Whazzzup
Headphoneus Supremus
Another iem thread? Well being so many of em, figures, good luck.
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pmichaelro
500+ Head-Fier
Easiest to do is the top 3...hardest to do is the "what'cha lookin' for"
Top 3 Purchases:
1. AFUL Cantor
2. ISN EBC80
3. Elysian Acoustic Labs x Effect Audio Pilgrim Noir
Honorable mention:
TSMR Shock...these are a wonderful set, but long time comfort for me is really important so I can continue enjoying them, plus they are on the vivid side, packing a lot of energy which sometimes can be a bit too much/fatiguing especially if you just want to lose yourself to music. I feel like they might be looked at as specialists thus, not running them constantly it didn't made sense to keep them so I sold them. Still thinking about them...but you cannot have them all
Somehow, they all can go to No.1 relatively easily, depends on what and how I'm trying to enjoy the music at the moment.
Honestly speaking, I've found myself with the Noir's lately just because you put them in and enjoy, not going critical about how the music sounds or anything (of course it sounds great, otherwise I'd have had red flags).
I've paired numerous times the EBC80 with iFi Audio Go Pods and Fiio BT11 for enjoying a show/movie...just awesome!
I regards EBC80's as one of the most comfortable IEMs, Noir's are as well.
Cantor isn't necessary the most comfortable, but you can enjoy it even for longer sessions without ear canal pain, but still gotta give the best comfort to others.
As for the ones I'm eyeing...
I have been looking into single DDs thinking that it might be an interesting and different choice...one Mecha got listed but I didn't get to decide if I wanted to PTT on it (due to FOMO) in due time and it got traded, so it wasn't meant to be for me, but that's ok
I've re-centred myself thinking that perhaps it's best to save up and target something larger, have been looking more deeper into Elysian Annihilator 2023, Elysian Apostle, Alpha Omega Omega, Unique Melody UM Maven II Crescent, Penon Rival to name a few (I'm bad with names so definitely I've forgot a few, opened to any others as well)...trying to reach a balance for bang-for-buck, I won't go after a brand new set by any means (still impossible to reach), but if a great deal pops up I'm going to definitely consider.
Now the problem is ... I'm looking for an al rounder that you can listen to all day if you wanted...so ideally I would never spend that much $$$ on a specialist, rather than a great all rounder which as far as I've read all 3 of the aforementioned one are.
The Pilgrim Noir's have definitely made me a true believer and rooting for Elysian, that's why both Anni and Apostle are on the list. However I won't be picking up 2, but 1...Apostle seems like it might be striking a better balance when it comes to pricing and also it has newer driver and a more balanced tuning from what I've read in comparison with Anni.
Apostle new is cheaper even than Anni not new but obviously that doesn't tell the whole story.
But...if I am to spend this amount of money (even on a used set), I'd pretty much want to be one and done and not have any regrets moving forward.
Thoughts from anyone in regards to going this pathway?
P.S. I'm also trying to get part of the Apostle EU Tour if possible, this could make me PTT on it sooner rather than later
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I'm seriously eyeing the Origin at the moment. I think it will make a great gaming iem besides music. I've been told the immersive factor is stunning.
bithalver
500+ Head-Fier
All IEM buys by me from June 2024; top ones are in bold.
I/O Volare in June: my unicorn.
Penon Fan3 in August (sold): sound id good, but BC is unfortunately not for me.
S12 2024 in September: not bad but unused / to sell now.
Tripowin Piccolo x4 in September: some gone to the grinch bag, some planned to give away
Penon Voltage in October: lower mids are too emphasized at all switch position; very good in all other aspects.
Tinhifi T5S in October (grinch bag).
ThieAudio Hype4 in October: good one, to sell because I upgraded to ...
ThieAudio Monarch MK III in November: my number 2.
Hisenior Mega5EST in December (sold): a bit boring but only compared to I/O Volare.
I/O Sogno in January 2025 (already sold) : mid-centric for me (no surprise, I was just curious).
Like to try: Lime Ears Terra (on the tour already), Anni2023, H60, TSMR Shock (on the tour already), EBC80, Rival (later 3 is unlikely fit for me because of bone conduction).
Hmmm. Why to start a new thread ? Why not just ignore the unwanted ones ? Anybody could find this thread and reply to it; it is a solution for short term but not a solution for long term. What, any of you will open a new thread in every 1-3 years ? Disco is 13 years old; a kind of tradition here on head-fi.
I am just a devil's advocate here.
Edit: grammar.
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Katz Deli is the bomb! We were there the last time we were in NYC. I'm a corned beef guy - it was amazing!
