[Ineras]

Followed up with Fatfreq since my Deuce tracking number is still not found 4 weeks after receiving the shipping notice. I was basically told to please be patient.

 

[Nimweth]

This is a definite ringing endorsement coming from you! But what about thru the B4-X? The AP80 Pro X, tbqf, is my least performing source I own, but definitely great with darker leaning/bassy IEMs.

I have not tried the KE4 through the Little Bear yet. The AP80 Pro X via the OS133 is far superior to the AP80 on its own and there is a good synergy with the KE4. I have tried the MT300 through the B4-X, absolutely fantastic, the treble is superb. I will try the KE4 next and keep you posted.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Still interested in the TD20 because of my initial GREAT impression of the company... the white tiger also sounds amazing... like a Phoenixcall with real bass? As long as the bass isn't too warm or muddy I'll likely enjoy it.

Well...acktuallyyyyyy...the first impression from two folks were pretty much exactly that (not muddy per se, but bloated), so proceed with caution, despite the later about face.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Look at this beautiful DAC/Amp! Stunning!

 

[Ineras]

Well...acktuallyyyyyy...the first impression from two folks were pretty much exactly that (not muddy per se, but bloated), so proceed with caution, despite the later about face.

The later about face from my White Tiger out-the-box impression was due to tip roll and finding synergy with Divinus wide bores thanks to @ToneDeafMonk, which tamed the sub-bass bloat.

I don't really like the Phoenixcall, too spicy and sibilant, very unnatural to my ears.

My only purchases for this sale are an ultra slim power bank for stacking, and a couple sets of the Angelears AE100 tips to test out. 13.8mm diameter for large and shorter stems, might work well for BCD sets that require deep fit for contact.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.10.42271802kgqnig
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.order_list.order_list_main.4.42271802kgqnig

Hiding the wallet for now. Must be patient until EBC80 releases. Will probably pick up Anvil as well.

 

[MakeItWain]

Followed up with Fatfreq since my Deuce tracking number is still not found 4 weeks after receiving the shipping notice. I was basically told to please be patient.

Sorry man. I had my shipping number generated and untrackable for like two weeks before it updated and was on my way. It did get to me eventually but it took a bit of time.

 

[pk4425]

It’s not pushed forward.



Ok, snarky remark aside, it’s more forward than MagicOne. But it’s about the whole mid-midrange being pushed forward (see the hump around 1.25kHz) rather than the upper mid push like Moondrop, Simgot, and other Harman IEM.

You can check my graph database. To my ears, these IEMs sound exactly like how they graph.

Edit: AFUL has never tune 3kHz forward, even with the original P5 which is still the most “harman-like”. All AFUL since explorer is tuned with a “flat top” between around 2.5k to around 6k before slopping down. So I find myself turning the volume up a bit with both explorer and p7 because there is still headroom at the upper mid. The main problem of aful house sound is that they don’t cut the 5-6kHz (a.k.a “sibilant cut”), so if you are sensitive to that region, it can sound a bit uncomfortable.

No sir. The vocals are not too forward in the mix, and the treble is not spicy, peaky, or grainy. Now you can say that about the treble on the Nuo, Dawn MS, or even YuXuan Ji, but not the P7. I'd say the upper mids/lower treble slots in between the PRX and the YuXuan Ji. P7 is special for it's balance, and kinda reminds me of a more resolving H60, with a little less punch, but really balanced from bottom to top.

Thanks to you two and all others who chimed in. I'm feeling relieved. Paul's interpretation of sound with some IEMs doesn't always jive with mine, so I'm glad this appears to be the case with the P5+2.

So i was asked over in a Discord chat to do some comparisons between the Aful P7/P5+2 and the Estrella and DaVinci. I figured some of you cats might also be interested to read them as well so here ya go!

Vs. DaVinci:
The DaVinci has a bigger and fuller bass response with more emphasis on the midbass than the P7. It also is a little bit more energetic with more bass impact and a slightly more forward midrange. In comparison the P7 sounds more balanced but still has a touch of warmth. Both sets have something special in their midrange presentations that really calls to me. The P7 has better separation, timbre, and is a bit more detailed. The soundstage is also a little bit wider and the overall tuning is a little more cohesive, smoother, and cleaner. But man the bolder bass of the DaVinci hits really nicely and is hard to resist. They do sound similar but both have special qualities and sound amazing in their own right. Basically the DaVinci is more fun and engaging with more bass whereas the P7 is slightly more balanced and well rounded.
My pick: Gun to my head? I'm taking the DaVinci but these are both so so good!

Vs. Estrella:
Estrella is more V-shaped and has a bigger bass response, more impact in the midbass, and better extension on both ends. It's also brighter and can be peakier in the treble with a little harshness at times. Its vocal presentation lacks the special sauce when compared to the P7 which has a very natural timbre and a warmer, fuller, and more emotionally moving vocal emphasis. Estrella is more energetic and has a slightly bigger soundstage. It can better handle more complex tracks and has superior separation but it can also come across a bit clinical at times compared to the P7's more musical style. Estrella might have the edge in technical performance but P7 is more balanced, smoother and overall more enjoyable for me.
My pick: Aful P7

Very, very helpful. Thanks!

