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

[yaps66]

Naming only one, which piece of head-fi gear represents the very best value for money for you?

drftr

The Hugo M Scaler. It took what I loved in the TT2 and made it just better. I can't stop listening to it so that has provided the best value for me!

New shiny for the weekend! We will see, but it's certainly nice to look at.

Keen to hear your impressions!

Vifa Oslo

That's a lovely BT speaker!

My wife planned a Birthday surprise for me that Saturday because I missed to put the Amsterdam event to our family calendar. Next time I’m not doing the same mistake again…Really envied you guys reading the reports and looking at the pics from the event.

I was contemplating traveling to CanJam London this year but some head-fiers today mentioned there might be only Elise Audio at the show. Is that so?

I was going to say that @HiFiHawaii808 will be there and so will others. But I see this was already discussed in the other 'cooler thread!

After weeks of anticipation, these beauties have finally hit my doorstep.

​

I literally don't think Aroma could've made them any better. I couldn't be happier with how they feel, look, fit or (especially) sound. Now, I just get to sit back and enjoy, knowing I don't have to write a 4000-word essay about 'em.

I'll say it again, so very lovely!

Which do you prefer? The XE6 or Z1R?

I like both! Each does something different and both are just as engaging for different reasons! Strange taste I guess!

Meanwhile, chilling out with these albums this afternoon!

 

[maegnificant]

That's a lovely BT speaker!

It is truly great and imo sounds better than its bigger brother BUT since Vifa went down under and was sold to some chinese company, there is hardly any (meaning no) support for it. Battery life gets abysmal real fast, since all the units on the market have been sitting on shelves for years now and the app to change sound profiles was kept alive by the community, but it is now unsupported since Android 14. Sad to see. The Dali Katch is also a pretty good option, but I have not heard a better BT speaker than the Vifa Oslo since.

 

[yaps66]

It is truly great and imo sounds better than its bigger brother BUT since Vifa went down under and was sold to some chinese company, there is hardly any (meaning no) support for it. Battery life gets abysmal real fast, since all the units on the market have been sitting on shelves for years now and the app to change sound profiles was kept alive by the community, but it is now unsupported since Android 14. Sad to see. The Dali Katch is also a pretty good option, but I have not heard a better BT speaker than the Vifa Oslo since.

Agreed. My battery does not hold a charge anymore and I have to leave it plugged in to be able to listen to music. Shame!

 

[maegnificant]

Agreed. My battery shot does not hold a charge anymore and I have to leave it plugged in to be able to listen to music. Shame!

I did not dare to do this yet.

 

[Valrhona]

I like both! Each does something different and both are just as engaging for different reasons! Strange taste I guess!

Not at all! I like them both too!

 

[yaps66]

I did not dare to do this yet.

Interesting, the repair sounds like it was done in Vietnam!

 

[yaps66]

Not at all! I like them both too!

A man has good taste!

 

[tone.texture.soul]

Thank you for this amazing impression!!!

Did you try the dcs lina with IEM’s as well?
Or is that kind of silly

The output ports are nit that great for IEM’s though, needs a good converter.

Thanks

I tried the Lina almost exclusively with IEMs, it’s not silly at all, the results were staggering. Using my Traillii Ti it was the largest and most lifelike setup I’ve ever heard with an IEM.

Btw, the Lina has a switch under the lip for IEMs/ultra low gain, and not only was it dead silent, but a very comfortable volume too. You can get a 4 pin XLR to 4.4mm female adapter, works like a charm. That’s what I was using in all the photos.

 

[AxLvR]

To be fair, I think prototypes and unreleased IEMs should not be eligible. I'm sure Dio will win outright when it's released, but for now it's taking votes away from products that are actually available. Duality too in case it's up there. Just my 0.02.

Okay la, sorry la, will vote for the true GOAT next time... CCA CRA

 

[Simpeler]

Thanks

I tried the Lina almost exclusively with IEMs, it’s not silly at all, the results were staggering. Using my Traillii Ti it was the largest and most lifelike setup I’ve ever heard with an IEM.

