[himaraya]

Maybe we're using different words to describe different things, but you've lost me haha. The IER-Z1R graphs, on paper, with a strong 6kHz peak. It is there visually, and anecdotal listening corroborates its presence. To top it off, if you have a poor insertion with the IER-Z1R, the treble has been shown to be extremely bright (I believe Crin has a graph floating around). This is not to say it's bad treble - on the contrary, the Z1R's treble is a standout - but the peak's most definitely there.

I've also never heard of texture being described as narrow. Do you perhaps mean the staging? I was thinking of the Sony MH755 by comparison when I said the ER2XR's bass texture was lacking.

https://crinacle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Z1R.jpg

Aligns pretty closely to my Z1R usage -- smooth, sparkly treble. I wouldn't call 6k & 8.5k spikes. Fit makes or breaks everything, I guess.

ER2XR layers sound narrow, per Toranku. Its bass handily beats out BA bass for me, M9 included, in sub-bass & dynamics.

 

[himaraya]

@toranku Any thoughts on the Thieaudio Clairvoyance? Just for kicks, how about the AirPods Max?

 

[toranku]

@toranku Any thoughts on the Thieaudio Clairvoyance? Just for kicks, how about the AirPods Max?

I've not updated my thoughts on thieaudio for a loooong time. Apparently the Monarch I heard was a total fluke. I've since heard the supposedly correct Monarch and Clairvoyance and I do prefer the Clair I think. These days I will refrain from commenting on other iems since it may come back and bite me in the butt.

Airpods Max is a wiiiiild ride. Crazy subbass lift yet remaining very tactile and fun.

 

[gto88]

@toranku , is there any chance to compare those hybrid item with EST, tribrid or quadbrid. there are quite a few in the market now, and some are coming, such as Dunu est112.

 

[himaraya]

These days I will refrain from commenting on other iems since it may come back and bite me in the butt.

Airpods Max is a wiiiiild ride. Crazy subbass lift yet remaining very tactile and fun.

Want to comment on headphones, then? I thought you'd find the APM too bassy—I also find it quite pleasant.

 

[toranku]

@toranku , is there any chance to compare those hybrid item with EST, tribrid or quadbrid. there are quite a few in the market now, and some are coming, such as Dunu est112.

Havent been trying out new stuff to be honest, and releases are slow as of late.

Want to comment on headphones, then? I thought you'd find the APM too bassy—I also find it quite pleasant.

APM is pretty blunted in the uppermid and treble registers. I listened to it embracing the bass

I am not really a fan of headphones to be honest. While there's much better soundstage and imaging properties over IEMs, tuning headphones properly is so damn hard. With IEMs it is much easier to control factors like frequency response. I feel that an overwhelming majority of headphones out there are manufacturers throwing things out and seeing what sticks.

 

[himaraya]

APM is pretty blunted in the uppermid and treble registers. I listened to it embracing the bass

I am not really a fan of headphones to be honest. While there's much better soundstage and imaging properties over IEMs, tuning headphones properly is so damn hard. With IEMs it is much easier to control factors like frequency response. I feel that an overwhelming majority of headphones out there are manufacturers throwing things out and seeing what sticks.

Apparently, APM sounds more balanced with the "Vocal Range" EQ setting under "Headphone Accommodations" in the iOS Accessibility panel.

Personally, I'd enjoy listening to you rag on various headphones, if nothing else. Most impressions out there don't focus on tone like you do, including Crinacle's. Not to mention, sticking IEMs in my ears gets old sometimes, heh.

 

[himaraya]

Any opinions on speakers?

 

[Bitsir]

Any opinions on speakers?

I have an opinion. Speakers are great and unbeatable if you have the room, room treatment and listening position for it.

I recommend the APS Klasik 2020 Active Speaker if you want something nicer that doesn't break the bank but punches WAY above its weight. (~$1000 a pair)

 

[toranku]

I have an opinion. Speakers are great and unbeatable if you have the room, room treatment and listening position for it.

I recommend the APS Klasik 2020 Active Speaker if you want something nicer that doesn't break the bank but punches WAY above its weight. (~$1000 a pair)

This is exactly why it is difficult to accurately test speakers. Even if you do hear a certain tone, readers may not be able to relate when they have a different room.

I dabbled in writing iems because is way more consistent. Only insert depth and tips would change how the IEM sounds.

 

[IEMusic]

This is exactly why it is difficult to accurately test speakers. Even if you do hear a certain tone, readers may not be able to relate when they have a different room.

Yes. There are innumerable variables. I love active speakers with well matched components including DAC and amplification, and with DSP for room compensation, but that still doesn’t compensate adequately for room effects.

 

[himaraya]

This is exactly why it is difficult to accurately test speakers. Even if you do hear a certain tone, readers may not be able to relate when they have a different room.

I dabbled in writing iems because is way more consistent. Only insert depth and tips would change how the IEM sounds.

Hm, fair enough. Subjectively then, any speakers you prefer?

 

[himaraya]

Have you heard any Triangle speakers, by chance? The BR03 has attracted some buzz lately.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

Hm, fair enough. Subjectively then, any speakers you prefer?

Well... @toranku I was going to ask the same thing

 

[toranku]

Personal Favourites List Updated.​

Uh oh. I brought back the dead. Just wanted to update on my current preferences. I find myself liking unabashedly bassier sets. HOWEVER, the bass shelf has to be clean. Perhaps it's also a good thing the market has been shifting to proper bass shelves that start at 200-300hz. I think it's a nice change of pace. Things sound less muddy and bass tends to be more controlled, free of bloat yet fun.

I've removed a lot of things I stopped enjoying due to my new preferences. I think it's good to be critical and honest with myself with what I like.

I've gotten some questions over the months about where I've been and what I am doing. I left Audio Discourse as a content creator but I've still been keeping up with the market all this while. It's painfully obvious the market has slowed down the past two years. IEMs are not as popular as they were back in 2018-2019.

I've been working on my IEM company (which I will announce a little later in the future) that I co-found with 3 other close friends. For the sake of conflict of interest and potential bias, I cannot continue making the same critical content I was back in '17-19. My focus has to be on celebrating good sounding IEMs which I have done so on my Personal Favorites list.

To be honest, IEMs got stale and tiring for me these past 2 years. The industry slow down didn't help. It felt natural taking matters to my own hands and making something I can be proud of and loved listening. I hope to share these same feelings of excitement when I announce it to the world.