This sandwich is fast becoming a favorite source chain for me, and is monsterously good!! Really top notch synergy throughout this chain. P7 is an all-arounder, for anyone looking for that type of IEM, that's excellent with many genres, and not a specialist, this is it. It's on the level of the ISN H60 as an all-arounder, and this includes METAL and HARD ROCK. It got me giddy listening to my metal playlist, as many IEMs can do stellar work with jazz, instrumental/orchestral, rock, pop or reggae, but when you ask it to take on heavier and more busy/fast/lo-fi/congested mix tracks, they fall apart really quick. They simply cannot keep up properly. That's why my metal specialists in my rotation are quite low in numbers. AFUL P7 can take it's place alongside the H60, CCA Trio, Tri i3 mk III, and S12 (2024) as a metal specialist and all-arounder. It also synergizes BETTER with the DCE than it does the N3U, but it's not bad with tubes, just sounds better through the DCE for whatever reason?


Hiby R3 II > iBasso DCE > Powerbank > AFUL P 5+2 = 7

F*ck, just take my money for the 5+2.

I grew up listening to almost exclusively 80-90s Christian/folk and classical on the side. Needless to say, I missed out on a lot of music experiences not to mention general pop culture, due to the conservative setting I was in. I love these new audio discoveries even if they’re “dated” lol. They’re new to me!

Quality tunes never age, man. There are certain bands and albums that are timeless. Take Hendrix, for example. A guitar player with his balls, creativity and virtuosity today would turn heads just as Jimi did in 1967.

Penon is famous all over the world. So wait let me get this straight? Giving out coupons is bad? Making increasingly good stuff that out maneuvers the basic competition in sound quality is bad, and confusing?

OK, I'll raise my hand as somewhat of an irrational Penon basher. Unjustified, and I'll chill.

But Penon famous all over the world? I've been into headphones and audio for about 10 years, and I never heard of Penon until I found this thread about a year ago. Penon certainly isn't Sony, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica or Beyerdynamic. Famous in the niche of IEMs, yes.

Still, bottom line: I'll ease off Penon even though I think some of its marketing practices are goofy. But you cats are right: The sound, products and service are what matter most. Penon is not some Ponzi multilevel marketing scheme like Amway, and some of the criticism here -- including from me -- depicts it as such. Unfair. Sorry.

Somewhat inconveniently, this DynaQuattro is creeping up my wants list once more.

Damn it. The DQ was my No. 1 target for 11.11 until the Performer 5+2 was hatched. Now I'm truly torn, as I don't want to buy two $230-ish IEMs. Just one.

Timbre and tonality: 5/5 - Very Good

OK, if 5/5 is only Very Good, what is Great?

Extremely off-topic.

Google is filled with genius-level minds, so far be it from this Mayor of Simpleton to criticize, but Google would get a hell of a lot more YouTube Music subscriptions if it bundled YT Premium with it. Google did that with Google Play Music -- I was a subscriber until around 2015-16, or so -- yet didn't with YT Music. Has that changed?

It's not a clone...it's fake!! I was f...d for real!
The seller (she) was from Belgium, allegedly.
I should have known better after being a fan of "In Bruges" that I should avoid anything related to Belgium.


I got a legit box and everything in it. It's amazing how well everything is done. All the effort deserves some reward hahaha.

Cheers!

"In Bruges" is one of the best movies that few have seen. Wonderful film. Closet classic!

 

[Scubadevils]

A dull and damp day here in Dublin, which is pretty standard to be fair I took the opportunity to get some unboxing and initial shots for my review of the P5+2. Further listening impressions to follow, but still very much blown away by these little green gems...

Starting to rain here again...

 

[Syan25]

A dull and damp day here in Dublin, which is pretty standard to be fair I took the opportunity to get some unboxing and initial shots for my review of the P5+2. Further listening impressions to follow, but still very much blown away by these little green gems...










Starting to rain here again...

Nice photos. I heard they can look blue or aqua depending on the lighting.

 

[Syan25]

Thanks to you two and all others who chimed in. I'm feeling relieved. Paul's interpretation of sound with some IEMs doesn't always jive with mine, so I'm glad this appears to be the case with the P5+2.

Very, very helpful. Thanks!

F*ck, just take my money for the 5+2.

Quality tunes never age, man. There are certain bands and albums that are timeless. Take Hendrix, for example. A guitar player with his balls, creativity and virtuosity today would turn heads just as Jimi did in 1967.

OK, I'll raise my hand as somewhat of an irrational Penon basher. Unjustified, and I'll chill.

But Penon famous all over the world? I've been into headphones and audio for about 10 years, and I never heard of Penon until I found this thread about a year ago. Penon certainly isn't Sony, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica or Beyerdynamic. Famous in the niche of IEMs, yes.

Still, bottom line: I'll ease off Penon even though I think some of its marketing practices are goofy. But you cats are right: The sound, products and service are what matter most. Penon is not some Ponzi multilevel marketing scheme like Amway, and some of the criticism here -- including from me -- depicts it as such. Unfair. Sorry.

