Vision Ears and Rhines Custom Monitors (formerly Compact Monitors)

Jun 20, 2023 at 5:38 PM Post #5,521 of 5,876
Well, that was a few powerhouse posters in a row. Luckily, I have had a great fit with all the recent VE IEMs. I need to look further into this "Red" prototype. Onward!!
 
Jul 9, 2023 at 1:15 AM Post #5,524 of 5,876
Hi All, I was fortunate enough to try the PHöNIX and the EXT as part of the Australian Tour. Big thank you to Vision Ears (VE) and Damz for arranging the Australian Tour of this selection of the VE Premium Series.

The technology presented in these offerings is impressive. Inside the EXT you’ll find:

  • A 9.2mm dynamic driver
  • A 6mm driver
  • four electrostatic drivers.
It was my first experience hearing electrostatic drivers and quite an experience.

The PHöNIX contains a seemingly impossible amount of balanced armature (BA) drivers:

  • Four BA drivers for bass
  • Four BA drivers for mids
  • Four BA drivers for treble
  • Two super tweeters for ultra highs/air.
As you may imagine, these result in two very different listening experiences.

Sources and accessories:

All listening was done on my Ibasso DX240 DAP, with a mix of using the following amp modules:

  • AMP1 MK3 with the 2.5mm balanced output, connecting directly to the VE the 2.5mm balanced cable. I find low gain works best with this module, which I used for listening.
  • AMP8 MK2S – with the 4.4mm balanced output, connecting using the 4.4mm to 2.5mm adaptor and the same VE balanced cable. I find high gain is typically needed to make this module work best and used for listening. I had to keep the volume dial pretty low for the PHöNIX (steps 6-10 out of 100).
I’m a firm believer that any listening experience is influenced by the hardware source, my views are likely to be influenced by the sonic limitations of the above set up.

Source material consisted of best available Qobuz FLAC files. streamed.

For accessories, I did my listening with the supplied tour kit including:

  • Spinfit tips – CP145 for the PHöNIX and CP155 for the EXP. Spinfit tips aren’t typically my go-to tips, but as my personal favorites, Final E tips, weren’t compatible with the IEMs, the spinfits won by default and used for listening.
  • For cables I used the VE 2.5mm balanced cable, using the 4.4mm -> 2.5mm VE adaptor when needed. Nice durable cable, no complaints.
Individual run throughs:

PHöNIX:

The PHöNIX is a rather light IEM, owning to the carbon fibre shell. It is also quite ergonomic in shape, all this amount to an IEM that fitted quite comfortably in my ears and allowed good seals with the Spinfit tips.

The sound signature was what I would be describe as a “v-shaped balanced sound”. No parts of the audio spectrum jumps out more than the others and VE seem to have forged their own road on what is a balanced sound. I have a lot of respect for that.

Bass on the PHöNIX was well balanced to the rest of the sound profile and never really at the forefront. Sub-bass extended to wonderfully deep rumbles when called for but more subtle compared to say the EXT. mid-bass was more prominent, resulting in bass drums having more “kick” than “boom” in songs.

Forming the V shape profile, mids were further back on the stage compared to bass and treble. I didn’t feel that they were missing however, as mentioned, the PHöNIX presented a very balanced sound.

Trebles were well implemented and more round as opposed to crip. The treble extension from the super tweeters were subtle and never overemphasised. Similar to the sub-bass, ultra highs were present when called for.

Sounds stage was fine and may have been limited to the extents of the Ibasso DX240 DAP’s capabilities. What was a standout moment though was listing to Aphex Twin’s ‘The Waxen Pith’, in which the PHöNIX offered a great feel of depth of the rolling synths.

Apologies for using the word again, but for me it describes the PHöNIX to a T, and it’s most redeeming attribute, balanced. It was very much a good all rounder, where I could plug it in a enjoy while I go about my business.

