"The Lab"

[x RELIC x]

Nope. I visited them in their old location before they had any ADEL demos out. I should head over there before I'm gainfully employed again and take a test drive! 

Yes. Yes you should.

 

[Brooko]

Isn't the biggest benefit of using multiple BA drivers because BA drivers suck at producing a wide frequency range? The complexity goes up exponentially as you add drivers, so does the price. Dynamic drivers are more flexible with regard to frequency range AFAIK. At least that's what I think I understand about it.

 
Not in my experience Craig - some of the best BA earphones I've heard have been duals.  It comes down to tuning.
 
For example - I have the Adel U6 - and I also have the q-Jays and I was able to demo the Savants for about 10 days.  I ueed to own the SE425 and SE535 LE.  OF all of these IEMS - 2 driver, 3 driver and 6 driver - I'd personally rate the best tuning as the Savant and q-Jays.  And I preferred the SE425 over the SE535 LE.
 
The Adel U6 does bass incredibly well, and it is very nuanced, and expansive.  But I'm just finding it really hard to adjust to the mid-range.  They're good with EQ - but otherwise not to my taste.  I do like everything else about them though.
 
In the end - like mastering of a track - it comes down to the skill of the guy tweaking them, and whether it suits your preferences.
 
If you guys get a chance to try the q-Jays you should.  Could have kept mine as a review sample.  Elected instead to buy them off Jays.  That's how highly I rate them.

 

[Wokei]

I like second to last if the boom mic were removed Wokei. Nice!

Boom Mic removed as requested

 

[x RELIC x]

Not in my experience Craig - some of the best BA earphones I've heard have been duals.  It comes down to tuning.

For example - I have the Adel U6 - and I also have the q-Jays and I was able to demo the Savants for about 10 days.  I ueed to own the SE425 and SE535 LE.  OF all of these IEMS - 2 driver, 3 driver and 6 driver - I'd personally rate the best tuning as the Savant and q-Jays.  And I preferred the SE425 over the SE535 LE.

The Adel U6 does bass incredibly well, and it is very nuanced, and expansive.  But I'm just finding it really hard to adjust to the mid-range.  They're good with EQ - but otherwise not to my taste.  I do like everything else about them though.

In the end - like mastering of a track - it comes down to the skill of the guy tweaking them, and whether it suits your preferences.

If you guys get a chance to try the q-Jays you should.  Could have kept mine as a review sample.  Elected instead to buy them off Jays.  That's how highly I rate them.

Hey Paul, I agree whole heartedly that the tuning is the most important aspect but looking beyond that would you not agree (technically) that in order to have well extended lows and extended highs that a dual BA would not be the most capable? I mean the most common comment I read about the Savant with the dual BA's is that they just can't do the lowest regions well, even with EQ, but their mids and highs are glorious. Not saying here that it's the most important factor, or the only factor, but it certainly is a factor. It's the main factor I didn't purchase the Savant although it was very very close. Like I mentioned earlier, sometimes I value a minor difference a lot and if I felt it was lacking I wouldn't have been happy. Heck, I might hate the K10 as I haven't heard the tuning at all. They may be too warm and smooth. I took a chance.

Also, if I wasn't clear in my previous post, I was mostly commenting (AFAIK) that a single dynamic driver can reproduce a wider frequency range than a single BA so therefore more BA's add benefits. Of course as you add more BA's the benefits are quickly reduced and we begin entering in to very minor differences from driver count.

To emphasis your point though, a great example of tuning IMO is the Roxanne vs Layla where they both have 12 drivers but the Roxanne has elevated bass that is 'always on' even when the potentiometer is dialled all the way down, whereas the Layla is tuned more balanced, and has more flexibility with the bass potentiometer than the Roxanne.

 

[Brooko]

Good points - and I would agree that technically a well tuned multi-driver set-up should beat a well tuned single or dual driver. The Adel U6 highlights that with its bass extension and definition. I guess (like you) I'm still searching for my own personal "holy grail" of IEMs.  The one I'm most looking forward to at the moment is the Trinity Phantom Pure.  Six BA - but Bob's preferences mirror mine, and I really do think he may be able to come up with something pretty special.
 
