LWR999
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2015
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Need to give Eletech Baroque another try. My Noble Kublai Khan and Empire Ears Odyssey are both BCD so will give them ago. They seem to make my ears itch though...
The Watercooler -- Impressions, philosophical discussion and general banter. Index on first page. All welcome.
- Thread starter Rockwell75
- Start date
I cannot disagree with this plan. I have them on all of my sets except Odin. Haven’t even tried it with brass tips and not sure I need to. Could be a worthwhile experiment though. Lol
crush
100+ Head-Fier
Here are some impressions from my IEM journey throughout the years. Listed in order that I acquired, so some comparisons open up as time goes on. I'm not a huge fan of ratings, as they're naturally skewed. We only purchase things that we think we would like, so everything *should* fall above the 5/10 mark. So take that into consideration how you will. All scores are taking price into consideration.
This playlist has gone through some evolution throughout the years, but here is the gauntlet that every IEM goes through:
Preface: I got into IEMs about 10 years ago. My first set was an Audio Technica ATH IM02. Then I moved up to the Campfire Andromeda (pre-2019), then to the Thieaudio Monarch mk1. I used each of those sets for a couple years before graduating university. With some income at my disposal, I started the hunt. I generally like a bass boosted neutral/slightly warm tuning and don't do well with wonky midranges.
Fatfreq Maestro SE - I am certainly a basshead, no denying it. I liked the level of bass here, although sometimes it did end up too much. Good details, although maybe falling behind for the price. Had to sell due to fit issues and a treble spike that didn't work for my library. 7/10
Elysian Diva 2023 - Did not understand the hype on this one. Everything came across slightly veiled and lacking that last layer of detail. Certainly a good IEM, but my expectations were set way too high. Comfortable though, and variable bass is nice. 6.5/10 (considering used price).
IER-Z1R - Mildly V shaped, TOTL bass. Awkward fit. Durability concerns with the MMCX. Midrange was a little too laid back for my tastes. Good treble. Ultimately not enough bass or midrange for my preferences. 8.5/10.
Hyla CE-5 - Edges out bass quality over the Z1R. Thin sounding midrange. Horrible driver flex. 5/10 (considering used price)
Kinera Verdandi - The best bass I've heard. The DD and BC combination does wonders. From my understanding, Kinera's parent company is a driver manufacturer and the DD and BC are made in-house. There's a solid amount of detail here, definitely in line with the price range. However the set falls flat on it's midrange tuning. Vocals just sound off and there is a lower mid leanness. I don't like using EQ, as I prefer my sets to be plug and play anywhere. However I desperately tried over 30 EQ profiles to fix it with no success. I think the 2BA unit for the midrange just isn't very receptive. Shells are massive and tips don't like to stay on. Love the cable and accessories. 6/10
Thieaudio Monarch Mk3 - Much improved bass quality compared to the mk1. I have yet to hear the mk2. I like the added midbass overall. Solid details, hard to beat at this price. Upper midrange does come off a little nasally however. 8/10
Thieaudio Oracle Mk3 - Pretty sure the dual DDs here are the same as the Monarch mk3. Better midrange tuning, non-offensive treble. I don't know a set that beats it at the same budget constraints. 9.5/10
Unique Melody MEST Mk1 - My favorite midrange out of any IEM. Crystal clear and vocals shine. Bass quality is not that great. Nothing to complain about with the treble, sounds like a standard EST implementation. Would have preferred more bass. The midrange blew out the rest of the competition that I ultimately decided to keep the MEST over the rest. 9/10 (considering used price)
In terms of subjective bass quality, Verdandi >> Hyla CE-5 > Z1R >>>> Monarch/Oracle Mk3 >>> MEST.
I used the MEST for about a year until I went back on the hunt.
Thieaudio Oracle mk1 - Fantastic tuning. Bass quality not that great (a combination I'm all too familiar with). Definitely lacking some details, but the tuning more than made up for it. 8/10 (considering used price).
Elysian x Effect Audio Gaea - Loved the build and design. Good bass quality. Upper midrange a bit too pronounced for my taste. Didn't feel like anything was missing on the treble considering the lack of ESTs. 8.5/10 (considering used price).
Canpur CP622B - Full disclosure, I'm working on a DIY project utilizing (nearly) the same drivers as the Canpur. The CP622B is what I would consider neutral. Slightly better quality mids than the MEST, good bass quality, and well-extended treble. Ultimately I prefer more bass and doesn't do anything special to justify the price (Why does this cost $3500?). 6/10.
