After spending far too much time on searching for the right IEM and ending up getting the timeless there is only one IEM that I may buy, because I am confident that I will prefer it over the timeless signature: Moondrop Variations. I already regret not buying it last week in the sale, because I didnât want to fuss over the shipping during Christmas, but with the current virus situation, chances are I will stay home during christmas regardlessâŠ
You still can EQ your Timeless. Thatâs the best feature of a planat driver.
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To be honest, I donât get why everyone is talking about the EQ-ability of the timeless/planar. You can EQ everything. And true⊠some IEMs are better or worse in that regard, but from what I have seen, the timeless isnât really special. I eq-ed the Blessing 2 much more and the end result was sounding better than an eq-ed timeless. I sold the Blessing 2 however, because the timeless sounds so much better when there is no eq around. And with major EQ the timeless falls apart just as much as other IEMs, I find.
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Itâs been widely tested/accepted that planar drivers can take a lot more deviation from their stock tuning before distorting and manifesting adverse effects. Compared to other driver technologies. Presumably thatâs why itâs being hailed as a perk.
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To my ears single DDs distort badly when you EQ them. The Timeless is perfect in that regard.
Thereâs only one DD which sticks out in my memory as taking bass EQ like nobodyâs business. Itâs one of JVCâs earbuds (just found what I think it is - over-ears, âSZ2000â if you want to YouTube it, I donât want to cause a distraction in this thread with video links). Not sure if itâs good at much else! Just found HBB created one of the video demos.
If I remember correctly that JVC SZ2000 is a bass Canon.
I am with you. I also have the Apple dongle, and the Timeless sounds good on it. I also have a cheap Stouchi branded one I got on Amzon, that goes a bit louder. I usually listen on a BTR5, but the volume is sufficient on a cheap USB-C dongle.
I really like the sound on the Timeless, and have pretty decided that I view it as the compliment I wanted to go with the Mele, so I am pretty happy with them as well.
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If you ever want to upgrade the mele: oxygen. 
Not trying to tempt you or anything.
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The 2021 Hana were really good too, and about $100 cheaper.
I am not sure what I am doing next, but I am hitting pause for a couple months, and saving some money. I have thought that one of Mangrid Tea, Tanchjim Hana, or Tanchjim Oxygen, might be next. The new Tin T3 Plus looks interesting too, but I am looking for a step up, not lateral.
I have been thinking about a pair of AGK K702 as well ( I am an open back listener too, just fewer hours, mostly after work ). I have been curious, due to the wide sound stage for the money, which seem very appealing.
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So, the timeless, oxygen and mele probably hit my preferences better than any other IEMs I have heard. Where they are really different is in note presentation. All 3 have that BGGAR approved tonality (which happens to also be me approved).
I think steps up is going to be difficult. The same things you like about the mele, that dynamic response and richness of the notes, even if it isnât as smooth or precise as the timeless, also comes across in the oxygen. But the oxygen is technically better (but still not as precise as the timeless to my ears). I would call the oxygen a sidegrade to the timeless in that it embodies that dynamic richness and deep texture bass, which the timeless canât do, but doesnât really do anything else outright better.
One of my goals currently is to find the next step up above the timeless that isnât 3, 4 or 5 times the price. Havenât found it yet.
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My phone has shit audio that pops when it plays bass for some reason(tested with SE215 and a KZ) but my timeless just doesnât have any of that popping sound itâs just clean bass.
A thing to note is that I can hear some kind of white noise like sound when females are talking never mind cymbals/bells/female singing that caused this white noise artefact to bury the rest of the audio. I partially got around that by stuffing tiny bits of tissue into the eartip which also muffles the audio a tad and gives a lush feel but doesnât seem to hurt precision much. This might be what he means by spicy treble.
As far as sources go I just have internal 3.5mm jacks and 2 USB-C dongles and I canât hear any difference at all except maybe the Apple dongle is a little leaner on the spicy treble and maybe marginally more transparent. I too hate the idea of spending extra money on sources and adapters and it still sounds amazing I donât get what powerful sources would do other than make it louder
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Save for the Xenns Ups IMO. Same type of tuning, but major steps up in terms of instrumental timbre, space, airiness, bass quality and texture and overall musicality.
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I have heard quite a a bit of mixed feedback about the up. I am not sold on it yet. But, itâs high on the list of choices for a video comparison.
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I know. But itâs still a hybrid. I am still a bit squeamish about that. So far, mixing drivers has not been great for me. I have not heard ESTs yet though. I was thinking about jumping straight to mest.
I also donât necessarily need a clone of the timeless. Different is fine, but able to best it in some capacities. For bass impact, I still have my Zen (I doubt Up or really, much of anything will beat it there).
I havenât had much luck spending a lot more money to get better results.
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Graphs can only take you so far. The UP sounds very different to anything else I have - itâs difficult to describe - and is part of the reason I wanted to get them. Also helped by another great rec from @hawaiibadboy as my library has a lot of overlap with HBBâs so I knew it would work for me. Itâs a significant chunk of money though and definitely a set to try and demo first if thatâs an option. They also look dope 
Edit: my ears arenât good enough to worry about coherency issues with different drivers though, either that or it just doesnât bother me - as ever ymmv
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I got the Ups a couple of days after I got the Timeless. I can say in my ears that theyâre similar in tuning but also quite different overall, and to me, the Ups are substantially superior in detail, soundstage, instrumental separation, etc. I definitely havenât noticed any problems with coherency despite the different drivers.
Itâs to the point where as good as I think the Timeless is, Iâve been considering selling since the Ups are seeming like my endgame for pretty much everything (classical, rock, electronica, pop, old school rap) other than modern hip hop (eyeing the Focus EDM for when I feel like bumping super bassy rap).
Also Iâve read the mixed reviews too, but I think thatâs largely the result of audiophile types preferring IEMs with the Variations/Monarch type of curve with a subbass shelf but a drastic drop in the bass and low mids. Or people who are reviewing the frequency graph and not the actual set, the Ups beryllium DD results in tamer bass than youâd think from looking at the graphs.
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Yes, and also 3.5 times the price of the timeless.
I do like BGGAR tuning. And the one thing I wish my Zen had was more elevated bass. Maybe this is a way to get best of both worlds.
Hopefully I will get to review them!
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The last two reviews