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

[phiemon]

It's my sleeper hit of the year. It doesn't do anything at the absolute highest level but it doesn't do anything wrong, either, and that's rare. I especially like the dual woofers with very clear and precise upper-mids. This creates great depth and space, but again very natural, not ooh wow

That sounds good. At the end of the day, I don't expect an IEM to do everything right in every area. I just... have to like it, and that usually happens when I recognize "something special" about it. The Rn6 is actually rather (totl-)average in many respects or at least not stand out so much there, but it's because of the composition, the whole thing, that I like so much.

 

[aaf evo]

Yes, you were too quick: I also thought my question was nonsense and I had deleted it in the meantime .

I completely agree with you: I'm still so happy with the Rn6 (about 2000 USD in the Classified) that just yesterday I thought I could keep it as my only iem - and yet I own other more expensive TOTLs that are much better appreciated here in the community...

This is how I feel about my Craft Ears Omnium CIEMs… I love that they are trying to be something different and are imperfect in several ways. But it manifests into something that I really love listening to. I have used them almost every day for the past year and they never fail to be enjoyable and that’s from an iPhone dongle or now a FiiO BTR17. Obviously I love the top tier stuff as well but as long as the music sounds enjoyable it’s hard to be upset.

 

[tfenton02]

Oh, don't get me wrong: I think it's an exceptionally valid question in an audiophile forum. It's just that I don't feel at ease with the thought and prefer to stay closer to my own values so that I can still recognize myself when looking into a mirror.

drftr

yep, I learned this the hard way. In hindsight, my intentions were good—I wanted to improve on what I truly enjoy listening to. However, after cycling through so many expensive IEMs (especially the hyped ones), I realized that while some of them were great, they didn’t necessarily build upon what I like.

Now, I’ve set a rule: if I haven’t used an IEM in 3 months, it gets sold. I’ve come to see that I’m consistently reaching for just a few favorites, and that’s all I really need. RN6 being one of them. It comes back Wednesday from a refit, more excited about this than any purchase in the last few months

I’m applying the art of Japanese Gardening to my audiophile habits > selective reduction

 

[DaveStarWalker]

Purses have better resale....

I can testify : yes !

Thanks to my wife.

 

[tfenton02]

I can testify : yes !

Thanks to my wife.

Hahaha. Comment of the day!

 

[wolfstar76]

yep, I learned this the hard way. In hindsight, my intentions were good—I wanted to improve on what I truly enjoy listening to. However, after cycling through so many expensive IEMs (especially the hyped ones), I realized that while some of them were great, they didn’t necessarily build upon what I like.

Now, I’ve set a rule: if I haven’t used an IEM in 3 months, it gets sold. I’ve come to see that I’m consistently reaching for just a few favorites, and that’s all I really need. RN6 being one of them. It comes back Wednesday from a refit, more excited about this than any purchase in the last few months

I’m applying the art of Japanese Gardening to my audiophile habits > selective reduction

According to your standard, I have to sell all of my full size headphones, which I haven't used for at least the past 3 months. I also need to sell almost all of my IEMs, most of them I haven't used for much longer.

 

[tfenton02]

According to your standard, I have to sell all of my full size headphones, which I haven't used for at least the past 3 months. I also need to sell almost all of my IEMs, most of them I haven't used for much longer.

rules are always meant to be broken, LOL. (EDIT) and in truth I haven’t applied it yet. Im not sure I can even find all of the original packaging

 

[RTodd]

According to your standard, I have to sell all of my full size headphones, which I haven't used for at least the past 3 months. I also need to sell almost all of my IEMs, most of them I haven't used for much longer.

I admit it, I am a collector, I do not need to sell IEMs to know which one I want to listen to most often. They are so small that they take very little space, and I like having the journey documented. Maybe someday I will revisit a set like the U12T though I do not need to use it to keep it. In order for me to buy a set which is 1 or 2 a year, I have to demo it for around four hours after that if I want to listen more, the set has a great design somehow unique, and a great sound unlike what I already have then I may buy one. Knowing that it will stay gives me pause for adding. That does not stop me from hearing lots of sets it just limits the purchases.

