Vision Ears and Rhines Custom Monitors (formerly Compact Monitors)

[Tristy]

A bit too early to tell, but feels comparable.. The 8 might be getting a bit more instrumental detail while the Ely is king of vocals

Bass? I guess it’s a little unfair as it’s a case of custom vs universals

 

[mvvRAZ]

Bass? I guess it’s a little unfair as it’s a case of custom vs universals

I’m getting really good and deep fit so I don’t think I’d have a much different experience as a custom

the subbass of the elysium, the mid bass of the 8 - a combination of those two would be heavenly

I am finding myself desiring a bit more treble on the VE8 though... the quality is outstanding, I’d just like a touch more quantity

 

[zuber]

After testing the demos I have placed the order for Elysium
I will have ear impressions done on Friday, send it and....will wait
Thanks Johannes for demos and help!

 

[chickenmcnug]

I’m getting really good and deep fit so I don’t think I’d have a much different experience as a custom

the subbass of the elysium, the mid bass of the 8 - a combination of those two would be heavenly

I am finding myself desiring a bit more treble on the VE8 though... the quality is outstanding, I’d just like a touch more quantity

Your Cleo Octa should do the trick

 

[mvvRAZ]

Your Cleo Octa should do the trick

The Cleo Octa was also my first thought and it did give it that treble elevation I was looking for, along with a bass boost however - it almost felt like a V lol

I'm currently listening to the VE8 with the Bespoke Leo/Cleo and I'd say that's a much better pairing for it. The treble is where I want it, while the midrange has gained some more texture without losing it's thickness like it did with the Cleo Octa. The bass on the other hand lost some presence and is a bit more like the Elysium

All in all though, the changes I'm trying to push out of the VE8 are pretty much the ones that the Elysium already incorporates not really sure if I love the VE8 for what it is, or if I'm loving what it has in common with the Elysium

 

[davidmolliere]

All in all though, the changes I'm trying to push out of the VE8 are pretty much the ones that the Elysium already incorporates not really sure if I love the VE8 for what it is, or if I'm loving what it has in common with the Elysium

Interesting, to me the VE8 is quite different from the Elysium although for sure the whole VE range has a definite house sound but then the VE8 demo is probably a bit different than the custom so you're comparing Elysium custom to VE8 demo and I did the opposite

 

[mvvRAZ]

Interesting, to me the VE8 is quite different from the Elysium although for sure the whole VE range has a definite house sound but then the VE8 demo is probably a bit different than the custom so you're comparing Elysium custom to VE8 demo and I did the opposite

Hmmm could be. The midrange has certain similarities with the Elysium in how thick, textured and detailed it is. The 8 and the Elysium are almost perfect counterparts, in that the 8 has somewhat boosted bass, while the Elysium has boosted treble

To describe the VE8, I'd say technical, warm (almost gooey), natural, realistic? Feels a bit like what I'd hear in a live performance but better. I think the IEM definitely works better with somewhat flatter treble (as it is with the stock cable for example), or else all three frequencies feel boosted and I don't need to go back to the FiR M5 - I find that intensity to be quite overwhelming and unnatural

It's only been a couple of hours, but I can definitely say I'm appreciating the VE8 more and more for what it is, as opposed to pushing it towards becoming a wannabe Elysium. I doubt I'd be purchasing one for the time being though, as it kind of fits a very similar sound profile as my 64 Fourte Noir.. Maybe if it gets updated in 2020 I could certainly revisit the topic

As to the house sound, the 3.2 and 4.2 have certain aspects of that midrange as well - the 3.2 is lacking the upper mids (they sound off), while the 4.2's treble acts up sometimes and you lose some detail. Reminds me a bit of the Fusion, except the midrange is much better, and the bass has more quantity and slam (oddly it sounds more like a DD than that of the Fusion - bravo VE).

The 6XC... I need to do more listening but the best part about it is how much VE have upgraded their flagship since then sounds quite thin and unnatural to me, almost disjointed. Not as bad as say, the Rai Penta or the Earsonics ES5, but definitely not great. Will probably write reviews of the 8 and 4.2 towards the end of the weekend as those two I'd say are definitely noteworthy

 

[Tybot]

If they could switch out a BA or 2 on the VE8 with a piezo, that would be quite the set up. Really like the VE8 but as others have said, lack of sparkle makes it a no go for me.

What really shocked me is how good the VE8 sounded straight out of my iPhone XS dongle. Certainly not as good as better sources and amps, but it was the best IEM I’ve heard straight out of my phone.

 

[Deezel177]

If they could switch out a BA or 2 on the VE8 with a piezo, that would be quite the set up. Really like the VE8 but as others have said, lack of sparkle makes it a no go for me.

