The discovery thread!
Mar 14, 2023 at 7:12 PM Post #74,266 of 131,431
I own a DP-X1A too. Hardware is still solid, but it’s severely hampered by that ancient Android system.

Mine is the first gen, which Onkyo ended up calling the DP-X1B, after they released the DP-X1A (with some improved passive components in the analog audio section, better stabilization of the earphone jacks (to keep them more secure on the circuit board), and some additional internal storage) in the Fall of 2016. They then made one software patch update, in the Spring of 2017 - which was applicable to both units. After that - no updates of any sort.
 
Mar 14, 2023 at 7:17 PM Post #74,267 of 131,431
Tin Hifi’s sub brand TKZK( naming sense😞, Tin-KZ-Killer? )’s neutral offering, TKZK Wave, it’s neutral or is it?

Purchased from this store @$26

The face plate is actually very nicely made
E2E36F7C-0A73-4CE4-9849-E0ABFE2D37A9.jpeg

623D4BB0-54FB-490A-BF2F-11076B0E8FA7.jpeg


Also, full-resin filled👏
A57DB83B-9879-499A-ABAC-AA168DD869BC.jpeg


FR
033B0B00-1EC6-48FD-9EE3-7031BCCE0D22.jpeg


OOTB:

▶︎Extra wide bore stock ear tip! Yes 🙌 They know what they are doing. TKZK is despite its random naming, is not random in understanding what kind of product they are making.

▶︎Wow it’s nicely done flat bass! This is the sole purpose I purchased Wave. Among all bass buffed budget IEMs, this type of neutral approach is rare to be found.


▶︎Rest of spectrum is fine tuned as well, it’s belongs to rather brighter side of neutral and I quite like this type of transparent tuning, 3khz dip style (soft edge ).


▶︎ Flat bass + Clean sounding mid + top is basic property, I wouldn’t refer it as “neutral reference monitor” as it has 3khz gain dip, and 6khz sibilance dip, —a gain compensating tuning— it’s musically neutral, a soft anti-aliasing is applied sharp image borderlines to softer ones.

▶︎1BA+1DD simple composition wouldn’t go too wrong, technicality is that of 1BA+1DD, enough resolution for playing regular streaming musics, actually imaging belongs to quite good class, a very clean tuned neutral IEM

▶︎Detail 85% Dynamism 15%

▶︎Tonal Balance is actually close to my Bravery (PWA Legend II + H570) less 10khz+ amount of air and sub bass boost. Very light note touch and lean. Wave still has sizable amount of air, that was not present to KBEAR Lark, I certainly feel technology of 1BA+1DD has improved a lot over last recent years.
AAE1D13B-F2CD-403B-B6CC-B65EA568CFDE.png


▶︎For people looking a “spot on” imaging, may find else where, gain dippers are not for that spot on purpose, Ety, Droplet, HEXA would be a ”spot on” candidates depending on your preferred HRTF.

Timbre Impression
Top Note
: Clear yet euphoric Mid
Middle Note: Tight and Neutral and non-invasive overall Bass presentation.
Bottom Note: Delicate diffusion border and a hint of finesse

Nitpick: BA’s timbre is still that of Bellsing’s that I’m very familiar with, it’s getting a lot better, still you can tell “uh, ’tis Bellsing timbre”.


Recommendable to anyone looking a clean & neutral sounding IEM😄👍

This IEM works as intended right out of the box, no third party ear tips, cables needed.
 
Last edited:
Mar 14, 2023 at 7:35 PM Post #74,268 of 131,431
Also need to touch on the MSEB Hiby has, this is brilliant if you wanna play around or tune sets. R3 had the same, but only inside the music player Hiby Music. On this one you can use it system wide.



Wow timbre adjustment! I guess that’s more comprehensive interfaced band-specific LPF + EQ, hmmm I want that DAP.
 
Mar 14, 2023 at 7:46 PM Post #74,269 of 131,431
Mar 14, 2023 at 7:47 PM Post #74,270 of 131,431
Would you guys buy Sound Rhyme in the balanced or 3.5? I am guessing balanced.

I see. SR5 runs fine in both. It’s just a personal preference that I like balanced one better, as it utilizes both DAC chips, if it’s available to use both chips, why not?

SE sound is just fine too.

If I can have balanced option, I will choose that one. Most of my sources sound better via balanced output by design.

