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

[audioaura]

Not gonna lie, I am even thinking of selling my Jewel rn lol, GM with Vocal Switch on is a better-tuned W-shape sound to my ears with only a slightly worse treble raw resolution.

Hahaha bro not you thinking of benching the Jewel but fr, GM with that vocal switch is kinda magic…

 

[nikbr]

My thoughts on the Letshuoer Cadenza 12 are HERE.

This is a big boy IEM and could easily be someone's endgame. For me, it's just a bit too expressive in that treble, but still, my overall impression can be seen in the reflection below.

Thanks to AG Europe for organizing the tour!

 

[doctorjuggles]

Would love to compare it to Omnium Ti when that’s out

I'll ship it over to you when the Omnium arrives if you need it for a review/side-to-side if you'd like

 

[Stu Paddasso]

My thoughts on the Letshuoer Cadenza 12 are HERE.

This is a big boy IEM and could easily be someone's endgame. For me, it's just a bit too expressive in that treble, but still, my overall impression can be seen in the reflection below.



Thanks to AG Europe for organizing the tour!

The "Reflection" is a nice touch.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

 

[main character]

Orange Fitness Experience

It’s only a few weeks into the new year, and—true to my resolutions—I decided it was time to start exercising regularly. So I walked into an Orange Fitness group class. (Think CrossFit vibes, but more of a guided circuit.)

At check-in they strapped a little heart-rate tracker onto my forearm. Your name flashes on a big screen that changes color with effort: blue, then green, then bright orange once you hit 80 % of your max heart rate, and finally red when you’re grinding at 90–100 %.

The first 30-minute block was a blur of rowing, cleans, lunges, alternating dead-bugs, and straight-arm planks—all while living in that orange zone. When the timer finally buzzed, our energetic grandma-coach congratulated us, and everyone offered fist-bump “Good jobs!” I was relieved. That was the longest half-hour of my life.



Then reality set in: we were only halfway done


The treadmill crew—who’d been jogging and power-walking the entire time—swapped places with us. Next came 30 minutes of interval running: spike the heart rate into orange (sometimes red), drop back to a base pace, repeat. By the end I was a sweaty puddle—but a very satisfied one.

Sixty minutes of structured, effective torture later, I caved and signed up for the eight-visits-per-month membership. Consider me converted.


BTW,
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/brise-audio-tsuranagi.26533/reviews#review-38150
My initial impressions of Tsuranagi Orochi Edition

 

[Alexcargtz]

Oh I love Miyabi Mk.II, but I am not sure how the Sho special edition sound at the 1000 USD MRP they were originally in. USD 250 certainly seems to be a very attractive pricing, but I think the bullet shape somewhat restricts the sound to achieve the expanse that one would expect from an iem in kilobuck category. Although 250 USD can surely be spent to test its capability - depends on if someone wants it or not.

D's Audio is fairly brilliant. I have their Phoenix Rise - single 12mm ADLC DD with brass shell and a brass sound tube. Sounds VAST. Costs around 13800 HKD, and the performance matches. Unfortunately, the nozzle is a bit short for me so not using it much. But it is an incredible iem.

About Ice Lab, well, I heard the Prismatica and it was technically very impressive, but all-BA sound is not for me. That is why, I bought their latest flagship and it is currently on its way to me now!

Yeah, I also feel the same about bullet shape IEMs. This one is quite tempting me for some reason, even though I know I will probably be disappointed .

That kind of shell material experimentation is why I love single DDs. I have the Metalure Wave, which is also made out of brass with a brass chamber and titanium nozzle. It also sounds really expansive, so I guess that's just what brass does. It's quite heavy, though.

I also liked the Spectrumica more than the Prismatica, which makes sense given the price difference. The only thing is the shape was a bit off for me. I feel like it sticks out of my ears a bit too much for me to properly feel the BC driver.

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

https://tonedeafmonk.squig.link/

Stock tuning sounds like it graphs, upper mids forward neutral bright with a slight bass boost when there is bass in the track.

The DSP cable stock interesting enough has a different tuning than cable stock.

Also shot some interesting take aways in a recent video about the Nozzles- Spoiler don't do much at all, and the 4 position bass killing potentiometer has me scratching my head.

I don't mind the stock tuning on cable but the Bunny more treble energy than the Bunny

https://youtube.com/@tonedeafmonk?si=4AjH8oa3JsbfNUYg

 

[Rockwell75]

7. Fugaku

Please don’t light my a$$ on fire, but I hated it.

lol...there's always one.

