Probably have 2 of TRN's best models anyway between the Jaws and the Shell. ST7 is a lovely shell and ok sonics... not sure they'd be worth me picking up again [like the Trio was] haha.
The discovery thread!
- Thread starter Dsnuts
- Start date
-
- Tags
- aful blon bl03 db3 ibasso am05 isn d02 isn h40 jq audio jvc-ha-fx101 jvc-ha-fx40-b-earphone-kv6902 nx7 nx7 pro philips-she3580-28-in-ear-headphones philips-she9700 pioneer-dje-1500-k-professional-dj-in-ear-headphones sony-mh1-livesound-hi-fi-stereo-in-ear-headphones sphere thermaltake-in-ear-headset tri i3 vsonic-vc1000
Nealz
100+ Head-Fier
It's only 77 USD my end, after the discounts!
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
This is what US customers are dealing with, unless there's some magical coupon code I'm missing?
This is what US customers are dealing with, unless there's some magical coupon code I'm missing?
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
Exactly. Can't comment, since the post will get deleted, but yes...ridiculousness. Good for all of you though (not on U.S. soil).
@jbfps116 - The Shell is superior to the ST7 in all ways except spatial cues and orbital stage, so unless you're chasing that and a much smaller, more comfy shell, then the Shell suffices. If not, then it's worth picking up the ST7 for cheap.
Last edited:
caryking
100+ Head-Fier
I’m beginning to think that US customers are being penalized for other reasons, not what we think. I can certainly change my location and move the pricing around a lot. Something doesn’t make sense!!
This is what US customers are dealing with, unless there's some magical coupon code I'm missing?
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
My daily Saturday trio. After spending the better part of the last 24 hours with the CFA Alien Brain and the TRN Shell (what a fabulous 24 hours it's been!), I turn heavy to a planar with the KZ PR3 (4.4mm) and the Kiwi Ears Aether (4.4mm), along with the Tesla DD WG T-ONE. It's going to be a good day with these as well, and I'm hoping for a mellow weekend at work, before I start my vacation on Monday. 2 more days to go.
Jmop
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2014
- Posts
- 5,061
- Likes
- 9,324
Haha true, OG Zero pushes upper mids more than the Ultima, Ultima is more like Bunny in response. Figured they could work for me.
I'm glad we agree on other things because I could not disagree with you more about these two IEMs! Alien Brain is an odd-looking one, for sure, but it's so funky and ugly that it's looped back around to awesome. By contrast, ugh, that Mefisto looks like a thrift store brooch or part of Great Aunt Ethel's box of gaudy costume jewelry. It's the reason I'm not compelled by the two new FlipEars releases (Legion and Aegis), despite both having tunings I'd probably love. They look like cheap die-cast brooches.
Indeed. None of this stuff is need. But dang, some things are completely full of want.
If a third opinion helps I think they both look awful 
Waqar
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2010
- Posts
- 667
- Likes
- 1,135
for real!
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
This is the one with the M dome diaphragm like the Focal headphones?
Redcarmoose
Headphoneus Supremus
First impressions:
This is the very first BCD (out of 5) that the bass vibration, I could feel in my hands at reasonable volumes, it's crazy!
First impressions:
I have to say I started this impression task on the wrong foot. I got
lazy to find my true favorite ear-tips. So I tried some generic
wide-bores, then my DAP was on some generic death metal that was
recorded like azz. Whew……….glad that experience is over with! So I got
out the keys and opened the giant safe I store my IEMs in and found
the SIMGOT AUDIO Black wide-bore ear-tips. These tips are basically my
favorite form factor yet they are made with thicker black silicone.
I’ll admit I watched a (banned members) review on these things. He
talked about the vibrational abilities of this bone conduction driver
and how they want to call it a KVT driver. The driver reminded me of
the 11mm Bone Conduction Driver in the Apevoix Grit. Oh…wait what do
we have here………The Grit has one BCD, one 10mm DD and 4BAs! Imagine
that. Our Étude has a 10mm Beryllium DD, a KVT (BCD) driver and 3BAs!
Yes the BCD sounds familiar to the Grit. Though here we are gifted
with a more flat midrange and not quite offering the treble energy of
the Grit. In fact for less money (the Étude is) we are actually
getting a more refined tuning here, at least from memory I say this?
Where here the treble is just about right offering a slight beginning
of a roll off, and when you join that to a relatively flat midrange it
starts to take treble presence by just being what it is and not
boosted. Same as the bass actions here provided by both a 10mm DD and
the BCD offering an extra careful sub bass boost. There is supposedly a BCD
artifact in the graph of how this bass is relayed, showing an extra
hicup……don’t ask me to delineate the exact frequency somewhere in
the lower midrange? But I did hear it at the start of the Étude
impressions but now it is not noticeable.
Size:
Yes, they are chunky. Yes, the nozzles are on the border of too short,
but actually even my preferred wide bore donuts (with very little tip length)..........but here the Étude fit perfectly!
The cable is no big thing, but somehow the Étude comes with 3 sets of
ear-tips, whereas the way more expensive Kiwi ears Astral with 1DD and
6BAs only came with one set? Go figure, but really I don’t care, I
mean I’m not going to get my underwear in a bind over ear-tips. Plus
the Astral ear-tips look like they are on another level, so maybe
quality over quantity here.
