Subscribe to my channel or someone will steal your favourite IEM. Thank You
Here is the Link -
6 Likes
Just Reviewed the Sennheiser HD490 Pro Plus, all criticisms are welcomed
4 Likes
When you spend $3778 on an IEM, you would expect the IEM to shift your presence to a place where no harshness can exist where musicality is the king and euphoria is the only option you get. I have been daily driving this IEM for 3 days straight and can say for sure that, keeping all the review jargon aside, this is one of the most immersed experiences I have ever had in my own library. This is how melted chocolate sounds.
Presenting to you - Nostalgia Audio Camelot and Lancelot cable
1 Like
Any Indians out there ?
Jason Corey is just too good
Music and AI
Just want to share a small but interesting thing.
I had files (Lossy - AAC Files) organised in such a way that the Music files were there inside the Album and the Albums were residing inside the Artist. Later I deleted a few files and shrank the size so that I didn’t need playlists in different apps, yet it was easier to navigate. Now the problem is I haven’t thought about presentation in different players. So to solve this I have to extract every music file and paste it into a single folder.
It would take a significant amount of time so I thought I should use Claude since it is way better at producing code that actually works. Gave it instructions and asked to clarify if it had any questions. After clarification, it gave me a script that did the work in 5 seconds max.
It is so cool to see tech getting used in normal day-to-day tasks and making everything easier. I am a Computer Science student and I have a very theoretical and statistical view of AI/Data Science. This is the first time I used this to ease my task thus sharing this on the thread.
4 Likes
These AI tools are pretty damn useful like this.
Personally i have a big Music folder, then different subfolders of different genres (nothing too specific but like Rock_Metal, Electronics, J-Music, etc…) then artist folders inside them and lastly the album folders inside those.
In my NAS.
2 Likes
Well I have just Folder Names ( Albums ) & Their Songs inside it. No sub-directory.The thing I showed above is mismanagement from my end.
I still need tips to manage music, I have ~100 offline albums only and now it is getting harder to manage them. Thinking of getting Roon at some point next year. Heard that if I enter roon there is no coming back , thus delaying it a bit.
For storage though, I just use a sata SSD. I still haven’t figured out how should I continue in the future. I like Qobuz Streaming and discovery a lot, and maintenance is a hassle too. So giving everything a thought now.
Will update if I decide to make my music server.
I recommend Navidrome via a NAS. You be using your own local files to then stream it to other devices and on a NAS it be both on 24/7 and act as your storage solution.
For long term useage, HDD is recommended.
If you have not tagged your files yet, it is recommended that you do it now when you are just starting.
I use EasyTag (on linux, also available on windows): Apps/EasyTAG - GNOME Wiki!
This is another one: Kid3 Tag Editor download | SourceForge.net
2 Likes
Broskies - Take a look
It might look small to a lot , but this is a very big thing for me.
I started my YouTube channel, keeping a single thing in mind. If it helps even 1 person, my work is justified. I already gained 100 times that. Thanks.
Audiophilia is not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. Keep listening.
3 Likes
So Yeah! The hype was not true (To me at least) for the time being. Had a great time listening to this IEM though.
2 Likes
2 Likes
2 Likes
Nice comparisons 
1 Like
How much technicalities is too much ? The answer is there is no limit as long as the tuning is good. It is very hard to be surprised by something initially, and this one passed the test.
THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII is a statement to “How you can make a good sounding IEM extremely technical without being too expensive”. Each and every nuance is captured with outmost clarity and perfection, that too with confidence that can rival kilo buck. The drawback is, with included tips it might not sound very organic, but the fundamental tuning is solid. The Sub-bass is authoritative and has the body. Treble is very airy without ever stepping into the uncomfortable territory. I was worried about the mids , but they are not bad either. Kind of recessed a tiny bit but with high amount of textural information. This one is a fun sounding IEM offcourse. The review will be uploaded to my YT - https://youtube.com/@audiowithargha
Thanks to The Audio Store for providing me this IEM
5 Likes
Sounds like the Oracle MKIII really nails that balance of technicality and fun! Can’t wait to see your full review—sounds like a solid pick!
1 Like
Nostalgia Audio Camelot
EXTREME SUBJECTIVE COMPATIBILITY TO MONEY NO OBJECT IEM
Pros:
Approach towards a warm tilted sound signature
Implementation of the Dynamic Drivers
Genre Compatibility
Application of the technicalities with such tuning choice
Adaptability to one’s preference based on the loudness
Cons:
Utilization of the EST drivers to fine-tune treble further
Aesthetics
YOU CAN WATCH MY YOUTUBE REVIEW OF THIS IEM
Disclaimer, I borrowed this from a friend. I have zero benefits from reviewing this IEM. So anything positive or negative statements are not influenced by anyone. All thoughts and opinions are mine and honest to findings.
