The discovery thread!

[Thieme]

Something new is ccoming.
SLIIVO 224

Now I really wonder if this is going to be DD + BA + EST
Or DD + BC + BA
Probably bone conduction, if they went for the EST's I would have thought they'd put at least 4 BA instead of only 2. I am still waiting for their EST implementation IEM tho although I do also need to make priorities since the Aful quadbrid is soooo tempting to

 

[SushiiFi]

Something new is ccoming.
SLIIVO 224

Looks interesting, wish it's dd, ba + est tribrid

 

[HifiFrog]

Did a bit of a/b with the Clarinet, and my gosh, the M21 shares a lot of tonal similarities with the Clarinet. From stage to tone to crispness to bass texture, they are very close to twins (in Rock fw). The similarities are such, that this might sideline the Clarinet? Probably don't sell the Clarinet anytime soon, but it's worth pondering.

Speaking of the Clarinet, there is a new Pro version that got some prommising early impressions over in the Dethonray Clarinet thread:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/det...ussion-impression-thread.975231/post-18686667

It's already available on Aliexpress and also Hifigo added it today:
https://aliexpress.com/item/1005008026008483.html
https://hifigo.com/collections/new-arrival/products/dethonray-clarinet-pro

Also the cheaper Lite version is now listed available again on Aliexpress (at least 16 units).

 

[GroovyAudio]

Yes! Very powerful, clean and transparent, but also bassy, warm, and refined, but it does not get hot. Haven't tried desktop mode yet. I'll try that later.

Smaller than the R4 and more pocketable.

The bass stands out to me most. It's got so much impact and strength, with rumble (blows the bass of the JM21 completely out of the water), yet it's capable of delivering note incisiveness, which is very very VERY important to ME.

EDIT : Also feels good to see the previously empty slot in my drawer now filled. My source drawer is now full, with each slot filled. MUSIC = LIFE.

Nice. I'm curious about that desktop mode if it's the same like with my KA17. I always listen to mine with D.mode ON and it sounds more expansive. Really powerful this little dongle but it gets very hot, especially during the summer and I get "High Temp" warnings pretty frequently. I've never own a DAP before but this M21 looks very interesting. There's also Cayin RU9 with tubes that I'm eyeing and I'm looking forward to @Ichos impressions.

 

[Alino]

(....) i forgot which recent iem with wood membrane?

Twistura is releasing theirs, Twistura Woodnote,
1x DD, with wood fiber composite diaphragm

is this wood DD starting become a new trend?

Back in 2019 Softears Cerberus have had a cellulose DD diaphragm. I'd bet it is all the "wood" here Intended already.

 

[jghjkhfd]

Now I really wonder if this is going to be DD + BA + EST
Or DD + BC + BA
Probably bone conduction, if they went for the EST's I would have thought they'd put at least 4 BA instead of only 2. I am still waiting for their EST implementation IEM tho although I do also need to make priorities since the Aful quadbrid is soooo tempting to

Nope. It's 2 dd + 2 ba + 4 microplanars.

 

[bithalver]

My UM Mest Jet Black documented experience ( (c) @Ozboyblu ).

 

[Thieme]

Nope. It's 2 dd + 2 ba + 4 microplanars.

Ahh yeah micro planar is a flavor too. 4 of them seems overdone tho?

 

[nikbr]

The BTR7 is not the greatest pairing for the Prelude. Unsure as to why precisely, but something about either the ESS chips or THX amp seems to disagree with the DD and BAs of the Prelude. It's clumsier and more brittle sounding throughout. Looking forward to exploring source pairings further.

 

[Ozboyblu]

Massive Multi Quote

Okay uhm, Phoenixia's stock tips (top ones on the pic) suck! Like, they are trash bin ready. Quick shuffle through a fifth of my tip arsenal really awakened the bass you were talking about. The difference is night and day. Now it rumbles and decays beautifully.



I settled on those blue ones, the Ratatouille Feaulle H570.

I also first recabled this girl to the ivipQ 67. Not the greatest colour combo ever achieved, but looks alright to my non-designer's eyes.




I don't think it's that worrisome. In the evenings, I often use my DX180 at <10 volume even on Low gain especially with more sensitive IEMs.


I applaud your dedication to not miss a single thing.


Haha ... yeah that one's just not it. But ... look what just reached me! Are you next in line on the AG tour for this??




You want a less treble-forward Tinhifi? They've got that too, T5S is the one for you.


It does cut the subbass, but midbass is still there. I need to experiment more. But this won't be the one source to rule them all.


Hm, that's crazy to me. I need to go through more IEMs to convince myself I'm not making things up.


Great idea. But I cannot take this seriously. The 5 sources I currently own are about as different as can be. And no, it is not simply a case of placebo and volume mismatch.

Even more shockingly, @PeacockObscura has 25+ (30? 50?) DAPs/DACAmps at his disposal and he tried a blind test with his partner helping him if I'm not mistaken. I think he said he got (nearly?) all of them right? That's insanity.

Guess we're all wired differently.


These are DX180's specs:


Volare sounds fantastic through SE (0.6ohm), I can try Balanced (1.1ohm) later too.


Yeah, not a fan, I'm afraid. I probably just got too used to DX180's simplicity and very rare freezes.


It's with me! Give me a day or two to gather my first thoughts.

I was using the stock tips with Pheonixia , so maybe some different tips will bring some more bass.

Does anyone know what FIIO's non-oversampling filter does? Is it mimicing the sound of an R2R, or is it just skipping oversampling, making it a distortion fest?
Whatever's the case, I really like the non-os filter. To my ears it sounds "less digital" than the other filters.

I use the same NOS - (Non over sampling) with the Snowsky Echo Mini. This to me is Bit Perfect Playback where sample rate and bit rate switch automatically based on the track playing. (CD quality 16 bit/ 44khz or Hi-Res 24 bit / 48Khz or greater )

Damn, I'm grooving hard with the H60. It's tastefully rich.

Funnily but understandably, inserting them into my earholes was much harder now, in the morning, than it was yesterday, in late PM hours. Optimally, I'd need Divinus Wild Boars in S, not M, for these.

