Toranku's Thoughts and Reviews (and target EQ filters!)

[papa_mia]

First Impressions: Metal Magic Research (MMR; Thummim, Homunculus, Gae Bolg, Balmung)

MMR had their launch event to the public yesterday which I managed to find time to attend. Seems like a diffuse brand from Jomo Audio. I'll just get straight to their sound.

Gae Bolg (5BA)
Best of their entire lineup. Uppermids vaguely sounded like a telephone but I think its overall barely passable, and its pushing it. Does have smeared midrange transients but at least the bass is not bloated.

Balmung (11BA)
Upperbass bloated with a muffled midrange. Everything is just behind it's bass. Female vocals also managed to sound nasal. Highs are present but done in a peaky manner.

Homunculus (1DD, 1BA, 2EST)
This is literal garbage. At first I thought it was out of phase so I changed up the wires just to make sure it wasn't the cable. With tracks that have leading vocals and backing guitars, this amazing IEM changes it around to have leading guitars and backing vocals instead. It sounds underwater and feels like the sound is inverted. Some part of its midrange is extremely sucked out. I know some people will tell me that it might be broken, but no, both demo units sounded like that.

Thummim (1DD, 4BA, 4EST)
Underwater sounding with bloated bass and nasal vocal range. Only passable aspect here is with its highs. Cymbals do show extension and shimmer which was nice. However everything was behind the bloated bass response. I don't know what they were aiming for here.

I don't want to comment further because this brand makes me sick in the stomach.

 

[crinacle]

First Impressions: Metal Magic Research (MMR; Thummim, Homunculus, Gae Bolg, Balmung)

MMR had their launch event to the public yesterday which I managed to find time to attend. Seems like a diffuse brand from Jomo Audio. I'll just get straight to their sound.

Gae Bolg (5BA)
Best of their entire lineup. Uppermids vaguely sounded like a telephone but I think its overall barely passable, and its pushing it. Does have smeared midrange transients but at least the bass is not bloated.

Balmung (11BA)
Upperbass bloated with a muffled midrange. Everything is just behind it's bass. Female vocals also managed to sound nasal. Highs are present but done in a peaky manner.

Homunculus (1DD, 1BA, 2EST)
This is literal garbage. At first I thought it was out of phase so I changed up the wires just to make sure it wasn't the cable. With tracks that have leading vocals and backing guitars, this amazing IEM changes it around to have leading guitars and backing vocals instead. It sounds underwater and feels like the sound is inverted. Some part of its midrange is extremely sucked out. I know some people will tell me that it might be broken, but no, both demo units sounded like that.

Thummim (1DD, 4BA, 4EST)
Underwater sounding with bloated bass and nasal vocal range. Only passable aspect here is with its highs. Cymbals do show extension and shimmer which was nice. However everything was behind the bloated bass response. I don't know what they were aiming for here.

I don't want to comment further because this brand makes me sick in the stomach.

joseph no

 

[Feischmaker]

First Impressions: Metal Magic Research (MMR; Thummim, Homunculus, Gae Bolg, Balmung)

MMR had their launch event to the public yesterday which I managed to find time to attend. Seems like a diffuse brand from Jomo Audio. I'll just get straight to their sound.

Gae Bolg (5BA)
Best of their entire lineup. Uppermids vaguely sounded like a telephone but I think its overall barely passable, and its pushing it. Does have smeared midrange transients but at least the bass is not bloated.

Balmung (11BA)
Upperbass bloated with a muffled midrange. Everything is just behind it's bass. Female vocals also managed to sound nasal. Highs are present but done in a peaky manner.

Homunculus (1DD, 1BA, 2EST)
This is literal garbage. At first I thought it was out of phase so I changed up the wires just to make sure it wasn't the cable. With tracks that have leading vocals and backing guitars, this amazing IEM changes it around to have leading guitars and backing vocals instead. It sounds underwater and feels like the sound is inverted. Some part of its midrange is extremely sucked out. I know some people will tell me that it might be broken, but no, both demo units sounded like that.

Thummim (1DD, 4BA, 4EST)
Underwater sounding with bloated bass and nasal vocal range. Only passable aspect here is with its highs. Cymbals do show extension and shimmer which was nice. However everything was behind the bloated bass response. I don't know what they were aiming for here.

I don't want to comment further because this brand makes me sick in the stomach.

Haven't tried the balmung and thummim, but our impressions for the other two seems to be similar

Gaebolg is the better of the two, however not my cup of tea because of (1) its overly warm presentation (2) very narrow soundstage (the depth is alright tho)

Homonculus... I have never been so confused listening to IEM, wondering how to describe what i just heard, it is wonky

At some point i thought my gear was unable to drive it properly, but DTR1 + Vorzuge underpowered? Really?

