The discovery thread!

[Rambone]

And we all know 2025 is bringing nothing but more pain & suffering to our wallets, so y'all better learn to live with it.

No no no no, I don't even want to think about 2025. That sounds like cruel and usual punishment for my wallet.

For even mentioning 2025, I'm going to feed this poor Orca to a big mean and nasty shark!

https://fatfreq.com/products/fatfreq-x-hbb-deuce

Here they are!

Noooooo, why did this have to come out when I had all kinds of decisions to make. *sigh*, They look sexy, especially with that 'time of the month' bloody cable you get as a free upgrade. If only they had it in 4.4 but whatevs.

Ughhh, so much for my self imposed budget.... I'll bite. Ordered.

 

[thaslaya]

The ninja one would make a really good logo. As someone who is an art director, for grabbing attention and keeping eyes on it, it's quite effective and conveys it's message well.

I do also really like the ninja one.

Which AI platform did you end up playing around with to make them?

It's Microsoft copilot. Same one that @Ozboyblu uses.

The first big one (the snake) is very good but the letters are unreadable; it is more of an art than logo.

My vote is the one with the "T" on the headphone (bottom left as I quoted). Microphone part is not needed; the ending "A" should be closer to "y".

Logo should have a black'n'white version (mean: grayscale) to be inserted in any color environment.

Also: all brands (most reviewers included) have easy logos (mean: could be inserted in small and still be recognised). None of those are good for that.

You have a very good point. Simpler is probably better for logos. Maybe I'll stick with my current text one but it's really fun playing around with this AI art stuff.

 

[Ineras]

You have quite the collection for someone that only started a year ago lol

I would like to blame thank @ToneDeafMonk, @Tonytex, @Jaytiss, @atechreviews and YOU PEOPLE for pressuring helping me build my current collection.

TRN undercutting KZ ZS12 with deep discount and more drivers in TRN VX Pro+ (ZS12, 6 driver perside vs VXPro+ 9 driver perside)
early impression...



if i recalled it right, i saw someone got these with discount code at $30 something?
or i misremembered?

If you ignore the bonus, under $24 USD.

Noooooo, why did this have to come out when I had all kinds of decisions to make. *sigh*, They look sexy, especially with that 'time of the month' bloody cable you get as a free upgrade. If only they had it in 4.4 but whatevs.

Ughhh, so much for my self imposed budget.... I'll bite. Ordered.

Extremely tempted right now, but I keep telling myself the cable isn't worth the blind buy and to wait for reviews. It seems to be sub bass-focused, so I'd like to know if the mid bass can still keep up.

 

[bassfreak93]

Extremely tempted right now, but I keep telling myself the cable isn't worth the blind buy and to wait for reviews. It seems to be sub bass-focused, so I'd like to know if the mid bass can still keep up.

If i understand correctly for pre order this cable is FREE.

Pre-Order Special:FREE Upgrade Silver 'Blood' Cable

 

[Ineras]

If i understand correctly for pre order this cable is FREE.

Pre-Order Special:FREE Upgrade Silver 'Blood' Cable

Yes, but to get it free you have to be part of the pre-order group. So doing a blind buy before reviews is the payment.
I have to keep telling myself I don't need more cables, I have 2 big ziploc bags full to bursting with very nice, unused cables.

 

[Ryokan]

The ISN H60 makes me not want to buy anything mid-fi or Kilobuck. It's even quelled by nagging thirst for the Volare. Honestly, when I bounce between the H60 and Project M, I start thinking to myself, why do I have all these others? But that ends as soon as I listen to the i3 III and get that sound signature, or the ST7 and get that one, or the WG T-ONE and get that LIVE analogue sound. But it definitely quells thirsts for sure, at least for me.

Ordered H60 a few days ago but no notifications on shipment, is this normal?

 

[bassfreak93]

Yes, but to get it free you have to be part of the pre-order group. So doing a blind buy before reviews is the payment.