Potluck Club is dope. Also had Jiang Nan NYC. Both of those were freaking delicious. Potluck Club probably better to me.
Had bagels at Liberty Bagels at Times Square which was pretty dang good. Missed out on Keen's steakhouse but had originally wanted to try that place out.
But, yeah, I didn't get to come to NYC CanJam as the travel didn't line up for my trip. But will definitely be there for SoCal CanJam and will try for Dallas CanJam as well!
Thanks for these recs @MakeItWain !
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Is there a list somewhere of products that are being shown at the CanJam [for testing]? or is just a list of exhibitors and who knows what they're bringing?
-rowan-
1000+ Head-Fier
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Love how FWAL2 asked for 3 and Ozboy promptly replied with 6
Having said that, Shock and BD would have made my reserve team for sure.
1. Cantor
2. MG800
3. EBC80
And yet it’s hardly the full picture - stuff I picked up before that is still getting heavy rotation, to the point I feel like I can happily take a step back and just enjoy the IEMs I have.
I mentioned this in the disco thread at the end of last year and it bears repeating now because it’s already February and I’m still standing by it: I aim to 1) buy less 2) buy better and more intentionally, and 3) shift my focus to sources and amps.
So far, the strategy has worked wonders for breathing new life to old gear. Among those getting renewed ear time is the Penon Volt - the IEM that I credit for sucking me back into the hobby in 2021 when I had been on indefinite hiatus, a quite insane $800 blind buy when I had been out of the game for so long prior. I thought I knew this IEM like the back of my hand but It is revelling in the new infusion of tubes and large amounts of refined, controlled power in my chain like never before.
That said, I do want to hear Clara, Terra, Mecha and Apostle. And the DX340. And D17 Atheris
And the Nipo A100 MagSafe DAC. That interconnect is pretty sick…
Yeah, Miyabi’s a nice one though I still haven’t brought myself to PTT on their Mk2 series. I enjoyed Kira as well, its treble sibling, although I still maintain that it was the long discontinued OG Sora that had the magic sauce tuning. They were so hard to get hold of. I had to buy them all through Zenmarket or somesuch.
Fun fact, Miyabi is the only IEM I keep in my camera dry cabinet because someone mentioned its nice brass shells were prone to tarnishing and I wasn’t about to push my luck.
Yeah, they’re either still on holiday or catching up with the backlog. I still have an IVIPQ order from the week before Chinese New Year that hasn’t been shipped. I just treat it as part of my twice yearly chifi detox which I could probably do with anyway, the other being Golden Week.
Some of the others are slowly trickling back online, so it won’t be long before everyone is back with a vengeance.
Now DCE vs Nunchaku that's going to be a fun one for me.
DC-ELITE is magical and I am really loving the Nun still in honeymoon phasebut have yet to do a a/b between the two,
DCE vs Nunchaku… FIGHT!
pmichaelro
500+ Head-Fier
I think I've pretty much graduated the "single DD high price school"...Love how FWAL2 asked for 3 and Ozboy promptly replied with 6
Having said that, Shock and BD would have made my reserve team for sure.
1. Cantor
2. MG800
3. EBC80
And yet it’s hardly the full picture - stuff I picked up before that is still getting heavy rotation, to the point I feel like I can happily take a step back and just enjoy the IEMs I have.
I mentioned this in the disco thread at the end of last year and it bears repeating now because it’s already February and I’m still standing by it: I aim to 1) buy less 2) buy better and more intentionally, and 3) shift my focus to sources and amps.
So far, the strategy has worked wonders for breathing new life to old gear. Among those getting renewed ear time is the Penon Volt - the IEM that I credit for sucking me back into the hobby in 2021 when I had been on indefinite hiatus, a quite insane $800 blind buy when I had been out of the game for so long prior. I thought I knew this IEM like the back of my hand but It is revelling in the new infusion of tubes and large amounts of refined, controlled power in my chain like never before.
That said, I do want to hear Clara, Terra, Mecha and Apostle. And the DX340. And D17 Atheris
And the Nipo A100 MagSafe DAC. That interconnect is pretty sick…
Yeah, Miyabi’s a nice one though I still haven’t brought myself to PTT on their Mk2 series. I enjoyed Kira as well, its treble sibling, although I still maintain that it was the long discontinued OG Sora that had the magic sauce tuning. They were so hard to get hold of. I had to buy them all through Zenmarket or somesuch.
Fun fact, Miyabi is the only IEM I keep in my camera dry cabinet because someone mentioned its nice brass shells were prone to tarnishing and I wasn’t about to push my luck.
