The discovery thread!

[Ineras]

HBB Hades?

The one and only GOAT.


I've never listened to the Hades, nor will I ever.

Also @pk4425

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The one and only GOAT.


I've never listened to the Hades, nor will I ever.

Also @pk4425

Big NAH on that T10 Pro.

 

[cobrabucket]

EBC80 is ok, not too bad. Hades is probably better.

I am dying to hear more of your actual impressions and also how you think it stacks up with the Shock and the Punch.
Stoked yours finally arrived!!!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

So how many of you succumbed to Cyber Monday sales?!

What did you get? I managed to repel picking up anything from Alix, as I've done enough shopping there recently, even though I got sent a ton of private store coupon codes, including one for $5.00 off the KBear BCD IEM. With coins and additional coupons, it $23.00. Very tempting, just to try the cheap azz BCD.

What I actually PTT on was another 1TB Sandisk microSD card from Amazon. They got a schitt ton of Cyber Monday deals on memory, and I'll need a TB for my incoming M1 Plus. That's it for me.

 

[Ineras]

Can't be too positive around these parts. Big no-no.

Being serious now for my first impressions. EBC80 mids are so rich and creamy and crystalline at the same time, and given tons of space. Vocals are intimate but in a good way. It's like you're in a concert hall with all the lights turned off except for a shining spotlight on the vocalist, and everyone else, everything else just fades to black.

Treble isn't as thrilling and extended as the EST tuning on the Punch, but instead tuned very wispy and delicate and natural.

Bass doesn't stand out, and doesn't feel lacking in any way. Excellent quality and impact, excellent balance between sub-bass and mid-bass. Once again, the word that comes to mind is NATURAL. You get the correct amount as intended by the mix. Bassy tracks will still kick.

Very different sonic experience compared to the bombastic Shock, but very similar sense of spaciousness.

 

[Ozboyblu]

@Hypops, @thaslaya what the heck. What kind of black magic f**ry is that?



THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH - and @cagix for finding out where to get it!
No graph in the world can do this thing justice. You were so right. No hotness in the treble, no sibilance or splashiness. It doesn’t even sound like treble is emphasized. It is beautiful. Complete. Detailed. Vocal bliss and separation is beyond words.

I made the mistake to try them out during lunch break. Had to keep skipping songs because tears started welling up. Even on songs I don’t actually like
It is probably not for everyone, but I am grateful this tuning exists. Forgot all cons I have heard during reviews, like the bass tuck. It doesn’t matter, how it’s put together, that matters. And that is just incredible.

Sorry, completely lost track of the thread again sometime last week, but I had to get this out asap.

I’d be interested to see a graph comparison with BrainDance vs TSMR ARMOR. Also having a 2 pin version has me interested. MMCX gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Do not worry.

In 1984 I got a Commodore 64 which had only 64 KILO byte of RAM; the floppy (one side used at a time) was ~178 KILO bytes.

When I bought the Nokia 9500 Communicator in the very beginning of 2005, it was big news this device could handle the 8 MEGA byte BIIIIIG SD card !

I still have one 128 MEGA byte microSD card: kept as a relic.

Nowadays my phone has 256Gb storage and an added 512Gb microSD card. MY music collection is about 260 Gb. ( 44.1 or 48 kHz 16 bit FLAC as I do not hear the difference and some mp3 where I can not collect a music in better resolution)

In 5-10 years we will laugh on these numbers; it will be an everyday thing to carry terabytes in your pocket; also USB4 (or USB3.2) is about 40Gbs ( about 4 Giga bytes every second ! ) which should be more than enough for any music data to transfer in realtime. That USB is a reality now just not every device has it yet.

That’s a Great run down of progressive tech storage.

Mine was was -

Intel 486 DX-266 -1995 - 60Mb HDD & 1.3Mb Floppy & CD ROM.

iPod Classic 2004 - 20Gb HDD.

iPhone 3GS - 2009 - 32Gb Solid state Storage.

iPhone 13 Pro Max - 2021 - 1Tb Storage

HiBy R4 Eva - 2024- SanDisk 1.5 Tb storage.

What will the Future bring : SanDisk 8Tb

My fingers are itchy to buy XINS S06, but I just bought Yongse Dark General (still traveling) and a used ISN AG8 (from Classifieds; still waiting for the seller to send it; we made a deal yesterday so it is OK). Also I have the Penon ASOS and Cadmus 8W "Z" edition; 2x OCC849; some cheaper silver plated copper; so most probably I do not need more cables. Yeah, temptation critted me hard.

That’s a Nice lot of Upgrade Cables. That Yongse looks Thick.

I’m still waiting for this one to arrive that you suggested. Looking forward to it.