Right. In general I hear very little difference in sound signature between balanced and single ended on most of my sources. However, balanced is essential on most of these same devices since it typically outputs more power than single ended. More power -> more headroom.

I usually don't care that much either. If necessary, I'll listen to YouTube via the built in DAC of my Nintendo Switch.

I don't think all IEMs respond the same to whatever "more power" we provide it (I'm still struggling to understand why they sound difference between dongles and desktop setup). However, the Orchestra Lite with Shanling M6U provides a vivid example that balanced output can improve the sound quality, particularly the staging and separation. I speak with more confidence about this topic than usual because with a XINHS cable I've got recently, I can quickly switch between single ended and balance in less than 30 seconds, thus I can A/B test.

It's likely that the singled ended on M6u is noticeably worse than the balanced. I also noticed the same behaviour with Fiio BTR5 2019 and Hidizs AP80 Pro X. Still, balanced from AP80 Pro X still sounds worse than single ended of M6U or K7.
In my uses anyway the balanced option was almost always marketing ploy (except it’s real and I will explain why)...........Sony went and created two completely separate amplifiers in the Walkmans. Inside of those two choices there are individual components which alter the tone, let alone balanced was purposely imagined by Sony to have way more power. Typically more power doesn’t always mean better because when you get down to it often IEMs don’t need power. But, when the damping influence of (more) power directly opens the stage and cleans-up the bass “fog”....well then something is there. It’s exactly like finding synergy with an IEM and different amps......at times that synergy change is small and at other times it’s profound. There may be a small section of a few all BA sets that like the 3.5mm out put more.......or should I say my preference is that the 3.5mm amp has a uniquely different tone that arrives at synergy with a particular IEM. Again it may be that part of the tune is too forward or too intense, therefore liking the overall tone of the 3.5mm (low-power) output. But an example of 4.4mm being superior is the XBA-Z5.......an example of the DD waking-up and becoming way cleaner with balanced. Could the XBA-Z5 be the same or better from a standard (unbalanced) connection out of a desk-top? Probably because it’s about power, not really necessarily about balanced. But if you have balanced and the connector seems (physically) more robust, then why not use it.

Since the early days in audio the “balanced is better” has been argued, and guess what? We are no where near ending that dispute. Even the best minds in the various fields in amplifier design have not been able to prove balanced is better or single ended is better. It’s probably better per individual use (like talked about above) that deal with the choice of amplifier tone vs power..............are the most useful concepts to concern yourself with.
 
Last edited:
Mar 14, 2023 at 7:50 PM Post #74,271 of 131,431
Mar 14, 2023 at 10:31 PM Post #74,272 of 131,431
WOW! @AmericanSpirit was able to get Penon to carry the SoundRhyme SR5!! Way to influence!
It’s not me, it’s the SR-BlackBird herself sings so beautifully in the dead of night.

Very few noticed her existence because it’s midnight, I walked in that woods in the midnight and noticed this bird certainly can compete with bigger hawks, I’m glad she finally caught some attention😄

It’s very rare IEM that I feel can entertain both HBB / Crin in terms of macro dynamism and micro details.

Like Aur Audio, Sound Rhyme also loves mid-lift, to their U-tuning, resulting a unique tuned W-shaped IEM with an affordable price. There is little to hate from SR5😄

I’d put teasing picture of SR5 in the dead of night. Come join us👀
B2F65057-670A-4219-880D-AE932C8CE566.jpeg

9BB5C8C4-3D53-4274-9900-C9E4078E5882.jpeg

28D9BF8F-8208-4996-8C50-21C706F1A1FC.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Mar 14, 2023 at 11:06 PM Post #74,273 of 131,431
LOL there is a new CVJ tunable hybrid. CVJ is the sister company of TRN, and it seems after the planar frenzy of last year, now CHIFI are trying to ride on the dual DD or tunable switch concept.

336374961_731387001957118_4541656507929974451_n.jpg

335634782_781535793307077_2375261577379303459_n.jpg

336361162_702113871655777_433151599449577407_n.jpg


Interesting that CVJ advertises what drivers the switches turns off, but the stock graph looks quite violent LOL.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/135840535288493/posts/528124679393408/
 
Mar 14, 2023 at 11:24 PM Post #74,274 of 131,431
Mar 14, 2023 at 11:57 PM Post #74,275 of 131,431
KBEAR Xuan Wu

335357095_171063802389075_5796741389712926494_n (1).jpg


Seems there are IEMs from different brands using the same names (eg Zero, Cadenza), and now the Xuan Wu.