Yeah, they’re either still on holiday or catching up with the backlog. I still have an IVIPQ order from the week before Chinese New Year that hasn’t been shipped. I just treat it as part of my twice yearly chifi detox which I could probably do with anyway, the other being Golden Week.
Some of the others are slowly trickling back online, so it won’t be long before everyone is back with a vengeance.
DCE vs Nunchaku… FIGHT!
I mean, if I am to ever spend that much...I might as well go for a TOTL one and not a specialist one.
Currently taking aim at Anni 2023 and Apostle.
Campfire Audio seems to be one to avoid altogether due to such sensitive IEMs...I mean all of them without exception as far as I've documented myself, then fitment and other things. Might have been curious about Clara but people are still complaining about sensitivity, hissing and noises...and are already being sold in classifieds.
Terra does sound like an interesting one...however I'm not sure if it's just a step up towards a more final destination...so I'd buy it with the thought that I'd have to sell it later on for something else rather than make it a keeper? Not sure...I'm trying to find something different than what I have had so far, something more complete, all-rounder great and keeper. I'm definitely going to have to unload in order to get there
Yeah, forreals. I can understand how a newbie might think it's enough, but that's just regret waiting to happen.
Awww...
Out of my "eyes on list" the Omega are the ones to beat for me - the Alter Ego is a close second. I'm going to compare them again, if nothing else wows me like the Omega has, I'll end up getting them. They are just so good, and that bass switch...Ah the Omega , I love mine and sometimes forget how bassy it can be if you flick the bass switch. Those 3 tuning switches work better than any IEM i have tried.
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FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
That's a great list, and I can back it 100%! Loved the Terra, and the Cantor, and I was truly sad to see them go. As for the P7, that thing is a beast for jazz. Beautiful tonality.Cantor, Terra, and P7 (a bit distant behind the other two)
Ey, you are back
Thanks for coming by and saying hi @nikbr! Just another option to talk shop. Not sure if it'll be a viable newborn or a stillborn, but hopefully folks give it a chance, and it provides another avenue to talk shop, and maybe garner some excitement for audio?
pmichaelro
500+ Head-Fier
I think we need to figure out what makes this community different than the Disco one so that we know where to put an emphasis on what and not blend them together and not know what to do where and when, just some thoughts
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
Not just for IEMs! If you got headphones you want to share? Share it! Music? Bring it on! Source gear?! We want to see it! Like I'm sure we'll get to hear about @activatorfly's FiiO FT1 headphones that land any day now? I look forward to hearing about those.
That list looks a lot like mine. EBC80 and Noir were and are some of the best that have crossed my ears, with the Terra being near or at the top too, but if you love the Noir, your next step up would be the Apostle, as described by a few now. Sounds like the Apostle is the direct upgrade to the Noir, rather than the Anni?Easiest to do is the top 3...hardest to do is the "what'cha lookin' for"
Top 3 Purchases:
1. AFUL Cantor
2. ISN EBC80
3. Elysian Acoustic Labs x Effect Audio Pilgrim Noir
Honorable mention:
TSMR Shock...these are a wonderful set, but long time comfort for me is really important so I can continue enjoying them, plus they are on the vivid side, packing a lot of energy which sometimes can be a bit too much/fatiguing especially if you just want to lose yourself to music. I feel like they might be looked at as specialists thus, not running them constantly it didn't made sense to keep them so I sold them. Still thinking about them...but you cannot have them all
Somehow, they all can go to No.1 relatively easily, depends on what and how I'm trying to enjoy the music at the moment.
Honestly speaking, I've found myself with the Noir's lately just because you put them in and enjoy, not going critical about how the music sounds or anything (of course it sounds great, otherwise I'd have had red flags).
I've paired numerous times the EBC80 with iFi Audio Go Pods and Fiio BT11 for enjoying a show/movie...just awesome!
I regards EBC80's as one of the most comfortable IEMs, Noir's are as well.
Cantor isn't necessary the most comfortable, but you can enjoy it even for longer sessions without ear canal pain, but still gotta give the best comfort to others.
As for the ones I'm eyeing...
I have been looking into single DDs thinking that it might be an interesting and different choice...one Mecha got listed but I didn't get to decide if I wanted to PTT on it (due to FOMO) in due time and it got traded, so it wasn't meant to be for me, but that's ok
I've re-centred myself thinking that perhaps it's best to save up and target something larger, have been looking more deeper into Elysian Annihilator 2023, Elysian Apostle, Alpha Omega Omega, Unique Melody UM Maven II Crescent, Penon Rival to name a few (I'm bad with names so definitely I've forgot a few, opened to any others as well)...trying to reach a balance for bang-for-buck, I won't go after a brand new set by any means (still impossible to reach), but if a great deal pops up I'm going to definitely consider.