 

[Fargeg]

Homunculus (1DD, 1BA, 2EST)
This is literal garbage. At first I thought it was out of phase so I changed up the wires just to make sure it wasn't the cable. With tracks that have leading vocals and backing guitars, this amazing IEM changes it around to have leading guitars and backing vocals instead. It sounds underwater and feels like the sound is inverted. Some part of its midrange is extremely sucked out. I know some people will tell me that it might be broken, but no, both demo units sounded like that.

$1,699 MSRP

 

[dhruvmeena96]

First Impressions: Metal Magic Research (MMR; Thummim, Homunculus, Gae Bolg, Balmung)

MMR had their launch event to the public yesterday which I managed to find time to attend. Seems like a diffuse brand from Jomo Audio. I'll just get straight to their sound.

Gae Bolg (5BA)
Best of their entire lineup. Uppermids vaguely sounded like a telephone but I think its overall barely passable, and its pushing it. Does have smeared midrange transients but at least the bass is not bloated.

Balmung (11BA)
Upperbass bloated with a muffled midrange. Everything is just behind it's bass. Female vocals also managed to sound nasal. Highs are present but done in a peaky manner.

Homunculus (1DD, 1BA, 2EST)
This is literal garbage. At first I thought it was out of phase so I changed up the wires just to make sure it wasn't the cable. With tracks that have leading vocals and backing guitars, this amazing IEM changes it around to have leading guitars and backing vocals instead. It sounds underwater and feels like the sound is inverted. Some part of its midrange is extremely sucked out. I know some people will tell me that it might be broken, but no, both demo units sounded like that.

Thummim (1DD, 4BA, 4EST)
Underwater sounding with bloated bass and nasal vocal range. Only passable aspect here is with its highs. Cymbals do show extension and shimmer which was nice. However everything was behind the bloated bass response. I don't know what they were aiming for here.

I don't want to comment further because this brand makes me sick in the stomach.

Cable won't help phase....

LoL

Nice review

 

[toranku]

Review: Craft Ears Craft FOUR​

Been a while since I reviewed something! Here's my thoughts on what this new Polish brand has put out.

This isn't the end however; there will be more to to come

 

[OverlordRush]

cant wait for their new Craft ears Corn 5

 

[dhruvmeena96]

cant wait for their new Craft ears Corn 5

Craftears X Toranku Ultimate series LE v1

LE stands for limited edition

Hahahahahhaha

@toranku

I think the above name has a nice ring to it.

 

[MrThorium]

I have the Viento B and was just wondering what your thoughts are on it versus the VX. I heard the VX and I didn't like it for my music, which is mainly female kpop and jpop. The Viento seemed to have better timbre. The VX bass was overpowering and bloated compared to it

 

[toranku]

Craftears X Toranku Ultimate series LE v1

LE stands for limited edition

Hahahahahhaha

@toranku

I think the above name has a nice ring to it.

Does seem a bit narcissistic to slap my own name on a label

 

[dhruvmeena96]

Does seem a bit narcissistic to slap my own name on a label

Nope
Not at all

Just increase some dB in bass in tork curve

And you ain't narcissist anymore

Hahahaha

 

[papa_mia]

Does seem a bit narcissistic to slap my own name on a label

Not if it was Tork though.
"Have you heard the Tork?"
"Man I'm gon order the Tork."
"Tork for sale, $999 shipped."

 

[toranku]

Nope
Not at all

Just increase some dB in bass in tork curve

And you ain't narcissist anymore

Hahahaha

I was actually thinking to adjust the curve a bit. +1dB to bass as well as 3-4k peak

Not if it was Tork though.
"Have you heard the Tork?"
"Man I'm gon order the Tork."
"Tork for sale, $999 shipped."

On this note I've actually had people PM me about "my" utopia review. Tork gets messed up with Torq...

 

[buonassi]

Tork gets messed up with Torq...

Knew this would be an issue the first time I saw tork mentioned.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: PEARS SH2

So my local dealer just picked up pears as a brand. Finally got to hear the SH2 after 2 years.

The SH2 is a slightly midbass boosted and uppermid dipped earphone. Has a laid-back, intimate presentation. The sound really does feel very close. It sounds "lazy" where its dynamics aren't up to par. Transients are a bit smeared as well. Bass can be a bit boxy sounding due to the wide band midbass/lowmid boost. Due to the aforementioned slight lack of uppermids (1-4khz) the sound can be a bit hazy.

However what I think does work here is the overall coherence and pleasantness of the tuning. Despite it having too much lower mids over its uppermids, it somehow still manages good vocals that are thick and slightly warm. Vocals are really the star of the show here and I do enjoy the vocal tuning, surprisingly.

With the lack of pinna gain, the treble suffers. The lower treble lacks impact and crash which renders cymbals laid back and doesn't capture the energy well. Cymbals do not shine and are not billiant. In some sense they do feel like they lack focus and precision. Upper treble however manages good extension but since the low treble is dipped, it sounds uneven anyway.

Overall just passable. For something similar I prefer 4ss. 4ss has a more energetic and dynamic presentation. 4ss is however also warmer and sharper with the treble response.