Great impressions mate, Let's meet up some day and I will also listen to it heheWhoa! Is it really from Penon?
That was exactly what my initial response was while I put them in my ears! This was so far removed from the usual Penon house sound that I was literally knocked off my feet! Gone is the subbass emphasis, newfound energy in upper mid and treble, smoothness stepped aside to give way to a lively sound that will make you tap your feet…a quite refreshing offering!
And yet the mids are still in the focus, just like classic Penon tuning. Yes, notes are now defined in a sharper way with much more perceived details, but the classic Penon mid focused tuning is very much evident. Difference is, unlike the previous offerings, Penon has gone the opposite way in its bass tuning, and has toned the subbass down by a couple of notch. This has given way to a highly clean and transparent midrange. The midbass still has an acceptable amount of punch, so that the low end does not seem totally hollow. The subbass roll off is slightly dissatisfactory, but the rest of the spectrum manages to compensate for it. Treble has some brilliant energy in it along with quite a nice extension - sounds sufficiently vibrant and airy, maybe very slightly on the thinner side.
Vortex has a rather intimate stage, however, I believe that is how Penon chose to tune it. The width is quite good, depth is above average, but the height is a bit less than my preference. Hence, it does not exactly create a well-proportioned, open and wide stage. However, I believe this is how Penon intended it to sound, so not really grumbling about it. However, the imaging is quite precise - which heightens the engagement factor.
However, I found out that the stock cable pairs rather well with it rather than the ISN S4, which I bought as an upgrade. Vortex definitely does not need more top end extension, no, it needs some volume to its low end, and that needs a copper cable. Until I am getting that, I will stick with the stock cable. The S4 will be used with some other iem of mine.
Regarding tips, well, I went through quite some revelations:
1st, ePro horn tips are not for me, totally not for me. They are too soft to provide a good seal and hence reduced the low end further.
2nd, the stock green bore black tips - M size, did not provide well sealing being a bit smaller and softer, discarded.
3rd, decided on the Sednaearfit regular M tips. The longer stem helped in stage size, but also accentuated the upper mid harshness slightly while reducing the low end emphasis slightly.
4th, debated with myself a lot and picked the Final Type E white tips, L size. Well, the low end got some good emphasis, but the stage and note size became a bit smaller, and the space between notes decreased.
5th, finally, on a whim, tried the stock green bore white tips M size, and was surprised to find out that despite being visually similar to the black tips, they actually are a bit firmer compared to the black tips, and provide a better seal and fit. The low end emphasis was at a satisfactory level, and so were the stage, note sizes, and space between notes. Considering everything, this has become the permanent tip for Vortex. I was wondering why has Penon provided 2 sets of identical tips with different colours…but now it is evident that they are not identical - both have different purposes.
Vortex is really a pretty fun iem while not being too flamboyant. Yes, it has a distinct spiciness in its tuning, but I can live with it. All together, it’s a pretty unique sounding iem, and so far I am loving it.
The comparisons asked to me will be provided later. Please bear with me.
The PENON official thread
- Thread starter Dsnuts
- Start date
Nice feedback.I heard the same thingWhoa! Is it really from Penon?
That was exactly what my initial response was while I put them in my ears! This was so far removed from the usual Penon house sound that I was literally knocked off my feet! Gone is the subbass emphasis, newfound energy in upper mid and treble, smoothness stepped aside to give way to a lively sound that will make you tap your feet…a quite refreshing offering!
And yet the mids are still in the focus, just like classic Penon tuning. Yes, notes are now defined in a sharper way with much more perceived details, but the classic Penon mid focused tuning is very much evident. Difference is, unlike the previous offerings, Penon has gone the opposite way in its bass tuning, and has toned the subbass down by a couple of notch. This has given way to a highly clean and transparent midrange. The midbass still has an acceptable amount of punch, so that the low end does not seem totally hollow. The subbass roll off is slightly dissatisfactory, but the rest of the spectrum manages to compensate for it. Treble has some brilliant energy in it along with quite a nice extension - sounds sufficiently vibrant and airy, maybe very slightly on the thinner side.
Vortex has a rather intimate stage, however, I believe that is how Penon chose to tune it. The width is quite good, depth is above average, but the height is a bit less than my preference. Hence, it does not exactly create a well-proportioned, open and wide stage. However, I believe this is how Penon intended it to sound, so not really grumbling about it. However, the imaging is quite precise - which heightens the engagement factor.
However, I found out that the stock cable pairs rather well with it rather than the ISN S4, which I bought as an upgrade. Vortex definitely does not need more top end extension, no, it needs some volume to its low end, and that needs a copper cable. Until I am getting that, I will stick with the stock cable. The S4 will be used with some other iem of mine.
