NSFW: SuperBAF Best of 2015 Golden Schlong Awards

Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by purr1n, Dec 8, 2015.

  1. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    I think that so many of our Founding Fathers have the UERM, or something like the Double BA like the DBA-02, etc for out and about, that they just aren't interested in the field. Throw in a couple disappointing initial listens to a W40, etc. and well... I'm basically left with my ATH-IM02 and either ready to give up on portable hifi or go for the UERR. Really, what you're describing is true of the whole portable field. If you have a clip+, you don't need a fiio whatever, etc. If you have a XPT or VModa M80 (and can put up with the pain), do you really need another portable. The CS/SBAF pioneers largely seem to be into portable for out and about/travel, and not for all day usage.

    Personally, I'd love a thread from you, or any other SBAFer, that has your own value with portable options. It's a fine idea. But I don't expect Purrin to buy, listen, rate what he's not into. Honestly, lots of the stuff would just end up getting a S.
     
  2. ohshitgorillas

    ohshitgorillas Friend

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    Just my two cents, I've been really impressed with Aurisonics IEM offerings, especially the Rockets and ASG1+, the latter being the only hybrid dynamic/BA in-ear that's tuned to neutral(ish, there's a little bump to the bass), at least that I'm aware of. It's awesomely resolving and has the best, most realistic timbre and imaging I've ever heard from an IEM.

    Re: OP, bravo. It's nice to see so much of the mediocre stuff out there get rated as such. also lol dicks.
     
  3. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    Once I got my UERMs, I basically just stopped looking at IEMs altogether. I think for most UERM owners, the UERMs do almost everything we want them to do. The UERRs have been the most exciting portable related news that I've heard all year.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Feel free to chime in on IEMs. I guess I could list more, but the IEM crowd is a bit trickier because I've noticed most IEM people prefer a bit more bass and warmth and don't mind treble peaks. I have my UERMs and I haven't looked back. UERR isn't out yet. Maybe I could ask CEE TEE to set me up, after all I did write a great piece on UE on HF (http://www.head-fi.org/t/674287/a-journey-with-ultimate-ears-factory-tour) and I have had good conversations with Mike Dias in the past.

    I couldn't get a chance to listen to the Savants at T.H.E. SHOW because Noble only had one pair available and someone was always listening to it. The Layla was shit. The Angie didn't work for me. The JH13FP was shit. The Roxanne was shit. The 1plus2 was bassy in a kind of nice way but with stupid ass thick cables because the guy who makes them is totally into stupid ass thick cables. The ASG I tried was nice but with strange overly silky fuzzy tribble treble. I still like the ER4S with the right plugs and deep insertion. Same thing with DBA-02. FitEar TG334 was OK with a bit of stridency. In hindsight, the K3003 perhaps were not rip-offs after all. The FAD stuff was f'ing weird. The UE-4 is nice, a bit bright. The Campfire Audio BA (whichever one that was) I liked quite a bit. The Lyra (dynamic I think) were really interesting but had funky FR that probably needed to be worked out.

    In a nutshell, with IEMs, it's the same ol' same ol' shit and really something I don't even like to comment much on. Most IEMs to me are M or S with sound quality usually inversely proportional to price.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2016
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    The problem described is spot on.

    Once i had UERM, all my other IEMs were instantly relegated to the "crap" category. Hell, I even picked up all the regular recommendations from the rockets to the supras. I've also tried to demo the new JH offerings and the Noble 4/K10 at meets and nothing seems to be able to dislodging the UERM from it's position as "the only IEM I need".
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I added UERM and Campfire Jupiter, both VG.
     
  7. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    Exactly.

    I've had the JH16s. They were were alright, but they had this boat anchor of a DAC/amp combo that I didn't love. And an adapter. And 4 cables to each ear. I bought them on the Hype-Fest like 3 years ago.

    I've tried lots of mid and low-fi IEMs but until someone come close to beating the UERM (and maybe even the UERR) why are we even having this discussion?

