The discovery thread!

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806119488916.html

Yes, I bought a FiiO cable from a place called the, first Fashion store, lol. They must be experiencing a lot loss with refunds because they messaged me after my transaction went through to make sure that I really needed my first Fashion cable. I confirmed and we shook on it.






I haven't seen too many tube amps around the price range of the Little Bear, but @AmericanSpirit was pushing this one last year to pair with the Butastur.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805150450974.html



xDuoo has an upcoming tube amp with their XD05T. Not sure if price has been revealed yet.



Muse HiFi also has the M5 Ultra that's coming out soon. @atechreviews put out a utube video about it recently and if I didn't just purchase the Quloos MUB1, the M5 Ultra would definitely be on the top of my wishlist for a BT DAC/amp.

Thanks brotha! I ordered me that cable, along with the E4000 that @fidgeraldo was toasting about (the seller reached out and asked me about the tuning, and basically, will tune to my preference, so that's amazing customer service!!!), so that I could activate the $15 off code, which yes, still works, though I've pretty much exhausted the single use.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

How much for these honey and oats?

That won't be known for awhile, my friend. This is just a teaser. Remember how long it took to find out how much the Shock was, or it's tech, from tease to release? Even @Dsnuts withheld that info for quite some time. Hell, there was a healthy DM discussion about exactly how much the Shock would end up being (which ended up being much cheaper than most were guessing tbh), so be patient, because it will be a bit before we know that answer?

 

[HiFi Oasis]

Hoping to see some more reviews of the Inawaken Dawn MS so that I can decide on getting those or the Sivga Que. I'm a sucker for a good DD set. Either that or I stick with my OG Delci which i still love quite a bit.

I'm working on reviews for both of those IEMs right now. They're very different tunings, with the Que being noticeably more bass heavy.

 

[theintention]

Half the posters here seem to be reviewers, or are in the trade, which is great for learning about new products but would it be an idea to just have a thread for normal users who can discuss items they've bought and are familiar with? I ask as it's easy to be sucked into thinking that products I've bought a few months ago are now out of date and old news.

Just look at anyone who posts here like regular users… cause at the end of the day, they are.

If there is a bias, it’s obvious to spot. I definitely have to step away at times and remember my gear isn’t less than by any means so I don’t spend too much…. The new stuff coming out is either different, or percentages better at best.

 

[gadgetgod]

While people are shocked by the latest TSMR, they decided to tease an upcoming new TSMR.

This looks absolutely beautiful. I cant say the same for Shock haha.

 

[Ineras]

This looks absolutely beautiful. I cant say the same for Shock haha.

Shock is beautiful where it really matters.

 

[gadgetgod]

Saturday Night demands a good sound, atleast for me. HiBy R8ii+Ice Labs Prismatica+Nostalgia Unicorn Cable. I just wonder how well Prismatica has this 5 BA implementation. It sounds like a proper two channel setup with excellent details, good warmth, and phenomenal vocals.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

this is correct, I spoke with MusicTeck about this and those BC drivers come together as a pair by default. So it’s technically 2 in 1 BCD; can really be written either way.

So basically like a dual diaphragm dynamic driver? Like the Polaris. Is it a single dynamic? dual dynamic? dual diaphragm!!

 

[theintention]

Saturday Night demands a good sound, atleast for me. HiBy R8ii+Ice Labs Prismatica+Nostalgia Unicorn Cable. I just wonder how well Prismatica has this 5 BA implementation. It sounds like a proper two channel setup with excellent details, good warmth, and phenomenal vocals.

How are you liking this unicorn cable? I have been curious about it. My daughter would freakin love if I owned a unicorn cable.

So basically like a dual diaphragm dynamic driver? Like the Polaris. Is it a single dynamic? dual dynamic? dual diaphragm!!

I’m not too sure of the specifics beyond that haha I just had the same questions they did about the driver count. However I’m quite a fan of their extravagant sounding DD in their marketing materials haha

 

[gadgetgod]

How are you liking this unicorn cable? I have been curious about it. My daughter would freakin love if I owned a unicorn cable.