EXT:

The EXT is a rebellious teenager that I can’t help but love. Sonicly I love the darn things but ergonomically… we had issues…

Much like the phoenix, the EXT was also a light IEM. The shape is a rather interesting one, with a long nozzles that slots comfortably into the ear canal. The nozzle however adopted a large non-conventional, oval shape which isn’t compatible with tips such as Final’s E series. As such, tips are rather limited and seemingly need to be either custom made (I read that they can come with custom Azla tips) or the Spitfit CP155s, which came with the tour kit. For the life of me, I could not get the Spitfit CP155s to behave well. It was only about a quarter of the time that I could get a decent seal and seemed to be hugely affected by humidity conditions. It’s a shame that only spitfits were available, it would have been great to see if other compatible tips would have sealed better. As such, I really recommend trialling the EXT before purchasing to assess any fit issues.

Sonically, the EXT live up to how they look, energetic and exciting. It has strong lows, treble and fantastic treble extension.

The bass has a strong and impactful, courtesy of the 9.2mm dynamic driver. Sub-bass is strong and prominent. Interestingly through, I never felt the bass overpowered the rest of the frequency range.

Mids sounded clean, although pulled back compared to bass and treble, music never sounded hollow.

Treble was crisp yet never sounding aggressive, sibilant or metallic. Treble extension was fantastic. It was my first experience with electrostatic drivers and really quite impressed. Electronica was exciting, cymbals in recordings were wonderfully detailed and textured.

The result of these attributes were really quite interesting. EDM was addictively engaging. Daniel Avery’s Ultra Truth felt like a perfect match with the EXT and quite a “wow” moment. The EXT delivered the album’s subbass and BOOMs with authority and handled the complex and confronting soundscapes with ease.

One of the biggest surprises was the EXT handled rock and jazz. While I was expecting these genres to sound emotionless and hollow, they instead sounded lively and energetic. I’m really impressed with how well Vision Ears turned the EXT, energetic enough to bring excitement to electronica, but enough weight in the mids to keep jazz and rock sounding soulful. As such, the found the EXT to be surprisingly versatile and a good allrounder…. I certainly would have loved to have spent more time with the EXT but the fit just caused too much havoc.

Comparisons:

EXT
A great comparison to the EXT is the Campfire Audio Vega 2020. Bass is authoritative and strong in both IEMs, both fulfilling my guilty pleasure basshead needs.

The bass on the Vega 2020 is certainly a focal point of the IEM, and shamelessly disproportionate to the mids and treble. While bass is still strong on the EXT, it is more proportionate to the rest of the frequency range, with mids and treble never seemingly overshadowed. The bass on the EXT is also more well controlled, giving a better sense of texture.

The best way I can compare the bass between the two is with violence. The bass on the EXT is more like a disciplined, strong and practised punch from a karate black belt. The bass on the Vega 2020 on the other hand is like a full on body slam from a WWE wrestler.

Mids on the Vega 2020 follow their own rules and I find as a result, leave rock music sounding somewhat tinny. As previously mentioned, the mids on the EXT, although v shaped and clean sounding, have been really well tuned and versatile with all genres of music.

The highs on the Vega 2020 do extent relatively well, however, there are notable spikes in the treble frequency ranges. This gives a sharp feel to the Vega 2020 treble. Trebles on the EXT however extend notably beyond the Vega 2020’s range, and are much more consistent (i.e. no frequency spikes). As such, the EXT much more air and detail to the trebles. The EXT therefore does a better job of more accurately presenting recorded percussion, such as cymbals. This also resulted in the EXT having a better sound stage.

Bringing all this together, the EXT was a more technically proficient and versatile performer. I think this however wouldn’t be surprise given the price difference. I should also add that despite the quirks of the Vega 2020, they are extremely fun and couldn’t ever bear the thought of parting with them.

PHöNIX
One of the strongest attributes of the PHöNIX is its balanced sound signature. A good comparison to the PHöNIX is therefore the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk (B2D), which also is known for it’s balanced presentation.

Both IEMs take different approaches to their tunings. While the B2D follows closely to the In-Ear Fidelity target, a natural sounding signature, the PHöNIX take a V shaped approach.

