The discovery thread!

[XERO1]

666....6!!

 

[bithalver]

666....6!!

Number of the beast from Iron Maiden plays in the background .

 

[theintention]

My thought about buying stuff is simple (though even I don’t follow thoroughly): get the best that you can afford at this moment can save you quite a bit in the long run. Say, one wants to buy IEM and they managed to save up $800. IMHO, it’s better to clench your fist and cough up $200 extra and go for the Monarch II/III. That’s it. That IEM renders most IEMs below it irrelevant, and makes the upgrade too expensive that one can happy to use that IEM for years until it breaks. Maybe your sound is not Monarch but MEST or Verdandi. Whatever, all of them are respectable.

Well said. I went above my budget tier for the Sza, and that IEM really does make most of my others “irrelevant”.

I’ll always be curious and pick up lower budget stuff that I think looks neat, but lesson learned when shopping for my main new set. Move up the tiers, don’t get stuck in one expecting “big enough” upgrades every time.

 

[Singaravelan]

Well said. I went above my budget tier for the Sza, and that IEM really does make most of my others “irrelevant”.

I’ll always be curious and pick up lower budget stuff that I think looks neat, but lesson learned when shopping for my main new set. Move up the tiers, don’t get stuck in one expecting “big enough” upgrades every time.

I have only read your orgasmic appreciation of it, was looking up at the reviews at https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/oriolus-szalayi.26026/reviews#review-30090

What raves!

Will try to save up for a used item on Sza in the near (or distant!) future..

 

[theintention]

your orgasmic appreciation of it,

What raves!

Will try to save up for a used item on Sza in the near (or distant!) future..

It’s a special IEM for sure, one to at least demo. Would like to put my own review there, but trying to get a few under my belt so I can give it the justice with my words.

Deep bass, lush mids, a large soundstage and vocals to die for, if you are here for the music it will be a great companion.

 

[lgcubana]

It is exactly the point you made. Like all newish technology or first movers, the initial releases are kind of in beta phase, or are pricey or have kinks that need to be ironed out. It needs a few cycles of products (and a few months at least) to fine-tune stuff or drive prices down.

Thus, first adopters for these kind of gear are going to have to accept paying over the odds, or receiving something that is probably half-baked. Maybe these buyers also need to accept that in a few months' time, the toy they just bought is going to be obsolete once a more polished sequel comes out.

But on the other hand, if companies see that their first releases of some exotic tech flops in sales, will they go on to invest in and develop better sequels?

Pioneers get the arrows, settlers get the land

I still marvel (that as a collective) we put up with this carp . No other hobby comes to (my) mind, where beta releases (as retail offerings) are accepted/expected.

 

[570315]

That’s not really my “job” as a reviewer to say whether you should buy something. My “job” is to provide a subjective testimony of how something works. Your “job” as a reader is to decide whether something is worth it.

I agree with this, and I hope you didn't misunderstand, my rambling wasn't aimed at you.

My thought about buying stuff is simple (though even I don’t follow thoroughly): get the best that you can afford at this moment can save you quite a bit in the long run. Say, one wants to buy IEM and they managed to save up $800. IMHO, it’s better to clench your fist and cough up $200 extra and go for the Monarch II/III. That’s it. That IEM renders most IEMs below it irrelevant, and makes the upgrade too expensive that one can happy to use that IEM for years until it breaks. Maybe your sound is not Monarch but MEST or Verdandi. Whatever, all of them are respectable.

Again, fully agree here, mirrors my exact experience with the MMkIII.

 

[theintention]

No other hobby comes to (my) mind, where beta releases (as retail offerings) are accepted/expected.

Most 1st gen products are pretty bare bones. Not to mention AAA gaming… where you release a game, charge full price and fix it a year later.

It sucks but it’s definitely not just this hobby.

 

[570315]

I still marvel (that as a collective) we put up with this carp . No other hobby comes to (my) mind, where beta releases (as retail offerings) are accepted/expected.

Pre-ordering AAA games that arrive in such a state for example that Sony delists them from the PS4 store because associating with that game starts to hurt Sony's brand itself? cough cough cyberpunk2077 cough And people do it again and again.

damn @theintention beat me to it

 

[cyh03176]

Upon looking at the frequency graph of Volare, it reminds me of ER4XR and upon comparing it against ER4XR's graph, surprise surprise, the mid section is a 95% match. I have been looking for an upgrade for ER4XR, mainly for more bass and details while keeping the perfect mid (for my own preference), and this looks like my answer. I was considering the Evo but was wondering if the 'upgrade' was justifiable because the treble region still remains the same while the bass' has more presence. So many exciting IEMs nowadays, will compare with the FA19 when the demo is available in local audio shop (around mid-May), since our beloved Jude gave it a very high praise, and if the price difference is justifiable, before making any purchase decision.

 

[OceanOfLight]

I translated (myself) the review of the TRN ST7 that Snow Yurufuwa Audio posted on X some hours ago. Here's the link for reference (he also posted a video and some other images if you want to check, in this post I will just integrate the FR graph he provided for the ST7 and the Conch):
https://twitter.com/snow_el/status/1784507768281682296

TRN ST7 First Impression
Despite having a large number of 2DD+5BA drivers, the TRN ST7 exhibits a cohesive sound similar to the BA15. I would say its sound profile doesn’t quite align with the classic TRN tuning.

