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

[bden59]

Bought one
Soranik Mems 3s 2025
Best Sonic representation in terms of price to performance at CanJam SG 2025
Can’t wait for your next offering! Great work guys!
#soranik_vietnam

Great pictures! Nice visual synergy with Zero Degree silver cable.

 

[warrenpchi]

to stop accidental movements

Yup.

 

[Sifo]

Why not taking it off completely "because it sounds better"?

Utsusemi Works already does this with the Sound Tiger line. Finding quality attentuators is one of the biggest challenges in amp building after all, so if you're designing the amp for variable line out in mind then it's the best answer for the cleanest signal path. But of course the majority of portable amps have some sort of volume control since using variable line out isn't super popular.

 

[drftr]

Utsusemi Works already does this with the Sound Tiger line. Finding quality attentuators is one of the biggest challenges in amp building after all, so if you're designing the amp for variable line out in mind then it's the best answer for the cleanest signal path. But of course the majority of portable amps have some sort of volume control since using variable line out isn't super popular.

Agreed, but I worded it incorrectly. I meant to say something like why not making it totally inaccessible. As in: People have used volume knobs for way over 100 years. If that hadn't been a great design no doubt there would have been some kind of evolution. And since this guy is over half a kilogram you're not going to use it in portable mode and slip it in your pants either. Aaah... time for a good coffee...

drftr

 

[aaf evo]

And since this guy is over half a kilogram you're not going to use it in portable mode and slip it in your pants either.
drftr

Do you even audiophile?!

 

[drftr]

Do you even audiophile?!

I belong to the portable lineage of our family. Can't see myself walk around with a 500 gr DAP in one pocket and a 500 gr amp in the other. Assuming that you're not using a 500 gr DAC in addition to that. At the gym

drftr

 

[aaf evo]

I belong to the portable lineage of our family. Can't see myself walk around with a 500 gr DAP in one pocket and a 500 gr amp in the other. Assuming that you're not using a 500 gr DAC in addition to that. At the gym

drftr

My gym buddies… prob my most used chain. A little thigh action for @bigbeans too.

 

[fabio19]

 

[drftr]

Tells us sliiiiightly more than yesterday's dot, but not much . What and where is this, my friend? Looking for a place to commit a crime?

drftr

 

[rantng]

Agreed, but I worded it incorrectly. I meant to say something like why not making it totally inaccessible. As in: People have used volume knobs for way over 100 years. If that hadn't been a great design no doubt there would have been some kind of evolution. And since this guy is over half a kilogram you're not going to use it in portable mode and slip it in your pants either. Aaah... time for a good coffee...

drftr

Nothing worse than breaking your knob off while playing with your device in your pocket....

 

[goldwerger]

New reference AMP from Brise looks to be on the horizon.

https://briseaudio.com/en/pages/watatsumi

Watapricetag too.

What the tsumi?

 

[Valrhona]

These are pretty good too!

Do you prefer it with or without cockles?

 

[Emvo]

Are they CIEMs? If so, why not? I’ve used CIEMs at the gym for the last 5 years.

No customs. I really don't like wires hanging around when lifting, but I do debate from time to time to give it a shot again.

You don't have a problem with sweat mucking up your iems or anything?

 

[aaf evo]

No customs. I really don't like wires hanging around when lifting, but I do debate from time to time to give it a shot again.

You don't have a problem with sweat mucking up your iems or anything?

I tuck the wire under my shirt. Nope, my IEMs have been fine. Sweat will eventually ruin the cables though. The one pictured on my Omnium is a $13 one from AliExpress that I was recommended so I bought two of them for when it inevitably gets yucky.

I tried to go back to AirPods Pro about 2 years in and I just can’t. CIEM all the way.

It also might depend on what activities you do. For normal weightlifting and cardio it’s fine but I imagine more CrossFit type exercises could be annoying.

 

[drftr]

Nothing worse than breaking your knob off while playing with your device in your pocket....

Now imagine your delicate parts ending up in a sling as a result.

drftr