The discovery thread!

[Ineras]

Looks great! I’m getting it to have it compete with the 3 QKZs I ordered haha. One thing… can I use a usb C to Lightning adapter to my iPhone and have the DSP still work properly?

Who knows. Might be a QKZ or KZ budget killer!

I don't think this model comes with the dsp. The JD10 TC shows coming in November.

 

[MakeItWain]

I've been so close to buying the S12 2024 several times now, but held back due to a mix of other units I've bought or have inbound for review... hard to resist though based on the wonderful impressions I'm reading!

Project M is absolutely fantastic, possibly my IEM of the year as I've noted before... but Maven II a strong contender also, even though very different sets but similar in that they offer a lot more than their price suggests in their respective price segments. Staying with DITA, Mecha is only a few weeks away and I'm incredibly keen to hear that too... especially given what DITA themselves said: "tuned to be the antithesis to the Project M, it’s meant to be warm, buttery and musical as opposed to the tinkly highs of the Project M"

S12 2024 is a very good planar IEM. I actually really like it. I don't think you'd be disappointed in them at all.

Project M will be interesting, going to bust those out tonight for a bit and start taking notes.

Damn, man: That's a Murderer's Row in that pic! Like the 2024 Yankees' starting lineup!

Eager to read your impressions of the MagicOne.

MagicOne is good, man. Spoiler alert. It's got that special sauce even if I usually want bass or more bass (as a bass addict).

 

[o0genesis0o]

Haven't been moved to pick any up, though the MP145 would be a pick up if had for under $70?

Go for it just ensure that it’s the newer version (which seems almost 100% the case). If the cable is soft and easy to handle, it’s likely the good one.

Catching up on 20+ pages here… excuse me, gentlemen.

I’m not a fan of anime’s at all, but this design is so kooky that it works. I really do love the radical design of it. I can see using this outside and someone asking about it, sparking a conversation. This happens to me all too often in stores when I have my IEMs in. People always see the cable and think it’s something of jewelry lol

The R4 looks like a piece of gadget from the show itself. It was no brainer that they should make an Eva version since they released the R4 OG.

---

@MakeItWain dare I say MagicOne a … magical one?

(AFUL, MagicOne with TOTL tech where?)

 

[Jmop]

I think it’s not that folks are saying $7 IEM would sound bad, but JD10 gave them false hope that it would be an upgrade of the beloved JD7.

One has to be specially bad at their job to mess up a budget single DD nowadays, IMHO. I have no doubt this JD10 would be at least listenable.



Precog is back, as spicy as ever

My key takeaway:

• He makes me want a STORM and an Anni 2023 again.
• I should go to gym.

I’ve only owned the JD3 from the Jade line, it was alright I think.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Very tempting! If I'm making an early Christmas list here ... this might make a really nice pairing with those HeartField Blancs, no?

So to answer your question I did try the HeartField Blanc IEM with both Dongles. There is a smooth rendition from both but as you can see the Ladder DAC only goes to 48kHz. Not a big deal..........though remember the BLANCs were kinda made for a low output DAC/Amp Dongle like the R1. With only 5BAs the BLANC is one of the easiest IEMs to drive typically using 1/2 the power of its DD Hybrid IEM brothers.

And while even with the BLANC I could almost max out the R1, but it was super-super loud. Though you have to remember the way the 1st R1 came to me the max-out was distortion at a certain place? The other wild thing about the R1 was just the treble at a certain volume held distortion, but way higher volume than you would regularity use it at. Also strangely even if the volume was all the way off, this possibly defective unit showed a faint center (MacBook Air) channel of music playing? Still for all other full-size headphones really the R1 is so low power it would not work. Where the ACMEE 4X offered a slightly narrower stage, it is just the R1 has a giant stage. Plus the way the R1 does imaging formed and separated analog examples with more separation at hand. Plus when you get down to it, the ACMEE 4X is offering a more regular (than we are used to) style of approach, which is fine!