Non-Sound Related Observations (not-definitive):

Includes the same accessories as the TRN Orca.
- Comes with 3 ear tips (S, M, L) and 1 pair of T-Tips (M).
- I purchased the white version, and while the stamp is a bit harsh, the resin structure is solid and well-built.
- The main body weighs a typical 10g and is slightly tall and large. The ear wings have an aggressive angle, which initially concerned me, but they fit perfectly in my ears due to the thinness of the case. The fit is wonderful
- The stem size ranges from a minimum of 5.0mm to a maximum of 5.7mm.
- Features the same low-price line cable as the TRN Orca.
- Includes a user manual.
Overall, the accessories and build quality are consistent with other similarly priced IEMs.

Sound: (not definitive)
FIIO M17, standard cable 4.4mm + JVC SpiralDot++

- Sound Profile: slight W-shaped balance
- Timbre B+ (not definitive)

Cold/Warm: Cold ｜ーーーー★ーーーー｜　Warm
Brightness: Bright ｜ーーーー★ーーーー｜　Dark
Reverberation: Less ｜ーーー★＋ーーーー｜　More
Trailing note: Less ｜ーーーー＋★ーーー｜　More
Dry/Wet: Dry　 ｜ーーーー＋★ーーー｜　Wet
Note Weight: Thin ｜ーーーー＋ー★ーー｜　Thick
Speed: Slow ｜ーーーー＋★ーーー｜　Fast
Sense of realism: Artificial ｜ーーーー＋★ーーー｜　Real
Monitor/Listening: Monitor ｜ーーーー＋ーー★ー｜　Listening

Sound Stage B (non-definitive)
Left and right: Narrow ｜ーー★＋ーーー｜Wide
Top and bottom: Narrow ｜ーーー＋★ーー｜Wide
Front and rear: Narrow ｜ーーー＋ー★ーー｜ Wide

Resolution: A (non-definitive)
Imaging, separation: A (non-definitive)
Bass: B (non-definitive)
Mid-Range: A+ (non-definitive)
Treble: B+ (non-definitive)

For now, I listened to it with my usual configuration (L gain Vol 45), and in a good way it’s neutral sounding like the BA15, not the classic sound you expect from TRN. It has a thick tone, a somewhat intimate soundstage, and a perceived ‘low’ resolution (note: the resolution itself is high, but its soft tone makes it sound more relaxed, very pleasant indeed). The bass is gentle, and the attack is pleasing, there are not much reverb, and the texture is good. I like the fact that the midrange brings out the main melody and the vocals, as for the treble, it is quite beautiful for this price range.

Personally, I rate this IEM quite highly. However, those who were expecting deep and sharp bass, a cool tone, and a high-resolution-oriented set (typical of similar Chinese multi-driver IEMs) might be disappointed.

Cable PR Yongse Warrior (3100 yen= about 20 dollar).
AliExpress Coupon: I36X2R5YVPRH
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_o2blS4E

I recently received Yongse’s new cable, so I tried it with the ST7. I feel that the density of the overall tone has increased. The center stage is firmer, and the sound feels more real. Additionally, it gained more impact, resolution, and the soundstage expanded laterally. You can truly appreciate the benefits of the multiple drivers here. I also have the impression that the timbre is more accurate in the low and high frequencies. Overall, it’s easy to feel the advantages of re-cabling with this class of IEMs, and I believe this pairing completely nullified the caveats I had with ST7 when it was paired with its stock cable.

Summary
TRN attempted to disrupt the market with a $30 IEM featuring 2 dynamic drivers (DD) and 5 balanced armature (BA) drivers. Interestingly, I compared it to the multi-driver flagship VX Pro (2022 version), and while the tonal trends differ, the overall impression is that the ST7 is a little inferior. Additionally, the sound signature significantly differs from the ST5, which is the previous model (and oddly enough, it’s priced lower lol). As for the Conch, it is also in the same price range of the ST7 and it boasts a cool, hard-hitting sound thanks to its DLC driver, and here too the tuning is quite different. By the way, I experimented with using Conch’s standard RedChain cable with the ST7, and the result was a widened soundstage and an overall more enjoyable listening experience. If you’re someone who owns the Conch or the Orca and seeks a different sound profile, this IEM could be a great option.

 

[cqtek]

Hello to all.

Here is my humble opinion on other great IEMS that I have had the pleasure to review.
They are the Letshuoer Cadenza 4.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/letshuoer-cadenza-4.27127/reviews#review-33705

 

[pk4425]

Pioneers get the arrows, settlers get the land

I still marvel (that as a collective) we put up with this carp . No other hobby comes to (my) mind, where beta releases (as retail offerings) are accepted/expected.

Video games, especially with nearly universal online gaming. Publishers and developers are releasing more and more games that are borderline unfinished and then fixing them with post-release patches.

 

[Polky74]

I had been looking for a full ba iem for a long time with a reasonable cost but with remarkable performance and thanks @ToneDeafMonk I found it.
The Myer Audio SLIIVO SL-T6 is a masterpiece of truly excellent tuning and technicality and for how it sounds it costs very little. Great!!!

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

I had been looking for a full ba iem for a long time with a reasonable cost but with remarkable performance and thanks @ToneDeafMonk I found it.
The Myer Audio SLIIVO SL-T6 is a masterpiece of truly excellent tuning and technicality and for how it sounds it costs very little. Great!!!

Nice glad you love it as much as I do!