The discovery thread!

[J808]

I will wait for your impressions. I believe more to "normal" users than famous reviewers.

There are already many great reviewers out there. Just like us, they all have their own biases and opinions. It’s a pretty subjective hobby, so the best thing to do is listen to everyone and find a compromise that works for you. I’ll share some quick thoughts after the honeymoon period though.

 

[jbfps116]

Hype train Top Pro. Let the mass orders begin!!

well... 500$ ain't something I just throw around haha. I just bought a $900 laptop... on a pay-in-4 no less, so I'm holding tight to my money for now.

In other news, the Vzonis VP-07 just came in... Instant wow-factor IEM, both in silky beautiful shells, and in sound. [Accessories, not so much, although the silvery cable is nice.] BIG vocals... punchy, clean bass, and treble that sounds just right to me [aka not meta/polite] This might edge out some of the other mid-fi IEMs I've purchased recently as the best BANG FOR YOUR BUCK IEM... and I've only listened to them for like 5 minutes hahaha. The mini hype-train this one had going was LEGIT. I'm loving the sound already.

I wish more IEMs were built with clear resin... I love the look!

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

Last year DMS compared the mega5EST with the Storm. This year HBB has compared Top Pro with the Storm....

I guess here comes the the New-New-Meta 2025 2.0 X Precision Reference Tilt Field Neutral target (a.k.a. the MJ "hee-hee" 1 for short)

I'll probably end up buying it...

 

[PeacockObscura]

The Heartfield Silberia 1mems +2ba + 1DD this set has really grown on me now one of my favourites what started as a hot fatiguing set as smoothed into the most detailed balanced set with healthy bass that's clean and textured. Now its either burn in or the cable that's made the difference. All I know is I can't stop listening to them.

Edit
I forgot to mention the staging which is just in a class above average in the $400 range perfect layering and instrument placement with open airy width, height and depth and yes 3d holographic presentation. As its said above definitely a favourite that's a slow burner but worth the wait.

 

[Cinder]

My exact response lmao. Even broke out the LG V40 to celebrate the occasion!

 

[jbfps116]

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xinhs-hs80-jupiter-ring.28199/reviews
Here’s my review of the XINHS HS80!
It’s a set that sounds like nothing else in my collection, and continues to wow me.

I went a bit overboard on this review with comparisons but had a fun time with the A-B tests. And I know it’s not getting much buzz so I tried my hardest to describe the sound and how other sets compare.

I wrote the whole review in Word, complete with cool fonts and color choices, but sadly learned that pasting the text into the review page here strips all formatting! Does anyone know a workaround for that?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The Heartfield Silberia 1mems +2ba + 1DD this set has really grown on me now one of my favourites what started as a hot fatiguing set as smoothed into the most detailed balanced set with healthy bass that's clean and textured. Now its either burn in or the cable that's made the difference. All I know is I can't stop listening to them.

Edit
I forgot to mention the staging which is just in a class above average in the $400 range perfect layering and instrument placement with open airy width, height and depth and yes 3d holographic presentation. As its said above definitely a favourite that's a slow burner but worth the wait.

Heartfield dropped the ball on this one. You're the only person who reminds us this thing exists, and it's been "on sale" since last year. Heartfield sent out a bunch of review units of other IEMs and a DAC, especially the Blanc, and yet, the unique xMems IEM they released stealthily, got no marketing at all. So strange the thinking of these chifi companies.

My exact response lmao. Even broke out the LG V40 to celebrate the occasion!

To piggy back on @Redcarmoose, the Aether sounds like schitt with a low powered source. Now, if your phone has some juice, then yeah, enjoy the Aether on a phone even HARDER, but if it doesn't have any gitty up, then sure, if you don't know any better, like lifeless and boring, and don't mind getting about 70% of your IEMs capabilities, then rock on with your weaksauce sources and the Aether. No guns to temples with preferred rigs. I'm sure folks listen to Hifiman Arya Stealths with an Apple dongle? Blissful ignorance.