To summarize the sound:
Very relaxing holding this style of slightly lumbering bass that still
holds good detail awesome texture and a little diminished transient ability. The thing is all this talk of
bass and you would think that it is overpowering and jumping into
midrange focus, but it is not.........super careful bass here!
This is one of the most analog sounding, most balanced IEMs I have heard this year. Sure it is the
quintessential fun tune, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to mess
with the technicalities. What comes out the other end is purely
listenable and holds just enough detail to be both dramatic and the
feeling you are not missing a thing. This stage holds great
note-weight due to these deep notes, and somehow the deepness goes and
slightly buries any off-timbre from the BAs here, making them a true
advancement in timbre performance. Being the treble is not hot and the
midrange is middle stance, this BA timbre is golden here! Stage is
very round and actually pretty big, bigger than I thought at the
start, and I don’t know why that is, maybe the music I have chosen?
Anyway…….If you have read up to this point………I thank-you, and if you
get the Étude you will be rewarded. For just $119.00 USD the bass
texture and round-about pace and detail takes the cake. One of the
best bass examples if not the best bass in this price bracket I have
heard all year, plus the way the mids are set-up and the treble is
positioned, they go about to accentuate this bass phenomena!
Size comparisons:
Left to right:
Ziigaat Lush, Kiwi ears Étude and Kiwi ears Astral
This is the very first BCD (out of 5) that the bass vibration, I could feel in my hands at reasonable volumes, it's crazy!
First impressions:
I have to say I started this impression task on the wrong foot. I got
lazy to find my true favorite ear-tips. So I tried some generic
wide-bores, then my DAP was on some generic death metal that was
recorded like azz. Whew……….glad that experience is over with! So I got
out the keys and opened the giant safe I store my IEMs in and found
the SIMGOT AUDIO Black wide-bore ear-tips. These tips are basically my
favorite form factor yet they are made with thicker black silicone.
I’ll admit I watched a (banned members) review on these things. He
talked about the vibrational abilities of this bone conduction driver
and how they want to call it a KVT driver. The driver reminded me of
the 11mm Bone Conduction Driver in the Apevoix Grit. Oh…wait what do
we have here………The Grit has one BCD, one 10mm DD and 4BAs! Imagine
that. Our Étude has a 10mm Beryllium DD, a KVT (BCD) driver and 3BAs!
Yes the BCD sounds familiar to the Grit. Though here we are gifted
with a more flat midrange and not quite offering the treble energy of
the Grit. In fact for less money (the Étude is) we are actually
getting a more refined tuning here, at least from memory I say this?
Where here the treble is just about right offering a slight beginning
of a roll off, and when you join that to a relatively flat midrange it
starts to take treble presence by just being what it is and not
boosted. Same as the bass actions here provided by both a 10mm DD and
the BCD offering an extra careful sub bass boost. There is supposedly a BCD
artifact in the graph of how this bass is relayed, showing an extra
hicup……don’t ask me to delineate the exact frequency somewhere in
the lower midrange? But I did hear it at the start of the Étude
impressions but now it is not noticeable.
Size:
Yes, they are chunky. Yes, the nozzles are on the border of too short,
but actually even my preferred wide bore donuts (with very little tip length)..........but here the Étude fit perfectly!
The cable is no big thing, but somehow the Étude comes with 3 sets of
ear-tips, whereas the way more expensive Kiwi ears Astral with 1DD and
6BAs only came with one set? Go figure, but really I don’t care, I
mean I’m not going to get my underwear in a bind over ear-tips. Plus
the Astral ear-tips look like they are on another level, so maybe
quality over quantity here.
To summarize the sound:
Very relaxing holding this style of slightly lumbering bass that still
holds good detail awesome texture and a little diminished transient ability. The thing is all this talk of
bass and you would think that it is overpowering and jumping into
midrange focus, but it is not.........super careful bass here!
This is one of the most analog sounding, most balanced IEMs I have heard this year. Sure it is the
quintessential fun tune, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to mess
with the technicalities. What comes out the other end is purely
listenable and holds just enough detail to be both dramatic and the
feeling you are not missing a thing. This stage holds great
note-weight due to these deep notes, and somehow the deepness goes and
slightly buries any off-timbre from the BAs here, making them a true
advancement in timbre performance. Being the treble is not hot and the
midrange is middle stance, this BA timbre is golden here! Stage is
very round and actually pretty big, bigger than I thought at the
start, and I don’t know why that is, maybe the music I have chosen?
Anyway…….If you have read up to this point………I thank-you, and if you
get the Étude you will be rewarded. For just $119.00 USD the bass
texture and round-about pace and detail takes the cake. One of the
best bass examples if not the best bass in this price bracket I have
heard all year, plus the way the mids are set-up and the treble is
positioned, they go about to accentuate this bass phenomena!
Size comparisons:
Left to right:
Ziigaat Lush, Kiwi ears Étude and Kiwi ears Astral
Last edited:
Users who are viewing this thread