Xuan Wu actually means a Black Tortoise god in Chinese mythology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tortoise

Hope it turns out better than the flopped TRN Xuan Wu

https://www.facebook.com/kbearoffic...1zyPTVhxzFui6Dh7xDdUziHEt91h63pcfJ6sdhBG7Hrol
Possibly TRN is going to use all 4 sacred beast

Xuan Wu the tortoise
Rosefinch AKA Zhu Que/Phoenix

We are still waiting for the Dragon (Qing Long) and the Tiger (Baihu)
 
Mar 15, 2023 at 12:20 AM Post #74,276 of 131,431
It’s not me, it’s the SR-BlackBird herself sings so beautifully in the dead of night.

Very few noticed her existence because it’s midnight, I walked in that woods in the midnight and noticed this bird certainly can compete with bigger hawks, I’m glad she finally caught some attention😄

It’s very rare IEM that I feel can entertain both HBB / Crin in terms of macro dynamism and micro details.

Like Aur Audio, Sound Rhyme also loves mid-lift, to their U-tuning, resulting a unique tuned W-shaped IEM with an affordable price. There is little to hate from SR5😄

I’d put teasing picture of SR5 in the dead of night. Come join us👀


I really like the florescent GITD shell
 
Mar 15, 2023 at 12:33 AM Post #74,277 of 131,431
It’s not me, it’s the SR-BlackBird herself sings so beautifully in the dead of night.

Very few noticed her existence because it’s midnight, I walked in that woods in the midnight and noticed this bird certainly can compete with bigger hawks, I’m glad she finally caught some attention😄

It’s very rare IEM that I feel can entertain both HBB / Crin in terms of macro dynamism and micro details.

Like Aur Audio, Sound Rhyme also loves mid-lift, to their U-tuning, resulting a unique tuned W-shaped IEM with an affordable price. There is little to hate from SR5😄

I’d put teasing picture of SR5 in the dead of night. Come join us👀
B2F65057-670A-4219-880D-AE932C8CE566.jpeg
9BB5C8C4-3D53-4274-9900-C9E4078E5882.jpeg
28D9BF8F-8208-4996-8C50-21C706F1A1FC.jpeg
Is it going to cause cancer? Looks radio active :dt880smile:

It would pair well with these teeth

99F9B12C-D021-4DD7-9356-EB537271B42A.jpeg
 
Mar 15, 2023 at 12:40 AM Post #74,278 of 131,431
Possibly TRN is going to use all 4 sacred beast

Xuan Wu the tortoise
Rosefinch AKA Zhu Que/Phoenix

We are still waiting for the Dragon (Qing Long) and the Tiger (Baihu)

LOL in the big scheme of things, do Mythological legendary creatures trump Waifu and KZ pokemon?
 
Mar 15, 2023 at 12:59 AM Post #74,279 of 131,431
LOL in the big scheme of things, do Mythological legendary creatures trump Waifu and KZ pokemon?
Yup, thankfully we start to get proper thematic waifu/pokemon.
Not just some random low quality waifu art bought for $5 on fiver or something.

TruthEar have consistent artstyle so far,
Moondrop waifu design quality is by far better than before tough its pretty constantly changing in design feels.
TangZu use notable women in chinese history as inspiration
Now we have TRN with its mythological creatures theme naming.

Unfortunately KZ hates idea of WaifuBox, if not we may have army of KZ waifu by the end of the year.
 
Mar 15, 2023 at 1:58 AM Post #74,280 of 131,431
Is it going to cause cancer? Looks radio active :dt880smile:

It would pair well with these teeth

99F9B12C-D021-4DD7-9356-EB537271B42A.jpeg
SR5 is fine, just like your toy glow-in-the-dark ones, you need to put faceplate close to light source and leave for a while to charge. It will decay in couple of minutes.
4C6D3421-5352-4531-82D0-BF826FC5CB77.jpeg

The tritium tubes will have ”half-life” and generally going to last years of radioactivity, it keep emits beta particles and will glow for years, probably not harmful but you certainly will not be a live tester to have those near your brain for long period of time😅
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top