activatorfly
Headphoneus Supremus

It's not exactly GOLD foil, but even the KZ Sonata's advertising appears to be going down the "premium" KitKat wrappers route?? LOL !! (Chi mes they are a changin')
Thanks for your take.You're in luck, @bithalver has both at hand as we speak and can surely chime in.
Here's what I think. Mind you, this was a rather quick A/B session I had, but what I can say with ample certainty, is the MMk3 is similar tonally, but puts on the big boy shoes and improves upon every single aspect of the Hype 4. Bass is punchier and better controlled, midrange is more natural and less veiled, treble is way smoother while still extracting all the details. So if you like the Hype 4 tonally, as in balance between bass/mids/treble, and want much of the same but polished and dialled in, get that MMk3.
Whether the difference in price is worth it can only be answered by the man spending the dough.
It is. But there are warm and lazy sets that also fall flat with texturing and control and musicality, and then there is the DQ that nails all of that.
So does this mean that KZ's marketing is saying that the Sonata is as good as the Empire Ears Odin?! Of course, that's the reference! The gold foil Kit Kat that came with early orders of the Odin LOL Seems KZ is making a more subtle proclamation?!
It's not exactly GOLD foil, but even the KZ Sonata's advertising appears to be going down the "premium" KitKat wrappers route?? LOL !! (Chi mes they are a changin')
Exactly! We have to allow for sequels.Ahh, I see where you're going with this. I like your style. First the Shawshank.
Then, when they least expect it, BOOM, the Shawshank Redemption. What you thinking ... double the price? 2.5×?
Competes with DCE? I have this on the way, and just ordered the Hiby cable.
All my latest desktop sources added since last November sound incredible via coaxial. It was never really a thing before tbf, and has certainly piqued my interest regarding the Dethonray Clarinet. Imo all DAP's should offer 3.5mm coaxial out. For instance, if you're not happy with, say the house sound of Shanling's M1 Plus, firstly you try transforming it via DCE/G Link Max? However to reduce battery drain, connect it via coaxial & BOOM: instant BOSS level. It's blown me away several times via the Cayin N3 OG & HiBy R6 Pro!
As I'm a huge fan of connecting DAP's via coaxial, which I've recommended many times over the last few months, The Dethonray Clarinet is now top of my porta amp list for sure...many thanks for the rec!
The Volume S through XD05T, with Bass Boost activated, is absolutely phenomenal.
The additional low-end depth brings a perfect balance, and the sub-bass is now rich, resonant, and wondrously immersive.
It completely satisfies my inner basshead, delivering a deep, full-bodied experience.
Dua Lipa's vocals are nothing short of mesmerizing—sublime and spine-tingling.
The treble shines with pristine clarity, maintaining a smoothness that never strays into harshness or sharpness.
Spatial cues and layering are executed flawlessly, offering an impressively wide and detailed soundstage.
Additionally, timbre is exceptional - warm and natural.
I have to admit, I honestly didn’t expect this, but this IEM completely redefines what’s possible in the sub-$350 price range.
It punches far above its weight, IMHO.
I’m absolutely thrilled to add it to my collection of audio treasures...
Highly rec'd!!!
Man i have been reading a lot on the internet now a days as I am looking for a powerful desktop amplifier. I actually grabbed the Hifiman HE6SE V2 during the Hifiman year end sale. Does anyone here have any suggestions about which one to get for this power hungry headphone? My budget would be around 600-1000$(The cheaper the better).
Absolutely. The SC tips remind me of the Corier tips without the metal bit, really excited to try them out on some other sets. Everything is a bit “no-frills” but there so much good stuff, who cares! It really is the year of the micro-planar.
Could I get some recommendation to good "this gen" IEMs, preferably with some tuning options, south of the 1000 bucks limit?
I am quite sensitive to strong bass (yet I learned to tolerate Timeless OG and to large extent MEST I), do not mind treble, and prefer strong mids, with vocals in front.
Now having the ZA12 in my ears....I'm seriously starting to wonder tbf. It's a subtle marketing ploy for sure. One that I wouldn't have considered previously, having quashed any notion of neu KZ stepping into the hallowed ground occupied by the Empire Ears Odin. My thinking now is, via this symbolic reference they're alluding to the DNA of?So does this mean that KZ's marketing is saying that the Sonata is as good as the Empire Ears Odin?! Of course, that's the reference! The gold foil Kit Kat that came with early orders of the Odin LOL Seems KZ is making a more subtle proclamation?!
Right on cue...yeah OOTB underwhelming...driver flex is annoying af. Give them an hour though from Pokémon ster > Pokémon star ?? You decide LOL>MAIL CALL!!!
So the KZ KA12 landed (finally!! It's been "out for delivery" since Monday). My only review goal here is to compare it to the TRN ST7 and KZ ZS12 Pro X, and determine where it falls next to these two hybrid titans of budget?
OOTB switch settings (UUDD). Spinfit CP100 tips.
OOTB observation? Driver flex. Technical. Lacks warmth.
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At CanJam London this year Sonata will definitely be worth a listen......just out of curiosity killed the "KITKAT" !!
It's not exactly GOLD foil, but even the KZ Sonata's advertising appears to be going down the "premium" KitKat wrappers route?? LOL !! (Chi mes they are a changin')
Just watched Shawshank Redemption on the plane. That would make for a cool name.
Good to know, thanks. I plan on using something like a small o-ring or rubber washer on the 3.5mm to keep it from bottoming out. I also read that a standard 3.5mm interconnect should work fine with iBasso daps, so I have that option as well.Yep. Most definitely. To me, DCE sounds like an outstanding dongle or a good midfi DAP. Clarinet sounds like a good amp. It layers on power and refinement. More authority, more dynamism, cleaner separation. Feels like a larger stage, or at least one with more and better defined space delineating each element. More atmosphere in the upper treble and space for notes to tail off (upper treble is one of the things the DCE isn’t terribly keen on imo).
TBH I’m not convinced that the Cayin cable (and probably the Hiby one as well, by extension) is the best option for the Clarinet. After considering it a while, I find it too finicky, having to pull the plug out just that little bit to get sound (if you read the Clarinet thread I linked to in my previous post) and I still want to explore options that provide a more stable connection while sounding as good.
I have a USB C to RCA coaxial cable already on the way, which I plan to use with the RCA-3.5mm adaptor that came with the Clarinet. That, at least, ought to be customised to the Clarinet’s slightly idiosyncratic pinout.
I also have an SMSL PO100 on the way, since some folks have had good results with it in the thread. Neither has made it out of China yet, so no idea when they will arrive, what with their impending new year shutdown.
MAIL CALL!!!
New year, new toys! But.. I'm going to let them come to room temp before checking them out. It's like 10º F today and the boxes are frozen. That's -12.2º C for the rest of the world.
Btw.. apparently Bloom ups their candy game when you buy nicer things. I'm used to getting snack sized bags of Skittles or a couple Starbursts with my orders.
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DX340 and Mecha, a pretty solid combo man!!MAIL CALL!!!
New year, new toys! But.. I'm going to let them come to room temp before checking them out. It's like 10º F today and the boxes are frozen. That's -12.2º C for the rest of the world.
Btw.. apparently Bloom ups their candy game when you buy nicer things. I'm used to getting snack sized bags of Skittles or a couple Starbursts with my orders.
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