The discovery thread!

[Zerstorer_GOhren]

Hello mates, check out my latest review articles.

ND AUDIO NX2

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/nd-audio-nx2.28068/reviews#review-37613

TANCHJIM ZERO ULTIMA

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tanchjim-zero-ultima.27908/reviews#review-37614


TANCHJIM STARGATE II

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tanchjim-stargate-ii.28057/reviews#review-37615

 

[GorGhast]

I got my TRN Shell and KE Aether today! Too tired from work to do an in-depth test today, but so far I'm super impressed with the Shell (standard nozzle) at its price point. Great mid-bass with no bleed. The bass doesn't have much physicality to it, but it's full, warm and precise. Smooth, inoffensive, but clear highs with minimal sibilance that I could listen to all day, great for those of us who're treble sensitive but still enjoy bright music from time to time. On one or two rock tracks it struggled a bit with separation and lacking a tiny bit of spark and air, but nothing too egregious really for this budget and tuning.

It gets a safe recommendation from me for those looking for a warm all-rounder set for around 50 bucks. The quality of the included accessories + the IEMS themselves makes it a proper value king, especially for beginners of the hobby. Will test out the different nozzles and tip-roll a bit throughout the week. The KE Aether will wait until the weekend

 

[statuefiddle]

I've had the I/O Volare ($600) generously on loan from a friend, @bithalver . It has 1 DD, 4 BAs, and 4 ESTs, with a sensitivity of 121dB/Vrms and impedance of 4.8Ω at 1kHz.

The Volare has a warm neutral signature with safe upper treble/air. Though not the U or V-shaped tuning I typically prefer, it delivers a very satisfying listening experience. The mid-bass has excellent kick and attack, initially suggesting a dark tuning, but the mids come through clean and slightly forward. Vocals are intimate (a bit like the Cadenza 12) with good body.

The treble is well-executed but lacks some upper-treble air and sparkle. I might prefer more sub-bass extension, but the overall balance is excellent – warm, full, and smooth with snappy bass that's well-integrated with the forward mids.
Interestingly, the Volare doesn't graph like it sounds – measurements would suggest less mid-bass than my ears perceive. The bass has nice fast attack rather than big physical impact.

Fit is great, isolation average. Pretty easy to drive, but current hungry so avoid high output impedance sources unless you're trying to mess with the tuning of the IEMs. I used my Qudelix 5k and Topping G5.

This one is easy to recommended for those looking for a warm neutral signature with excellent mids presence and satisfying bass with a safe upper-treble tuning. I could see it being a one-and-done kind of set for a lot of people!

 

[nikbr]

Phoenixia brings a more balanced signature. Sub-bass quality is equal, maybe even slightly better textured. You can really feel how deep it goes. Mid-bass is definitely snappier and hits harder. Mids are a bit more forward without ever being shouty, and I think this set has some of the best BA treble implementations I've heard. It's got sparkle and extension, and it never sounds unnatural even when you turn it up.

Did you really have to use so many words that pique my interest so jam packed into this paragraph?

Joke aside, this sounds a bit like ivipQ have got a winner in their hands.

It is fine if it is in front of you on desktop on BT.

Yes, but at that point you can just wire that baby up. Whenever you leave the BT source behind, expect no more than 6-7m of range.

You are welcome ! I am eager to hear your opinion on M5U + Volare.

Volare should be here soon! Looking forward to this pairing.

 

[o0genesis0o]

Is Aful sending you a Polar Night for review? Excited to hear more reviews on it.

It has been here for a while

Usual AFUL stuff, you know. Mid-forward, extended to both ends, good tech. This one is a bit upper-midrangy and a bit hot in 4-6kHz than usual AFUL with the stock foams (for me), so I need some brain burn in. Very good buds, and good listening gear in general. This is the first buds since FF3 that I am (almost) completely happy with.

 

[Vonbuddy]

It has been here for a while



Usual AFUL stuff, you know. Mid-forward, extended to both ends, good tech. This one is a bit upper-midrangy and a bit hot in 4-6kHz than usual AFUL with the stock foams (for me), so I need some brain burn in. Very good buds, and good listening gear in general. This is the first buds since FF3 that I am (almost) completely happy with.

I know the price is not what is on Hifigo.com at the moment. Anyone know what it will be?

 

[Jaytiss]

I know the price is not what is on Hifigo.com at the moment. Anyone know what it will be?

This is from Amazon. This is my guess, but I know nothing other than this.