Damn it. The DQ was my No. 1 target for 11.11 until the Performer 5+2 was hatched. Now I'm truly torn, as I don't want to buy two $230-ish IEMs. Just one.

OK, if 5/5 is only Very Good, what is Great?

Google is filled with genius-level minds, so far be it from this Mayor of Simpleton to criticize, but Google would get a hell of a lot more YouTube Music subscriptions if it bundled YT Premium with it. Google did that with Google Play Music -- I was a subscriber until around 2015-16, or so -- yet didn't with YT Music. Has that changed?

"In Bruges" is one of the best movies that few have seen. Wonderful film. Closet classic!

Great film. And they teamed up last year for a film set in Ireland. The Banshees of Inisherin. A rather black comedy. Certainly it's got that bleak Irish sense of humour.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Additional question. In my quest for special sauce, I initially ignored the Dynaquattro. Is it special sauce or a forgotten?

The ONLY reason the DQ isn't an evergreen IEM for all intents and purposes is because it's extremely hard to drive, so you can't really listen to it out of your phone or with an apple dongle, without losing the dynamics and bass tightness. It's one of those that requires extra juice, and hence, extra hardware to drive. Otherwise, we'd be talking about it still, and despite this, as we have seen, it still gets mentions, so yeah, I'd say that alone is special sauce considering.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Followed up with Fatfreq since my Deuce tracking number is still not found 4 weeks after receiving the shipping notice. I was basically told to please be patient.

I was told the same thing with an order on Alix that hadn't updated in tracking in almost a month. The refund processed today. I told them ages ago, that this thing wasn't going to show up, when the update went this long without changing. I was right. I hope it turns out to be a different outcome for you, buddy? FatFreq really wasn't prepared for the demand of this IEM.

 

[pk4425]

Great film. And they teamed up last year for a film set in Ireland. The Banshees of Inisherin. A rather black comedy. Certainly it's got that bleak Irish sense of humour.

Oooh. Didn't know about that. Will seek that film! Thanks!

The ONLY reason the DQ isn't an evergreen IEM for all intents and purposes is because it's extremely hard to drive, so you can't really listen to it out of your phone or with an apple dongle, without losing the dynamics and bass tightness. It's one of those that requires extra juice, and hence, extra hardware to drive. Otherwise, we'd be talking about it still, and despite this, as we have seen, it still gets mentions, so yeah, I'd say that alone is special sauce considering.

Holy hell, now I'm even more torn between the DQ and the P5+2. I listen to my IEMs from my desktop JDS Labs Atom+ stack about 97 percent of the time, so power never is a problem.

 

[Ferdinando1968]

I Thought about my use case for these based off @Dsnuts post.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tansio-mirai-impressions-thread.897275/post-18400784



Well I did it, I bought the HiBy R1 to match the teeny weenie HiBy Case I purchased by mistake.



Guess the BTR17 will be released soon. Since FiiO added support to the Fiio Control app.


A shame 11-11 will be very frugal for me now.

Also If ISN Audio EBC80 is released in the next Week or Two I will be Fook-ed.






PS - I’m still 50 pages behind on the Disco Thread. But will catch up over this weekend. I am slowing making progress though. It’s totally worth it , cause you all are awesome!.

You look really excited
I'm very happy for you.

I buy into it because the products are GOOD. REALLY GOOD. If the product was crap, then that's one thing, but they make excellent products, so personally, I could give two about how they "coerce" reviewers or their practices. They make good products, they have good customer service, and some dost protest too much.

I agree. Their products are good.

You're gonna make me want the DynaQuattro even more than I already do LOL But I don't NEED anymore IEMs!! LOL

Somewhat inconveniently, this DynaQuattro is creeping up my wants list once more.

DynaQuattro are amazing and unique.
You should at least try them.

 

[HifiFrog]

With all the new daps, dongles, and dac/amps, which one would you guys recommend? Fiio, Hiby, SMSL, Shanling, and others are fighting for my dollars.

I'll write my thoughts about dongles here:

You can watch out for discounts on Cayin RU7 and Hiby FC6. These are both stand out and must-haves for me, even if they are older devices.
FC6 usually drops hard during sales. And there is (of course) the legendary iBasso DC Elite that you can watch out for.

Most interesting stuff around 100 USD would be FiiO KA15 and Tanchjim Luna.
@atechreviews has done a nice comparison between the two in his KA15 review.
What makes Luna interesting is that it is similar to Moondrop Moonriver 2: Ti: @atechreviews said in his review that the only difference he could hear (Luna vs Moonriver), was a slightly wider sound stage on the Moonriver.

Worth mentioning: Shanling Onix Alpha XI1 : Sound stage blew me away, but others didn't like the untextured bass.
It's also a software and compatibility drama (Android) and sound is reported to change unintentionally on firmware updates.

Other DACs that I still recommend: Colorfly CDA-M2 and the older FiiO KA5 if you can get them for a good discount.