Hahaha this cable pairs very well with the Prismatica man. Takes the resolution one step above. Brings slight emphasis on midrange, especially vocals.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

In my signature most of my favourite IEMs are ones I have had for a while. The B4-X has given them a shot in the arm. My brother who is an audio enthusiast has always championed the merits of valves. He has built many valve amplifiers and knows a lot about the valves themselves. There certainly is a wonderful tonality on the Little Bear which reminds me of vinyl replay, that warm yet satisfying analogue sound with a woody bass, deliciously addictive mids and silky treble. Staging is fabulous. I can't thank you enough for recommending it. My best audio purchase for many years.

That's exactly how I hear it's tonality and presentation as well. SPOT ON. Also had the same response upon listening. Remember, this was a complete blind buy and afterthought purchase. Arrived the same day as the much vaunted DCE. I was freaking out over the postal service, when they delivered the LB, but not the DCE (it was actually delivered to the office ahead of time). Then when I spent time with it, I found myself just as enchanted with it, if not more so, than my $450 dongle dac. So I'm with you. Best purchase pound for pound.

 

[Nimweth]

That's exactly how I hear it's tonality and presentation as well. SPOT ON. Also had the same response upon listening. Remember, this was a complete blind buy and afterthought purchase. Arrived the same day as the much vaunted DCE. I was freaking out over the postal service, when they delivered the LB, but not the DCE (it was actually delivered to the office ahead of time). Then when I spent time with it, I found myself just as enchanted with it, if not more so, than my $450 dongle dac. So I'm with you. Best purchase pound for pound.

I think it is the handling of harmonics which is the key to the enchanting sound and this is a characteristic of valves. So smooth and flowing but at the same time full of detail and subtlety. In audio the source is vital because anything lost at the beginning cannot be retrieved but good amplification makes a huge difference. I thought I had cracked it with the Penon OS133 and a better DAC performance but the Little Bear has made me realise that my source components (Xduoo X20 and Hidizs AP80 Pro X) are very good if the line out is used, bypassing the internal amps.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

To each their own. Looks like another boring Harman-hugging tuning, just like the original Zero Blue/Red.

You f*ckers! I thought I was out of the budget IEM game to save for 11.11, but the sound signature of this reads almost perfect for me as a mid-bass lover.

Thanks for the intel. I learned something today! I'm still skeptical but less so than yesterday since I've read your good information.

An IEM shell that looks like lovely sandstone or a bowl of tortilla chips. Your call!

Again, you f*ckers! I was thinking of getting a tube amp for my ZMF Aeolus and HD 6XX, and this one could also be used for IEMs.

What's the power output of this baby? Wonder if it has enough juice to properly drive the Aeolus and 6XX.

I don't want to get a tube amp just to say I have one. Need to ensure it can drive my over-ears to proper fidelity. The Little Bear looks really promising -- and economical for this cheap f*ck!

I don't know about the power output, but I'll look it up for you, but going by how it drives my KEF M200, which are some of the hardest to drive IEMs, and the LB drives them to full dynamics and optimized sonics at a very low volume, I'm thinking it's VERY POWERFUL (this is through 3.5 SE, as the M200 does not have detachable cable). I'm listening to reggae with the M200 through the BX-4, and it almost has me in tears, as I haven't heard them shine like this since I owned the Pico (even the Mont Blanc IEM edition doesn't drive the M200 this efficiently).

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I'm working on reviews for both of those IEMs right now. They're very different tunings, with the Que being noticeably more bass heavy.

Yep. The Dawn is more a mid bass punch monster (a mature monster), with dry but clear mids, and well extended but controlled treble, and average stage and imaging, with very good instrument separation and details. But it's not a sub bass monster with minimal bleed, so not bass heavy, but heavy bass punch presence and speed.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Shock is beautiful where it really matters.

The vajayjay?