Now the problem is ... I'm looking for an al rounder that you can listen to all day if you wanted...so ideally I would never spend that much $$$ on a specialist, rather than a great all rounder which as far as I've read all 3 of the aforementioned one are.
The Pilgrim Noir's have definitely made me a true believer and rooting for Elysian, that's why both Anni and Apostle are on the list. However I won't be picking up 2, but 1...Apostle seems like it might be striking a better balance when it comes to pricing and also it has newer driver and a more balanced tuning from what I've read in comparison with Anni.
Apostle new is cheaper even than Anni not new but obviously that doesn't tell the whole story.
But...if I am to spend this amount of money (even on a used set), I'd pretty much want to be one and done and not have any regrets moving forward.
Thoughts from anyone in regards to going this pathway?
P.S. I'm also trying to get part of the Apostle EU Tour if possible, this could make me PTT on it sooner rather than later
The Origin was for quite some time at the top of my purchase list for the holidays, until the EBC80 was announced. I ended up biting on the Thieaudio Oracle MK III prematurely, but I was able to sell that off for just a few dollars less than I paid for it, so that wasn't like a $100 loss or anything, and by that time, the bass shelf of the Origin was mentioned in impressions enough that I wasn't interested in another bass centric set, but after the Oracle MK III's weaksauce, which to me was the less textured bass and the weird tonality of the treble, I'm still curious about the Origin, as the FUN SET? The EBC80 definitely fills the FUN SET moniker for me, though the H60 isn't too far behind.
Your pics are fabulous, and I have my eyes on the Monarch, as well as the Origin to try. Both will be hit up at CanJam.
Lime Ears Terra, and of course, the ISN H60 are top three favorites of mine from 2024. *chef's kiss*
This thread isn't designed to splinter Discothread. It's designed to be an alternative/complimentary thread that invites a bit more variety, like daily music shares and more gear focus, and fresh takes. As soon as I'm able, I'll be back commenting myself in the Discothread.
There isn't a compehensive list, as it's like a comic con, where the vendors are the highlights, and the product are whatever the vendor wants to bring to highlight, but a great place to get a headsup on what might be at CanJam is the pre-CanJam videos released by Head-fi. Jude and I wish I knew the other guy's name (Brian maybe?) release the videos that highlight the products you can catch at CJ, and I love those videos.
I really want to try out the Kira, Miyabi MK II, or anything from their line. As far as the Terra, whatever you can do to get that fabulous IEM in your ears! I'm in the same great place IEM wise, and even gear wise. Now that the Nunchaku has lived up to my personal expectations, I'm in Zen mode.Love how FWAL2 asked for 3 and Ozboy promptly replied with 6
Having said that, Shock and BD would have made my reserve team for sure.
1. Cantor
2. MG800
3. EBC80
And yet it’s hardly the full picture - stuff I picked up before that is still getting heavy rotation, to the point I feel like I can happily take a step back and just enjoy the IEMs I have.
I mentioned this in the disco thread at the end of last year and it bears repeating now because it’s already February and I’m still standing by it: I aim to 1) buy less 2) buy better and more intentionally, and 3) shift my focus to sources and amps.
So far, the strategy has worked wonders for breathing new life to old gear. Among those getting renewed ear time is the Penon Volt - the IEM that I credit for sucking me back into the hobby in 2021 when I had been on indefinite hiatus, a quite insane $800 blind buy when I had been out of the game for so long prior. I thought I knew this IEM like the back of my hand but It is revelling in the new infusion of tubes and large amounts of refined, controlled power in my chain like never before.
That said, I do want to hear Clara, Terra, Mecha and Apostle. And the DX340. And D17 Atheris
And the Nipo A100 MagSafe DAC. That interconnect is pretty sick…
Yeah, Miyabi’s a nice one though I still haven’t brought myself to PTT on their Mk2 series. I enjoyed Kira as well, its treble sibling, although I still maintain that it was the long discontinued OG Sora that had the magic sauce tuning. They were so hard to get hold of. I had to buy them all through Zenmarket or somesuch.
Fun fact, Miyabi is the only IEM I keep in my camera dry cabinet because someone mentioned its nice brass shells were prone to tarnishing and I wasn’t about to push my luck.