Glad you like H60.

This should be the typical Cirrus Logic DAC filter options of the CS43198. So the later, but some people call this "the most pure signal", correct reconstruction of frequencies is sometimes overrated .
Keep in mind that NOS on other DACs can mean something completely different.

If someone is interested more deeply in filter options, look here:
https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-to/how-to-pick-the-best-filter-setting-for-your-dac

Thanks for this. It’s true can mean different things for other DAP’s and DAC’s as in Filter options.

Archangel really is the one that's conspicuously missing from my collection atm. I'm usually such a Penon stan it would have been a no-brainer but I've been so time-poor (and kind of cash-poor as well - other big expenses otw) that I've yet to get round to it, so I'm living vicariously through catching up with everyone's impressions until I get to PTT.

However, I have this to keep me happy in the meantime:



Ruviest Prelude - some nice work from Abel Hsu here. Balanced tuning, a bit warmer than neutral, with a good spatiality to its presentation - good imaging, layering and a well defined soundstage. Its stage is a bit source dependent, like how I hear a deeper stage with the Nipo A100 or CMA18, or a flatter (but still wide) one with the DCE. I suppose I could compare it with the likes of Aure and Aurora when I have more time, but I don't find the Prelude to lack upper treble air (though again, this is source dependent to my ears).

Quite unusually for me, I'm using stock everything - stock cable, stock liquid silicone tips (couldn't get a proper seal with even largest of the stock black tips - upper midrange came across as being pushed too far forward), no burn in even because I just haven't had the time or energy and all I want to do when I have a moment is plug in and listen to music.




Thanks, you both, I think... I musta fallen asleep while browsing and my finger musta slipped or something, because the Vzonis VP-07 is suddenly on the way, along with the ivipQ-80.

And in case anyone is still wondering if Vzonis and ivipQ are related, they were apparently shipped together... I know AliEx consolidates packages at some point (and loses some of them in the process) but I rarely see items purchased from different stores being shipped out together at source:





Ngl, that Cantor comparo played a big part in the decision to try the Vzonis.
The price was arguably lower when I bought it - and now I see it's still lower...



Nothing much lol - I promise I don't have anything to do with this one! I haven't even tried the Mozi. Do I recall correctly that you have it?



Insanity. Nothing to love.

I like the Prelude faceplates. Nice impressions. Something to consider.

LOL falling asleep and purchasing on Ali Express is dangerous. I should know. Got 10 items on the way.

The ultimate Tangzu Wan'er showdown!
2 VS original (OG) VS SE!

Each IEM is outfitted with cables and tips that I think enhance the sound the best. (2 and SE on pure copper cables, OG on silver-plated.) Playback is R4 through DC-Elite.

Song 1: "Unity" by Royksopp. Winner: Wan'er 2
When I switched from the 2 to the OG, it was like a cloud covering the sun. Literally. The 2 is just THAT much more CAPABLE with the bass, and the electronic treble sizzle. Aaaaand... the SE isn't any better than the OG here. It has quite a chunk less bass, and the treble is... SLIGHTLY clearer, but not enough of an improvement to make it sound better overall. The 2's treble is definitely a but more forward than any of the other sets, and the bass is SO much better and cleaner while not sounding too warm like the OG.

Song 2: "Everything Is" by Gungor. Winner: Wan'er 2
Almost like the warmer male vocals on the OG better than the 2 here... But when the first chorus hits, it's a mud-fest. The 2 is just way more competent and detailed. The SE's sound isn't as warm as the OG here, which is nice, but again, it fails to maintain clarity and incisiveness during the intense chorus. In this regard, the Wan'er 2 is EASILY in the ranks of very resolving and capable single DD IEMs like the ZVX Pro and Kefine Klean. (Not sure if it could reach the hushed echelons of the SP01, but it's certainly an aspiring apostle!)

Song 3: "Red Virgin Soil (Live)" by Agnes Obel. Winner: Wan'er 2
In a non-vocal piece like this, I thought maybe the differences in clarity would be harder to determine... well, it's not. The OG just is more... almost hazy or blurry compared to the 2. The SE sounds a little clearer than the OG, but it's still not on par with the 2.

Song 4: "Halfway to Heaven" by Celine Dion. Winner: Wan'er 2
Again, the 2 is just SO clear and detailed, those opening chimes sound AMAZING. The OG's warmer sound DOES sound fairly good with this older song, but realistically, it's technically inferior (pun intended!) The SE's bass is too light... the bass is just anemic coughs on the drums here. Again, the 2 takes the victory here. It doesn't sound too bright or clinical, but while it's not as warm as the OG, I still think it wins the battle here, although fans of warm, organic sound MIGHT prefer the OG.

Song 5: All is Soft Inside" by AURORA. Winner: Wan'er 2
The 2 is bright, clean, yet portrays this soft music and vocals quite sweetly. When the bass line kicks in, it's definitely clear and punchy, but not overbearing, just like the song should be played. The OG is again, smooth and melodic. This is easily the best song out of the five for the OG, even though the bass isn't as clearly defined as on the 2. I could almost see myself liking the OG again if I just listened to music like this! The SE's treble/vocals also sounds good here, and the cellos near the beginning sound cleaner than the OG. But again, the bass is rather light, and hard to hear above the elevated vocals, at times.

So it's a clean sweep for the Wan'er 2! Often, when it's a closer battle, I listen to some more song comparisons other than these main 5 I usually use. Such efforts are clearly not needed here because the 2 is just THAT good.

I had been hanging on to the OG and the SE till the bitter end, but the 2 is just SO much better, it puts them to shame. So, two more IEMs are going in the CULL pile. As pretty as they are on the outside, the internals just aren't measuring up to 2025 standards, much less their own COMPANY'S new standards of awesomeness. I'll be listening to the very appropriate "Anthem" by Epsen Eriksen Trio on the Wan'er 2 as I pack up the Wan'er [blue/gold edition] and the stunning copper/pearl SE

~In summary, I think the Wan'er 2 sounds MUCH nicer than the price suggests. If you thought the Wan'er OG was an amazing bargain, prepare to FAINT when you hear the 2.