Empire Ears Raven - Oh boy. Here we go. Why does this cost $3600? Well, the raven answers. A grandiose stage, physical bass, and magical presentation. Midrange detail that gives you excellent clarity without having elevated treble. Large shells. Driver flex. Unfortunately my unit developed a crack without any notable accidents. I believe this was due to the metal faceplate and thin resin shells making contact in the case. I didn't have the best experience with support which kind of put me off of EE as a whole, but this is certainly the best IEM I've ever heard. 9/10.
64 Audio U4s - Nice, physical bass. Good overall detail across the spectrum. Not my preferred midrange tuning, but doesn't sound wrong either. For a bass boosted neutral signature at this price, I would argue it's either this or the Monarch Mk3. I prefer the U4s due to the build and APEX modules. I'm big on comfort, and the pressure relief is super nice. 9/10
Aful Cantor - Had some high expectations with this one as well due to the frequency response similarities to the MEST. However like the Diva it just feels veiled across the spectrum. The internal design looks interesting, but with a neutral bass region I'm wondering what the purpose was. Beautiful shells, surprisingly good fit. Respect for not charging more. 7/10.
64 Audio Volur - Very unique bass presentation. Almost clinical, and not in a bad way. I would say it's the exact opposite end of the spectrum from "physical", but can't quite find the word for it. Like the U4s, the midrange isn't my preferred tuning. Good detail across the board. Upper treble spike doesn't really work for my library. 64 audio comfort is tough to beat. 8/10
Linsoul x HBB Jupiter - This one first came across my attention when I saw a Linsoul youtube video doing a sound test comparing the Jupiter to the Monarch Mk3. Of course these tests have their flaws, but I was surprised how much better the Jupiter sounded. The presentation came across so nice and I kept an eye out for a sale for nearly a year before I purchased one off classifieds. It is unbelievable that they crammed 1DD, 6BAs and 4EST into a shell this small. It is very comfortable with a nozzle that isn't too thick. I can wear this for 12 hours with no comfort issues. The bass quality isn't great, but I absolutely love the overall tuning. Everything is right where I want it to be. This is my preferred signature. It really hits you with this "wall of sound". Solid midrange detail, and treble is non fatiguing. Imaging is excellent, but stage is a little small. Accessories and packaging is a joke. The Dunu Titan S2 at 5% of the price runs laps around the accessories here.
It's an odd price point at $1600, but to be fair, I don't know a better IEM at that price. The Annihilator beats out the Jupiter in bass quality, midrange detail, treble, naturalness, and stage for example. But overall I just prefer the Jupiter. The tuning and comfort for me is just that good. 10/10
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black - The ceramic shells are so nice. They feel and look fantastic. Midrange detail is the best out of the lineup. Good staging and bass quality. Ultimately way too lean for my preferences. 8.5/10
Thieaudio Prestige LTD - Good bass quality, midrange detail, and treble tuning. Unfortunate that it also exists in the same world as the Jupiter. For some, I can easily see how they'd prefer the Prestige LTD to the Jupiter. In fact, I think most would. But overall the upper midrange is a bit too elevated for my tastes. Also not as comfortable as the Jupiter. Once again an odd price point. I would get this over the U4s if budget allows. 9.5/10
Flipears Legion - An absolute banger on some tracks, but some tracks its wonkiness with a side of midrange. The bone conduction is cranked up so high on these. Deep male vocals sound very unnatural and ultimately didn't work for my library. Overall tuning is quite similar to the Raven actually. For a quarter of the price, it gets close. Less detailed, but a more prominent midrange helps mask that. Overall sounds "less refined", but that's what more crossover points allows for. Incredible packaging and build. Appreciate the price. The nozzle angle didn't work for me and led to some discomfort after about an hour. I would not recommend as your only IEM. 8.5/10
Kinera Loki Emerald - This one was always on my radar since trying the Verdandi since it also incorporates Kinera's DD+BC combo. The Loki has more subbass extension, which compared to the Verdandi, takes a way a little bit of that punchy quality. The quality here is still remarkable, and I'd put it slightly behind the Z1R with the difference in tuning. Unlike the Verdandi however, there is no wonky midrange. Upper mids are quite pronounced and actually very similar to the Annihilator. Treble is smooth with good extension. Has an interesting nozzle design but it works for me. The lower midrange dip doesn't work with my spotify library. This same dip has some interesting effects on staging, and just like the Verdandi the stage is quite large.