While still also really good, the R1 was just weird. Weird in that it actually amplified sections of sounds in a very different place inside the stage. Sounds besides being very analog were also of a more rounded character and it was not as detailed, not trying to be. I'm using 44.1kHz at 24bit files and they were more inside simple sheets of sound holding a more spread-out and not as filled-in style of R1 Ladder DAC style. Really having both would be complementary as the R1 would not do full-size, and offers a very alternative sound that kind-of took the edge off of the all BA set, making it sound less digital (whatever that means)? The R1 smoothes and rounds the tone, that and offers an expanded stage that while not able to do all the bit-rates, is still valuable as an alternative (different from the norm) style of sonic enlightenment. The R1 runs at room temperature (ACMEE 4X a little warm only), The HeartField R1 has that strange analog volume wheel, the ACMEE 4X has a two position up or down volume button.............. where click to the right and volume goes up, click to the left and volume goes down.

While the R1 works always, there was that question of the faint music sound heard even when the (analog wheel) volume 100% off with the MacBook Air? And of course the off to the side sonic artifact still lingering to make a style of industrial reverb delay when the music stopped on the Samsung Phone? Maybe the next R1 replacement unit I get in will have these issues, maybe not?

To tell you the truth I can live with these subtle quirks of life, due to the stage and sound the HeartField R1 does. But where the ACMEE 4X was all business and worked flawlessly, it was not noticeable but probably there that the tone of the ACMEE 4X was slightly more mid-bass over sub-bass. Still the stage was large holding a detailed and smooth midrange with still all the details in the treble, but a slight ACMEE 4X easy going stance to the treble that lended itself to all day listening. Really both Dongles here walk the smoother walk, though it should be noted that due to the power output of the R1 a lesser bass imaging and while still fully functioning, there would and could be slightly less authority if the R1 is used with DD IEMs due to their natural power requirements being more than full BA designs. Still yesterday with the cellphone I seemed to notice the lower power style (bass tone) of the R1 and BLANC combo, yet today with the MacBook Air it became a non-issue? I do know that each device can at times have different outputs from the TypeC USB port. Like the HiBy R3 II does (I think) 3.0 output into the USB signal, where the Samsung Phone is probably less, as is the protocol of regular TypeC USB putting out less juice than USB 3.0. To where here in this instance I figure the HeartField R1 is making differences finally totally heard and affected by the different TypeC protocols......I guess this is the big difference? Like Apple Phones are notorious for not getting all the power output to Dongles.

I can't wait to try other full BA sets with the R1 Dongle............. qdc Anole V3 here I come, Night Oblivion Butastur 10 BA set...................here I come!

 

[Jmop]

1. Letshuoer S12 24 - Balanced tuning with big soundstage. Pretty resolving for its price point.
2. qdc x FitEar Superior EX - Neutral-warm tuning with very big soundstage. Smooth, relaxing listen.
3. Audeze Maxwell - They're not IEMs, but you did say headgear. They're wireless headphones that can be paired with Bluetooth or with a wireless USB dongle for PCs and gaming consoles. They're advertised as a gaming headset, but they're still the best sounding headphones I've heard around this price point. They're also closed-back, but they sound very open due to being built for competitive gaming, which means soundstage and imaging are spot on.

Just saw the graph of the QDC, why did I not look into these? Very promising for a single DD. Is this an upgrade from the Que??

 

[MakeItWain]

@MakeItWain dare I say MagicOne a … magical one?

(AFUL, MagicOne with TOTL tech where?)

 

[pk4425]

The S&S tips might be the wrong tips for the Nuo,

Thanks for the tip -- pun intended. You are correct, sir, based on further tip rolling tonight.

Using the Divinus Velvet on the Nuo and liking what I'm hearing much more than with the Dunu S&S. Bass bloat is tamed a bit, vocals are a bit more forward, and treble isn't as spicy.

I'm going to try Liqueur Orange and Black and see how they respond. But yeah, I dig the Nuo more with the Velvets, for sure.

 

[baskingshark]

Haven't been moved to pick any up, though the MP145 would be a pick up if had for under $70?

Most of us consider the MP145 to be a benchmark $100ish planar set, together with the new S12 2024.