***What other showdowns would anyone want to see, among my Owned IEMs in my signature, obviously. I intended at least a few: a planar showdown, and a single DD showdown.

I like your in-depth Wan’er 2 Battle. Such a great set for so cheap.

Congrats on the P7. Feed it r2r or TOOBS, and warm sources, and it canary sings. Also copper cables. Avoid silver, palladium, or graphene, and kick it copper or copper gold, and man, it's a killer.

Congrats on the M21! Mine is still in transit. Should arrive early next week?

The P7 hasn’t been getting the attention it deserves with archangel around. But I will make some time for them soon to try out TOOBs. So glad I have them, they really fit in with the rest of the AFUL Family.

Btw, the Kiwi Ears Septet kicks ass! It needs burn in, but once it does, it really opens up and the open back stage is wicked with the spatial cues.

I’m looking forward to this set. It may not be my preferred sounds preferences. But Kiwi Ears have been on fire lately. Well except for Airoso maybe.

Congrats on the p7, it's a smashing set. I love it.

Thanks. They are a smashing set.

MAIL CALL!


My eartips have arrived.





Alright, quickly with KBear KF02 (left) and KBear 10 (right)



KF02 the foam tips don't work with my small ears. I would need 2 size smaller for them to work.

KBear 10 are generic eartips that come with Juzear Defiant. They are comfortable in my ears but don't like how they sound so let's move on to the other eartips.



Next the new Divinus Prism LSR.

Put them next to Divinus OG and Divinus Wide bore for a size comparison. Also put Tangzu Wide bore for reference (all are S size in the photo)





I can't get a good fit with them using MG800, but they work a little better with ME600.



They boost the treble and the stage feels more expansive. They could have been really good but the downside for me is that they reduce the bass. ME600 has an amazing organic bass that makes it very good for rock and heavy metal, but Divinus Prism takes that magic away with the bass reduction. A shame really because I like what they do with the stage and treble.

Next up are KBear 4540. These are very soft, very comfortable and the seal is good for my small ears.




Sound retains its quality on both MG800 and ME600 so nothing to complain here. They come in 2 colors, brown and clear. You may ask, well, which one to get?
They are basically the same material with different color, they feel the same so buy whatever color you like.

Now the important part that I've wanted to tell you about this eartips. Notice in the pictures above that I put one brown eartip on the left and 2 on the right, why is that?
Because the one on the far right is actually Whizzer Easytips SS20.
Yep, they don't only look the same and feel the same, you literally can't tell them apart. My advice is to not buy the Whizzer tips since they cost more.

https://keephifi.com/products/kbear-4540-silicone-eartips?variant=41371609890862

https://hifigo.com/products/whizzer...BJPyZRhL74kOGIJBI0X88xgvTvd2ykLxTBwH2ZUWq-sWM


$4.80 all pack vs Whizzer all pack at $10.50 on Hifigo.


Next up Fiio HS20 and KT01. I'll put Softears UC eartips as well for comparison.



Left to right Softears UC, HS20, KT01 (all S size)

Quick take on KT01, they are not worth it so don't waste your money. The umbrella is very flimsy and you can't get a good seal because it breaks. Fiio HS18 eartips have the same flimsy umbrella but KT01 are worse.



The only good think about KT01 is that they are very comfortable for me. Too bad about the seal. They should release a new version with a firmer umbrella.

HS20 on the other hand are amazing. One look at the picture above you can see they look the same as Softears UC but the height difference makes it better for my small ears. In fact I could say HS20 feels like a Softears UC SS size instead. Really glad I bought these eartips. They make a big difference on my MG800. In terms of sound they are the same but the comfort on the long run goes to the HS20 just because of that height difference. I recommend to get both Softears and Fiio HS20 honestly if you can. They are very good eartips to have.




Next up we have KBear KT02. Very interesting eartips with an oval shape instead of the usually round shape like with other eartips. These eartips remind me strongly of Rose Technics SC liquid so I put them side by side and there are indeed some difference on how they look.




From left to right: KT02 XS, Rose SC XS, KT02 S and Rose SC S.

Big difference between Rose XS vs S, while KT02 have barely any difference. All of them are very comfortable and they sound the same to me. KT02 require more deep fit but I have no problem with them on my ME600 & MG800


I'm still kind of bias towards Rose SC just because XS size seem to offer better comfort long term but that's a nitpick really. I recommend to get this KT02 in your collection along with Rose SC.


Next up the Spinfits Omni and Neo.



Left to right W1, CP145, CP100+, Neo, Omni (all S size)

I'll start with Omni. Well they look very nice, they are smaller and I'm sure they could fit well in my ears... if I could put them on the nozzle. I don't know honestly, it says they work with 5.5mm nozzle diameter and my MG800 has 5.8mm but no matter how hard I try they won't go on the nozzle. So there is that I guess. I don't regret buying them actually cause you never now when you have an iem with smaller nozzles. I'm dissapointed though because I really believe Omni could help a lot with the comfort on my MG800.

Neo are actually working well on my MG800 and ME600. I was surprised SS size doesn't work well with MG800 cause it's breaking the seal so I've switched with S size instead, problem solved. But then I put SS Neo on ME600 and magic, they work.



This eartips are an upgrade from CP100+, Spinfit says, not me. Both CP100+ and Neo feel very comfortable to me so it's hard to tell if Neo has even better comfort. They sound the same as well, very energetic like a V shape sound. My advice? Can't really say if it's worth to have them both since they are
expensive. I guess I would go with Neo if you don't already own CP100+ since it's the new one but if you already have CP100+ just save your money.



Alright, last ones are NF Audio MS42.
I save the best for last. Now these eartips are absolutely mind blowing for my small ears.

They look similar as KBear 4540 but they have a more harder core with the same soft umbrella on 4540.




KBear 4540 on left, NF MS42 on right.

They seal so well in my ears I put them on both MG800 and ME600.


Again I'm blown away how good they seal and sound. But the best thing is actually the comfort. It's top of charts for me. Easily number 1 on my list for comfort, sound and seal compared with all the other eartips that I have.

