The discovery thread!

[domq422]

That'd be a great write up! I have the Duality arriving for a tour period today or tomorrow and plan on comparing them to the Deuce, the Grand Maestro, and maybe the BrainDance + impedance adapter to see which is the best bassy boi for me

The Duality is a marvel of personal Audio in my humble opinion.

It might not be for me, but god damn is it impressive and most definitely accomplishes what it’s setting out to do.

I wish I had someone record my face when I first tried them out. I thought the bass switch was turned on the first time I hit play, so when Felix told me it wasn’t… it’s just a hoot. Enjoy, brother!

True. But man the BD is so dang good and worth the asking price!

I think the BD is a great piece of kit, I agree!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I'm listening to Deftones right now using Snowsky Echo Mini and the Brain Dance.. and i must say the BD handles all the sub genres of Metal fairly easily

Spent pretty much all night and the early morning, before I pivoted to the ISN EBC80, confirming your statement!

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@HiFi Oasis - For some reason, my Cepheus got stuck in queue, and still waiting for it to be sent out by @KEEPHIFI. As for the Defiant, it's one of my favorite IEMs of 2025, and gets heavy use (especially for metal music).

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[Cinder]

Lost all my interest for this iem in a second after seeing that graph.

wth is this graph... *disappointed*

I have a feeling that this graph isn't telling us the entire story.

Also just got the JUZEAR x Z Reviews Defiant in from HiFiGo.

I got one in last week. The rainbow version is pretty neat-looking, and it sounds great to boot!

I agree wholeheartedly. Even after demoing and reviewing many multikilobuck sets, the BrainDance remains one of my favorites and a standout performer.

I love seeing people vouch for their "reasonably-priced" favorites in the face of the massive, $1000, $2000, or even $5000 price tags of the modern HiFi landscape. Its a striking and powerful reminder that this hobby is ultimately about what makes you happy--and happiness can be easily detached from bank-busting flagship pricing schemes! My standout remains unchanged--the humble $350 Rose Cappuccino Mk II from 2016. Its a miracle it still works though!

Do it! Hope to see you there!

Disco folks who are going to CanJam SoCal this year, lets meet up! I was there last year but forgot to coordinate with the thread

 

[GroovyAudio]

I have a feeling that this graph isn't telling us the entire story.

I hope so, mate! We'll see when more reviews turn up

In the meantime, guys I'm struggling really hard to understand Xenns Top Pro opinions. I'm talking specifically if this iem is good for rock and heavy metal. So much polarization man... For example Jays on his review said not really good for those genres, then I look at the comments and see someone says very good for those genres and he's happy. I've watch @Jaytiss review today and the same thing In comments where one trashes Top Pro and other guy praises for those genres. What is this polarization?! I hope for more reviews honestly cause my head hurts at this point...

 

[Nimweth]

I have the Noble Audio Knight coming soon. Would it be possible for someone to create a showcase page for this IEM? Thanks in advance!

 

[nikbr]

Published my review on Ruviest Audio Prelude, the new brand made by the AüR Audio tuner Abel. This is a 1DD + 6BA IEM, that has a colourful tuning that I bet many would love. Thick and strong bass with rich midrange, with extended highs to finish it off. It is more on the musical and fun side than being technical, but that is also why I love it. Never sibilant or sharp, it loves to be played at high volume but can also sound nice for a more silent session.

It is tough competition around $400 with all the great hybrid IEMs, but Prelude is one of the best ones for me with its pure musicality and fun. Can read all my thoughts in the review, with comparison to Arcanis and Meta.
Cheers

REVIEW HERE

Can check the Facebook page here, for the next batch information. Should be a new batch any day now.

It's the one I reach for the most since it arrived. I could see this with ESTs to add more air be a total winner if it was still priced reasonably and it'd get a mustbuynow recommendation. As it stands, it's a special but specific IEM that will appeal to most but not all.

Speaking of Preludes, as we know, DITA is coming out soon with their own Prelude in the form of an entry-level single DD that looks stunning IMO. This is more significant still because they're aiming to price it at a new all-time low for DITA - roughly 5% of their TOTL single DD, to put it in perspective!

Also, visit their IG to find out more about the reviewing possibilities should you wish to attempt your own version of reviewing!

Thanks for that suggestion, pal! I'll look into it. Any Amazon links to a solid adapter? Thanks!

Tried to find something for you, but I'm such a noob at Amazon that I found nothing worth mentioning. Venture Electronics stuff is good, but I can't seem to find them on Amazon.

 

[bixby]

The nice thing about Singaporean companies is that they’re free from the tariff swamp.

Not if the country of origin is China. Merely shipping a Chinese made product from Singapore does not get around the U.S. tariff. At least from all the "official" documents I have read. Now, with regard to de minimus lower cost items from Singapore, paperwork must declare country of origin, yet perhaps one could lie. Does the U.S. have systems in place to be able to determine the actual product country of origin?

