The discovery thread!

[PhonoPhi]

Well, imagine a cable builder or IEM manufacturer who simply based exposure on pure word of mouth? While yes, if their products were note worthy.............a level of success would naturally be obtained simply by circumstances, the circumstances of a product’s existence. Yet if free samples were placed in reviewers hands those sample results would be fortified by the endeavor, obtaining a “hyper” marketing strategy. This hyper exposure would increase noticeably and further the basic understanding of the products. Simply put, reviewers can put into words what many could/may experience, but possibly not know how to express. While it’s indecipherable if a free item gains innate praise due to being a gift, such fall-out is going to be subsequent result no matter what. It’s the responsibility of the reviewer and the awareness of his actions in a review for better or worse. But after the review is written, if in-fact others purchase the product and gain the same positive results, then mission accomplished.

Cable manufacturing - $10-$100.
Reviewer promotion - " indisclosed price".

Total price - $100 - $1000+

Caveat emptor!

 

[Vonbuddy]

If you have ever been into high end speakers burn in of cables is very often mentioned, not to mention the prices of some of them. Never touched anything high end in cables when I was more into speakers. Used all the cash for the speakers and amp.

Remember I was at a Demo at a good store in Oslo, heard some really good speakers priced around 9000-15000$. The seller were extremely persistent to get the right sound out from them you needed also a pair of speaker cables around 5000$. While needing maybe upwards to 1000hours usage for the sound to settle. For me this is a sale pitch to sell more and get outside the return window.

And many bought it that day due to the 20% off during the demo discount price. But who am I to say it’s wrong, people need to buy what makes them happy.

Much like a car salesman.

 

[552609]

I am not sceptical or negative about Penon. They have a reasonable business model.

I am negative about shilling reviewers that (for me) tarnish Penon and Linsoul.

Some of those "reviewers" I code-named "SSS" (shameless sh..y shilling).

I've never heard a Penon IEM, the real question is: are they good? If they sound good, then who cares how they promote their products? But yes, if a review is bought and paid for, THAT is bad, but that falls on the reviewer, not the company like you said.

 

[FranQL]

I've never heard a Penon IEM, the real question is: are they good? If they sound good, then who cares how they promote their products? But yes, if a review is bought and paid for, THAT is bad, but that falls on the reviewer, not the company like you said.

I have heard this one, which left me very indifferent, a "nothing special"

 

[552609]

I have heard this one, which left me very indifferent, a "nothing special"

Cool face plate at least haha

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Yes poke a hole is 1 simple method that will do for the bass airflow, but in this case, the white nylon is too thick, so i prefer to use foam and change filter since the original one made high mids and trebles sounded overdampened too aside from bloated bass.


Yeah, will try to change the damper and see the true potential of that 11mm LCP. I have high hope actually.

Boy, you're gonna make them mad LOL You're jumping ahead of their next release, a PRO version X crin or HBB retuned. LOL The HOLA x DE modded version first!

 

[JAnonymous5150]

The issue about Penon is the lack of organic opinions and community sense

Its always the same 2 or 3 reviewers with very high ratings. They also boost a lot of cable discourse which obviously gets community backlash. The products are not competitive in price and normally is not a name we see in recommended or tier lists

Absolutely! When the same couple "reviewers" rate every product from Penon 4 to 5 stars and spend 10k words of very flowery prose discussing just how groundbreaking each product is, it becomes pretty obvious that these are not actual reviews, but more in the vein of extended advertising pieces and that there's some kind of quid pro quo going on.

Fortunately, those of us who follow head-fi, chi-fi, IEMs, etc. have no real problem identifying these "reviews" and "reviewers." Unfortunately, others who are just searching for reviews for a single or first purchase are likely to be taken in. I don't have a problem with Penon operating this way because they're a for profit entity and this is more or less expected behavior. I have a problem with these so-called reviewers and how they continue to try to express that their so-called reviews are unbiased. It's disingenuous and, IMO, unethical.

I would definitely prefer that Penon, and other companies for that matter, didn't try to disguise advertising as reviews, but I don't expect them to stop any time soon. I think these reviews full of hyperbolic and specious claims generally take away from Penon's credibility with many in the true Chi-fi/IEM enthusiast community anyways so it's definitely a double-edged sword.

There is a reason that most Penon products are not being recommended right and left. It's because their performance certainly doesn't often match these "reviews" though there are few exceptions. They are often overpriced for what they are and many of them have pretty easily discernable flaws that make it easy to find better products for less money. Penon would make far more money if they actually took the time to make IEMs that could honestly earn those reviews from regular users.

