[toranku]

@toranku Do you know any IEM thats has the level of Technicalities, similiar/better sounding to the M9 with a Dynamic Driver in it? I'm gonna assume the Z1R is one of them? Any other?

Z1R has sharper attack but I don't think it images as well as M9. M9's spatial cues always take me aback.

 

[cn11]

Totally agree with you on the imaging capabilities with the M9 & Z1R....

 

[toranku]

Totally agree with you on the imaging capabilities with the M9 & Z1R....

It's probably time for me to buy a m9 myself..

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Campfire Andromeda Gold

Source used: DTR1

V-shaped, less hazy than OG andro. A more natural tone, better dynamics, bigger bass with a much much more forward, aggressive treble response. Notes are well textured and high resolution, but lower mids sound considerably recessed. There's a vocal bump in there (1.5-2k) as well which makes the tone of the mids a bit odd to listen to. Bass does bleed into the mids but for me it's a non-issue. Vocals are always slightly behind. Treble is quite an intense listen for myself. In tracks with lots of cymbals, they sound really forward along with the bass. If you already find Andro green treble to be intense, skip these. Compared to Andro green, there is less lower mids and more upper mids. Doesnt exactly have the same "sparkly" treble as green andro (as people like to describe) but what it has is more laser sharp, forward treble response.

Separation and layering is very good but spatial cues are not as good as the original Andros. I do think the original andros are more spacious sounding. The original andros sound much more laidback. Tone is a bit off putting due to the lower mid recession coupled with a small vocal boost. Tone isn't so off to the point of say, Campfire Io. If not, the quality of the notes are high resolution with good texture.

 

[antdroid]

First Impressions: Campfire Andromeda Gold

Source used: DTR1

V-shaped, less hazy than OG andro. A more natural tone, better dynamics, bigger bass with a much much more forward, aggressive treble response. Notes are well textured and high resolution, but lower mids sound considerably recessed. There's a vocal bump in there (1.5-2k) as well which makes the tone of the mids a bit odd to listen to. Bass does bleed into the mids but for me it's a non-issue. Vocals are always slightly behind. Treble is quite an intense listen for myself. In tracks with lots of cymbals, they sound really forward along with the bass. If you already find Andro green treble to be intense, skip these. Compared to Andro green, there is less lower mids and more upper mids. Doesnt exactly have the same "sparkly" treble as green andro (as people like to describe) but what it has is more laser sharp, forward treble response.

Separation and layering is very good but spatial cues are not as good as the original Andros. I do think the original andros are more spacious sounding. The original andros sound much more laidback. Tone is a bit off putting due to the lower mid recession coupled with a small vocal boost. Tone isn't so off to the point of say, Campfire Io. If not, the quality of the notes are high resolution with good texture.

Thank you Mr Toranku for this utmost quality and insightful content. I got the opportunity to also listen to Andromeda Gold today at a local meetup, and you're impressions match mine almost to the tee, of both original and SE Gold edition.

Thank you for this and the continuing additions to this amazing and helpful thread. You are one of my favorite impressionists on here. I hope you do full reviews in the future.

 

[PhoenixClaw]

The best thread on Head-fi is back!

 

[toranku]

Thank you Mr Toranku for this utmost quality and insightful content. I got the opportunity to also listen to Andromeda Gold today at a local meetup, and you're impressions match mine almost to the tee, of both original and SE Gold edition.

Thank you for this and the continuing additions to this amazing and helpful thread. You are one of my favorite impressionists on here. I hope you do full reviews in the future.

Thank u I love you too

Can only do reviews when I own them or have the gear lent

 

[Raketen]

First Impressions: Campfire Andromeda Gold

V-shaped, less hazy than OG andro. A more natural tone, better dynamics, bigger bass with a much much more forward, aggressive treble response. Notes are well textured and high resolution, but lower mids sound considerably recessed. There's a vocal bump in there (1.5-2k) as well which makes the tone of the mids a bit odd to listen to. Bass does bleed into the mids but for me it's a non-issue. Vocals are always slightly behind. Treble is quite an intense listen for myself. In tracks with lots of cymbals, they sound really forward along with the bass. If you already find Andro green treble to be intense, skip these. Compared to Andro green, there is less lower mids and more upper mids. Doesnt exactly have the same "sparkly" treble as green andro (as people like to describe) but what it has is more laser sharp, forward treble response.

