[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

i just found a picture of one of my first hybrids, the Fidue A83! i'd forgotten about these, but they were pretty amazing detailed and with big bass. the fit was funky, so i sold them and got the A73 i think it was? another hybrid, until the left side went out on them many years ago.

 

[dharmasteve]

Sometimes you wonder why an IEM is discontinued. It amazes me how LZ keep their LZ A6 mini going but discontinued the Semkarch CNT1. The CNT1 is goooooooood

 

[baskingshark]

Sometimes you wonder why an IEM is discontinued. It amazes me how LZ keep their LZ A6 mini going but discontinued the Semkarch CNT1. The CNT1 is goooooooood

Agreed. Semkarch SKC CNT1 is a great set. I bought mine at the firesale prices ($43 USD) when they were trying to get rid of stock, but at full price ($95 USD), maybe it didn't stand out from the competition at that price bracket of $100ish single DD sets, and only got famous here on headfi when the shops were selling them at clearance prices.

The SKC CNT1 has quite speedy bass for a DD, with above average timbre/technical performance. It came with 2 tuning filters, and could be one level shy of basshead subbass rumble with the black filters on. Unlike most CHIFI with boosted upper mids, with black filters, the CNT1's lower mids were more forward compared to the upper mids, quite atypical for a CHIFI set and it brought something unique to the table. It still finds a spot in my rotation now and then cause of this.




Other than the Semkarch SKC CNT1, my 2 other favourite discontinued sets are the:
1) BLON Cardinal

Predecessor and big brother of the megahyped BLON BL-03. The Cardinal came out about 6 months prior to the BL-03, and actually has better technicalities, soundstage, isolation and fit than the BL-03, but preserves much of the same tonality and timbre that made the BL-03 a cult classic. Although the Cardinal was a tinge brighter than the BL-03, it had the same midbass bump and thick note weight. The Cardinal was retailing at about $70 - 80 USD, so probably most folks thought the BL-03 was more cost effective at sub $30, though I would argue that most Westerners had to spend a bit on aftermarket tips and cables due to the BL-03's atrocious stock fit/accessories, so the BL-03 could be close to a $50 USD set actually.

If anyone wanted a BLON BL-03 with good fit, this was it. Too bad it ain't in production anymore.


2) Westone 3

V shaped Westone 3 BA set. I bought it about 9 years ago and it is still working today (other than a non detachable cable failure, for which I had to do a MMCX mod). It was my daily driver for a few years until I discovered CHIFI about 3 years ago. At that time, the Westone 3's technicalities were almost classleading, but nowadays it can be matched in sound quality by some CHIFI at 10% of the price. 9 years ago, it wasn't that bad and other than a midbass bleed/bloat and occasional hot upper mids, it was very comfortable and had good isolation.

 

[dharmasteve]

Agreed. Semkarch SKC CNT1 is a great set. I bought mine at the firesale prices ($43 USD) when they were trying to get rid of stock, but at full price ($95 USD), maybe it didn't stand out from the competition at that price bracket of $100ish single DD sets, and only got famous here on headfi when the shops were selling them at clearance prices.


The SKC CNT1 has quite speedy bass for a DD, with above average timbre/technical performance. It came with 2 tuning filters, and could be one level shy of basshead subbass rumble with the black filters on. Unlike most CHIFI with boosted upper mids, with black filters, the CNT1's lower mids were more forward compared to the upper mids, quite atypical for a CHIFI set and it brought something unique to the table. It still finds a spot in my rotation now and then cause of this.




Other than the Semkarch SKC CNT1, my 2 other favourite discontinued sets are the:
1) BLON Cardinal


Predecessor and big brother of the megahyped BLON BL-03. The Cardinal came out about 6 months prior to the BL-03, and actually has better technicalities, soundstage, isolation and fit than the BL-03, but preserves much of the same tonality and timbre that made the BL-03 a cult classic. Although the Cardinal was a tinge brighter than the BL-03, it had the same midbass bump and thick note weight. The Cardinal was retailing at about $70 - 80 USD, so probably most folks thought the BL-03 was more cost effective at sub $30, though I would argue that most Westerners had to spend a bit on aftermarket tips and cables due to the BL-03's atrocious stock fit/accessories, so the BL-03 could be close to a $50 USD set actually.

If anyone wanted a BLON BL-03 with good fit, this was it. Too bad it ain't in production anymore.


