Hey guys,
It's been a few weeks since Warbler generously provided me with my very own Prelude for review, so I thought I'd share my experiences with the IEM (and the company) thus far. Communication was initially a hurdle - with regards to speed, especially - but vast improvements have been made since the new year. The Warbler guys were extremely generous and collaborative during the design phase, providing me with tons of photos before I settled on my final design. I ended up opting for black shells with silver glitter, reddish Padauk wood faceplates and the metal Warbler logo on top. As you can see from the photo below, they ended up looking absolutely stunning!
As far as sound quality is concerned, they're just as fantastic as I remember. The Prelude's most striking aspect is certainly organicity in tone. Through its life-like timbre and impressively black background, the Prelude resolves notes beautifully; without the need for a brighter tone. Transparency is relatively high - despite some warmth due to okay treble extension - but stage separation, instrument solidity and resolution are simply unheard of from a single-driver.
The Prelude's bass - in terms of quality and life-liked-ness - is some of the best I've ever heard. A combination of naturalness in speed, tone and resolution amount to a low-end that's strangely un-woofer-like, yet immensely satisfying. It doesn't sound like it's being produced by a sub-woofer anymore; it sounds like the
real thing. Its midrange is where the magic lies. Elevated throughout its entire middle range, the Prelude infuses vocals and instruments alike with
soul. Bolstered by life-like dynamic performance, timbre and intimacy, the Prelude's midrange sounds exceptionally complete; with neither congestion nor sibilance in sight - a massive feat. Treble is equally as impressive. Although extension leaves much to be desired - leading to the Prelude's slight veil - articulation, speed and timbre all tick the boxes. Treble notes sound solid and rounded; rather than brittle or peaky. Great linearity avoids any form of incoherence, allowing instruments that are particularly sensitive to this range - including snare drums, vocal articulation, acoustic guitars, etc. - to fare with ease; creating a safe environment for any instrument in any genre, without prejudice. The Prelude's soundstage - though intimate - is impressively stable, with decent stereo spread, accurate imaging, and a rock-solid background to boot. All in all, even with the myriad of impressive IEMs I've heard in the new year, the Prelude is one of the best in (and above) its class. Its pitch-perfect balance of tone and resolution is rare, and its a
really promising display of what Warbler is capable of with so little. The full review shall come soon.