While I work I typically listen to video game soundtracks as they're less distracting, and it performs better than any IEM I've tried. The added contrast with the lower mid dip really makes bass notes stand out. Responds very well to EQ. Has me excited to hear the Kinera Hela. 8/10
Unique Melody MEST Mk3 - Much improved bass quality compared to the mk1 and more midbass to my ear compared to the jet black. My preferred MEST, but not enough bass for my preferences. My favorite MEST design wise. 8.5/10 (considering used price)
Campfire Audio Clara - Extremely comfortable. Arguably the most comfortable IEM I've used. Looks stunning and feels premium. Musical, yet natural. The word that I immediately jumped to was "dynamic". Bass was quite punchy and vocals didn't suffer. I found detail retrieval to be quite competent and in line with the price range. I personally would have liked some more air up top. 8/10
Elysian Annihilator 2023 - Opinions still developing on this one. Bass quality is good but not great. Midrange is quite detailed - a little less than the MEST, but still good. Lower mids are pushed back further than I would like. Treble is going to require some brain burn in. Arguably better in every department than the Jupiter, but I still find myself reaching for the Jupiter because of it's tonality. Nozzle is also quite thick. 8/10
Fir Rn6:
My Fir Rn6 was faulty upon purchase from classifieds and has been in the RMA process for about a month now. I really liked what I heard while I had it, and the final showdown will most likely be the Rn6 vs the Jupiter.
There's still a few IEMs coming out that I want to hear (Volk Etoile, Forte Ears Mefisto, Kinera Hela, Quill Satin) but I'll have to dedicate a canjam for those. My wallet is over the buy/sell adventures at this point. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
This playlist has gone through some evolution throughout the years, but here is the gauntlet that every IEM goes through:
Preface: I got into IEMs about 10 years ago. My first set was an Audio Technica ATH IM02. Then I moved up to the Campfire Andromeda (pre-2019), then to the Thieaudio Monarch mk1. I used each of those sets for a couple years before graduating university. With some income at my disposal, I started the hunt. I generally like a bass boosted neutral/slightly warm tuning and don't do well with wonky midranges.
Fatfreq Maestro SE - I am certainly a basshead, no denying it. I liked the level of bass here, although sometimes it did end up too much. Good details, although maybe falling behind for the price. Had to sell due to fit issues and a treble spike that didn't work for my library. 7/10
Elysian Diva 2023 - Did not understand the hype on this one. Everything came across slightly veiled and lacking that last layer of detail. Certainly a good IEM, but my expectations were set way too high. Comfortable though, and variable bass is nice. 6.5/10 (considering used price).
IER-Z1R - Mildly V shaped, TOTL bass. Awkward fit. Durability concerns with the MMCX. Midrange was a little too laid back for my tastes. Good treble. Ultimately not enough bass or midrange for my preferences. 8.5/10.
Hyla CE-5 - Edges out bass quality over the Z1R. Thin sounding midrange. Horrible driver flex. 5/10 (considering used price)
Kinera Verdandi - The best bass I've heard. The DD and BC combination does wonders. From my understanding, Kinera's parent company is a driver manufacturer and the DD and BC are made in-house. There's a solid amount of detail here, definitely in line with the price range. However the set falls flat on it's midrange tuning. Vocals just sound off and there is a lower mid leanness. I don't like using EQ, as I prefer my sets to be plug and play anywhere. However I desperately tried over 30 EQ profiles to fix it with no success. I think the 2BA unit for the midrange just isn't very receptive. Shells are massive and tips don't like to stay on. Love the cable and accessories. 6/10
Thieaudio Monarch Mk3 - Much improved bass quality compared to the mk1. I have yet to hear the mk2. I like the added midbass overall. Solid details, hard to beat at this price. Upper midrange does come off a little nasally however. 8/10
Thieaudio Oracle Mk3 - Pretty sure the dual DDs here are the same as the Monarch mk3. Better midrange tuning, non-offensive treble. I don't know a set that beats it at the same budget constraints. 9.5/10
Unique Melody MEST Mk1 - My favorite midrange out of any IEM. Crystal clear and vocals shine. Bass quality is not that great. Nothing to complain about with the treble, sounds like a standard EST implementation. Would have preferred more bass. The midrange blew out the rest of the competition that I ultimately decided to keep the MEST over the rest. 9/10 (considering used price)
In terms of subjective bass quality, Verdandi >> Hyla CE-5 > Z1R >>>> Monarch/Oracle Mk3 >>> MEST.
I used the MEST for about a year until I went back on the hunt.
Thieaudio Oracle mk1 - Fantastic tuning. Bass quality not that great (a combination I'm all too familiar with). Definitely lacking some details, but the tuning more than made up for it. 8/10 (considering used price).
Elysian x Effect Audio Gaea - Loved the build and design. Good bass quality. Upper midrange a bit too pronounced for my taste. Didn't feel like anything was missing on the treble considering the lack of ESTs. 8.5/10 (considering used price).
