I’m happy to share some of my iems for your database. I’ll PM you.
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By default, the sheet opened on a listing tab for me. If you force the opening on the definition tab, it may help too
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That’s what I was trying to do. It might be linked to whatever page I have it opened on when I’m tinkering. I’ll try leaving my master copy on the explanation page.
EDIT: thanks for letting me know. It should open to the explanatory page now. Let me know if it doesn’t
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I wanted to just highlight all of @GooberBM ‘s profound work and dedication within this hobby really quick.
I’ve known this dude for about 6-7 months now and even have had the opportunity to sit down and meet with the man him self on multiple occasions. I’ve said this in the past but I’ll say it again, his passion for this hobby is second to none and further more, his love for helping others with recommendations and contributing to this forum for all to see and digest cannot be denied. Hats off to you, Brandon 
this new matrix you’ve created will undoubtedly assist so many new comers and vets for years to come and the beauty of it all will be years down the road, when someone can reference this matrix to all for easy to follow upgrade paths and digestible price point and tuning recs.
You’re doing great work, brother / keep it up
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path of building for iems 
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The matrix has some great information. The upgrade path part is very useful.
I was impressed that the Kiwi Ears Quartet falls into your warm-neutral, Harman-neutral, neutral-Harman, and Bassy-Dark. That set has been on my radar, but I wasn’t sure.
I saw that @VIVIDICI_111 mentioned they fit like the OG Tea, which is the best fitting IEM I own. The two things combined make me think they are likely worth the $100, and his review ( IEM discussion thread (Part 1) - #7787 by VIVIDICI_111 ) did nothing to dissuade me.
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Only thing to note about Quartet is I haven’t heard them yet. Those are my reasonable guesses but it’s subject to change once I have
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Thank you, Goober!
This is the approach I champion for some time and that is replacing “the one true target” approach with clustering to target types and ranking per target. This is the kind of work that really pushes the hobby forward.
Love it, great work!
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Tripowin Piccolo or The Dawn of a New Era
Things have taken a big change and it’s time for an evolution. I’ve started moving my impression/reviews in a different direction during the last IEM tour members of the HFGF community did (shout outs here). Then of course, I debuted my IEM Upgrade Matrix, which has kind of changed the game for how I’m approaching new gear. I still have my personal opinions, and the part where I rank things (and the foods they’re associated with) aren’t going anywhere but I have a deeper calling to follow now: I’ve given in and now I’m a part of The Matrix. Won’t you take the blue pill and go down the rabbit hole with me.
Songs to Listen to and Follow Along:
As usual, I’m going to write my thoughts in generalities, but I’ll give you a sample of songs that I listen to, that will relate to the concepts I write about. Feel free to ask for specifics, if you don’t keep up with my thought processes.
Playlist
Swashers/Bubbles - Yosi Horikawa (For imaging/detail retrieval (:00-1:00 Swashers), general technicalities check (both), soundstage depth/dynamics/layering/separation (:00-:30 Bubbles))
The Speedwalker (Live at Madison Square Garden) - The Fearless Flyers (For bass elements, particularly sub-bass/mid-bass interplay, drum kits, soundstage/layering)
DISINTER MY HEART - TRAILS (For treble response and resolution, male vocals, midrange response)
When I Fall (Outta Love) - Kevin Olusola (For Imaging/detail retrieval :00-:07, tonality, timbre, male/female vocal interplay)
Fundamental Elements of Madness - Dax Johnson (For soundstage width 1:10-1:26, piano tonality)
THE SOUND
I Know Victoria’s Secret, She Was Never Made For Me And You
(IEM Tuning Style: QDC-Style)
I find the Piccolo to have a pretty balanced sound: It’s got a sufficient bass that’s midbass focused, however if you’re a fan of tight, agile bass this won’t be it for you. It’s a slower, lingering bass that can be a little pillowy. In the QDC-style, I’d say this has a bit heavier note weight and more body. It won’t be as fluid and clean in the lower midrange as a set like Tri Starsea, which could be a pro or a con depending on your listening preferences. Vocals are forward and expressive, thanks to the early and shorter pinna gain and the upper midrange just avoids being overly peaky to my ear, in spite of that emphasis. The treble graphs as a Goldilocks treble (not too dark or bright), but to my ear it actually edges a little darker/smoother which likely comes from the dual peaks at/around 8k and 10k (and the resultant dips). I find the resolution good for my ear but not earth shattering for the under-$50 bracket. Soundstage plays deeper than wider and dynamics are only average: Piccolo cannot pass my “Swashers” test, of seeing if the waves in the first 30 seconds can pass from the left ear all the way across the soundstage to my right ear. That is perfectly acceptable at $35 though.
