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

[fejnomit]

I am listening to AK/EE Novus for the past few days, and it is indeed a very impressive TOTL IEM. To my surprise, it does not give me the basshead feel as what I expected from EE's famous weapon IX DD, it is tuned as a very balanced all-rounder TOTL IEM. The bass is only powerful and impactful when it is called for, and the Novus is a very resolving IEM, almost gives me the impression of Anni 23.
Novus comes with the trendy dual Sonion BCD drivers and I am still trying to figure out what difference they can bring.

However, I might be brain conditioned by my very warm IEMs, such as Trifecta and XE6, Novus sounds to me a little too much energetic on the top. It gets a little fatiguing for long-term listening.

Am I missing something, or I have chosen the wrong tips? (I am using AZLA Max standard right now on Novus).

Dunu S&S tips or Divinius Velvet are my recommendations. Also, have yours been broken in? I am noticing a lot of changes over the first twenty or so hours. But you're right these are first and foremost a technical set, much more balanced than Trifecta... But the staging is one of the best I've ever heard...

 

[BS5711]

Are the multi thousand dollar IEM being sold for those prices because they genuinely need to be to recoup costs or are manufacturers taking advantage of the fact (in my observation) that there is a market sector (not necessarily you gents) that, it seems, to whom the more expensive the better - exclusivity, bragging rights, perception of performance etc ?

 

[Mageborn23]

I think it stands to reason that these tariffs will increase the prices of many, many things, including our gears from China. As we've seen general price increases in this hobby over the past 2-3 years, especially at the high end, there is likely room for more, especially when the increase in cost of goods is due to tariff. There is a nationist agenda behind all tariffs and part of this will be to buy American (at least for those of us in USA). I suppose this should make me grateful for the Firs, Campfires, etc.

While I worry about these world issues, I'll listen to some American product, starting with the venerable Trifecta (on a Singaporean EA cable - don't think these tariffs apply to them?).



Ps, @warrenpchi I just very clearly heard Phil Collins backing Howard Jones with Trifecta !

Jesus, what a beautiful combo

 

[theveterans]

Are the multi thousand dollar IEM being sold for those prices because they genuinely need to be to recoup costs or are manufacturers taking advantage of the fact (in my observation) that there is a market sector (not necessarily you gents) that, it seems, to whom the more expensive the better - exclusivity, bragging rights, perception of performance etc ?

There's always that aspect of exclusivity driving up the perception of performance and ultimately prices. The bragging rights part varies by location and culture

 

[wolfstar76]

Dunu S&S tips or Divinius Velvet are my recommendations. Also, have yours been broken in? I am noticing a lot of changes over the first twenty or so hours. But you're right these are first and foremost a technical set, much more balanced than Trifecta... But the staging is one of the best I've ever heard...

It should have been broken in since it's part of the tour. Will try other tips when I back home tonight.

 

[cagix]

All price performance counting is up to you. I know to me 2 way working in headphones which i can compare to iems. One way was sennheiser hd 800, hifiman he 1000 se way other abyss diana dz. Sennheiser hd 600, 650, 660 working too on less technical way or clark aeon 2 open. While sennheiser hd800 he 1000 se is more open it is thiner way. I have happines because brother have courage to try. I now listen to abyss diana dz with two diferent earpads. On both is like more refined focal utopia but new earpads have closer bas response to it touch more. Realism together with technicalities there is breathless. Even compare to cantor well cantor is less real less realism more 2 d like but colour isnt to me that diferent. Price performance cantor is stelar. But if you want step on it in everything diana dz it is.

 

[Ike1985]

Why?

This is simply adjusting for inflation. You have to pay to play, you have two kidneys and you only need one. If you really care about sound quality, you'll step up.