Canpur CP622B - Full disclosure, I'm working on a DIY project utilizing (nearly) the same drivers as the Canpur. The CP622B is what I would consider neutral. Slightly better quality mids than the MEST, good bass quality, and well-extended treble. Ultimately I prefer more bass and doesn't do anything special to justify the price (Why does this cost $3500?). 6/10.
Empire Ears Raven - Oh boy. Here we go. Why does this cost $3600? Well, the raven answers. A grandiose stage, physical bass, and magical presentation. Midrange detail that gives you excellent clarity without having elevated treble. Large shells. Driver flex. Unfortunately my unit developed a crack without any notable accidents. I believe this was due to the metal faceplate and thin resin shells making contact in the case. I didn't have the best experience with support which kind of put me off of EE as a whole, but this is certainly the best IEM I've ever heard. 9/10.
64 Audio U4s - Nice, physical bass. Good overall detail across the spectrum. Not my preferred midrange tuning, but doesn't sound wrong either. For a bass boosted neutral signature at this price, I would argue it's either this or the Monarch Mk3. I prefer the U4s due to the build and APEX modules. I'm big on comfort, and the pressure relief is super nice. 9/10
Aful Cantor - Had some high expectations with this one as well due to the frequency response similarities to the MEST. However like the Diva it just feels veiled across the spectrum. The internal design looks interesting, but with a neutral bass region I'm wondering what the purpose was. Beautiful shells, surprisingly good fit. Respect for not charging more. 7/10.
64 Audio Volur - Very unique bass presentation. Almost clinical, and not in a bad way. I would say it's the exact opposite end of the spectrum from "physical", but can't quite find the word for it. Like the U4s, the midrange isn't my preferred tuning. Good detail across the board. Upper treble spike doesn't really work for my library. 64 audio comfort is tough to beat. 8/10
Linsoul x HBB Jupiter - This one first came across my attention when I saw a Linsoul youtube video doing a sound test comparing the Jupiter to the Monarch Mk3. Of course these tests have their flaws, but I was surprised how much better the Jupiter sounded. The presentation came across so nice and I kept an eye out for a sale for nearly a year before I purchased one off classifieds. It is unbelievable that they crammed 1DD, 6BAs and 4EST into a shell this small. It is very comfortable with a nozzle that isn't too thick. I can wear this for 12 hours with no comfort issues. The bass quality isn't great, but I absolutely love the overall tuning. Everything is right where I want it to be. This is my preferred signature. It really hits you with this "wall of sound". Solid midrange detail, and treble is non fatiguing. Imaging is excellent, but stage is a little small. Accessories and packaging is a joke. The Dunu Titan S2 at 5% of the price runs laps around the accessories here.
It's an odd price point at $1600, but to be fair, I don't know a better IEM at that price. The Annihilator beats out the Jupiter in bass quality, midrange detail, treble, naturalness, and stage for example. But overall I just prefer the Jupiter. The tuning and comfort for me is just that good. 10/10
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black - The ceramic shells are so nice. They feel and look fantastic. Midrange detail is the best out of the lineup. Good staging and bass quality. Ultimately way too lean for my preferences. 8.5/10
Thieaudio Prestige LTD - Good bass quality, midrange detail, and treble tuning. Unfortunate that it also exists in the same world as the Jupiter. For some, I can easily see how they'd prefer the Prestige LTD to the Jupiter. In fact, I think most would. But overall the upper midrange is a bit too elevated for my tastes. Also not as comfortable as the Jupiter. Once again an odd price point. I would get this over the U4s if budget allows. 9.5/10
Flipears Legion - An absolute banger on some tracks, but some tracks its wonkiness with a side of midrange. The bone conduction is cranked up so high on these. Deep male vocals sound very unnatural and ultimately didn't work for my library. Overall tuning is quite similar to the Raven actually. For a quarter of the price, it gets close. Less detailed, but a more prominent midrange helps mask that. Overall sounds "less refined", but that's what more crossover points allows for. Incredible packaging and build. Appreciate the price. The nozzle angle didn't work for me and led to some discomfort after about an hour. I would not recommend as your only IEM. 8.5/10
Kinera Loki Emerald - This one was always on my radar since trying the Verdandi since it also incorporates Kinera's DD+BC combo. The Loki has more subbass extension, which compared to the Verdandi, takes a way a little bit of that punchy quality. The quality here is still remarkable, and I'd put it slightly behind the Z1R with the difference in tuning. Unlike the Verdandi however, there is no wonky midrange. Upper mids are quite pronounced and actually very similar to the Annihilator. Treble is smooth with good extension. Has an interesting nozzle design but it works for me. The lower midrange dip doesn't work with my spotify library. This same dip has some interesting effects on staging, and just like the Verdandi the stage is quite large.