Your AI pictures are always phenomenal ! You can make a course for all of us ! (in a non-music related topic, of course) Please ping us if you do !

Thank you. It’s really not much skill. Not like the Spirograph drawings I saw of yours the other day. (Amazing! They are )

Here is a screen grab of my instructions to Co-Pilot. I just repeat the same command line with co-pilot until I see one I like.

Well technically they are still burning in. I'll let them go all day while I'm at work and that will be about 3 days... about the most I ever burn things in. But yes I have been listening to them a lot while they've been burning in... dang these classical pieces posted recently sound AMAZING on them.

The Dynamics is very nice with TD20.

They are a special set. After a year in the hobby, I’ve only listened to about 20 sets at this point (and none above $600), but the Braindance stands head and shoulders above those I’ve heard. It also fits me comfortably, despite its size. I’m a fan for sure.

That’s a very meaningful statement. I’m very much taking notice of your journey with this set.

I do like my basshead sets, but I also love my balanced sets. Like H60 and TD20 are both high on my list of favorites, and neither are what you would call bass heavy. I would also guess the same for the EBC80 (WHICH SHOULD ARRIVE TODAY!!!) based on feedback so far. I'm also always pushing for a better sub-bass/mid-bass balance, kinda need both when called for to get the complete sound.

However, I also love very well done treble (SLT6 and Punch, YES PUNCH), and all the feedback points to amazing treble on these marshmallows.

Yes!

I did the Muse M5 Ultra as well to compare.

That right there is Justification enough for me to start the 711 coupler journey . Beautiful.

It's December and I'm waiting for the M21 too - wish Fiio would preview it.

I remember reading somewhere , ( source below ) That M21 is delayed until 2025. But I’m looking forward to it, and it’s not the JM21 that was just released.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fiio-2024-new-product-schedule-from-fiio-james.971426/post-18419459

 

[Okcerg]

I purchased the Kbear KB02.
I think they are by far the cheapest iems with BC driver that you can get.
I don't have high hopes in them but who knows, maybe they gonna surprise me like the blon.

MD Jacques reviewed it. "For people who like low frequencies and wide soundstage"


"The volume will go up"

 

[cobrabucket]

So how many of you succumbed to Cyber Monday sales?!

What did you get? I managed to repel picking up anything from Alix, as I've done enough shopping there recently, even though I got sent a ton of private store coupon codes, including one for $5.00 off the KBear BCD IEM. With coins and additional coupons, it $23.00. Very tempting, just to try the cheap azz BCD.

What I actually PTT on was another 1TB Sandisk microSD card from Amazon. They got a schitt ton of Cyber Monday deals on memory, and I'll need a TB for my incoming M1 Plus. That's it for me.

Ended up PTT on the Astell&futura SE300.
I grabbed an open-box version from Bloom Audio and it was literally half off(!) of MSRP.

I kind of wanted to keep my HIBY R6 Pro II but instead decided to retain the DX180 as my DS DAP option (and as a backup in case the SE300 is too glitchy or slow with streaming).
@o0genesis0o urged me to do research about A&K's lackluster software experience, and he was right to do so.
My understanding is that it might not be as smooth or user-friendly as the other DAPs I've used in the past.
It runs a very locked down version of Android that only allows installation of white-listed streaming apps (and only the versions they approve).
No web browser or even alternate music players can be used, which sadly means I won't be able to use my beloved UAPP...
But ultimately, I use Local Files more than streaming and believe that sound quality is the most important factor in choosing an audio device.

Portable R2R goodness, here I come!

Which then leads me into the paring down process.
I will be listing a lot of gear in the coming weeks including the HIBY FC6 R2R dongle.
I love it and the intoxicating naturalness it produces but can't justify keeping it along with the SE300.

I was also seriously considering the Timsok TS-316, but when I asked @ToneDeafMonk about it on YT, he said that he thought my EA1000 nozzle modded Himalaya was a better single DD IEM so I will just roll with that...

 

[DynamicEars]

EBC80 has a very unique looking graph, with that little 700-800 shift (BCD?) and very late but abrupt rise starting at 1.7k. Used the S2 cable.



Another way to look at it:


Manufacturer graph:

Can't be too positive around these parts. Big no-no.

Being serious now for my first impressions. EBC80 mids are so rich and creamy and crystalline at the same time, and given tons of space. Vocals are intimate but in a good way. It's like you're in a concert hall with all the lights turned off except for a shining spotlight on the vocalist, and everyone else, everything else just fades to black.

Treble isn't as thrilling and extended as the EST tuning on the Punch, but instead tuned very wispy and delicate and natural.

