The discovery thread!

[JamoBroGuy]

As others have said, and despite that you have no way to see it now, what you think you want and will enjoy today will be different in 12 months time in terms of sound signature and fit.

I believe you would be far better to buy a couple of much cheaper and carefully chosen IEM with different tuning and fit, experiment with tips to understand their impact, buy another modest set when your observations, experience and learning point you in a certain direction and continue that process and buy something really good when you better understand what works for you.

I have done the sort of thing you are talking about in different ways throughout my life and inevitably it proves to be wrong regardless of how much you thought you knew previously.

You will make mistakes and waste time and money along the way. Listen to what others are telling you and make the wasted time and money as minimal as possible.

There is next to no chance that the Cantor or any other first IEM will be what you expect it to be in terms of sonic enjoyment and functionality in terms of fit and comfort. You might even thoroughly dislike it.

My friend, you'll be fine. You made a fine choice, and you don't need to roll through a bunch of KZ, Kefine, Sennheiser, CVJ, Artti, Penon, ISN, TRN, 7Hz, or anything else to arrive at your best self in reference to audio. Cantor + DCE seem like it'll be a perfect fit for your use case and you've shared your playlist as well, so I'm fairly confident saying I think you'll adore this kit, and I look forward to you sharing your impressions.

My wallet would have loved to follow your experience, as I shared earlier my expenditures were around $4,000 just with the sidegrades and budget IEMs I'd purchased, and was lucky enough to sell for about 50% value (just under that amount, as my final total includes cable sales), and if I would have skipped the advice of "try as many IEMs as possible" that you're getting, and I could have just gone straight to the Cantor and DCE, at less than half what I ended up spending, then I'd be blissfully ignorant in my aural journey, and I'd have more money in the bank (a nod and a wink to @pk4425).

So be excited about your purchase, and rawk that schitt!

I suspect that over time you will find the highlighted part is much less important and much less of a guide to your enjoyment than you currently think it is.

For clarity I did not previously suggest you go through a whole pile of cheap sets, simply make well considered smaller steps initially to determine what you like for yourself not what you think you will like based on what others describe. You will form a baseline for yourself over time and in my opinion that is the time to invest in more expensive equipment.

If you know you like set A and somebody else with set A tells you that you will probably like set B then you have a frame of reference. Somebody telling you that set A sounds like "this" and you only have a loose frame of reference based on something quite different you almost have no useful frame of reference at all.

Also, spend the money on the IEM, that is where the biggest returns are. Folks bang on about source gear, amplifiers etc like they will massively influence the sound, they will not. They might subtly fine tune the sound depending on your IEM but they may make no worthwhile difference. I have been through a bunch of different equipment from over quite a price range and varying brands, power and designs and the common theme is they all sound a great deal more alike than different and none of them will change the IEM into something that it isn't designed and tuned to be. When comparing equipment, if you can't volume match very closely, like 1db absolute maximum variation and ideally less, the perception of differences is not reliable, nor is testing a day later based on memory of the last gear.

Make of this what you want, it is offered in good faith based on my experience and my wasted money to help you avoid wasting yours, I hope it works out for you, I really do.

Holy crap, my brain is going back and forth hahaha. It's kinda overwhelming (absolutely ZERO offence). I have no clue what to think anymore. I guess I'll just wait for them to arrive and see...
Thanks for the advice by the way.

 

[cqtek]

Hello to all.

Here is my opinion about the EPZ TP35 dongle.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/epz-tp35.27639/reviews#review-36304

 

[Ineras]

Holy crap, my brain is going back and forth hahaha. It's kinda overwhelming (absolutely ZERO offence). I have no clue what to think anymore. I guess I'll just wait for them to arrive and see...
Thanks for the advice by the way.

If anything, I'm sure Cantor will be easy to resell if it doesn't work out. I think @o0genesis0o needs a spare set.

 

[JamoBroGuy]

I suspect that over time you will find the highlighted part is much less important and much less of a guide to your enjoyment than you currently think it is.

I do have somewhat of a baseline for myself, actually. Back when I was in the wireless headphone phase, I realised that I consistently liked headphones with good separation. Why? Because I listen to ridiculously complicated music with like 10 instruments playing at once (an exaggeration, of course. you get the idea). If they're not well separated, it just sounds like mush.
I know it's not much, but at least I somewhat know what I want.
(holy crap the confirmation bias is WILD rn.)

 

[Leonarfd]

Just published my review on the new headphone AUNE SR7000, I really have enjoyed my time with SR7000 and will continue to do so going forward.
First time I have enjoyed a closed back headphone this much, sound much more open and has a balanced clear sound.

