The discovery thread!

[jbfps116]

Caroline Polachek has been hounded for years by people accusing her of using autotune. She's practiced and practiced to get her voice to do that. No, she doesn't use autotune, but, yes, it sounds like it. You can find a number of live demonstrations floating around of her doing autotune-inspired vocal effects totally "analog." It's a trip.

Well bravo to her lol… not sure WHY you’d want your voice to sound like that but ok.

What is the verdict on the xinhs Iems are they any good?
I know they have good cables but can't fins much on the Iems.
Any feedback would be appreciated

I have only the XINHS HS80 (Jupiter Rings)
MSRP around $400 but I paid like $160 on sale… 1DD 6BA
WHEN BURNED IN:
They are stunning. BUT. the vocal area/mid treble is quite elevated and could be seen as fatiguing or shouty by some. However it’s done really well, isn’t sibilant, and has great detail and stage. (NO they don’t sound like the TRN JAWS. That set is bright. )
The HS80 is rich and professional. The bass isn’t elevated but SO DELICIOUSLY clean and detailed. And the stage on these things is fantastic. They sound like $400. (I can’t say that the ivipQ Phoenixia sounds much more than the $140 I paid for them. I think I like the HS80 better)
They just aren’t tuned super SAFE like many sets coming out now.
Both the HS80 and Phoenixia are large shells that might give troubles to people with smaller ears. I have to use short flange tips with both those sets.

 

[Waqar]

I have only the XINHS HS80 (Jupiter Rings)
MSRP around $400 but I paid like $160 on sale… 1DD 6BA
WHEN BURNED IN:
They are stunning. BUT. the vocal area/mid treble is quite elevated and could be seen as fatiguing or shouty by some. However it’s done really well, isn’t sibilant, and has great detail and stage. (NO they don’t sound like the TRN JAWS. That set is bright. )
The HS80 is rich and professional. The bass isn’t elevated but SO DELICIOUSLY clean and detailed. And the stage on these things is fantastic. They sound like $400. (I can’t say that the ivipQ Phoenixia sounds much more than the $140 I paid for them. I think I like the HS80 better)
They just aren’t tuned super SAFE like many sets coming out now.
Both the HS80 and Phoenixia are large shells that might give troubles to people with smaller ears. I have to use short flange tips with both those sets.

This sounds good and i had a feeling that they are insane bang for the buck, i am intrigued and now i am going to ask for a good deal with some cables i want. If that goes down well i am gonna see if i get one for testing.

 

[Hypops]

Well bravo to her lol… not sure WHY you’d want your voice to sound like that but ok.

A little off topic, but the history of pop music in the recording era is filled with sounds that began as undesirable artifacts of new technologies that then gradually became desirable sounds in their own right:
- guitar distortion
- vinyl hiss and pops
- electronic and drum and bass rhythms reproduced on acoustic kits (Gogo Penguin, etc)
- radio/concert-hall effect
- autotune cranked up to 11 (T-Pain, Daft Punk)
- sped-up versions of songs on TikTok
- etc.

Musician and music-theory nerd Adam Neely just did a video essay on "fake guitar" videos and touches on some of this history:

 

[avishifi]

Nicely tuned single DD from TinHiFi, I am amazed how far they can squeeze a single DD to do both bass and treble well extended.
I really like them both, but slightly prefer the cheaper C2 2025.

 

[MD Rohit]

something good is coming up

 

[mrsergey]

The Armor could be the most fun iems i tried in the last year.
They have outstanding bass, energetic and dynamic sound.
I just can't stop using them.
They probably the 3rd iems that i would give them 5/5 star.
My second best purchase of the year (after the sound rhyme SR8).
This year i got iems like 64 Audio U4S, Softears Studio 4, BGVP Phantom, EJ07, moondrop Kadenz, SLT6, Punch, Himalaya.
So saying that they are my 2nd favorite this year is unbelievable achievement.

 

[Erkil]

What is the verdict on the xinhs Iems are they any good?
I know they have good cables but can't fins much on the Iems.
Any feedback would be appreciated

My only experience with Xinhs IEM’s is the Xinhs X Akros Erasmus 1DD 2BA that Tony/Akros collaborated and tuned with them. I like that one at least

 

[Jamsblast]

Hi to you all!, my review for the Kefine Klean is up!, enjoy it my dear ladies and gentlemen:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kefine-klean.27636/reviews#review-37931

 

[bithalver]

Second test with ISN EBC80 (again: my own; bought 2nd hand with H2 cable).

I do not feel the BC drivers directly (which is very good for me) as I did with Penon Fan 3 (which sounded good but hurted my brain with the vibrations).
I do feel'em indirectly (wide stage is most probably produced by them).

I changed the cable to Penon ASOS (I have the "basic" version, not the "+" or "X"); did tip rolling:
- Tang Sancai Wide Bore : as expected, too bright for me (but worth a test)
- AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal: worked, but ... somehow did not sounded good (and I can not describe it well, sorry)
- Penon Licky Black: this is it ! Bass rumbles, treble is sharp, maybe not too airy. Violins are lovely in Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor Op.47 main violin played by Hilary Hahn.

DAC is still my beloved Shanling Onix XI1; sure I will test it with others (iBasso DC04Pro and Musehifi M5 Ultra) later.

So, a very welcome surprise: ISN EBC80 could really work for me. Pinna gain is OK, lower mids are not too much, BC drivers do not hurt me (2nd and 3rd were my biggest fears).

Real test will come when I/O Volare gets back and I can compare.
I do not see the point to compare it to ThieAudio Monarch MK III: these are different beasts from a different zoo. I will do that comparision anyhow ... just not now.

