Sony makes good stuff.
@toranku also agree with your assessment of the FH7. Good detail and separation but a bit dry and something lacking in tonality. A warmer DAP helps it somewhat. Still a good IEM though.
Toranku's Thoughts and Reviews (and target EQ filters!)
- Thread starter toranku
- Start date
Sony makes good stuff.
@toranku also agree with your assessment of the FH7. Good detail and separation but a bit dry and something lacking in tonality. A warmer DAP helps it somewhat. Still a good IEM though.
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Posts
- 5,442
- Likes
- 3,085
M9 is missing that authoritative DD bass though.... 
I wish the Z1R and M9 could have a lovechild, that would be my perfect IEM. Considering selling both the Z1R and M9 to start that search!
I wish the Z1R and M9 could have a lovechild, that would be my perfect IEM. Considering selling both the Z1R and M9 to start that search!
Last edited:
First Impressions: Moondrop Kanas Pro
Smooth, easily palatable signature. I do think the overall signature is inoffensive whilst remaining generally clear. Has a slight uppermidrange boost with a bass boost to ccompensate. As such the overall sound is a bit thick and bodied. Treble is a tad dark for me with just enough cymbal presence. However the Kanas Pro is a tad bloated with its bass response, with its bass being a little flabby. Driver sounds slow. If not technicalities are decent enough, sporting nice separation between instruments.
In comparison to KXXS (which I tried months ago; basing off my memory), the KPE sounds better. KXXS has a bit too much warmth in the mix. KPE already has slight smearing issues with its transients which KXXS further aggravates. Compared to ER2, I think ER2's drivers are still faster and better. KPE seems to strike a nicer balance in the signature with a more forward and engaging sound though. Compared to FD01 modded, FD01 still has better detail, speed and less smearing with its transients.
Smooth, easily palatable signature. I do think the overall signature is inoffensive whilst remaining generally clear. Has a slight uppermidrange boost with a bass boost to ccompensate. As such the overall sound is a bit thick and bodied. Treble is a tad dark for me with just enough cymbal presence. However the Kanas Pro is a tad bloated with its bass response, with its bass being a little flabby. Driver sounds slow. If not technicalities are decent enough, sporting nice separation between instruments.
In comparison to KXXS (which I tried months ago; basing off my memory), the KPE sounds better. KXXS has a bit too much warmth in the mix. KPE already has slight smearing issues with its transients which KXXS further aggravates. Compared to ER2, I think ER2's drivers are still faster and better. KPE seems to strike a nicer balance in the signature with a more forward and engaging sound though. Compared to FD01 modded, FD01 still has better detail, speed and less smearing with its transients.
TooPoorForHiFi
Previously known as MidNighTempest
WELCOME BACK!
When you get a chance Could you give the new Fearless Audio Electrostatic Paladin Series a Listen / an Impression, The Roland specifically
- La Hire = Dual Electrostatic Driver + Dual Balanced Armature
- Roland = Dual Electrostatic Driver + Dual Balanced Armature+ 1 Dynamic Driver
- Lancelot = Dual Electrostatic Driver + 6 Balanced Armature
Will do when they hit local stores. Curious how Fearless will tune with the electret tweeters in mind. Current implementation of the electret drivers are quite disappointing especially when manufacturers opt for a single unit of the sonion electret which doesn't push enough SPL relative to the other drivers.
Hopefully fearless will have it figured to maximise the potential of the electrets.
Kinda, when I have time on my days off I visit some audio stores as well as meet up with my audio circle
Nabillion_786
500+ Head-Fier
Between kpe and fd01 which one has the best vocals and soundstage?
One thing that KPE impressed me is the sub-bass and how deep it achieves effortless, but mid-bass sometimes can be a bit lean/slow for my taste. Would you say ER2XR can achieve the same sub-bass level as KPE but with more punch?
Tone and timbre wise I'd say KPE is more realistic. FD01's strength lies more in its technicalities and soundstage depth.
Yes, and in noiser environments you're going to get more subbass with the Etys due to far superior isolation.
surfgeorge
Member of the Trade: 3D Printed Accessory Designer
It's interesting that you find the timbre and tone of the KPE more realistic!
There were 2 reasons for me to look for an upgrade to the KPE, one was a lack of attack, speed and slam in the mid bass and to a certain extent also in the treble, and the other was that I found it sounded unrealistic at times.
https://tidal.com/browse/track/77607310 shows both of it.
For realism, the violins starting at 1:40 in this track sounded distorted with the KPE, much less so with the FD02.
I now mostly use the AK T8iE MKII, which is fast, detailed, highly resolving, etc. and shows none of the smearing and distortion that the KPE and to a certain extent also the FD02 show with this track. This makes me think that the drivers of both the FD02 and the KPE are just not fast enough, however I feel the FD02 is faster than the KPE.
Does that make any sense to you?
I think 2SE would be "safer". Has a seriously tight and satisfying midbass (though not enough in quantity for me). Let me know what you think should you order them. My personal audio circle has been quite thrilled with the ER2XR. Its a bassy ety (bass is neutral for me, lol, but would be already boosted for many).
Finally, reviewed the ER2SE here. Incredible timbre and tone. Love it.
