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

[gLer]

It is pretty hard to find but there may be a few that might be willing to let it go when the P6Pro 10AE gets into the hands of the same owners of the OG P6Pro. Keep an eye on the classifieds. If you do manage to snag one, you'll know why so many love it.

As I mentioned, outside of software and a few quality of life shortfalls, it's an incredible DAP and not like anything I've heard before.

I'm really keen to hear one of these, if only to hear for myself whether it really is SO much better than anything else on the market that it makes the useless UI and lack of basic functionality irrelevant. Especially since I've spoken at length with those who have used a P6PRO and don't always rate it as highly as similar-priced Android DAPs. It's the LP6 version that seems to get most of the hype.

 

[Valrhona]

I'm really keen to hear one of these, if only to hear for myself whether it really is SO much better than anything else on the market that it makes the useless UI and lack of basic functionality irrelevant. Especially since I've spoken at length with those who have used a P6PRO and don't always rate it as highly as similar-priced Android DAPs. It's the LP6 version that seems to get most of the hype.

I feel the same here. Time to look for those Yetis.

 

[Scubadevils]

Nearly three years since I sold my last set, round two of the IER-M9 commences

#SonyFanboy

 

[tjzurlaaa]

Nearly three years since I sold my last set, round two of the IER-M9 commences

#SonyFanboy

The thing is a classic

 

[drftr]

I feel the same here. Time to look for those Yetis.

Jaben has an open box...

drftr

 

[DaveStarWalker]

I am not sure about resonances but I think it’s between the dedicated amp per driver and from the IEM components other than the drivers being put into the box which removes the physical limitations from having to shove them inside a small shell.

I’d say it’s not too dissimilar between something like physically larger DAPs being able to drive IEMs better than a little dongle… but I’m also totally guessing. I really don’t know crap about what’s going on.

We need to think of the Fugaku as a whole system, that's true.

 

[Scubadevils]

I wasn’t going to do an unboxing for the M9 due to their age etc but decided it was ageist of me and they deserve it as much as any set

I absolutely love the minimalist styling of the M9!

 

[dmphile]

I'm really keen to hear one of these, if only to hear for myself whether it really is SO much better than anything else on the market that it makes the useless UI and lack of basic functionality irrelevant. Especially since I've spoken at length with those who have used a P6PRO and don't always rate it as highly as similar-priced Android DAPs. It's the LP6 version that seems to get most of the hype.

YMMV I suppose.

If I take into consideration the tradeoffs necessary to get the synergy and type of sound that I'm looking for, P6pro definitely checks all the boxes for me. Not to hype it per se, but when you discover a pairing that you've been searching for and it arrives, it's a beautiful thing. Emotions and logic sometimes tend to take a backseat when I typically do equally value SQ and those software and quality of life features. iBasso an FiiO do amazing in the software/UX area. Their software for me, does a great job of addressing all my gripes that Cayin, Shanling and even Sony software has.

When synergy and musicality hits a certain stage of the experience, everything else that you value sort of goes out the door.

 

[gLer]

YMMV I suppose.

If I take into consideration the tradeoffs necessary to get the synergy and type of sound that I'm looking for, P6pro definitely checks all the boxes for me. Not to hype it per se, but when you discover a pairing that you've been searching for and it arrives, it's a beautiful thing. Emotions and logic sometimes tend to take a backseat when I typically do equally value SQ and those software and quality of life features. iBasso an FiiO do amazing in the software/UX area. Their software for me, does a great job of addressing all my gripes that Cayin, Shanling and even Sony software has.

When synergy and musicality hits a certain stage of the experience, everything else that you value sort of goes out the door.

Oh I have no doubt. Great synergy is a beautiful thing. How much would you say is down to the DAP vs the IEM in your case?

My point was more generalist, in that LP sound is held in such high regard by those who love it that it seems out of place in a hobby with so many options. That's why I'd like to hear it for myself, to establish just what that X-factor actually is.

And to be clear I'm just talking sound. The fact the DAPs are small and light and are very powerful for their size is of no advantage to me at all.

PS. I'm also sure it's not just the R2R architecture, even though that might be part of it. If it were just R2R then it would be the same in the desktop world, and it's not. In fact I'm not aware of any single DAC/amp vendor in the desktop world that's spoken of the in same differential regard as LP tends to be in the portable audio space.

 

[dmphile]

Oh I have no doubt. Great synergy is a beautiful thing. How much would you say is down to the DAP vs the IEM in your case?

My point was more generalist, in that LP sound is held in such high regard by those who love it that it seems out of place in a hobby with so many options. That's why I'd like to hear it for myself, to establish just what that X-factor actually is.

