of the space and separation I look for to help on those lo-fi. busy tracks. Treble sounds really good, but I already have a bunch of sets with this type of treble tuning, including planars.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

It's well deserved, both of them are really good
I tried ask to join in on the review of both of them, but Chi ignore all my messages..

Could it be because you posted you didn't think the FAN 3 worked? Or could it be something else entirely? I don't think I'll ever hear from Penon. EVER? LOL Even though I give them good business, from the long list on my order history.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

That review really killed my hype for this set. Damn, I was really digging the aesthetic

This is almost exactly like how the reviews of the Estrella killed my desire, after it was high on my list, or the Pilgrim (though I'm on the tour list, so I'll still get a chance to hear it for myself). But that's what reviews are for! lol

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Can we talk interconnects? I likewise hear differences between interconnects (I can sometimes hear differences between cables too but it’s clearer with ICs).

I’ve amassed a few good 4.4mm ICs and now I’m in the market for a decent 3.5mm to 3.5mm IC and I don’t actually know where to begin. Not knocking the cheap generic-looking stuff but I literally can’t tell one from the other on AliEx.

Easiest option might be to get a 3.5mm Totem IC since I already have a 4.4mm one and know what to expect, but I wanted to see if anyone has any other suggestions.




Oof sorry to hear. Out of curiosity, which IC of theirs was it?

Btw as a longtime customer of theirs, I can’t help but feel that QC on their cables has slipped a bit in the last year or two. Their customer service has always saved the day and willingly repaired or replaced the items. Of course I’d still rather not have to go through the hassle to begin with, but they usually do it so quickly (except when there’s a holiday) that I really can’t complain.



I haven’t heard OG Dragonscale but I have DragonScale 2, so did a quick A/B using
Shock, Velvet wide bores and DC Elite out of my phone. Shock dials at my usual settings of 3.8B 3T.

DragonScale 2 has more bass, to the point it feels a bit congested. If I was using the Shock with this, I’d probably dial down the bass a bit. With M.Hawk, its bass is more textured and detailed without losing visceral impact. Upper mids and lower treble on the DS2 seem to be thinner and brighter, and it seems to draw its clarity from a brighter, more aggressive lower treble presentation. M.Hawk sounds clearer with crisper edges and detail, yet more natural and balanced. No prizes for guessing which one’s staying on my Shock.



I’d been circling the brand since Land, and Tansio finally got me on board with Shock so I’d say they were successful on that count at least.

I also have the Totem, and it's my favorite, but also I get lots of mileage from my Lunashop interconnects (custom available) and my Caldorei custom IC's are also fantastic, as are the ones I have from DDHifi and FiiO, but I lean hard on my Totem, Lunashop, and recently my Caldorei. Oh, and Tiandirenhe makes a very nice crystal copper interconnect. I always forget that one, but it's super solid, if a bit plain.

 

[Ineras]

Man, can't wait to hear the Kefine Klean. Look at the treble extension on that sucker. So many positive reviews for this one.

 

[pk4425]

Man, can't wait to hear the Kefine Klean. Look at the treble extension on that sucker.

I'm also very hip on the Klean, especially if it absolves the sins of the OG Delci.

Dug the Delci for a while, but the honeymoon is over. Too much sub-bass that also bleeds, too much treble, too recessed in the mids. A classic V, which doesn't suit me. I like U or W better.

I've said it here before, but the Delci is the Meze 99 Classics of IEMs for me. A very well-built unit that is a party in your ears, with its excessive bass, slightly tizzy treble and recessed mids.

The 99 Classics is a fine gateway drug to audiophila for those used to consumer ANC tunings from Sony, Bose and Beats. But sooner or later, you want more and better. The Delci serves the same purpose for those coming from consumer ANC TWS buds to wired models. A familiar sound signature, just more refined.

Anyone want an OG Delci set for $40?

 

[Hypops]

Can we talk interconnects? I likewise hear differences between interconnects (I can sometimes hear differences between cables too but it’s clearer with ICs).

I’ve amassed a few good 4.4mm ICs and now I’m in the market for a decent 3.5mm to 3.5mm IC and I don’t actually know where to begin. Not knocking the cheap generic-looking stuff but I literally can’t tell one from the other on AliEx.

Easiest option might be to get a 3.5mm Totem IC since I already have a 4.4mm one and know what to expect, but I wanted to see if anyone has any other suggestions.

My interconnect indulgences are all in XLR and RCAs. IMO 3.5 and 4.4 just aren’t worth the expense bc they’re too damage prone, especially if you travel/commute with them and plug and unplug them regularly. Very few companies can make them well (or even bother with them). For on the go, my priority is durability over sound quality. Most of what’s out there for 3.5 and 4.4 is of highly questionable SQ value.

That said, I do have a good quality AudioQuest 3.5-to-RCA that I use on my desktop (Evergreen) and like quite a bit. So much in fact that I intend to upgrade to their Sydney line. But even their shortest cables are too long, too stiff, and too fragile to take anywhere.

I'm also very hip on the Klean, especially if it absolves the sins of the OG Delci.

Dug the Delci for a while, but the honeymoon is over. Too much sub-bass that also bleeds, too much treble, too recessed in the mids. A classic V, which doesn't suit me. I like U or W better.

I wouldn’t expect many single DDs to not have a v-shape. Judging by graphs and reviewer descriptions, Klean is also v-shaped. IMO that’s what single DDs do, and it’s what they’re good at. And I’m pretty sure that’s the reason “old school” tunings sound the way they do. Everything used to be single DD. You might just not want a DD set?

 

[theintention]

Man, can't wait to hear the Kefine Klean. Look at the treble extension on that sucker. So many positive reviews for this one.

Between this, that new Awaken, and Tangzu the $50 dollar range is so competitive now.

Interested in getting a more comfortable set in this range to replace my QuietSea but need mmcx for when sleepies take over…

 

[Ineras]

Between this, that new Awaken, and Tangzu the $50 dollar range is so competitive now.

Interested in getting a more comfortable set in this range to replace my QuietSea but need mmcx for when sleepies take over…

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...c5SpSEAQYBiABEgL6yPD_BwE&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
2-pin to mmcx adapter?

 

[Ferdinando1968]

That review really killed my hype for this set. Damn, I was really digging the aesthetic

This is almost exactly like how the reviews of the Estrella killed my desire, after it was high on my list, or the Pilgrim (though I'm on the tour list, so I'll still get a chance to hear it for myself). But that's what reviews are for! lol

I like the set, both aesthetically and in terms of the driver configuration.
But, given the cost, these are not enough reasons for me.

 

[pk4425]

The AFUL MagicOne is the most perfect headphone or IEM in my collection for bluegrass. Only the HD 6XX comes close.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I like the set, both aesthetically and in terms of the driver configuration.
But, given the cost, these are not enough reasons for me.

My take on units like this, at this price range, and with the pre-release hype, needs to have almost universal acclaim. It's got to come out of the shoot fast and furious, and not lose much stream even after a month of availability. These are the true gems. Something like the ISN H60, TSMR Shock, Symphonium Titan, AFUL Castor and P7, DUNU Falcon Ultra, or Oriveti OH700vb (I'm sure there's a lot I'm leaving out, but these are the ones that come to the top of my head). Evergreens. The ones that have mixed reviews out of the gate, can certainly reverse course over time, but it's a little rarer.

 

[Syan25]

Happy Halloween and Halloween sales on HiFiGo.....!!