---

Though I'm being incredibly lazy with the pictures, my daily Friday trio are the Letshuoer DX1, Dita Project M, and the Penon Archangel. Listened to some metal music with the DX1, in the middle of some acid jazz with the Project M, and later, the Sony NW-A55 + Archangel will transport me with some jazz.

 

[Hypops]

What’s the word on the R4 now? I have one that I’m probably going to sell. It probably hasn’t been broken in as it has so few hours on it…

In what sense? Seems to have been a popular release from Hiby. I use my R4 daily. Only issues for me are battery life (~10hrs) and an array of infrequent--but really nasty--software bugs that have yet to be patched out (hard crashes, blasting volume levels, etc). When/if I get another DAP, I probably won't get a Hiby.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Heartfield dropped the ball on this one. You're the only person who reminds us this thing exists, and it's been "on sale" since last year. Heartfield sent out a bunch of review units of other IEMs and a DAC, especially the Blanc, and yet, the unique xMems IEM they released stealthily, got no marketing at all. So strange the thinking of these chifi companies.

To piggy back on @Redcarmoose, the Aether sounds like schitt with a low powered source. Now, if your phone has some juice, then yeah, enjoy the Aether on a phone even HARDER, but if it doesn't have any gitty up, then sure, if you don't know any better, like lifeless and boring, and don't mind getting about 70% of your IEMs capabilities, then rock on with your weaksauce sources and the Aether. No guns to temples with preferred rigs. I'm sure folks listen to Hifiman Arya Stealths with an Apple dongle? Blissful ignorance.

---

Though I'm being incredibly lazy with the pictures, my daily Friday trio are the Letshuoer DX1, Dita Project M, and the Penon Archangel. Listened to some metal music with the DX1, in the middle of some acid jazz with the Project M, and later, the Sony NW-A55 + Archangel will transport me with some jazz.

In other news............................

 

[Inserthouse]

Last year DMS compared the mega5EST with the Storm. This year HBB has compared Top Pro with the Storm....

I guess here comes the the New-New-Meta 2025 2.0 X Precision Reference Tilt Field Neutral target (a.k.a. the MJ "hee-hee" 1 for short)

I'll probably end up buying it...

I wonder how the Top Pro would compare against the Penon Archangel.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I wonder how the Top Pro would compare against the Penon Archangel.

Well, it depends if you believe these guys saying it contends with the STORM, Monarch MK III, or U12t, because while the Archangel acquitted itself quite well against the Apostle and the Maris, it did NOT beat either, so if YT personalities are to be believed, then the Top Pro would be better than the Archangel. I dunno? I know I love my Archangel.

 

[r31ya]

The previously announced Kinera Wyvern Black Remaster,
new DD, new shell/acoustic chamber...

...Turns out Kinera team (rep by Jin Goh here) is superstitious on "2", hence the avoidance to named this Kinera Wyvern Black 2.

 

[Inserthouse]

Well, it depends if you believe these guys saying it contends with the STORM, Monarch MK III, or U12t, because while the Archangel acquitted itself quite well against the Apostle and the Maris, it did NOT beat either, so if YT personalities are to be believed, then the Top Pro would be better than the Archangel. I dunno? I know I love my Archangel.

I hear good things about the archangel but there’s not too much exposure out there. Would still like to get a comparison between both the Archangel and the top pro.

 

[pawdiophile]

The previously announced Kinera Wyvern Black Remaster,
new DD, new shell/acoustic chamber...



...Turns out Kinera team (rep by Jin Goh here) is superstitious on "2", hence the avoidance to named this Kinera Wyvern Black 2.

Should call it Wyvern Black Pro Max

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Should call it Wyvern Black Pro Max

Should have called it the Wyvern Abyss, like it was called before they mysteriously changed the name out of the black.