 

[IceIceberg]

Check out what Fosi has announced.
Their first open-back planar headphones, the i5, which they showcased at CanJam NYC. They look amazing and should sound just as good.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fosiaudio/fosi-audio-i5-planar-magnetic-headphones

 

[mathe0]

Muse hifi M5 Ultra is an easy rec IF you don't intend to use it as a BT DAC/Amp, but wired instead. BT range is laughable - that said, there is no interference at any point in either of the modes.



It sounds fantastic and looks the part too. Tubes make some sets so much more emotional it's crazy. And I don't feel as if that comes at a real deficit in technicalities either. In SS, it sounds noticeably sweeter and more resolving than my good ol' BTR7.

Listening to BGVP NS10 Pro currently, and I listened to VE Zen 3.0 earbuds for 4h+ at work earlier. @bithalver, thanks for lending me this blue box of joy.

This looks really interesting. I know this is sold as a portable device, but I’m wondering how well it performs as a desktop tube DAC. Where does it sit in terms of sound quality and use case compared to other options? Also, what other devices should be considered for someone specifically looking for a desktop tube DAC?

 

[Vonbuddy]

Check out what Fosi has announced.
Their first open-back planar headphones, the i5, which they showcased at CanJam NYC. They look amazing and should sound just as good.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fosiaudio/fosi-audio-i5-planar-magnetic-headphones

I bought one of their gift card offers for these headphones. Interested in their price.

 

[Conan1974]

They look nice, but big. I wonder how heavy they are.

 

[Hypops]

It has been here for a while



Usual AFUL stuff, you know. Mid-forward, extended to both ends, good tech. This one is a bit upper-midrangy and a bit hot in 4-6kHz than usual AFUL with the stock foams (for me), so I need some brain burn in. Very good buds, and good listening gear in general. This is the first buds since FF3 that I am (almost) completely happy with.

Your prior posts about this set and others have got me feeling "bud-curious." I feel like I should have at least one pair laying around!

While I respect the fact that DIYers have "cracked the code" on tuning, I just can't get behind the build quality and aesthetics of DIY sets. For that reason, I'm currently floating between this set, the BGVP DX7, the Yincrow RW-3000, and the Penon Conductor as my first (only?) set of flathead earbuds. I'm in no rush to decide so I figure I'll wait to hear from more reviewers/listeners on the PolarNight.

 

[activatorfly]

WOWSERS!...hope the UK tariff aint too prohibitive?!

 

[jbfps116]

For my tastes, Phoenixia obliterates the HS80 like trump did the stock market and the constitution.

wow... so the Phoenixia has one less DD than HS80 and the same amount of BAs... and is way cheaper. [granted, I paid $165 for the HS80 but the "normal" price is closer to $400.] Wonder what the secret is?? Would the Phoenixia compete with the likes of the Fan 3 and CK2V and maybe even H60?? The HS80 is pretty good... vocals are accurate and clean... bass is magic-sauce snappy!

EDIT: so finally, I got a good set of QKZ ZX2... [the first had bad channel imbalance, the VERY FIRST IEM I've bought that had that issue, and I've bought a LOT of budget sets haha] Both sets were only $10 each, so really, I paid the same price as the ZXN ... And I can confirm the ZX2 is another budget bassy banger!
Somehow they are quieter than the very loud ZXD.

According to graphs, the ZX3 is also a solid option... but I don't know how many of these QKZ sets I "need" haha. You're not getting super detailed sound on these [I THINK the discontinued ZXN is the best for details so far.] The ZX2 graphs with more treble air than the ZXN, but about the same otherwise... Once they burn in, I'll do more A-B tests to see if this is true. Any of these sets [maybe not the ZXD as that has a bit less lower treble] could have easily been as popular as the Wan'er if QKZ had marketed them properly... [although the shell designs aren't as eye-catching... mostly, they copy older KZ shell designs.]

Just thinking about these QKZ and other budget sets... it was NOT that long ago that if you wanted BASS in earbuds/IEMs [budget level] you got crap like Skullcandy that had boomy bass but horribly stifled treble. The fact I can get a $10 set that has enough bass for bassheads, but is still CLEAR in the mids and treble... is just delightful! Now, paying more money is for finer improvements, rather than merely for decent capability/tuning like the old days.

Left to right: ZX2, ZXN, ZXD.

 

[wver]

I forget who posted the Trusted Audio Store cable deals during the Anni sales, but a huge thank you to whoever it was. The Trusted-52 cable is gorgeous!