The discovery thread!

[AmericanSpirit]

How would a pair of silicone tips compare to foam tips?

It only comes with foam tips, the timbre is designed to sound balanced with foam tips, without knowing that before, I thought it was some mistakes that other ear tips should’ve included, so I switched to regular silicone ear tips, result is “meh, too dry”.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Lucky North America folks for being able to buy those AKG. Enjoy your shiny!

I’m still surprised that the Dethoray device actually sounds good. Almost all of the measurbators on the Internet (they seem to hate each other for some reasons) reached the same conclusion that these devices measure so bad that they must be faulty right from the design phase.

Still, I’m constantly surprised by the Bluetooth advances. The BTR5 back in 2019 was a compromise at best with AAC (Apple). Flash forward, and now both G5 and FW5 sound just like wire with iPhone.



Z1R is beautiful. A head-fier let me try once. He was as old as my boss but giggled like little girl, waiting to see my socks being blown off by these giant IEMs. And boy oh boy I was blown away. Now, if only Sony gives up and sell those IEMs with big discount …



To be fair, this community has been asking for planar + DD for a long time, at least since the Planar + BA from Dunu.

I’ve always thought that planar + something is oxymoron. The planar drivers are supposed to be full-range killers that has excellent sharpness across the entire spectrum. Something like S12 certain has its flaw (violent upper midrange, for example), but it lives up to the idea.

To be fair, I’ve also been thinking that single BA or even BA-array IEMs are kind of redundant when excellent micro DD drivers exist.



Without context, can anyone think that this post is about IEMs?

Context who needs context?

 

[o0genesis0o]

Context who needs context?

At least the mascot is happier here than the collab with Crin (Yume midnight?).

On an unrelated note, I wonder if there is good money in this IEM industry and how much life it has left.

 

[Redcarmoose]

It’s just getting started, maybe? “Rinko” a planar and DD!

At least the mascot is happier here than the collab with Crin (Yume midnight?).

On an unrelated note, I wonder if there is good money in this IEM industry and how much life it has left.

 

[o0genesis0o]

It’s just getting started, maybe? “Rinko” a planar and DD!

I was making fun of the box art. The mascot looked quite sad on the Yume Midnight box

I’ll be living vicariously through you and other reviewers with these Seeaudio IEMs. I know that they have beautiful tonality, but I don’t have much confidence with their resolution, bass, and staging. At least not enough to blind buy.

 

[Redcarmoose]

@https://www.head-fi.org/members/o0genesis0o.554242/

Well, you have to go by the group consensus, which is actually pretty good, as a whole? SeeAudio Yume has been relatively well received as a whole? The box art I am not swayed either way, I’m neutral, yet maybe as a positive, it’s better than all black or all white. But the only interest I have is does it somehow reflect the IEM, you know like Yume simply being young on Yume one, then getting sophisticated on Yume 2? Where Rinko has obviously been out on a night on the town. Her demeanor is sloppy and loose, maybe? My Gosh, maybe, just maybe I’m into the boxes?

 

[chickenmoon]

Context who needs context?

Soon the iem review videos will have to migrate to Pornhub I guess...

 

[baskingshark]

Well, if you listen to where he gets to the part about value, he says no, it’s not worth it. But he says if you can enjoy that last 10-20% then maybe? He uses the fact that they have sold so many, but that also a section of the public could be 1/2 of the people do understand and get fit.......therefore truly get the sound appreciation. The others may be people that just want to spend money, or get insurance that they have it?

I myself find the IER-Z1R the greatest IEM in my lifetime. The small extra details and the way it’s natural makes the music real, therefore I’m using it for reference as to what is truly possible. But that’s me.

These new IEMs probably they need to be of personal value? That’s subjective, be it wine, whiskey, cars, women or cheese......I guess it just depends what your taste is and how much money you want to throw into the game?

IER Z1R is literally bass end game for me. But it has 2 flaws, so even TOTL gear are not perfect:
1) Horrendous fit - I've tried all sorts of eartip permutations, but no go for the seal/fit. Have to keep pushing the Z1R into the ears to appreciate the good sound. Comfort is also iffy. YMMV, but fit seems to be a common complaint when it comes to the Z1R, but no point having heavenly sound if one cannot tolerate the fit for more than a few minutes.

2) Recessed midrange - the V shaped profile does cause it to lose marks for me when it comes to vocals and midrange proficiency.

But if you can get the fit down, the IER Z1R is definitely one for bass lovers!

