[PeacockObscura]

I've created a thread for midfi enthusiasts if anyone wants come along and start sharing https://www.head-fi.org/threads/midfi-discussions-and-general-chat-a-thread-for-all.972437/

 

[baskingshark]

Micro USB seems to me to have been pretty much phased out of new products as of 2024 in favor of USB-C. USB-A lingers on.

The Chord Mojo 2 would like to have a word with you.

 

[Singaravelan]

I've created a thread for midfi enthusiasts if anyone wants come along and start sharing https://www.head-fi.org/threads/midfi-discussions-and-general-chat-a-thread-for-all.972437/

Perhaps, in the thread intro in a pinned post , state the price bracket that makes em midfi

 

[PeacockObscura]

Perhaps, in the thread intro in a pinned post , state the price bracket that makes em midfi

Good idea its nearly 3am here so that's a job for non bleary eyes tomorrow.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Man i heard the Xuan NV at the recent Canjam SG. It was really good sounding, way too relaxed for my personal taste, but overall a rich tone, and good bass was present on the set. I am actually waiting for their new prototype to come out, it was super good to my ears.

Relaxed treble in an HBB collab?!?!? You don't say?! Call me shocked!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I just bought and currently enjoying my CCA Trio.
but ZS10Pro2 news makes me strolling about to see whats new out there.
And i got curious hows the new 2DD Waifu of TangZu gonna sing with HBB directing it...



well, HBB last two 2DD collab are quite different.

Different except the non-existent treble presence and air.

 

[o0genesis0o]

HiBy x FAudio Project ACE has landed

Disclaimer: this is not my toy but a tour unit by Hiby. It will continue the journey across Australia as usual.

I have been quite curious about this IEM due to the collaboration. FAudio is interesting because is one of those curious boutiques that I look at on MucicTeck store but have never pulled the trigger because little is known about them and their IEMs. HiBy’s part is interesting because Project ACE is yet another IEM tuned by Steve Lin, the tuner behind Zeta and Yvain, both of which I quite enjoy.

Project ACE is a single DD IEM. I can’t quite recall the price, but I was told that it will land in the “mid-fi” range.

Some early impressions:

• Large soundstage: the first thing I notice was the stage. It’s like every instrument in a mix are pushed further away from each other in all directions, not just left-right.
• Pretty good technical performance across aspects: separation, note definition, instrument placement (imaging), and midrange detail. How good? Hard to say without more detailed AB tests, but I have not felt lacking.
• Very nice bass. Similarly to Yvain and Zeta, the Project ACE is groovy. It is easy to feel the beat and rhythm. Bass drums have snappy, strong note attacks, with good physicality. The bass feel “slammy”, like more spread out across the stage rather than a tight “jab” like the Symphonium Crimson.
• I hear a relaxed upper midrange paired with emphasis in mid-treble. Somewhat reminds me of Final Audio A series, though not as shrill and harsh. It’s not really a relaxed listening even though the upper mid is not as forward as Harman IEM.
• Accessories are generous and different, as usual for HiBy IEM.

I’ll leave this IEM playing music continuously for a few days when I work on other reviews.

Edit: the nozzles are larger than average IEM. Usual tips would be stretched, I need something like Spinfit CP145. I think it’s as large as Blessing 2 nozzle but luckily shorter (still average length). Stock tips work.

 

[Barndoor]

Nice.
Any issues with the fit?

Think it will be $249, same as R4.

 

[o0genesis0o]

Nice.
Any issues with the fit?

Think it will be $249, same as R4.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention: the nozzles are larger than average IEM. Usual tips would be stretched, I need something like Spinfit CP145. I think it’s as large as Blessing 2 nozzle but luckily shorter (still average length). Stock tips work.

 

[saldsald]

Never really liked the tuning and the rather poor resolution. So time to investigate what it is all about. (I didn't drop it to open it)

Yup Legato. You should have roughly 0.5mm of space between the capacitors and the back side of the faceplate, should be enough for some kind of vibration absorption stickers.

I don't think you need to convert it to semi-open back, it is already an open-back. You can put filter papers to the 3 holes to make it more "semi-open-back" instead. The 3 holes in the faceplate I assume they are large enough for the back side airflow so maybe drilling an extra hole won't really make a difference.

Hmmm... I am not sure at this stage but it seems that the 8 capacitors are in two groups of 4 which can be reduced to 1 in each group and their purposes are unknown to me.

Edit: oh ok...Looks like the 8 caps are more for the "inner-aesthetic" purpose only, which can be replaced with 1 single cap and it only act upon the 6mm driver, nothing unique and no real development here. It's equivalent to just a single cap and the 6mm driver in series.....




Here:

Hey, so this is my LEGATO retuned. It's a semi-reversible mod that I basically destroyed the stock front filter, but you can adjust the bass level with some mesh filter now, not permanent thou so they have to be replaced from time to time. Also replaced the LPF of the 6mm DD. Results are improved technicalities limited by the chocked front cavity in stock form and smoother treble to my liking (still a bit too much treble and too forward ATM, it's not damped at all in stock form)

Just the 12mm Driver with various front filters and no filter.
IMO it is just a very typical DD with underdamped bass (or overly chocked front cavity). The 8 caps arranged in such a way is also far from innovative. However, it seems that the 6mm DD is actually quite resolving, probably more resolving than a treble BA but not properly tuned.

Now this is much better (Cyan Line is the one with 20ohm and pink just the LPF):

It takes 20ohm to bring down just about 3dB here.

 

[baskingshark]

100 mm Planar headphone from Moondrop. Called the Cosmos.

$899 USD

So far Moondrop headphones have been a bit hit or miss? Let's hope the QC will be up to par too!


https://www.facebook.com/MoondropLa...WafDrEXG1ukV85djkUnJNuxNGPibtEzDLNxywN9wkg5Pl

 

[Kyonnie]

100 mm Planar headphone from Moondrop. Called the Cosmos.





$899 USD

So far Moondrop headphones have been a bit hit or miss? Let's hope the QC will be up to par too!


https://www.facebook.com/MoondropLa...WafDrEXG1ukV85djkUnJNuxNGPibtEzDLNxywN9wkg5Pl

I'm genuinely curious to see how Moondrop would paired against Hifiman's QC and price-to-performance ratio.

 

[kazinova]

Swapped from the ARRTI R1 to the QKZxHBB Hades for today, and honestly? It's not good for music, but it cuts all the sibilance out of coworkers' mics on Teams calls, so it might be my new favorite set for workdays...

 

[Singaravelan]

Swapped from the ARRTI R1 to the QKZxHBB Hades for today, and honestly? It's not good for music, but it cuts all the sibilance out of coworkers' mics on Teams calls, so it might be my new favorite set for workdays...

That's exactly what he tuned it for. Win win situation.

 

[fidgeraldo]

That's exactly

Hey, boss.
Trio has landed...A3000, too.

What to say, Trio has nothing to be ashamed of. Very good!
If it had a bit more sparkle and excitement, I would put them in a drawer with waaaay higher-priced IEMs.

As a fan of Final Audio, I wouldn't be able to choose instantly between the two.
Luckily, I don't have to choose, and I am happily keeping both

Hmm, I have always liked CCA CRA, so it is nothing new; I am a fan of CCA, too.

BTW...Trio has really nice shells, they feel nice in hands.

Cheers!