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

Interested! I remember liking the SM3v2 alot when I had it 3 years ago, think it had a rolled off treble but virtually free of peaks. Nice bass that had dynamic driver like qualities to it. Thought the presentation was kind of cool and unique too, spacious yet in-your-face vocals. Didn't do too well with micro-detail retrieval as it was kind of thick and slow sounding

Actually wouldn't mind a similar sound sig. but more high-fidelity like shotgunshane said

 

I had the chance to demo the IBasso IT03 at a local retailer this evening. It was an impromptu session - without my portable rig for any semblance of useful comparison. I was only able to test chunks of 3-4 tracks in total, with Tidal streaming on my iPhone 6. For what it's worth, the demo unit had been burnt in for 13 hours each day since Saturday. Do the math.

Based on this session, my initial impressions are mixed:

• Sub-bass sounded excellent. Texture was particularly great. The tremendous reverb is quite unlike any BA IEM that I've heard thus far.
• Mid-bass, whilst slightly less copious, bled slightly into the mids.
• Some 'haze' with male vocals. I couldn't get my head around it, but something sounded off with vocals, almost hollow.
• High frequencies were rather strange as well. Nothing wrong with extension, just... blunted and lacking in sparkle.
• It seems that there's some issue with driver coherency here.
• Detail and resolution were spectacular. Every little nuance in the music was clearly discernible.

Some other observations:

• Build quality seems pretty good. Definitely not cheapo made.
• Fit personally was a huge issue because the bore diameter was huge and my ear canals are small. I pushed them so hard in that my right canal is actually sore right now.
• There are two tiny vents. One right below the bore, the other around the region of the concha when the IEM is inserted.
• I couldn't pinpoint the exact issue but due to the slightly different anatomy of each ear, blockage of (at least one of) the vent on my right side completely muffled the sound. I had to fiddle around considerably before getting a comfortable seal and proper sound.

This audition has likely saved me from shelling out $250 on these, fit and comfort being the absolute dealbreaker. I'll try to find a separate day to revisit the store and hopefully get an extended session with the IT03 with longer run-in. This time I'll be sure to bring along my gear for referencing.

 

i so wish sony came out with an updated version of this, but had a more flushed fit...and a better cable.
i bought the flc 8s as i accidentally broke my 7550s (fragile cable and connection)
...and while i like the details and resolution of the flc 8s overall i do miss the slight warmth and bass slam and bottom end of the 7550s...sometimes i'm asking 'where's the beef' for the bass (and i'm not into overly bloated inflated bass)
but the fit and isolation of the 7550 sucks (for me, esp for walking around..wind noise) ...yes i know they were made for studio use not portable.

hawaiiboy in headfi kindly suggested the jvc ha fx 1100 as an alternative (i'm seeking a balanced sound but still with great bass slam/low end)

anything else on here, shane....? music is rock, blues, jazz

 

thanks for the suggestions.....hopefully you'll also review the flc 'celeste' coming out...it got rave reviews at the canjam i believe a few months ago...or was that the singapore one?...anyway.....looking forward to your fender reviews too.n
also thanks for btg repair...but the sonys went to the trash bin long ago, i'm afraid

btw..anything from dunu you'd suggest to check out: detailed, balanced but still fab bass slam/low end?

 

thanks, as always...yeah i've heard that of the new dunu series, too:
fit is not as good as earlier models.

will check out the 1plus....but still await your fender reviews
(have read some good things on the newer models...but CS is 'meh-ish'
according to some headfiers.

what is your op of the flc 8s btw?
i've read nmatheius and others are going to demo a celeste prototype near final stages, in a week or so
and meet forrestwei....too bad you couldn't be a part of that, too

will be interesting to see the sound of trinity audio's new phantom series
(esp the master with push/pull and 6 drivers)

 

Westone is very committed to that house sound. I've yet to hear the W50 or 60 but, from trying so many other Westones over the years, I don't know why they bother coming out with anything new. You already know what it is going to sound like: not offensive, but muddy and uninspiring.

 

So I went back for another audition of the IT03. Brought my Geek Out v2+ along with my customs. Neglected to bring my 2.5mm TRRS adaptor. Damn. So I snagged the Pinnacle P1 for comparison instead.

Summary of findings:

• IT03 sounds much better through the GOv2 single-ended compared to my iP6. No more weird treble bluntness.
• This unit (separate shop I visited) probably had a longer run-in. Slight mid-bass bloat/bleed no longer held true. Confirmed by plugging it into my iP6 once more.
• 'Haze' in the midrange was much reduced but still subtly present.
• Very upfront presentation throughout the entire frequency range.
• Overall stage is rather flat. Layering of instruments is average.
• Bass is pretty damn good. Hits real hard with real pleasant, slow-ish decay. Extends really low. Timbre is spot on.
• Treble bluntness is not there, but timbre is still slightly off. Apparent with hi-hats, cymbals.
• You need cavernous ear canals to get a comfortable fit and seal with these. At the end of the 2 hour session I could take no more.

Now here's the twist. I came in with the primary intention of auditioning the IT03, and I ended up walking off with the Pinnacle P1 as a new purchase.

