[Tristy]

I already have two CFA IEMs and my conscience is smiting me for not having a VE IEM in my lineup. Honestly though as @Tristy alluded I won't be breaking $1K on any IEM until the VE EVE 21 comes out.

Edit: And yes Holocene is still mighty tempting.

I'm genuinely very eager to see what VE brings out next... I hope they go full experimental like they did with the Ely and bring out something new and unique.

 

[ranfan]

Ranfan you have heard the VE7 and the Campfire Q4 haven't you? How would you say they stack up against one another? (Seeing as the Holo is basically a repackaged Q4).

According to @ExpatinJapan (who has both) the Holocene and Q4 are both quite similar, hard to distinguish sonically. So I'm planning on keeping my Q4. Oh, and which by the way are currently being sold at a ridiculous $300 used locally here

I did, and I found to my ears that the Q4 sounded more coherent, albeit with slightly less resolution and extension at the upper hand. Bass too is slightly flatter than the VE7, but both overall have a flatter neutral sound signature. What I like most about the Q4 I think is its balance in tonality, proportion and symmetry. The VE7 may be slightly better in terms of detail retrieval, but tonality-wise the Q4 to me sounded more 'right' to my ears. It's simpler in configuration/design, and overall more coherent and easy to listen with

 

[Rockwell75]

According to @ExpatinJapan (who has both) the Holocene and Q4 are both quite similar, hard to distinguish sonically. So I'm planning on keeping my Q4. Oh, and which by the way are currently being sold at a ridiculous $300 used locally here

I did, and I found to my ears that the Q4 sounded more coherent, albeit with slightly less resolution and extension at the upper hand. Bass too is slightly flatter than the VE7, but both overall have a flatter neutral sound signature. What I like most about the Q4 I think is its balance in tonality, proportion and symmetry. The VE7 may be slightly better in terms of detail retrieval, but tonality-wise the Q4 to me sounded more 'right' to my ears. It's simpler in configuration/design, and overall more coherent and easy to listen with

Damn tempted to go load a Holocene into my cart after reading this....

 

[Rockwell75]

Dorado 2020 - bombastic, engaging, primordial & fun. (This is among my favorite pics I've taken of any of my IEMs.)



Also, possible Honeydew review incoming.

 

[ranfan]

The funny name of the channel caught my attention but I stayed for this interesting video on tips. A couple of my faves were mentioned and there are a couple I need to try.



Edit:

Shared on FB a couple weeks ago-- I think a good metric for bass response can be derived from this.

"Are you guys talking about me?"

(Sorry I couldn't sleep.. )

I already have two CFA IEMs and my conscience is smiting me for not having a VE IEM in my lineup. Honestly though as @Tristy alluded I won't be breaking $1K on any IEM until the VE EVE 21 comes out.

Edit: And yes Holocene is still mighty tempting.

Oh no.. Baldr (I haven't heard the Spark tho)

Given how your top two recommend are EST-configured IEM (Ely, Tra), you might want to check Kinera Baldr out. To me, its EST implementation is second best to Traillii, fast, smooth, yet accurate top quality treble. Plus it has an actual DD bass down low. Mids also sound very good and natural, with less laidback sound, and well-centered positioning. Soundstage may not be as wide, but it's pretty good about Isa's size. Technicality-wise I'd score the Baldr as 8/10 while the Traillii 9/10. But tonality wise I like the Baldr better, especially in the mids.Traillii's treble is still the best for me personally, but if you consider the whole package from bass upwards, the Baldr offers a seriously good deal I might go and get one next, it's now higher in my list than the Turii. Hopefully I can get both by the end of next month (this hobby is killing my wallet)

Kinera Imperial Baldr (slight cosmetic difference from the previous Kinera Baldr model) @ US$1300-ish

Spoiler

It was a happy sunny summer saturday today, so I decided to go on a trip.. to the store! Since I cannot sleep, I'll try to post some impressions recallable

First up (not in chronological order) is the Witch Girl Pro hybrid with 2 DD, which was the initial model prior to W6.2. They may not sound exactly the same, please keep in mind. To me the Witch Girl has this distinct aroma (pardon the pun) to their house sound which was tuned with dark-clarity combination. It's a very emotional sounding IEM, somewhat reminiscent of the good ol' VE5. But with bigger DD bass authorized down low. They have this alluring sweet mids that is smooth at the upper-end and slightly warm at the lower. It never comes off as bright, but it has decent amount of clarity. Did I say smooth? The lower-treble too is non-peaky and free of sibilance. Vocals especially sound unique on these, very romantic twilight evening dinner themed. He he. By the way, anyone wanna see my dinner?

