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

[claud W]

Well said! These are exactly the words (in my mind) that I have used to describe Supermoon when I tried them at BBR! I'm seriously contemplating them for my next buy. I love the Phonix but I don't think I can swallow $3K USD, it would not be financially prudent for me, given that another little one is on the way.

Congrats!! Is that number 2 on the way!!

 

[kevin638880]

Also tried the FT with XE6 and WM1ZM2. I liked the bass texture and the smoothness, but this pairing is a bit too warm, losing some fine details here and there. I think it will shine with N8ii tho.

 

[Wyville]

Thank you @Wyville Man, how I wish to pet Barney someday. That goofbear sprinkles me with hagelslag joy as well. Seeing your avatar makes me smile each time. Say hi for me please..

Haha! Yeah, he is definitely a goofbear. You're always welcome, if you are ever in the area. Barnie loves getting visitors.

"Hi Ranfan!"

Oh, that's a nice cable you got there!
It's a good thing you got the right headphone to match..
Right?

I love the HD650, but now that you mention it... So much more to explore. ZMF is definitely up there. And I could use a better amp. Maybe finally get that tube amp. What would be the right DAC? How could I get the best synergy in a stack? Do the aesthetics work in my office? Do I need to repaint to match the amp?

 

[dmphile]

Congrats!! Is that number 2 on the way!!

Thanks! Yessir.

 

[Kiats]

iPod/iPhone works too over USB. Other LP6 users are doing fine with it. I only have an old iPod with 30pin connector and I don't have a cable for it yet, lol. Also, my iPhone used to work fine over OTG USB but it no longer works. Something very strange about lightening to USB-C with LP6. The DX240 SPDIF has always been very reliable and so has LP6 SPDIF input. Also, like many desktop DACs, I think the SPDIF input is quieter and better than USB input. Could be placebo as I haven't done a rigorous A/B but I'm fairly certain it's cleaner and better through SPDIF.

Yeah… the Spdif works great. I use it with the DX300 and the LP6s.

 

[Kiats]

Hmm, seems Lightning is also a problematic OTG connection with LP. I have had similar issues with the HM1K intermittently. The way to resolve the problem is using the Apple camera dongle out of the iPod then a USB A-to-C into the DAP. Perhaps that might work for the LP6 variants too; I have an incoming 6Ti, so I will be trying that too.

Congrats on the LP6 Ti! For lightning OTG, try the FiiO ones. Has yet to fail me. And cheap too.

 

[dsrk]

Haha! Yeah, he is definitely a goofbear. You're always welcome, if you are ever in the area. Barnie loves getting visitors.

"Hi Ranfan!"

I love the HD650, but now that you mention it... So much more to explore. ZMF is definitely up there. And I could use a better amp. Maybe finally get that tube amp. What would be the right DAC? How could I get the best synergy in a stack? Do the aesthetics work in my office? Do I need to repaint to match the amp?

He is cute.
Me too for more than 10 years. I mean who doesn't like HD6XX, it's hard to imagine

 

[efftee]

Congrats on the LP6 Ti! For lightning OTG, try the FiiO ones. Has yet to fail me. And cheap too.

Thanks! Though I still have my eye on a certain 7AE... you know who you are heh.

On the OTG cable, I have a few no-name brands, none are good, and also the DDHifi, best of the lot -- have you tried that?

 

[Rockwell75]

It's not some magic wand that transforms mutton into lamb but what it does is very apparent.

Lol I haven't heard that in a while. One of my friends growing up was from Ireland. Whenever his mom saw an older woman who was trying to dress/make herself look younger she'd go "pfft...mutton dressed as lamb". I never quite got it at first but I find it hilarious now.

@Rockwell75 Recently I found this article about earwax, and I'm hypothesizing could it be that the eastern/western tuning of brighter or warmer sound has something to do with this? What if, wetter ears are more sensitive to higher frequencies and tend to prefer warmer sound signature? I personally have dry earwax, and as much as I try to like dark warm-sounding monitors, I still prefer the slightly brighter ones (except harsh sibilant)
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/gory-details/what-your-earwax-says-about-your-ancestry

Nice I'll take a look. I've often wondered if the tonality of someone's native language has some effect on people's sonic preferences. (Are some languages skewed toward the upper/lower registers, I wonder.)

How does it compare to EXT then?

I'll get back to you on that. I popped EXT in last night to do a brief comparison and was like "nope" and went back to the Supermoon. That's hardly definitive and will require more investigation obviously. I was listening to a track on Supermoon and thought I heard some metallic glare so I put EXT on and it was still there (a relief) but I missed Supermoon and put it right back in. There is something about a single driver setup that just intrinsically does so much right for me. I don't think Supermoon can top EXT's more romantic midrange tuning...but as a total package Supermoon may eventually win the day for me. Too soon to say anything definitive there yet.