Kill 2 birds with one stone - put a collab name and use sex to sell = sales hitting thru the roof.

At least the mascot is happier here than the collab with Crin (Yume midnight?).

On an unrelated note, I wonder if there is good money in this IEM industry and how much life it has left.

The CHIFI IEM industry has really come a long way in the past few years, and I daresay they have overtaken western/boutique midFI range IEMs in terms of price to performance. This is good for consumers right, since prices are depressed and we get the best bang for buck. Maybe for the TOTL segment, only a few CHIFI like DUNU or QDC or Softears have managed to muscle in, but by and large the boutique/Japanese/western brands seem to hold sway there, but budget to MidFI CHIFI are really providing great sound nowadays.

However, maybe the bubble might burst soon. It seems every week churns out a budget harman king, and almost 70% of new releases are sidegradish, would you agree? I mean companies use collabs, waifus, measurebator approved graphs, exotic unicorn uranium drivers to stand out from the competition, but how many new releases are still talked about 3 months after release? Will the average consumer have cash to buy every new KZ or $20 "giant killer"?

 

[PhonoPhi]

IER Z1R is literally bass end game for me. But it has 2 flaws, so even TOTL gear are not perfect:
1) Horrendous fit - I've tried all sorts of eartip permutations, but no go for the seal/fit. Have to keep pushing the Z1R into the ears to appreciate the good sound. Comfort is also iffy. YMMV, but fit seems to be a common complaint when it comes to the Z1R, but no point having heavenly sound if one cannot tolerate the fit for more than a few minutes.

2) Recessed midrange - the V shaped profile does cause it to lose marks for me when it comes to vocals and midrange proficiency.

But if you can get the fit down, the IER Z1R is definitely one for bass lovers!



Kill 2 birds with one stone - put a collab name and use sex to sell = sales hitting thru the roof.



The CHIFI IEM industry has really come a long way in the past few years, and I daresay they have overtaken western/boutique midFI range IEMs in terms of price to performance. This is good for consumers right, since prices are depressed and we get the best bang for buck. Maybe for the TOTL segment, only a few CHIFI like DUNU or QDC or Softears have managed to muscle in, but by and large the boutique/Japanese/western brands seem to hold sway there, but budget to MidFI CHIFI are really providing great sound nowadays.

However, maybe the bubble might burst soon. It seems every week churns out a budget harman king, and almost 70% of new releases are sidegradish, would you agree? I mean companies use collabs, waifus, measurebator approved graphs, exotic unicorn uranium drivers to stand out from the competition, but how many new releases are still talked about 3 months after release? Will the average consumer have cash to buy every new KZ or $20 "giant killer"?

An average consumer (the one that does not use TWS) can be happy just with one of ESX, EDA balanced or CRA+ for under $20, as well as several other IEMs for under $20 from Moondrop, Truthear, etc.

Just getting a good fit and good seal alone will deprive about 85+% of "average consumers" from full IEM appreciation and pretty much will defy the point of going past $20+ IEMs.

To make this situation appreciably worth, many "bass IEMs" are largely meant to provide decent bass experience in absence of a proper seal, formuing a strong "consumer" bias against neutral properly sealed IEMs.

 

[o0genesis0o]

IER Z1R is literally bass end game for me. But it has 2 flaws, so even TOTL gear are not perfect:
1) Horrendous fit - I've tried all sorts of eartip permutations, but no go for the seal/fit. Have to keep pushing the Z1R into the ears to appreciate the good sound. Comfort is also iffy. YMMV, but fit seems to be a common complaint when it comes to the Z1R, but no point having heavenly sound if one cannot tolerate the fit for more than a few minutes.

2) Recessed midrange - the V shaped profile does cause it to lose marks for me when it comes to vocals and midrange proficiency.

But if you can get the fit down, the IER Z1R is definitely one for bass lovers!



Kill 2 birds with one stone - put a collab name and use sex to sell = sales hitting thru the roof.



The CHIFI IEM industry has really come a long way in the past few years, and I daresay they have overtaken western/boutique midFI range IEMs in terms of price to performance. This is good for consumers right, since prices are depressed and we get the best bang for buck. Maybe for the TOTL segment, only a few CHIFI like DUNU or QDC or Softears have managed to muscle in, but by and large the boutique/Japanese/western brands seem to hold sway there, but budget to MidFI CHIFI are really providing great sound nowadays.

