The discovery thread!

[FastGecko5]

I definitely overhyped the Blon BL05S lol, dropped it pretty quickly after the initial listen. I mean it’s good, but I need to chill. I’m much more thorough when it comes to evaluating albums.

Happens to the best of us. In this hobby, you know an IEM is a real gem when it still gets ear time after several months and new releases later

 

[Nimweth]

I had a Thorens TD-160 and V15 cart at one time, those were the days!

Yes, mine was an Ariston RD11 with SME arm and V15 mk3, with Acoustic Research AR2ax speakers. Later I had a Thorens TD-160 as well.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Any initial impressions on the Tangzu - Yu Xuan Ji? I may have missed them in the sea of posts

All super positive. Highly technical, with good bass response, and an airy open sound. When I heard this, I jumped right on it. Speaking my language like a sexy blonde Norwegian (don't show my wife, though she's a sexy blonde....gringa).

 

[FastGecko5]

yep, i will have days where i cannot have anything around my head at all really. no tips, just know you arent alone, its a miserable experience.

use earplugs in loud environments folks, and don't listen too loudly.

I've heard supplementing magnesium can help with tinnitus but I'm not sure how true it is. Have a bit of tinnitus myself and haven't tried it so I can't say for sure.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I guess RS6 would be my endgame dap with it’s three gain stages.

Yep. If you love your RS2, then six is a higher number, so this would logically be your unicorn for daps.

 

[theintention]

after playing with EQ, I fully understand why this new version graphs with a tad less bass than the original release... once you start adding bass to the tuning, the immense soundstage and separation becomes disjointed. This has been the first IEM to match headphones for me, where it feels like I'm sitting in a studio hearing recordings as they were meant to be heard. Its a beautiful tuning, and one I find myself missing every time I use another IEM.

Bass heads can appreciate smooth tunings too!... Have not had the time to start my review so I have just been enjoying them and letting them get some use over the last week. Two of the three stock tip versions works for me as well, unheard of.

 

[theintention]

I've heard supplementing magnesium can help with tinnitus but I'm not sure how true it is. Have a bit of tinnitus myself and haven't tried it so I can't say for sure.

yep, magnesium at night before bed in general is amazing for you. i haven't noticed it helping tinnitus much, but it does help with morning anxiety and joint pain.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Re-discovery: 7HZ x Crinacle Zero: 2 . I checked the comparision in FR to Volare: now I know why I liked it. Onix DAC, OCC849 cable and original red tips: the Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor Op.47 by Hilary Hahn sounds good; sure, the Volare have much more details. Honestly, I like it better than S12 2024 (treble sounds better, bass is maybe more polite). Also tested the Zero2 with one of my main bass test: Lost In The Grandeur by Korn: opening riffs hit like a truck (while mid and treble was at least OK) ! Love it !

Sometimes a cheap IEM could sound endgame-ish; especially if you do not have golden ears.

My son likes them. They were his Christmas stocking stuffer. I had the OG up until recently. I enjoyed them for watching TV shows, because of the grand stage, but nothing musically. His set was an improvement in most phases, but still pretty much on par with any other good budget set in the ballpark. YMMV.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I will say RS2 is more holographic than RS6 in terms of mids texture. I don't really need additional clarity to make it sounds more modernized.

I think I already found the endgame for 2024, RS2+ CS02 + Saga Balanced !

Holographic mids are what I’m here for so sounds good to me, thanks for the heads up. KZ calls Saga the ‘ultimate endgame dynamic’ so maybe you’re right haha, for $10 I’ll probably buy it.

The KZ Saga balanced has gotten my attention and play time more than a bunch of my other higher priced sets, due to it's overall fun factor, while not leaving technicalities off the table. For $20.00USD, it's a bit of a steal.

 

[Jmop]

The KZ Saga balanced has gotten my attention and play time more than a bunch of my other higher priced sets, due to it's overall fun factor, while not leaving technicalities off the table. For $20.00USD, it's a bit of a steal.

Better than Orca? Lol

 

[Hypops]

My R4 Miter case should be here next week.. thank god they are finally coming out lol that wait was too long.

edit - why does that need to flap down lol

I'm guessing it's a kick stand. And I want it. I regularly have to find stupidly creative ways to prop my R4 up on random ish laying nearby (books, dirty socks, the shards of broken dreams, etc). Only hesitation is the beige color.

What I want is a decent oleophobic tempered glass screen protector!! That stock one is trash!

I'm raw dogging it until I can get a decent glass protector. That plastic stock one on the R4 was the first thing to get tossed when I opened the box.

Since I know you guys know everything that is available on the market...

I need an Eartip that is more than 14mm wide and more than 10mm height.
And if possible, have a good grip..

I see that the Spinfit CP100+ size LL is almost there... and they have a good grip..


I think if the Spinfit W1 had a size LL, it would be ideal, because it has a very good grip...

Do you know of any model that is still a little higher than 10mm, but also has a width greater than 14mm?

Have you tried double-flange tips? Might be the solution you're looking for.

True, this is not the most important detail, but I feel stuff like this adds up to either positively or negatively affect the overall sonic outcome of the IEM.

I'm with you insofar as those upper harmonics ("air") have a big influence on what I hear, but I think @baskingshark's point is that you can't rely on measurements of those regions above ~8k (or I'd argue, even much above 5 or 6k). While every coupler is different, those measured differences become so wildly exacerbated in that region that you regularly see variations in the tens of dBs (and since dBs are logarithmic, those are massive differences). It's a region where, with current measurement tech, we have to rely solely on our ears. Even worse, it's also a region that is susceptible to lots of personal variation because of age, gender, noise exposure, genetics, etc. FWIW I'm in my late 40s and lucky enough to still hear quite clearly into the 16-17k region, so like you, that region matters quite a bit to what I ultimately hear. There's just no way to measure it accurately.

