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

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hope this is ok to post here - any word on final audio x8000? is it still a thing?

 

[eugn]

I did a comparison of between my CIEM Jewel and Forte Ears Macbeth recently. Jewel is parked with Eletech Aeneid and MacBeth has the Ambition.

I recently had the pleasure of comparing two remarkable in-ear monitors: the Aroma Audio Jewel and the Forte Ears MacBeth. Each offers a distinct listening experience, like two different invitations to enjoy music’s soul. Here’s my take on how they stack up, shared with the enthusiasm of someone who’s genuinely captivated by what these IEMs bring to the table.

The Aroma Audio Jewel feels like a journey into the ethereal. When I slip these in, it’s as if I’m floating, enveloped by music that unfolds with a spacious, almost otherworldly grace. The soundstage is vast, with every note given room to breathe, creating a sense of grandeur that’s hard to forget. Listening to a solo piano piece, I can almost hear the final decay of a note linger in the air, adding a touch of majesty to the experience. It’s like playing a pristine recording through a high-end audio system in a perfectly treated room—polished, precise, and just a bit distant, as if you’re admiring the music from a slight remove.
By contrast, the Forte Ears MacBeth pulls me right into the heart of the performance. The soundstage is more intimate, but what it lacks in width, it makes up for in vibrancy and immediacy. With the MacBeth, I feel like I’m sitting next to the harpist, hearing the pluck of each string with a warmth and energy that’s utterly captivating. It’s not about artificial polish here; it’s about music that feels alive, like the instruments are playing just for me. When a violin comes in, it’s sweet and harmonious, with a playful charm that keeps me hooked, reluctant to hit pause.

Tonally, the Jewel leans reserved, excelling in detail retrieval. It captures subtleties—like that last shimmer of a cymbal or the faint resonance of a vocalist’s breath—with a clarity that’s almost academic in its precision. The MacBeth, on the other hand, is the life of the party. It’s musical and fulfilling, with an energy that makes every track feel like a celebration. A well-recorded jazz trio through the MacBeth is like stumbling into a lively club where the band’s having the time of their lives; the same track through the Jewel feels like a private recital in a grand hall, refined and composed.
To put it in more relatable terms, the Jewel is like stepping into a Bentley dealership where the staff know your family by reputation. It’s sophisticated, respectful, and carries an air of legacy—never calling you by your first name, always maintaining a sense of decorum. The MacBeth, meanwhile, is like walking into a Lotus showroom with bold colors and a buzzing vibe. There’s a full bar, the music’s pumping, and you’re instantly caught up in the excitement. One’s an arranged marriage of meticulous engineering; the other’s love at first listen, full of passion and spontaneity.

I’d wager the MacBeth was tuned by someone who lives and breathes music—a true aficionado who wanted every note to sing. It’s got a soulful quality that makes it hard to put down. The Jewel, for all its brilliance, feels like it was crafted to meet a checklist of audiophile ideals: detailed, expansive, pristine. It’s the difference between a surgeon driving a Porsche Carrera for its precision and a crypto maverick roaring around in a Lamborghini for the sheer thrill. Both are impressive, but they speak to different sides of the heart. For me, the MacBeth’s infectious energy makes it the one I reach for when I want to fall in love with music all over again. But when I’m in the mood for something grander, the Jewel delivers a masterclass in refinement. They’re two sides of the same coin—both exceptional, just waiting for the right listener to claim them.

I love seeing posts where people enjoy the Jewel. It stopped getting attention too soon - it’s still an outstanding TOTL IEM

 

[skcheng]

I did a comparison of between my CIEM Jewel and Forte Ears Macbeth recently. Jewel is parked with Eletech Aeneid and MacBeth has the Ambition.

I recently had the pleasure of comparing two remarkable in-ear monitors: the Aroma Audio Jewel and the Forte Ears MacBeth. Each offers a distinct listening experience, like two different invitations to enjoy music’s soul. Here’s my take on how they stack up, shared with the enthusiasm of someone who’s genuinely captivated by what these IEMs bring to the table.

The Aroma Audio Jewel feels like a journey into the ethereal. When I slip these in, it’s as if I’m floating, enveloped by music that unfolds with a spacious, almost otherworldly grace. The soundstage is vast, with every note given room to breathe, creating a sense of grandeur that’s hard to forget. Listening to a solo piano piece, I can almost hear the final decay of a note linger in the air, adding a touch of majesty to the experience. It’s like playing a pristine recording through a high-end audio system in a perfectly treated room—polished, precise, and just a bit distant, as if you’re admiring the music from a slight remove.
By contrast, the Forte Ears MacBeth pulls me right into the heart of the performance. The soundstage is more intimate, but what it lacks in width, it makes up for in vibrancy and immediacy. With the MacBeth, I feel like I’m sitting next to the harpist, hearing the pluck of each string with a warmth and energy that’s utterly captivating. It’s not about artificial polish here; it’s about music that feels alive, like the instruments are playing just for me. When a violin comes in, it’s sweet and harmonious, with a playful charm that keeps me hooked, reluctant to hit pause.