THE GOOD
- Balanced tuning overall; more mature than Tangzu Wan’er
- Warmer tonality (if that’s your thing)
- Matte metal shell (if that’s your thing)
- Decently good resolution for price bracket
- Soundstage depth
THE BAD
- Bass is fine but average. Soft/pillowy, not dynamic or textured
- Lower midrange masking (if you prefer clean midbass)
- Forward, emphasized vocals (if that gets intense for you)
- Treble could use more energy
- Shell fit: The metal shell is heavy and fatigued my ears in long-listening sessions
WHO IS THIS SET FOR?
- Someone who is curious about a set like Dunu SA6 series, but has zero idea about how that sound works
- Someone who likes sets like Dunu SA6 but doesn’t want to walk around in public with $600 in their ears
- Someone who values clean (but basic) dynamics and vocal emphasis
- Someone who prefers a warmer tonality/note weight
WHO IS THIS SET NOT FOR?
- Someone who already owns or has decided they don’t like sets like Tri Starsea, Dunu SA6 or Vulkan (if you are anti-redundancy). This is a beginner’s set
- Someone who can have fit issues. I don’t have fit issues and this set wore my ears out. Take that as your warning here
- Someone who prefers a clean, lean tonality/note weight. In that case get Kinera Celest Gumiho
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
What it means is that Tripowin Piccolo is one of the sets I would recommend to dip a toe in the QDC-style. This and Celest Gumiho leave the Tangzu Wan’er as a set I can recommend passing on: It is not on the level of either of these sets. Piccolo and Gumiho are a yin and yang: Piccolo is preferable for people who prefer body and warmth in their replay, Gumiho is for people who prefer a clean midrange that fully emphasizes vocals. Depending on your taste, if you have never dipped into the QDC-style of tuning, there are two sets I’d suggest to get a feel for it. If you want a little color in you replay, Tripowin Piccolo is the one for you. And that’s going to be it for this review. Enjoy your days, and take care till next time!
Rank for Tripowin Piccolo: B-
Rank With Personal Bias: B-
Recommendation Level: Entry-Level Recommendation (QDC-Style)
Rank As a Food: Flavored Water
12 Likes
Nice write-up! To me Piccolo didn’t sound anything like the SA6 MK2 - I’d be worried for Dunu if it did 
It’s way way harsher in the vocals and treble, forward, and also not recessed. Dynamics are poopy compared to the MK2, and of course tech as well.
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Great observations and that’s exactly the point. It’s entry level to that tuning style. If someone had never heard an SA6 and didn’t want to blind buy for $600, I’d suggest something like Piccolo and Gumiho and then they can go down the pathways where it gets more refined, until you get to SA6.
It’s like Piccolo with Neon Pro. The graph is like they stole the tuning, but I’m sure Neon Pro is immensely more refined at it. That’s why Piccolo is $35 and a B- and not $700 and an A or S. Piccolo is for dipping your toe into that world, IMO
5 Likes
Regarding matrix table… I’m unable scrolling it left-right with Firefox on tablet. Could you maybe check the issue?
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I will try to look into that. You have no access to zoom in/out, correct?
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PSA: You don’t have to chase down the rabbit hole. When you are happy with your sound, you are allowed to stop
(This reminder is as much for me, as it is for you )
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^
Endgame = state of mind
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Yeah, no zoom, just up-down scroll.
Mangird Tea or “Yes Goober, You Only Get 20 Hours (minus sleep) With These, So Chop-Chop”
So @domq422’s set of the mythical OG Teas (bought from @MMag05) were delivered to me, with the intention of handing them off, but then Dom is all like “I’m gonna come get them in the morning” so that means I only get One Night In Paris (if you know, you know 
). Well let’s get it.
Songs to Listen to and Follow Along:
As usual, I’m going to write my thoughts in generalities, but I’ll give you a sample of songs that I listen to, that will relate to the concepts I write about. Feel free to ask for specifics, if you don’t keep up with my thought processes.
Playlist
Swashers/Bubbles - Yosi Horikawa (For imaging/detail retrieval (:00-1:00 Swashers), general technicalities check (both), soundstage depth/dynamics/layering/separation (:00-:30 Bubbles))
The Speedwalker (Live at Madison Square Garden) - The Fearless Flyers (For bass elements, particularly sub-bass/mid-bass interplay, drum kits, soundstage/layering)
DISINTER MY HEART - TRAILS (For treble response and resolution, male vocals, midrange response)
When I Fall (Outta Love) - Kevin Olusola (For Imaging/detail retrieval :00-:07, tonality, timbre, male/female vocal interplay)
Fundamental Elements of Madness - Dax Johnson (For soundstage width 1:10-1:26, piano tonality)
THE SOUND
Don’t You Know That You’re Just a Game to Me
(IEM Tuning Style: Midcentric)
Cutting straight to the heart of it, the Teas sound like a more forward Xenns Up (which…they’re from the same family so they should share DNA, and they do). This is one of those interesting moments (that I will go into detail later) about House Sounds.
