[xenithon]

Any experience out there on cable choice to bring neutrality to Noir?

I also enjoy a little less mid-bass thickness. I enjoy the rest of the mids and treble; it can get quite "exciting" but does not cross over into sibilance or fatigue like I found with some other IEMs such as the OG.

Cable wise, I am enjoying the glorious Graphene SPC cable by @doctorjuggles - has a way of keeping them midbass well controlled while allowing the upper frequencies to shine whilst remaining liquid and smooth.

The one other pairing I would like to try, which from what I have read should match the Noir very nicely, is a cable with Palladium in it - something like a silver plated or gold plated palladium. There are a few cable marques that make such cables in the market.

PS. I would say the cables help tame some of the Noir's wild side but they won't make it "neutral". It is inherently not a neutral IEM (one of the reasons I love them).

 

[Ojisan]

I also enjoy a little less mid-bass thickness. I enjoy the rest of the mids and treble; it can get quite "exciting" but does not cross over into sibilance or fatigue like I found with some other IEMs such as the OG.

Cable wise, I am enjoying the glorious Graphene SPC cable by @doctorjuggles - has a way of keeping them midbass well controlled while allowing the upper frequencies to shine whilst remaining liquid and smooth.

The one other pairing I would like to try, which from what I have read should match the Noir very nicely, is a cable with Palladium in it - something like a silver plated or gold plated palladium. There are a few cable marques that make such cables in the market.

PS. I would say the cables help tame some of the Noir's wild side but they won't make it "neutral". It is inherently not a neutral IEM (one of the reasons I love them).

Thanks, I'll look them up! Yeah, the treble seems tricky. My very first impression was a very strong treble. There seem to be some peaks that trigger with certain music, yet missing on some other music. It's definitely not uniformly sibilant nor dark, maybe that is the "right" balance.

 

[xenithon]

It's definitely not uniformly sibilant nor dark, maybe that is the "right" balance.

I tend to agree. It is revealing, but not brutally so.

 

[dleblanc343]

Spectrum plot (Cumulative Spectral Decay plot) can reveal much more than Frequency Response. From plot, you can see that from 100Hz to 5KHz EXK's decay is really fast and really uniform, that's why it's sound is 'special'. And EXK's high peak and long decay time at 6k Hz and 9k Hz maybe it's infamous 'sibilant' issue.

Frequency Response curve equal to Cumulative Spectral Decay plot's top-most line (the line at time t=0).
I think the HiFi community should abandon the tradition of using FR curve, because FR curve is pretty useless, it doesn't have real meaningful relation with the ear's perceived sound.
It's like 'Blind Men and the Elephant' analogy, Frequency Response plot is like only touching the back ridge of the elephant. Cumulative Spectral Decay is a full 3D scan of the elephant. HiFi community shall start using spectral plot as official language.

SONY EXK:

64 Audio Nio (with MX):

u12t:

Thanks for the waterfalls. It explains why I consistently preferred my EX1000 over my U12T, so long as I tamed the nasty treble spike on the Sony.

They really were on another level for their time back in 2010.

 

[sunnyslhf]

1. click these to zoom in the Impulse response
=》
2. click on the Impulse response curve to select Time starting position

3. click on 'CS' icon to generate spectra graph:

Might I know the software used to generate these graph? Any special equipment used measure it?

 

[Jayvout]

My take on the Nio…

Not for me. Very disappointed.

I unfortunately have to agree with your take here. I tried every tip and cable option I have on hand and was just left with a somewhat muddy signature to my ears. I think the somewhat dirty albeit impactful bass adds to this. With the mx module, I just feel there are better options that can be had a lower price point. Definitely love the look of them however.

 

[yfei]

Might I know the software used to generate these graph? Any special equipment used measure it?

Yes, need special hardware and software.
Here is a good article: https://www.headphonesty.com/2020/10/how-to-measure-iems/

I used Occluded-ear simulator coupler + USB sound card combo bought from taobao, and ARTA software running on Windows PC.

 

[twister6]

I unfortunately have to agree with your take here. I tried every tip and cable option I have on hand and was just left with a somewhat muddy signature to my ears. I think the somewhat dirty albeit impactful bass adds to this. With the mx module, I just feel there are better options that can be had a lower price point. Definitely love the look of them however.

Don't limit yourself only to apex modules, fir audio atom modules fill in the gap between MX and M15/20. I covered it here in sound description.

 

[Yassa]

Don't limit yourself only to apex modules, fir audio atom modules fill in the gap between MX and M15/20. I covered it here in sound description.

I really didn't know about Atom Modules and this helps alot. Thank You.

 

[uthood]

I really didn't know about Atom Modules and this helps alot. Thank You.

I'll second Twister's comments. I got the Fir 0 module on the secondary market and I love it! It does a good job keeping enough bass to satisfy without adding muddiness. Highly recommend checking them out!

 

[Bax1020]

Don't limit yourself only to apex modules, fir audio atom modules fill in the gap between MX and M15/20. I covered it here in sound description.

Need to check those atom modules

 

[425455]

I'll second Twister's comments. I got the Fir 0 module on the secondary market and I love it! It does a good job keeping enough bass to satisfy without adding muddiness. Highly recommend checking them out!

yeah i bet it does - i wish i could get hold of a Fir 0 in the uk!

 

[sunnyslhf]

Yes, need special hardware and software.
Here is a good article: https://www.headphonesty.com/2020/10/how-to-measure-iems/

I used Occluded-ear simulator coupler + USB sound card combo bought from taobao, and ARTA software running on Windows PC.

Thank you. I also tried to use Mindsp iEars but it was not easy to use as mentioned in the article. might be I follow the same way to use Occluded-ear later. Thank you.

 

[shadale]

@64Audio, when to expect new items that were published not long ago?

 

[davidcotton]

yeah i bet it does - i wish i could get hold of a Fir 0 in the uk!

Emailed them to see if they will ship to uk, import taxes not withstanding?