Since you had the chance to try both Annihilator and Fei wan could you please spend some comparison words?Dubjam 2024
First of all thanks to @Scubadevils and @armstrj2 for arranging the second EU Watercooler meet in Dublin, it was an excellent experience. While we are getting together because of our passion for audio and to share and try gear, it is as much about meeting the friends we have talked with over the web. Meeting like-minded people is something special I advise more to join in on, I also vote for central Europe next time like Paris.
Will share notes about the stuff I tried at the meet, only smartphone photos this timeWill be short impressions, and as some know trying 20 sets in a day is a tough thing to do. Could have a different experience with some sets at home, having more time to get to know them or find flaws coming over longer sessions.
Empire Ears Triton
Warm and smooth, resolving without being harsh. Maybe a little dark, but tasty bass that's vibrant and fun. Loved the faceplate.
Noble Audio Onyx
Special soundstage, goes more behind and has more spatial cues than the average set. Bass is solid and deep, the sound is a little dark but I really love it. Thick and engaging sound, one of my favourites from the meet. This sits almost like CIEM to me, definitely a set I want to get or try again.
FiR RN6
Solid sound overall, rich. Kinetic bass is good quality, both in slam and rumble. I compared it a little against Origin, Origin is a little similar with a little better balance in the mids and highs. RN6 had maybe a little stronger punch to it. RN6 had cleaner transients. The Midrange lacks some soul for me on RN6, I would probably prefer the XE6. Small shells and ergonomic.
iBasso DC Elite
This is a super clean dongle and is very resolving, but also brighter than my preference(more than my travel DAP dx180). Not a fan of the volume wheel, because of how the steps are but also since I find it hard to turn.
CFA Solaris
Sort of neutral tonality and the top end is sizzling, lacking some fun on the low end. Not vented enough, so comfort is not the best.
Noble Audio Khublai Khan
Notice I love Noble sound, warm but balanced and also very spacious. A better Mest MKIII?
Need more power than your average IEM, really enjoyed this one. Had better sub bass than midbass, but still did a decent job on stuff like kick drums.
CFA Astrolith
The best planar I have heard. Lightning fast sound while also being warm with visceral punch, transients are super clean. The bass is awesome for planar, maybe faster than my preference in decay. Metal master and fast BPM electronica. Quite hot up top, but still within my tolerance using DX180. WM1AM2 is probably perfect with Astrolith.
Elysian Annihilator
What can be said that's not said before, an energetic and very dynamic sound. Excellent bass and clean midrange with good sparkle and splashiness up top. Stage has very good width, among the more technical sets while still being fun. Had high expectations, and felt they were fulfilled.
Subtonic STORM
Balanced sound, excellent instrument separation and soundstage to me is very spacious. Bass is among the best from BA, personally not a BA fan due to low end same goes here as its sort of softer on the bounce. I was a little let down, had too many expectations perhaps.
CFA Trifecta
Sound is warm and thick, not balanced and almost like a veil on some parts. Sound is very spacious and large, not the most technical.
More a specialized set, some music works and others not. Personally I much prefer the Bonneville from CFA, could be I would have liked it more with my Sony.
Aroma Audio Fei Wan
Maybe my faovorite today, I really loved the tuning. Both technical and fun, not too bright but also not lacking. Just very balanced in a good way, maybe my faovorite part being the midrange. And I love the design, I know it's not for everyone but for me
Noble Audio Chronicle
Lovely midrange, warm but balanced overall. Some spice up top to make it interesting without being way too intense, if anything lacks a little upper air. Sounded better by FC6 than DX180, R2R make it a little more pleasant. Awesome shell design.
Noble Audio Sultan
Maybe one of the more intense Noble sets, mids and treble has some extra sizzle on cymbals. My least favorite of the Noble I tried today, but also a very good set being quite technical and built like a tank.
TSMR Shock
This is a fun set, with a good thick sound. Bass is a little soft on the bounce, but still impactful. Mids are forgiving and full, not shouty at all. Treble is a little dark, if turned to max on the dial it gets a little harsh without improving it. So for me 2.5 on treble is best with 2-3 on bass. I would be a little annoyed over the tunable switches as it's an element I don't want in IEMs. Prefer tuning to be what it is without having switches, and this is like switches on steroids.
Nostalgia Audio Camelot
Balanced warm sound, very easy to like without anything striking me as offensive.
Dense rich bass, slightly on the slow side. Midrange is also full and thick, which makes everything sound more full sounding. Maybe not the most open and clear sound, more into musicality than analytical.
Ngaudio Erebus
Such resolving and clean sound, one of the better sets I've tried today. Maybe a little too splashy up top for my liking, but it depends on music and source. The bass is very impactful without being overdone, maybe lacking some sub bass rumble.
UM Maven II
Reminds me a lot of MEST MK3, maybe a little less spacious. But the tonality is fuller and a little more musical, love the titanium shell. I prefer this one to MEST MKIII CF, understand the praise.
Kinera Loki
Clean and warm sound, deep and textured bass.
Midrange is full but not as shouty as Verdandi is, treble is also airy and well extended. Also one of the better sets today.
FIIO FA19
Very clean and resolving, maybe a little too splashy up top. Bass is also a little on the soft side lacking impact, still one of the better BA bass IEMs. Overall good, but not something I would personally buy.
Custom Art Fibae7?
Bassy set. Sound is easy to like, shells are also very small and comfortable.
PMG Audio Apx SE
Full and open sound, much nuance. Perhaps the best bass I've heard, midrange was also very clean. Airy and lots of detail up top, love the sparkle.
Was paired with an awesome cable costing even more than the IEM.
Could see it as a little fatiguing over time, but was also one of the last sets I've heard today.
DCA E3
Very long time since I used closed back full size headphones. Awesome fit, with nice padding for good comfort. Sounded way better than closed back planars I've used in the past, not the most technical planar but had a more fun tuning than Hifiman or older DCA models I have tried.
There been many beers and nice food like Irish breakfast, burgers, cake and even Asian. Lucky with the weather on Saturday, had some walks around Dublin as I stayed some away from our meetup.
Almost forgot to have the mandatory Guinness, excuse for breakfast at airport before leaving
Now some coffee while I get back to Norway after an awesome weekend, Letshuoer Cadenza 12 on the flight while writing this, lovely sound and really good isolation.
Thanks guys, I look forward to next time
Annihilator is my favourite iem