Not really headphones this thread is about, but as my first headphone review in 10 years I thought I might share it here also. It is portable due to both isolation and being relatively easy to drive, plays excellent both from my DAPs and also the PS5 controller when gaming.

Click here for review

 

[BS5711]

Holy crap, my brain is going back and forth hahaha. It's kinda overwhelming (absolutely ZERO offence). I have no clue what to think anymore. I guess I'll just wait for them to arrive and see...
Thanks for the advice by the way.

You will be absolutely sweet.

If you have them ordered already just forget everything else and listen with and enjoy them.

They are a great start and the only difference between what you are doing and what I suggested is the initial price of entry.

If you get lucky you might actually save yourself time and money in the long run and have a set that you love straight away. Feel free to come back and tell me I was full of hot air

If you get unlucky you have a little more invested in a set that you are not as thrilled with as you hope but it will still provide a solid frame of reference it has just cost a bit more to do so, not the end of the world.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with them, best of luck.

 

[JamoBroGuy]

You will be absolutely sweet.

If you have them ordered already just forget everything else and listen with and enjoy them.

They are a great start and the only difference between what you are doing and what I suggested is the initial price of entry.

If you get lucky you might actually save yourself time and money in the long run and have a set that you love straight away. Feel free to come back and tell me I was full of hot air

If you get unlucky you have a little more invested in a set that you are not as thrilled with as you hope but it will still provide a solid frame of reference it has just cost a bit more to do so, not the end of the world.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with them, best of luck.

Thanks so much!
Edit: No joke, after reading this I let out the BIGGEST sigh of relief. Hahaha.

 

[Uprox]

Today I received:
AFUL MagicOne,
Little Bear B4-X,
UPOCC cable Laura (HIFI OCC store on AliX),
eartips Angelears AE100,
I compiled all together and this is my impression OOTB (lineout of my Cayin N3 pro as a source, Penon Totem as AUX): such correct sound of old alboms Santana I had never listened to.
Sadist "Jagriti" sounds with quite enough and correct subbass, I'm surprised - it's only 1 BA!
But miracles don't happen - resolution isn't best I heard and any album of Fleshgod Apocalypse shows it without compromises. Also all compositions of Estatic Fear are nearly brighter than correct.
So, I'm glad very much so far. I will burning in all further and will waiting the results.

 

[Leonarfd]

I have been loaning the AüR Audio Hermit for some days, while I have moved away from the brand the IEMs are still sets I really like. This model is 8BA 2BC, the BC is used for mid bass according to their store page. Feels more premium than their recent 3D printed models, the shell is quite solid and does not feel hollow and cheap.

Tuning is really warm and fun, from memory not as technical/energetic as Neon Pro but much more fun. Strongest feat is making some really good slam with hard hitting BA bass, or we could say BA and bone conduction bass. Lack the ultimate texture of good DDs, but the share force is awesome. Rest of tuning is quite balanced and safe, no sibilance or sharpness.

Not going to review this one, but small impressions and photos I can do

 

[BS5711]

Thanks so much!
Edit: No joke, after reading this I let out the BIGGEST sigh of relief. Hahaha.

And I genuinely smiled to myself reading your comment.

All the best with them mate and enjoy your audio journey.

 

[Hypops]

I actually do have somewhat of a baseline for myself, actually. Back when I was in the wireless headphone phase, I realised that I consistently liked headphones with good separation. Why? Because I listen to ridiculously complicated music with like 10 instruments playing at once (an exaggeration, of course. you get the idea). If they're not well separated, it just sounds like mush.
I know it's not much, but at least I somewhat know what I want.
(holy crap the confirmation bias is WILD rn.)

For sure, but the weird thing about IEMs is that people’s individual experiences can vary pretty wildly. There can be some consensus on sets, but there are always enough exceptions to remind you that you might also be the exception. Some sets can be more divisive than others.

This isn’t just a matter of differences in taste or preference. It often comes down to ear physiognomy and fit. In the year I’ve been into IEMs, I have yet to see any single set that every major reviewer (let alone every listener) agrees on. And I don’t just mean agreeing on whether or not they “like” them. I mean agreeing on how they literally sound.

For example, I recently acquired the Dunu Braindance. Most major reviewers find them exceptionally detailed and spatially expansive, but some did not. Or more divisively, the Dita Project M is a personal favorite of mine, but half of the listening population finds them unbearably piercing in the treble (or at least bizarrely unnatural). Every IEM is somewhere between them on that spectrum of divisiveness.

In other words, just because some reviewers find the Cantor detailed and spacious doesn’t mean that you will. It takes a while to find those review voices that you recognize have similar HRTF to you, and even then, there are few guarantees that you will hear what they do.