 

[THE 001 Music]

Had the chance to put together the impressions from today on the train ride from London to Paris

I basically crammed two years worth of releases in two hours, so please take these impressions with a grain of salt. I would consider this more of a selection process for IEMs I’d like to revisit rather than final judgements

For the sake of simplicity, I used Eletech eartips (in two sizes) for all IEMs because they fit me extremely well, and it will provide some consistency for the impressions. I got a good seal and fit for all IEMs in these impressions

The SP3000M is the default source for all impressions in this list. I would describe it as mildly warm and very textured and smooth, if you’d like to correct for it.

Once again, a big big thank you to Elise for having me. Even more so considering today was a bank holiday in London

1. General impressions

IEMs have gotten really, really good. The sound quality on IEMs at all kinds of price points has gotten so high that I feel like differentiation is one of the main challenges for manufacturers.

A lot of IEMs sounded spectacular, and would be stone cold killers a few years ago, but competition is so high right now, it takes something extraordinary to really grab my attention.

That creates the opposite issue, where some IEMs work so hard to be distinctive, that they end up overdoing it in the wrong direction and end up sounding weird or wonky, and not in a good way

Unrelated, but I gravitated really well to the APX SE. The honeymoon has worn off, and I'd still take it over basically anything I heard today except maybe HEX.

2. Lee (Elysian and Mysticraft)

The HEX was the big star of the show for me. It is bold, with massive bass, incredible texture all around, exceptional treble tuning that manages to always sound clear and exciting, but never sibilant or unpleasant. I’ve never heard an IEM that sounded so distinctive, but manages to sound so good with literally anything I play on it

I guess I’d describe the sound as an L shape. It wasn’t forward enough in the midrange and treble to call it a W or a V shape, but the bass is also super clean so it never really interferes with the clarity and detail

In terms of chain modifications, I’d like to try some thinner and brighter cables (Euclid comes to mind), and maybe a more neutral source just to see what comes out of it

I loved how well it scales down. It sounds incredible off Apple dongle just as it does off my SP3000M, and a DACamp that Ahmed let me try. I really appreciate that it is easy to drive, and even more how unpretentious it is when it comes down to synergy

I knew I loved it in the first 2 minutes, told myself I wouldn’t listen to it any more to give time to other IEMs, but ended up trying it again and again.

Only gripe is the soundstage is a little narrower than I’d like. It’s not narrow, it’s just not flagship width like the Moses or APX SE.

I also tried the Annihilator 2023, which I liked a lot more than the 2021. It’s a bit like a less refined HEX, that edged on sibilance at times even though it had less treble overall. Amazing bass, great treble, slightly “Lee” mids with that upper midrange tilt. Not too bad though

Tried the Elise Elysian X, which is supposed to have more bass compared to the X I tried years ago. It has actual punch and mid bass presence. A hint too energetic in the upper midrange, but it’s a really respectable IEM, that had amazing clarity, detail and technicals. Would consider owning it to be honest, it’s one of the IEMs that positively surprised me the most, and is kind of sort of living in my head rent free right now

I will wait for Lee’s quadbrid and I might ask Elise to maybe let me spend like a week or whatever with the X to decide if I want to jump on one

The Mysticraft tribrid was just awful. HEX bass but didn’t achieve the same texture or separation, with a super scooped and upper-tilted upper midrange. Thin and shouty. I scrolled through a few songs really quickly, but it was just an instant pass for me

3. Storm with Sovereign 2w

This is one I was really excited to listen to, but was left very slightly underwhelmed.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a great IEM, but it just didn’t do anything that was so crazy that would have me justify the cost over my custom A12t

I liked that the Storm was basically a “blank slate,” waiting for you to decide what you want it to sound like with your source.

I liked it with the Nipo N2, hated it off that huge modded iBasso (I found it extremely bright and clinical). I think people also exaggerate how hard it is to drive, because it sounded excellent off the SP3000M, and it wasn’t so far behind the Nipo N2 (which is supposed to be really powerful so I guess it can drive the Storm to most of its potential)

I understand the appeal of the IEM, especially for headphone audiophiles who already have crazy setups that are just waiting for a Storm, but it didn’t do anything so special for me to justify the cost, especially compared to other reference monitors (I consider the ability to be easily driven and scaling down advantages)

Purely subjective, but I would personally prefer IEMs that are a little more distinctive at that price range. I’m happy with the A12t sounding a little generic at 2000$, but not so much with something at the Storm’s price

I like the APX SE much better, it’s easier to drive and I feel like it has a more unique take on “reference”

Again though, I kinda get it and I respect the IEM. Can’t say anything truly negative about it. Will revisit

4. Macbeth

Not just the best BA bass I’ve heard, but some of the best bass quality I’ve heard out of any IEM.