Rockwell75, Did you think "WOW" the first time you heard Timeless? Did you think "WOW" the first time you heard Supermoon?
If not , why?

No on both counts. Bear in mind I haven't heard Timeless in a few months and was never among those who were totally and completely won over by it. I liked it a lot but saw it more as a commendable step towards something truly great. I've really loved 3 planars so far (Timenessl, LCDi4 and Supermoon) and in all 3 cases it wasn't right away that I fell for them but only after listening for some time before realizing how utterly immersed in and spellbound I was by the sound. I think this is how planars roll for me-- they don't hit me over the head right away but their sound takes some time to immerse into...but once you do it's hard to go back at first to anything else. Like I said above I put EXT in last night and took it right out. The Supermoon and by extension planars generally may well be what I might later call my first "complete" IEM listening experience. It's the first time I've experienced all the best qualities I've come to love in other IEMs-- the dynamic timbre, single driver coherence & unity, massive deep and enveloping stage with precise and fathomless detail and layering throughout-- to such an extent all at once. Yes there are other IEMs that might be better in one of those categories in some way but I've never heard them all together to such an extent. This is the true beauty of the planar experience and why I'm coming to believe they may well provide the best of all worlds "golden middle path" for IEMs. Like I said earlier usual CFA quirks may apply but if you at all jive with the brand or their tuning the Supermoon is a must hear imho.

 

[Rockwell75]

Just a small personal milestone today, thanks in part to this thread and its high octane membership. I'll send pics of Jude's gift hamper as soon as I get it.

Cheer my friend. The 24,000 likes is arguably a more noteworthy accomplishment as it speaks to the profound value your contributions make to the community. Super grateful for your continued presence here...one of my top 5 posters for sure

 

[Scubadevils]

Lol I haven't heard that in a while. One of my friends growing up was from Ireland. Whenever his mom saw an older woman who was trying to dress/make herself look younger she'd go "pfft...mutton dressed as lamb". I never quite got it at first but I find it hilarious now.



Nice I'll take a look. I've often wondered if the tonality of someone's native language has some effect on people's sonic preferences. (Are some languages skewed toward the upper/lower registers, I wonder.)



I'll get back to you on that. I popped EXT in last night to do a brief comparison and was like "nope" and went back to the Supermoon. That's hardly definitive and will require more investigation obviously. I was listening to a track on Supermoon and thought I heard some metallic glare so I put EXT on and it was still there (a relief) but I missed Supermoon and put it right back in. There is something about a single driver setup that just intrinsically does so much right for me. I don't think Supermoon can top EXT's more romantic midrange tuning...but as a total package Supermoon may eventually win the day for me. Too soon to say anything definitive there yet.



No on both counts. Bear in mind I haven't heard Timeless in a few months and was never among those who were totally and completely won over by it. I liked it a lot but saw it more as a commendable step towards something truly great. I've really loved 3 planars so far (Timenessl, LCDi4 and Supermoon) and in all 3 cases it wasn't right away that I fell for them but only after listening for some time before realizing how utterly immersed in and spellbound I was by the sound. I think this is how planars roll for me-- they don't hit me over the head right away but their sound takes some time to immerse into...but once you do it's hard to go back at first to anything else. Like I said above I put EXT in last night and took it right out. The Supermoon and by extension planars generally may well be what I might later call my first "complete" IEM listening experience. It's the first time I've experienced all the best qualities I've come to love in other IEMs-- the dynamic timbre, single driver coherence & unity, massive deep and enveloping stage with precise and fathomless detail and layering throughout-- to such an extent all at once. Yes there are other IEMs that might be better in one of those categories in some way but I've never heard them all together to such an extent. This is the true beauty of the planar experience and why I'm coming to believe they may well provide the best of all worlds "golden middle path" for IEMs. Like I said earlier usual CFA quirks may apply but if you at all jive with the brand or their tuning the Supermoon is a must hear imho.

I'm feeling similar with the P1 Max... I just keep wanting to listen to it. It's no technical wizard but in terms of pure musical enjoyment, it's 10/10 for me so far.

Now of course curious about Supermoon...

 

[dmphile]

Vision Ears EXT Impressions

Per my usual disclaimers.

I’m not an ‘audiophile’ by any means but I love my music and I love how certain headphones, IEMs, and TWS invoke fond memories and emotions of past and present life experiences with my family.