I call this, avo-kidding a la nuts

Its weakness however, is that it may come off as too colored for some, and may lack some bite and sparkle/shimmer in the lower-treble area, especially brass cymbals sound

Up next we have the Percivali

I previously scored this as 6/10 for technicalities, and 4/10 for tonality. But after retrying, I'd say now it's more 7/10 and 5/10. The bass focuses more on mid-bass thump, with decent powerful punch to it. Its texture is distinctly separate from the rest of the frequency, so I hesitate to call it coherent. Mids actually sounded thicker than I remembered, but it still sounded a bit 'off' somewhat to my ears (YMMV of course). Vocals are tuned quite well, it has that slight Oriolus flavor to it. That raspiness and organic sound can be heard at some tracks. Treble are also pretty good, but again the texture felt different from the rest of the frequency reducing its coherency point. It's well extended and airy, very light and a little bit transparent. You can get a glimpse of where the idea for how Traillii's treble was tuned came from. Technicality-wise the Perci is a competent IEM, with some positive traits here-and-there (in segments). But to me, it lacks a bit of body in the mids, and some integration or unity as a whole.

Subsequently, we have the purple Crassi

I apologize before for saying inaccurately that the Crassi was tuned flat. The purple bird to my ears after trying the second time around sounded to me to be more forward and thin in the mids. Slight attenuation in the lower-mids, and extra lift in the upper, making its positioning more upfront, and note size a bit on the thinner side. However, by thin, I do not mean that it's anemic, dry or metallic, it just sounded proportionally tilted more towards the leaner brighter side, with less quantity in the lower-mids contrasting it. Tuning or sound signature overall, is somewhat like the Oriolus LTD, but with extra clarity and a bit less bass quantity. Bass is more focused on the mids rather than subs. Compared to the Reborn for example, it has less rumble and power, and a quicker attack as well as decay. The Reborn sounded warmer and positioning is more centrally placed


And then there is the red one

We all know this. And so I won't go into much detail. I still stand by my previous assessment, 9/10 technicalities (layering, soundstage, resolution) equal to the RS10. It still has the best treble I've heard. Best EST implementation followed by number two, the Kinera Baldr (maybe the Spark, but I haven't heard it unfortunately). Bass mimics DD sound very well. It has a deep reach, and good powerful thump, especially for BA. It may not suit hip hop genre or EDM (sub-bass rumble, bass texture focused) very well though. However, for most drum and percussions they perform very well. Mids to me are kind of a hit and miss, as I really liked how the mids combined at the upper-end with the EST treble. Their pairing and chemistry are incredible, and a joy to hear. But the mids alone by itself, may lack that extra tinge of sparkle at the upper-end (for my taste) and a more spread imaging which may evince more details (again, for my taste, which may come at the cost of conceding some musicality or engagement). I won't comment about its price.. *tongue in cheek*


And various more!

Variations @ $500-ish. Its mids share the same driver used in Softears IEM. So the texture is quite similar. Bass can be alikened to Honeydew, in that it goes deep like a DD should, but with medium power. Very well balanced tuning, somewhat similar to the RSV but with less brightness. Its EST treble are pretty impressive, but what impressed me more is how they managed to combined and integrate them together into one package. This was my first time listening, overall for $500 it is a good deal, especially if you like Moondrop house sound and tuning (I wish I could go into more details. Maybe next time)

 

[Rockwell75]

Epic post thanks for sharing!

"Are you guys talking about me?"

Oh Lawd he Comin!

