[toranku]

First Impressions: Ostry KC07

The Ostry is...unique. Before I looked up what it's configurations was, all I knew that it had 1 DD + 1 BA. Yet the bass and midrange had the "DD thickness", what's going on?

Turns out the DD is supposedly full range, with the BA also handling the mids and treble. Odd. Yet everything sounds decently coherent in my opinion.

The KC07's signature is slightly v to my ears. The DD bass has great slam (due to midbass tuning) but I find that it doesnt bleed into the mids much, compared to say Legend X. Highs are more on the splashy side of things but treble extension seems to be lacking. Smooth sounding highs. Tonality is slight warmth, perhaps the midbass balanced by the treble.

In terms of technicalities and staging it's average though. Stage can get a little congested at times. Overall, interesting IEM with surprising coherency. Feels nice to see a change in hybrid configurations.

 

[toranku]

My thoughts on: Sony IER-M9 & IER-M7

The Sony M9 is a 5 BA with decent extension on both ends. It's warm and fast with decent amount of slam. Imaging is rather sharp with enough depth and quite a fair bit of width.

It's smooth sounding and really has quite noticeable detail and separation going on in the background. Rhythm guitars are always well separated from the lead guitars. However I find that the IEM lacks crunch and bite for electric guitars, so it's a little laidback in that sense.

Personally I'd like the mids to be more bodied as well as to be brought slightly forward, but with the correct DAP pairing it should be fine. I somewhat like it, but it lacks the "wow factor". Tuning is quite safe though.

The Sony M7 is the younger brother with 1 less driver. It's warmer and darker compared to the M9, perhaps due to having less treble. And since it has less treble, imaging is hazy and the multi-BA can sound low-res. Meh, unless you love the specific tuning, it just sounds gimped next to the M9.

 

[toranku]

Revisited: Flipears Aim, Axis, Redeemer & AXL

Flipear has an interesting house sound that's easily identifiable, like Jerry Harvey IEMs. Their sound usually has these characteristics: thick tone, laidback treble and very large note size at the expense of precision in imaging. The mid-higher end flipears tend to be a bit hazy in imaging (see: sony ex800st). My favourite flipear has to be the AXIS, where it takes the house sound to a very far degree and is what I personally believe to be their "mascot iem".

Flipears AIM is their 4 driver custom. It spots one of the clearest tunings in the entire lineup due to the neutral-ish treble tuning (most flipears are dark/laidback). I'd categorise the sound to be neutral + bass boost. Honestly, it does sound quite generic since it loses a bit of the house sound to trade for technicalities.

Flipears AXIS is the warmest, thickest and most considerably bloated monitor in their lineup. But why do I like this so much? I think I like it a lot because it's Flipear's own take on what exaggerated coloration should be. Fitear has the 334 and Empire Ears has the Phantom. This is flipear's equivalent. With a lot of lower mids and midbass, it does remind me of the Phantom in terms of thickness. However due to the tuning, it is muddy and the imaging is hazy since the treble is dark. The treble and uppermids take the back seat. Not for the faint-hearted. People who enjoy a tuning tilted to the lower frequencies may enjoy this, but many will be turned away by the mud.

Flipears AXL is the current Flipears TOTL released in Japan. Previously, I criticised flipears for having hazy imaging, and the AXL is no exception. However, if I look at it from its strengths, perhaps one can live with the imaging since there's a lot of good things about the house sound. The AXL is warm with a laidback treble, but nowhere near the AXIS in terms of warmth. AXL is considerably more balanced with a downslope FR. Like a Flipear, notes are VERY large sized and I enjoy that. There's a ton of headspace and congestion doesn't seem to be an issue. The singer's voice can be at the middle with synths/instruments at the side - and everything is large in size without congesting the stage. The treble while laidback, still has the shine and shimmer adequate for cymbals. Perhaps the most technical flipear yet.

Flipears Redeemer is AXL but with less treble. Sound is quite similar with the Redeemer being thicker with worse imaging. Would rather top-up for AXL.

I enjoy flipear's house sound. Their tuning tends to be fatigue free with more bass and less treble. Perhaps it's the treble tuning holding it back - AIM and A-Z do not have the imaging issues.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Fender THIRTEEN 6

Warm with vocals forward in the mix. Muddy, attack is way too undefined and detail is often lost. Extremely intimate sound. Highs are dark and laidback even with spiral dot tips.

