The discovery thread!

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I use that one on my MEST mk2 lol

Fantastic and underrated cable for sure!

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Never in my audiophile life have I ever had a stronger rotation in my possession as right this moment! Tonight, in between clients, I was mesmerized and in some cases simply slack jawed by the musical presentation before me, and it's all thanks to wonderful people here like @EnigmaFotos, @Jaytiss, and @Jmop, and their generosity. Also Lime Ears and Musicteck. They can't be left out. So my line up tonight was as follows....

Elysian Apostle
Lime Ears Maris
Lime Ears Incognita
Lime Ears Terra
Penon Archangel
ISN EBC80
ISN H60

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I also picked up a DAP that was released in 2015, and this particular one is from 2017 and in immaculate condition. The person who owned it, that I bought it off of, kept it in a smoke free environment, and it's got nary a scratch on it. Simply stellar aethetically and sonically. The Sony NW ZX100. When this DAP debuted, it was selling for $700 and was the second flagship for Sony. Simply put, it trashes the little brothers I own, the A15 and A25. It's actually better than my Mr Walkman modded A55, and is about equal, if not just a touch better than my WM1A, with the difference being the 1A has 4.4mm balanced, and a better build overall, but this one is smaller, sleeker, and has a very layered and broad stage, which is unusual for Sony. I have one of the newer Android sets, and honestly, it is NOT better sonically than this 8 year old DAP, and I paid less than $150.00 for it.

 

[Okcerg]

With Close to 10,000 Pages of Disco Thread coming soon.

I have a Question. How did you find your way here?

I started out in the Thieaudio Ghost thread, but @DynamicEars Hola mod brought me here July 15:th 2023. My first post:

Sorry, I'm an idiot. Should I pinch a hole in both grill and filter? Or filter only?

Just bought the Aether on sale at Amazon for $135 and a used pair of Volume S for $250. Love both. Aether is my upgrade for the T10, and Volume S is my upgrade for the Explorer. Looking to sell T10 and Explorer now.

May look for one more model before the Trump Tax tariff kicks in.

You following @Jaytiss channel? Your preferences seem to align, both Aether and Volume S on his top 5 list: Top 5 list. (Plus tips on upcoming sets.)

 

[GroovyAudio]

@FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Could you confirm if H60 and Archangel nozzles are the same and how is the fit?
Thanks!

 

[pradiptacr7]

Here is the review for the Kinera Mia upgrade cable. Very versatile and premium-looking cable at a reasonable price.

- https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kinera-mia.27838/reviews#review-37770

 

[o0genesis0o]

With Close to 10,000 Pages of Disco Thread coming soon.

I have a Question. How did you find your way here?

Morbid curiosity.

MAIL CALL!!!

Penon Archangel....





For now...'nuff said.

Hey lucky you, it did not get stuck at custom. Congrats on the shiny, mate.

Congrats man, would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

I am here finalising my review for the Echo Mini today. I love this little beast of a device, tremendous power, excellent sound, with a neutral kinda tuning, loved my time with it. It is better than what I had expected from the dap.

That's the coolest DAP (dongle?) I have ever seen.

I had a Chinese cassette player and radio in that colour when I was in junior high school. Felt like a big boy because I can listen to music on my own

 

[Okcerg]

That's the coolest DAP (dongle?) I have ever seen.

Agree, the new design language from FIIO/Snowsky is fun! I loved my Walkman when I was a kid, and I'm a sucker for nostalgia...
I actually PTT on the similarly looking FIIO KA15 yesterday. Had a LEC from Linsoul, so I ended up paying $38.
https://www.linsoul.com/products/fiio-ka15

Same DAC and OP-amp as Onix XI1:
DAC: Dual CS43198
Op-amp: Dual SGM8262

But a bit less warmth and better bass, according to the very missed @baskingshark .
Also mic on 3.5, PEQ, and 60-120 volume steps.

 

[Vonbuddy]

Spoke to my good friend at Audio46 today. Companies outside China that make their equipment in China will be impacted by the tariffs on China from the US. If anything is made in China it will be hit. I was inquiring on getting a new Audeze closed-back headphones and had to ask where they are made, which fortunately for me is in California. I think it is safe to say most people supporting these tariffs are not audiophiles.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

@FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Could you confirm if H60 and Archangel nozzles are the same and how is the fit?
Thanks!

As you can see (or hopefully you can), the Archangel is chonkier than the H60, but fit wise, it's contoured in a way where I almost prefer it's fit to the H60, also the nozzle is longer than the H60, while the nozzle mouth is ever so slightly smaller, and more narrow than the H60. Now I don't have calipers, so I can't give a definitive size, but with the eye test, it's narrower and smaller than the H60, so if the H60 was 6.3mm (just a guess), then I'd say the Archangel would be 6.0-6.1mm) as a guesstimate?