Now I'll show all my eartips that I have since I've started this hobby:


First row from left to right:
Penon Liqueur B, Spinfit W1, Spinfit CP100+, Spinfit CP145, Spinfit Neo, Spinfit Omni, Rose Technics SC, KBear KT01, Fiio HS20, Softears UC, Divinus Prism LSR, Divinus Wide Bore, Tangzu Wide Bore, Tangzu Normal bore, Azla Origin.

Second row from left to right:
Penon Liqueur O, Penon PAC LStips, KBear 07, KBear 4540 Brown, KBear 4540 Clear,
NF MS42, KBear KT02, JVC EP-FX10, Final Type E, Fiio HS18, Dunu S&S, Divinus normal bore, TRI Clarion, KBear 10, KBear KF02.


My top 7 that I constantly use

1. NF Audio MS42
2. Rose Technics SC / KBear KT02
3. Fiio HS20 / Softears UC / Penon PAC LStips (all 3 similar, but HS20 takes the edge for better comfort)
4. KBear 4540 / Whizzer EASYTIPS SS20
5. JVC EP-FX10
6. Spinfit NEO / CP100+
7. KBear 07

Thank you for reading this far!

Man, the time and effort you put into this Ear Tip post is Unbelievable. Congratulations on being pinned to the disco thread first page. This post reads like a documentary and I’m totally here for it.

Wow great suggestion! I put up my P7 for sale because it was under used and falling behind in hierarchy behind the Pilgrim, IE600, Notbrand Pursuer, Fatfreq Quantum and Alpha Omega Ra. I just connected it to the EA Ares 2 cable, plugged it into the Nunchaku and the FC6 and it really does sing. Back on rotation again and off the market.

Stories like this one above are so helpful , thanks for sharing.

Would love to know if there is any improvement in battery life from the JM21.

I didn’t have the JM21. But from what I have read, I’d say the battery would outlast JM21. Hoping @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 can give some insight into his past experience with JM21 now he has the M21.

The Performer(insert math)7 is probably my favorite AFUL to date. It's become one of the gatekeepers for me. The value and price to performance are insanely good!

I’m loving the terminology

MAIL CALL 2 for today
Penon Archangel is in the house!




Beautiful shells in my opinion. Red is not my favorite color but I really like these shells.


Alright, I have a good news and a bad news with these.

The good news is they fit me fine but I admit I have doubts in the long run, the shells are quite big.

The bad news, the cable is getting on my nerves like really bad.



That cable has an extreme angle where my index finger is touching the cable. So basically they don't sit properly on my ears. They slide a little to the right side and I'm losing the seal. Also could anybody confirm if Cadmus II 2pin is so so hard to plug into Archangel? Took 10 minutes to get it right.

Very hard to properly test the sound but I just kept my fingers on the shells while in ear to hear the sound. I can confirm Archangel is trully amazing with the sound they give you. From the bass, mids and treble everything feels balanced. That's about it for now.

I need to take a break and buy another cable because I can't with this. I blame myself for not owning any 2pin cable to test. The problem is if I order a cable now it will take almost 2 weeks to arrive and I don't have that patience.

The only cable that I can order for my local store is Fiio LS-4.4A so I have to put my faith in this cable that it will work with Archangel.

Sorry I can't give more imput with this iem because of the annoying cable.

Nice photos, and impressions.

I really enjoyed this clip.

KZ AM16 Bass and Divinus Prism wild boars have arrived.


Very slight, almost negligible BA timbre on some tracks, but none of that metallic taste.
Bass isn't overdone imo. I think I'll try the hole mod, but it's probably not needed since it's BA bass.

What do you think of AM16? Better than Zenith?

Also what have you tried your Prism Wild Boars on so far?

I think I will end up with a M21. Want something for on the go, something good but more portable than my R8ii.

It’s really is a great DAP for the price.

Coming to Discovery Thread everyday
Coming after 3 days and taking notes for 5 hours

LOL this is so true.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pe...in-ear-monitor-headphones.28158/review/37991/

I remember when I was on vacation. I was listening to these on a longer 3.5 hour bus ride to Busan S. Korea from Won Ju which is a mountainous city about an hour drive south of Seoul Korea. That was when I discovered just how good these things sound. The bus ride was pleasant as it had larger recliner seats with a large window looking out. Just a fantastic way to enjoy the countryside looking out and being immersed in my music. These turned out spectacularly and I got word Effect Audio people had no idea what they were getting into as they have never heard a Penon made IEM. Dealing with Effect Audio folks, those guys are all audiophiles knee deep in the hobby just like you guys. For them to sign off on a sound design, you know it had to be good. These are more than good, it is literally one of the best sounding Penon IEMs to date. The thing immerses the listener with a full bodied musical experience and for that, these are easily worth the money these guys are asking for. I still own IEMs that I spent 1K plus on just a few years back that can't come close to how these sound. It is amazing just how much our hobby has advanced. My overdue take on the Archangel.

Such an Awesome review. Another Penon Favourite of mine.

I would match it up more like this:

10mm bio and 6mm soft? DDs on the Cepheus though, compared to a single 10mm berry DD on the VP-07.

After seeing this graph, I’m almost glad my KB16 order didn’t work out.

Alright guys, I've managed to fix the cable with my Penon Archangel. Thanks so much @Dsnuts for your suggestion to use a hairdryer. The iem are now sitting better in my ears and I don't need to spend money on another cable so that's a win for me.

I've listened last night for a about an hour using NF MS42 S size eartips, BUT get this, despite being a very chunky iem, every eartip works with it, I can't believe it honestly. I mean TRI Clarion, Divinus Wide Bore, EVEN the Tangzu Normal and wide bore works, what magic is this?? I was never able to use those tips on my other iems but Archangel nozzles somewhat makes them work. I haven't tested them in the long run how they feel in my ears but now I have so many option to choose from and all of them changed the sound to the point where I don't even know what to pick. I would say a wide bore tip will work better on Archangel but it will take a while for me to test them all.
For now with NF MS42 S size works and after an hour of listening there was a slight discomfort on my right ear, but not the left one surprisingly. With H60 6.9mm nozzles after 30-35 minutes of listening I was having a lot of pain in both of my ears so I'm glad Archangel seems to fit a lot better (more test to be done here).