It's a marvel how Fender can manage to release this to the public. I sure hope it's the demo that is broken.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Faudio Harmony

I've written on Faudio's universal DD iems and their unique 1DD 1BA all full range no crossover Scale before. Was a little curious how their pure-BA iems sound.

The Harmony follows a slight v-shape to my ears. Perhaps a custom fit will bring it to be neutral + slight bass boost. The sound is a little lightweight sounding on my DPX1 and I felt that it needed more lower mids to fit closer to my preferences. At times the vocals felt "stuffy" (or perhaps a better word is veiled) too. Tonality leans on the clean side with slight warmth. In my opinion, generic sounding CIEM with average technicalities.

Perhaps the Symphony will fare better. We'll see.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Hidition Viento-R

The Hidition Viento-R has 2 different switches on their IEMs, one for bass and one for mids (the mids switch also add some warmth). The default tonality leans on balanced sounding, with slightly boosted bass. On the default tuning (no switches up), I do find the vocals a bit stuffy sounding, as if they are supressed, similar to my experience with the N8's vocals. Bass does have decent slam and the 4BA configuration has the speed of a DD. It was odd hearing a BA sounding so slow and controlled. The Viento overall also has a softer, not very impactful transient which makes it sound soft. I wouldn't say it's limp but definitely makes its notes more lightweight sounding.

With the mids switch turned up, the IEM gets warmer and more forward mids. The stuffiness in the vocals are reduced to a large extent, but it's still there. There's only so well BA bass can perform and for what it is, the viento has ok midbass but subbass is pretty meh. Treble is a little thin-sounding (with small notes!) with great amount of shimmer but is never splashy sounding. In terms of technicalities I think it's one of the better performing, perhaps losing to a technical IEM like the Sony IER-M9. The technicalities of the Viento are definitely above average, and I think a custom fit will elevate the sonic capabilities a little further.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Dita Project 71

Project 71 is an interesting release from Dita since the signature itself deviates from what Dita has done in the past. Dita tends to aim for a pretty intense V-shaped signature, with a bass that usually slams fast and hard. Most Ditas are quite intense to listen to, bar the Fealty. Outside of Dita's usual house signature, I resonate a lot with the company's outlook on their products. Their IEMs are always a single DD to eliminate coherence issues and their cable with interchangeable connects scream practicality.

That said, the Project 71 is a pretty neutral-ish take. The sound signature has a slightly elevated bass and increased midtreble then drops off moderately in terms of extension. The highs are never fatiguing and I suspect the IEM has a 12k-14k peak for air. Air and vocals synergize very well - the vocals are made bodied through warmth and air. Somewhat reminds me of Hidition's NT6 in terms of how it presents vocals. However, cymbals definitely can use more sparkle and more splashiness. Highs are never thin sounding - the entire iem's timbre is thick. Very impressive considering the tone is neutral-ish and then you hear much volume and thickness. Perhaps a change of DAPs would further elevate the sound - my DPX1 doesnt have much treble extension and note weight. The 71 does have texture too - it renders bass lines quite distinctly and brings out decent texture in vocals.

In terms of staging I think that's where the iem suffers. I feel it needed more distance/separation between instruments as well as stage width. Notes are fairly large and congestion can happen. Overall a pretty interesting sound - I'd like to know how this measures since the peak for air makes for a great sounding DD.

 

[Mimouille]

First Impressions: Dita Project 71

Project 71 is an interesting release from Dita since the signature itself deviates from what Dita has done in the past. Dita tends to aim for a pretty intense V-shaped signature, with a bass that usually slams fast and hard. Most Ditas are quite intense to listen to, bar the Fealty. Outside of Dita's usual house signature, I resonate a lot with the company's outlook on their products. Their IEMs are always a single DD to eliminate coherence issues and their cable with interchangeable connects scream practicality.

