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

[warrenpchi]

I definitely prefer this to the Macbeth but I find them both nice.

Mefisto is definitely friendlier, sonically speaking.

And not to spoil my own review, but just in case you didn't catch Jude making it apparent in the preview video... if you felt that Macbeth was peaky or bright, then you want to hear Mefisto.

uhhhhh, excuse me, I just drooled a little.

Your wallet also needs to burst into flame too

That's what the pre-drooling was for, to put out the flames. Safety first!

What in the world are those! Those look great in their own way and oddly reminds me of Chrome Hearts ha.

Super sweet, they sound just as good as they look?

For me, yes, though I still favor Macbeth for certain genres and recordings. If I had to sum up Mefisto in as few words as possible, it would be energy without fatigue.

So excited for Mefisto!!!

ikr? Feels like it's bee forever since the tuning process began.

How do I get one of these and be like the cool Forte Ear kids

Get in line!!!

As Kaiba (and most Coolers by extension) would say

Actually, I have no idea. It's being launched at CanJam Singapore 2025, but I don't know exactly when retail packages will begin shipping.

Visited the Watercooler to talk about my latest review... and as I'm scrolling down, see the chat about Mefisto... It sounded so good at the CanJam NYC show when I heard it last month... Dammit, totally forgot why I visited the Watecooler in the first place, oh, yeah, the review... But that Mefisto faceplate looks awesome... Oh, yeah, was supposed to talk about the review. OK, I'm losing my focus lol!!!

lol, the preview video broke embargo, so now we're free to talk about it I guess?

Back home and enjoying new Ibasso Nun and Volur

I've never heard that pairing, but in my head that sounds glorious!

 

[Dandelion777]

Your wallet also needs to burst into flame too

 

[musingclouds]

Visited the Watercooler to talk about my latest review... and as I'm scrolling down, see the chat about Mefisto... It sounded so good at the CanJam NYC show when I heard it last month... Dammit, totally forgot why I visited the Watecooler in the first place, oh, yeah, the review... But that Mefisto faceplate looks awesome... Oh, yeah, was supposed to talk about the review. OK, I'm losing my focus lol!!!

So, did anybody have a chance to hear the latest HanSound Audio flagship cable last month at the Musicteck table? I thought they (HanSound) were no longer even in business, so I was surprised to see 2 new cable releases, with quite an impressive flagship Kunpeng which included a bonus free interconnect cable. Just finished my review of Kunpeng and also their Quentin "entry" level cable. Enjoy the read.

Is that the infamous super short interconnect?

Cable looks great!

 

[KuroKitsu]

All the time, checking my cc bill every month "Okay who bought another piece of audio gear?!"

 

[Pelilin]

Visited the Watercooler to talk about my latest review... and as I'm scrolling down, see the chat about Mefisto... It sounded so good at the CanJam NYC show when I heard it last month... Dammit, totally forgot why I visited the Watecooler in the first place, oh, yeah, the review... But that Mefisto faceplate looks awesome... Oh, yeah, was supposed to talk about the review. OK, I'm losing my focus lol!!!

So, did anybody have a chance to hear the latest HanSound Audio flagship cable last month at the Musicteck table? I thought they (HanSound) were no longer even in business, so I was surprised to see 2 new cable releases, with quite an impressive flagship Kunpeng which included a bonus free interconnect cable. Just finished my review of Kunpeng and also their Quentin "entry" level cable. Enjoy the read.

My oh my just by the look only i want to purchase this cable. It is beautiful.

 

[wolfstar76]

Visited the Watercooler to talk about my latest review... and as I'm scrolling down, see the chat about Mefisto... It sounded so good at the CanJam NYC show when I heard it last month... Dammit, totally forgot why I visited the Watecooler in the first place, oh, yeah, the review... But that Mefisto faceplate looks awesome... Oh, yeah, was supposed to talk about the review. OK, I'm losing my focus lol!!!

So, did anybody have a chance to hear the latest HanSound Audio flagship cable last month at the Musicteck table? I thought they (HanSound) were no longer even in business, so I was surprised to see 2 new cable releases, with quite an impressive flagship Kunpeng which included a bonus free interconnect cable. Just finished my review of Kunpeng and also their Quentin "entry" level cable. Enjoy the read.

I am also interested in Luna, unfortunately not included in the review.

