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

[pierrerush]

Nice to see more love for U18t. Absolutely sharing the feelings on your comparison. Possibly an eye brow raiser is that somewhere on Head-Fi I read a post at the time that U18t+Orpheus sounded better than Traillii+Orpheus. I haven't heard Orpheus but always thought it would build more on the sound of 1950s than First Times. If you can get that confirmed here then your 1950s demo would be more than interesting. 1950s made me scale back from M20 to M15 btw.

I agree, it's a lovely IEM. It's hard to believe that it's over 5 years old! I use the M15 even with the stock cable, although I sometimes put on the M20 and appreciate the improvement in bass texture (but I use the 18t specifically to enjoy airiness in the music).

So you're saying I should just get the Orpheus and call it a day? I have considered this possibility... I remember we chatted earlier about potential upgrade cables for the 18t and I haven't yet made up my mind. For example, I tried the PWA 1960s Traillii stock cable with the 18t and wasn't a massive fan of the combination (I felt like it moved the upper mids and voices slightly into the background, while I really love how forward they are with the "premium" stock cable). So I'm worried about making a kilobuck purchase only to not enjoy the sound signature - even though I know people who say the 1960s + 18t was their jam.

If ever you still own your 18t, @twister6 suggested the Leo II Octa was a great pairing with the u18t. It's hard to find a cable that preserves the sound signature of the 18t yet pushes its abilities (for example I think a big issue with the stock cable is that it makes the soundstage a bit "short" on the vertical plane - I could really hear the soundstage grow in height with the 1960s).

 

[pierrerush]

Beautiful day today in Vancouver, Granville Island . Good place to hang out to listen to live music and enjoy the scenery.



The public market here has a good selection of fresh produce, pastries, soups


Clam Chowder




Sea Bus' for tourists to cross to the other side.


My daughter chasing the birds around


A Serratus session while the little one is asleep

I lived on Kits Point for two years of my life and these photos are making me miss it so bad... Beautiful area to listen to music!

 

[drftr]

I agree, it's a lovely IEM. It's hard to believe that it's over 5 years old! I use the M15 even with the stock cable, although I sometimes put on the M20 and appreciate the improvement in bass texture (but I use the 18t specifically to enjoy airiness in the music).

So you're saying I should just get the Orpheus and call it a day? I have considered this possibility... I remember we chatted earlier about potential upgrade cables for the 18t and I haven't yet made up my mind. For example, I tried the PWA 1960s Traillii stock cable with the 18t and wasn't a massive fan of the combination (I felt like it moved the upper mids and voices slightly into the background, while I really love how forward they are with the "premium" stock cable). So I'm worried about making a kilobuck purchase only to not enjoy the sound signature - even though I know people who say the 1960s + 18t was their jam.

If ever you still own your 18t, @twister6 suggested the Leo II Octa was a great pairing with the u18t. It's hard to find a cable that preserves the sound signature of the 18t yet pushes its abilities (for example I think a big issue with the stock cable is that it makes the soundstage a bit "short" on the xy plane - I could really hear the soundstage grow in height with the 1960s).

Perhaps take a quick look at the cable comparison I did on U18t:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...ge-all-welcome.957426/page-2519#post-17187785

Of note is that I was looking for fuller, warmer mids and lows plus slightly attenuated treble, and that you seem to look for a different change, so take this with a pinch of salt.

drftr

 

[pierrerush]

Perhaps take a quick look at the cable comparison I did on U18t:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...ge-all-welcome.957426/page-2519#post-17187785

Of note is that I was looking for fuller, warmer mids and lows plus slightly attenuated treble, and that you seem to look for a different change, so take this with a pinch of salt.

drftr

Yeah I see you really liked the OTL and FTs. I'm going to audition the FT and FTS from a fellow Head Fi'er soon so I'm looking forward to using that as a baseline to understand your analysis better

Topka and a few other users have highly recommended 1950s with shielding with the 18t because it makes it even more detailed while adding a bit of body to the mids and bass (which to be honest is necessary for the 18t to gain a larger soundstage and become more "full range" in the sense that it's more mid-treble focused with the stock cable). I think they mentioned that it slightly attenuates the upper treble so for me it all depends on how much it does so... There is an expensive road ahead of me.

