shotgunshane’s IEM (custom and universal) recommendations, favorites and classics

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by shotgunshane, Jun 7, 2016.

  1. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    IME, most high end single DD IEMs fall under one of these categories:
    1) U shaped
    2) have a big 3kHz bump
    3) peaky treble
    4) a combo of 1&3 or 2&3

    It’s like, they end up f'ing up the tuning in an attempt to achieve something special. I can think of at least a few sub $300 single DD IEMs that have good tuning. So it’s not that it’s impossible to get a good tuning with a single DD.
     
  2. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Have you heard the AK T9iE? Not many impressions out there. Cable looks stupid fat, prohibiting a nice, snug fit. Best I can tell is they’ve made the bass more neutral over the previous models, ending with just a modest sub boost. However It also appears to not have enough upper mid bump?
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2020
  3. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    SGS, yea, that’s pretty much what I inferred from CSG_Linux’s measurement of the T9ie from this post. It doesn’t look very different from my IE800S, which is now packed and ready to be listed for sale, once the lockdown ends. The other recent high-end DDs like the JVC FW100000, Dunu’s Luna, Final’s A8000 all take the 3kHz bump a bit too far to DF/Harman levels. I haven’t heard the Acoustunes, but looks like they can be quite bright or peaky and exhibit metallic timbre. The Rhapsodio Eden, while not as U shaped as the Galaxy, apparently has dry mids and doesn’t have sufficient 3kHz bump. The Dream XLS is all hyped up and the measurement says it sucks. At this rate, I am not holding my breath for a nicely tuned, high-end DD IEM.
     
  4. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Saw this posted over at HF about the upcoming Moondrop Spaceship Reference. Looks pretty good, if true.

    4A982864-F763-44B7-8FDA-D99E0C9EFC95.jpeg
     
  5. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    If True, that is....
     
  6. FlySweep

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    ER4SR-ish tuning w/o the deep insertion.. me likey, but I'll believe it when trusted ears hear them. You planning on getting it SGS?
     
  7. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    It’s supposed to be a budget model around $50 or so, if I’m not mistaken. So yeah, I’ll buy one when released.
     
  8. Brause

    Brause Friend

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    To be released end of May. I got one coming.
     
  9. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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  10. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Smaller Solaris, interesting.
     
  11. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    @purr1n, Looks like the new CFA Ara is one to get our grubby SBAF hands on.

    Supposedly it’s the most neutral CFA tuning to date. While inspired by Andromeda Gold (similar BA configuration) and MW10 (Japanese only special edition Andromeda), it’s definitely a unique tuning in the their line up. Extra bass drivers but flatter bass for supposedly better texture. Also no crossovers for better coherence/clarity.

    Here’s an overlay with Andromeda 2020 measurements from Jude’s interview with Ken and Caleb:

    9237D077-0BD9-44C8-9FDA-F66AD8823CE3.png

    Also, CFA are using a new boot of some sort to hold all the drivers in the new models. The boot is said to vastly improve tolerances from unit to unit, eliminating some of the hand made variances.
     
  12. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Great to see they tamed the bass down on Ara, compared to Andro Gold.
    Their elevated bass was my main complaint with the SEG and I had a EQ with a bass shelf @ -3dB.
    I was always annoyed having to rely on EQ for them to sound good with everything (I changed my practices since then and EQ is a tool I use a lot more often), but I really loved the improved clarity and coherence over OG Andro!

    Glad to see some of the MW10 made it as well. Never heard them (due to lack of availability in the US) but the feedbacks/reviews were all very positive!
     
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I wonder if my ears will do a better job with the smaller Solaris. I don't think so due to how weird the shell is with my ears. The standard Andro shell fits my ears a lot better and I have no complaints with that shell.

    Still would like to hear it, but lately I been on the DD bandwagon. Haven't been the biggest fan of using the iFi Match on my amps.
     
  14. obsiCO

    obsiCO Thai Fish Experiment Gone Wrong

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    Noobie opinion coming thru: A bit concerned about Ara's 8.5-ohm impedance. Would that be a problem? I mean, as good as it sounds, Andromeda is a total diva with its impedance curve that I would rather pop in an FDX1 and call it a day. I just hope Ara isn't like that.
     
  15. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    The new CFA offering is interesting, I am on the lookout for new IEMs, can't wait to see the reviews. Glad I didn't purchase anything. I am curious how they retuned the Andro.
     
  16. Biodegraded

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    If it's like the Andromeda Gold (also a 7BA no-crossover design), it might not be as bad as as the OG Andro - here's what Ken Ball had to say about the Gold:

    Whereas the OG Andro, from Purr1n's measurement, ranges from around 3 to 24.

    Edit: Nonetheless, I'm with you on the JVCs :)
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2020
  17. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Wow!
    I have the Moondrop Starfield since monday, and it's awesome for 100$. I dislike the tuning (Harman), the midbass is a bit bloated and the upper mids a bit coarse and rough, and this is discernible because everything else is at a very good level.
    I'm still getting used to it, so is early to give impressions, and also my first "serious" IEMs, but if the new model has less bass, a bit less upper mids with more refinement, it could be a winner ("more refinement" may be impossible for half the price btw).
    I bought them on purpose because I don't like the Harman target too much, but wanted to have something to compare before jumping to more expensive IEMs (I like a slightly mid-centric sound).
    Definitely, would be buying those for 50$ to try.
     
  18. EagleWings

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    All Moondrops are going to have that coarse/shouty upper-mids. The signature of many of their IEMs are based on their in-house target curve, I think it’s called the VSDF, which is not far from Harman curve. What is going to be unique about the SSR though is, it is going to have a more neutrally tuned bass, as they are shooting for reference tuning. This will only make the upper-mids even more coarse, shouty and intense.
     
  19. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    When you mention shouty mids, what kind of headphone would you say similar to? I know some people refer to HD 600 as shouty mids alittle, would it be similar to that?
     
  20. EagleWings

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    Actually a touch more intense than the HD600 and Utopia if you will. Keep in mind though I haven’t compared them side by side. I am basing this off of my isolated experiences. With the Moondrop IEMs, I would start getting fatigued after about 3-4 songs. With the 600 and Utopia, when I tried them, I was able to listen to them for longer periods without experiencing similar fatigue. Although I must add that I wasn’t listening to the same set of tracks on all occasions, which could play a role here. So take this observation with a grain of salt.
     

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