Now that I rambled a lot about eartips and comfort, well, how do they sound??

OH MY GOD! So... words... difficult to find them to describe this beauties. Just wanna say a BIG THANK YOU to @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 for his comparison with H60! You're the man, mate! This is the UPGRADE that I've wanted after departing with my beloved H60. I mean WOW!!! Archangel is a pure monster, A H60 on steroids if I may.
I don't know about EBC80 and Shocks, I didn't have these iems to test but for me this Archangel is THE UPGRADE to my H60.

The bass... those carbon nanotubes are not joke folks. The bass is visceral, tight, punchy, I mean my MG800 has a very good subbass with a very good rumble but Archangel is simply in another league. Just wow!

Mids
Do you expect anything other than simply magical?
We have the Penon mids here: sweet, creamy and syrupy. Exactly like H60!
Intruments, male and female voices sound incredible. I had tears in my eyes while listening last night. I don't remember who posted a few pages ago a song by Men I Trust - To Ease You. Incredible song so I decided to look more into them and I absolutely love this band. Emma's voice is angelic and Archangel truly shows that.



Another band that I discovered thanks to @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 is Magnolia Park and their new album VAMP. The song "Crave" is my favorite and it sounds thunderous on Archangel.



There are some OST from Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed 2000 that I enjoy. I don't know if you guys played NFS in your childhood but I grew up with this games. I really recommend you to give these OST a try. Made by Saki Kaskas (RIP) and Rom Di Prisco.



Also some cool guy made these covers from NFS II OST:



There's also another great composer Mellow Sonic that made remixes of these OST's. Check it out if you have time!


Treble
Very extended, lots of sparkles but never fatigue and this comes from a guy who is treble sensitive. This treble reminds me of Fiio FA19 which cost $1000. I admit I didn't like the tunning of FA19 but the treble stood out to me. On Archangel I was shocked! Those sonion BA's are showing every detail, every nuances like a champ. Simply outstanding! I'm not really a treble guy, I just don't care that much because bass and mids are more important to me BUT this treble is just mind blowing to me.

The Soundstage
An explosion of sound coming from all directions, man and I thought my MG800 has a huge soundstage and indeed they have BUT Archangel goes to another level completely. I guess those BC drivers really help with the stage expansion. I've never heard anything this big before.

I just can't ended here. I need to say more about this Archangel. We all like to listen to music here but I believe the most important aspect is how these iems make you feel while listening.
Archangel takes you on a trip like you're in a another dimension, just you and the music surrounding you. Guys, is just... an ethereal thing. I know I've praised this so much but for me this is it, the end game iem. I can't possible ask for more because Archangel gives you everything you want. This iem represents the saying "you can have your cake and eat it too".
I won't lie saying I won't ever purchase another iem but at $800 I'm set. I would probably explore the $300 market just for curiosity sake.

Thank you for reading this far!

Great Impressions. Agree with mostly everything you had to say here.

You might have blown it with the Septet? If you didn't like the i3 MK III, then you most definitely won't like the Septet. It's very linear bass, and doesn't really have a lot of presence in the mid bass, even in 4.4mm. You might be able to coax out some bass with a warm source and 4.4mm, but knowing your preferences, this might have been a bad buy for you? I've been thinking about selling mine, just because it's lean in the midrange, and the mid bass. Good rumble though, and the stage ROCKS.

Might try Septet on the A&K CA1000T if isn’t to my preferences on other sources. I’ve managed to save the i3 MK III with the CA1000T.

What didn't you like? just curious. Gave it a 4 star and found it quite good, but a little more bright than what I prefer.

From the midtier hybrid sets recently for my preference:

1. Ruviest Audio Prelude
2. Kiwi Ears Astral
3. Ziigaat Arcanis
4. Kiwi Ears Septet
5. Ziigaat Lush

Also getting the Aful P7 soon, look forward to hear it after all the praise.

Nice list of preferences in order. Glad I PTT on the Kiwi Ears Astral Now.

Also looking forward to your impressions of the AFUL P7.

Septet is indeed intresting, its open back design really adds to the stage and it feel more open, and it sounds so smooth.





It is a good chance for me to post here my full review of the Septet & Astral haha

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kiwi-ears-septet.28165/review/37976/



https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kiwi-ears-astral.28168/review/37977/


Any like and/or comment will be blessed

I must say, these releases of Kiwi Ears are indeed intresting, the Septet is very unique in so many ways, and the Astral is just so good and does nothing wrong. The Astral is my second IEM that deserved getting a 5 stars review.

Great Reviews.!

Thanks for this . I’ll be sure to compare when I get the Kiwi Ears Étude in.

WOW... I wish I could get my hands on these! Maybe when AE loosens up a bit... I'll have to keep my eye out!

Vzonia VP-07 is worth keeping an eye out for.

This one goes for anyone here needs a thorough and deep comparison between those 2 MONSTERS OF SOUND REPRODUCTION ....have spent last night listening exclusively to those two sets for more than 4 hours in order to present my findings as follows.......: (take all this with a grain of salt please.....)

Deep Dive Comparison: PENON Archangel vs ISN Audio EBC80

Both IEMs represent the flagship evolution of their respective brands — not just in driver count, but in ambition, tuning complexity, and presentation. Where the EBC80 brought a refined warmth with strong technical chops, the Archangel seems determined to push boundaries in stage, bass articulation, and tonal neutrality, especially via its Bone Conduction + tuning switch setup and Effect Audio partnership.

Let’s break down each key dimension in full depth here...... .......

