IEM for a stupidly small amount of money

I just pried it open with a little screwdriver. The plate is just glued on.
Should you decide to remove the rear damping membrane, prepare for some really out of control bass response. To fix this, you need extra dense damping.

 

I thought I was content listening to my triple mod S5 out of my iPhone 6/DFR combo. 'til I plugged these babies into my PC/Gungnir Multibit/LC setup. Holy bonkers Batman!

These phones can scale - ridiculously well. To the point that these will be the first phones, ear or head, that I will plug into my LAu when it arrives in the next month or three. Every aspect of the listening experience is elevated. Bass extension & control, treble extension but with detail AND smoothness, and mids that I think can only come from a dynamic driver that has an amplifier's death grip on them.

I will reiterate: if you haven't done all three mods, you haven't heard this phone.

Edit: Wide bore tips necessary.

 

Why is that? I usually use the smaller tips that come with a phone due to comfort and seal.

 

I don't know, personally. Maybe james or another more tech minded member can answer. All I know is wide bores are required for max enjoyment.

 

Wide bore tips usually prevents the "reverse horn" effect that narrow bore tips can create.. this effect typically dulls and/or attenuates treble.

 

Exactly. Might add that narrow bore tips themselves are not a problem, as long as the nozzle bore is the same size as the tip bore (example: Shure IEMs). However, sound exiting from the a wider nozzle bore like on the S5 and "squeezing" into a narrower tip bore can be prone to that effect.

In a very unscientific metaphor, I tend to picture it as the stronger bass outmuscling the weaker treble, as both try to squeeze through the narrow bore at the same time.

 

Just got S5 now. It is improved version so with braided cable. Cable looks and feels really great. Start burning it in...

 

Can we attach an image here? I try to attach image on post but not sure how...

First impression is not bad at all. The bass quantity is plenty as others already said and treble extends nicely. The bass is a bit veiled though. Will continue burning in for 10 hours to see if it improves...

 

After 5 hours burning in, just tried and Holy Cow.... I need to tame this bass quantity. Bass quantity is way too much for my taste. This is very similar sound signature to the iem that I recently sold, Sony MDR 7550/EX800ST. Monstrous bass + slightly muddy/veiled sound.... Continue burn in for another 20 hours and if it does not improve, I will start doing mod recommended....

 

@stratocaster when you say "S5", are you referring to "Series 5", or the new updated version of the same model?
Seems there's new "#S" updates to all the models. (I'm assuming @Decomo is referring to this, as it has braided cables now)
http://www.lendmeurears.com/tfz/

 

My S5 is not the updated version, it has the black rubbery cable.

 

My one is what Penon audio is currently selling as upgraded cable version. It has light braided cable. I would love to attach photo but not sure how to do it on this thread. By the way, cable is awesome.

 

It has been 11 hours straight burned in. Now I notice that bass tightened (previously quite loose) and sounds less muddy/veiled. I starting to like the sound.. Just tighter bass and higher clarity would make this IEM challenging my current favorite iems.

 

Do the mods and you will have tighter bass and higher clarity.

 

Yes, I will do after more burn in. One thing that I still could not figure out is how to put alcohol swab strips onto nozzle. Not sure if I need to put glue on it to stick on to nozzle or just wrap it on and seal it with ear tips.

 

I agree. It is not clear from the other posts how the strip is secured.

 

You can use a tape to secure it (cut long strip so you got enough space to work with) then cut the excess part out with nail clippers or anything small enough to go in and cut it.
I do that so i got my hand free to hold silicone strip for another part of mod.

 

I just held the strip (use 2 ply or double the swab) onto the nozzle and put the tip over it. Took a few tries but seems secure. Make sure to not cover the nozzle completely.