2) Westone 3

V shaped Westone 3 BA set. I bought it about 9 years ago and it is still working today (other than a non detachable cable failure, for which I had to do a MMCX mod). It was my daily driver for a few years until I discovered CHIFI about 3 years ago. At that time, the Westone 3's technicalities were almost classleading, but nowadays it can be matched in sound quality by some CHIFI at 10% of the price. 9 years ago, it wasn't that bad and other than a midbass bleed/bloat and occasional hot upper mids, it was very comfortable and had good isolation.

Same as you....got them heavily discounted. But part of the way I judge is to see what I pick up to listen to. The CNT1 is a regular, especially since I use them 4.4 balanced from a Hiby 05.

 

[mochill]

Still have some oldies , they are all still good .

 

[Darkestred]

i just found a picture of one of my first hybrids, the Fidue A83! i'd forgotten about these, but they were pretty amazing detailed and with big bass. the fit was funky, so i sold them and got the A73 i think it was? another hybrid, until the left side went out on them many years ago.

Real nice pair but ya. these things went in 1/4 the way and always popped out.

Fischer Eterna
Phonak pfe 122

need to give the phonaks a listen. been a long while.

 

[vrsx]

i miss this havi b3, my first chi fi , superb soundstage with good source

Phonak pfe 122
need to give the phonaks a listen. been a long while.

i also had the 122 back then, but literally shattered to pieces by car because a really stupid mistakes ;(

 

[jant71]

Have to break out the JVC FX55 later. Sold and would sell the CNT1 over it seven days a week.

How about Cyclone PR1 Pro. That was a classic. Recently the brand has risen with the PR652 but is that special in the same way?

CX250 was a special presentation if not very resolving or detailed but a great listen.

The old Vsonic GR02 was a classic. Not the ability of the GR07 but the most enjoyable listen they ever produced and still loved.

Hippo VB. First quality tunable style and a very good earphone.

 

[Slater]

If you can find them (with the proper fit and tips), the KEF M200 still has some of the most stunning bass and mids you can hear in an earphone. Some found a better fit by cutting off the flexible/bending thick rubber ear clips. I have gotten that bold yet, but with some patience, I can get a nice firm fit with these thick earphones. I use some Unique Melody ME 1 silicone tips on the KEFs, or the medium stock tips.

I remember how much i loved my KEF M200, until the QC problem with the bass driver going dead. i had no problem with fit. Oh and i still love my Ultimate Ears, both then and now. i loved the UtE TF10 and i still have the UE700 and UE900s. Bomb diggity!

Love the M200:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kef-m500-m200-impressions-thread.675160/page-88#post-15066455

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kef-m500-m200-impressions-thread.675160/page-88#post-15066741

 

[jant71]

The Radius was my favorite old dual driver. Never had the M200. They both had fit issues in common but unique and good sound in common as well.

 

[Slater]

Here’s some retro old school that goes WAY back to my youth.

Totally rad dude, gag me with a spoon!

Mint condition Sony Sports MDR-W20G, upgraded with MX500 drivers and balanced plug conversion. Paired with a mint WM-AF54 Sports Walkman:


But wait, the Walkman has a hidden secret (say whaaaaaaa?):



Retro meets 2020!

 

[mochill]

How do you stop driver flex in the m200 , also I have havi b3 pro1 too . It needs recable

 

[Doug2507]

2) Westone 3

V shaped Westone 3 BA set. I bought it about 9 years ago and it is still working today (other than a non detachable cable failure, for which I had to do a MMCX mod). It was my daily driver for a few years until I discovered CHIFI about 3 years ago. At that time, the Westone 3's technicalities were almost classleading, but nowadays it can be matched in sound quality by some CHIFI at 10% of the price. 9 years ago, it wasn't that bad and other than a midbass bleed/bloat and occasional hot upper mids, it was very comfortable and had good isolation.

I started on er4i, moved to triplefi then got Westone 4. Loved the 4's! Unfortunately ended up wearing them out with cable failure as well and binned them a couple of years ago. Good times...

 

[Slater]

How do you stop driver flex in the m200 , also I have havi b3 pro1 too . It needs recable

Shallow insertion, don’t use the crap stock tips. At least that works for me

 

[DannyBai]

I use to buy all the highly rated earphones from joker’s thread. Also cleo’s thread. Too bad I don’t have any of them around anymore. I’d love to just pop some of those in and have a listen.