Regarding tips, well, I went through quite some revelations:
1st, ePro horn tips are not for me, totally not for me. They are too soft to provide a good seal and hence reduced the low end further.
2nd, the stock green bore black tips - M size, did not provide well sealing being a bit smaller and softer, discarded.
3rd, decided on the Sednaearfit regular M tips. The longer stem helped in stage size, but also accentuated the upper mid harshness slightly while reducing the low end emphasis slightly.
4th, debated with myself a lot and picked the Final Type E white tips, L size. Well, the low end got some good emphasis, but the stage and note size became a bit smaller, and the space between notes decreased.
5th, finally, on a whim, tried the stock green bore white tips M size, and was surprised to find out that despite being visually similar to the black tips, they actually are a bit firmer compared to the black tips, and provide a better seal and fit. The low end emphasis was at a satisfactory level, and so were the stage, note sizes, and space between notes. Considering everything, this has become the permanent tip for Vortex. I was wondering why has Penon provided 2 sets of identical tips with different colours…but now it is evident that they are not identical - both have different purposes.
Vortex is really a pretty fun iem while not being too flamboyant. Yes, it has a distinct spiciness in its tuning, but I can live with it. All together, it’s a pretty unique sounding iem, and so far I am loving it.
The comparisons asked to me will be provided later. Please bear with me.
Same with the ePro eartips. It's not for my ears... No fit, whatever the Size.
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Whoa! Is it really from Penon?
That was exactly what my initial response was while I put them in my ears! This was so far removed from the usual Penon house sound that I was literally knocked off my feet! Gone is the subbass emphasis, newfound energy in upper mid and treble, smoothness stepped aside to give way to a lively sound that will make you tap your feet…a quite refreshing offering!
And yet the mids are still in the focus, just like classic Penon tuning. Yes, notes are now defined in a sharper way with much more perceived details, but the classic Penon mid focused tuning is very much evident. Difference is, unlike the previous offerings, Penon has gone the opposite way in its bass tuning, and has toned the subbass down by a couple of notch. This has given way to a highly clean and transparent midrange. The midbass still has an acceptable amount of punch, so that the low end does not seem totally hollow. The subbass roll off is slightly dissatisfactory, but the rest of the spectrum manages to compensate for it. Treble has some brilliant energy in it along with quite a nice extension - sounds sufficiently vibrant and airy, maybe very slightly on the thinner side.
Vortex has a rather intimate stage, however, I believe that is how Penon chose to tune it. The width is quite good, depth is above average, but the height is a bit less than my preference. Hence, it does not exactly create a well-proportioned, open and wide stage. However, I believe this is how Penon intended it to sound, so not really grumbling about it. However, the imaging is quite precise - which heightens the engagement factor.
However, I found out that the stock cable pairs rather well with it rather than the ISN S4, which I bought as an upgrade. Vortex definitely does not need more top end extension, no, it needs some volume to its low end, and that needs a copper cable. Until I am getting that, I will stick with the stock cable. The S4 will be used with some other iem of mine.
Regarding tips, well, I went through quite some revelations:
1st, ePro horn tips are not for me, totally not for me. They are too soft to provide a good seal and hence reduced the low end further.
2nd, the stock green bore black tips - M size, did not provide well sealing being a bit smaller and softer, discarded.
3rd, decided on the Sednaearfit regular M tips. The longer stem helped in stage size, but also accentuated the upper mid harshness slightly while reducing the low end emphasis slightly.
4th, debated with myself a lot and picked the Final Type E white tips, L size. Well, the low end got some good emphasis, but the stage and note size became a bit smaller, and the space between notes decreased.
5th, finally, on a whim, tried the stock green bore white tips M size, and was surprised to find out that despite being visually similar to the black tips, they actually are a bit firmer compared to the black tips, and provide a better seal and fit. The low end emphasis was at a satisfactory level, and so were the stage, note sizes, and space between notes. Considering everything, this has become the permanent tip for Vortex. I was wondering why has Penon provided 2 sets of identical tips with different colours…but now it is evident that they are not identical - both have different purposes.
Vortex is really a pretty fun iem while not being too flamboyant. Yes, it has a distinct spiciness in its tuning, but I can live with it. All together, it’s a pretty unique sounding iem, and so far I am loving it.
The comparisons asked to me will be provided later. Please bear with me.
Great impressions and agree on all your observations. You also landed on the same tip as me. I rolled through plenty and there was always something sacrificed but those are a happy medium.