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

Apr 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM Post #105,901 of 106,619
Umm? Yeah. 🤑
 

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Apr 13, 2025 at 12:59 AM Post #105,903 of 106,619
Apr 13, 2025 at 4:55 AM Post #105,904 of 106,619
Apr 13, 2025 at 5:03 AM Post #105,905 of 106,619
Apr 13, 2025 at 5:23 AM Post #105,906 of 106,619
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.

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Absolutely beautiful design and built like a tank.

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All of those inputs and outputs 😍

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

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Every earphone jack except XLR…

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

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Really really happy you’re enjoying it, it’s a pleasant source and I really like it with my cans
 
Apr 13, 2025 at 5:51 AM Post #105,907 of 106,619
My Sunday morning choice while out walking - a comparatively low cost combo… Hiby R3 II and Venture Electronics ‘Monk’ - about a fiver on AE, or maybe double on Amazon if you’re in a hurry 😂 Unbelievable how good they sound!

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Apr 13, 2025 at 6:23 AM Post #105,909 of 106,619
@Scubadevils
Do you think BGVP Phantom SE is an upgrade over MG800?
Also which one do you like most between this 2?

I'll need a bit more time with MG800, plus I'd find it hard to think of them in an 'apple to apples' way - a single DD to my ears is a very different beast to a multi-driver set like Phantom SE... various strengths and weaknesses apply. But I can certainly give my opinion on one versus the other when I become more familiar with MG800 - which btw I am loving in the limited sessions I've had!
 
Apr 13, 2025 at 7:44 AM Post #105,910 of 106,619
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It's been some time coming. I had originally passed on the Storm LE when it had released thinking ooo that's steep to some years later coming to the realisation that like Trailii, there are IEM's that are the absolute benchmark in their category. For a technical, BA/EST set that is perfectly tuned with a subtle low end lift there is not much that beats the Storm.

Since that time, I had heard Storm numerous times, often using it as a reference point for other auditions.

Driving out of the Hugo 2 with a PWA Orphy adapter for the first 5 minutes having had the most hectic of days.

I can now call this set my own.

Superb craftsmanship. A thank you to @toranku for excellent communication and the bespoke ordering process. And @Chang for the cable options and discussion. Any time you want to visit, would love to catch up in person. I rarely make it to Singapore with my other commitments. A call out to @Yifang also :)
the cable looks solid
 
Apr 13, 2025 at 10:17 AM Post #105,912 of 106,619
Apr 13, 2025 at 10:57 AM Post #105,914 of 106,619
In that case...Big Congrats! :ksc75smile:
The best price in the EU that I saw on discount was 1.9k.
In the US, the regular price is 1.3k, even 1.1k. 😑

Cheers!

Actually I just checked the conversion rates and no, I paid more! Worked out around €1,350.

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Apr 13, 2025 at 11:40 AM Post #105,915 of 106,619
On the inexpensive side for ye olde 'coolers :wink:, but regardless, here are my thoughts after two weeks with the Dita Mecha: a $900 USD single dynamic driver IEM with an impedance of 32 ohms and sensitivity of 113 dB (units, Dita?! likely dB/mW @ 1kHz). Thanks AudioGeek EU for the tour!

The Mecha offers a mid-forward tuning with lots of midbass warmth. It has a satisfying bass presentation where the prominent mid-bass provides a solid foundation while the clear mids bring engagement. The treble is polite, making for an easy-listening experience, though some might miss upper treble air and deep sub-bass rumble.



Despite the smooth presentation, detail retrieval and separation are good. Just don't expect that extra sparkle or sustain on cymbal hits or synths. I found myself gravitating toward acoustic music with these (rock, folk, jazz), rather than hip-hop, pop, or electronic genres.

They're efficient and easy to drive from various sources. Isolation is below average. The shells have 6mm nozzles and are generally comfortable, though I experienced a hotspot on my tragus with was a bit of a deal-breaker for longer sessions.



This is the best single dynamic driver IEM I've heard yet (also the most expensive). It reminds me of the I/O Volare, as both have a similar tonality with polite upper-treble. The Mecha has noticeably more midbass and is a bit easier to drive. I can see how the premium titanium build and tuning differences might justify the $300 premium for some listeners.

I like the Mecha. In many ways, it's completely complementary to Dita's Project M (has the subbass, air, less midbass), and I think both demonstrate that even with their "cheapest" options, Dita really knows how to tune. Worth considering if you're looking for this kind of warm, full-bodied, easy-listening signature and value the premium build.
 

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