Best Portable player/IEM combo

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by Malik, Mar 28, 2018.

  1. Malik

    Malik New

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    Guys i must really apologize for bringing this topic as i suspect this has been discussed. I really tried to get the best info i could from discussed topics and i found myself a little confused.
    Can you suggest me AN ULTIMATE portable player/IEM combo?
    I myself tend to this:

    Portable players:

    Pioneer XDP-300R
    Onkyo DP-X1A
    Astell&Kern AK320 or ULTIMA SP1000

    IEMS:

    H Audio JH13PRO Freqphase
    Empire Ears Spartan IV Custom
    Custom Art FIBAE 2

    Hidition The NT 6
    Campfire Vega
    some noble earphones?


    I would be so much glad if you could give me some more thoughts. Best does not mean more expensive too...
    BTW do i really need a portable player for this kind of IEM or my Samsung Note8 would do fine with it?! LOL
    Thank you so much
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2018
  2. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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  3. Malik

    Malik New

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    I think i will go custom Empire Ears or Noble but again custom. Andromeda is very good gear indeed but its universal may have wind issues. Plus when u buy 1k+ earbuds damn they must look cool too and Andromeda looks very industrial. Im 37 years russian ponk cant wear green shit lol! But i will take a look at sony portable player u advise!
    Thanks for your reply Famish99!
     
  4. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    I've owned customs before, I don't recommend them since they're kind of a maintenance nightmare. Universal fit can have just as good isolation as a custom, but a lot less maintenance to deal with.
     
  5. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    You had to have a bad experience as IMO these ain't bad at all. If fit is good, CIEMs are more convenient in comparison to universals and in terms of isolation clearly better, especially silicone products (ACS etc). Other than occasional wax removal (which is a subjective matter), there's no maintenance at all.
     
  6. k.e.

    k.e. Winning combo: narcissistic and stupid

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    That's a very random list of earphones you proposed. What is your preferred signature? Have you listened to something like the Vega? In my opinion it is brutal on both ends.

    A high-end combo that I feel comfortable to recommend would be iBasso DX200/ Amp1 with InEar ProPhile 8. It does suggest that you are looking for little coloration and not excessive warmth and bass.
    The overall price is more than fair for the performance you get, but you probably can save a bit if you go for the DX150 with same amp module, but I haven't tried the 150 yet.

    If you want to use your phone/ laptop as source, the portable DAC JDS Labs C5D has incredible performance with IEMs.

    Personally, I would pick CIEM over IEM if you have the money. I have 4 pairs of CIEM and I cannot confirm @famish99's issues. Never had a problem. Huge improvement for fit and isolation.
    However, I don't know of any CIEM with the tuning of PP8. UERR comes close, but it doesn't have the same amount of clarity. VE8 is very similar to Andro with a much improved midrange, but at what price? Difficult to recommend unless you are a top-earner.
     
  7. Malik

    Malik New

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    Tomorrow i go to Empire dealer, JH dealer and Nobel dealer! I'm gonna check all the products they have and after i pick one i will pair with diff portable players. I tend to go to JH actually cause its a pioneer company who actually started this IEM business! They will have my ear 3d shit send it to US and i will wait like 1 month to get this shipped!
    I dont want to like something more than 1k for ears and 1k for portable player LOL. We will see! Since i know myself... once i like something i get it.
     
  8. Malik

    Malik New

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    I tried Andromeda and... i kinda liked it but... not that much. Seemed a little dry and analytic to me. Campfire dealer didn't have Vega on demo so i could not check but then i decided that no matter how it sounds i think i would get not worse any other custom one from another manufacture since i go only custom! Will have problems with selling? Well i must check carefully to make it regular end game iem till i dont lose or *uck them up! Oh by the way, i listen mostly to Psychill, Downtempo Psy, Psychedelic. This need bass and midrange clarity and widespace sound. am i trying to describe a perfect earphones?! God.. we all want it to be perfect for any music gender lol
     
  9. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    I have runny earwax, so it kept gumming up the CIEMs because the wax filter wasn't able to block the liquid. (I had 2 pairs from ACS before I finally called it quits).

    I normally wouldn't recommend the Vega to people even though i own a pair, it's definitely my guilty pleasure headphone. However, it's possible you could have issues with BA sound (I also found this out after owning a bunch of them) which is why I ended up getting the Vega over the Andro myself. I don't find the treble on the Vega offensive personally, if anything I find it rolls off too much for my liking, but the bass definitely is excessive. The bass is clean and detailed, but the amount is definitely too much unless you EQ in my opinion. With your preference in EDM, it's possible it's a plus for you though.

    (edit: for Vega clarification)
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2018
  10. k.e.

    k.e. Winning combo: narcissistic and stupid

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    @Malik I just noticed you're from Russia. Have you checked audio-ph.ru? It's a great review site.
     
  11. Malik

    Malik New

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    I must say i never tried BA except Andromeda and i listened them for like 2-3 mints and may be didn't get some special characteristics of its BA type. This is a very good point Famish, i possibly will compare with dynamic/hybrid types so i can distinguish sound. I also will have a look at Vega since they brought one today for me. I will have some big listening process today and will report my impressions!
     
  12. Malik

    Malik New

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    No man, we are poor we dont review expensive stuff man. Only corrupted people like me can afford buying this shit man.
     
  13. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    The Spartans can be very good but make sure the player you use has an OI as close to 0 as possible.
     
  14. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    Always spend most on the earphone. Grab a zx300a from joybuy...easily best value in terms of dac. I think the price difference on the wm1a is not worth it.
     
  15. Malik

    Malik New

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    After listening all iems from $500 to 3k i ended up ordering custom JH Roxanne2. I just loved the sound!
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2018
  16. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Fair enough. This can be troublesome. Fully understood.
     
  17. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Yup, headphones/CIEMs or IEMs are a solid foundation of every system. Agreed.
     
  18. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    Is Joybuy legit? They've got the zx300 for 360 right now, which is crazy.
     
  19. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    Yes. They send via EMS to USA so it takes about 8 days or so. English is included. Only diff is 16 gigs instead of 64, which can be allevated with a bigger microsd.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2018
  20. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    Is this real life?
     

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