 

[sparty09]

As someone who listen to pretty much every genre of metal, and has been a devout metal head for the past 45+ years. and has listened to everything from $5.00 up to the CFA Solaris, JHA Roxanne, EE Odin, and recently demo'd Lime Ears Terra, and the ISN H60 has yet to be knocked off it's pedestal as the BOSS KING of METAL.

It has the bass speed, mid bass impact/energy/snap to present double bass and kicks clearly and without any smear, which is something so many others, including kilobuck fails at, with metal drums, especially on busy, congested, or lo-fi mastering (i.e. black metal and grindcore), plus it's Penon mids, so you know you're getting great midrange expression, incisiveness, with crisp upper mids, and good clarity (not the last word on detail retrieval, but also no slouch), while maintaining a lush analog warmth. Treble is airy, crisp, incisive, with excellent texture and tonality, so crashes, rides, hi-hats, and chinas all come in clean, clear, and with good shimmer and extension, and guitars has above average bite and resolution (though again, very good but not the last word). Harmonics and musicality are *chef's kiss*, and it excels in all the most important facets of metal playback, which is velocity, congestions, busy passages, and lo-fi mastering is handled with aplomb, with little to no smear, glare, or cloud. Layering and stage are excellent, and certainly does not lack for dimentionality or spatial cues. It's a metal masterclass IEM, at a price that's almost criminal. Penon knows how to tune IEMs, as the Rival, Impact, and Voltage can attest to, but if you're a serious metal head, it's an IEM that needs to be given serious consideration, despite the relatively low price tag.

@emdeevee - Totally agree with you, on everything you said, especially about the technicals being so close, that it makes sense to just go with the Rival and the Totem, and save the cheddah from MacBeth and Ambition (unless you can afford it without a blink, then, why not just get both?!).

I love the Anni but you have me intrigued about the ISN H60....just grabbed one

 

[Alexcargtz]

Back home and enjoying new Ibasso Nun and Volur

I tried the Nunchaku yesterday, and, tbh, I think the DC Elite is way better sonically. However, in terms of usability, the Nunchaku is better. Have you tried both?

 

[Valrhona]

Mefisto is definitely friendlier, sonically speaking.

And not to spoil my own review, but just in case you didn't catch Jude making it apparent in the preview video... if you felt that Macbeth was peaky or bright, then you want to hear Mefisto.




That's what the pre-drooling was for, to put out the flames. Safety first!



For me, yes, though I still favor Macbeth for certain genres and recordings. If I had to sum up Mefisto in as few words as possible, it would be energy without fatigue.



ikr? Feels like it's bee forever since the tuning process began.





Actually, I have no idea. It's being launched at CanJam Singapore 2025, but I don't know exactly when retail packages will begin shipping.



lol, the preview video broke embargo, so now we're free to talk about it I guess?



I've never heard that pairing, but in my head that sounds glorious!

Are the shells the same size as the Macbeth?

 

[Tabikinoya Cephas]

Happy that the Moses is receiving the attention it deserves in the video.

 

[musingclouds]

Did I see right that Lee from Elysian started a new brand Mysticraft?!

 

[darveniza]

I tried the Nunchaku yesterday, and, tbh, I think the DC Elite is way better sonically. However, in terms of usability, the Nunchaku is better. Have you tried both?

Yep have tried it both. Yep Elite does feel expansive.

However Mokndrop direct output has much power than both Dongles

 

[tjzurlaaa]

My Legion review is online now!

Best bass below 1000 USD!

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/flipears-legion.27892/reviews#review-37501

Agreed!!! This set is crazy!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I love the Anni but you have me intrigued about the ISN H60....just grabbed one

I hope the expectations live up to my hype, but I'm fairly confident it will.

I tried the Nunchaku yesterday, and, tbh, I think the DC Elite is way better sonically. However, in terms of usability, the Nunchaku is better. Have you tried both?

I feel they are pretty much apples and oranges. One is transparent, with extended and airy treble, linear bass, and thinnish note weight, with excellent stage (Nunchaku), while the DCE has elevated mid bass, fuller soundstage, and weightier notes, but also polite treble extension that lacks a bit of air, and not as transparent (more "musical").

 

[drftr]

Mysticraft

Didn't know Lee was into rafting but given where he lives he could probably raft down the plateau to the Andaman Sea.

drftr