Sorry, gonna have to resoundingly disagree with you there. Absolutely not. The price of status level IEMs is getting out of hand. Fugaku brings something unique to the table, sure, but other IEMs, including our similarly favorite APX SE, are just something else. But the price is a big pill to swallow, both for something so small, but also something that is possibly going to be irrelevant in 6 months. Then talking about the UM flagships and one offs. Then there’s the whole cable/jewelry aspect of it, too. It’s absurd, honestly.

Then you're going to have to retire from IEMs because we're going into kidney selling territory, you can look for deals in the classifieds on 5 year old IEMs.

Dumb statement is just Dumb.


100% Agree ^^^^

You'll be priced out too, the top of the pyramid is small for a reason.

I genuinely feel top tier iems are getting a bit out of hand with price. The fear of this becoming a hobby where only the wealthy can afford top tier iems is real to me.

I consider myself very lucky and have some great stuff but spending 5k plus on an iem is a step too far. Especially as most of us like to change and try new things.

I really appreciate there’s some great Iems that are reasonable but I see more and more releases that are eye watering money.

I agree that values in time correct but I do wonder how many people can’t justify 5-10k but can justify 2-4 k for example.

Classifieds, look for IEMs from a few years ago. You'll still be in the hobby you'll just be reading reviews and searching for comments from years ago before buying, small change to make for all the innovation going on.

It's getting out of hand for IEMs. For 10K, it better sound ridiculously close to Raal 1995 Immanis's sheer detail and resolution. The sweet spot for what an all-rounder with excellent technical performance is still around Astrolith or Clara's level IMHO

At around 30K we will be making the Raals sound like something you'd get from Walmart.

 

[drftr]

I genuinely feel top tier iems are getting a bit out of hand with price. The fear of this becoming a hobby where only the wealthy can afford top tier iems is real to me.

Not sure. That's only true if you insist on having the very best yourself. Like, saying that driving a great car is only for the wealthy nowadays because 1 million dollar cars do exist.

drftr

 

[fejnomit]

It should have been broken in since it's part of the tour. Will try other tips when I back home tonight.

Just discovered another combination. 195O's Shielding -> Novus -> Spinfit CP-800 tips. Abyssal bass with 3D huge soundstage...

 

[Aetherhole]

This is simply adjusting for inflation. You have to pay to play, you have two kidneys and you only need one. If you really care about sound quality, you'll step up.



Then you're going to have to retire from IEMs because we're going into kidney selling territory, you can look for deals in the classifieds on 5 year old IEMs.



You'll be priced out too, the top of the pyramid is small for a reason.



Classifieds, look for IEMs from a few years ago. You'll still be in the hobby you'll just be reading reviews and searching for comments from years ago before buying, small change to make for all the innovation going on.






At around 30K we will be making the Raals sound like something you'd get from Walmart.

That’s just ridiculous and you’ve shown dismissiveness and ignorance time and time again. This is not simply adjusting for inflation. We all care about higher quality sound here, but you are just being pompous and snooty.

 

[Echo42987]

You'll be priced out too, the top of the pyramid is small for a reason.

 

[MSwiss]

Not sure. That's only true if you insist on having the very best yourself. Like, saying that driving a great car is only for the wealthy nowadays because 1 million dollar cars do exist.

drftr

Totally get your point but it’s not quite reflective of the market we’re referring to. Ie the market for cars for example is vastly greater than the iem market. So if we take the great car ,there are many more people that could justify it.

Buck for person I feel it’s getting very toppy.

I think most people would like to get the best they can afford but it’s the affordability that I personally feel is becoming slightly skewed.

If that rambling makes sense lol.

 

[drftr]

That’s just ridiculous and you’ve shown dismissiveness and ignorance time and time again. This is not simply adjusting for inflation. We all care about higher quality sound here, but you are just being pompous and snooty.

drftr

 

[Aetherhole]

drftr

I’m trying… I’m usually so pragmatic and give people the benefit of the doubt.

 

[drftr]

I’m trying… I usually so pragmatic and give people the benefit of the doubt.

There's an Ignore button to ignore your feelings

drftr