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

thanks...were you also at the show?
anything catch your eye?

some of Tyll's thoughts were that more progress has been made with headphones than with iems:

''Day two in the big top. Man there's a lot of IEM makers in here. Maybe it's because the barriers to entry are low, but I sure wouldn't want to be in that business...the competition is fierce. Worse, each manufacturer has numerous products in the line, oft times touting a different tuning for each product. Headphones have gotten a lot better over the last few years, but I don't see the same progress on the in-ear side...or not as much anyway. Too many bright IEMs, it seems to me. I want to see someone who has a line that's nicely tuned throughout...and guess what, I did find a company with such a line. We'll get to that down the page.''
(looks like he's referring to the Radius line)
Read more at http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/canjam-rmaf2016-day-2#xu6ibkbGtd9xC0Ja.99

found one review on the radius w4 model that Tyll referenced:
http://ohm-image.net/opinion/audiophile/review-radius-wn4-hp-twf41

 

also JH is coming out with a custom 3 driver for $599.

(also from Tyll's reporting), hopefully you'll get a listen
image: http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/RMAF2016_Day1_Photo_JH3X.jpg

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''And last but not least for today, had a listen to the new JH13 Pro V2 and JH 16 Pro V2. On quick listen I felt they were both incremental improvements over previous models. But the one that caught my ear was the new JH3X Pro, a $599 3-driver custom in-ear. Really a nicely balanced, straight down the middle, entry level custom. After hearing the Astell&Kern Michelle universal fit, I've got to believe it's based on this new JH Audio model.''
Read more at http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/canjam-rmaf2016#Eph5W1lfdLbjUdDi.99

 

the new radius lineup are having a bit different house sound than they used to be known (bassy). And their new ToTL named Twf41, surely in a light/neutral side of bass.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=661150910730432&id=632134210298769

You can check about my impression on my blog/page but sorry you need to use google translate

 

Haven't heard the Radius, dual drivers is the hill they chose to die on and it looks like they are still going strong. I'll be interested to read Tyll's impressions
Paging Tyll, @Tyll Hertsens Tyll to the white courtesy phone, please.

Oh, and from that innerfidelity article:
"When David Teng showed me a Heil Air Motion Transducer at CES earlier this year that was about an 8mm square with the intention of putting it in an IEM I just couldn't believe it would work. Wrong! The new EAMT-1W is a dual driver IEM with a coaxial configuration pairing the novel HAMT driver with a Neodymium Dynamic Driver. The sound was jaw-droppingly good. My jaw also dropped at the $4000 price tag...but hey, it did sound really good.
Read more at http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/canjam-rmaf2016-day-2#SLRgQMhdbp6otXlz.99"

I've heard both the FLC and andro (and I think a few others have as well). The FLC was good for what it was, with the ability to shape the tuning ending up for my ears having one or two successful ways to shape the sound and a bunch of not so successful ways. It's been quite a while, but it was a good mid-fi offering. The Andro is in another tier and will be a step up in the coherence and clarity of the sound. I would look at the andro thread here, there are some great positive reviews, occasional hype, some good negative caveats brought up (this isn't head-fi, we all know here that no earphone is for everyone). I think between that and the measurements, you'll get a good sense of it. I think you'll find the Andro to be a perfect upgrade for you, depending on how you handled the FLC's treble (if you let it ride, then you're good to go, if you tried to damp it down, then another option like the UERR might be better).

 

oops sorry...didn't mean to have so many quotes in here...apologize for that.

yes i was to post that $4000 iem, too....wow...for that cash i'd rather have a nice set of cans.

but thanks for your suggestion...appreciated...
i do recall jokerl in his review on headphonelist about the flc 8s said it's treble to be 'energetic' and vsonic gr07-ish.
coming from the sony mdr7550 i wasn't sure what he meant (given my exposure to iems is much more limited
than many of you on this forum)....i have it earlier in this thread.....they don't quite wow me (flc 8s)...of course it's all about the music quality you're feeding it, i realize: can't put lipstick on a pig.

anyway, i do think i like a slightly more warmish iem, with the same fab bass slam as the sony 7550 or ex800/1000st
but without the shitfit and crap cable...still love to hear resolution and details....so i'm not sure if the andromeda would do it for me as i do sometimes wish to 'damp down' the treble (i'm using red, gray and gray as filter settings).
....so wish sony would come out with an updated version of the venerable 800/1000st/7550...there is such a following.
...make it a 'high res' more upgraded model, with a better design.

might also check out the fender fx series as shane's thoughts give them a sort of warm but punchy/resolving sig i'm seeking http://intl.fender.com/en-CA/series/in-ear-monitors/

 

Okay, so no on the Andro for you.

If you like the ex800, have you considered the z5? @Warrior can chime in as he has them both. I've heard both thanks to him and my spit take is that the z5 can really grow on a person who likes bass and a warm sound. The in-house armature adds detail to mids and treble and sounds good with relaxed highs. Fit is quite a bit better as well, but we are still in sonyland. I think warrior had a new cable on his, he may have something to say about that, I defer to him on it.

 

Yes, I did purchase both the upgraded stock cable, and an aftermarket cable. I haven't done any abing between the new cable and upgraded stock due to the finicky connectors.

However, what @Kunlun stated is 100% accurate, the Z5 grows on you. Of course you need to love bass, but it really is a great iem. When I first received it, I almost put it up for sale, I didn't like it at all. Bass was sloppy and it sounded like a mess. I believe the new cable improved on it dramatically as I didn't listen to it anymore until I received the new cable. It was a night and day difference. My love has only grown stronger since.

I haven't had the opportunity to ab my Z5 and ex800st yet (they are out on loaner), but the Z5 has gone up significantly in my rankings.

 

Some thoughts on the Radius TFW41: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...nwood-ha-fx850-to-the-fx1100.1831/#post-85426

 

I more or less concur with your impressions, especially with regards to the treble peaks though I wasn't able to pinpoint their frequencies. It's not quite sibilance, as it does not show up in my typical "sibilant tracks". It does make a very good pairing with the Sony ZX2 though, such that I have ordered a secondhand ZX2.
Again as already mentioned, fit is an issue, not just with nozzle shape, but the housing as well, as it sticks out quite a bit which results in poor weight distribution, and the cable-down design doesn't help there. The cable itself is quite poor as well, being both microphonic and rolled off at the top (and yet doesn't relieve the treble peaks).

That said, I have been using mine for a few months, albeit not very regularly, and didn't feel the urge to upgrade even after listening to the Andromeda. It is a very pleasant sounding IEM apart from the treble peaks, but not for those who value comfort.

 

Hmm should I get a brand new Empire Ears Spartan or should I get a 2nd hand Oriolus V2... Suggestions?

 

I tried the Spartan at RMAF. Very nice IEM. If you could only buy one pair, I'd reco the Spartan.
If you can buy a big/fun pair + a more neutral pair, then the Oriolus 2 is a guilty/fun pleasure. Some really dig the Oriolus 2, some can't get past the slower/less controlled bass and lack of coherence between dynamic and BA drivers. Oriolus also has more relaxed top end, but just enough balance to hold my attention and just enjoy music.

 

@shotgunshane Have you heard the ibasso IT03?, Hype train was going fast on HF. Anyone else hear it?

 

Sure thanks!! That helped me a lot. I think I will go ahead with the Spartan then, or do you have any other recommendation around this price range?

 

The Perfect Seal AR6 was recommended to me by SGS.

 

Perfect Seal reshell for $150

 

Oh. I am looking at Universals actually. Does Perfect Seal have Universals?