@Brooko
I didn't see it in either of your reviews, but how does the Big Dipper compare with the B400? I know there's a huge price differential between the models, but are you really getting that much more for the money? The 400 would be far more along my lines afar as budget would go - speaking of which any talk from the LZ camp about a Little Dipper? (something that would directly compete with the B400)
Its a really good question - they are quite different - but its mainly the mid-range. With the B400 you get an IEM with a lot of balance and a relatively flat signature, but its a tonally correct signature. We hear a slight mid-bass hump as natural, we hear a 2-3 kHz bump as euphonic (sweet). We need a slight recession in the lower mid-range to convey a sense of sound-stage size (distance). Too flat and things can sound lifeless, peaks and troughs in the wrong place and things can sound dissonant, unbalanced signature can sound unnatural.
What the B400 manages to do is sound both balanced, and for the most part tonally correct. A piano sounds like a piano, vocals have very good timbre, and a nice balance between fundamentals and harmonics. Probably the one area I would personally change would be at 7-10 kHz, where I think it might need a very small (2-3 dB) bump (for my tastes).
With the Dipper, you get similar overall balance (ie the bass peak matches the upper mid-range peak, matches the treble peaks). The big difference though is in the lower mid-range. There is a lot more recession there - hence the Dipper moniker. This does promote a greater sense of space, and the very good use of crossovers with the drivers does seem to give more accuracy (better perceived imaging) within that space. And the combination of bass bump and upper mid-range bump makes the Dipper a lot more vivid. Its not as tonally correct or as natural, but for normal day to day use, I pretty much find myself reaching for these if I just want to relax, and listen to music. I'm one of those listeners who's not necessarily looking for accuracy, and I couldn't give a toss about "the way the artist intended it". I want something that sounds good (to me). I included the Dipper at 2 levels on the graph - matched to 1 kHz, but also matched to how you would actually hear them. The difference is that you won't hear huge elevated bass with the Dipper, you'll more likely hear that distance in the lower mid-range.
If I was listening to more male based vocals, I'd be reaching more for the B400 though - as there is a more natural overall tonality.
I'll throw another one in the mix for you though. The Alclair Curve. Outside of the Dipper its the IEM I listen to most. It has similar properties to the B400, similar tonality. The difference is in slightly less bass compared to mid-range and lower treble, so they are overall just a bit brighter. But I've always liked a little more detail and clarity, and the Curve is practically perfect in this area.
I haven't heard about any more developments from LZ - but I'm probably a little out of the loop.