At any rate, I find that the Teas have “enough bass”. These are definitely a sub-bass over midbass kind of bass, that is honestly a little tucked in. It’s not Variations/Thieaudio levels of midbass tuck, but the Teas are definitely goin for that unobstructed, clean midrange. And Freakin’ A do these deliver on that. This easily goes into the Panda/Dark Magician/Voldermort (@VIVIDICI_111 you know who I’m talking about) levels of awesome midranges. This is the kind of clean bass that still has enough warmth, and I appreciate how deftly these toe that line.
The calling card on the Teas is the vocals, and they are no joke. This is an easy set to appreciate, if you want the singer to step in front of the band and sing to you. The only thing that might keep these a half step behind something like Dark Magician is that in busier tracks (like pop-rock type tracks with layering of band and singer) female vocals can get a little cluttered on occasion. Something I’ve heard with both Up and now Tea is that Xenns Mangird are very good with their treble tuning. I enjoy the cleanliness of the treble without having to worry about it being harsh or overcooked.
In terms of technicalities and soundstage, it’s a bit of hit or miss for me: Soundstage is kind of trick, where in tracks with vocals, the vocals step up so much it makes the soundstage seem cramped around the singer. I get a better since of width and depth in non-vocal tracks though. I did find these tip-dependent when it comes to other technical elements. I found these to play best with a tip like Tri Clarion, which plays into expressing the soundstage, and that allows Tea to do well with a lot of my test tracks (It’s close to impressive in reproducing the waves in “Swashers” and you get some dynamic range during "Bubbles).
THE GOOD
- Vocal-centric set without being a vocal specialist
- Good musicality to compliment the splendid vocals
- Complimentary treble that elevates the lower parts of the FR
- Fit is pretty okay for a 1 + 6 hybrid, though nobody is gonna confuse these for the Penon Vortex in shell size
- Has moments with very good soundstage/technicalities during simpler tracks
THE BAD
- These will be lacking if you value strong midbass
- Vocals can have moments of being swallowed by busier tracks which is a big no-no for a vocal-centric IEM
- Soundstage and technicalities can suffer the same fate
- These are discontinued so unless you get lucky watching the secondhand market, this is ultimately an exercise in futility
- Very good specialist set, IMO, but not a set that I’d make my main (I’ll explain)
WHO IS THIS SET FOR?
- Somebody who doesn’t have a great vocal-first set
- Somebody who doesn’t want/need bass/treble emphasis
- Pokemon collectors of vocal-style and/or Xenns sets
WHO IS THIS SET NOT FOR?
- Somebody who doesn’t want to struggle looking for a secondhand set of Teas
- Somebody who struggles with forward, emphasized vocals
- Somebody who would struggle to deal with a sometimes picky set (particularly when it comes to tips)
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
I’m a fan of the Xenns Mangird House Sound. They believe in sub-bass over midbass (with varying types of midbass tunings between Up, Tea Mk I & 2, and Top), neutral-to-forward midranges, and usually a non-emphasized treble (except for Top). Both Up and Tea have been easy to listen to and would be enjoyable compliments if you lived in the Xenns ecosystem. But for me, the Up would be my main, and Tea is more of a change-up/side piece to my tastes. If you’re more sub-bass over midbass, I could see you easily flipping this and taking Tea and running.
Simply put, the biggest flaw with OG Tea is that it’s discontinued and you can’t just get it. At $300 and under, if this were readily available it would be an easy enough recommendation for me: I think Tea is more engaging than Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite or Aful Performer 5, two recent darlings in the last 6 months. If you want a set with an energetic smoothness, that is ideal for a vocal-heavy library, and can find a pair in the wild, Tea is a winner…even if I’m not one that will go hunting. And that’s going to be it for this review. Enjoy your days, and take care till next time
Rank for Xenns Mangird Tea: B+
Rank With Personal Bias: B+
Recommendation Level: Recommended But Discontinued (midcentric)
Rank As a Food: Espresso Martini
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Something worth mentioning that I find scary about them is the DD failing after a matter of time. Hi Fri (I think?) noticed the DD was sensitive to moisture which caused the issue.
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Feel free to mention it then 
1 Like
yeah that has been a common failure point it seems. Im not sure what the % effected by that is but it seems most who have had a failure have had that one