 

[Valrhona]

It's my sleeper hit of the year. It doesn't do anything at the absolute highest level but it doesn't do anything wrong, either, and that's rare. I especially like the dual woofers with very clear and precise upper-mids. This creates great depth and space, but again very natural, not ooh wow

Are they as holographic as the Trifecta?

 

[tjzurlaaa]

Anni 21 is really something special with the gold brick + gsx mini Anni loves a lil extra juice

 

[fejnomit]

Are they as holographic as the Trifecta?

Not quite, really close - but the image is more carved with Aurora. Trifectas at the desk. Auroras on the road.

 

[JohnSmithHermawan]

Me.

I see zero fun in throwing money at things that are slightly better than something else for double the price. Everything can always be improved by just a little bit, but for me that doesn't mean I'd pay double. I'd pay 15-20% more for sure.

I'm much more in awe of brands that create something really really good for 60% of what the market is currently paying for that kind of quality. To me that is really doing something for the market, the community, and their own credibility. Creating something that is slightly better for double the money for a handful of people is just fine, but I shrug my shoulders at it.

But that makes a market.

drftr

Aur audio from Singapore is that brand imo,

 

[emdeevee]

Cross-posting from Eletech thread!

While I wait for my new case (hurry up!), I wanted to give a little shout out to Ambition! While I bought it for my Macbeth, I recently tested it out on two other TOTL Sonion BCD-based sets, the Penon Rival and AME Mousa (tour unit in my possession). All 3 sets have the BCDs in common, the Rival has DDs for bass, the other 2 have BAs, Rival and Macbeth have 4 ESTs, while Mousa does it all with BAs, and driver counts are similar across the 3.

And, drumroll, the Ambition is a huge upgrade for both other sets, too! As with Macbeth, the results are quite similar with both getting "more everything" than their stock cables provide, though both have great stock cables. Ambition moves the sound further out of the head, widens, deepens stage, and makes the holographic nature of all 3 hit steroid levels.

I wonder if it does the same for CP622B? Seems likely, along with most others using the Sonion.

 

[bulkkot]

Review up for the FIIO DM13 - a fantastic CD player for those of you who still play in that arena!

HERE

The version with the window on the top is pretty cute. Very curious on what the market demand for these portable cd players are. So many new ones entering the market at a low price but personally have never wanted one to take around. Looking to get a cheapish player from a Chinese brand but worried the "transportable" aspect means something else was given up for it.

 

[emdeevee]

And Cross-posting from the Penon thread!

I know it's old news now, being at least a couple months old , but I reengaged my damper changing prowess on the Rival today. Inspired by the warmth of the AME Mousa that I'm demoing, I wanted to see if I could move Rival away from Novus/Macbeth style neutrality towards the Mousa's warm sound.

Figuring out would be best to go to the extreme, I changed the mids damper from green (already warmed from stock) to yellow according to this chart.

So now I have Grey in the uppers slot and Yellow in the mids. Bass remains at the 10 O'clock position. What happened? Well, it did exactly what it's advertised to do, and took the signature to the warm side while retaining the crispy open treble and slamming bass. Which is reminiscent of the Mousa! Truly awesome and incredible!

I should make it clear that I think the Rival tuning remains essentially there, I feel the dampers do warm or brighten the same tuning rather than change it fundamentally. But it does make a huge difference going to the extremes with the dampers like this. Might be a tad too warm now, but I can easily adjust that when I want. For now, it sounds like a different Rival that I'll get accustomed to.

Yellow damper in the mids slot.

Edit: already switched to the orange damper instead slightly reducing the warmth and think I've dialed in the Mousa sound now. Crazy!!!