• Fit and finish - WOW. I'll be honest here. Always blindly assumed that Meelectronics / Mee Audio were a typical cheapish low-fi Asian company, albeit with decent value. I stand corrected. Metallic housing feel absolutely solid. MMCX connectors extremely sturdy.
• The cable - WTF? Braiding is beautiful. Supple, seemingly tangle resistant. Just extremely well built.
• Comfort is great personally. Housings are heavier than they look (oh hai, metal), but they are also small, and fit snugly.
• Overall presentation is balanced.
• Terrific extension on both ends.
• Mid-bass seems to be dialed down intentionally to give greater emphasis to sub-bass.
• Overall bass quantity is slightly small, certainly much less than the IT03. Good punch, but tighter and faster.
• Mids. Honestly still haven't decided how to qualify it yet. I'm not sure this makes any sense, but it sounds vivid, engaging and yet slightly distant all at the same time. I like it very much.
• Airy, good soundstage, and great imaging. Certainly much more 3-dimensional than the IT03. Placement of instruments is more realistic and accurate.
• Timbre across the spectrum is superb. Definitely one of the best I've heard in any IEM thus far.
• Sound is very natural and coherent. No stridency.
• The IT03 initially sounded more resolving and detailed, owing to how upfront the presentation is. Every nuance is thrown straight in your face. But after critical listening, the P1 proved itself to be on par with the IT03. It was however more nuanced, precise, and gave an emotionally engaging experience that the IT03 was unable to match.

I can't remember the last time I actually walked into a store with the intention to make a direct purchase, let alone an inadvertent one. The P1 came in at just a tad over $200 USD, and the overall package and sonic impression it left on me made it almost a no-brainer. Given the ridiculous prices floating around in the portable market nowadays, I think the Pinnacle P1 really is stupendous value.

Edit: Now back at home listening in a more conducive environment with the Bifrost Multibit -> Liquid Carbon through the SE outputs.

• I no longer find bass slightly lacking. In fact, I'd say its neutral - very slightly north of neutral. A direct comparison with my Earwerkz Supra II, reshelled UERM indicate as much. Just for reference sake, bass quantity is also higher than Bifrost Multibit > Valhalla 2 > HD600.
• I'm really digging the treble on these. To reiterate, extension is fantastic. There's a fair bit of sparkle, yet because the highs are very slightly recessed relative to the midrange, it doesn't give the perception of excessive brightness.
• This is perhaps the greatest difference running the P1 through my desktop rig as opposed to the GOv2+. The GOv2+ gets quite hot with several other IEMs I've auditioned in the past. Whilst not that much on the P1, the accentuation is definitely still there. The Bifrost Multibit on the other hand has a really smooth overall character (sometimes almost to a fault), and appropriately imparts this to the P1 as well. It's a fantastic pairing.
• Staging and imaging of the P1 is quite something. The size of the stage isn't particularly massive. It's proportioned very well, with an enveloping, 3D-esque projection. In conjunction with the precise imaging, the spacial presentation is conveyed beautifully.

 

shane: the earsonics velvet was also suggested as a backup alternative to both the flc 8s and sony mdr 7550
(jokerl thought it one of the few iems that is both musical and also detailed/analytic).

but i see no reviews of this...
new fidue 91 also getting good reviews for having balance, detail and also great bass slam

a bit of conversation a few months ago: (started off with referencing the andromeda campfire)
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canali on July 11, 2016 5:16 pm

REPLY

• ljokerl on July 12, 2016 1:17 am
  FLC8 and 7550 is quite a contrast. Very rare for someone to enjoy two IEMs with such different sound signatures equally, but at least the comparison will definitively tell you which side of the fence you’re on.
  
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    REPLY
    • ljokerl on July 13, 2016 12:06 am
      The 7550 is a warmish, smooth, perhaps even slightly mid-centric IEM. IMO it’s what the classic Shure SE530/SE535 would sound like it they used a dynamic driver driver instead of BAs. Very easy-going sound that’s well-suited for many types of listeners. Perhaps not quite bassy enough for the mainstream, but neutral enough for music professionals and a good sound sig for audiophiles as well.
      
      The FLC8 is more like the GR07, can still be relatively neutral but it’s never mid-forward and hard to call smooth as it has very energetic treble. The tuning system makes it a little harder to generalize, but I tend to think of it as mildly v-shaped. Don’t see anyone finding the bass excessive, but it could be a little bright for someone used to an SE530, for example. That’s just sound signature, from a technical standpoint the FLC8 is extremely capable in every way.
      
      REPLY
      • Canali on July 13, 2016 6:11 am
        Thank you…so which side of the musical fence am I on? I guess we will find out. On this note i was reading Twisters recent review of The Campfire Andromeda and he said this is a rare iem that is able to combine both sides of the spectrum ..is it really that difficult to find such? I mean I love musical sounding cans and iems but also equally so detail, separation, balance and resolution.
        
        REPLY
        • ljokerl on July 13, 2016 11:01 pm
          Very difficult – the last one that made me feel that way was the EarSonics Velvet, which is ~$700 and not always readily available.
          
          But it’s really not all that black and white. All earphones fall somewhere along the spectrum, it’s the “midpoint” that will differ from one listener to another.
          
          Perhaps the MDR-7550 captures just enough of the “analytical” side of things for you, and anything beyond that will be too much, or perhaps you’ll have a tough time going back to it after hearing the level of resolution the FLC8 is capable of.
          
          Or maybe the opposite is true and the 7550 is a little too much on the neutral side already. There certainly are people who prefer Sony’s ridiculously bass flagship (the Z5) to the 7550. Some probably even consider its sound more natural.

If you don't mind looking used, the Aurisonics 1Plus is great. It's got similar bass levels to the 7550 but is tilted a little more to mid bass. It's also a little more sparky up top. It's great with my live rock albums. It kills with Stuck Mojo's HVY1 live album. I bought mine from a want ad on HF.[/QUOTE]

 

thanks for your help, shane.

 

great...thanks...have heard good things on the fender series.....
the upcoming trinity audio phantom master (6 drivers push/pull)
and FLC celeste also look interesting...do you plan on demoing those at all?

also, what iems upcoming intrigue you (not yet released or even still in development)?