Separation and layering is very good but spatial cues are not as good as the original Andros. The original andros sound much more laidback. Tone is a bit off putting due to the lower mid recession coupled with a small vocal boost. Tone isn't so off to the point of say, Campfire Io. If not, the quality of the notes are high resolution with good texture.

Andro + Upper Mids sounds like a good idea, but from this report I wonder if it wouldn't be preferable to stick with the classic OG Andro + IEMatch/Walkman, season w/ EQ to taste (or Andro SS?).

 

[antdroid]

Andro + Upper Mids sounds like a good idea, but from this report I wonder if it wouldn't be preferable to stick with the classic OG Andro + IEMatch/Walkman, season w/ EQ to taste (or Andro SS?).

One thing to note is the Andro Gold didnt seem to exhibit hiss from about 8 people who tried them today at our meetup which was surprising. I tried it only on my low impedance source though so cant say if changing sources would make it change sound.

 

[TooPoorForHiFi]

-Requests-

oBravo Cupid
Fearless Roland

-Revisit-

HS1655CU
HS1695Ti

 

[toranku]

-Requests-

oBravo Cupid
Hidition Viento-R
Fearless Roland

-Revisit-

HS1655CU
HS1695Ti

My thoughts on the Viento are still largely relevant about how I feel about it today. Tone is a bit off for me personally. But I think it works for a few of my friends. I think it's a victim of BA timbre which also contributes to why I don't like it as much. After a while I think the amount of bass is palatable but the quality of bass is just ok. Too BA-ish for my liking.

Don't think we have a obravo dealer here. Quite curious although obravo is typically bad. Also still waiting on the dealer to get the fearless paladins

I've been trying out the 1655 and 1695. So far I think 1695 is very dynamic and fun. But can get a bit too bright.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Oriolus Percivali

Wow, has a horrible radio-like tonality. Bass tone is totally off and just sounds bad. One note bass but it does extend well into subbass. Lean signature with too little low mids. Sounds grainy as well..like a Grado. On par with the Mellianus for having a terrible tone. I don't think there's much to say here - the tone is so odd that I don't want to listen to this any longer.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Vision Ears Erlkonig

Sounds like a nice reference monitor. I do think the tone is very close to being spot on, but I personally am looking for a bit more 1-2kHz in the mix. If not I think it's curve is well thought out. The notes are quite big but yet the layering and separation is great. There's a great deal for coherence here as well too - it just blends in and sounds almost like a single driver. Mids and vocals are articulated clearly with switch 3 with that touch of warmth. Treble is well extended albeit a bit polite.

My personal qualm with the Erlkonig is the tuning of the bass as well as it's dynamics. The bass can be a bit one note at times, and shows hints of bluntness, with the amount of bluntness increasing as you choose switches 1 and 2. Concerning it's dynamics..I just feel like I am listening to music. I'm not in the music. The music does not move me. It's just there. It's doing a great job - yes - but I am not engaged. It lacks that feeling of visceral impact no matter how much bass I adjust. That's the only thing keeping it from being top tier I suppose.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Effect Audio x Empire Ears King Arthur

Same type of bloaty midbass/lower mid dominant tuning followed by a poorly balanced uppermid boost, leading to bloat in the signature. Clearly tuned by the engineer who tuned the Phantom/PhantomX/Wraith. All these models have that lowermid bloat response. Nothing much to say about this - feels like it's all variations to how they can play around with the treble with that same bloat.

 

[toranku]

First Impressions: Vision Ears Elysium

Source used: Shanling M5s

V-shaped tone with quite a bit of emphasis on the uppermids. Lower mids sound a tad recessed. If not bass is well done here - fast and extends decently into deeper subbass registers. The transition from bass to mids is done surprisingly well - I think it works very well. Did not expect that due to the BA bass and DD mids config. Due to the uppermid lift (as well as the treble), it results in a leaner signature filled with energy in contrast to the quick bass and rather aggressive treble. The treble has the timbre of the sonion estat. That weird long "ssssss" decay I'm not digging. Sounds strident especially with less forgiving tracks athough well extended. If not I think the IEM does sound high resolution overall and the BA bass implementation was done well. VE seems to know what they are doing with crossovers.

Well tuned for being a odd tribrid imo. Sounds fun.

Bonus Round: Driving Elysium with DTR1

Yeah, not sure what's going on here but the bass is totally bloated and the tweeter sounds like it was blown. I tried this pairing at first and I was shocked how bad the Elysium was until I plugged it into my M5s. Not sure if I am buying into the whole "sonion estat needs power" thing but perhaps it has got to do with impedance? Dunno.