Yeah, they’re either still on holiday or catching up with the backlog. I still have an IVIPQ order from the week before Chinese New Year that hasn’t been shipped. I just treat it as part of my twice yearly chifi detox which I could probably do with anyway, the other being Golden Week.
Some of the others are slowly trickling back online, so it won’t be long before everyone is back with a vengeance.
DCE vs Nunchaku… FIGHT!
I think I've pretty much graduated the "single DD high price school"...
I mean, if I am to ever spend that much...I might as well go for a TOTL one and not a specialist one.
Currently taking aim at Anni 2023 and Apostle.
Campfire Audio seems to be one to avoid altogether due to such sensitive IEMs...I mean all of them without exception as far as I've documented myself, then fitment and other things. Might have been curious about Clara but people are still complaining about sensitivity, hissing and noises...and are already being sold in classifieds.
Terra does sound like an interesting one...however I'm not sure if it's just a step up towards a more final destination...so I'd buy it with the thought that I'd have to sell it later on for something else rather than make it a keeper? Not sure...I'm trying to find something different than what I have had so far, something more complete, all-rounder great and keeper. I'm definitely going to have to unload in order to get there
Your next step up would be above $1,000, and most likely, the Apostle? Now, it very well could be the Dita Mecha, which looks to be, pricing wise, the gatekeeper single DD at the gates of Kilobuck? It's getting rave reviews, but based off the Noir, yeah, the Apostle, coming in at exactly double the cost of the Noir, seems to sonically be that spiritual upgrade to the Noir?I think we need to figure out what makes this community different than the Disco one so that we know where to put an emphasis on what and not blend them together and not know what to do where and when, just some thoughts
As far as what differentiates this thread from the Discothread, that's going to depend on what our members share? I'd like to see music being rec'd, more gear, more headphones, more DIY, and more impressions from the budget to the blockbuster! That's what I'd like to see....
pk4425
Headphoneus Supremus
Isn't that what we do in Disco? Just last weekend we had people discussing metal albums, talk about IEMs and source gear, a review of a Sivga headphone promoted, our friend from Indiana showing us his amazing DIY woodworking and talk about $20 sets all the way up to top-end Elysian and Forte stuff.
I'm confused ...
pmichaelro
500+ Head-Fier
We do have some similar tastes, not every single one, but definitely some of the "hardcore" ones (almost all)
Now that Apostle's become a reality seems like it has a bit of Diva, Anni and potentially something up from Noir as well...so in terms of pricing is definitely the next up from Elysian.
What I'm thinking is...if I am to plunge deep, I'd rather just go all the way to Anni rather than do a pit-stop to Apostle which is still going to hurt my wallet by a whole lot...I'd rather just make 1 jump instead of 2...plus Anni has been already out and about since 2023, so if I'm lucky enough I might find a pre-owned one that's more "safe" to the wallet, still expensive as hell but it might be more attainable rather than a new Anni (which I'm probably never going to be touching, I couldn't let myself do it honestly...maybe if money was no object, but I'm not there
). I'm not thinking that I might be so lucky to get a pre-owned Anni at the price of Apostle but hey...one can only dream, right?Otherwise...I still will have to wait some until a pre-owned Apostle is going to hit the listings so I can dare to touch it more safely
I was really lucky to get a great deal on a pre-owned Pilgrim Noir...otherwise I wouldn't have bought it full price...however, now that I've listened to it for a while...it does sound really great, not sure if $800 great, but I'd love to get a whole bunch of more in all sectors...somehow I feel like it's a preview for the main stage event (Anni/Apostle) so yeah, they couldn't have crammed everything in for "just" $800...that would have killed Anni
Build quality is top notch, cable as well, shell, tip situation is not ideal, since I'm only able to use 1 specific tip Licky Blacks with my ears...but they do the job.
Need to check if the tip of the Anni/Apostle is the same or larger than on the Pilgrim Noir...
Noir would be an even better one if they would be able to be more open, add more details on all frequencies, basically add more on all fronts...but for the price it's definitely on the right track, probably at $400 they would have sold out
(the cable extra cost is definitely a turn off for some/most)Comparing fits...EBC80 is definitely the most comfortable one for me...not sure what tips I would need to get in order to make the Noir be as comfortable as EBC80.
I'm running EBC80's with Softears U.C. Liquid Silicone Eartips and Noir with Licky Tips Black...this might be an issue with Anni/Apostle as well I'm thinking
Hmm interesting...however, we're already doing the same over in Disco, so not sure what's there to actually differentiate the 2. Not pointing any fingers or anything, trying to make sense and split content up to where it makes most sense
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