Tested on genres such as Classical, Jazz, Pop, EDM, Hip Hop, Movie scores and soundtracks such as Wonder Woman, Batman Begins, Inception on stock cable with 2.5mm termination on FiiO M11 Plus ESS and Spinfits CP360 XL tips

At first listen, the EXT immediately impressed with its highly resolving mid-range, treble response and extension. Pianos have this amazing resonance with the weight of the lower notes which completely immerses the listener into audio bliss. This is clearly the EXT’s strength and combined with the weightiness of the DD, mid-bass and sub-bass is impactful, well textured and very satisfying. It’s easy to see why this IEM has gotten the attention it has to-date. I could see these being the perfect choice if you want energy and resolution. I think long-term listening would be a challenge for me though. It’s not as smooth as the Phonix.

EXT are a little more difficult to drive than the Phonix. I need them at high gain with a few additional notches on the volume to get it to a reasonable listening level as the Phonix. Cymbal crashes, kick drums really shine on the EXT and it has this chesty impact that again, is very satisfying. I tend to prefer a ‘fuller’ sound with more airiness and EXT is far from sounding ‘thin’ to my ears, but it could definitely use a little more ‘fullness’ to it’s sound. If the Phonix had the impact and sub-bass rumble of that DD from the EXT, I think that would be my end game IEM. (at this point in time) Unless I hear something else in this price range that can match or surpass the Phonix in its current standing, I will be keeping my eyes on a used pair in the future. I do caveat this by saying that I haven’t heard the XE6 and other FIR IEMs which I am pretty excited to also try with this tour. That DD is freaking addictive and EXT just kills it.

Fit and Build Quality 4/5

• The vented design is a bit of love and hate. Might collect grime and dust overtime so I’m not as a big of a fan for long-term use but the EXT’s visual aesthetics is spectacular
• Feels premium, good fit
• Snug and has a deep insertion depth. Slightly uncomfortable after a few hours of usage

Treble 4.5/5

• Great sparkle without fatigue and has an outstanding amount of detail and resolution
• Treble clarity and emphasis are where the EXT also shine IMO
• Cymbal crashes are accurate and with right amount decay to my ears

Mid-Range 4.5/5

• Highly resolving and this is where the EXT’s strength really shines. Elegant, refined, lush, somewhat forward.
• Violins sound realistic and cry with hair raising emotions
• Flutes and guitar crunches are satisfying, extremely detailed and resolving.
• Trumpets and trombones accurately reverberate with a high degree of realism and depth resonating from the brass
• Piano’s have a satisfying amount of weight and body for lower notes and crisp for higher notes

Vocals 4/5

• Female vocals sound crisp, airy, with excellent extension and no sibilance or harshness, it’s fantastic
• Male vocals sound weighty, has chesty elements and satisfies

Soundstage/Imaging 4/5

• Not as airy or spacious as the Phonix which set the bar pretty high for me. Stage is wide, not as deep but the imaging and detail is good, just not as immersive and airy as the Phonix

Bass 4.5/5

• Love the texture and impact of the DD on the EXT. If the Phonix had a DD to produce the slam, I think it would near perfect for my taste. IMO, nothing beats the detail, and immersive feeling of a DD bass slam.
• Kick drums have a nice thump and weight with good decay
• Cello's have an outstanding amount of weight and resonance
• The Supermoon’s bass detail, texture and slam from the planar is pretty darn close, if not the same or better.

Overall, EXT is a fantastic IEM but it didn’t give me the same emotional response as the Dorado, Supermoons, or Phonix did. There’s just something about the weight, depth and airiness of the Phonix’s sonic profile that triggers many more emotions and that’s where I extract the most enjoyment in an IEM. As I mentioned in my Phonix impressions, I like to feel ALL the elements of my music with cohesion and impact across the FR. I can definitely appreciate the EXT’s detail, resolution and mid-range performance but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of overall enjoyment and immersion.

Ps. I will try to replicate a similar format for thoughts and impressions of the FIR IEMs when they hit my doorstep in the coming weeks. Thanks again for reading fellow coolereans.

 

[ceramicears]

Lol I haven't heard that in a while. One of my friends growing up was from Ireland. Whenever his mom saw an older woman who was trying to dress/make herself look younger she'd go "pfft...mutton dressed as lamb". I never quite got it at first but I find it hilarious now.



Nice I'll take a look. I've often wondered if the tonality of someone's native language has some effect on people's sonic preferences. (Are some languages skewed toward the upper/lower registers, I wonder.)