Bass doesn't stand out, and doesn't feel lacking in any way. Excellent quality and impact, excellent balance between sub-bass and mid-bass. Once again, the word that comes to mind is NATURAL. You get the correct amount as intended by the mix. Bassy tracks will still kick.

Very different sonic experience compared to the bombastic Shock, but very similar sense of spaciousness.

Like I said, many companies still hesitate or scared to tune the EST bigger in quantity, as they thought it will shrill like BAs or planars or even DD. In fact ESTs are "shy". they need to be tuned MOARRRRRR than they used to tuned other drivers, or at least +3db from neutral point on past 10khz area. The Annihilator 2023 can be too much for somebody but it won't be peaky or sizzling as per EST characteristic, but other company tuning their EST sets way more below Annihilator 2023 quantity. Is it that hard to get properly tuned EST in middle of those?

Seems like I won't jump on EBC80 for now, I will stay with Shock (still waiting for my delayed M Hawk cable to get 2nd shocks) for long time (I guess?)

 

[Ineras]

Like I said, many companies still hesitate or scared to tune the EST bigger in quantity, as they thought it will shrill like BAs or planars or even DD. In fact ESTs are "shy". they need to be tuned MOARRRRRR than they used to tuned other drivers, or at least +3db from neutral point on past 10khz area. The Annihilator 2023 can be too much for somebody but it won't be peaky or sizzling as per EST characteristic, but other company tuning their EST sets way more below Annihilator 2023 quantity. Is it that hard to get properly tuned EST in middle of those?

Seems like I won't jump on EBC80 for now, I will stay with Shock (still waiting for my delayed M Hawk cable to get 2nd shocks) for long time (I guess?)

I'll do another graph tomorrow with the DC-Elite. I think that would show the treble a bit more elevated.

 

[bschnell9]

I’ll go on record and say the ESTs on the EBC80 are incredibly well tuned. Maybe they are tuned more aggressively on the Punch to counterPunch the bass but I have to imagine the balance is similar on both sets. In fact, the more I listen to the EBC80 the treble is becoming the star of the show quality wise but of course that’s just my opinion

 

[o0genesis0o]

Ended up PTT on the Astell&futura SE300.
I grabbed an open-box version from Bloom Audio and it was literally half off(!) of MSRP.

I kind of wanted to keep my HIBY R6 Pro II but instead decided to retain the DX180 as my DS DAP option (and as a backup in case the SE300 is too glitchy or slow with streaming).
@o0genesis0o urged me to do research about A&K's lackluster software experience, and he was right to do so.
My understanding is that it might not be as smooth or user-friendly as the other DAPs I've used in the past.
It runs a very locked down version of Android that only allows installation of white-listed streaming apps (and only the versions they approve).
No web browser or even alternate music players can be used, which sadly means I won't be able to use my beloved UAPP...
But ultimately, I use Local Files more than streaming and believe that sound quality is the most important factor in choosing an audio device.

Portable R2R goodness, here I come!

Which then leads me into the paring down process.
I will be listing a lot of gear in the coming weeks including the HIBY FC6 R2R dongle.
I love it and the intoxicating naturalness it produces but can't justify keeping it along with the SE300.

I was also seriously considering the Timsok TS-316, but when I asked @ToneDeafMonk about it on YT, he said that he thought my EA1000 nozzle modded Himalaya was a better single DD IEM so I will just roll with that...

IMHO, A&K is first and foremost an offline DAP. It feels great just to turn it on and have your local music appears in a nice UI immediately. Other Android DAPs that I have tried either do not do it by default (I couldn't find a non-hacky way to do it) or the UI is not good (MangoOS of iBasso). Tidal and other services should be considered "add-on" or "bonus" when it comes to A&K DAP.

And yes, no system-wide EQ or YouTube, as far as I know.

 

[MD Rohit]

some guides just received

bqeyz frost, bq10 and lin dac

 

[Ozboyblu]

Hang on a sec, is that an actual little oven for burning in your EBC80?

Yep it is. I bought the Oven from K-Mart Australia, along with a coffee maker. (Haven’t assembled the coffee machine yet)

Oven assemble is for 6 years +. But seriously took a bit of construction.

The whole idea.. Is if I have the oven there next to my IEM’s , other’s around won’t think I’ve just left my IEM’s running and turn off my music on me.

I found the same one on Ali Express. I’ll link it below.

I need to know about that itty bitty oven too.

This is the same Oven but from Ali Express.

I just found this on AliExpress: AU$1.72 | Small Home Building Blocks Simulation Small Home Appliances Children's Puzzle Puzzle Children's Building Blocks Toy
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMEQkyR

EZ-Bake Oven! My sister used to bake little cakes in hers in the early 70s. A light bulb was the heat source!

