IEM for a stupidly small amount of money

Were it you could only hear what I have heard you would throw 3-4 figures at it. Just saying.

 

I just compared IE80, RHA T20, TFZ S5 modded. S5 compete with the other two very well which is amazing since the other two are much more expensive. However, S5 lacks a bit of clarity comparing with T20 and less soundstage comparing with IE80. T20 hits as hard as S5 in terms of bass with bass filter on and better clarity at least to my ear... The difference is very minor so S5 is real value for money.

 

I just read back through your posts and noted that you have both silver cabled and older "floppy" cabled versions.

Have you tried a different cable on the silver ones? or checked for whether the older ones have any additional filter material that the silvers are said to lack?
I'm curious as to whether these are the only two differences.

 

After living with several 'options' to be honest, I am not sure. Either my mods are inconsistent or the production is not consistent. I personally don't believe that the cable construction is what makes a difference.

Regardless, when optimized, these iems are to die for. Worth taking a chance and buying a pair or three.

 

I just read headfornia commenting on Series 5 and they recommend Gen 1 instead of new Gen 2. I am also very curious if there is any difference other than cable. According to them, Gen 1 sounds quite better....

 

optimialize everything!!!! 4 EVAAAAAA!!!!

sbaf=head-fi?

omg! kma! jhc! ttfn! giyf!

 

I would be inclined to at least try swapping it. Just because it's built pretty doesn't mean it'll sound pretty.

See:

 

Lol, I posted earlier that they removed the filter behind the nozzle on the new TFZ 5, making treble shoutier and harsher. The Original TFZ 5 has a safer sound that is a lot less offensive, and the inclusion of the filter allows users an option to mod it if they'd like.

 

Any chance of a photo of this filter?

 

Looks like the 5 series is back on Massdrop, shipping in October. For $63 I figured what the hell and joined.

 

I want to try it, but I don't think I want to gamble on getting a good one. Sure I could buy a few pairs I suppose...Lol

 

I'm willing to take the chance on one pair. If they're no good, I'm out.

 

You interested in trying em out. I have series 5 and 3 here, could send out both. I'm sure they will be one mass drop again and again

 

Wait there's filters included with the 5s?

 

Does anyone know when Series 7 come out? I see it on website but it is prototype photos. I guess that it is due out soon.

 

So did the front nozzle mod with some non-stick "ouchless" sterile pad (Curity telfa by J&J) instead of an alcohol wipe. Couldn't find any alcohol wipe in my medicine cabinet and these things are a bit like poly-fill used to stuffed into speakers. I cut a thin strip, but the stuff pretty much became wadding as I pushed the super thin grill back into place. The back of my grill seems sticky, but not sure if the "stickiness" is caused by actual adhesive or just rough edges around the grill holes. The effect was very pleasing as the high frequency spikes have been attenuated.

EDIT: Can confirm what @Jjwfr said, after removing the grill there is nothing down to the driver. It's just an empty tunnel.

Mid-bass thump is still present but was trying the 2 types of small tips that can actually fit in my ears. The single layer silicon tip may be too tight for my ears and greatly enhances the bass thump. The 2-layer silicon tip decreases the bass, but still need to see if it is too much or not. I am trying to avoid the Hara Kiri mod, for now.

Any suggestions for small tips that fit these? Do the Spiral Dots fit? Also which size Comply's fit these? I am looking for options. Thanks!

 

I met up w/Mr_Oy yesterday and got to hear the modded S5 that has turned his world upside down. I see why it has... The sound coming out of that thing is really something to behold, regardless of whether it is from an $80 phone, or flagship IEM. We listened to the Andromeda along with it, and the Fidue A91 Sirius which I just picked up last last week. Amazingly it was the preferable phone even compared to these top tier ~1K flagships. To me, what really made it so wonderful sounding was the amount of detail and resolution it conveys, while having all of the perfectly weighted mids and bass that only dynamic IEMs can bring. It sounded surgically insightful, while having that deep hitting low end that the Andromeda doesn't. Funny enough, we both thought the Sirius was quite similar sounding... but I think I heard slightly better dynamic extension on either end with the modded S5. Crazy considering the Sirius is an $850 phone.

I know he's trying really hard to work out a controllable and predictable result with the mods, and if so, I really think these modded S5's can show man people what the joys of great sound are about while not costing much at all. I had a gen1 S5 with me that I left with him to do for me, hopefully I'll wind up with one that sounds just like his best result, and he'll gain some grund in figuring out what makes this easily repeatable. Was a fun afternoon...

 

Mr_Oy and I have discussed these phones extensively over the past several months. It is good to read that others are hearing what we have been hearing as it really is a pleasure. These phones, when optimized(mods necessary) are truly phenomenal. I have literally sold off all of my other gear/earphones/headphones save for a few, basically out of laziness.

It is true that the phones/mods are inconsistent. I don't know why for sure (don't think Oy does either, yet) but he is working hard on finding out why. It is likely production variance or modding variance. In any event, I have purchased several pairs of these, and when properly modded, as cn11 noted above, the sound these IEMs produce is heavenly.

Btw, cn11, did you listen to my S5s with the Litz cable?

 

I got the tsx 200 and they fit alright

 

I can only find the newer models of TFZ S5 for sale. Will I lose out on anything by getting those? (Assuming I perform all three mods)