Btw, the Lina has a switch under the lip for IEMs/ultra low gain, and not only was it dead silent, but a very comfortable volume too. You can get a 4 pin XLR to 4.4mm female adapter, works like a charm. That’s what I was using in all the photos.

Damnn than this amp is now also on the possible options list

Really want to hear it.

Any recommendations on a xlr to 4.4?

 

[Simpeler]

Liking the CP622B more and more….

Might actually (finally) do a real review on these.
Vocals, and imaging is on these the best I have heard.

People might find them neutral of reference, I find them emotional because music on these give me goosebumps

 

[Altes]

Following are the results from the two IEM brackets in the 2024 Watercooler Spring Top 3

Spoiler: Participants

@-rowan-
@aaf evo
@Aetherhole
@Alexzander
@AxLvR
@Badlands
@baneand
@Beh0lder
@bgillis
@bigbeans
@BLitt
@blotmouse
@BobJS
@BORUSSIA
@Bosk
@bossfan48009
@btwine
@CharlyBrown
@chickenmcnug
@claud W
@Crazeee
@Deezel177
@DenverW
@Dragonite820
@ejong7
@emdeevee
@EnigmaFotos
@Erkil
@fejnomit
@Frankie D
@gLer
@goldwerger
@HarveyLowis
@ian91
@iDesign
@ign_denny
@jaker782
@jmo04
@jwilliamhurst
@kaeswiss
@kajetanjazz
@kevin638880
@KhunChang
@Kiats
@kokokab
@kumar402
@KuroKitsu
@Leonarfd
@linux4ever
@maegnificant
@MaggotBrain
@mancur
@Mangodango369
@mark88888
@masahito24@chart
@mikaik
@monduvo
@Neweymatt
@nocturne19
@oliveradr
@pascallito
@PeacockObscura
@Pelilin
@phamanhduc1011
@RBYRER
@Rockwell75
@rootsd
@RTodd
@rush1
@salwani8888
@SemperMalum
@shabta
@Shini44
@Sifo
@silvahr
@Silverlinings
@Simpeler
@slumberman
@Smirk_24
@Stu Paddasso
@Tanalasta
@Tex Irie
@tfenton02
@thaslaya
@theintention
@theveterans
@tjzurlaaa
@TP123
@trbo996
@ttt123
@Uncle00Jesse
@Valrhona
@vaporsynthwave
@vilhelm44
@Visceral
@Voltriant
@warrenpchi
@wazzupi
@wolfstar76
@yaps66
@Yarbles
@Zachik
@zikarus

Over $2k Bracket

Elysian Acoustic Labs Annihilator x20
Oriolus Traillii/Ti x20
Campfire Audio Trifecta x19

Fir Audio Xe6 x16
Subtonic STORM x14
Aroma Audio Fei Wan x13
Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor x12
Fir Audio Rn6 x11

Canpur CP622B x9
Vision Ears VEX x8
Noble Audio Viking x8
Unique Melody Amber Pearl x8
Empire Ears Raven x7
PMG Audio Apx x5
Elysian Acoustic Labs Dio x5
Empire Ears Legend X x5
Emprie Ears Odin x5
Melodic Artification Alter Ego x5

Aroma Audio Jewel x4
Noble Audio Ronin x4
Nightjar Acoustics Duality x3
Noble Audio Onyx x3
FatFreq Grand Maestro x3
Dita Audio Perpetua x3
Fitear Creator/DC Ti x3
Unique Melody Mason (all versions) x3
Eletech Romeo x2
Vision Ears/AK Aura x2
Empire Ears Legend Evo - 2
Kublai Khan – 2
Nostalgia Audio Camelot x2
64 Audio Fourte x2
QDC V14 x2

Ame Raven
Noble Audio Sultan
Jomo Audio Alpha Ti
Acoustune HS2000MX SHO mk2
64 Audio u/a18t
FatFreq Maestro SE
QDC Anole VX
Noble Audio Khan
Vision Ears VE8
Fitear MH334SR
QDC Emperor
Fitear Titan
Fitear Air 2
IMR Enigma+
64 Audio Trio
64 Audio Volür x2
Softears Turii Ti
Soranik Mems 3
Fir Kr5
Nostalgia NA12
AAW Canary Pro
Final Lab II
Vision Ears EXT

