Earbuds Discussion Thread

Just recently got them.

Bigger one is this.


3 Likes

Ah, the cable is not microphonic it is just rubbery haha but it is otherwise fine.

As for the case, yes, he told me he ran out of the bigger ones so he sent me that one which I appreciate and really like :slight_smile:

1 Like

Anyone got a set of Venture electronics Zen Omega’s? if so what’s your thoughts :beers:

Nope, but I’ve had the OG Zens, Zen 2.0, and Zen 3.0, and I’ve tried the Zen LLs. If the Omegas are like the rest of the Zen series they’ll be quite warm and the mids will be the star of the show. As the series has progress, extension on either end of the spectrum (bass and treble) has gotten better, both being pretty rolled off in the OGs and both being reasonably well extended, but still leaving the mids as the star by the 3.0s. Also, the level of detail retrieval has steadily risen as the series has progressed as well, both perceived detail and actual detail retrieval. Detail isn’t a strong suit on the OGs, though its not bad, but quite a bit is lost in the rolled off treble and the higher levels of warmth. By the 3.0s, the detail retrieval is actually quite good and the treble being more extended and more forward also increases the ease with which you pick up the detail, particularly low level detail. How much any of this applies to the Omegas, I’m not sure, but I would guess that they have some of these same characteristics. I figured this would at least give you an idea of whether or not they’d be something you might be interested in.

2 Likes

Thank you sir :+1:

1 Like

Here is a short comparison of TOTL DIY earbuds that I managed to lay my hands on, that are:

  • TGXear Serratus - a custom version, which comprises 500Ω driver and transparent bell shells; originally they used to feature 300Ω driver and MX500 shells.

  • RikuBuds Grand Alter Saber 2 - with no huge alterations made to them, although Riku offers quite a few visual options to choose from; these have 80Ω driver.

Since I’m not an experienced audio reviewer and I’m not able to fully transcribe what I hear and feel, I will try to focus on the main differences between those two models, leaving the general description, measuring and characteristics behind. Serratus has already been reviewed quite a few times, therefore I don’t really think I could add anything more worthwhile to it.

Okay, enough with excuses. Let me start with the basics.

One of the biggest advantages that GAS2 has to offer is its 80Ω driver, which makes it far easier to drive. Surely, Riku’s buds do benefit from plugging them into an amplifier, but they sound great even without one.

Meanwhile, Serratus actually needs a decent source, even in its default 300Ω configuration. Not only due to 4.4mm BAL termination (which is the most popular option, though one may get it with 3.5mm SE), but also due to their scaleability.
At first I paired it with Tanchjim Space that, in spite of its little body, is quite powerful for a dongle (4 Vrms and 230 mW of power on the 4.4mm end). The results were breathtaking, they really were. But after connecting TGXears to TempoTec March III (4 Vrms, 630 mW) they became even better… The sounds gained a little weight to them and the bass got slightly punchier, too. From what I’ve seen more and more people tend to pair Serratus with tube AMPs, which actually seems to make a lot of sense.

When it comes to comfort - even though my ears aren’t that demanding and almost all buds fit me well, the Val39 shells won me over. TGXear bells aren’t bad, they just don’t feel that secure. Having said that, they’ve never fallen out of my ear or anything.
GAS2 scores another point for its cable - covered with a very thin, transparent sleeve that makes it soft and less prone to microphonics. Serratus braided cable appears more solid, but isn’t that easy to handle.

The most important thing: sound.
As many of you already know Serratus easily became the king of technicalities. It’s neutral, yet highly defined and accurate. Sometimes it may appear as too bright, especially to people that are sensitive to high frequencies. But no one questioned their amazing holographic staging.

Neither did I, at least not before I got GAS2.

In the direct A/B comparison GAS2 feels slightly wooly, though I feel that “analogue-y” is more on point. The mids aren’t as forward as in Serratus. The particular notes sound smoother - not that sterile, not that digital. It’s warmer, softer maybe, all right, but it’s still highly resolving. It’s funny, but Riku’s buds are minutely better at replicating hi-hats, making them more audible, yet not harsh, not painful.

The stage itself seems to be a little wider, but most importantly it’s the height that’s much better. That’s what saves GAS2 from sounding congested.

Based on the above write-up one could think that those two earbuds differ so much that it should be easy to pick them apart.

In reality, it’s not.

If I hadn’t compared them side by side, second by second, I’d have had hard time saying which is which. Both of them put a big smile on my face and tend to give me a hell of a lot of fun. Both guarantee a proper jaw-dropping experience on first listen.

