Can't resist the urge for new techs, so I placed the orders for 7Hz Timeless, TRI I3 Pro and CCA NRA. I have realised that the usual combinations of DD+BA or full BA no longer pique my interest.
For 1-driver IEMs, I now stick to pure beryllium, true electrostatic and planar. LCP, CNT, graphene, titanium... DDs start to feel slow to my ears.
The most recent I have bought is of course the Geek Wold GK10. My set has excellent high mid and treble, the sound is reminiscent of true electrostatic drivers. The bass is just mediocre, slightly slow and sometimes makes the male voice nasal. For the price, good. However, I almost always buy "bargains", so I cannot be sure if GK10 performs better than the $50, $100 or even $300 offerings. LZ A6 (after a lot of foam mod) is much better and is the thing that stop me buying anything more expensive. LZ A7 is more natural in the bass and low mid, and overall better set. LZ knows how to do detail and soundstage. Going down the price, KBear Believe is hard to beat with that speedy drivers, Sennheiser IE40 Pro offers more micro detail while the $100-turn-$30 Semkarch CNT-1 gives out much better bass. BQEYZ Spring 2 has excellent soundstage, and the original TRI I3 possess phenomenal bass, but both are harder to recommend with their peaky 8kHz. Many other pairs, but you get the idea. GK10 is a good pair, worth the price, but can it kill other "giant killers" at higher prices? More no than yes.
On an unrelated note, from today the southern part of my country is under martial laws because of Covid, no one can get out, food is delivered by soldiers, and hundreds of people dying every day. The north will follow suit soon, and I haven't seen my relative and friends in person for months, living all alone in my house. Music and audio gears are my savior, if not for them I would burst like a bomb.
on the darker side however.