Pro tip: If a reviewer is rating an IEM 4 to 5 stars, but telling you in that review that you need a high priced cable to turn it into that high performance IEM, the IEM isn't a 4 to 5 star IEM and you're probably reading one of those extended advertising pieces I mentioned from one of those "reviewers." Maybe I should write a pamphlet...

 

[Leonarfd]

Started to come alot of Penon hate here, not a shill myself. Bought quite much from Penon for my own money, I am also quite well versed in reading graphs so I do not do a wrong purchase.

Currently writing 3 reviews of IEMs from Penon and ISN, one of them being Penon Serial. And spoiler it gets a quite high score, not the most technical but gives me pure joy.

I do understand that people get sceptical when brands get much hype from the same person over and over. Still this can be because the sound the maker is aiming for aligns with the users preference.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I would appreciate it if you same handful of members and "armchair quarterbacks" who keep bringing up the same bs topics about cables, reviewers, burn in, etc etc in the DISCOVERY thread please shut it down, quit bickering amongst yourselves, and instead provide a positive or "critical" response to discoveries. Similar to what @DynamicEars just did with the HOLA. That was a fascinating presentation and a true DISCOVERY. I'm truly tired of scrolling past all this pablum day after day. I don't care who believes in cable burn in or not. Or who's getting free samples. GOOD FOR THEM! I used to do reviews and I used to get free samples. Sometimes I reviewed them well, and other times not. How do you weed out weak reviewers? If you bought something based on their insight, and it turned out to not be anything like they mentioned, that's a reviewer to avoid!! Done! But please stop with the yanking and the negative posts one after the other about the "science" of audio perceptions. It's all individual! So how about some cool new discoveries? Or some old ones? There's always some overlooked IEM from 2 years ago that might deserve some modern love?

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Started to come alot of Penon hate here, not a shill myself. Bought quite much from Penon for my own money, I am also quite well versed in reading graphs so I do not do a wrong purchase.

Currently writing 3 reviews of IEMs from Penon and ISN, one of them being Penon Serial. And spoiler it gets a quite high score, not the most technical but gives me pure joy.

I do understand that people get sceptical when brands get much hype from the same person over and over. Still this can be because the sound the maker is aiming for aligns with the users preference.

I specifically mentioned that there are exceptions in my post because I have heard good Penon products. Like you, I thought the Serial was a pretty good IEM and I enjoyed the ISN 40 as a fun bassy option for a bit.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Started to come alot of Penon hate here, not a shill myself. Bought quite much from Penon for my own money, I am also quite well versed in reading graphs so I do not do a wrong purchase.

Currently writing 3 reviews of IEMs from Penon and ISN, one of them being Penon Serial. And spoiler it gets a quite high score, not the most technical but gives me pure joy.

I do understand that people get sceptical when brands get much hype from the same person over and over. Still this can be because the sound the maker is aiming for aligns with the users preference.

Well said.

 

[Leonarfd]

I'm guessing once the Spring Festival is over there will be some new releases coming out, been quite silent the last weeks. More easy that the thread derails during the slower time.

Except for the Galileo and Shimli is there anything special coming out soon?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I'm guessing once the Spring Festival is over there will be some new releases coming out, been quite silent the last weeks. More easy that the thread derails during the slower time.

Except for the Galileo and Shimli is there anything special coming out soon?

Sennheiser IE200...or atleast i'm hoping it will be!! LOL I plunked down $150.00 to try it out.

 

[Leonarfd]

Nice the measurement of the IE200 looks great, safer than IE600 if your treble sensitive.

Never tried a Sennheiser IEM, the fit looks good and ergonomic. But how deep is the nozzle? Worst I know is when they are too short.

 

[Carpet]

The issue about Penon is the lack of organic opinions and community sense

Its always the same 2 or 3 reviewers with very high ratings. They also boost a lot of cable discourse which obviously gets community backlash. The products are not competitive in price and normally is not a name we see in recommended or tier lists

We do not however see a flood of posts, coming back from people who have purchased these products and been disappointed. It is possible for a company with high standards to produce consistently good products (and refrain from aggressively marketing poor ones). That is how they build and retain a good reputation.

All reviews are opinions and it is incumbent on everyone to be familiar with reviewers preferences, tone of responses and level of integrity. Remember reviewers are human, opinions are just that and golden ears are a narcissistic fantasy (sorry audio fools)! As for manufacturers selectively seeking to send samples to reviewers that are more likely to recommend their products. Of course they do, it's in their self interest. Exactly the same as people choosing course papers that it's easier to get good grades in. What gives reviewers value to the community is trust and consistency, that leads to greater exposure once trust is established. Manufacturers are just playing the game of trying to get the most exposure with the most recommendations. Good ones realize that good products will provide a better brand image in the market. Poor ones are just smash and grab merchants, since their profile will diminish after shilling crap to disappointed customers.