Good point

If u gonna ask me Maestro mini and scarlet mini was blind buy and i was happy as basshead, but sold the due to money issues heh.
But now for IEM i target something more melodic universal but still with some good bass, damn i think i will also wait for review.
Forget the cable, just hope the price will stay the same.

 

[MakeItWain]

@MakeItWain

So HBB is some kind of sweet spot between scarlet mini and maestro mini?

Similar bass as maestro mini but better mids and treeble?

Had both scarlet and maestro mini, sold both for now and wondering about this HBB with this price.

Love listen EDM but also more melodic stuff like synthwave etc.

I think the bass should be lower than the Maestro Mini, overall, with the sub-bass hitting close but there being a shelf/scooped effect to separate (like the Kiwi Ears Singolo, IMO) and have a full subwoofer effect.

I do also really like the ninja one.

It's Microsoft copilot. Same one that @Ozboyblu uses.

You have a very good point. Simpler is probably better for logos. Maybe I'll stick with my current text one but it's really fun playing around with this AI art stuff.

Ah, got it. Copilot it is. I was going to say that the logo being simple works better for sure; maybe run with it on your blog with the AI art but keep the simple text one elsewhere?

 

[pk4425]

So, my understanding is that the Explorer is basically just a bassy warm/chill set. Not necessarily meant to give you much on the upper mids/treble side. I don't know if I'd pull the trigger without having a discount on them from Ali promo but I'm definitely curious about them as it sounds different and I'm all for that. Mine should be coming in this week so I'll have to see.

All true. But again, much like the Magic One, I can't recall a set that is more of a chameleon within its tuning philosophy with tip rolling so far than the Explorer.

These sound much different -- and better -- with Dunu S&S than with the stock tips. And it's weird -- the stock tips with the colored cores have pretty solid construction. It's not like the flimsy pieces of dreck Kefine includes as stock tips with the otherwise excellent Delci.

 

[MakeItWain]

All true. But again, much like the Magic One, I can't recall a set that is more of a chameleon within its tuning philosophy with tip rolling so far than the Explorer.

These sound much different -- and better -- with Dunu S&S than with the stock tips. And it's weird -- the stock tips with the colored cores have pretty solid construction. It's not like the flimsy pieces of dreck Kefine includes as stock tips with the otherwise excellent Delci.

When in doubt, tip rolling to the rescue!

I've heard really good things about the Aful tips, actually, which also prompted me to invest in the Explorer. Supposedly, the ones that come with the Performer 5/8 are really, really good and could be sold stand-alone.

 

[pk4425]

This time last year I had 2 IEMs. Today I have 9

My calculus is even wider. Last year at this time I had zero. Now I have six.

2024 is the Year of the IEM for me. I've used IEMs WAYYYYYY more than over-ears for the first time. Never thought this would happen. But the IEM market is so much more dynamic and exciting -- even with the Pokemon and Flavor of the Week churns -- and there seems to be SO much more value for money in IEMs than over-ears. So, I'm going with the flow.

Plus, as much as I moaned about the avalanche of posts in this thread, the Discovery and IEM community is filled with cool, passionate dudes. There seems to be less arguing in there about IEMs than there is about picayune crap in over-ear threads.

Amen, my brothers (and sisters?)!

 

[kaeswiss]

This time last year I had 2 IEMs. Today I have 9

This time last year I had 2 IEMS too. Today I have 14

Why the trophy is looked like rusted earpod sitting on pile of poo?

How dare you criticize my precious trophy? You're banned from ever winning this prestigious award.

The ISN H60 makes me not want to buy anything mid-fi or Kilobuck. It's even quelled by nagging thirst for the Volare. Honestly, when I bounce between the H60 and Project M, I start thinking to myself, why do I have all these others? But that ends as soon as I listen to the i3 III and get that sound signature, or the ST7 and get that one, or the WG T-ONE and get that LIVE analogue sound. But it definitely quells thirsts for sure, at least for me.