 

[drftr]

Yeah I see you really liked the OTL and FTs. I'm going to audition the FT and FTS from a fellow Head Fi'er soon so I'm looking forward to using that as a baseline to understand your analysis better

Topka and a few other users have highly recommended 1950s with shielding with the 18t because it makes it even more detailed while adding a bit of body to the mids and bass (which to be honest is necessary for the 18t to gain a larger soundstage and become more "full range" in the sense that it's more mid-treble focused with the stock cable). I think they mentioned that it slightly attenuates the upper treble so for me it all depends on how much it does so... There is an expensive road ahead of me.

Could very well work! As for myself I found the 1950s and FT too high an investment for the ergonomics they delivered combined with microphonics. For most here they work just fine so you should be good.

I'm waiting for retirement from the Watercooler to kick in after this month so if you do a write-up please send me a PM as I like to know how you roll with this.

drftr

 

[pierrerush]

Could very well work! As for myself I found the 1950s and FT too high an investment for the ergonomics they delivered combined with microphonics. For most here they work just fine so you should be good.

I'm waiting for retirement from the Watercooler to kick in after this month so if you do a write-up please send me a PM as I like to know how you roll with this.

drftr

Will do And I understand what you're saying about microphonics... It's the most annoying part about the 1960s + Traillii combo. You get used to it but when you're A/B'ing with other cables you feel and hear the difference.

 

[warrenpchi]

I'm waiting for retirement from the Watercooler to kick in after this month

You're waiting for what?

 

[drftr]

You're waiting for what?

Do you want me to Copy-Paste or is there someone there who can explain how the scroll bar works?

drftr

 

[pierrerush]

Of note is that I was looking for fuller, warmer mids and lows plus slightly attenuated treble, and that you seem to look for a different change, so take this with a pinch of salt.

At the moment I'm switching back and forth between the 18t and the Traillii and I'm wondering if your solution isn't just the Traillii hahahaha

 

[drftr]

At the moment I'm switching back and forth between the 18t and the Traillii and I'm wondering if your solution isn't just the Traillii hahahaha

Traillii's dip in the upper mids didn't do it for me and I also wanted to add a DD to the U18t. With paradise found I'm done for a while.

drftr

 

[pierrerush]

Traillii's dip in the upper mids didn't do it for me and I also wanted to add a DD to the U18t. With paradise found I'm done for a while.

drftr

Makes sense, I was partly joking. Once you start A/B'ing the two using the same 1960s cable it's a different story anyways hahaha. I'm starting to enjoy the 1960s with the u18t although my notes say "slightly too bright and vocals don't sound as organic."

 

[drftr]

Makes sense, I was partly joking. Once you start A/B'ing the two using the same 1960s cable it's a different story anyways hahaha. I'm starting to enjoy the 1960s with the u18t although my notes say "slightly too bright and vocals don't sound as organic."

Good solution: August Fun
Better solution: 1950s
Best solution: Waiting for your findings

drftr

 

[pierrerush]

Good solution: August Fun
Better solution: 1950s
Best solution: Waiting for your findings

drftr

Yeah it sounds like I just need to take the financial hit and buy a 1950s on Musicteck... By the way thank you for your replies, I hope it's at least entertaining to hear me go through these thoughts.

It's ridiculous what the 1960s does to the 18t's soundstage and mids texture; time to throw out the stock cable.

 

[Rockwell75]

First!

Nice! I guess thre will be a lot of SG exclusive stuff that wasn't mentioned in the vids.

EQs for earphones and reliable 4-channel convolution at all sample rates for stereo room simulation instead of say a portable upmixer and 10-channel convolution. We're still chasing reliable PEQ and 4ch convolution on our over-featured Android DAPs... so... in my own time listening to headphones I still prefer the PC and still use up a good part of its CPU

 

[drftr]

Yep...

Different hobby I guess. And still we're all one here.

drftr