I can only speak to M9 Plus and P6Pro in this case with APX SE and between these two seemingly TOTL sources, P6Pro has 'fixed' much of what I didn't like about the APX SE when it was paired with the M9 Plus. You could say, it has brought 'balance' to the overall signature. M9 Plus created annoying peaky treble spikes which made it harsh since it is more 'V' shaped than most people think. It's odd because I always thought that AK DACs always had more warmth but the way it's tuned definitely takes it over the edge for me when it was paired with APX SE. Everything else about it's technical ability was very good - incisive and precise when it came to layering, staging, and imaging. Bass presentation was heavier than I preferred but was tolerable. Mids and treble were good but something about P6Pro's refined presentation makes it gooey and liquidy that flows and eases out any of the edginess from upper mids or energic treble.

That said, when I consider the sonic attributes of the P6Pro specifically with the APX SE, I can confidently say that it has made it 'the' perfect pairing for my preferences which I can say has to do with P6Pro's magic in the R2R implementation and perhaps some additional burn-in time with APX SE. In the end, I'm not an engineering expert but whatever they did, it's an amazing feat. It's smooth, analogue, airy, no peaky spikes, excellent technicals, slightly forward mids and vocals with a grand presentation that I haven't heard from other sources. I genuinely believe APX was made for L&P sources. They pair excellent together even without anything else in the chain.

 

[rishabhgkp]

.

 

[Trance_Gott]

Burnin in tandem DX340 + Mecha. Wow what an amazing sound!!!

 

[gLer]

I can only speak to M9 Plus and P6Pro in this case with APX SE and between these two seemingly TOTL sources, P6Pro has 'fixed' much of what I didn't like about the APX SE when it was paired with the M9 Plus. You could say, it has brought 'balance' to the overall signature. M9 Plus created annoying peaky treble spikes which made it harsh since it is more 'V' shaped than most people think. It's odd because I always thought that AK DACs always had more warmth but the way it's tuned definitely takes it over the edge for me when it was paired with APX SE. Everything else about it's technical ability was very good - incisive and precise when it came to layering, staging, and imaging. Bass presentation was heavier than I preferred but was tolerable. Mids and treble were good but something about P6Pro's refined presentation makes it gooey and liquidy that flows and eases out any of the edginess from upper mids or energic treble.

That said, when I consider the sonic attributes of the P6Pro specifically with the APX SE, I can confidently say that it has made it 'the' perfect pairing for my preferences which I can say has to do with P6Pro's magic in the R2R implementation and perhaps some additional burn-in time with APX SE. It's smooth, analogue, airy, no peaky spikes, excellent technicals, slightly forward mids and vocal presentation and a grand presentation that I haven't heard from other sources. I genuinely believe APX was made for L&P sources. They pair excellent together even without anything else in the chain.

Ok so in your case P6PRO is the better source for APX SE, which makes the synergy and pairing the best you've heard to date. As opposed to PRPRO is the best DAP for ANY IEM compared to ANY Android source, as the script usually goes? It's an important distinction, because there are many IEMs out there, many different preferences, and therefore many different synergies. FWIW, treble peaks and forward upper mids are the bane of my life, so any DAP that's able to neutralise those is a boon, although I usually look for IEMs that don't have those issues in the first place.

 

[dmphile]

Ok so in your case P6PRO is the better source for APX SE, which makes the synergy and pairing the best you've heard to date. As opposed to PRPRO is the best DAP for ANY IEM compared to ANY Android source, as the script usually goes?

Yes, thanks for pointing that out. I'm definitely not going to claim that it's THE BEST source for any IEM or any Android source, but I can make the case that it's definitely better for APX SE given it's sonic qualities and tuning which does tame all the energy and refines any edginess. By that logic though, this could potentially apply to other IEMs that may also have an edgy presentation and needs a more refined source to ease the energy.

It's an important distinction, because there are many IEMs out there, many different preferences, and therefore many different synergies. FWIW, treble peaks and forward upper mids are the bane of my life, so any DAP that's able to neutralise those is a boon, although I usually look for IEMs that don't have those issues in the first place.

I'm in the same boat as you in that regard. There are so many great IEMs that I would love if it were not for the heightened upper mids and treble peaks. This is why I reacted so strongly to what it did for me with APX SE. It went from being an IEM that I was thinking hard about selling and going back to VEX, to 'this is the best pairing I've heard'

Nothing is definite in the hobby but I can 'probably' see P6Pro potentially being a great source for IEMs that in general, have more energy than you'd like.

 

[drftr]

I can 'probably' see P6Pro potentially being a great source for IEMs that in general, have more energy than you'd like.

If that's for both bass and treble then I'm good. Specifically for Sultan but also for most other IEMs that I know and do value highly.

drftr