That said, the Project 71 is a pretty neutral-ish take. The sound signature has a slightly elevated bass and increased midtreble then drops off moderately in terms of extension. The highs are never fatiguing and I suspect the IEM has a 12k-14k peak for air. Air and vocals synergize very well - the vocals are made bodied through warmth and air. Somewhat reminds me of Hidition's NT6 in terms of how it presents vocals. However, cymbals definitely can use more sparkle and more splashiness. Highs are never thin sounding - the entire iem's timbre is thick. Very impressive considering the tone is neutral-ish and then you hear much volume and thickness. Perhaps a change of DAPs would further elevate the sound - my DPX1 doesnt have much treble extension and note weight. The 71 does have texture too - it renders bass lines quite distinctly and brings out decent texture in vocals.

In terms of staging I think that's where the iem suffers. I feel it needed more distance/separation between instruments as well as stage width. Notes are fairly large and congestion can happen. Overall a pretty interesting sound - I'd like to know how this measures since the peak for air makes for a great sounding DD.

I am wondering how this can compare to the NT6. Project 71 is clearly warm and thick sounding to me, while NT6 is bright and clear. Like some of the most opposite IEMs I have heard.

 

[toranku]

I am wondering how this can compare to the NT6. Project 71 is clearly warm and thick sounding to me, while NT6 is bright and clear. Like some of the most opposite IEMs I have heard.

The 71 does have more warmth than the NT6, but both being very airy is their similarity. It's not the "clarity" type of air (8k peak air) but the air and breath I hear with vocals and on instruments that play on higher frequencies.

In terms of clarity I'd say NT6 is clearer. 71 has some slight smudging going on. NT6 also loses the brighter treble when in custom form. NT6 also extends better in the treble compared to 71.

 

[Mimouille]

The 71 does have more warmth than the NT6, but both being very airy is their similarity. It's not the "clarity" type of air (8k peak air) but the air and breath I hear with vocals and on instruments that play on higher frequencies.

In terms of clarity I'd say NT6 is clearer. 71 has some slight smudging going on. NT6 also loses the brighter treble when in custom form. NT6 also extends better in the treble compared to 71.

Hum, OK, which in the overall feeling makes them sound...very different. Thanks.

 

[toranku]

Hum, OK, which in the overall feeling makes them sound...very different. Thanks.

Personally I find them tuned in the same concept and idea but the execution is different. Both are still somewhat basslight for my tastes and both have a great sense of air with a treble that's present.

 

[unknownguardian]

Sitting on the fence about the dita project 71

+ Great iem, value for money, excellent cable, pretty organic sounding
- Bass is pretty slow (making it sound plasticky and bass might sounds congested at times, hence interfere with the other frequencies)
- In addition, value of dita products also fall off significantly over some time (look at the price of truth cable, or even fidelity and fealty now in less than a year after release)

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Fiio FA7

Slight V-shape signature. Overall speed is not very BA-like. It's pretty darn warm. Midbass can use a little more slam, but perhaps it will get warmer and muddier if midbass is increased further. Mids feel very slightly sucked out (esp lower mids). Highs can be peaky at times but it's rather laidback despite being slightly forward, perhaps due to the lack of extension. Vocals don't feel thin. Attack seems quite blunted overall, not very good for rock. Guitars need more crunch and bite. Technicalities are rather average, perhaps with a larger stage.

Overall it's a warm and laidback listen despite the slight v-shape. I think the FA7's tone can be muddy for some. Even with its amount of warmth, I still feel it lacks slam and dynamics. For it's asking price...I feel it's meh unless you're specifically chasing a slight v-shape laidback iem.

 

[toranku]

Sitting on the fence about the dita project 71

+ Great iem, value for money, excellent cable, pretty organic sounding
- Bass is pretty slow (making it sound plasticky and bass might sounds congested at times, hence interfere with the other frequencies)
- In addition, value of dita products also fall off significantly over some time (look at the price of truth cable, or even fidelity and fealty now in less than a year after release)

Yeah, the 71 is a unique sounding IEM. Same sentiments with the bass and to an extent, the treble. The midrange of the 71 is where it captures its audience. Congestion can be a real issue with Ditas in general as their soundstage tends to be small and narrow.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Fiio FA1

Hollow sounding vocals. Signature leans towards being mid forward, with midbass even being behind. Treble lacks extension. Overall quite meh, since it lacks impact and is a little soft. Overall tonality leans slightly bright with a bit of warmth. Technicalities wise it's also pretty darn average. Rather listen to the NuForce HEM1.