The discovery thread!

[AmericanSpirit]

-the tuning is very similar to Westone’s house sound, warm and heartfelt

CCZ Plume: $239 ($199 at keephifi)
-4BA+1DD Penta-driver hybrids
Out of box impression:
-warm and coherent ( timbre impression if noted as a color: Marigold)
-warm-neutral with added spices
-highly resolving but not analytical
-good at emotional presentation but that means it exchanges transparency and finesse
-well-tuned, orientated to natural yet slightly added spices on treble, no flaws in tonal balance so far
-CCZ appears to share some component ODM with KBEar / TRI, the nozzle(similar to Lark) / ear tips (similar to Believe) looks familiar
-I love the audiophile targeted cable stock with 2.5mm balanced, and very RARE 2.5mm bal to 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm bal high-end adapter!(I'd always wanted this!!! 2.5mm bal to 3.5mm SE is exactly what I need)
-bass-driver used is a high-end grade I can tell right out of the box)

-currently pairing with KBEAR 8 core pure-silver cable

-Low-output impedance is preferred when driving

From an observation by Audio-sound@hatena, the output impedance will change frequency responses (chart is based on Audiosense DT600).

Zoomed to mid with harman curve added

Also the author found the higher the output impedance the imaging gets worse on DT600’s attack/decay(using 500Hz square wave)
@0Ω

@85Ω

The tonal balance reminds me of slightly spiced up version of AirPods Pro, well tuned to natural and acoustic instruments, classic and jazz sound emotional.

Tuning is toward lower mid centric with two gain compensating dips around 4kHz and 6kHz, treble peak is around 5kHz, this indicate Plume is a spot hitter for audiences with 2.5kHz pinna gain, which coincides to Apple’s and Harman curve’s 2.5kHz gain target.

The nitpick I would say so far is, with stock cable, air presentation is a bit rolled off, so it compensates some transparency with it’s warmth and intimacy. I switched to KBEAR’s 8 core pure silver cable (was around $32) to seek a tad more transparency.

Will report back once burn-in completes, and compare with Blessing2.

 

[Barndoor]

I seen a post like this in the past where local package shipper would check goods to swap out internals with something random. As much business as Penon does there is no possible way they would throw in some random screen protector instead.

I don't even think they sell something like that at their store. Seems like there was some helping hands involved with the shipping there.

I did check on Penon site and saw they didn't sell them.
The box looks like it hasn't been tampered with and is a perfect fit for the item, so I suspect a label swap is more likely.

Hopefully Penon can recover losses from the shipping company so neither of us are out of pocket. Based on your reviews they should aim to recover $200, then I can have a pair in each colour!

 

[baskingshark]

Yes, their culture in terms of audio is very interesting. Like it's retro yet modern. Also, their tech is very intriguing and there's still focus on craftsmanship. It definitely leads to a better product and pleasing experience. And it's priced appropriately, although too steep for plebs like me.

One interesting thing about japan FI is that quite a lot of their iems come with non detachable cables, even in 2021.

I spoke to a japanese manufacturer (Acoustic Effect) last year, their owner says a lot of japanese audiophiles don't really care about detachable cables.

But ya I think japan FI gear can't compete with the cheap prices that CHIFI is churning out on a weekly basis, though of the Japan FI IEMs I have tried or owned, they seem to have better QC than their china counterparts (for those made in japan).

 

[PopZeus]

The IT01x arrived today. Yeah, this is my new favorite IEM with caveats. I need to use Final type E tips (otherwise too spicy a treble), and it needs to be paired with a warm source, like the N3 Pro in triode more. The driver isn't as clean and brilliant as that pure Beryllium sound but it's a step above the carbon based drivers I've heard in the rest of the IT series. Staging isn't that wide (vocals are fairly close) but the upper treble seems to present a cleaner image, which helps with the air. I like the ergonomics of new shell too.

 

[vicexxx]

Woke up to this message, but from the KRHIFI store

Hi guys,

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[Shy]

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Thanks for sharing.. it seems very convenient and portable.

 

[ian91]

My GK10's have arrived, initial impressions are very strong...

• Great detail retrieval and air (first time I've experienced peizo highs)
• Well balanced tuning with no sibilance
• Bass has great texture and reasonable impact
• Very good coherence for a multi-driver config
• Timbre is excellent
• Mids clearly benefit from the DD, vocals are lush and well textured
• Technicalities are strong enough to cope with demanding music
• Fit is great
• Design and looks aren't bad at all - I was never really put off by the shape of the shell anyway
• Packaging & accessories are awful but I can forgive that for cost savings (potentially a GK10 MK2 with economies of scale behind Geek Wold might see improvements?)

These are going to whip up a storm at this price point and may just dethrone my BL-03 as my beater set.

Thankyou @Dsnuts for the heads up!

Edit: A-B'ing without burn in, I prefer the GK10 to the BL-03, which says alot as I appreciate the timbre and coherence of a single DD.

 

[DarkMagik]

The IT01x arrived today. Yeah, this is my new favorite IEM with caveats. I need to use Final type E tips (otherwise too spicy a treble), and it needs to be paired with a warm source, like the N3 Pro in triode more. The driver isn't as clean and brilliant as that pure Beryllium sound but it's a step above the carbon based drivers I've heard in the rest of the IT series. Staging isn't that wide (vocals are fairly close) but the upper treble seems to present a cleaner image, which helps with the air. I like the ergonomics of new shell too.

Nice. Any comparisons to the it00?

I wish they stuck to the old it series design instead of this one, or at least they could've not included that 'In Tune' text, lol.

 

[Barusu Lamperouge]

One interesting thing about japan FI is that quite a lot of their iems come with non detachable cables, even in 2021.