What really shocked me is how good the VE8 sounded straight out of my iPhone XS dongle. Certainly not as good as better sources and amps, but it was the best IEM I’ve heard straight out of my phone.

A different driver won’t automatically give you more sparkle. As always, it’s infinitely more so about how the driver is tuned, rather than the type of driver used. With capable engineers, especially, (like the ones over at VE), that treble quantity is most likely a deliberate choice, rather than a by-product of a limitation in the technology or skill. Heck, adding a piezo or e-stat may instead complicate the circuit and ruin the excellent coherence the VE8 already has.

 

[fiascogarcia]

The Cleo Octa was also my first thought and it did give it that treble elevation I was looking for, along with a bass boost however - it almost felt like a V lol

I'm currently listening to the VE8 with the Bespoke Leo/Cleo and I'd say that's a much better pairing for it. The treble is where I want it, while the midrange has gained some more texture without losing it's thickness like it did with the Cleo Octa. The bass on the other hand lost some presence and is a bit more like the Elysium

All in all though, the changes I'm trying to push out of the VE8 are pretty much the ones that the Elysium already incorporates not really sure if I love the VE8 for what it is, or if I'm loving what it has in common with the Elysium

Are you finding any significant changes with different cables on Elysium? The stock cable sounds pretty darn good, especially given the price. Just saw that my ear impressions hit Frankfurt! Thanks!

 

[mvvRAZ]

A different driver won’t automatically give you more sparkle. As always, it’s infinitely more so about how the driver is tuned, rather than the type of driver used. With capable engineers, especially, (like the ones over at VE), that treble quantity is most likely a deliberate choice, rather than a by-product of a limitation in the technology or skill. Heck, adding a piezo or e-stat may instead complicate the circuit and ruin the excellent coherence the VE8 already has.

Agreed - I found the treble to be somewhat lacking but I don’t think more treble would make it sound like a better IEM - more of a “not exactly to my preference” situation

Are you finding any significant changes with different cables on Elysium? The stock cable sounds pretty darn good, especially given the price. Just saw that my ear impressions hit Frankfurt! Thanks!

This is difficult to say... personally the Elysium has been one of my favorite iems to cable roll on and I’ve found it to be decently responsive

But, and this is a big but

The elysium sounds great with the stock cable to say the least, and rather close to the higher end offerings (can’t say the same about the Fourte Noir where you need a cable swap to make it operational)

I think it’s up to you ultimately, but don’t feel compelled to buy an overly expensive cable

 

[macdonjh]

The 6XC... I need to do more listening but the best part about it is how much VE have upgraded their flagship since then sounds quite thin and unnatural to me, almost disjointed. Not as bad as say, the Rai Penta or the Earsonics ES5, but definitely not great.

Interesting quote. More details please about the Rai Penta? I ask because there is a lot I like about the sound of the Rai Penta, but I also like collecting diverging opinions. Gives me something to think about, and to listen for, when I am listening.

 

[mvvRAZ]

Interesting quote. More details please about the Rai Penta? I ask because there is a lot I like about the sound of the Rai Penta, but I also like collecting diverging opinions. Gives me something to think about, and to listen for, when I am listening.

Well I tried it at a canjam and a local store, and my impressions were pretty consistent both times. Foam tips made its bass sound extremely bloated, the midrange got sent even further back, and there was no treble to be heard

With silicone, it was a less terrible experience, but certainly not a great one, and even less deserving of its price tag (IMHO)

The bass is alright - as just about any DD bass that wasn't completely messed up, there's nothing I can really criticise here

The midrange sounds extremely thin - as in, it's become my absolute standard for a thin and shrill midrange. It makes vocals sound like they're being performed by someone with a terrible cold who's lost his voice, they're just struggling to get through. Instruments carry no weight, they just feel like distant sounds that are trying to come through as laid back, but are instead unnatural and metallic.

The treble... I guess the only way it can be classified as good treble is if you don't really want treble... Kinda the way I can classify bass as alright when it's really not there (I'm talking about the Katana). It just doesn't provide the extension that both vocals and instruments need to really shine (say, a violin and even less so cymbals)

The technicalities would be alright, if the Penta was at half price. Decent soundstage width, some depth, alright detail. Honestly given how I felt about the tonality i didn't pay that much attention to the intangibles.

It just feels like Meze tuned the Penta with one thing in mind - if we don't put much of it, people probably won't hate it.

That being said, my preferences are heavily skewed towards treble presence and extension, as well as midrange thickness and performance. Bass has never been of that much interest for me, except for subbass. The Penta is the absolute opposite of what I'd ever want in an IEM. It somehow manages to present the music with a certain "indifference"

Please don't take any offence in my opinion here, I heavily believe that any kind of measurements and "objectivist" statements are pretty useless in a hobby where the only actual metric is enjoyment - so, if you enjoy the Penta, more power to you!