That’s Ovens Gold that is. Could at least fit 4 IEM’s in that oven to Burn at once.

Good price on the S06! Very close to what I paid when I asked them to make it. Fun fact - that’s my cable in the photo on the listing. Never fails to surprise me that they’re still using it after so long.

Of course it didn’t have a model number back then. Can never keep track of the numbers - they make no sense whatsoever.

Wow! That is Nut’s . Lol . …… So XINHS - S06 is your doing…. That’s awesome. I have you to thank for M. Hawk and S06 now.

As far as I'm concerned it's an excellent device.
An upgrade across the board compared to the BTR7.

Leaving aside considerations and comparisons on the sound, for me it has the following advantages:

- analog volume control
(that was the thing I missed most with the BTR7).
It is very functional.
Mechanically the wheel does not have (imo) the quality of the one on the IFI GO-BLU, but it does its job well

- used as a DAC it has a safe and without hesitation operation.
Tested with ROON and FLAQ and DSD files.

- it has a full MQA decoder (for those who are interested)

- the 4.4 and 3.5 outputs are not mutually exclusive like on the BTR7
(I'm not 100% sure, I didn't actually do the listening test with 2 IEMs connected. I just plugged both jacks in, and it kept playing audio in the inserted IEM)

- it has switches that allow you to configure it as BT,
as a DAC that uses the internal battery,
as a DAC that uses USB power,
and finally as a DAC that uses USB power
with high power output (so-called Desktop mode).

In short, if you don't want to spend more money,
with this you can do everything, from a portable
BT DAC to a wired desktop DAC.

These are really nice up close pictures. The way you described the Comparison from BTR7. Has me interested again now.

Thanks to both of you.
I would certainly like to get both, but my immediate budget doesn't allow it.
I will reflect on what you have written, although, to be honest, while I consider myself a basshead, I have found that the clear midrange (coupled with respectable bass and mid-bass) really pleases me and makes my listening happy.

What you wrote in bold above , I have to agree with @cobrabucket Below.

Sounds like the EBC80 would be a better fit for your preferences.
It's not a basshead set per se, but it is an excellent all-rounder that can do the low end justice, IMHO.

%

Finally!!!!

Well, I finally did it: I started to do A/B comparison with the ZMF Aeolus over-ear and Penon Fan 3 IEM, with an eye on possibly selling the Aeolus for a LOT of extra play money (at least a lot for me).

The Fan 3 held up quite well. It has more detail and less "warm gauze" over the entire sound. I found myself reaching for the Fan 3 for more tracks than the Aeolus.

More testing to come. But anyone interested in buying a ZMF Aeolus with Indian almond wood? I just can't get the Fan 3 out of my ears, man. It's so deluxe for my ears, brain and tuning preferences.

Boy all my Shilling of Fan 3 when it first came out , kinda seems validated by your statement in bold.

My first impressions were a little OTT though.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-discovery-thread.586909/post-18264594

EBC80 has a very unique looking graph, with that little 700-800 shift (BCD?) and very late but abrupt rise starting at 1.7k. Used the S2 cable.



Another way to look at it:


Manufacturer graph:

Yeah what’s with that 700-800 camel hump.?

Can't be too positive around these parts. Big no-no.

Being serious now for my first impressions. EBC80 mids are so rich and creamy and crystalline at the same time, and given tons of space. Vocals are intimate but in a good way. It's like you're in a concert hall with all the lights turned off except for a shining spotlight on the vocalist, and everyone else, everything else just fades to black.

Treble isn't as thrilling and extended as the EST tuning on the Punch, but instead tuned very wispy and delicate and natural.

Bass doesn't stand out, and doesn't feel lacking in any way. Excellent quality and impact, excellent balance between sub-bass and mid-bass. Once again, the word that comes to mind is NATURAL. You get the correct amount as intended by the mix. Bassy tracks will still kick.

Very different sonic experience compared to the bombastic Shock, but very similar sense of spaciousness.

Berry Noice first impressions !

The Bass gets better with burning and Stage opens up like a flower . My little blue Oven helps (jokes!) got put this . everyone will think I’m serious.

Looking forward to your impressions post burn.

 

[Okcerg]

Prime Audio reviewed White Snow.

https://primeaudio.org/hzsound-white-snow-review/

Compared to Klean:
"The Kefine Klean has a more musical approach, courtesy of more bass presence and less upper-midrange lift. This gives it a warmer tonality with extra richness and body. Klean has more upper-treble energy but the White Snow sounds airier and more spacious. Klean’s stage isn’t as wide but it has slightly more precise imaging."

Still waiting for my WS, looking forward hearing it!