The discovery thread!
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Looks nice, and a Cheaper option for people who don't care much about balance output
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That was the goal, yes. It took us a while to make the ZEN range this accessible, but we're super happy that we're finally there!
r31ya
Headphoneus Supremus
Yeah,
Dude, TRN TA2, a sub $50 with 1DD + 2 Knowles BA in semi open shell could be soo freakin awesome... Shame really.
lushmelody
500+ Head-Fier
They wasted so much potential. Still, I'd buy it for EQ when it gets dirty cheap just for the knowles hardware
o0genesis0o
Headphoneus Supremus
Tanchjim Ola - First impressions
I blind bought Ola after Tanchjim released its frequency response graph. Was it a good idea? Here are my initial impressions. You can also read the article on my website at In-ear Gems with more elaborationStereo imaging
Let’s start with the stereo imaging: Ola is actually good. It’s one of the IEMs that can produce a sense of depth, meaning elements in the mix can be layered from closer to further away rather than existing on a flat plane. Because of this depth, Ola manages to produce a 3D soundstage, making it quite good for any type of music that has been recorded and mixed with layering and distance in mind. The same cannot be said for some well known IEMs in this price range.Ola is also great for gaming. In my usual test, Saint Rows 3 on Switch, I can reliably pin point gun shot and sirens direction without looking at the radar. If you are looking for a cheap pair of gaming IEMs, I can recommend this one without reservation.
Tuning and percussion control
Did Ola achieve the matured tuning that I hoped for? Not quite. The contrast between upper mid and lower-mid is quite high comparing to the manufacturer’s graph, meaning vocals and instruments are more “in-your-face” but not full-bodied like Final E series, 64 Audio or Andromeda 2020. The pros of this tuning is that it reveals more details in the focal elements of the mix (voice, guitar, etc.). The cons of this tuning is that the loud upper mid can cause some instruments to mask others in orchestral music. In general, this tuning somewhat reminds me of Dunu Titan S, meaning it is inoffensive and good for most people.Percussion control is quite decent. Ola has no trouble catching up my orchestral test tracks with fast drum. The cons is that the bass quantity is not high, hiding some low-frequency details. I would not recommend Ola for EDM. Bass drops are just not that fun, even comparing to full-BA bass like Andromeda.
Non-sound aspect
The packaging is excellent. It's not luxurious nor extremely generous (like Dunu), but everything is laid out with care and attention. If this is the first IEM that I have after saving for a while, I would be very happy when opening the box. I like the inclusion of wide-bore tips, similarly to the ones packed with CFA and 64 Audio IEMs. However, I don't think Ola needs any more treble.The IEMs themselves are surprisingly small because there is no empty space around the driver like Final A4000, Moondrop Aria, or Dunu Titan S. Isolation is below average. There can be driver flex sometimes.
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SHOOTINGTECHIE
100+ Head-Fier
Feels like those pyramid ships from the game Destiny 2 haha !!!New DAC/Amp from Tanchjim, called the VAST. It looks VAST as per its namesake and the price is vastly huge too. $1900 USD.
https://hifigo.com/collections/new-arrival/products/tanchjim-vast
This illuminati pyramid design looks like it might take up a lot of desk space too.
Uses AK4997EQ chips.
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I was just about to make that point too! That aside, visually it's a very monolithic design and something very cool to look at
KutuzovGambit
1000+ Head-Fier
Dunu Titan S or BQEYZ Autumn.
Exactly, the timing is perfect as I was looking for a preamp for my stereo amp.
Got it. Thanks
Yu9 Audio U-554 and U-556 - these are a single full-range Sonion BA over-ear stick-like IEM with a neutral / Ety-like tuning with a slight bass lift. The U-554 is more diffuse field and the U-556 is slightly warmer with a more natural treble extension.
If anyone takes the dive on these please share your impressions, or if you're interested, I've shared some of my own impressions here. Purchased from AE - probably best to search manually, links seem to be temperamental. I purchased from the Huo Nio store.
U-556 (left), Penon Legend (right)
If anyone takes the dive on these please share your impressions, or if you're interested, I've shared some of my own impressions here. Purchased from AE - probably best to search manually, links seem to be temperamental. I purchased from the Huo Nio store.
U-556 (left), Penon Legend (right)
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