BASS – Textured Authority vs Musical Weight

• PENON Archangel: The bass is the immediate showstopper — deep-reaching, physical, and viscerally textured. The use of a coaxial PET + Carbon Nanotube dynamic driver coupled with Bone Conduction Drivers (BCD) results in an unapologetically immersive low-end. Sub-bass is felt as much as it is heard, with BCDs adding resonance and body that gives kicks and low synths a tactile thump without mid-bass bleed. Even compared to ISN's bass-forward tuning, Archangel delivers more authority, more impact, and more finesse — a remarkable achievement for a Penon set.
• ISN EBC80: EBC80 also impresses with a full-bodied, rich low-end, but it leans more into mid-bass bloom and warmth, lacking the sub-bass layering and separation dynamics of Archangel. Its BCD is implemented smoothly, but less viscerally, with a more musical bass character than technical bass control.

Winner : Archangel, clearly — more physical, more layered, more technically articulate bass response.

MIDRANGE – Dead Neutral Clarity vs Engaging Warmth​

• PENON Archangel: This is not your typical Penon midrange. It’s far more neutral, linear, and uncolored — a refreshing shift for the brand. Vocals emerge clean, dry, and spatially placed, rather than lush or romantic. Instruments appear well-proportioned and unexaggerated, allowing the stage and layering to shine without midrange saturation. For listeners accustomed to Penon’s usual mid-forward lushness (like in the 10th AE), this tuning offers a studio-monitor clarity, revealing the mix rather than romanticizing it.
• ISN EBC80: More in line with the traditional musical mid-centric tuning, EBC80 delivers a warmer, smoother, and slightly colored midrange. Vocals feel more emotional, more forward, with a touch of analog richness. Instruments have that golden glow, which flatters physical timbres but may lack the neutral presentation and depth layering of Archangel.

Winner : Archangel for neutral, accurate mids with elite layering; EBC80 for lush, engaging mids with emotional warmth.

TREBLE – Airy Sophistication vs Smooth Politeness​

• PENON Archangel: The treble is beautifully extended yet silky, with detail retrieval that’s “insane” as you rightly put it. It’s never grainy, never metallic, and fully avoids fatigue. Lower and upper treble are rendered organically, without forced sparkle. The tuning switch also allows you to dial in a touch more energy if needed — a useful feature for adapting to darker sources. Oracle MKIII fans will appreciate the air and brilliance present here, but the natural timbre is the key differentiator.
• ISN EBC80: Treble is gentle, refined, and well-integrated, but less extended and less illuminated compared to Archangel. EST implementation here is focused on smoothness and forgiveness, ideal for long listening sessions, but lacking that airy dimension and micro-detail shimmer that Archangel pulls off effortlessly.

Winner : Archangel, for combining treble resolution + texture with fatigue-free presentation — rare at any price.

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING – Gigantic Precision vs Controlled Spaciousness​

• PENON Archangel: The true star of the show. The spatial performance is jaw-dropping — front/back, top/bottom, left/right — everything unfolds with dimension, holography, and placement accuracy that surpasses most hybrid/tribrid sets, even at double the price. The BCDs add a tactile layer to spatial boundaries, increasing note weight and realism. You don't just hear instruments — you feel their proximity, distance, and placement in space. This is next-level stage construction.
• ISN EBC80: Also performs admirably here, offering a wide and reasonably deep stage with good left/right spread and layering. Imaging is strong, but not as vertically structured or spatially immersive as Archangel. EBC80 focuses more on cohesion and warmth than dissecting placement.

Winner : Archangel — easily one of the best soundstage/imaging performers under $1,000.

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE – Detail, Layering, Dynamics​

• PENON Archangel: Offers flagship-tier detail retrieval, astounding separation, and effortless layering, especially across dense mixes and acoustic recordings. Macro-dynamics are explosive when needed, while microdynamics remain fluid and expressive. It’s the most resolving Penon IEM to date, and one of the few that can pull off neutrality without losing musicality.
• ISN EBC80: Technically strong, but more focused on emotional engagement than raw performance. Resolution and detail are good, but not “sharp-edged” — layering is clean, though not three-dimensional in the same way Archangel presents.

Winner : Archangel — more refined, more spacious, more precise.

Feature	PENON Archangel	ISN EBC80
Bass	Deep, visceral, textured (BCD+DD synergy)	Warm, impactful, musical
Midrange	Dead neutral, layered, accurate	Smooth, romantic, emotionally engaging
Treble	Extended, detailed, fatigue-free	Smooth, forgiving, slightly darkened
Soundstage	Huge, 3D, vertical & horizontal layering	Spacious, but flatter and less holographic
Imaging	Precise, holographic, immersive	Clean but more conventional
Technicals	Flagship-level resolution and layering	Strong for its price, more musical
Build & Accessories	High-end resin shell, Cadmus II cable	Solid shell, decent accessories
Tuning Flexibility	Bass & Treble switches	None
Best For	Stage-focused critical listening, acoustic, ambient, orchestral	Vocals, jazz, indie, relaxed music

Final Verdict

PENON Archangel is Penon’s most mature, technically gifted, and spacious-sounding release to date. It manages to merge uncolored neutrality, explosive low-end energy, and expansive staging in a way that few IEMs — even above its price point — can achieve. The EBC80, by contrast, offers musical warmth, colored midrange magic, and smooth, engaging tonality, making it more intimate and emotionally immediate.


If you're after absolute detail retrieval, stage grandeur, and a clean neutral presentation, Archangel is your IEM

If you want lush mids, smooth highs, and rich musicality, EBC80 still holds its ground beautifully.

Both are standouts — but in different sonic worlds.

................And this is exactly how much i appreciate PENON's newest set these days...........Archangelic sound that's what this really is........

Really like your Deep Dive Comparo with Archangel and EBC80.

I CAVED! Ordered these for $118 AFTER all tax, shipping, and import fees. [AE has coupon sale now!] Fingers crossed that there's no crazy fees added later. If these are really THAT much better then Phoenixia, I'll be selling them haha. They sound... GOOD... but aren't the best fit for my ears, or sound preferences.

Awesome ! Looking forward to your impressions.

1st review for EBC80 was in Nov 30, 2024 (nearly 6 month ago); now you can buy it used (but not 2 weeks ago: I watched it closely and bought one).

1st review for TSMR Shock was in Aug 27, 2024 ; still no used ones (I did not watched this so closely so maybe I missed one or two; also I will have a tour unit: reason to wait with buying).