Yep, this is how I roll. I try not to buy sets that sound too similar to one another otherwise I'd just favor the better one (IMO) and the other will be left as the forgotten step child. So far the only two sets that have been too similar for me are the Dunu Falcon Ultra and Oriveti OD200, but at least they both have tuning nozzles that differentiate them from one another.

Spotify Hi RES still in the works. Planned for $18/month.

I have to say Spotify has a wider selection of songs than Tidal (MQA shenanigans aside), but $18/month is a bit on the pricey side?




https://9to5mac.com/2024/07/23/spot...at-will-bring-subscription-to-nearly-20month/

I'll stick with Tidal. Spotify has been talking about their hi-res plan for years now. I wonder why they've been so slow to keep up with their competitors.

A few months ago, Tidal got rid of their tiered pricing and now it's just a flat $11/mo. for a subscription to both their 16-bit and 24-bit FLAC collections.

And today, Tidal got rid of all MQA tracks and replaced them with FLAC!

These new S series Final Audio gear are supposedly pure BA setups.

Going to be a bit of an ask to get big sub-bass response in a bullet shaped design IMO.

Welp, that'll be a hard pass for me then. Are there any Final products that are still worth getting nowadays? It seems like their recent releases haven't been anything special.

 

[Rambone]

Extremely tempted right now, but I keep telling myself the cable isn't worth the blind buy and to wait for reviews. It seems to be sub bass-focused, so I'd like to know if the mid bass can still keep up.

I always wanted a FatFreq but never wanted to pony up. I feel like this is my golden ticket and the price is right. The cable also looks really damn good with this IEM. $200 is my sweet spot where I don't have to think about it too much as long as I know that my purchase is relatively going to be a solid choice.

FatFreq
Price
FR graph looks promising
Looks
Sexy Free cable
Hype
HBB Tuned

With the HBB tune you win some and you lose some but perhaps this one will be a winner, I feel like this could be the one?

 

[Singaravelan]

I've heard really good things about the Aful tips, actually, which also prompted me to invest in the Explorer. Supposedly, the ones that come with the Performer 5/8 are really, really good and could be sold stand-alone.

Hmmmm... I don't even remember what came with P8 and where are they now... Don't remember em being that great either. Currently I have the Penon Liquer orange on the p8s. perfect.

 

[Ozboyblu]

Sound Rhyme SR9

Disclaimer- I’m a Hobbyist Not a Reviewer.

First thing I said when I listened to a few test tracks. - “ Maximum ! Treble quality, Detail and positioning , & layering please . “

My limited hours of Initial Impressions.

Bass has Thump but controlled , but also with impact, rumble and slam. And the sub bass Feels like it would in a nightclub in your chest. Bass is nice

Mids are natural clear and smooth.

Treble also natural , lush , clean & refined and airy, very detailed. It’s never sibilant.

Positioning of instruments sound natural and arranged like it should a philharmonic orchestra, (IE : woodwind , strings, brass, percussion ) very accurate to me , and sound stage is quite wide. Layering and separation is on point.

“You will hear details” , especially when you have a Hi-Res FLAC or streaming Source. SR9 will literally “call you out” for a better source if you’re not playing one. (IE : if you play a lossy mp3 source, SR9 will let you know)

The details , simply put are very noticeable to me. Every time I put a DSD test track on I got Goosebumps. ( Only other headphone in my collection that did this to me was Focal Clear )

All listening conducted on Audirvana Origin -> ONIX Alpha XL1. -> stock cable and (M)Green stock tips. On SR9.

I’m not a Gamer. But I’d imagine this would be a killer IEM for positioning. Maybe a Gamer can test this.

Early days yet but I’m pretty smitten with SR9

In saying this I don’t think is fair to compare other IEM’s in my collection yet before giving a good 24-48 hours of burn in.