 

[macdonjh]

Well I tried it at a canjam and a local store, and my impressions were pretty consistent both times. Foam tips made its bass sound extremely bloated, the midrange got sent even further back, and there was no treble to be heard

With silicone, it was a less terrible experience, but certainly not a great one, and even less deserving of its price tag (IMHO)

The bass is alright - as just about any DD bass that wasn't completely messed up, there's nothing I can really criticise here

The midrange sounds extremely thin - as in, it's become my absolute standard for a thin and shrill midrange. It makes vocals sound like they're being performed by someone with a terrible cold who's lost his voice, they're just struggling to get through. Instruments carry no weight, they just feel like distant sounds that are trying to come through as laid back, but are instead unnatural and metallic.

The treble... I guess the only way it can be classified as good treble is if you don't really want treble... Kinda the way I can classify bass as alright when it's really not there (I'm talking about the Katana). It just doesn't provide the extension that both vocals and instruments need to really shine (say, a violin and even less so cymbals)

The technicalities would be alright, if the Penta was at half price. Decent soundstage width, some depth, alright detail. Honestly given how I felt about the tonality i didn't pay that much attention to the intangibles.

It just feels like Meze tuned the Penta with one thing in mind - if we don't put much of it, people probably won't hate it.

That being said, my preferences are heavily skewed towards treble presence and extension, as well as midrange thickness and performance. Bass has never been of that much interest for me, except for subbass. The Penta is the absolute opposite of what I'd ever want in an IEM. It somehow manages to present the music with a certain "indifference"

Please don't take any offence in my opinion here, I heavily believe that any kind of measurements and "objectivist" statements are pretty useless in a hobby where the only actual metric is enjoyment - so, if you enjoy the Penta, more power to you!

Offense? Of course not. How could I be offended by such a completely wrong opinion? Like many here I am really interested in what everyone likes and why, especially when someone can articulate WHY he prefers what he prefers. I was interested in your opinion of the Rai Penta because I seem to be the only one on Head-Fi who likes my pair. Though I can understand why you don't. While I can understand the luke-warm reception they've received, I have a different take on the Rai Penta. Rather than consider them boring, or lifeless, when I listen to them I consider them balanced and well rounded. I think the sound they provide is easy to relax into, easy to groove with. The perfect salve after a trying day. But, one man's rounded and relaxing is another man's boring. I could also see the Rai Penta as a reference to describe the sound of other IEMs, kind of like the Sennheiser HD650 has become for over-ears.

The Rai Penta are definitely the opposite of the FiR M3 discussed on that thread. For me, I like them as a compliment to something with the power and excitement of an IEM like the M3. As to value: I agree at retail, the Rai Penta cost too much. Part of my opinion of them is the result of my getting them in trade for less than retail, and I traded an IEM which didn't work for me. Both of us got what we wanted: I like what I got better than what I traded and vice versa.

Anyway, I like my Rai Penta. Just for different reasons than I like the M3, M4, Anole VX, Trio...

 

[mvvRAZ]

Offense? Of course not. How could I be offended by such a completely wrong opinion? Like many here I am really interested in what everyone likes and why, especially when someone can articulate WHY he prefers what he prefers. I was interested in your opinion of the Rai Penta because I seem to be the only one on Head-Fi who likes my pair. Though I can understand why you don't. While I can understand the luke-warm reception they've received, I have a different take on the Rai Penta. Rather than consider them boring, or lifeless, when I listen to them I consider them balanced and well rounded. I think the sound they provide is easy to relax into, easy to groove with. The perfect salve after a trying day. But, one man's rounded and relaxing is another man's boring. I could also see the Rai Penta as a reference to describe the sound of other IEMs, kind of like the Sennheiser HD650 has become for over-ears.

The Rai Penta are definitely the opposite of the FiR M3 discussed on that thread. For me, I like them as a compliment to something with the power and excitement of an IEM like the M3. As to value: I agree at retail, the Rai Penta cost too much. Part of my opinion of them is the result of my getting them in trade for less than retail, and I traded an IEM which didn't work for me. Both of us got what we wanted: I like what I got better than what I traded and vice versa.

Anyway, I like my Rai Penta. Just for different reasons than I like the M3, M4, Anole VX, Trio...

That’s cool dude, sometimes one of the more unpopular pairs just click with you

I for one am pretty confident in saying the Noble Katana is a pretty mediocre IEM but I enjoy it as it really clicks with my preferences you know