The B2D also has a more elevated bass, with a deeper focus on the subbass. The PHöNIX on the other hand crescendos at the mid bass, and is all round less prominent. This results in the PHöNIX sounding less impactful than the B2D and more polite. It also had me wishing for more subbass rumble at times.

The treble on the B2D was also notably more rolled off than the PHöNIX. This wasn’t a significant disadvantage though, as the extended treble/air in the PHöNIX’s tuning is rather balances and restrained. Although I’d occasionally notice it was missing from the B2D. The treble in the B2D did seem more artificial compared to the PHöNIX.

The PHöNIX’s approach to a balanced IEM, while well executed, also comes with some risk when compared to competition. It didn’t give me any “wow” moments which I got from the EXT, and somewhat expected given the price tag (this may also be due to a limitation of my DX240 DAP). The B2D also delivered an equally enjoyable balanced listening experience, with some gives and takes to the PHöNIX.

Final considerations:

Value for money

For IEMs in the range of $4,500 – $6,000AUD, I’d be expecting quite special listening experiences. This certainly was delivered with the EXT, with many “wow” moments from the impactful bass suburb treble execution (and extension). It was a listening experience which really separated it’s self from the pack. With the technology and T&D which went into the creation of the Ext, I can appreciate the price tag which comes with it.

The PHöNIX on the other hand, while well balanced, and technically impressive when called for, didn’t give an as remarkable impression. Well balanced IEMs are also available at lower price points and as such, it’s harder to appreciate the associated cost. If purchasing an IEM at this price point, I feel it would be worth testing other brands with offerings at this amount. A trip to an audio store would be immaterial in comparison, even including a flight!

Pick of the bunch

My pick would go to the EXT, with some caveats. It was much more adapted to my music tastes, which are heavily influenced by IDM. It was also still versatile enough to suit other genres including jazz and rock. I would however need to try other compatible ear tips to check I could get a consistent seal.



As a final wrap up, Vision Ears have implemented impressive technologies into the EXT and PHöNIX. The EXT delivers many “wow” moments with impactful and controlled bass as well as exciting and impressively extended treble. The PHöNIX was a well rounded and balanced experience, with impressive technicalities when called for.

Thanks again @Damz87 and Vision Ears for the opportunity to be part of the tour.
 
Jul 13, 2023 at 3:58 PM Post #5,525 of 5,876
Anyone here with WM1ZM2 (uncapped JP version)?
I just got that DAP and quite a nice combo with the Elysium :heart_eyes:

I had to switch to high gain though, as we all know the Ely likes a bit of power and current...

Wondering what volume you're running your Ely on WM1ZM2 for those who own it? Even as a low volume listener, I am between 60 and up to 80 on some albums depending on genre (accoustic, jazz require more along the top value 70-80), I don't use normalizing just "Direct Source".

I do not understand. You need High Gain but you listen at 070/120? Why do you need High Gain then?
You need High Gain, when 120/120 is not loud enough and only then.
Are we talking about the VE Elysium? Please keep in mind that they have an Maximum Input Power of 100mW. So on High Gain, with 250mW, you actually have enough power to easily blow them in a matter of seconds,

As long 120/120 is loud enough, i would not recommend going to High Gain. The risk to destroy your gear or hearing is way to high and there is 0 advantage as it is an full digital amp.
Also from the 1ZM2 thread someone is venturing 100mW is the max input for the Ely and I am a bit puzzled by this affirmation :thinking:
(high gain 1ZM2 is rated at 250mW @16ohm uncapped)
 
Aug 4, 2023 at 5:48 PM Post #5,528 of 5,876
greetings, out of all the iems I have and had, iems seen in my about page and that I do not own but have heard ( trailli, mentor, odin, etc ) nothing beats my vision ears erlkonig

wonder if the new ve iem will be able to top my erlkonig, any news bout it
 
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Aug 4, 2023 at 5:53 PM Post #5,529 of 5,876
greetings, out of all the iems I have and had, iems seen in my about page and that I do not own but have heard ( trailli, mentor, odin, etc ) nothing beats my vision ears erlkonig

wonder if the new ve iem will be able to top my erlkonig, any news bout it
All preference.
 