I'll get back to you on that. I popped EXT in last night to do a brief comparison and was like "nope" and went back to the Supermoon. That's hardly definitive and will require more investigation obviously. I was listening to a track on Supermoon and thought I heard some metallic glare so I put EXT on and it was still there (a relief) but I missed Supermoon and put it right back in. There is something about a single driver setup that just intrinsically does so much right for me. I don't think Supermoon can top EXT's more romantic midrange tuning...but as a total package Supermoon may eventually win the day for me. Too soon to say anything definitive there yet.



No on both counts. Bear in mind I haven't heard Timeless in a few months and was never among those who were totally and completely won over by it. I liked it a lot but saw it more as a commendable step towards something truly great. I've really loved 3 planars so far (Timenessl, LCDi4 and Supermoon) and in all 3 cases it wasn't right away that I fell for them but only after listening for some time before realizing how utterly immersed in and spellbound I was by the sound. I think this is how planars roll for me-- they don't hit me over the head right away but their sound takes some time to immerse into...but once you do it's hard to go back at first to anything else. Like I said above I put EXT in last night and took it right out. The Supermoon and by extension planars generally may well be what I might later call my first "complete" IEM listening experience. It's the first time I've experienced all the best qualities I've come to love in other IEMs-- the dynamic timbre, single driver coherence & unity, massive deep and enveloping stage with precise and fathomless detail and layering throughout-- to such an extent all at once. Yes there are other IEMs that might be better in one of those categories in some way but I've never heard them all together to such an extent. This is the true beauty of the planar experience and why I'm coming to believe they may well provide the best of all worlds "golden middle path" for IEMs. Like I said earlier usual CFA quirks may apply but if you at all jive with the brand or their tuning the Supermoon is a must hear imho.

Hah, after I spent some time with the Supermoon I wanted to compare to the Diana Phi and LCD-4 just for the hell of it. Spent a few minutes with each and then nonchalantly had to go back to the Supermoon. Kind of a cruel, expensive joke haha. Damn Campfire and their tuning chops.

 

[ranfan]

Nice I'll take a look. I've often wondered if the tonality of someone's native language has some effect on people's sonic preferences. (Are some languages skewed toward the upper/lower registers, I wonder.)

This may be a far-fetched guess

Spoiler

but I realise birds living in the rainforest have so many more chirps and calls to help them distinguish one another, and make them more noticeable from all the other noises in the surroundings. They also live in closer proximity which makes high frequency sound more effective since it can travel shorter distances. On the upside, this also allows them to make more unique varying sounds. Just like dolphins too which usually travel in packs so they benefit more using higher frequency sound to communicate, as they can form more words in rapid succession that way, compared to whales which use lower frequency sound more as it can travel farther

A friend of mine from Vietnam also once said that there are like 5 'a' pronounciations in Vietnamese (is this true? @yaps66), and it seems apparent too that in most East to Southeast Asian countries vowels are prominent in their use to assemble words. Which is different from Arabic, Russian which use more consonants by comparison. Though there are few exceptions, such as the Mongolian with their nomadic lifestyle in the plains which require longer distance communication (check out throat singing)

Then there's also the body size factor, as it correspond to vocal pitch. Smaller body size often have higher pitch, and vice versa. I guess that may play a role too? There are so many variables! It's fascinating. I wonder which has the most influence

 

[kevin638880]

A few hours in...I gotta say Supermoon is a knockout for me so far. For a fan of CFA and their house sound I dare say it's a no-brainer. I'm tempted to call it a best of all worlds Campfire IEM-- it's got a dash of the bombastic swagger of the Dorado, the spaciousness and grandeur of Solaris, and the technical-but-fun charm of the Andromeda...all mixed in with a healthy dose of single driver secret sauce and planar magic. The bass on these is really really nice. Every so often I do hear a touch of what could be described as a borderline metallic shimmer in the upper mid/lower treble region but it happens so seldomly I barely notice...in fact if I weren't going out of my way to look for it I may not have noticed. It could even have been latent within the tracks themselves. The most striking aspect for me as of this writing is the spaciousness & vividness of the staging and the detail in the layering-- every element within the sonic spectrum is fully rendered and has it's own space to flourish and breathe. These IEMs are making me want to go through my whole library just to hear what they bring to the table...that's always a good sign.

Glad to hear that you liked it. I guess the differences in the mids could be due to source and music genres. I can relate to everything you said here about the Supermoon - bass, treble, soundstage - I also agree with these findings. Maybe because my library is more upper-mid centric, so the metallic timbre is very noticeable for me. Or maybe this is how a planar is supposed to sound and I am just not used to it, but I recall trying the LCD-5 and the uppermids-treble is really smooth and natural, so not too sure what's happening here.

I might use another source and different music genres and try again.

Also I am really enjoying the Noble Kublai Khan....it has been a while I have been impressed by Noble stuff.