I was at a local Hifi store yesterday looking to see if a DAC would improve the sound on my Noble Kaiser Encore CIEMs that I currently run directly out of my iPhone X, and ended up trying a bunch of different gear out so providing my experience here with some asks for further recommendations.
My main question at this point that still quite haven't answered for myself is:
As I dislike sticking things deep into my ear, and I also don't commute as much anymore where I would need a CIEM/IEM, should I sell my CIEMs and get some really comfortable open over-ear headphones + amp for home use; OR, should I stick with my Encore CIEMs and try and enhance the sound further with other gear (DAC, possibly amp, etc. - although I've heard they don't benefit from an amp).
I bought my Encores earlier this year, and they sound really great, even from my iPhone X but I was wondering if there was something more to be had by using a DAC. I convinced myself this was my primary reason for making the hifi store trip.
I was actually looking to try out some Astell&Kern DAPs, but the guy didn't have any as he said most people want to just store music on their phone and not carry another dedicated device.
He had me put me plug my Encores into an Arcam RHead and then used a DF Red on the lightning adapter from my iPhone X, so I did a little A/B comparisons on some tracks (LZ's Over the Hills & Far Away + Neil Young's Over and Over Again). It sounded better than straight out of my iPhone X to Encores, warmer slightly with slightly more detail, but I'm not sure if it justified the price of the RHead + DF Red. I also did A/B (same tracks) with just the DF Red and without it (so skipping the RHead), and there was even less of a difference (i.e. DF Red was almost doing nothing I could tell).
(I also tried all of the above A/Bs with the source being an LP of Neil Young's Live album - In Through the Cellar Door (not sure what the turntable make was) - sounded about the same).
Then for fun he had my put on a demo pair of Audeze LCD-X going direct to the Arcam RHead (no DF Red this time). Very plush, comfortable headphones was the first thing that struck me; so much easier than trying to get the Nobles in my ear canals. He put on the same Neil Young LP as above....wow, I could listen to these all day. The low end was just marvelous, so smooth, deep and articulate - I didn't notice too many issues with the mid or higher end frequencies. I wish I had done more A/B with just my iPhone X + Encores, but it was too hard to switch it all around quickly enough. I will say that I think my Noble CIEMs may be more detailed than the Audeze LCD-X + Arcam RHead, but the imaging/separation and low end and fullness just felt like my head was melting into the LCD-X's plush comfort.
So, where does this leave me? I'm not sure...
My heartfelt lusty side tells me to sell the CIEMs, take the financial hit and run and get the LCD-X + RHead (or some other amp - suggestions welcome, but not for too much more $ than the RHead).
My pragmatic side tells me to do more listening, especially do an A/B between the LCD-X and the LCD2C (the latter of which he did not have in stock but will get soon).
My financial/cheap side tells me I don't need this financially, and that I should be happy with some of the best CIEMs in the world and to just keep exploring better DACs that would improve from the DF Red on my Encores; or a better DAP (skipping the iPhone X all together). Any DAC suggestions are welcome.
Any recommendations and/or thoughts on any or all of this?
My main question at this point that still quite haven't answered for myself is:
As I dislike sticking things deep into my ear, and I also don't commute as much anymore where I would need a CIEM/IEM, should I sell my CIEMs and get some really comfortable open over-ear headphones + amp for home use; OR, should I stick with my Encore CIEMs and try and enhance the sound further with other gear (DAC, possibly amp, etc. - although I've heard they don't benefit from an amp).
I bought my Encores earlier this year, and they sound really great, even from my iPhone X but I was wondering if there was something more to be had by using a DAC. I convinced myself this was my primary reason for making the hifi store trip.
I was actually looking to try out some Astell&Kern DAPs, but the guy didn't have any as he said most people want to just store music on their phone and not carry another dedicated device.
He had me put me plug my Encores into an Arcam RHead and then used a DF Red on the lightning adapter from my iPhone X, so I did a little A/B comparisons on some tracks (LZ's Over the Hills & Far Away + Neil Young's Over and Over Again). It sounded better than straight out of my iPhone X to Encores, warmer slightly with slightly more detail, but I'm not sure if it justified the price of the RHead + DF Red. I also did A/B (same tracks) with just the DF Red and without it (so skipping the RHead), and there was even less of a difference (i.e. DF Red was almost doing nothing I could tell).
(I also tried all of the above A/Bs with the source being an LP of Neil Young's Live album - In Through the Cellar Door (not sure what the turntable make was) - sounded about the same).
Then for fun he had my put on a demo pair of Audeze LCD-X going direct to the Arcam RHead (no DF Red this time). Very plush, comfortable headphones was the first thing that struck me; so much easier than trying to get the Nobles in my ear canals. He put on the same Neil Young LP as above....wow, I could listen to these all day. The low end was just marvelous, so smooth, deep and articulate - I didn't notice too many issues with the mid or higher end frequencies. I wish I had done more A/B with just my iPhone X + Encores, but it was too hard to switch it all around quickly enough. I will say that I think my Noble CIEMs may be more detailed than the Audeze LCD-X + Arcam RHead, but the imaging/separation and low end and fullness just felt like my head was melting into the LCD-X's plush comfort.
So, where does this leave me? I'm not sure...
My heartfelt lusty side tells me to sell the CIEMs, take the financial hit and run and get the LCD-X + RHead (or some other amp - suggestions welcome, but not for too much more $ than the RHead).
My pragmatic side tells me to do more listening, especially do an A/B between the LCD-X and the LCD2C (the latter of which he did not have in stock but will get soon).
My financial/cheap side tells me I don't need this financially, and that I should be happy with some of the best CIEMs in the world and to just keep exploring better DACs that would improve from the DF Red on my Encores; or a better DAP (skipping the iPhone X all together). Any DAC suggestions are welcome.
Any recommendations and/or thoughts on any or all of this?