While I work I typically listen to video game soundtracks as they're less distracting, and it performs better than any IEM I've tried. The added contrast with the lower mid dip really makes bass notes stand out. Responds very well to EQ. Has me excited to hear the Kinera Hela. 8/10
Unique Melody MEST Mk3 - Much improved bass quality compared to the mk1 and more midbass to my ear compared to the jet black. My preferred MEST, but not enough bass for my preferences. My favorite MEST design wise. 8.5/10 (considering used price)
Campfire Audio Clara - Extremely comfortable. Arguably the most comfortable IEM I've used. Looks stunning and feels premium. Musical, yet natural. The word that I immediately jumped to was "dynamic". Bass was quite punchy and vocals didn't suffer. I found detail retrieval to be quite competent and in line with the price range. I personally would have liked some more air up top. 8/10
Elysian Annihilator 2023 - Opinions still developing on this one. Bass quality is good but not great. Midrange is quite detailed - a little less than the MEST, but still good. Lower mids are pushed back further than I would like. Treble is going to require some brain burn in. Arguably better in every department than the Jupiter, but I still find myself reaching for the Jupiter because of it's tonality. Nozzle is also quite thick. 8/10
Fir Rn6:
My Fir Rn6 was faulty upon purchase from classifieds and has been in the RMA process for about a month now. I really liked what I heard while I had it, and the final showdown will most likely be the Rn6 vs the Jupiter.
There's still a few IEMs coming out that I want to hear (Volk Etoile, Forte Ears Mefisto, Kinera Hela, Quill Satin) but I'll have to dedicate a canjam for those. My wallet is over the buy/sell adventures at this point. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
el-jorge
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks. I asked because I'm looking for something even more portable than the A&K SE300 that I now use (and I love), and with a bit of different sound profile.
The RU7 is great, and has that, but because I carry it in my pocket of my pants, cables between my iPhone and the RU7 break constantly. So the A100 is worth looking into. I'm also looking into the iBasso DX260 and the A&K SP3KM. I hope anyone has somethinbg to say about that, compared to the SE300.
You can try looking into sp3km copper nickel, it needs some time to burn-in, but definitely worth it.
el-jorge
100+ Head-Fier
I saw that too, but it's even heavier than the SE300, that's why I'm looking into the normal SP3KM (and the DX260), or a better portable/dongle DAC.
If you are able to demo them, it will be the best. Cos I own both SE300 and the SP3km (copper nickel). Thats why I suggested for it even thou the sp3km is lighter.
I think personally sp3km and dx260 is a safer choice as a dap. The copper nickel adds elevated bass and push vocal slightly forward (compared to sp3km) which can be a good or bad thing (good for me cos I love bass).
el-jorge
100+ Head-Fier
I love bass also, but the XE6 and RN6 take more than sufficient care of that. So it probably comes down to the SP3KM vs DX260. Where the DX260 is significantly cheaper.
I don't know what happened but I got a special edition with a black grill!
Had to get it from an overseas retailer.
That’s the regular version. Launch edition was 50 units with a gold honeycomb.
And mine was serial no. 10 of those 50.
Damn, looks like I sold an abnormal special edition Moses bound to be worth millions later LOL!
SbassX
100+ Head-Fier
That’s an awesome breakdown, really paints a clear picture of what the Quantum is capable of. Cool to hear how FF managed to get that kind of tonal balance and technical performance out of a single planar...I’ve always associated them more with their wild bass and hybrid fun, so this shift toward a more neutral yet still engaging tuning is pretty exciting.
honestly, if they sound the best and feel the best, why fight it? Some folks spend ages tip-rolling and still end up going back to their first favorite. If Coreir Brass just works across your collection, lean into it!
I tried to let the AI draw custom IEM. After 9 attempts, i gave up. At least gemini can neither draw Custom IEM nor IEM without earpieces in general.
But during the experiment i was able to create this image i thought is worth sharing
Also AI thinks BA Driver look like this
But during the experiment i was able to create this image i thought is worth sharing
Also AI thinks BA Driver look like this
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Second song posted.
Ciara is working on another song now, once she has three she can add a profile and start making reels.
I have heard Ciara do this song at a couple open mics. Curious impressions.
First track post if you missed it.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...n-first-page-all-welcome.957426/post-18655906
Ciara is working on another song now, once she has three she can add a profile and start making reels.
I have heard Ciara do this song at a couple open mics. Curious impressions.
First track post if you missed it.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...n-first-page-all-welcome.957426/post-18655906
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