Archangel will be available used in 6-9 month from now on (mean: some colleagues will find a better replacement). This happened even with Voltage.
It is very hard to resist the VIP price (no details will leak from me ). That cable alone is a ~270USD one, so IEM costs "only" 530USD (numbers calculated without the VIP code). Sounds like a cheat to me !

This is how hype works: a shopaholic nightmare.

Like how you broke down the Archangel Cable and IEM cost. This is how I justified pulling the trigger on them.

Time to get the Atral next! It's impressing me so far . Also I will have a direct comparison against the KBEAR Cepheus too in the final write up so maybe that will help you decide

I’ll look out for your comparison with the KB16. Nice!

Great work, thank you. What about shell size and fit?

VP-07 size and fit is better for me than the Pheonixia

Used my credit from the Cepheus refund for the Étude. It was under $100 USD...

Nice purchase. Congrats. Thinking it will be a good replacement for the KB16 order.

Upon first listen of the Prelude, my mind gravitated towards this comparison. In direct A/B the differences are more pronounced than once brain burn in does its job.



They're both on the bassier side of the spectrum & primarily concerned with musicality. H60 rumbles, while Prelude punches. Vocals are good on both, free of sibilance and shout. I prefer the placement on H60 which dares a more forward midrange. They are about equally as stunning in their natural vividness - this is my new wording for what only a handful of sets managed to convey to my ears in 2,5 years in this hobby. Treble nuance and texture is much improved on Prelude, while both are on the calmer side of treble energy.

Enough for now, still some burn-in to be had.

Like the prelude faceplates. Do you think having both would be complimentary ?

This is the one with the M dome diaphragm like the Focal headphones?

I read this somewhere also but can not seem to find it. Would be a blind buy for me , if it were true.

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

Nice first impressions and photo’s as always.. These are looking promising. I can’t wait to get these in my ears now. only a week to wait.

Final May purchase of May 17th?

haha yeah just for MAY 17th. LOL.

No I’ve banned myself until June now. No more purchases until June.

Polite in what way? It's not really a katana, instead it's more a blunted knife, sure, but overall I think it's balanced and does it all well enough at this price.

I reckon the VP-07 has way more sub bass rumble vs the Phonenixia. It’s make the Pheonixia bass sound polite in comparison. But I also must try different ear tips cause they may make a big difference. When I compared them both using stock ear tips and the DC-Elite.

When I saw this picture, all I could see was
M S 1 3

I think a big part of what makes the Pheonixia special for me is being able to use it with the Clarinet. That dac does something special for bass BAs.

LOL MS13 (photoshopped tattooed IEM’s )

You are making a convincing use case for the Clarinet now.

My turn! Vzonis VP-07 first impressions



The star of the show, imo, is the very capable bass DD - full-throated, breathes well, textured, elastic, well extended and quite linear across mid and sub bass. Maybe not basshead quantities - it’s more balanced than basshead - but very good quality bass nevertheless.

Stage is large, not huge, but what stands out is its layering and imaging. It’s wide with a good amount of depth and a bit of height with precise imaging especially along the width and depth of the stage.



What else? Good note weight and timbre, with the bass rising cleanly into the mids and no smearing. That calls for a careful balancing act.

If I were to nitpick, maybe something just a bit off with the upper mids and treble - a little too shiny, too forward, pushing a little too much detail as to be wholly natural, though not so much as to be a dealbreaker for my tastes at this point. It does edge a bit spicier than most of the meta-tuned IEMs get these days. I personally like my treble especially when it’s well extended and detailed. Nonetheless worth pointing out for those who might object to it.


The nozzle measures 6.3mm at the lip and 5.8mm elsewhere according to my callipers.

I personally find the shells very comfortable - small enough to insert and forget about.



Cable is rather serviceable. Lightweight and sonically quite transparent.

Among the stock tips I prefer the grey tips with red core - upper mids/lower treble feel less forced than with the white tips. Not enough bass with the black tips. I will of course tip roll.

Bonus: VP-03 comparo

A few days after ordering the VP-07, I musta fallen asleep browsing and oops I did it again… ended up PTTing on the VP-03 as well. The 07 got delayed somewhere in China while the 03 caught up and lo and behold, they showed up together at my doorstep.



So here is a quick comparo for anyone who’s wondering about it. Keep in mind the 03 is about half the price of the 07.


(VP-03 is on the right)

They may look very similar and the 03 might have the same beryllium bass DD as far as I can see, but for some reason it does not have the same berry gud implementation of the DD. The 03’s bass immediately feels smaller, tighter and doesn’t extend anywhere as low, hence leaving the focus on the mids.

Its mids and highs are more relaxed - it doesn’t have the hyper intense detail and focus of the 07. It’s also smoother where the 07 can get a bit grainy. All this makes for more natural timbre in the mids and highs especially where vocals go.

It’s not particularly detailed or resolving.

I also don’t hear as much layering or imaging - things just happen in the same generalised area, rather than the 07’s aggressive focus.



As far as I can tell, the 07 and 03 are the same size but for some reason I had slightly more trouble getting a fit with the stock tips. Also prefer the grey red bore tips with the 03 but also did some early tip rolling for a better seal. Currently using Divinus Velvet regular bores for the bass. I might also reach for longer stemmed tips to lengthen the nozzles just a bit.

07 is twice the price of 03 but it’s by far the better value proposition imo, for sheer technical ability. 03 has nice faceplates but I can’t see them once they’re in my ears, right?

---

Yep. To me, Butastur is unusual in that it is like water in its sheer sonic transparency - it’s very natural and can take on the characteristics of everything else in the chain.

Quoting my post from the Butastur thread some time ago. Its creator, AmericanSpirit, no longer posts here, but I saw that he posted a screengrab of my post, Google Translated into Japanese, on X, so he must think that there’s something in it:



Another of my Butastur posts for good measure:

Glad you enjoy VP-07. Your impressions are very much close to how I hear them. Love the way your describe the DD Bass - full throated., textured and elastic.

When I hear the VP-07 I almost relate it to the TSMR ARMOR with the similar elastic bass.