 

[Jaytiss]

As you can see (or hopefully you can), the Archangel is chonkier than the H60, but fit wise, it's contoured in a way where I almost prefer it's fit to the H60, also the nozzle is longer than the H60, while the nozzle mouth is ever so slightly smaller, and more narrow than the H60. Now I don't have calipers, so I can't give a definitive size, but with the eye test, it's narrower and smaller than the H60, so if the H60 was 6.3mm (just a guess), then I'd say the Archangel would be 6.0-6.1mm) as a guesstimate?

How is the archangel? looks nice.

 

[MakeItWain]

As you can see (or hopefully you can), the Archangel is chonkier than the H60, but fit wise, it's contoured in a way where I almost prefer it's fit to the H60, also the nozzle is longer than the H60, while the nozzle mouth is ever so slightly smaller, and more narrow than the H60. Now I don't have calipers, so I can't give a definitive size, but with the eye test, it's narrower and smaller than the H60, so if the H60 was 6.3mm (just a guess), then I'd say the Archangel would be 6.0-6.1mm) as a guesstimate?

H60 was 6.8, 6.9 and 7.0mm depending on the angle since it's an irregular shaped nozzle.

 

[Jamsblast]

Hello my fellow head-fiers, my review for the TINHIFI C2 2025 is up, enjoy it!:
TINHIFI C2 2025 review by Jamsblast

 

[gadgetgod]

That's the coolest DAP (dongle?) I have ever seen.

Agreed man, the Echo Mini looks damn cool!!

 

[BlankName]

I've just demoed a few closed backs: FT1(4.4), HD620s(3.5), Azurys(3.5), and E3(4.4) off of my cma18p at Audio46.
FT1: It was nice for being the cheapest, imaging and soundstage are subpar with a small left/right stage with little distinction between layers. Detail/texture were good and the sound was a bit warm with big and well extended bass but timbrally agreeable and the treble was a tad bit subdued. Not much to fault for the price.
Azurys: An upgraded FT1, in terms of overall presentation, smoother and a bit more detailed and quick with much more distinct imaging where different images appear in different places unlike the FT1. Still very left right, a bit bigger stage, but more timbrally accurate.
E3: The most effortlessly technical. Background details are the most audible with these yet the main images in the stage are woven together very well. Wide stage and the images are less left/right. The widest stage with a bit frontal sounding images with the deepest bass. Treble is a bit too relaxed for me and the upper mids are a bit honky for me. The most analogue sounding of the bunch. Less emotive than the FT1 and Azurys, however.
HD620s: My favorite of the bunch. The mids are beautiful and captivating, the bass is less textured than the E3 and at about the same level if not a bit less than the Azurys. The treble presence is my favorite of the bunch, probably due to the relaxed/full sound of the cma18p. Soundstage is less wide than the E3 but has a similar presentation to the e3. Darkest background of the bunch; sounds almost appear from the aether. It has the best isolation and comfort.C
Conclusion: The HD620 aren't that much less detailed than the E3 so the HD620s' more intense tonal balance and timbre, and their similar presentation made it my favorite.
Edit:
My suspicions were right.

 

[GroovyAudio]

As you can see (or hopefully you can), the Archangel is chonkier than the H60, but fit wise, it's contoured in a way where I almost prefer it's fit to the H60, also the nozzle is longer than the H60, while the nozzle mouth is ever so slightly smaller, and more narrow than the H60. Now I don't have calipers, so I can't give a definitive size, but with the eye test, it's narrower and smaller than the H60, so if the H60 was 6.3mm (just a guess), then I'd say the Archangel would be 6.0-6.1mm) as a guesstimate?

Thanks! That really helped me. H60 nozzles are 6.9mm. Archangel nozzles being more rounded and a bit longer certainly will fit me better I hope. Yea, I'm set on this iems. I still have questions, 3 to be exact.
1. The mids on Archangel vs H60. Very curious, H60 uses sonion BA's while Archangel uses knowles. Are there any differences or we get the same sweet and creamy mids on both?
2. The bass, which one do you think is better?
3. The soundstage on Archangel is better than H60?

Looking forward to your full review, very excited!

 

[jbfps116]

Spent some time this afternoon simply listening to the CKLVX CK2V... what a masterpiece of an IEM! effortlessly deep bass, soothing vocals, and sparkly treble.
Then I tried the Fan 3 and Wan'er 2... Those both have emotional vocals, slightly more prominent than the CK2V, with the Fan 3 taking the edge here. The Wan'er 2 has a bit more openness in the upper treble than the Fan 3 though. The CK2V has the sparkliest treble... and the most impactful sub-bass. Dang... all three of these are total GEMS. If I had to keep only one, I'm not sure I could choose. Even though the Fan 3's bass isn't the snappiest, it is still GOOD... and the rest of the FR is so smooth and delicious.