IMO whatever “baselines” you might have developed from headphones really don’t apply to IEMs. IEMs (and human ears) are weird.

Like I and others have said, I hope you end up loving the Cantor (many do). But, ooph, that’s a big financial risk you’re taking for a first set! We’re all just speaking from experience and some of us are wincing and hoping it works out for you. Good luck and welcome to the Disco!

 

[BS5711]

I have been loaning the AüR Audio Hermit for some days, while I have moved away from the brand the IEMs are still sets I really like. This model is 8BA 2BC, the BC is used for mid bass according to their store page. Feels more premium than their recent 3D printed models, the shell is quite solid and does not feel hollow and cheap.

Tuning is really warm and fun, not as technical as their old Neon Pro but much more fun. Strongest feat is making some really good slam with hard hitting BA bass, or we could say BA and bone conduction bass. Lack the ultimate texture of good DDs, but the share force of bass kicks are awesome. Rest of tuning is quite balanced and safe, no sibilance or sharpness.

Not going to review this one, but small impressions and photos I can do

Thanks Leo,

I still really enjoy my Neon Pro and Ascension but I am really looking forward to my set of Hermit, despite the odd name

They will be my "pause game" until probably this time next year when we have a holiday planned that takes us through Singapore for a couple of days, I have already warned my wife I plan on hitting a couple of the audio stores and buying something nice.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Today I received:
AFUL MagicOne,
Little Bear B4-X,
UPOCC cable Laura (HIFI OCC store on AliX),
eartips Angelears AE100,
I compiled all together and this is my impression OOTB (lineout of my Cayin N3 pro as a source, Penon Totem as AUX): such correct sound of old alboms Santana I had never listened to.
Sadist "Jagriti" sounds with quite enough and correct subbass, I'm surprised - it's only 1 BA!
But miracles don't happen - resolution isn't best I heard and any album of Fleshgod Apocalypse shows it without compromises. Also all compositions of Estatic Fear are nearly brighter than correct.
So, I'm glad very much so far. I will burning in all further and will waiting the results.

Congrats on the B4-X, and I hope you enjoy it thoroughly! Also, the N3 and the B4-X are TOO MUCH TOOBS! lol If there is such a thing....Ok, in this case, there is! LOL

 

[BS5711]

For sure, but the weird thing about IEMs is that people’s individual experiences can vary pretty wildly. There can be some consensus on sets, but there are always enough exceptions to remind you that you might also be the exception. Some sets can be more divisive than others.

This isn’t just a matter of differences in taste or preference. It often comes down to ear physiognomy and fit. In the year I’ve been into IEMs, I have yet to see any single set that every major reviewer (let alone every listener) agrees on. And I don’t just mean agreeing on whether or not they “like” them. I mean agreeing on how they literally sound.

For example, I recently acquired the Dunu Braindance. Most major reviewers find them exceptionally detailed and spatially expansive, but some did not. Or more divisively, the Dita Project M is a personal favorite of mine, but half of the listening population finds them unbearably piercing in the treble (or at least bizarrely unnatural). Every IEM is somewhere between them on that spectrum of divisiveness.

In other words, just because some reviewers find the Cantor detailed and spacious doesn’t mean that you will. It takes a while to find those review voices that you recognize have similar HRTF to you, and even then, there are few guarantees that you will hear what they do.

IMO whatever “baselines” you might have developed from headphones really don’t apply to IEMs. IEMs (and human ears) are weird.

Like I and others have said, I hope you end up loving the Cantor (many do). But, ooph, that’s a big financial risk you’re taking for a first set! We’re all just speaking from experience and some of us are wincing and hoping it works out for you. Good luck and welcome to the Disco!

@JamoBroGuy

@Hypops and I have had our differences of opinion on a couple of topics in the past and I may still on his "ignore" list but he is a smart guy that speaks a lot of sense and the above is no exception.

 

[MakeItWain]

Hi all,

Back again with a new review for the Penon Impact ($2,499) set that consists of BAs + ESTs. Part of the AudioGeek USA Tour group.

Penon Impact review here

Pros: Balanced sound signature
Bass is punchy for a BA set
Mids are very well tuned - neutral with a hint of warmth
Treble is energetic, precise but not sibilant or harsh
Resolution and Technical performance is top notch
Gorgeous looks

Cons: BA Bass, note weight and bass notes decay very quickly. Not the best BA bass I've heard in a flagship priced IEM.
IEM is a bit on the larger size, nozzle lip smooth
Overall sound comes off a bit too light/airy on certain tracks
Penon Cables without Earhooks

Overall score: 4/5 - 4.5/5 with tubes. It's a good set. Need warmer sources to be great to my ears.