    The UERM is so good I'm considering selling all of my work headphone rig and just going with UERM + Gungnir Multibit + some amp to be named later.
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    1. Anything from JHA: overpriced crap with a lot of drivers or at best overpriced mediocrity with a lot of drivers with Jude dribbling drooling all over their crap.
    2. Anything from UE: guaranteed cohesiveness - wide range of FR targets - pick what you like
    3. Anything from Noble: a viable alternative to UE, but godammit, WTF is up with the "Wizard" shit from the fanboys. Maybe only one or two guys I know in the entire industry deserve that title, and they've been around a long long long long time.
    4. Anything from FAD: you guys from Japan gotta stop the scat fetish
    5. Anything from China: f**k off and die, stop sending free or discounted shit to people for good reviews
    6. Anything cheap that can be found on Amazon: might be a few gems
    7. Anything from Harmon: can we bring Kardon back?
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2015
  9. Bobcat

    Bobcat Friend

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    I think the "wizard" part is less the internal design than the external artistic designs, honestly. He does come up with some very striking designs (doesn't change how they sound, of course :) and it's hard to admire the design when you're listening unless you habitually stand in front of a mirror while listening). Below is mine.

    Rob

    [​IMG]
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I thought the title was more self-appointed than anything else.
     
  11. Bobcat

    Bobcat Friend

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    Oh, it is, no doubt about that. But I think a lot of the focus is the artistic part.

    Rob
     
  12. Gravity

    Gravity Friend

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    I didn't say the G rating was a mistake. I haven't even heard the amplifier myself, I bought it in blind faith. I was just being curious that is all. I know perfectly well that hype-fi can't be trusted ;)

    Nice, LG is a really great amplifier in my opinion eventhough, as you've stated, it's somewhat overpriced.

    I have not heard the Master 7, yet, but you confirm what I've heard other places. That the sound wasn't optimal before the Amanero was implemented. I wonder how the new Master 7 compares to the new DAC-19. It's probably overpriced, but I hear it's because of the discontinued chips, wether that is true I don't know though. What did it originally cost?
    You should really give the new DAC-19 a go, and put it on a loaner tour. I'm sure many on SBAF would apreciate that |{
     
  13. Koloth

    Koloth Klingon SBAF Ambassador - Friend

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    Hey @Griffon , I am still very interested in (U)IEM's. I've had my hands full with other stuff the last few weeks (final exams at university etc), but I'll be more present on SBAF in the coming weeks. I have a few different things I want to approach. A restructured SBAF IEM leaderboard is certainly something I would love to see. However I had to realize that it's very hard for me to organize loaner and review tours of IEM's given that I'm in Switzerland and the bulk of SBAF users are in the US. I did write to a few companies but so far noone seems willing to play ball and send their product around to get shredded by a couple of pirates. But yeah. I'll try to get something going in the next weeks.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2015
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Part of the reason is that I lost crucial portions of my IEM measurement setup, so I need to rebuild that again. Shouldn't be hard, but just lazy and so much more to do. I can get back into the IEM measurement thing, but someone else needs to take the lead on the IEM reviews as honestly I have zero interest in anything other than the UERR at this time. The IEM arena at SuperBAF is definitely undeserved, although I did buy a pair of cheepo MeeTec's from Amazon the other day.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2015
  15. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    OMG MY SIDES AHHAHAHAH

    :bow:
     
  16. jomamasan

    jomamasan Acquaintance

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    Geez Marv, you sure articulated my feelings about the Bifrost Multibit in most respects. Very nice for the money but resolution and bass has disappointed me a just a bit. Maybe I over expected.
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Thanks, I'm glad someone validated that I wasn't insane. Actually, I know Jason hears the same thing (we haven't really talked about it, but I just know, you know?) I expect Bifrost Multibit 2 will be totally fixed when it comes around in two years or less.
     
  18. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Thanks for the impressions. I think measured criticism becomes even more important in the midst of unanimous praise. To avoid the HF cultist circlejerk thing.

    For me Bifrost Multibit is a very enjoyable DAC, great value for money, but it seems to have pleasant tonality at the expense of resolution.
     
  19. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Yeah, well, I counter with thinking you're insane...?

    Really can't wait to hear the Gungnir Multibit myself. I have no doubt it deserves the golden schlong award.
     
  20. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    This is my favorite review of the wizard:
     

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