I spoke to a japanese manufacturer (Acoustic Effect) last year, their owner says a lot of japanese audiophiles don't really care about detachable cables.

But ya I think japan FI gear can't compete with the cheap prices that CHIFI is churning out on a weekly basis, though of the Japan FI IEMs I have tried or owned, they seem to have better QC than their china counterparts (for those made in japan).

Yes I agree with detachable cable parts. Also, one of the reasons why they don't care about detachable cables is because of the quality that's offered to them. Workmanship is better than what most Chi-fi and even some Western brands offer, so they don't fail that frequently.

 

[Dsnuts]

So I just got word from Fiio. No pics yet of a new single dynamic the FD3.

DLC single dynamic looks like a trickle down tech single dynamic IEM from the FD5 for $100. Interesting. Will post a pic of it when they fix their site. Looks very interesting.

Edit. Looks like there will be 2 versions FD3 and an FD3 pro. Comes with interchangeable nozzles

 

[Kris77]

So I just got word from Fiio. No pics yet of a new single dynamic the FD3.

DLC single dynamic looks like a trickle down tech single dynamic IEM from the FD5 for $100. Interesting. Will post a pic of it when they fix their site. Looks very interesting.

Edit. Looks like there will be 2 versions FD3 and an FD3 pro. Comes with interchangeable nozzles

I am waiting for green GK10 when they will be available Penon, and already something new? How to live...

 

[Dsnuts]

There will always be something new don't mean the GK10 is not awesome. I would message them asking if they got any greens in. Looks like they recently got a limited number of the blues in.

 

[Kris77]

There will always be something new don't mean the GK10 is not awesome. I would message them asking if they got any greens in. Looks like they recently got a limited number of the blues in.

I have also asked and am waiting for an answer. I have the red ones ordered on Ali (but unpaid). The green ones look great. If they're available, I'll ask for a change.
I know there will always be something new, I don't even have time to enjoy what I have

 

[PopZeus]

Nice. Any comparisons to the it00?

I wish they stuck to the old it series design instead of this one, or at least they could've not included that 'In Tune' text, lol.

Yeah, the IT01x shell is not as nice looking as the IT00, but the form factor of the IT01x is smaller and lower profile. Also, the area surrounding the mmcx connector is flat which is cable friendly. This is a pretty tiny IEM, all things considered. Roughly the same size as the YBF.

I can't do a real A/B test so I won't get into too much sonic nuance, but there's definitely no driver flex haha. Notably, the upper mids and treble are cleaner with the IT01x. This helps with the consonant range and the air. The IT01x isn't a wide staging IEM but the treble technicalities improve that sense of space. To me, the timbre sounds like a cross between a carbon driver and a pure beryllium driver. Bass on the 01x is a bit more textured than the 00 but it's a more even match, I think. Overall it sounds more refined to me, and I'm hoping it scales well with something like the Cayin N6ii.

 

[ian91]

A few more observations about the GK10:

• These have an unique degree of transparency throughout the FR
• The signature isn't warm, think room temperature (to my ear atleast)
• What's most impressive for the price is the dynamic range, very high to very low, you can appreciate it all
• Second to that is coherency and timbre
• Third is the inoffensive but equally exciting tuning
• I would say it can confidently manage nearly all genres
• I'm really liking what it does for jazz / instrumental / strings because of the deft tuning of the uppermids and treble, lots of resolution to enjoy here
• I can appreciate a very slight mids recession suggesting the tuning sits somewhere between W and V, learning towards W (I think!)
• It has the technical ability to handle electronic and bass-heavy music and do it justice (to my standards atleast)
• Given that all frequencies, including the bass, has a degree of transparency and in this case the bass has a subbass focus, lovers of midbass impact may be left wanting more. However, I'm very happy with this transparency in the lower frequency because it brings out the detail and texture. It also matches the character of the other drivers and frequencies sitting above it.

My acid test for most new equipment is Yosi Horikawa. Tracks Bubbles, Letter and Timbre. The GK10 does an incredibly admirable job of conveying texture and timbre on these tracks and has no problem conveying imaging information and layering. Stage is small-moderate (however ambigious and useless that label is), but it never becomes congested or limits my enjoyment.

Looking forward to the journey of burning these in! Maybe some of these observations will change / no longer apply? Who knows!

 

[Dsnuts]

A few more observations about the GK10:

• These have an unique degree of transparency throughout the FR
• The signature isn't warm, think room temperature (to my ear atleast)
• What's most impressive for the price is the dynamic range, very high to very low, you can appreciate it all
• Second to that is coherency and timbre
• Third is the inoffensive but equally exciting tuning
• I would say it can confidently manage nearly all genres
• I'm really liking what it does for jazz / instrumental / strings because of the deft tuning of the uppermids and treble, lots of resolution to enjoy here
• I can appreciate a very slight mids recession suggesting the tuning sits somewhere between W and V, learning towards W (I think!)
• It has the technical ability to handle electronic and bass-heavy music and do it justice (to my standards atleast)
• Given that all frequencies, including the bass, has a degree of transparency and in this case the bass has a subbass focus, lovers of midbass impact may be left wanting more. However, I'm very happy with this transparency in the lower frequency because it brings out the detail and texture. It also matches the character of the other drivers and frequencies sitting above it.

My acid test for most new equipment is Yosi Horikawa. Tracks Bubbles, Letter and Timbre. The GK10 does an incredibly admirable job of conveying texture and timbre on these tracks and has no problem conveying imaging information and layering. Stage is small-moderate (however ambigious and useless that label is), but it never becomes congested or limits my enjoyment.

Looking forward to the journey of burning these in! Maybe some of these observations will change / no longer apply? Who knows!

Actually they improve and get better as they burn in. They really start to strut their stuff the next day of burn in actually.

And you guys were thinking I was smokin something when I posted about how great these sounded.