The PENON official thread
- Thread starter Dsnuts
- Start date
Thankyou so much for these impressions.I wanted to report back on the burning progress of Archangel as it's been quite enlightening. In much the same way as other recent Penon releases with similar drivers, the process is long but at about 50 hours of time, they usually are showing how they'll sound. And with a lack of EST drivers, it's really getting the DDs worked out. So, treat these observations as initial impressions before Archangel has fully burned in.
That said, I am beginning to sound like a broken record when it comes to recent Penon releases finding very little to criticize and a whole lot to love. The Archangel continues this lovefest and just further cements my obvious preference for Penons in general.
The initial time I've had with Archangel has been nothing short of mind blowing for this price point in particular. I have recently acquired and/or toured many great sets in this price range, including the excellent FlipEars Legion, and Archangel is no less than any of them, and far more than many! I hear Archangel to have some serious uniquity in its tuning and I'm think that this is Penon continuing to keep up with the competition and try very hard to beat it.
As I have with my Voltage, I defaulted to both bass and treble switches in the up/on position from the get go. And while that works with Voltage, I am finding it not to be the case with Archangel. These DDs have been tuned for deep and rumbling subbass with a hefty dose of midbass. With the bass switch up, the bass begins to overwhelm the upper mids and lower treble, though I imagine many hardcore bassheads would feel like pigs in poo.
For me, I have switched the bass switch back to down, it's default position, while keeping the treble switch up. This is producing a beautiful balance while still remaining quite bass heavy. The bass has nice quality and obviously quantity. The treble is superb and I do not find myself missing anything that ESTs have brought to other Penon sets, right down to the Voltage. This is not exactly treble at the quality of the Rival, but it certainly outdoes the EBC80 for me, while perhaps equaling that of the Voltage.
The tuning seems more nuanced, and a bit of an evolution from typical Penon, more U shape but Penon warmth is there. For me, it is more engaging than either EBC80 or Shock,though it sounds closer to Shock with its very prominent bass. This bass also edges the Voltage by a length, so bravo Penon for bringing the bass with Archangel!
A big difference from EBC80 (and even Rival) is that Archangel BCDs do not seem to be pushing the sound as outward as they do in those sets and are much thumper than in either of those. I am really enjoying this BCD execution and I think it has a lot to do with the tuning being so engaging and emotive.
So for me, Archangel is likely to eclipse the Voltage and EBC80 for overall performance. It's really a stunning bit of tuning that has a visceral, in your face excitement. Not a laid back set by any stretch.
Also, kudos to the highly competent stock cable from EA! I was prepared to immediately jettison it, but so far, I am happy to say that I feel no real need to roll this one!
These are just initial impressions and I expect positive development to continue for at least another 50 hours! But in advance, I'm quite sure this will be getting a ton of use!!
If one already owned the TSMR X, would you feel these are still worth pursuing?
Yes, indeed as I do own the X! The Archangel is in another class in my opinion.
Dsnuts
Headphoneus Supremus
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So I am on a long-planned vacation to Korea. Unfortunately, it also happened at the exact time I was supposed to post and review the Archangel. Writing reviews for me is very similar to work and I am so much not in work mode at the moment. However, I can report that the Archangel continues to amaze. If you guys look at the graph you would think these are not the best for vocals but here is where you have to hear an IEM to really understand them. Not only do these excel at vocals but all things mids bound. Absolutely amazing on a long flight to Korea or anywhere else. It's not the best isolating IEM due to the BC drivers but that didn't stop me from enjoying the heck out of these on the way here. These have an ideal sound signature for out an about. Meaning they aren't shy to bring the bass when called upon.