First Impressions: Empire Ears Valkyrie
The Valkyrie is Empire's first tribrid utilizing 1DD, 1BA and 1 Sonion Electret. It's bassy. I dub it the "Reverse Khan": where Khan has a rather polite bass response and laser sharp treble, the Valk has a big bass and a present but smooth treble. I do think the Khan and Valk share a similar midrange. Let's start with the bass. The bass of the Valk is huge - it will be what you will hear at the front of the stage and is the main body. While the midbass is boosted to quite a great extent, the Valk's DD impresses by offering equally big subbass rumble that can be very much felt. The DD offers fantastic definition and control despite the boosted midbass tuning. The resolution of the DD woofer is outstanding as it should be, since it steals the show.
As mentioned the midrange of the Valk shared similarities with the Khan. I do feel that the Valk is a tad nasal since the uppermids are a tad bit subdued. Vocals, especially females, can be found back at the mix. Guitars may not carry enough bite but I think the midrange definition is still passable. Now comes the most anticipated part - the sonion "estats". These estats are extremely hyped due to the nature of ultra fast, low distortion qualities of estats. But what people have to understand here is that the sonion estats are fundementally not estats and do not sound like one. The sonion estats typically have a smooth rolloff past 8k and are not fast. In fact I found these "estats" to have a characteristically slower, "hazy" decay. I'm not quite sure how to put it's timbre to words. Anyway, the implementation of the sonion tweeter in the Valkyrie surprised me. I expected the SPL to be lower but it was actually quite neutral-ish (with slight rolloff). The lower treble appeared when it was needed, and the tone of the tweeter was largely inoffensive. Extension was ok too.
Overall, decent iem with a great bass response. Personally not a fan of its mids but I can see bassheads buying these.
The Valkyrie is Empire's first tribrid utilizing 1DD, 1BA and 1 Sonion Electret. It's bassy. I dub it the "Reverse Khan": where Khan has a rather polite bass response and laser sharp treble, the Valk has a big bass and a present but smooth treble. I do think the Khan and Valk share a similar midrange. Let's start with the bass. The bass of the Valk is huge - it will be what you will hear at the front of the stage and is the main body. While the midbass is boosted to quite a great extent, the Valk's DD impresses by offering equally big subbass rumble that can be very much felt. The DD offers fantastic definition and control despite the boosted midbass tuning. The resolution of the DD woofer is outstanding as it should be, since it steals the show.
As mentioned the midrange of the Valk shared similarities with the Khan. I do feel that the Valk is a tad nasal since the uppermids are a tad bit subdued. Vocals, especially females, can be found back at the mix. Guitars may not carry enough bite but I think the midrange definition is still passable. Now comes the most anticipated part - the sonion "estats". These estats are extremely hyped due to the nature of ultra fast, low distortion qualities of estats. But what people have to understand here is that the sonion estats are fundementally not estats and do not sound like one. The sonion estats typically have a smooth rolloff past 8k and are not fast. In fact I found these "estats" to have a characteristically slower, "hazy" decay. I'm not quite sure how to put it's timbre to words. Anyway, the implementation of the sonion tweeter in the Valkyrie surprised me. I expected the SPL to be lower but it was actually quite neutral-ish (with slight rolloff). The lower treble appeared when it was needed, and the tone of the tweeter was largely inoffensive. Extension was ok too.
Overall, decent iem with a great bass response. Personally not a fan of its mids but I can see bassheads buying these.
Last edited:
First Impressions: Empire Ears Wraith
The Wraith is supposed to be the Zeus successor. Their bass and mids response sounds like the Phantom X to me. The bass is bloated with a slight roll off at the lowest end (meaning it doesnt extend properly) with its lower mids being too overwhelming in contrast to the uppermids. The uppermids sound nasal with a suppressed tone. Much more so than the Valk. Female vocals sound overly suppressed and too butchy. Male vocals sound too thick and the timbre is...odd. The bass and mids are hollow sounding. It's like singers have a hot potato in their mouth and are forced to sing. There's a hole in the body of the transient. Bass is big yet hollow and sounds artificial. Treble response is barely there. It's dark. Nothing special for being 4 sonion "estats".
Overall, in my honest opinion I think these are terribly tuned. The Valk offered a fantastic, impactful and snappy bass response and you then have these. The bass alone is a big letdown.
The Wraith is supposed to be the Zeus successor. Their bass and mids response sounds like the Phantom X to me. The bass is bloated with a slight roll off at the lowest end (meaning it doesnt extend properly) with its lower mids being too overwhelming in contrast to the uppermids. The uppermids sound nasal with a suppressed tone. Much more so than the Valk. Female vocals sound overly suppressed and too butchy. Male vocals sound too thick and the timbre is...odd. The bass and mids are hollow sounding. It's like singers have a hot potato in their mouth and are forced to sing. There's a hole in the body of the transient. Bass is big yet hollow and sounds artificial. Treble response is barely there. It's dark. Nothing special for being 4 sonion "estats".
Overall, in my honest opinion I think these are terribly tuned. The Valk offered a fantastic, impactful and snappy bass response and you then have these. The bass alone is a big letdown.
Last edited:
Will be doing a write up on the retuned FiR iems soon as well as head out to try Wayava tomorrow. The FiRs (I think) are finalized in their shells and tuning. Haven't heard the latest M4 though.
chungjun
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2016
- Posts
- 634
- Likes
- 461
Would be interested to read your views, in particular FiR's M5! Cheers!
Users who are viewing this thread
