The Watercooler -- Impressions, philosophical discussion and general banter. Index on first page. All welcome.

[PHLHarmonic]

Traveling time -- just bringing the Arias along so as to not risk losing anything expensive. Got my replacement EXTs very quickly thanks to MT, and I can't believe that I didn't notice the imbalance. The XE6s are off to hopefully get the one's inlay replaced.

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

It's amazing how much backstory and the journey to an IEM contributes to our relationship with it. At least it does for me, and probably you too. I had the same sentiment when I let EVO go, and my LCD and ZMF headphones before that.

Definitely. I have a strong affinity for the Empire Ears brand and my 3 EE IEMs because I have visited them so many times. A brand is more than just the product. It's not a commodity like corn.

 

[DanielListening]

All this talk of Michelin starred restaurants has me feeling nostalgic.

In another life I was a Coffee Roaster and Barista. I worked in Sweden for a time. During that time the roasting company I worked for provided coffee to a Michelin starred restaurant and was friends with Rene Redzepi.

I participated in MAD. Partied with Noma staff DJd by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem fame, got a NYT reporter dumped on me from David Chang (LOL I told the reporter I am not interesting and walked away). What a time in my life.

I have been to some Michelin starred restaurants and they can be a excellent, however you need to have the extra spending cash to enjoy it. If $1,000 is a pay check to you it’s not worth it, like any luxury if you can afford it it’s great.

I prefer working in the industry and the experience you get that way. More fun to try experiments and the unrefined dishes from chefs. Drinking bottles of wine from the distributor and listening to the som process his thoughts on bottles, learn why they would choose one wine over another and their process of choosing wines. Staff meals. The community.

 

[Rockwell75]

Definitely. I have a strong affinity for the Empire Ears brand and my 3 EE IEMs because I have visited them so many times. A brand is more than just the product. It's not a commodity like corn.

No doubt, as I'm sure is the case with all things where a strong emotional attachment/connection is involved. I have a strong appreciation for and connection to CFA, as they were my first premium brand and I love their aesthetic and approach. VE also, for reasons I need not elaborate on again. Sony is another one as they're the portable audio OGs an I would wager most of us in our most formative years were first drawn to portable audio or tech via a Sony product of some kind or another.

 

[endless402]

If you’re ever in Hong Kong, you can go to Tim Ho Wan, it’s a single star and it’ll cost you under $30 for lunch for dim sum

 

[Scubadevils]

Thunder sounds like a great IEM but my aversion to BAs is keeping my curiosity at bay and my wallet safe for the time being. My financial situation doesn't allow more than one multi-kilobuck IEM as an option (also, VE mids are probably my single favorite thing in portable audio so when/if I do move on from EXT it will most likely be another decidedly mid-focused IEM).

Yeah I certainly get where you are coming from in relation the mids - I adore female vocals on EXT, the in-my-head presentation is incredibly alluring and more intimate and lifelike versus possibly any other IEM I own.

 

[F700]

The Shozy Magma (1DD, 1BA and 2EST) got my attention. I like the graph and a fellow head-fier who has them told me how incredible the vocals are rendered out of them.

Did anyone try those?

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

If you’re ever in Hong Kong, you can go to Tim Ho Wan, it’s a single star and it’ll cost you under $30 for lunch for dim sum

We have a Tim Ho Wan in Waikiki. I didn't realize that it's based on a Michilin Star restaurant in Hong Kong. In fact, I thought it was run by one of my oldest son's best friends because his name is Tim Ho and his father is a big wig restauranteur in Hawaii. I am going to try it.

 

[PHLHarmonic]

The Shozy Magma (1DD, 1BA and 2EST) got my attention. I like the graph and a fellow head-fier who has them told me how incredible the vocals are rendered out of them.

Did anyone try those?

Made in the same factory as the Monarch MkII?

 

[Rockwell75]

If you’re ever in Hong Kong, you can go to Tim Ho Wan

No relation to Timmy Ho's here in Canada I guess

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

If you’re ever in Hong Kong, you can go to Tim Ho Wan, it’s a single star and it’ll cost you under $30 for lunch for dim sum

Dim Sum is so good in Hong Kong that it's really easy to find a restaurant that is near the best Dim Sum a person has ever had.

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

No relation to Timmy Ho's here in Canada I guess

You mean the donut shop?

 

[Rockwell75]

You mean the donut shop?

Yes lol...it was a bad joke. I saw "Tim Ho" and that's where my uncultured mind went. Move along.

 

[riverground]

Yes lol...it was a bad joke. I saw "Tim Ho" and that's where my uncultured mind went. Move along.

I want 50 Timbits now…

@riverground should have my Zen Pro at some point so you should get to hear that too.

That looks so good.

Now there's a pleasant surprise. Of everything milling about right now that I haven't heard this is probably the one I'm most excited about. I'm hoping they'll release a universal model but based on impressions I've heard so far I'm very tempted to take the plunge on this as my first custom.

I’m excited to hear the ZP as well!
The CE-5 and the Mystery IEM will be on your way this coming week. I’m almost done

While the CE-5 Is impressive, the mystery IEM is even more impressive

I wonder which one you like better

The Ramen was really good man! I wanna go there again sometime soon.

The Supermoon honestly surprised me quite a lot. You should definitely go for it just to finally have your first CIEM.

 

[Rockwell75]

I want 50 Timbits now…

I’m excited to hear the ZP as well!
The CE-5 and the Mystery IEM will be on your way this coming week. I’m almost done

I can't wait. I've been really enjoying the Shichiku Kangen. I won't be doing any formal writeup or anything as I won't have the time. It's actually one of the best all-rounder single DDs I've ever heard and would be high in the running were I ever forced to go with only one IEM. It's also motivate me to put some serious consideration into getting at least one IEM with a proper sub-bass focus. That's one area I've never put a lot of thought into but I always really appreciate it when I hear it done well.

While the CE-5 Is impressive, the mystery IEM is even more impressive

I wonder which one you like better

Can't wait to find out!

The Supermoon honestly surprised me quite a lot. You should definitely go for it just to finally have your first CIEM.

Seriously thinking about it! It's modestly priced (comparatively), a planar (my newest fascination) and having CFA so close by is a huge advantage for something as tricky as a custom. For the brand's sake I really hope this turns into a big hit for them...they haven't really knocked anything out of the park as far as the general market is concerned since the Solaris.

In other news, if you all will forgive my over saturating this thread with these posts, but I think I finally got this right where I want it for the time being. Again, ranked only by my personal enjoyment with no pretence of objectivity and the obvious caveats that I default towards mid-centred IEMs, DDs, warmth and musicality: