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

[Doug2507]

When away for the weekend but can't decide what IEMs to bring - bring them all

Love it. You're gonna look a bit silly walking around in your underpants though....

 

[Neweymatt]

Funny you should mention her. I’d never heard of her until watching “Shining Girls” tonight and the closing song was Angel Olsen covering Dylan’s ”One Too Many Mornings”.
I had to look it up it was so compelling.

Funny you should mention "Shining Girls", I read a review of that in the paper this morning, looking forward to watching it later this evening.

but the open back concept doesn't really work for me with IEMs, and the sound was excellent but nondescript. It's perfect as an EDC,

It's the open back thing that makes Duo not so great as an EDC imo. A real shame as it sounds fantastic. For near the same $$ you can get a U6t instead that isolates far better for EDC usage out and about.

When away for the weekend but can't decide what IEMs to bring - bring them all

Kinda like when you decide to sell an IEM, just don't and keep them all instead.

 

[Scubadevils]

Love it. You're gonna look a bit silly walking around in your underpants though....

One of those trade offs we have to endure

 

[ranfan]

i doubt that, i have the xm4 and linkbuds. but also tried the linkbuds s. the transparency mode is maybe a little bit better but definitely not the power of anc. i am sitting in the fullest starbucks downtown and i can compare them with these extreme situations.

In my case, it was the opposite for their ANC functions. I found that the LinkBuds S to be more effective at blocking out chat/speech noises, as the staff at the store was responding to a call beside me. The XM4 didn't quite filter out human speech quite as thoroughly. Wearing the LinkBuds S with its active noise cancelling felt like plugging foam ear plugs. YMMV of course, maybe it's due to the fit as well?

The passive noise cancelling though was more effective on the XM4, I'm guessing due to the stock semi-foam tips attached? It was noticeably more noise dampening, compared to silicone tips

The volume required to drive also seemed to be higher on the newer LinkBuds S. Roughly 15% or two clicks more volume as tried from my phone

XM4 & LinkBuds S size comparison video

CFA Supermoon:

Honestly, I love these. The bass is damn awesome. It reminds me a sort of hybrid between a top class BA and DD but trade the DD air for more texture and speed. Personally I think it’s a pretty worthy compromise but if you crave that airy low end from something like LX, Z1R, or XE6, then it won’t do that. The tightness and texture along with weight is incredible though. I’m not sure I’d consider these “basshead” territory like the LX and Evo but the quantity should satisfy anyones bass needs.

The lower mids are nicely textured and come off very clean and clear with great detail. No issues for me here. The upper mids is where I’m still paying close attention to. There is definitely that metallic shimmer going on that other people have mentioned. It almost sounds as if someone took upper treble air and placed it on top of the upper mid range. It does affect female vocals a bit, they come off more airy and ethereal. I also hear it going into the treble too but I don’t mind it too much because everything is still smooth, as opposed to being harsh/sharp and metallic which makes my ears want to bleed. I’ll be paying more attention to this over the weekend to see if it may be a deal breaker. I have no clue if this is a result of the driver or the tuning, maybe someone can chime in?

The treble response is smooth but has really nice detail and plenty of extension/air for my own standards.

Stage and imaging is also great. I really like what Campfire have done. This IEM sits in that category where it combines a healthy dose of musicality and technicalities to where you can just push play and enjoy the music.

I did receive the Timeless today to compare, I only got to listen to it for 30 seconds so far but from off the bat I liked the Supermoon bass more. We’ll see how that goes over the weekend and I’ll share any updates on whether this will be CIEM #7

DX320:

Honestly this reminds me a lot of the N8ii. It’s got a similar revealing and detailed tonality but it seems to sound a bit smoother in the upper mids/lower treble. I also hear some really nice treble extension on this. It’s got quite an airy top end. Out of the box, the textures (especially bass) are not on N8ii level. I do believe in DAP burn in but I’ve never heard anything drastic as a result, so I’ll give it the hours and see how it changes. However at it’s price point and total package this is basically getting you 90% there imho, it just depends if you want those last percentages and will pay for it. I don’t know that I’d give up the N8ii bass to save some $, because it’s one of those things that now that I’ve heard it idk that I can go without it. I’m not in a position where I want to “downgrade” either of my DAPs so we’ll see how this pans out over time.

Sorry for the wall of text, have a good weekend

Thanks for the impressions! I just hope they'll be released as universals some day. Seems promising, and considering your EDM playlist + high standard for bass quality, that's a noteworthy praise on Supermoon's bass

Ooh... that graph looks ever-so-slightly PHoNIX-ish to me. 'Can't wait to try it out when I eventually get back to Singapore. Unfortunately, it looks like my late June trip is off the table. 'Looks like everyone decided to cash in their KrisFlyer miles this month and book every available flight, so a flight to Singapore from any reputable airline is gonna cost around $800 per person. We're praying for a miracle, but it looks like we won't be able to go there 'til sometime in September. It's a crying shame, but we'll get there eventually.

Can't you go by boat from Batam island? Man, another delay. Sorry to hear that

When away for the weekend but can't decide what IEMs to bring - bring them all

Nice! Have a nice weekend

Curious if this is going to be one of those Battle Royale or Shootout weekend scene?

Hope I am not interrupting the chat on the trending Timeless, Supermoon, here's a cross-post I shared on the Fitear thread...

Over the past 3 weeks that I have had the DC Ti, I didn't listen much to anything else (other than for critical listening purposes), nor did I wanted to listen to something else. Such is what I think of this IEM, and in no small part, the Aqua cable along with it. In a nutshell, it's by far the most comfortable CIEM I've worn, has an open, airy, transparent sound, albeit a tad on the warm side, good resolution with excellent separation and layering, just nice soundstage and good enough bass, quality and quantity, for me. It is not as technical or reference-like compared to say... Annihilator and Storm, but it is a musical treat and the IEM I reach for whenever I want to enjoy listening to music.

I don't generally like to do graphs, but in this case, since there probably would not be too many of these floating out there, here is mine to share. I do not have a preferred 'curve', in fact, my favorites all looked quite different but they all sound good to me in each their own way.

One thing I've learned about Fitear, especially the DC Ti, which has an ultra shallow nozzle, even by their super short standards -- is how they have multiple references to tune individual CIEMS for fitting different ear shapes and sizes, since the nozzle does not penetrate the ear canal, so that everyone hears the same thing, which explains the lead-up time, which can take up to a month, to study the molds before accepting/confirming an order. Seriously, the level of expertise, proficiency and commitment to the cause, not to mention the work involved, to accomplish this is quite mind-blowing. A minor marvel too that it fits very securely in the ear, never once coming loose, let alone falling off, even during some serious head-bopping moments...

The Aqua cable is well, crazy good and driving me crazy at the same time. I suspect the DC Ti is tuned with this cable and they are truly perfectly matched; it is made of a silver-based wire with Teflon insulation. With some deep digging, I think it might be a Nordost clone (multi-strand), probably the Valhalla (single core). Which explains the open, airy and transparent signature. And also reveals why it is so darn stiff! It's like wearing a clothes hanger wire, and worse, it would not soften with use or in time.

I have listened to the DC Ti with a host of other cables, from established top-rated ones, Orpheus, Centurion and a few others, to prototypes of all manner of designs, and found that the best type of cable for the DC Ti, which on its own is a warm, thick-sounding IEM, is a silver-based cable with very bright characteristics; the copper-based, hybrids all did not attain the same level of performance as the Aqua. From there, shielding or not, soldering, plugs, etc, are small tweaks to complement the DC Ti. Frankly, I doubt if there is a ready-made cable that could rival the Aqua in terms of sonic performance, if I were to find a replacement, it will have to bespoke -- designed from the ground up, which would make for an interesting project hmm...

I think, in the end, it's hard to compare the DC Ti with the usual suspects. Quite like the FAD Pianofortes though not as extreme; the music's the same but they are distinct in their own unique ways and offer a different experience altogether. Something I'd wish more people, especially friends outside of Asia, could try. It's been a while since I've been that impressed by a piece of audio gear. I'd probably go back to my other CIEMS after the extended honeymoon, though I have a sinking feeling it will be like ear sodomy after the DC Ti...

Oh wow, coincidentally I just tried the DC Ti at the store again today. It's a semi-universal, and the nozzle was quite shallow. You get a deep snug insert, and it didn't protrude outwards much, and comfortable to wear overall. I really liked its bass, which possesses a nice balance between power, size and control. It has that dynamic driver quality and authority to it. The EST too sounded promising. I could hear glimpses of its potential (layering, precision, resolution), but trying from a phone may not be fair/ideal IMO as I could also hear a bit of that EST sizzle. Given the proper source though it may open up further, and I could see it reaching heights like the infamous bird treble

 

[Deezel177]

In my case, it was the opposite for their ANC functions. I found that the LinkBuds S to be more effective at blocking out chat/speech noises, as the staff at the store was responding to a call beside me. The XM4 didn't quite filter out human speech quite as thoroughly. Wearing the LinkBuds S with its active noise cancelling felt like plugging foam ear plugs. YMMV of course, maybe it's due to the fit as well? Not saying that you're wrong, just that our impressions seem to differ

The passive noise cancelling though was more effective on the XM4, I'm guessing due to the stock semi-foam tips attached by default? It was quite noticeably more noise dampening, compared to silicone tips

The volume required to drive also seemed to be higher on the newer LinkBuds S. Roughly 15% or two clicks more volume as tried from my phone


Thanks for the impressions! I just hope they'll be released as universals some day. Seems promising, and considering your EDM playlist + high standard for bass quality, that's a noteworthy praise on Supermoon's bass


Can't you go by boat from Batam island? Man, another delay. Sorry to hear that


Nice! Have a nice weekend

Curious if this is going to be one of those Battle Royale or Shootout weekend scene?


Oh wow, coincidentally I just tried the DC Ti at the store again today. It's a semi-universal, and the nozzle was quite shallow. You get a deep snug insert, and it didn't protrude outwards much, and comfortable to wear overall. I really liked its bass, which possesses a nice balance between power, size and control. It has that dynamic driver quality and authority to it. The EST too sounded promising. I could hear glimpses of its potential (layering, precision, resolution), but trying from a phone may not be fair/ideal IMO as I could also hear a bit of that EST sizzle. Given the proper source though it may open up further, and I could see it reaching heights like the infamous bird treble

Haha! A boat by Batam is exactly what I jokingly suggested to my parents a few days ago. That’s how a lot of my classmates used to travel back and forth. We’ll continue to monitor ticket prices over the next couple weeks, and we’ll weigh our options then.

 

[PHLHarmonic]

It's the open back thing that makes Duo not so great as an EDC imo. A real shame as it sounds fantastic. For near the same $$ you can get a U6t instead that isolates far better for EDC usage out and about.

It really does sound fantastic and works with every genre I've thrown at it so far. I've yet to get out and about with it but probably will today. I'm generally at home in a quiet environment, so I'll sacrifice the lower inherent isolation if everything else is great, and I'd prefer to have some level of awareness to my surroundings. Price-wise I can understand how it's in an awkward place due to the design caveats, but as far as the sound goes I don't see how they're markedly worse than IEMs above its price point, especially if you're looking for the general kind of tuning it has. Diminishing returns and all that.

 

[14christ]

When away for the weekend but can't decide what IEMs to bring - bring them all

ROFL

 

[Derivative]

I'm putting together an affordable listening station in the living room: streamer - dac - amp.
Decided on a RPi 4 running Volumio into a Topping MX5.

Just finished setting the RPi up and as someone without much computing knowledge it was a little daunting but ultimately quite satisfying.
The MX5 is a seriously flexible device (Dac, head and power amp, BT) and with its small footprint I can easily tuck it in a corner.

Just waiting for a long cable for my Aeon 2 closed and the station will be complete. I won't be restricted to the office for listening sessions anymore.

 

[Royal Navy]

When you're temporarily satisfied with your IEMs, cables are the next target

 

[efftee]

Ooh... that graph looks ever-so-slightly PHoNIX-ish to me. 'Can't wait to try it out when I eventually get back to Singapore.

That's the thing. I don't think the curves could be representative of how an IEM would sound; too many qualitative factors that alter the sound we hear as a aggregate whole. Could be just me, since I am not a reviewer or an expert graph interpreter, if I use graphs at all, it is to check and/or confirm certain quirks or anomalies I hear (or NOT hear) that was un/expected.

Great impressions, thank you. A metal CIEM is near the top of my bucket list, and these look soooo sexy with their shiny chrome-like finish and shallow (non-disgusting-looking) nozzles/fit. Wish there was a way to try them on a tour or review basis.

I think there would be more titanium shells to come. The Storm would be available in Ti, both universals and customs. Could be wrong but I suppose there'd be a better chance of Storm finding its way to the west than Fitear?

Oh wow, coincidentally I just tried the DC Ti at the store again today. It's a semi-universal, and the nozzle was quite shallow. You get a deep snug insert, and it didn't protrude outwards much, and comfortable to wear overall. I really liked its bass, which possesses a nice balance between power, size and control. It has that dynamic driver quality and authority to it. The EST too sounded promising. I could hear glimpses of its potential (layering, precision, resolution), but trying from a phone may not be fair/ideal IMO as I could also hear a bit of that EST sizzle. Given the proper source though it may open up further, and I could see it reaching heights like the infamous bird treble

Yes, that's a good descriptor of the DC Ti bass -- balanced. It was neither over- nor under-whelming; it provides the right balance to make the music sound good as a whole. And it's quite amazing that you'd even get layering, precision and resolution from a phone! Considering I needed to be on high gain on accomplished players to milk the most out of the DC Ti.

I'd have to say that I thought the trebles performance exceeds the Traillii, perhaps even the Annihilator at a purely enjoyment level. On a few of my torture test, the DC Ti easily tamed tracks that were seemingly produced to sound harsh and sibilant from upper mids upwards. Not by masking away the rough edges, but rendered with resolution quite preserved, and still making it not just listenable but quite enjoyable!

 

[Rockwell75]

.

Some generic impressions…

CFA Supermoon:

Honestly, I love these. The bass is damn awesome. It reminds me a sort of hybrid between a top class BA and DD but trade the DD air for more texture and speed. Personally I think it’s a pretty worthy compromise but if you crave that airy low end from something like LX, Z1R, or XE6, then it won’t do that. The tightness and texture along with weight is incredible though. I’m not sure I’d consider these “basshead” territory like the LX and Evo but the quantity should satisfy anyones bass needs.

The lower mids are nicely textured and come off very clean and clear with great detail. No issues for me here. The upper mids is where I’m still paying close attention to. There is definitely that metallic shimmer going on that other people have mentioned. It almost sounds as if someone took upper treble air and placed it on top of the upper mid range. It does affect female vocals a bit, they come off more airy and ethereal. I also hear it going into the treble too but I don’t mind it too much because everything is still smooth, as opposed to being harsh/sharp and metallic which makes my ears want to bleed. I’ll be paying more attention to this over the weekend to see if it may be a deal breaker. I have no clue if this is a result of the driver or the tuning, maybe someone can chime in?

The treble response is smooth but has really nice detail and plenty of extension/air for my own standards.

Stage and imaging is also great. I really like what Campfire have done. This IEM sits in that category where it combines a healthy dose of musicality and technicalities to where you can just push play and enjoy the music.

I did receive the Timeless today to compare, I only got to listen to it for 30 seconds so far but from off the bat I liked the Supermoon bass more. We’ll see how that goes over the weekend and I’ll share any updates on whether this will be CIEM #7

A few more things about Supermoon and some with Timeless..

I definitely prefer Supermoon, the stage is larger, the detail and resolution is also much better imo. Timeless in comparison sounds quite squished and close together and the treble is definitely more compressed. On a certain track that I will not dare name it is quite difficult to pick out treble details whereas do not I hear that same issue on the Supermoon. Switching between the two IEMs is like going from a 320kbps MP3 file (Supermoon) to something thats been downloaded from LimeWire back in 2003 (Timeless). There is more upper mid presence on Supermoon which makes me hear the treble as a bit more laid back in comparison to Timeless. Bass between both seems quite similar, probably a bit better sub bass on Supermoon. Timeless seems more source friendly, I don't notice that same upper mid glare on it as I do on Supermoon which I can hear easily on DX320 and N8ii, but on M2 it's almost completely gone. So overall I am not a fan of Supermoon on DX320, on N8ii it sounds great but almost like the upper mids are too resolving compared to the rest of the FR, on M2 it is by far my favorite and highly enjoyable.

I just wanna chime in that I'm over the moon (haha) that you share my enthusiasm about the Supermoon. By the time Monday came earlier this week I wasn't sure if I was going to love it or hate it-- but it's been a revelation for me so far. Timeless was a nice taste and a harbinger of great potential but the Supermoon is the real deal for me. I can't get enough of that planar sound-- having all the details, layering, resolution you get with more technical BA/e-stat sets but also getting a nice single driver coherence and dynamic timbre. I don't think there is any turning back for me personally. I can't wait to see how this tech develops going forward. Now we need to see VE, Oriolus etc. try their hands at at a planar IEM.

Edit: Seriously tempted to let my EXT go at a very friendly Watercooler price...PM if interested.

 

[PHLHarmonic]

Edit: Seriously tempted to let my EXT go at a very friendly Watercooler price...PM if interested.

You and me both, but mainly because I already like the Duo more. It feels like most anything $2k+ is hard to move right now unless it's a massive discount.

 

[Rockwell75]

You and me both, but mainly because I already like the Duo more. It feels like most anything $2k+ is hard to move right now unless it's a massive discount.

The Duo is really nice I owned one for a couple months earlier this year-- after some relentless a/b I wound up preferring the Dorado so I sold it. I think objectively EXT is probably still my favorite IEM under the right conditions...but its power demands and intricate design limit it to home use, which make it somewhat less practical than my other IEMs. If I didn't need to free up some $$ right now I probably wouldn't be considering this. As it is I'm tempted to pair down to my SR25ii along with the Dorado 2020, Zen Pro and Supermoon...that would cover all my needs very well.

 

[gLer]

.




I just wanna chime in that I'm over the moon (haha) that you share my enthusiasm about the Supermoon. By the time Monday came earlier this week I wasn't sure if I was going to love it or hate it-- but it's been a revelation for me so far. Timeless was a nice taste and a harbinger of great potential but the Supermoon is the real deal for me. I can't get enough of that planar sound-- having all the details, layering, resolution you get with more technical BA/e-stat sets but also getting a nice single driver coherence and dynamic timbre. I don't think there is any turning back for me personally. I can't wait to see how this tech develops going forward. Now we need to see VE, Oriolus etc. try their hands at at a planar IEM.

Edit: Seriously tempted to let my EXT go at a very friendly Watercooler price...PM if interested.

Wait, what happened to emotional engagement being the be-all and technicalities not really that important. Now it's all resolution this, imaging that. Where's Jeff and what have you done with his body!?

 

[14christ]

When you're temporarily satisfied with your IEMs, cables are the next target

Where did you find those cables?