Addressing the expensive price tag
What is the purpose of an Expensive IEM? On the one hand, this amount can be easily spent to get something truly endgame even in headphones. So why would anyone pay this money on an IEM? Is it worth the price? Is it justified to spend this much on an IEM? There are already a lot of people out there who would happily pay this much money for a headphone but not for an IEM. One thing is for sure: when you spend anything above $1500, no compromises can be tolerated.
And IEMs like this never existed a few years ago. The improvement IEMs got in the recent years in pure sound quality, is nothing sort of exemplary. But still, is it wise to spend so much money on an IEM?
Specs
To mention the spec of this IEM – it houses two dynamic drivers, 4 balanced armatures and 4 Electrostatic drivers which makes this IEM 13ohms in impedance and 114db loud at 1mw. Which translates to how sensitive it is or how loud it sounds even on very low power. But it needs quality DAC to show its true potential in the technicalities.
Coming to the sound. Not just that it produces a very practical sound quality for my personal music library. I will discuss the sound quality of this IEM in a bit but to start things up, this IEM sounds like – ZMF-made IEMs instead of Headphones. The mellow flavour of sweetness with enriched presentation of the timbre. Musical tonality without sacrificing the technical aspects.
The only difference is – that this IEM shell feels like a less expensive one, I got you need to decide on material and shell design in such a way that it has a positive effect on the sound. But, at this price – I would’ve liked a better-looking IEM with a bit of heft to it. It might be a benefit for you but the IEM is super-light in hands, which is practical. Also, they didn’t include a pressure vent/grill on this IEM, which surprisingly doesn’t cause me air-pressure issue to my ear-drums. Although driver flex is noticeable which adds to the factor of not recognizing it as an expensive IEM.
But things do change when sound comes into the picture.
This is where you would notice why this IEM costs this much. As I said earlier, at this price no compromises should be tolerated. There is no such exception, like - this thing is good for bass but the mids are lacking. This thing is good for mids but too bass-shy. What I feel that these ultra high-end IEMs should have is – apart from being good in every aspect two to three attributes that can make you go like – WOW! This one I never felt before.
Did this one do this for me? Where I went like, “This is why It costs $2600”.
Let us find out -
The X-Factor in sound
So to start things off we are not going to discuss how it feels and more, the only thing that matters most is how it sounds. This IEM is not perfect by any means, it has its flaws and I will discuss them too, But to give you a brief of how this IEM sounds -
It sounds like a Vintage Speaker. And that’s exactly how it sounds. I felt nostalgic while using this IEM throughout the whole time to this IEM. Not kidding, I re-played a few old songs and I felt like I was sitting on a sofa listening to my dad’s speaker system, There were times when I sat still and stared at the abyss in awe, I laughed and Cried. It might look like I was enjoying my childhood memories but, it was kinda tough.
So at that point, I felt that Bias might get into the analysis so I did was, play songs that I just heard recently. That is purely for review purposes which has no emotional values attached to it. And got the hang of this IEM.
I will not give credit to Camelot for this, because it might be a fluke and psychic ability might get an illusion. No matter whose credit it is, all it did was amaze me in a way that no other IEM at any price range did EVER.
Subjective Sound Quality
Overall Tonality
This tonality of this IEM that you might have guessed is Warm Neutral. Never in its run, it felt dark/veiled even a bit. However, I am not getting a feeling that 4 ESTs are in action since the treble is smoother than butter and they do not take any bold tuning decisions in order to nail the treble. Well, I was wrong and I will discuss this later in the subjective take on this IEM.
I will dive into the objective analysis too, but for overall tuning choice it sounds like -
BASS
Sub-Bass ( Stealth Mode On )
The sub-bass of this IEM is not much in quantity. But things that come with a not-so-huge bass shelf are not there. Forget about thinness this IEM feels fuller than bass canons. The quality of the bass is excellent. It increases the weight of the sound, each instruments feel that they are real and physical
Hollow – 16 Bit Remix > Won’t sound super thumpy but at the 00:38 min mark the sub-bass sounds fuller, it rattles the eardrum. But the attack is not very thumpy. The textures and details are excellent in the sub-bass. The textures are real, no treble trickery is involved in the detail section of this IEM.