In the world of gaming handhelds, Chinese companies have already adapted by setting up separate warehouses in different regions. Don’t know why Chi-fi companies aren’t doing similar.

Again, it could be because they still may have to declare the country of origin on the customs paperwork to the U.S. Or it could just slide right through as I intimated above. Is anyone actually buying these handsets and can verify no additional shipping charges (tariffs) are added compared to before?

The one way around it is to lie on the paperwork, the other is to accept a less than "finished goods" into the shipping country where something is done to complete the item and allow them to be the new country of origin. If actually done, a rather costly endeavor.

 

[BS5711]

Thanks for that suggestion, pal! I'll look into it. Any Amazon links to a solid adapter? Thanks!

JCALLY have some listed on Amazon, I don’t know anything about the specific brand but they are just an oversized adapter with room inside for resistors on the lines so not a lot to go wrong if handled normally in your desktop situation.

Do remember that an adapter won’t effect all IEM the same, you might get a bass boost or you might get something else, on some, usually planars, you might get no difference at all.

https://www.amazon.com/Impedance-Conductor-Earphone-Cancelling-Resistance/dp/B0BSL8NZVL

 

[bixby]

Regarding the ice pick peak at 5k on the Sigva Que UTG., I think it might be bothersome to many who might be described as "treble sensitive" (like me). There is some lower midrange lift and no tuck which could help mask this, but the jury is out until we have more ears on it. I think without a low bass rise it might be pretty audible.

 

[Nealz]

Tonight I'm listening to the ISN EBC 80 paired with the Asos X+ cable and Divinus Prism wide bore tips.

This combo really seems to boost the technicalities like staging and instrument separation. While giving the bass a more controlled feel. The timbre sounds more natural as well. Now, waiting for the XINHS H015 cable as suggested by @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 to pair with the ISN EBC 80.

 

[zkmd]

The Duality is a marvel of personal Audio in my humble opinion.

It might not be for me, but god damn is it impressive and most definitely accomplishes what it’s setting out to do.

I wish I had someone record my face when I first tried them out. I thought the bass switch was turned on the first time I hit play, so when Felix told me it wasn’t… it’s just a hoot. Enjoy, brother!

I think the BD is a great piece of kit, I agree!

God I'm so excited to get a chance to try them this week. As someone who enjoys monstrous sub-bass, I think the Duality + Impedance may be my most anticipated IEM to try ever, I really hope they live up to hype I've build up for myself

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Published my review on Ruviest Audio Prelude, the new brand made by the AüR Audio tuner Abel. This is a 1DD + 6BA IEM, that has a colourful tuning that I bet many would love. Thick and strong bass with rich midrange, with extended highs to finish it off. It is more on the musical and fun side than being technical, but that is also why I love it. Never sibilant or sharp, it loves to be played at high volume but can also sound nice for a more silent session.

It is tough competition around $400 with all the great hybrid IEMs, but Prelude is one of the best ones for me with its pure musicality and fun. Can read all my thoughts in the review, with comparison to Arcanis and Meta.
Cheers

REVIEW HERE

Can check the Facebook page here, for the next batch information. Should be a new batch any day now.

Great review as always, but it would have been nice if he would have made this available to EVERYONE, and not shut out an entire nation, just because he didn't want to mess with taxes, so just me personally, I could care less how this sounds, as anyone in America didn't get the opportunity, even with review units. He cut off his nose to spite his face. It's a phantom, and not in a good way. I'll stick to my Aure.

just received the new ru9 and wow the sound is outstanding

The only reservation I have about this unit is that all the dialogue pretty much is the same as the N3U, so I'm afraid I'm just getting an N3U in dongleish form? I don't need that.

H60 or BrainDance? My current future purchase conundrum. First world problems, I know!

Same. Sometimes IEMs and cans sound different than they graph because of tuning "special sauce," but that Matterhorn in the upper mids looks effing scary, man.

Thanks for that suggestion, pal! I'll look into it. Any Amazon links to a solid adapter? Thanks!

Love me some BD, but the H60 smacks the BD around and then plays mouse with it like a cat does. Sheeeeit. If we give a equal check to every facet of both (which isn't reality), the H60 wins by actually having mid bass presence and impact. The end.

I have a feeling that this graph isn't telling us the entire story.


I got one in last week. The rainbow version is pretty neat-looking, and it sounds great to boot!

I love seeing people vouch for their "reasonably-priced" favorites in the face of the massive, $1000, $2000, or even $5000 price tags of the modern HiFi landscape. Its a striking and powerful reminder that this hobby is ultimately about what makes you happy--and happiness can be easily detached from bank-busting flagship pricing schemes! My standout remains unchanged--the humble $350 Rose Cappuccino Mk II from 2016. Its a miracle it still works though!

Disco folks who are going to CanJam SoCal this year, lets meet up! I was there last year but forgot to coordinate with the thread

I'll be there. See you at the Jam!