I don’t want to say too much about the Macbeth, mostly because I want to try and create a specific chain around it to see how much I can fine tune the sound. It sounded weirdly thin, sibilant and metallic with some tracks, but like a completely different IEM with others

I don’t think I’ve experienced finding an IEM both too warm and pleasant, and too bright and harsh almost at the same time. I guess it has some really specific treble peaks that specific tracks hit

Definitely one to revisit and experiment with.

5. FiR Rn6 and Project K

Loved the Rn6, not so much the Project K. The Rn6 completely deserves all the praise it has gotten so far. It’s the most balanced FiR by a mile, with a clear but unobtrusive and textured midrange, exceptional kinetic bass and really well extended, gentle treble

Didn’t focus on technical ability too much cause I was running low on time and I already knew I wanted to give it another go. It’s excellent.

Project K… It’s a mess. It has the Xe6 bass, with fat and thick lower mids, but then it has this weird peak in the midrange that makes it sound dense, cold and harsh at the same time

I appreciate an IEM that sacrifices clarity for a thicker, more pleasant and inviting sound

I can also appreciate an IEM that sacrifices warmth and texture for clarity, detail and resolution

The Project K manages to sacrifice both clarity and warmth at the same time, without the advantages of either.

I’d like to hear it again, because I generally appreciate Belonozhko tuning, but it was so far away from something enjoyable for me, I don’t see what will reel it in.

All listening done on silver module.

6. Omnium Ti

Reserving impression on it until I hear final tuning. Heard two prototypes (kinda) today, and they show a lot of promise, but I generally don’t want to provide too much impressions without having a final unit in my hands.

Shared my feedback with Ahmed, very excited to see the final results

7. Fugaku

Please don’t light my a$$ on fire, but I hated it. You can always dismiss my impressions and if you need an excuse, I flat out can’t deal with this type of shrill, thin, cold and forward midrange regardless of note size.

If you do want to hear what I think, here it goes

First and foremost, I am not saying this in relation to price or portability (and I think that both are massive issues). I wouldn’t own the Fugaku at any price point

The bass is undoubtedly excellent in a vacuum. It’s big, it’s bold, and it has actual mid bass which I always appreciate

It is plagued by the same issues as the Moses though, it just can’t keep up with busy music.

The midrange on the Fugaku contributes to that, because there’s basically no lower mids coupled with an upper midrange that I’d describe as brutal on the ears (I exaggerate a little, but 17,000 euros makes me a little more demanding than usual). It all adds up to this artificial sense of clarity that makes vocals massive and kills any instrumental separation that the slow bass didn’t kill already

The treble is great, but with the rest of the FR who cares

Don’t kill me for these impressions, as I said earlier everything about the Fugaku’s tuning is something that I am “built” to dislike, and so is most of my library.

My more “objective” dislike for the Fugaku is the existence of the Elise Elysian X for example, which I think has a way more tasteful and mature approach to a similar mid-forward tuning with big bold bass.

8. Others

MMR Thummim - met with @doctorjuggles for dinner and drinks last night, loved the Thum as much as I did when I first heard it. A lot of the Thummim’s DNA is in the HEX, and I dare say it does some things a little better, even though the overall tuning of the HEX is much more refined with better texture, dynamics and a lot more

Erl - still as bored as I was the first time listening to it. It just presents everything as too mild and pleasant, to me it completely fails to transmit any emotion that isn’t rainbows and butterflies and unicorns

Craft Ears Aurum - it slapped back then, it still slaps. Awesome value, and something I’d enjoy listening to frequently regardless of price. Would love to compare it to Omnium Ti when that’s out

PS I forgot to keep taking photos of the stuff I listened to after the first idk how many IEMs

Fugaku is a complete joke.
RN6 suffers from poor timbre.
Not a fan of Annihilator, nor Storm.

Moses, Mefisto, and Spectrumica please.

 

[KuroKitsu]

Last post on this, I swear Coolers :

Matters little to me what you call it. You can be as skeptical or open-minded as you want. I am not at all defending this product. I have never heard it. Therefore I would not trash it, either. I just don't agree with a lot of your assumptions, especially your subjective hierarchy of sound-changes. There are so many components and devices for so many aspects of a playback system with so many different levels of change they introduce to that system, that I simply cannot lump them all together according to their general tech. I really don't want to get into a prolonged debate, just to add that every single consumer device I have ever used - ever - has been imperfect in some way. I absolutely do not subscribe to the idea that if there is a beneficial technology out there that is proven to work, then of course a manufacturer would include it in their product. That notion is simply not supported by my experience. Every single piece of audio equipment I have ever owned could theoretically be improved in some way.