Oh no.. Baldr (I haven't heard the Spark tho)

Given how your top two recommend are EST-configured IEM (Ely, Tra), you might want to check Kinera Baldr out. To me, its EST implementation is second best to Traillii, fast, smooth, yet accurate top quality treble. Plus it has an actual DD bass down low. Mids also sound very good and natural, with less laidback sound, and well-centered positioning. Soundstage may not be as wide, but it's pretty good about Isa's size. Technicality-wise I'd score the Baldr as 8/10 while the Traillii 9/10. But tonality wise I like the Baldr better, especially in the mids.Traillii's treble is still the best for me personally, but if you consider the whole package from bass upwards, the Baldr offers a seriously good deal I might go and get one next, it's now higher in my list than the Turii. Hopefully I can get both by the end of next month (this hobby is killing my wallet)

Kinera Imperial Baldr (slight cosmetic difference from the previous Kinera Baldr model) @ US$1300-ish

Oh snap-- do you know if Baldr has the same e-stats as Traillii and Spark?

if you like Moondrop house sound and tuning (I wish I could go into more details. Maybe next time

I've yet to really be moved by a Moondrop IEM-- but I've only heard the A8, S8 & the Dusk. Variations sounds interesting though.

I'm off to research the Baldr-- I've had Kinera on my radar for a while but haven't yet been sure which of their IEMs to look into.

Thanks for all that great intel . Being able to walk into a store and demo a whole bunch of IEMs seems like an elusive fantasy right now.

 

[claud W]

OK, Please help the old duffer out. What is a Campfire Q4?

 

[Rockwell75]

OK, Please help the old duffer out. What is a Campfire Q4?

The C9/Q4 was a 3-driver special edition IEM released in Japan alongside the MW10 Andromeda.

 

[claud W]

Dorado 2020 - bombastic, engaging, primordial & fun. (This is among my favorite pics I've taken of any of my IEMs.)



Also, possible Honeydew review incoming.

I see you have tried your Prudence. How does it compare to your PW cable? Pics of a cable combo I had to try since I had one. Got to give it a couple of days of break in, then I might post something. My top cable is on its way from Andrew.

 

[ZachPtheDude]

https://audio46.com/products/azla-sednaearfit-crystal-standard-eartips

In stock now! Just ordered myself a set.

 

[Rockwell75]

I see you have tried your Prudence. How does it compare to your PW cable? Pics of a cable combo I had to try since I had one. Got to give it a couple of days of break in, then I might post something. My top cable is on its way from Andrew.

The Prudence and #10 are two of my favorite cables. What cable did you order?

 

[claud W]

Dorado 2020 - bombastic, engaging, primordial & fun. (This is among my favorite pics I've taken of any of my IEMs.)



Also, possible Honeydew review incoming.

I see you have tried your Prudence. How does it compare to your PW cable? Pics of a cable combo I had to try since I had one. Got to give it a couple of days of break in, then I might post something. My top cable is on its way from Andrew.

 

[ExpatinJapan]

I can't speak for @ranfan but I know @ExpatinJapan has the Q4 and I think he says it's basically the same as the Holocene sound-wise.

Pretty much.

A slight retweaking here and there. But yes, basically CA C/2019 Q4 Japan limited Edition is CA Holocene - re released for a wider audience (and rightly so i think - its a great little IEM out of the CA range).

maybe @ranfan can go in store to an e-earphone or somewhere and do an a/b also at some stage (when thr current Japan rise of covid infections goes down of course) and add some more input/impressions as he is also has a c/2019 Q4.

As Rockwell wrote elsewhere the c/2019 Q4 was released as a ltd ed at the same time as the CA MW10 ltd ed. The Q4 is almost like a baby MW10 with its flat (but dynamic) sonic sig. V or L shaped lovers might do well to look elsewhere. For me its within my sonic sweet spot.

 

[claud W]

You may know by now how much I like PWA cables. I ordered The 1950s 4 wire. The Monile 1950s already sounds much more dynamic than the #10 on Isa. Got them hooked up to my Tidal burn in kit.

 

[blotmouse]

US indy rock royalty on a great new album. Really showcases Isabellae's strengths, imo. Personal points for tape hiss. hi-res is on qobuz.