[wazzupi]

Some moar iem pron.

 

[phiemon]

I actually wanted to hold my opinion back in this thread where audio gear below at least 1k doesn't exist but I decided not to

Give the Fiio K7 a shot if you can psychologically handle it being value priced.

I went IEMs only this year, super happy with this decision. Then came Black Friday and I decided to re-purchase an HD800S because I just love It's sound(stage). Third time's the charm now after HD800 in 2013 and my first 800S in 2019 or so.

Anyway, the HD800S does indeed play really nice from the SP3000 but I like using my iPad as a streamer and use the K7 as DAC/Amp for convenience at my desk and it does a really great job, I was surprised (actually I thought, I'd send it back anyways..)! When listening critically I think the SP3000 is still ahead 6/10 times but 4/10 I like the K7 better. Not sure if what I hear are psycho acoustics, though. Anni and GM also play great with the K7, the Mentor absolutely not, bad match.

Oh btw. my favorite dealer made me an offer I couldn't resist when I picked up the HD800S and sold me an Utopia 2022 open box (10 days old in new-like condition) for nearly 50% off. I couldn't resist and now I own 2 full size HPs again ... and I love it. I think It's great switching between IEM and full size, very different experience and now with the Utopia, wow, great. This is the real deal for me.

Still, going from the Annihilator to the Utopia, the latter sounds veiled at first. Anni is clarity in It's purest form!

In my very challenging journey to find a desktop DAC/AMP for the HD800S, which I did about 2 years ago, I also had the K9 Pro - just released at the time. The RME ADI was already better for me. I generally find the sound of ESS / Sabre too analytical. The SP3000 is still the best for the HD800S.

 

[MacAttack7]

Listened to some really old earphones yesterday that I haven't pulled out in years.
I was surprised (and a little disappointed) because all of the new stuff I've purchased since then isn't really much better.
In fact, these sound better to me than some of the newer ones I own.:

Sony MDR-XB50AP Extra Bass (from 2014 I think). This one has a really cool rich stereo system sound.​

Brainwavz B100 - Single Balanced Armature (from 2017). This one has a nice clean sound, vocals forward.​

 

[timeslip]

For the holidays, I just bought a ZMF Atrium Closed and as soon it is built, I am in the queue for a Decware Reference OTL amp. Nothing in my IEM collection even comes close to this sound. I also picked up a Riviera A1C-10 which shipped today. I can listen to that amp with my Susvara all day long.

I haven't heard about the Riviera A1C-10 and curious about the Atrium and Caldera. I found the VC and VO to a bit too veiled using the amp&sound pendant with upgraded tubes. The wa33 was way too powerful and I had to turn the gain down a lot.

 

[timeslip]

Just like tjzurlaaa, timeslip and dkar, I found myself enjoying Aura more than I thought I would. Smooth and yet scintillating, currently paired with Iliad, I find myself reaching for it often I can see why Steve liked it so much (hope I can eventually see Steve on HF).

I just got my chiron nova cable for it and previously paired it with the PW FT. To me it was worth sending in the stock cable with the 3.5 plug to upgrade to the chiron nova with a 4.4.

 

[SenyorC]

Would love to read your review later

I finally got the FEI WAN review posted if you (or anyone else) are still interested in checking it out

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/aroma-fei-wan.26646/review/32275/

 

[Rockwell75]

On the road today with some purple and gold.

 

[stacey]

Absolutely, I love both IEMs and headphones. Currently relaxing with the Elite, driven by SP3000 and C9. Sounds great..

Edit: great album to unwind with.

They still make music? I used to study to their music in college

 

[Auricon]

They still make music? I used to study to their music in college

Still do though it’s been many years since their last album and only releasing a EP of 4 in 2021 with Lou Stone - my favorite being the live version which I also use for testing new IEMs:

Live

Studio recording

 

[emdeevee]

I took one for the team here! Pure blind buy...CFA Black Star!

 

[CharlyBrown]

In my very challenging journey to find a desktop DAC/AMP for the HD800S, which I did about 2 years ago, I also had the K9 Pro - just released at the time. The RME ADI was already better for me. I generally find the sound of ESS / Sabre too analytical. The SP3000 is still the best for the HD800S.

The K7 uses AK4493SEQ. It’s really musical.

 

[osocan]

The K7 uses AK4493SEQ. It’s really musical.

The K7 with PL50 is my desktop setup. I don't normally listen to the desktop except when I'm working. So it also double up as a burning rig.

I don't have modern headphones but I do still have my ATH W5000 which I find bass-light and bright on my Mapletree. Not so on the K7. It's still bright but the bass is so much more present.

 

[warrenpchi]

Allow me to say that you are a Canjam but in a human form

Hmm, now considering that as a new custom title for him...

So I went that route!
Now need to wait a month to get it.

Here are some pictures (sorry for the quality, it was very dark in the shop and it really doesn’t make justice to those sets) :

Canpur CP622B

Congratulations! Are you going get the Socrates as well?

Holy size difference!

I actually wanted to hold my opinion back in this thread where audio gear below at least 1k doesn't exist but I decided not to

Give the Fiio K7 a shot if you can psychologically handle it being value priced.

In my experience, the number one reason why any given piece of gear isn't discussed here is simply because people haven't heard it. And in my opinion, that is entirely appropriate.

Listened to some really old earphones yesterday that I haven't pulled out in years.
I was surprised (and a little disappointed) because all of the new stuff I've purchased since then isn't really much better.
In fact, these sound better to me than some of the newer ones I own.:

Sony MDR-XB50AP Extra Bass (from 2014 I think). This one has a really cool rich stereo system sound.​

Brainwavz B100 - Single Balanced Armature (from 2017). This one has a nice clean sound, vocals forward.​

Rejoice and be happy! You just saved yourself a ton of money in the hobby!

I took one for the team here! Pure blind buy...CFA Black Star!

Look @CharlyBrown, someone just blind bought sub-kilobuck gear!

 

[wolfstar76]

"Geez! Can you PLEASE move your @$$ over to F6???"

drftr

I like instruction being so precise.

 

[emdeevee]

Look @CharlyBrown, someone just blind bought sub-kilobuck gear!

Oh sh$t, I better cancel the order!