Since I'm going to be mailing the tour kit away tomorrow I figured I better post some impressions of the Phonix. As some may have already gleaned between the two IEMs the EXT has touched a deeper chord with me as it's pretty much an incarnation of all my IEM dreams rolled into one. I will soon be purchasing my own and when that time comes I will take the additional time needed to fully immerse myself in the EXT and put together a full review. For the time being let my post (and gushing) from yesterday count as my "impressions so far". I want to make sure my love for the EXT doesn't take away from the glory and grandeur of the Phonix, an IEM that's just as amazing in its own right and is likely the more approachable and safer choice for many. I have often characterized DD vs. BA sound as "emotional, natural & musical" vs "analytic, technical, and descriptive". What VE have provided are two spectacular and visionary (pun intended) IEMs that not only each represent an epitome of the strengths and character of the driver types they use, but also go a good way to transcending those boundaries as well. Yes EXT is an embodiment of a natural sound & musical perfection but it is also presents highly technical, impeccably resolving and intoxicatingly immersive 3-d soundscape that, in terms of its sonic capabilities does so much to completely pull me into a bodied 3-d soundscape that one could almost call it "sonic virtual reality". Phonix, likewise, transcends the limitations I'd previously ascribed to pure BA sets, Yes one is taken right away by its clean, transparent, balanced, highly resolving & technical sound-- but just evident are its addictive musicality, bodied muscular sound and fantastic bass. It's by no means a "basshead IEM" (especially if you're really looking for sub-bass) but the bass has weight and authority and comes closer to really crossing that "feel it in your chest" threshold as I've yet heard with from a BA set.
The most remarkable quality that jumps out at one from both IEMs is the peerless the tuning. In my experience, and as far as. my tastes and sensibilities go, only Oriolus can stand alongside VE when it comes to the quality of their tuning-- and this is something very evident in VE's two flagships. Yes the characteristic excellence in the mid-range that can be said to define VE's "house sound" is certainly present-- but it's more than just that. It's a tuning that, whatever the driver-medium being worked with, brings out the best that the drivers have to offer. It's a tuning that straddles that beautiful line between musicality and technical proficiency that somehow manages to be entirely faithful to all the music you throw at it while simultaneously bringing out the best that the driver configure in question-- BAs in the case of Phonix, DD & e-stats in EXT-- has to offer. With Vision Ears IEMs I'm not drawn to the music over the gear, or the gear over the music-- I am being compelled to savor the best of both worlds-- and it's an utterly intoxicating experience that I never want to end whenever I'm listening to either the EXT or Phonix. It can be a little jarring going from one to the other-- but after I settle in to either and let my brain adjust, my heart is in want of nothing. Phonix in particular is so good think it may have finally hit the ceiling in terms of what an "all BA" IEM can do.
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Following are some compiled Phonix impressions from the week, starting with Day 1:
Initial out-of-box impressions: Phönix is legit. Like may have usurped Traillii for me legit. I’ve never heard BA bass like this before— I can feel it in my chest. It’s not as transparent as Traillii but resolution is insane…this degree of resolution alongside such great bass and a stunningly rich, coherent, energetic-yet-classy-&-disciplined sound is a rare treat and in this Phönix may presently be without equal anywhere. I’m utterly transfixed right now. More to come.
Day 2 and Beyond:
Phonix has in spades that "precision" one stereotypically associates with German (ed: and Itialian!
craftsmanship. There is also a deep and fundamental sense of inspiration & clarity that pervades the entire signature. I listened to a great interview with Johannes from VE once and he described their creative process which consists in them forming a clear "vision" of what they're going for and then using everything at their disposal to bring that vision into being. This is where the name Vision Ears comes from. Everything about the Phönix - it's name, it's look, the vibe of mythological power the name Phönix carries with it, the sound signature-- smacks of being the result of a singular vision made manifest. In addition it's got impeccable synergy with the Shanling M8. Out of the box EXT sounded a bit too bassy out of the M8 but Phönix is "Chef's Kiss" paired with it.
After a few days, I'm on the fence about Phonix vs. Traillii-- they each have their strengths and I'm not sure either could entirely replace the other.
Tonal balance of the Phonix from bass -> treble is superb-- I perceive the whole signature as a unity and am not drawn to bass or treble or mids specifically. The signature presents with the sort of magnificent you can only get with single driver setups and has anice weighty, sure footed sound. There is none of the BA-thin-ness that I often complain about due to being continually surrounded with DD IEMs. Resolution with the Phonix may is up there with the best IEMs I've ever heard while still still maintaining a fundamental degree of musicality. Yes something like the Odin is more resolving but it's also far more clinical sounding. Phonix is very smooth, relaxing and non-fatiguing up top, while also being incredibly dynamic. It's not very source sensitive, and very easily driveable, though can be prone to some hiss. There is some nice presence to the mid-bass-- which is a personal thing of mine, and while I perceive nothing missing in sub-bass or extension people for whom this is a massive priority may not be as taken with Phonix. This is some of the most forgiving BA timbre I've encountered yet and it is coupled with a degree of precision & clarity to Phonix's sound that is unique in my experience and which is straight up addicting
Further to the above I started this morning by "breaking my IEM fast" for the day with the Phonix and holy God almighty these are amazing IEMs. They do indeed have that Traillii effect, albeit manifested differently, where I put them on and am instantly sucked into their beautiful, technical, musical, precise, engaging and natural sound....these IEMs are stupefyingly good.