$2k and Under Bracket

Campfire Audio Bonneville x16
Nightjar Acoustics Singularity x14

64 Audio u/a12t x12
Sony IER-Z1R x11
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim/Noir x11

Elysian Acoustic Labs Diva x8
Sennheiser ie900 x7
Oriolus Monachaa x7
CFA Supermoon x6
Penon Quattro x5
Bellos Audio X4 x5
Campfire Andromeda x5
Oriolus Isabellae x5
Canpur CP54E x5
Dita Project M x5

Noble Spartacus x4
634 Ears MIROAK-II x4
Sennheiser ie600 x3
Custom Art Fibae 5 x3
CFA Fathom x3
Air pods pro x3
Symphonium Titan x3
Symphonium Crimson x3
Oriolus Szalayi x3
Blessing Dusk x2
Penon Voltage x2
7th Acoustics Supernova x2
Theaudio Monarch MK3 x2
Custom Art Hybid Pro 3 x2
CFA Black Star x2
64 Audio N8 x2
Aur Audio Neon Pro x2
AüR Ascension x2
QDC 8Pro x2
AuR Audio Alita x2
Meze Advar x2

Tansio Mirai X
Samsung Galaxy Buds pro 2
Softears Volume
Aful MagicOne
Fiio JH5
InEar Promission X
Flipears Artha
Noble Audio Stage 3
Tralucent Audio 1 plus 2
IMR ACOUSTICS Enigma
Alpha Omega RA
KALIMANTAN
FatFreq Maestro SE
CFA Cascara
UM MEST II/III
Elysian Gaea
Thieaudio Prestige Ltd.
Timsok TS-316
Vision Ears VE8
Custom Art Fibae 7
Apple Airpods
Shure SE846
ATH-IEX1
634 Ears Miromak II
Spirit Torino Twin Pulse
Madoo 821
JVC HA-FW10000
Meze Alba
Dunu SA6 OG
Penon Serial
Superior EX
JVC FW1000
Kinera Verdani
SoftEars Turii
Etymotic ER2XR
Earsonics Grace Platinum
Jomo Flamenco
Earsonics Stark
HiSenior Mega5-EST
V16
Fiio FD5
Plunge Audio Unity
Fitear TG333
Tago T3-02
Noble Jade
Intime Sho
UM Indigo
64 Audio U4S
FitEar TG 343
Final Audio a8000
Night Oblivion Butastur
Venture Electronics Grand Duke
iBasso 3T154
Softears Twilight
CFA Moon Rover
Gaudio Tian
64 Audio U4s
Fir e10
Penon Anniversary
Softears Turi OG
FatFreq Maestro Mini
Noble Spartan
Fir M4
64 Audio U6t
64 audio Nio
Flipears Artha
FatFreq Scarlet Mini
Solaris OG
Final E5000
Flipears Artha Argentum
Qdc 8 Pro
Canpur ba7
7hz Legato
Moondrop Kato
Thieaudio Hype4
Madoo typ512
Craft Ears Aurum
MP145
QT-X

Here is the link to the raw survey data if anyone wants to see who voted for what:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EGcxQfvDh4Z1Y2vd3FmKPflRCMef17sJcvmP4TDB3cY/edit?usp=sharing

These and other poll results linked on front page.

Thanks for another successful poll everyone!

Are votes based on listening impressions? If yes, Pilgrim being new and only 5 votes behind looks most promising. I wasn't excited about Pilgrim until seeing these results.

 

[tjzurlaaa]

Liking the CP622B more and more….

Might actually (finally) do a real review on these.
Vocals, and imaging is on these the best I have heard.

People might find them neutral of reference, I find them emotional because music on these give me goosebumps

My goodness what a bellissimo collection !

 

[Valrhona]

Liking the CP622B more and more….

Might actually (finally) do a real review on these.
Vocals, and imaging is on these the best I have heard.

People might find them neutral of reference, I find them emotional because music on these give me goosebumps

 

[Simpeler]

Great taste.
Time to call it a day?

Ha, never!

Search for “perfection” is a though one