I’ve owned the Annihilator 2023 for a few months now. It’s a high clarity sound, but it’s definitely not a reference-type monitor.
Jaben Singapore has reached out to Kinera in respect of the colour schemes of the Loki for the international market. Their reply is that there are 2 colour schemes released for the international market. But both sound the same.
Initially they weren't keen since they had already limited the sale of the Chinese version to only China by then, then agreed after I pestered them for it (lol!) but said that they can only manage to send it to me next month after getting a demo sample of Loki Chinese back from dealers/expo. Since that was uncertain with no definite plan and I had already finished most of my review, I didn't want to hold the review in wait for an uncertain thing which might not pan out.
Interesting that they tune the international version brighter rather than darker. Usually, people associates "eastern" tuning with bright, shouty signature and "western" tuning with warm, dark, bass signature.Uncle Wilson messaged me about this a few hours back here too. I'll tell you what I was told by Kinera and what they announced publicly too (see below). See, there is Loki (Chinese version) and then there is Loki Emerald (international version). Now maybe Jaben Singapore's sample which you tried has the design of Loki Chinese version but the tuning of Loki Emerald, which only Kinera can clarify or we can tell apart by graphing and comparing. Still, the differences are just Loki Emerald having more gain post 2kHz till 20kHz (shown in the Elise Audio graph below) and that being the international version now. They're not worlds apart.
I had extensive discussions with Kinera's marketing rep as well as their CEO/founder about both versions since I wanted to clarify what the differences were myself while testing Loki Emerald for the review. I had suggested them to send me the Chinese version too so that I could write the comparisons in the review and make it easier for everyone. I had foreseen this and told them even then that it will otherwise create unnecessary confusion and I'll start receiving questions in PMs after I publish the Loki Emerald review (already received a couple besides yours and Uncle Wilson's).
I had told them before too that unless they specify and let people know about the two different versions properly, especially their dealers/distributors, it will create unnecessary confusion for everyone all over.
With all that said, I have no horse in the game. I just stated what I was told by Kinera in detail, what was also publicly announced by them on their social media too. I specifically mentioned it in my review so that readers know which version I'm reviewing. Most other published reviews, especially from sellers themselves like Audio 46 (Major HiFi), Bloom Audio, etc are of the Loki Chinese version, not Loki Emerald.
- Here is Kinera's announcement of LOKI EMERALD version stating the differences, dated 5th of August.
- Here are the two different versions side by side as per design.
- Below are graphs (from Elise Audio) of both, which I've put in my review too.
Hope this helps and clarifies it. I had already requested Kinera's rep to clarify it, especially for their distributors/dealers and maybe on all their product listings too and have done so again now.
Otherwise, once again, I have no horse in the game. I can only suggest prospective buyers to confirm which version their favoured sellers have once before buying. Cheers!
My first ever iem was back 15 years ago when I first moved to San Francisco. I was an avid cyclist and biked to work daily roughly about 14miles a day. I worked at guitar center as one of my jobs and got a discount on a pair of Shure SCL3 iems. I knew nothing about iems and neither did the guys in the pro audio departmentso I picked the lowest profile pair as I was pulled over once on my bike by a motorcycle cop for having my apple earbuds in. Which I guess were my first earbuds but not a pair I spent a good amount of money on. So low profile and black so police could not see them. I used the SCL3 for about 3 years until they were stolen from me and then went back to the apple earbuds as I didn’t work at guitar center anymore and didn’t want to pay full retail of $149 back then. Hahaha! My old self would be smacking my now self for spending thousands upon thousands on this hobby now. Anyway that is what entered me into the world of iems. The SCL3 had very little bass quantity, I remember being let down by that. Here are some stock pics I found on the internet
These Shures were my first iem too. I also remember the lack of bass but the feeling of the music emanating from inside my skull was a revelation.
Can we get some comparisons?I like to write about the best IEM I've tried and subsequently bought this year, Madoo typ 821. Madoo is considered the experimental Acoustone, dare I say, to my ears it is the more matured line.
The built of reminds of AP watches with spahire class and hexa type screw drivers.
It's driver type is ortho, closer back, basically what I was waiting for Audeze release.
I haven't figured out its tonality, as it so far has proven agile, transparent.
I hear no peaks in treble. I'm looking forward to pairing it with my bakoon amps once I'm back home.
512 bass is much thicker and more enjoyable for EDM, and really specialised on bass heavy music. The next one up is, typ711 is arguably best IEM for its price when music is mastered well or if you only listen to well mastered chamber, classical.Can we get some comparisons?
Madoo Typ 512 is incredible for its price of around $600 with some of the best bass in the industry. Incredible mids as well.
I understand 821 is more resolving but would love to hear comparisons to the Helios, Z1R and U12t, if possible.