Sometimes it is worth to experiment; sometimes it is not. Penon Quattro was in my ears for 3 minutes and I certainly knew I do not want to hear it ever again. Yeah, we are different.

 

[BS5711]

normally, source changes don’t result in extremely drastic shifts, in some cases...whether due to output impedance or power delivery (which is a biggy) the impact can be surprisingly dramatic especially for power hungry sets.

Certainly the output impedance can change the frequency response if it is different enough and on some IEM but those are outlier cases with a valid technical reason that will result in a difference that is measurable on a frequency response plot.

Power availability is not a biggy with IEM. More power being available won’t change the sound so long as the amplifier is working within normal limits, adequate current is available and the load isn’t causing clipping. None of those things is likely to be a factor with a set of IEM that require tiny fractions of a volt to power.

The biggest difference power makes in most cases is listening volume being inadvertently a little higher with more power at one’s disposal. I encourage you to try a blind volume matched comparison to assess just what difference you can really hear. If you haven’t done that you really don’t know and you might just be very surprised if you did it.

Volume matching is critically important, ideally it would be within half a db or less which really requires equipment to set up but careful matching by ear before the blind comparison is usually sufficient to demonstrate what is really going on for typical average Joe enthusiast application. Even adjusting volume intentionally just a little louder or quieter between to devices being compared can reverse the perception of the difference that power is making when in fact it is only volume that is making the difference.

When did you ever see a frequency response plot with different graphs resulting from different amplifiers ? Never, unless it was one of those outlier cases where output impedance was the cause not power. I saw a case where someone tried it but there was no difference. We never see frequency response plots with details of the amplifier because in the vast majority of cases it won’t change the result yet we constantly read about how dramatically an amplifier changes the sound. Oddly that change is hardly ever measurable and if it was it would be due to output impedance or the amplifier working well outside design limitations.

 

[Waqar]

Nicely tuned single DD from TinHiFi, I am amazed how far they can squeeze a single DD to do both bass and treble well extended.
I really like them both, but slightly prefer the cheaper C2 2025.

I just listened to the Tinhifi T7 and it is a good iem, i have a soft spot for tinhifi.
Maybe just because for what you get for the money, and their flagship is under 200$ and does sound like it could be over that everyday of the week.
Its that good but the treble can be to hot on some tracks, but with the right source this can be fixed. I think the T7 can pair well with tubes.
I have to try that one day.
First i need to buy some tubes, but for now i am saving money

The Armor could be the most fun iems i tried in the last year.
They have outstanding bass, energetic and dynamic sound.
I just can't stop using them.
They probably the 3rd iems that i would give them 5/5 star.
My second best purchase of the year (after the sound rhyme SR8).
This year i got iems like 64 Audio U4S, Softears Studio 4, BGVP Phantom, EJ07, moondrop Kadenz, SLT6, Punch, Himalaya.
So saying that they are my 2nd favorite this year is unbelievable achievement.

This is indeed high praise because all these are well received and rop notch on their price bracket and over for sure. Now i have to keep an eye on this iem.

My only experience with Xinhs IEM’s is the Xinhs X Akros Erasmus 1DD 2BA that Tony/Akros collaborated and tuned with them. I like that one at least

Yeah it is not that much out there but i believe cable companies can and some do make really good Iems.
If i get a good deal i may get one, lets see because i am not trying to spend money this month.

And that Tony akros collab must be a nice one i like Tony, he has good taste and the iem collection he has is insane.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Letshuoer DX1???????
Where can one purchase them?

Nowhere yet. It's not for sale. You can get them on ebay from Japan for double the rumored retail price, if you feel itchy, but it's not currently available to the public commercially.

MAIL CALL!!

Juzear x ZEOS Defiant. Very early in the game, but Juzear and ZEOS take their swing at nu-meta tuning. I guess it was inevitable, as this is the FOTY tuning, but so far, aside from the very polite treble extension, this has been very pleasing, but only a few songs in, as I got the sesh interrupted by a visit to the gym.

 

[Waqar]

Nowhere yet. It's not for sale. You can get them on ebay from Japan for double the rumored retail price, if you feel itchy, but it's not currently available to the public commercially.

MAIL CALL!!

Juzear x ZEOS Defiant. Very early in the game, but Juzear and ZEOS take their swing at nu-meta tuning. I guess it was inevitable, as this is the FOTY tuning, but so far, aside from the very polite treble extension, this has been very pleasing, but only a few songs in, as I got the sesh interrupted by a visit to the gym.

I was looking at these when i ordered the Fiio m21 yesterday on hifi go, these caught my eyes and especially after what people wrote that these sounds better then what the price would have you believe.
So i am looking forward to further experiences you get with these.

They look beautiful atleast but did you choose the green color yourself?
If yes you have good taste and many do i love green Iems, and these are even jade green.

I want these but for now they go on the list, lets see what the future brings. But i want the Letshouer Dx1 more, but please give some comparisons between these two in the future when you get more familiar with it enjoy

 

[thaslaya]

I'm currently way behind in the thread due to taking a break for the weekend. I spent some quality time with the family and feel a bit rejuvenated. Before I go back and catch up on everything I missed, I wanted to share my latest review for the Letshuoer DX1 (Head-fi and blog). This one has been talked about frequently and it's another really solid offering from Letshuoer. I like the warm neutral tuning, solid build quality, and the impressive technicalities. Unfortunately, the small shell and shallow insertion are a bad combination for my dumbo ears. When I could get a good seal though, they sound wonderful and would be a great option for those out there that belong to the small ear gang.

 

[avishifi]

My TinHiFi C3 Mk II review is out!

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tinhifi-c3-mkii.27843/review/37933/

Any like and/or comment will be blessed!