[Stu Paddasso]

@Stu Paddasso Anything from Gladiator for Cleo?

CP now has mine along with the Aurelius. Lets see how long it takes to get here.

Gladiator emailed on the 27th that they had shipped the cable. It looks like it's still in Cypress.

 

[ljnew]

I've sold it twice and am considering giving it a third go. Mid-bass/lower mids is an area I'm particularly fixated on, which is why IER Z1R is a specialist IEM for me...however what it does is so good, as has been indicated here, it cannot be topped to this day on the market.



This is a thorough and fair appraisal.

I'm going to purchase the z1r agaim unfortunately. The treble is so distinctive even with badly tuned hip hop tracks. I still dream about that treble.

I let multiple people listen, that are not audiophiles and they all said it sounds like an orchestra.

 

[stacey]

Hello Watercoolers, thinking to add a planar IEM to my collection. Considering Supermoon & FIBAE 5. Had LCD i4 before but didn’t like it much with non-iDevices. My genres of preference are quite vast, except metal. Which one of Supermoon and FIBAE 5 do you suggest? How do they compare against each other? TIA.

Supermoon is like 90% of an i4 + Cipher cable. So if you like the idea of an i4 but not the tuning quirks that would be your better bet.

 

[Valrhona]

The Z1R is a great IEM that is unique in what it does. It is marked by outstanding bass quality, great impact and tonality. And, it has an extremely clear presentation in the highs. Mids are a bit weak (especially in the lower mids) making it a tough sell for male vocals and the fit is very difficult for many. It is a classic and anyone who goes down the audiophile journey will want to experience it. It definitely belongs in the IEM hall of fame.

If you want a proper upgrade to it, then I would buy a DMP-Z1 and the Brise BSEP for Z1R cable. That is the best I have ever heard it and the warmth of the DMP helps to warm up the mids brilliantly. The Z1R scales up better than any other IEM I have tried.

Otherwise, if you want to find a complementary set, anything in the watercooler top 10 will do it. It really depends on what specifically you are seeking. I would go for something that is outstanding in the mids or grittier in presentation to complement the Z1Rs strength. That would be a set like Noble Ronin or Annihilator or even something like Singularity that has great sub bass but a much grittier sound. I would have also recommended something like an Amber Pearl or Red Halo/Les Jardin, but that would be higher than you budgeted.

May a man ask how's synergy of the Brise BSEP with the Z1R?

 

[drftr]

You still have your U18t?

Nope. I kept the best part of the package to use on my Noble Sultans though: The 64Audio version of SpinFit CP145. Kidding aside, I absolutely loved the treble on U18t and it may still be my favourite treble on the market.

Definitely hear you there. They go for ~$1900 or so on the used market and if you're the sort of person who appreciates a good single DD experience-- and arguably the best available right now, they are well worth it imho. Probably not the best option for folks who value treble extension and resolution above all, but if you love great mids, bass and timbre they are damn nice. The staging is perhaps the most surprising feature-- it's quite wide and deep for a single DD.

Have you (or anyone really) demoed the FiR Electron 12???

drftr

 

[Deezel177]

Have you (or anyone really) demoed the FiR Electron 12???

drftr

Jeff and the gang who went to SoCal/Dallas have tried it. The retail demos have just started arriving at Zepp in SG, among others. More impressions should come soon.

 

[Rockwell75]

Have you (or anyone really) demoed the FiR Electron 12???

drftr

Yup, a few times in SoCal. I quite like it and actually much preferred it to the Volur, which I demoed alongside it. I should have a tour unit coming at some point so I'll be able to compare it directly to the Perpetua.

 

[tjzurlaaa]

Yup, a few times in SoCal. I quite like it and actually much preferred it to the Volur, which I demoed alongside it. I should have a tour unit coming at some point so I'll be able to compare it directly to the Perpetua.

Perfect those are literally the two I will be deciding between lol the dita and fir

 

[jwilliamhurst]

Have you (or anyone really) demoed the FiR Electron 12???

@Auricon owns it. He posted some quick first impressions a few days ago I believe.
I’m sure he will share with you

 

[Auricon]

Nope. I kept the best part of the package to use on my Noble Sultans though: The 64Audio version of SpinFit CP145. Kidding aside, I absolutely loved the treble on U18t and it may still be my favourite treble on the market.


Have you (or anyone really) demoed the FiR Electron 12???

drftr

Yus, I own one.

Early impressions:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...n-first-page-all-welcome.957426/post-17834966

With 40+ hours in and how I hear E12, it RN6-like or as I coined "RN6-lite" and surprisingly detailed with balanced signature for a single DD, sounds like a multi-driver. I found it more coherent and engaging compared to NE4.

E12 is a good entry/gateway into FiR Audio and makes for a great companion if you own a XE6. I think it's priced a bit high for a single DD, should be more $1300-$1500, but you get excellent FiR build, good isolation, no sound leakage, atom venting, tactile bass, and swappable plates. BTW did I mention the stock pure OCC silver cable with copper shielding is phenomenal plus gorgeous?

 

[drftr]

Yus, I own one.

Early impressions:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...n-first-page-all-welcome.957426/post-17834966

With 40+ hours in and how I hear E12, it RN6-like or as I coined "RN6-lite" and surprisingly detailed with balanced signature for a single DD, sounds like a multi-driver. I found it more coherent and engaging compared to NE4 and I a good entry into FiR Audio. E12 makes for a great companion if you own a XE6. I think it's priced a bit high for a single DD, should be more $1300-$1500, but you get excellent FiR build and swappable plates. BTW did I mention the stock pure silver cable with copper shielding is phenominal?

Just in case it has sliiightly fuller mids and sliiightly less bright treble than Rn6 please do respond!

drftr

 

[Auricon]

Just in case it has sliiightly fuller mids and sliiightly less bright treble than Rn6 please do respond!

drftr

How I hear E12, treble is extended with clarity but I don't hear it as high as RN6 with red module (despite being treble sensitive) – it's similar to RN6 with black. I'll need to re-check mids. Could you suggest a couple of tracks for me to test?

 

[Rockwell75]

Perpetua and E12 should make an interesting comparison as they're both using rather unorthodox 12mm drivers. Perpetua is a deceptively alluring and engaging IEM. At first it almost sounds plain but the more I listen the more I am drawn into the sound. A lot of this has to do with the bass and mids, which are the areas of the FR I fetish over the most. But there are no real "party tricks" here save the comparitively large and encompassing bass response-- Perpetua's magic is the subtlety of doing something really simple in a really alluring way. More than most IEMs this one really benefits from extended time and demos.

 

[drftr]

How I hear E12, treble is extended with clarity but I don't hear it as high as RN6 with red module (despite being treble sensitive) – it's similar to RN6 with black. I'll need to re-check mids. Could you suggest a couple of tracks for me to test?

No need, it's more about your general impression. But your and Jeff's responses make me want to check it out once it hits Dutch soil. Tnx!

drftr

 

[Click]

Love this set up.