I hope so, mate! We'll see when more reviews turn up

In the meantime, guys I'm struggling really hard to understand Xenns Top Pro opinions. I'm talking specifically if this iem is good for rock and heavy metal. So much polarization man... For example Jays on his review said not really good for those genres, then I look at the comments and see someone says very good for those genres and he's happy. I've watch @Jaytiss review today and the same thing In comments where one trashes Top Pro and other guy praises for those genres. What is this polarization?! I hope for more reviews honestly cause my head hurts at this point...

Polarization typically comes from the treble region, and the Top Pro seems to have plenty of treble, and just like I'm seeing with reactions to the new Que (including you), you see a graph (which in my well known opinion, is garbage time analysis, as a million graphers say "it's just to provide a baseline" or "this doesn't sound like it graphs" and yet, folks are making judgements before ever putting them in their ears), and you see the treble, and it's "oh my god! what is that! It's got too much treble!" So this is why the Top Pro is polarizing. So far I've read and seen most folks say it's got really good extension and presence up top, but it hasn't been much of a complaint. You're always going to get some complaints from the treble sensitives. I have legit seen folks complain about the "treble peak" of the MagicOne (yes it was said. google it), or that the Legion's treble was a bit much (wha?! On what planet?! What do you have?! Bat ears?!), so you can probably meld together a consensus that the Top Pro is very good if not punching above it's price point, if you filter out the folks who always complain about treble, and also, focus on what's being said about the bass and midrange, because if it's good for metal and hard rock, it's gotta have a strong midrange presence and incisiveness, as well as bass presence, otherwise, it's going to fall flat.

I have the Noble Audio Knight coming soon. Would it be possible for someone to create a showcase page for this IEM? Thanks in advance!

I've almost bought the Noble Knight about 5 times, including one where I cancelled it after PTT in cart, due to it seemingly speaking my language fairly fluently, BUT, many reviews mention the stage is intimate, which spooked me. I look forward to your assessment.

It's the one I reach for the most since it arrived. I could see this with ESTs to add more air be a total winner if it was still priced reasonably and it'd get a mustbuynow recommendation. As it stands, it's a special but specific IEM that will appeal to most but not all.

Speaking of Preludes, as we know, DITA is coming out soon with their own Prelude in the form of an entry-level single DD that looks stunning IMO. This is more significant still because they're aiming to price it at a new all-time low for DITA - roughly 5% of their TOTL single DD, to put it in perspective!

Also, visit their IG to find out more about the reviewing possibilities should you wish to attempt your own version of reviewing!




Tried to find something for you, but I'm such a noob at Amazon that I found nothing worth mentioning. Venture Electronics stuff is good, but I can't seem to find them on Amazon.

An affordable single DD from Dita?! Count me interested....

Not if the country of origin is China. Merely shipping a Chinese made product from Singapore does not get around the U.S. tariff. At least from all the "official" documents I have read. Now, with regard to de minimus lower cost items from Singapore, paperwork must declare country of origin, yet perhaps one could lie. Does the U.S. have systems in place to be able to determine the actual product country of origin?

Again, it could be because they still may have to declare the country of origin on the customs paperwork to the U.S. Or it could just slide right through as I intimated above. Is anyone actually buying these handsets and can verify no additional shipping charges (tariffs) are added compared to before?

The one way around it is to lie on the paperwork, the other is to accept a less than "finished goods" into the shipping country where something is done to complete the item and allow them to be the new country of origin. If actually done, a rather costly endeavor.

I'm fine with lying on that paperwork, and the reason? Well, I would love to say, but the post would get removed, so read between the lines.

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Speaking of metal...

ISN EBC80 is a metal BOSS!!

 

[ExTubeGamer]

Imagine a planar + Sonion BC combo. Planar sound with a BC for soundstage increase and interchangeable nozzles. Still here waiting for this perfection.

 

[Leonarfd]

Great review as always, but it would have been nice if he would have made this available to EVERYONE, and not shut out an entire nation, just because he didn't want to mess with taxes, so just me personally, I could care less how this sounds, as anyone in America didn't get the opportunity, even with review units. He cut off his nose to spite his face. It's a phantom, and not in a good way. I'll stick to my Aure.

Thanks. This was more a issue of the new tax rules hitting at the same time as first batch and it was a lot of uncertainty, first batch was sold out very fast without US. Ruviest also cannot give these away for reviews like big brands can do, remember its just one guy making them, selling, marketing etc.

It's the one I reach for the most since it arrived. I could see this with ESTs to add more air be a total winner if it was still priced reasonably and it'd get a mustbuynow recommendation. As it stands, it's a special but specific IEM that will appeal to most but not all.

Yeah a high end version with EST would have been awesome, would buy it instantly. As you say not everyone will like this, I dont think folks who hate bass will like this at all. As it has plenty, but is still well rounded without being just about bass.

 

[Tamizhan]

Imagine a planar + Sonion BC combo. Planar sound with a BC for soundstage increase and interchangeable nozzles. Still here waiting for this perfection.

Jomo nautilus.