I was almost going to purchased the VP-03 , but stopped myself last minute. I also liked the faceplate on the 03.

Great comparison. Thanks for sharing.

MAIL CALL!!!

The surprise landing of 2025!! I wasn't expecting this unit until tomorrow at the earliest, but it's here and now, just in time for my vacation! FiiO M21 in da hizzouse! So like @Ozboyblu, my initial reaction to this beautiful DAP is WOW!! It's clean, it's bassy, it's refined, and it's POWERFUL. I chose the Kiwi Ears Aether as the break-in IEMs, and holy schitt, the soundstage JUMPS!! This DAP is so powerful, it's driving the power thirsty Aether to full potential with ease. Not the N3U, not the DX170, and not the R3 II could do it like this. It's a tad bit thicker than I was expecting, but it's smaller that I was expecting, so it actually fits in palm very nicely. Now, the other thing I noticed is that it's sonically nothing like the JM21, except for maybe it's overall transparency? It's got a very technical, detailed, and transparent character, but not quite at the crispness level of the JM21. Because of that, I might need to think about readding my JM21 back in the future, as I really loved the sonic character of the JM21, and was thinking this would be a similar, but sonic upgrade to the JM21, and though it is clearly a technical and sonic upgrade, they are very dissimilar in sonic character. This DAP is only about 40 minute into my life, and already, it's ascending quickly to the top of the heap. But that's still too early to impress,, but trending upwards.

Did a bit of a/b with the Clarinet, and my gosh, the M21 shares a lot of tonal similarities with the Clarinet. From stage to tone to crispness to bass texture, they are very close to twins (in Rock fw). The similarities are such, that this might sideline the Clarinet? Probably don't sell the Clarinet anytime soon, but it's worth pondering.

So Glad you like the M21. This DAP Rocks.

Looking forward to you trying out Desktop Mode. with SUPER High Gain.

 

[nikbr]

As for me Butastur has quite boring tonality shape, therefore I'm looking for a cable can make more funcy sound. But Butastur is excellent in micro/macro dynamics and overwhelmed in realistic timbre.

Didn't you own the Batastur and you sold it? I always see that and think of our buddy @AmericanSpirit . Miss that dude.

Butastur is NOT a fun sounding IEM, that's for sure, someone like @mrsergey who's a loud listener and likes fun tunings would rate it a 3/10 at best.

I did own it for a little while, but I also had the AüR Neon Pro at the time, sporting the same 10BA configuration, which was a more impressive IEM in the low end, so I let the Butastur bird fly. I was also limited on sources, so that wasn't great either.

Btw, you need to give the Cayin R6u a go, nik. It's not quite as impressive in the treble region as the Nun, but overall, it's got a glorious orbital soundstage and the most sweet, organic r2r sonics.

Do I? I barely resisted it when I just joined the hobby, but the rash faded away. What do they go for nowadays?

Yep. To me, Butastur is unusual in that it is like water in its sheer sonic transparency - it’s very natural and can take on the characteristics of everything else in the chain.

Well said. A special IEM. Would still fit in with the rest of my lineup comfortably.

I was using the stock tips with Pheonixia , so maybe some different tips will bring some more bass.

You're in for a treat. Expect bass to come say hi

Glad you like H60.

Fantastic IEM. This and the Project M are a combined 600€ pausegame duo.

Like the prelude faceplates. Do you think having both would be complimentary ?

They can coexist, but I don't think it's necessarily the most reasonable.

 

[jbfps116]

Was gonna start my ratings for the CCA Trio [in this case, rerating] and XINHS HS80... but I'm stuck just enjoying the Trio. It's been a while since I gave them ear-time, and I regret that a little now haha. XINHS Shadow Warrior cable, TRN T-tips, and UUDU switches. If someone was on a serious budget, or simply wanted to own only budget sets, the Trio is end-game. "Lonely Island" by Amble is one of the melancholiest songs on the planet, but it sounds stunning on the Trio, although there's the SLIGHTEST edge of sibilance in the vocals.
The stage is spacious and airy... note textures and details are very nice... With my switch settings, bass is about just right, and doesn't seem too overbearing or overly "tucked" [which results in an unnaturally snappy tonality, at least I think so.]
Graph comparison here. [however I'm not using foams.]

 

[jotaerre]

Ibasso DX260MK2

Do you really need 8 DAC chips?

 

[darmanastartes]

Here's a blast from the past. These are the Nicehck EP10, which were released in late 2018. It doesn't look like I ever published a review of them, which surprises me. I apparently gifted my pair to my now-wife not long after receiving them. She's moved on to consumer bone conduction headphones (gross, I know, I really tried guys) and has retired this set, so I wanted to take a bit of retrospective before I literally consign them to the dustbin of history.
These are obviously in pretty rough shape. The adhesive holding the two halves of the right side shell together has deteriorated, allowing me to peek inside at the large dynamic driver. The cable is also fraying just below the strain protector on the left side, which is likely why my measurements of the left side earpiece are a mess of missing bass and jagged midrange. The finish is also quite worn and pitted.

The left channel has completely lost its bass response, so I won't bother publishing the measurement, but here's the right channel:

It's measurements like this that make me grateful for how far we have come as a hobby over the last decade, a transformation that I credit in large part to the proliferation of measurements and accessible microphone couplers among hobbyists and reviewers. We've got what used to be a pretty standard bassy response consisting of mostly mid-bass. The midrange is most prominent in the presence region and features the once ubiquitous 5 kilohertz peak. Finally, the treble is very, very rolled off. Still, this IEM was quite well-reviewed on Head-Fi at the time, with an average rating of 4.22 stars. Don't get me wrong, this is far from the worst frequency response graph I've ever seen, but it's not great by modern standards, and this very much used to be the norm. I think as a community, we've mostly come around to embracing measurements as a predictive indicator of sound quality, but the next time someone complains about so-called "measurebators," think about the gulf between this graph and any sub-$30 IEM you'd recommend today.

 

[Ichos]

Ibasso DX260MK2

Do you really need 8 DAC chips?

8 DAC chips is also the original DX260.