The Roots by Long Arm > Felt very real and the sound coming out of it was very neutral. It felt like I was in a bar with wooden walls & smoke, which is hard to convey through words. But this type of presentation is made for a glass of whiskey.
Mid-Bass ( Salt in the presentation )
Midbass too is oriented towards better tonality and presentation instead of amplitude. All the things that are mentioned in the sub-bass section apply here too.
We All Have Dream by Louis The Child > Sounds very neutral even though it is a very midbass-focused track. If never outdone itself, it always contained itself to feel neutral.
Even on songs like -
like Anthology By Oerwreck > It didn’t offer a huge thump. Although the bass was again, well textured, controlled and very natural.
So in conclusion what do I have to say of its bass performance?
Camelot is bass-boosted and not up to that level where it can rival bass heads. The elevation is very tasteful, decently impactful, very good with texture and detail in this region, and doesn’t bleed into the mids even a tiny bit.
MIDRANGE
Now coming to the mids of this headphone, this is where the money is at. The mids on this IEM are sublime, think of any characteristics that can make the mids sound delightful it has that bag full.
Richness – Check
Resolution – Check
Details – Check
Texturing – Check
Weight and heft – Check
Timbre – Check
Lower-mids ( Superstar )
The lower mids especially sound unmatched with this IEM. If you listen to your favourite singers, I can guarantee that you will cry for sure. The mids are stupidly good, there is not much to say. No Sanctuary Here by Chris Jones > Sounds like he is in front of you in an empty chamber with the instruments. The details are so vivid with the intoxicating tonality. Hey Jude by the Beatles > Never felt so balanced. Not overly warm and real. As I said, it sounds like a vintage speaker.
Upper-mids ( Power in Power Out )
Coming to the upper mids, I thought it wouldn’t sound as good as the lower mids due to the safer nature of the upper mids, and god I was wrong. The EST implemented in this IEM showed its magic. Let’s take an example
Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Melissa Menago > Sounded so full of this IEM that it is hard to mention. The airiness of the extension somehow came to show itself all of a sudden. The lower mids are making the vocals rich and weighty at the same time. The upper mid attributes that I like – Glitteryness, Sparkles and Shine somehow appeared. The extension into the right side of the lower mids is so musical and easy for long listening sessions while providing these qualities is simply exceptional.
In the song, The Raven by Rebecca Pidgeon > The reverbs are so vivid and the tonality is so pleasing the airiness is really good. However, there is one catch, to enjoy female vocals. I have to turn up the volume quite a lot. This doesn’t suffice my low listening sessions but it is an exchange that I will happily accept.
TREBLE
On the treble, it does a bit of a safeguard. The treble section of this IEM is not aggressive at all and not veiled or recessed either. It does benefit from the ESTs to fine grain adjustments. The separation from the notes to notes is excellent. This IEM handles the treble pretty well for both treble lovers and treble-sensitive people.
Loudness is important (No gain, no gain)
Mostly because of that it can be a low or high-volume set depending on the treble preference. It excels in Midrange in both low and high volumes The bass gets even better at higher-volume listening sessions.
All in all the treble on this IEM is very airy and snappy. It might sound a bit safe on lower volumes but increasing it will sound more elevated. Treble might not be a wow factor of Camelot but for sure it does complement the mid and bass well.
OBJECTIVE SOUND QUALITY
BASS
So as you can see the sub-bass is around 3-4 db which might look not that great on paper but it feels huge. As I already said the sub-bass is not much in quantity but incredible in all its quality. As far as I have seen, these tasteful sub-bass extensions do feel great with organic music which has that analogue essence to them. Which might not be that great for digitally produced music that requires a huge amount of sub-bass to offer thud. Again, don’t go by the numbers – the sub-bass is not small/tiny by even a single bit. It feels full and room feeling. It can’t extract bass from bass-shy music though, so if you like music that is a bit on the unnatural but fun side of things, this thing will do the job. The later part of the sub-bass as you can see is elevated and creates an arch. Thing kind of tuning has a bit of love and hate relationship with me. Where the Softears Twilight is one of the best IEMs I heard period, which follows the same arch philosophy. But things like Penon 10th became a problem for me with the stock cable, in the lower midrange, especially for vocals. This is an odd thing for me since Twilight and Camelot reached far beyond what Penon did with 10th AE.
If you wonder why I am comparing a $2600 IEM to a $800 IEM & $500 IEM. This section of the video is just for objective review, remember that. Each of these IEMs justified their price extremely well.