Tonally, the Jewel leans reserved, excelling in detail retrieval. It captures subtleties—like that last shimmer of a cymbal or the faint resonance of a vocalist’s breath—with a clarity that’s almost academic in its precision. The MacBeth, on the other hand, is the life of the party. It’s

The Aroma Audio Jewel feels like a journey into the ethereal. When I slip these in, it’s as if I’m floating, enveloped by music that unfolds with a spacious, almost otherworldly grace. The soundstage is vast, with every note given room to breathe, creating a sense of grandeur that’s hard to forget. Listening to a solo piano piece, I can almost hear the final decay of a note linger in the air, adding a touch of majesty to the experience. It’s like playing a pristine recording through a high-end audio system in a perfectly treated room—polished, precise, and just a bit distant, as if you’re admiring the music from a slight remove.






These look awesome!!! I love my Jewel set paried with the Eletech Aeneid cable. A neutral reference for me and honestly a no-brainer set which allows me to just enjoy my music without obsessing over IEM technicalities. Always musical. One could do far worse.

 

[Sajid Amit]

The FlipEars Legion constitutes such an emphatic departure from the rest of its peers in the uber-competitive sub-$1000 space. This is primarily because of its rather unique BCD driver implementation and an emphatic bass performance, which somehow still allows for a superb tonal balance. In a world of escalating IEM prices, I really appreciate what FlipEars has done here. Detailed review forthcoming.

 

[tjzurlaaa]

The FlipEars Legion constitutes such an emphatic departure from the rest of its peers in the uber-competitive sub-$1000 space. This is primarily because of its rather unique BCD driver implementation and an emphatic bass performance, which somehow still allows for a superb tonal balance. In a world of escalating IEM prices, I really appreciate what FlipEars has done here. Detailed review forthcoming.

Favorite bone conduction under 1k$ right here

 

[Tristy]

Are there any graphs floating about of Legion?

 

[MicDavism141]

I love seeing posts where people enjoy the Jewel. It stopped getting attention too soon - it’s still an outstanding TOTL IEM

Agreed! I think Jewel still performs closely with the newest TOTL offerings, but I can't deny that the safe, mature tonality might not give enough wow effect at first for most people. I personally can appreciate Jewel's unique blends in pushing perceived details without using tonal peaks and accompanying them with great timbre & coherency only after multiple demo sessions over several months of testing. Not to mention that Jewel is extremely scalable and versatile with source and cable rolling.

 

[Simpeler]

how big/small is the shell size of the hex compared to others? EE Raven size, Jewel, apx? Would love to know the ergonomics, and tip depth

 

[statuefiddle]

Are there any graphs floating about of Legion?

https://hbb.squig.link/?share=Fliears_Legion,IEF_Comp_Target

 

[Tristy]

https://hbb.squig.link/?share=Fliears_Legion,IEF_Comp_Target

Thanks!

 

[tjzurlaaa]

https://hbb.squig.link/?share=Fliears_Legion,IEF_Comp_Target

This graph makes perfect sense !

 

[goldwerger]

I got the FlipEars Legion today (after a short scare from UPS misplacing my package at a neighboring building; fortunately I managed to chase it down). Thanks @MusicTeck for the fast delivery!

For a <$1k set, the unboxing experience is pretty great..

These IEMs are just beautiful. Such nice craftsmanship at this price point! The cable is also very nice and ergonomic.

Sound wise, first impressions are thankfully consistent with the positives ones I had when I first auditioned the Legion at CanJam NYC:

• Mids (vocals) are beautiful sounding (e.g. Carla Burni's cover of "The winner takes it all").
• Bass is nicely extended, with more of a "thump" and a slow decay, which offers a relaxed listening experience (e.g. Mary Blige's "Good morning gorgeous").
• Treble is slightly elevated and nicely resolving (e.g. the triangles playing on Philip Glass' "Chorale").
• Imaging is a bit more L/R as in traditional stereo recordings (for example, on the cover of "And so it goes" by Peter Hollens & Time Foust, vocals pan from one ear to the other; my brain gets used to it quickly though, and then the soundstage formed well).
• Overall presentation has good cohernecy (in "Riding with the king" by B.B. King & Eric Clapton, the low notes of the bass guitar and drum kicks, male vocals and electric guitars mids, and piano high notes, all sounds well rendered with nice crossover between drivers).

At its price point, the Legion is a very easy recommend, even before accounting for its beautiful design and quality of build. I'm looking forward to getitng to know it better..

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[Scubadevils]

I couldn’t resist buying the CA1000T from Astell & Kern at the discounted price - @Xinlisupreme got his first and his high praise pushed me over the edge!

This is the first A&K product I’ve ever owned - only just unboxed it and looking forward to a few hours of music.

Absolutely beautiful design and built like a tank.

All of those inputs and outputs

Beautiful volume wheel… nice clicking sensation and huge increments to adjust.

Every earphone jack except XLR…

UM Jet Black plugged in, now for some music - it’s these moments that make long and often stressful hours in work worthwhile!

 

[Tristy]

I couldn’t resist buying the CA1000T from Astell & Kern at the discounted price - @Xinlisupreme got his first and his high praise pushed me over the edge!

This is the first A&K product I’ve ever owned - only just unboxed it and looking forward to a few hours of music.



Absolutely beautiful design and built like a tank.





All of those inputs and outputs



Beautiful volume wheel… nice clicking sensation and huge increments to adjust.



Every earphone jack except XLR…



UM Jet Black plugged in, now for some music - it’s these moments that make long and often stressful hours in work worthwhile!

Hybrid mode at 11 o’clock is the sweet spot thank me later.

 

[Scubadevils]

Hybrid mode at 11 o’clock is the sweet spot thank me later.

At 11.00 and listening to the following via Shanling MG800 - spellbinding! Fantastic device, absolutely delighted with this purchase.