However, maybe the bubble might burst soon. It seems every week churns out a budget harman king, and almost 70% of new releases are sidegradish, would you agree? I mean companies use collabs, waifus, measurebator approved graphs, exotic unicorn uranium drivers to stand out from the competition, but how many new releases are still talked about 3 months after release? Will the average consumer have cash to buy every new KZ or $20 "giant killer"?

The FW5 (and the pessimism of Fiio despite producing that amazing TWS) might show some cracks in the wired head-fi world. It shows (1) electronic and wireless radio have reached the point of threatening wired IEM + hi-fi source setup, and (2) the market will continue to shrink as the world move toward that direction out of sheer convenience, and (3) many ChiFi manufacturers are still not good at those devices, given how clunky the user experience on FW5 can be at times.

The AFUL P5 is also a representation of the level of perfection and price aggression Chi-Fi has achieved. I’m sure that there are more examples that I yet to hear that speak the same point. I mean where else can you go forward when AUD $300 IEM performs like that, with all of those accessories and build quality. These IEMs make Monarch a difficult proposition, and the birds and the jewels ludicrous .

Still, I hope for longevity and affordability of the whole game. Geeking about the gear, not the gear themselves or the music they play, is my interest

 

[Redcarmoose]

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sony-ier-z1r.23390/reviews#review-21713

I preordered it, then I picked up Serial #124 the week it came out. I somehow knew it would work for me. The way to fit it is way inside, then it will balance and become low-weight...........then treble will activate. The people that think it's heavy don't get balance with it..........subsequently it's the most comfortable IEM I own. I realize the mids are what they are, but I use it for OSTs. With real orchestral instruments it's unmatched in my experience?

IER Z1R is literally bass end game for me. But it has 2 flaws, so even TOTL gear are not perfect:
1) Horrendous fit - I've tried all sorts of eartip permutations, but no go for the seal/fit. Have to keep pushing the Z1R into the ears to appreciate the good sound. Comfort is also iffy. YMMV, but fit seems to be a common complaint when it comes to the Z1R, but no point having heavenly sound if one cannot tolerate the fit for more than a few minutes.

2) Recessed midrange - the V shaped profile does cause it to lose marks for me when it comes to vocals and midrange proficiency.

But if you can get the fit down, the IER Z1R is definitely one for bass lovers!



Kill 2 birds with one stone - put a collab name and use sex to sell = sales hitting thru the roof.



The CHIFI IEM industry has really come a long way in the past few years, and I daresay they have overtaken western/boutique midFI range IEMs in terms of price to performance. This is good for consumers right, since prices are depressed and we get the best bang for buck. Maybe for the TOTL segment, only a few CHIFI like DUNU or QDC or Softears have managed to muscle in, but by and large the boutique/Japanese/western brands seem to hold sway there, but budget to MidFI CHIFI are really providing great sound nowadays.

However, maybe the bubble might burst soon. It seems every week churns out a budget harman king, and almost 70% of new releases are sidegradish, would you agree? I mean companies use collabs, waifus, measurebator approved graphs, exotic unicorn uranium drivers to stand out from the competition, but how many new releases are still talked about 3 months after release? Will the average consumer have cash to buy every new KZ or $20 "giant killer"?

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite review is up from IEM Store manager’s review channel.
Eng or various CC available.

He responds to english inquiries under this video, if you have any questions he will be happy to answer. I saw one english comment asking AFUL P5 vs Orchestra Lite.

P.S.
keephifi finally shipped TRI StarRiver Hmm finally.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

It’s just getting started, maybe? “Rinko” a planar and DD!

You got the Orchestra Lite in? How you like it?

 

[o0genesis0o]

@https://www.head-fi.org/members/o0genesis0o.554242/

Well, you have to go by the group consensus, which is actually pretty good, as a whole? SeeAudio Yume has been relatively well received as a whole? The box art I am not swayed either way, I’m neutral, yet maybe as a positive, it’s better than all black or all white. But the only interest I have is does it somehow reflect the IEM, you know like Yume simply being young on Yume one, then getting sophisticated on Yume 2? Where Rinko has obviously been out on a night on the town. Her demeanor is sloppy and loose, maybe? My Gosh, maybe, just maybe I’m into the boxes?

Wasn’t that you or someone else here said the mascot was sad on Yume midnight box because Crin forced her to follow his target curve

Speaking of the midnight, what happened to that one? I’m surprised it didn’t blow up like the Dusk.

 

[Carpet]

Without context, can anyone think that this post is about IEMs?

Of course! In much the same way I thought Hugh Hefner's house was just a party venue with a pool.