If you guys aren't too familiar with Carbon Nanotube bass. These are a prime example of what Carbon Nanotubes bring for bass. Just stellar. I wasn't able to fully burn in the Archangel before I had to get on a large Airplane to get here and so I have been just using them. If these turn even better after burn in I will be astounded. As they are, they are easily worth what Penon and Effect Audio is asking for a set. I think these rival the Voltage in SQ and does a few things better using less drivers. These are an exciting listen but more importantly they are as engaging as earphones get in our hobby. Which matters to me the most. Extremely musical and a prime example of Penons masterful tuning prowess. These are like a Shock 2.0 but with a Penon signature. My vacation time will be done soon and so I will be back at work but that also means I will be focused on my thoughts about these but for now. As enjoyable as my vacation is it was made even better using these. I don't have access to my lot of IEMs and sources but it has come down to my Ibasso DX180 and the Archangel. Realizing I am listening to music full bored while I am in a crowded Seoul Rail transit going from place to place. Priceless.
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808307944203.html
XINHS HA015 + EBC80 = Perfect synergy.
@False Prophet - I ended up keeping the EBC80. I picked up the XINHS HA015 and threw it on the EBC80, along with Divinus Wild Boar tips, and it's a perfect synergy. What I was looking for to open it up, and make th ebass more linear, with a nice clean and full soundstage. I'd been searching high and low for a cable that worked in tandem with the EBC80 without having to spend an arm and a leg, and BINGO! I found it.
@Dsnuts - Thanks for reminding me these are dual dynamics with a CNT. You know I love me some CNT bass, so my fears are subsiding some. Is it a snappy resolving bass like CNT's tend to be?
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caryking
100+ Head-Fier
@FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 What about that cable made you buy it? Essentially, the make-up of the cable that allowed you to think it could be good??
I’m asking as I am trying to understand cable construction and what to look for that may be indicative of what to expect, knowing it’s not fool proof…
I’m asking as I am trying to understand cable construction and what to look for that may be indicative of what to expect, knowing it’s not fool proof…
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FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
great question, but I bought the cable because I loved the color and that it's monocrystalline copper (one of my favorite elements for cables) and Palladium (excellent element for treble). I didn't necessarily buy it for the EBC80 directly. Now monocrystalline copper also doesn't affect the bass too much. It doesn't add too much warmth, but it does give nice balance to the frequencies, so it seemed like an interesting cable in colorway and make up, and it turned out it's the perfect synergy with the EBC80. Accidental discovery, but no other cable has worked this well with the EBC80. while enhancing the stage and transparency with the BCD. My cat gnawed on my current set. and I had to repurchase it to replace it, which says a lot about the synergy between these two, because I have tons of cables, but not this cable for this IEM.
caryking
100+ Head-Fier
Well, getting things to work really is luck sometimes, isn’t it? Is there a specific seller you like on alliexpress for this? Or, are you just looking and buying?
Wow, synergy hits when you least expect it...but when it hits, it's one of those things that brings on a 
! While my Archangel burns in, I got bored and wanted to see what would make the FlipEars Legion exceed its stock performance. Also wanting some aesthetically pleasing combo, after a couple of others, I went to the Penon Pyramid VIII cable.
And I got lucky finding a crazy great matchup. This cable makes the Legion sound like a couple of kilobucks! Feeds the Legion's BCDs and they are firing on all cylinders!
Very happy right now!
! While my Archangel burns in, I got bored and wanted to see what would make the FlipEars Legion exceed its stock performance. Also wanting some aesthetically pleasing combo, after a couple of others, I went to the Penon Pyramid VIII cable. And I got lucky finding a crazy great matchup. This cable makes the Legion sound like a couple of kilobucks! Feeds the Legion's BCDs and they are firing on all cylinders!
Very happy right now!
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
Directly from XINHS. No fuss, no delays.
Just because I said it doesn't need a cable roll did not mean I wasn't going to! Red baby!
! Red baby!
caryking
100+ Head-Fier
Just because I said it doesn't need a cable roll did not mean I wasn't going to
What is that cable?
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
Looks like this one, but I could be wrong, because it's certainly in the XINHS/ivipQ family, and they have several similar looking cables.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807788901126.html
WOW!!!Just because I said it doesn't need a cable roll did not mean I wasn't going to
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