EDIT: And therein lies the fun of the hobby! Trying it all out to see if things get better or worse!

It seems like a lot of text (2 paragraphs across to responses) just to say you've heard a difference, you don't know quite what or why just that is and that's fine with me, honestly a lot of this hobby is essentially that. But that's not really the gist of my response

Here's what it is

1. I was accused of "trash talking" a specific product from a specific brand, despite being a shill of other products from said brand, which might seem questionable as well
2. Presented my rationale for what I said, then have it disregarded: "matters little to me what you call it" and "I don't agree with your subjective hierarchy" "But hey ymmv and all that" just rubs me the wrong way.
3. I don't think any piece of audio equipment needs any sort of improvement, theoretical or actual. it does what it was intended to do (Unless there's some active tomfoolery going on). Yes, the end result is not necessarily the sum of the parts, but at this level one is essentially tweaking the sound as oppose to improving. I personally don't buy into getting something that improves the chain as that strongly implies that the equipment in question is not well-engineered.

Let's leave it at that and go back to ooooh ahhing the latest in portafi

 

[gLer]

Let's leave it at that and go back to ooooh ahhing the latest in portafi

"Improving" in audio simply means moving something closer to the listener's (subjective) preference.

Unless there's an obvious and universally-accepted flaw (noise/hiss, loss of resolution, errant peak or dip) that can be 'improved' by chain synergy, I can't think of any 'universal' audio improvement device outside of the actual chain (hence, synergy).

And even if there was one, it would still be making 'subjective' changes that bring the sound closer to one user's preferences - and may actually make it sound worse for those who's preferences don't align.

PS. #2 PW Audio fan here (behind Kuro)

 

[Deezel177]

lol...there's always one.

I also wasn’t… entirely enamored with it. ‘May or may not expand on that when I have the time.

 

[MicDavism141]

Hahaha bro not you thinking of benching the Jewel

Sorry but it seems that it's really happening

Just sent my Jewel to the local 2nd hand seller today

Borrowed Quantum's SuperStage Module to test on GM today, and it sounds a bit surreal - definitely more expansive and bigger than Fourte, Turii Ti, and Z1R. Sub-bass and mid-bass are between the Black and Blue NOAH. Not to mention that I only use my Cayin RU7 as the source/amp and haven't tried any cable rolling on this.

 

[fejnomit]

Last post on this, I swear Coolers :

It seems like a lot of text (2 paragraphs across to responses) just to say you've heard a difference, you don't know quite what or why just that is and that's fine with me, honestly a lot of this hobby is essentially that. But that's not really the gist of my response

Here's what it is

1. I was accused of "trash talking" a specific product from a specific brand, despite being a shill of other products from said brand, which might seem questionable as well
2. Presented my rationale for what I said, then have it disregarded: "matters little to me what you call it" and "I don't agree with your subjective hierarchy" "But hey ymmv and all that" just rubs me the wrong way.
3. I don't think any piece of audio equipment needs any sort of improvement, theoretical or actual. it does what it was intended to do (Unless there's some active tomfoolery going on). Yes, the end result is not necessarily the sum of the parts, but at this level one is essentially tweaking the sound as oppose to improving. I personally don't buy into getting something that improves the chain as that strongly implies that the equipment in question is not well-engineered.

Let's leave it at that and go back to ooooh ahhing the latest in portafi

"Improving" in audio simply means moving something closer to the listener's (subjective) preference.

Unless there's an obvious and universally-accepted flaw (noise/hiss, loss of resolution, errant peak or dip) that can be 'improved' by chain synergy, I can't think of any 'universal' audio improvement device outside of the actual chain (hence, synergy).

And even if there was one, it would still be making 'subjective' changes that bring the sound closer to one user's preferences - and may actually make it sound worse for those who's preferences don't align.

PS. #2 PW Audio fan here (behind Kuro)

Thanks for more paragraphs. I actually find this discussion worthwhile.
Here are my closing thoughts: Never ever has there been such a thing as "objective" improvement that is truly definable and accepted by all in this hobby. I feel like that goes without saying. But improvement to my ears? 1000% in my experience. And, if I'm not mistaken, to many of us here. That's why actually listening to something is the only real way to form an opinion. Sorry if you got rubbed the wrong way but I just don't get the notion that an audio playback chain can't be improved upon. Sorry