I really wish I could afford to try something from further up Noble's or Adel's line - but sadly for the moment they are beyond me.  The life of a family man 

 

 

[x RELIC x]

Good points - and I would agree that technically a well tuned multi-driver set-up should beat a well tuned single or dual driver. The Adel U6 highlights that with its bass extension and definition. I guess (like you) I'm still searching for my own personal "holy grail" of IEMs.  The one I'm most looking forward to at the moment is the Trinity Phantom Pure.  Six BA - but Bob's preferences mirror mine, and I really do think he may be able to come up with something pretty special.

I really wish I could afford to try something from further up Noble's or Adel's line - but sadly for the moment they are beyond me.  The life of a family man   

This is funny because, as you know, I completely missed the journey from entry to mid to where I am now. Sometimes I really wish I had the experience of hearing the variety of IEMs you've heard. I'm a big fan of perspective.

 

[Baycode]

Well, I used the Somic for a few hours today and my ears didn't really get sweaty all that much. The worst offender in this regard would be the AKG K612Pro, ears get damp after extended use. 

The Somic is pretty good in terms of how long it takes before you have to take a break to give your ears room to breathe etc. The angled drivers of the Sony gave me an idea. I wonder how the angled velour HM5 pads would affect the Somic V2 soundstage h34r:

Brainwavz angled earpads provided the best sound with DT150

And the increase in soundstage is Amazeballs...

This dude is now on par with Fidelio X2 for pure musical enjoyment (if I dont take their different presentation and technical acpects into account).

So you may give a chance and try the BW Angled earpads RedJohn456

 

[Mr Trev]

 

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Brainwavz angled earpads provided the best sound with DT150

And the increase in soundstage is Amazeballs...

This dude is now on par with Fidelio X2 for pure musical enjoyment (if I dont take their different presentation and technical acpects into account).

So you may give a chance and try the BW Angled earpads @RedJohn456

 
Nice set up! Are your pads mirror matched? Mine aren't so I have one seam at the top, and the other at the bottom. I don't see that in your pic.
The only complaint I have with mine is that they are a bit fiddly when it comes to fit. That probably is due to the pads being oval, but the hp150 is round.

 

[Baycode]

Nice set up! Are your pads mirror matched? Mine aren't so I have one seam at the top, and the other at the bottom. I don't see that in your pic.
The only complaint I have with mine is that they are a bit fiddly when it comes to fit. That probably is due to the pads being oval, but the hp150 is round.

Thanks Mr Trev

Yes they are mirror matched, so both seams are on the bottom.

DT150 earpieces are close to being rectangular in shape. It was slightly difficult to do but I have fitted them.

 

[RedJohn456]

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Brainwavz angled earpads provided the best sound with DT150

And the increase in soundstage is Amazeballs...

This dude is now on par with Fidelio X2 for pure musical enjoyment (if I dont take their different presentation and technical acpects into account).

So you may give a chance and try the BW Angled earpads @RedJohn456

 

 
Thanks Baybars I will try it. Just gotta buy a pair. They are grossly overpriced on amazing canada lol

 

[Baycode]

Thanks Baybars I will try it. Just gotta buy a pair. They are grossly overpriced on amazing canada lol

You're welcome buddy. I have to mention that this angled earpads makes the headphone slightly clear and if your Somic is bright already you might be entering the "borderline" territory as well. But I cant speak for certain... You need to try which might be expensive this time... You may try to add some hand rolled cotton gauze or foam on the one side of the earpads to give them angle.

 

[Hisoundfi]

I have heard in conversations that three drivers is the magic number for in-ears, and that the benefit of multiple drivers is a crap shoot and unproven after that number.

 

[Hisoundfi]

But I'll also say that the k10u is probably the best sounding IEM I've ever heard.

 

[nmatheis]

I have heard in conversations that three drivers is the magic number for in-ears, and that the benefit of multiple drivers is a crap shoot and unproven after that number.

Could be. It's all really about masterful tuning that meets your preferences. I've definitely heard improvements with more in the few lineups I've heard so far, and the 3-4 driver versions were already good.

 

[nmatheis]

By the way, has anyone tried Glider Gloves? I'm looking for touchscreen gloves, and these got Wirecutter's recommendation.