Aug 5, 2023 at 1:46 PM Post #5,530 of 5,876
Well, that was a few powerhouse posters in a row. Luckily, I have had a great fit with all the recent VE IEMs. I need to look further into this "Red" prototype. Onward!!

Red would be my first VE purchase as well, I loved it.

Hi Guys, has anyone any feedback/reviews to offer on the Aura? not sure if there is a delay on shipping but I really can't find much info out there.
It was set initially in July, but according to a dealer here there seems to be a delay of a month or so to August, or at least from what I've been told

Mid to end of August now.

I so excited Vision Ears will be at this years London CanJam. Be great to hear about what future releases they may be working on :L3000:

As are we all - hope you enjoy your time with the Aura if they have it there and the new flagship.
 
Aug 7, 2023 at 10:44 PM Post #5,531 of 5,876
My impressions from the EXT/Phonix Australian tour. My impressions mostly align with @Loquah's review on Passion for Sound, so check that out.

Build an aesthetics: Nothing really significant to say here. These are light and well-built IEMs. I like the EXT design, it’s a bit more unique and interesting. The two-pin connectors are loose and poorly implemented though. I can’t for the life of me understand why two-pin has become the standard. MMCX seems so much more secure. But for the price of these, they need to do better if they’re going two-pin.


Accessories: I don’t normally comment on this but the accessories with these IEMs are some of the best I have ever used. I almost never use included cases but if I owned the EXT I would. So nice to use and actually really functional.


Comfort: This is a biggie. These have huge nozzles (hehe). The EXT especially is not a comfortable IEM. I found it okay when I got the tips right, but it’s not an IEM many would be able to use for more than a couple of hours I would think. The Phonix is better, lighter and smaller.


Sound:
I was listening out of a Mojo 2. My daily driver is the Campfire Ara, which I Iove. I used spiral dot tips on the Phonix and Spinfits on the EXT.

First the EXT. This is a wow-tier IEM technically, especially for someone like me who doesn’t usually listen to summit-fi gear like this. The resolution and detail retrieval is simply superb. It renders micro-detailing and textures spectacularly well. It is energetic and aggressive, an in-your-face type of presentation.

The bass is strong and meaty, not over-done but detailed and well-balanced across the bass spectrum.

Its mids are neutral, a touch cool, very clear, detailed and spacious. Maybe a touch recessed. For my personal taste I found them a little too cool and thin. But I really enjoyed a small dose of their sheer clarity and resolution.

High frequencies is where things get problematic. These extend forever but a too hot splashy for me. I was able to enjoy them with some EQ though, but long-term, not my cup of tea.

Soundstage is spacious a vast, a real highlight on these.


Phonix.
These are basically a toned down version of the EXT. Flatter response compared to the EXT’s slight V-shape. Warmer mids, smoother all around. More intimate staging and as a result a bit more coherent or together. The trade-off is slight loss of sheer resolving power, still excellent but not quite at the EXT level.

During my time with the tour units, I listened to the EXT more, simply because of the wow-factor. But if I could own one of the two, it would be the Phonix. It’s ergonomics and sound signature make it the winner for long-term daily driving. Not quite as warm/smooth as the Ara on my source gear. They were very occasionally a bit hot in the treble for me but I suspect if I owned them long term brain-burn-in would overcome that or an occasional EQ tweak. Also not as comfortable as Ara. If I had to choose between the Phonix and Ara, I’d choose Phonix… then sell them, buy an Ara and a used car!

As always thanks to Vision Ears and @Damz87 for the opportunity.
 
Aug 8, 2023 at 9:17 AM Post #5,532 of 5,876
Screenshot_20230808_151646_Instagram.jpg
 
Aug 8, 2023 at 10:18 AM Post #5,534 of 5,876

Is this the demo we got to try at NYC and Singapore? I thought there was a different config of drivers. Perhaps they went with a different final configuration.
 

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