11 Likes

You answered this…

Hybrid or OTL amps are what I’ve found pair best with Serratus too :+1:

Glad to hear you enjoying them!

How did you take those pics btw? They look really damn clean in both positioning and quality. Probably not with a smartphone camera?

2 Likes

I very much do, thanks. <3

A smartphone was actually a crucial part in taking the photos, but I use it as a remote display and a remote shutter for my mirrorless camera - Panasonic GH5.
It’s not that smartphone is not capable of capturing good quality images - it is. But I very much prefer to use a camera with interchangeable lenses, since this setup is far more predictable for me.

If I remember correctly (and since I only use manual, legacy lenses, I don’t get any viable EXIF data to confirm it), I used GH5 and Pentax 77/1.8 at around f/5.6 and an exposure time of 10 seconds.

No light box involved, not any artificial light. Just a cloudy day and a big chunk of white fabric positioned to my left which acted as a bounce.

3 Likes

Stellar pictures!
I see that you are using Serratus with stock tips (those scratchy ones). Have you tried them with hiegis?

Btw - yet another review putting GAS2 against big hyped boys where they don’t only trade blows, but may even be of a preference. Don’t sleep up on those!

6 Likes

What is this and why do I need it?

3 Likes

RikuBuds Grand Alter Saber 2!

3 Likes

Ah! Since I’ve been away I was hoping it was a bud from an underground aliex store that costs 40$. :joy:

3 Likes

Have you tried the Yinman 2.0 600s yet? They are about 3x the cost but man they are absolutely insane. I prefer it to the GAS2 because the sub-bass extension is better, it’s not even that it goes lower, its just that there’s more impact. They are basically mini-LCD2Cs and I absolutely love them. But when I am mobile, the GAS2 is all I use, the Yinmans on the other hand require as much power as the LCD-2Cs!

GAS2 are truly TOTL, they sound ridiculously good, you can hear all the details in the highs but they aren’t fatiguing at all! heartless summed it up well when he said the GAS2 has stage height which saves it from sounding congested, this reminds me of the HBB Hook-X which can sometimes sound congested in some tracks.

2 Likes

Thank you!
I’m ashamed to admit, but I have not. They sounded marvelous right off the bat so I didn’t feel the urge to do any foam rolling. Looks like I still have some work ahead of me.
( :

So the Red Serratus I bought from @VIVIDICI_111 came with no foams.

This is not how Serratus is supposed to be played. It lacked midbass and while it was a very airy treble, it is not the experience you’re supposed to have and I know this, thanks to my first experiences with Serratus.

This led me to having to experiment with the set of foams I do have on hand, to get a more “Serratus-like” sound.

  • Foamless - Again, too little sub-bass and extra treble emphasis. It’s not unpleasant but it’s too tack-sharp to me. Not it.
  • TGXears Alpha stock foams - These tightened up the upper midrange and treble too much. Firm bass, but the soundstage squeezed and it felt more like my memory of listening to the MEST Mk IIs. Frankly, they sound more Ripples-like than Serratus. The air felt squeezed out of the treble. Fit also seemed to be an issue in my left ear. I felt a need to adjust fairly constantly. Not it.
  • Scratchy low-density foams - The bass loosened up some but lost a little of the quantity. This was closer to my memory of Serratus, but I try not to use the Brillo pad-like foams if I can avoid them. They don’t have great comfort, even if they do a great job of bringing better balance. Not it.
  • Semi-low density foams - These foams feel more traditional and are a little more dense than the scratchy foams, but are not as dense as most of the other foams I have. Now we’re back to Serratus. A looser sub-bass focused bass, more emphasis in the upper-midrange with good female vocals that are more even with the instruments than in front, and the airy treble. Ohhhhh, I got the air back. Winner winner, chicken dinner.

It’s good to know I can change up Serratus and get different variations on the sound out of them. But I paid for the Serratus experience, and I’m glad I got it back where it’s supposed to be

5 Likes

Tried that and just :x: thanks for the foam over views :+1: were did you get the Semi-low’s from?

2 Likes

US $2.59 50% Off | 30Pcs 15mm Soft Foam Sponge Earphone Headphone Earbud Ear Pad Covers Replacement
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqOcRjq

Pretty sure these are it. It’s been a while since I bought them

1 Like

Thank you sir :beers:

Edit…Ordered :+1:

2 Likes