So coming back to the point, how’s the arch? Extremely pleasing sounding, to be honest, It is not natural, but I prefer this over a natural sound. Natural is not boring but Colour is fun. The midbass glide as you can see is very far-fetched, which adds to the whole warmth sound of this IEM that it is targeting. Now comes the extremely interesting choice that I have to thank nostalgia for
The 700-1.2Khz hump
It does something with the sound so beautifully that I haven’t figured out I needed
How would you like your female vocalist, Airy? Sparkly? Glittering? Guess what you need heft to them too. This particular region adds a lot more weight to the female vocalists, which I didn’t know I needed. I was quite surprised by the presentation and for sure I would miss the tuning. This is also interesting because usually Companies use a very different approach in this section to provide more bass to the sound. After that, this IEM took all the safe approaches there is, but the most interesting part of the frequency above 2Khz is the 3K dip and 4K peak.
This does so many things to the sound.
First, the 3khz dip pushes back instruments and the vocalists get a boost in popping up. It takes the forwardness of certain instruments and eliminates each and every honkiness your music can have. Then the 4K peak gives all of that majestic nature to the females. Sparkles, shine and glitteriness. Safer approach to 5K can be noticed which helps a lot to hide wrongdoings in the badly recorded music.
6K is safe too just a bit elevated to give the masking a bit more definition in the details.
Although I think Nostalgia might tricked the psychoacoustics me into believing it is a single DD. The graph might indicate that this IEM is peaky at some places but I kid you not, this is one of the most refined treble. The rest of the treble is fairly safe and never caused sibilance even at loud volumes to me. To give you a reference, I find 64 Audio Fourte a lot worse at this Pricepoint and Camelot just beat it to the dust if we talk just about the tonality.
Even after the 7K dip the 10K elevation does a lot of presence for me. It makes the treble alive even if it is safe. Which is an incredible achievement in itself.
After that the airiness and air frequencies are well preserved, you might feel the need for extra airiness but it is apt as a safe tuning.
Although it has plenty of air, just that it is not upfront. The treble section does one thing pretty spectacularly – Nothing sounds bad in this IEM, no matter what you feed this IEM – it will produce a richer and denser version of that song.
TECHNICALITIES
If we talk about the technicalities, it justifies its price. Pinpointing instruments is not an issue. The images are laser-focused and concentrated to a more natural score rather than a point.
Layering though is not that impressive, the soundstage helps the layering to project itself in a further fashion but the layers are a bit too close to one other.
The soundstage is the mix between being personal and being expansive. It was needed since this IEM will be used to invoke emotions. The height though is tall and feels like headphones. It sounds big and the projection is very large.
LANCELOT ADDITION
Before ending the review I would like to mention that this IEM is being reviewed by the Lancelot cable which is also a creation of the Nostalgia. This Cable provides substantial improvements in some cases but in some cases, I preferred the normal cable too. Mainly this Cable enhanced the technical aspects of this IEM a bit and the overall resolution got a bit of improvement. This cable costs somewhere around $1150 so it makes this expensive IEM even more expensive. I would like to say that it does benefit from tip tolling. The tips I used the most were the Divinus Velvet tips and that tip balanced everything. Tonally and technically.
EARTIP RECOMMENDATION
The Foam tips are very 3D and Holographic, with the sacrifice of the soundstage a bit. Everything just feels 360 degrees with that tip
The included silicon one , I didn’t use just because they are too small and it did not fit the nozzle. I was scared of putting pressure.
The overall more tonally balanced was the White tips which came with a silicone pouch. They provided the treble to be a little more upfront and that too opened up the soundstage depth a bit.
FURTHER PRICE DISCUSSION
Now let me answer the question I had while starting this REVIEW
What is the purpose of an Expensive IEM?
The only purpose of spending this much money on an IEM is “Comfort”. You can’t carry ZMF Headphones on a train or a bus. This thing you can, although if you are spending more than $1000 on an IEM I suppose you would have a car. But you get the point right? It’s hi-fi in the pocket. And it sounds better and if not at the same level as a Headphone Setup under $2000.
So why would anyone spend this money on an IEM?
Surely this IEM especially is for someone who wants to invest in one IEM and wants to quit the hobby. This is a walkaway set for someone who is chasing the musical sound in portable use.
Is it worth the price?
It depends, the quality of music it produces is simply unmatched to me. I have heard IEMs priced like this and they don’t even do 50% of what this IEM does.
So should you buy this IEM if you have the money?
If you want each of your songs to sound good, without harshness even a bit. If you want the natural yet enriched representation of the songs you have been listening to for your whole life and dip your toes in real nostalgia, get this IEM eyes closed.
Is it worth the price? Blindly, without a second thought.
1 Like