$70 is a great price. It has 3 tuning nozzles to confer a U-shaped to L shaped tonality, so it wouldn't be as trebleheaded as your usual preferences, but the MP145 has a massive soundstage when amped well. The size is a bit contentious though, so not sure if you can try a pair first before committing to purchase, or maybe get it from somewhere with a good returns policy.

Yincrow RW2000. Quite bright so not the best pairing with neutral and technically leaning DX180, but it's wildly resolving for an earbud.

If you are not using any foams with it, it will surely be very bright at the upper mids 3 kHz region.

Most of the earbud aficionados are using full foams with it, which makes it more balanced and smoothens that upper mid region, though with slight losses in resolution.

Another sell off gonna happen, which will include a few lower rotationals and the ONIX Alpha. Great deals all.

Yeah I just sold off my Onix Alpha 2 weeks ago. Since it was hyped to the moon, I was surprised I managed to sell it off at no loss haha.

Anyways, best to get rid of unused gear ASAP. Things move so fast in the CHIFI industry that something can be considered obsolete in a matter of weeks when a "PRO" version comes out, so best to sell fast if something needs to be sold, otherwise it would be unsold forever.

 

[Jmop]

Sivga Nightingale - wild outlandish sound that sounds great on male vocals and jazz in general. I'll use @Hypops description, like being in a dark & small jazz club.

What other genres can you use with these besides jazz, or are they that niche?

 

[Vonbuddy]

What other genres can you use with these besides jazz, or are they that niche?

I am interested in this answer as well.

 

[baskingshark]

What other genres can you use with these besides jazz, or are they that niche?

I am interested in this answer as well.

The Sivga Nightingale is one of the uncommon "Midcentric" tuned IEMs.

By Midcentric, I mean that there is an upper treble and sub-bass roll-off, so it lets the lower and upper midrange be the true predominant frequency band:

8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak


So in essence, these Midcentric types shine at midrange focused genres, eg acoustic, jazz. But if you play bass focused genres eg EDM, hip hop etc, the Nightingale falls flat due to the bass roll-off. So it shines at some genres but synergizes poorly with others - a one trick pony or specialist it is.

But the good thing is the Nightingale drivers take quite well to EQ, so no biggie boosting a few dB here and there to better mitigate the lack of bass.

 

[MakeItWain]

Initial listening impressions:

If I was a bright head/treblehead/neutral'ish head, Dita is probably a good fit. I'm not, though.

I'd probably say Pilgrim is better to my tastes and ears.

ISN H60 - alright, I get the hype. These are good. Warm, musical, but solid detailed and technical performance. Bass comes in when needed. Could use a bit more impact but some tracks work well. So far, Like a more technical DaVinci? Or a warmer Estrella?

 

[jbfps116]

One has to be specially bad at their job to mess up a budget single DD nowadays, IMHO

HAHA... [QKZ nervously retreats] We shall see... I didn't hate the AK6 Titan, but I actively dislike the SK5, for fit and a general cheap sound. We shall see if the new crop of ultra-cheapos are garbage fodder or hidden gems!

I don't think this model comes with the dsp. The JD10 TC shows coming in November.

wowwwwww I see. I even bought a fancy lightning to USB C [audio output approved] adaptor for this. Turns out, I guess this first wave will be only a 3.5 cable included! Oh well, it will still be fun to see how a CHEAP DD from a respected company fares against some from a ... less than high-end company.

 

[Jmop]

The Sivga Nightingale is one of the uncommon "Midcentric" tuned IEMs.

By Midcentric, I mean that there is an upper treble and sub-bass roll-off, so it lets the lower and upper midrange be the true predominant frequency band:

8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak


So in essence, these Midcentric types shine at midrange focused genres, eg acoustic, jazz. But if you play bass focused genres eg EDM, hip hop etc, the Nightingale falls flat due to the bass roll-off. So it shines at some genres but synergizes poorly with others - a one trick pony or specialist it is.

But the good thing is the Nightingale drivers take quite well to EQ, so no biggie boosting a few dB here and there to better mitigate the lack of bass.

Is there anything noteworthy besides the tuning? Like does it have an interesting timbre or sense of space?