And BooM, here it is. A special set that I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing, but (thankfully) it did not persuade me into purchasing my own.

DITA Project M review



Thank you, @Erkil for lending me your baby, it will be back with you soon!

Awesome review, as always. And another illustration of just how divisive this set is! I hear the Project M as a definitively "laid back" set, not at all "energetic" as you have it categorized. Based on the divisive reactions it's had among those of us in this thread, this seems to be the dividing line. Folks who hear it as energetic, hear it as way too energetic. Folks who hear it as laid back, hear it as a super chill set. Don't think the difference is down to hearing ability either, since like I said above, I can still hear well into the upper treble region. So weird.

The Project M seems a bit like cilantro: either you taste an amazing and refreshing herb, or you taste disgusting soap.

 

[PROblemdetected]

I like it with blue nozzle, a bit brighter than mk3. These drivers have a smooth analogue sound.

Hanadomi B2?

 

[kaeswiss]

But on a serious note, what are you folks looking to buy on 11.11?

It's more of a wishlist at this point, but I'm looking at maybe picking up one of these BT sources depending on reviews and how they compare to the Quloos MUB1 I recently picked up.

• Muse Hifi M5 Ultra - BT DAC/tube amp. 4 da toobz.
• Questyle M18i - BT DAC/amp. 4 da smaller form factor.
• FiiO BTR17 - BT DAC/amp. 4 da smaller form factor and volume knob.

Interesting. I usually hear the center image as though it's on a screen on the front inside of my skull. But as the headstage spreads, it also deepens. It makes something like a double-concave lens shape sort of like this:


The front and back of my head is even with the shallowest part at the center of the concave. But the things that sound most separated are those instruments/notes that seem to come from the furthest four corners.


My kids have a whole dance that goes along with his theme song.

I hear IEM soundstage in a similar way. It's what I describe as the bowtie stage lol. The IEMs I've heard that have BCD seem to give more depth in front of me so it widens the center "knot" a bit.

If you're an audiophile who puts soundstage above all, you're not bothering with IEMs. It's pretty much audiophile gospel that most open-back over-ears will give wider soundstage than a sealed IEM. Just buy the HD 800s and be done with it if soundstage is your one-pony trick.

If you're a soundstage fiend, you don't have to stray too far from IEMs. Get a decent set of flathead earbuds and you have bigger soundstage in a similar form factor to IEMs.

I have to say I’m more excited when they’re in my ears

What is the cable that you’re using with them?

Meanwhile, Penon mail call! No, nothing new this time - just a little parcel of old cables back from getting some TLC from them.

They offered to “update” my Totem (visions of it being loaded with iOS 18.1) - swopping out the original 2.5mm plug (and its network of little Totem adapters) for a 4.4mm modular plug - and modular connectors, which are the bigger deal for me because most of my collection is 2-pin and I don’t have any other cables of this calibre in MMCX. But today the Totem is being reunited with my Volt so it’s back right where it started.



I’m doing my Friday Bandcamp shopping as well, letting them play right through my feed through nothing more than my phone and DC Elite, and they just shine.

In the 3 years or so since I got these, I’ve had the good fortune to listen to a number of amazing IEMs (and own some of them). And it occasionally surprises me that Volt + Totem are still such a pleasure in 2024, musically and timbrally.

I totally forgot that Penon now has interchangeable connectors. Do you know if they offer this upgrade to all of their cables or is it just on the Totem? Also, do they have pentaconn ear connectors too or just 2pin/MMCX?

I guess RS6 would be my endgame dap with it’s three gain stages.

The Quloos MUB1 isn't a DAP, but it does have FOUR gain stages with a ton of power (1100mW@32Ω): Low, Mid, High, SUPER

Endgame BT DAC/amp (for now)

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Penon entering Penon exiting.
Unfortunately I lost or had my beloved TURBO stolen .
(I'll have to buy them again , I'll go into financial collapse)

Anyway, I'm trying these FAN3s.
I find them fantastic, with that sense of space that many of you have highlighted.
Impactful sound, well rendered voices, very pleasant to listen to.
I'd say they're suitable for many musical genres.
(but, damn, it's a succession of IEM releases, one better than the other. It's becoming really difficult to choose).

Compared to the FAN2, I think they are better on all fronts; however I must say that I find the tuning of the FAN2 much more particular and for this reason I continue to love and listen to them, because they remind me of the sound of my old stereo system from the 70s.

You guys doing this on purpose now? LOL So before I sent my FAN 3 off on loan, only time you see mention was when OzBoy was talking about them (before the Shock changed his life), or I was talking about them, and now, all of a sudden, while mine are not in my possession, there's mention every other page LOL But yes, they are fantastic, and very pleasing sound signature for sure. Not endgame, but damn good for many genres, and definitely top 5.

 

[Vonbuddy]

Here's a video on the backend tough logistics and delivery work that happens after a huge Ali sale. Seems the workers are not as protected in the west in terms of labor laws.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1592908304984772

So, for every pokemon that is purchased, there is grueling work done before it reaches your doorstep. Much appreciation should be had for these workers!

Moral of the story: don't purchase unnecessary sidegrade pokemons?

But on a serious note, what are you folks looking to buy on 11.11?

Leaning to the Shock. A wild hair might lead to the Jomo Nautilus.