I’m going to go back and listen again! I was comparing the Olina soundstage only to the FDX1, but I do have a few other chi-fi sets I can also compare. It’s possible that the Olina will be more in the middle when I take the time to go through those. OR it may just be a matter of individual fit, right? All of us having different ears, and maybe that front vent happens to be more obstructed on me than on someone else, etc.
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I think source also matters.
I recently got Olina and still in testing phase. but I can’t say it’s “super” wide. honestly -talking about stage/imaging - I can’t hear much difference to my CCA CRA (the only other IEM I own). I’d say both are average to me. (though I’ve never heard something better)
so I was thinking maybe this set needs a better source to show it’s true stage. I’m waiting for my 2.5 balance cable to arrive and will test it on my BTR3K. because on 3.5 output, I feel It’s not as wide as my Xumee dongle.
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Yeah absolutely could be YMMV! It’s all psychology when it comes to staging, right. Or what people call psychoacoustics.
It helps me a lot to A/B between different sets. When I did Oxygen vs Olina impressions, I could definitely say that Olina was wider and taller. I’m now working on my review for the Canon, and I’m A/Bing against the Olina, and it is harder to pick a clear winner, but what is clear is imaging (Canon wins hands down, but it is a hybrid).
Btw, you might want to give this track a spin: Spotify. I can hear the “height” of the room with the reverb of the strings and the stick slap, and L/R width with the two different instruments. I guess it helps that I heard this piece live so I know the physical layout of the two players.
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thanks for sharing this track. just heard it on Olina and I have to say I didn’t feel the stage being notably wide or tall it was average to me (I don’t have the best source though)… but the thing that caught my attention the most was how natural and organic it was… Olina sounds super natural !!
(sorry for stealing the conversation 
)
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Here is a stage tester 0:00-0:30:
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You did not at all! Glad to have another set of ears to compare notes with.
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just A/B ed Olina and CRA (which I saw you said in its review having huge holographic stage!)
both are comparable to my ear … maybe Olina slightly deeper and taller (more 3D) and CRA sliiightly wider. or maybe its placebo and reviews are affecting my judgment… but both seemed above average to me in this track…
but then again the thing that caught my attention was Olina being more organic and natural. I could hear singer’s hand hitting percussion instrument more natural with proper weight. CRA had more subbass and boom. but I couldn’t hear percussion attack as natural as Olina
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ok I just found this song which is amazing!! both CRA and Olina sound super 3d & holographic!! I felt Olina bigger in every aspect…! maybe width was close -still better on Olina- but height and depth definitely better on Olina and most obvious in about 2:50 which the voice comes from far upper right
I don’t know if this song is special and makes every IEM sound huge and I don’t have other set to compare. but both Olina and CRA was amazing here
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I see Kingdom I click like. Sawano’s (legend) work (including Attack on Titan) is excellent for testing space.
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WOW. I just pulled out my old IE80 to listen to this. It is at least a foot outside of my head. Crazy.
Edit: Some parts of this feel like they are coming from another room.
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Very excited about the Triton. If it’s regarded as well as the Helios, we’ll have another winner on our hands!
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Lolll this is sooo expensive
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The OG Turii is said to be very accomplished and one of the best DDs by those who have heard it. But yeah, still probably about 8 times more expensive than it should be.
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For anyone in the US and looking it looks like the Q5K is back on Amazon. Im torn if I should buy it and return my BTR3K. The Fiio does nothing wrong and I don’t feel like I’m missing anything but it just seems like the Q5K is a better device overall
Q5K has 3x more power and had PEQ. It’s quite the big upgrade.
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I was in a similar situation and decided to keep BTR3k… even though my device had battery issue … (though I couldn’t return the BTR3K and had to pay for 5K) but I figured I’d hear more difference if I spend the money on an IEM instead of source… BTR3K is fine especially if you use its 2.5 output. and it takes a trained ear to notice the upgrade … though if you have harder to drive IEMs or headphones then yeah you’ll gonna need the extra power.
personally its hard for me to notice difference between BTR3k, Xumee dongle, oneplus 7p output, KZ AZ09 Pro
they all sound similar to me with minimal differences. and all have enough power for my IEMs to tear my eardrums apart! (even BTR3k in 3.5 output)
but I Instantly notice difference when I switch IEMs
I won’t say my opinion is the right one… a lot of people would tell you to pick a better source
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Yep, saw that a couple days ago and ordered one. Unfortunately delivery is still a few days out. Ready to replace my trusty ES100’s 10 band EQ with the PEQ function!
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True and that’s what makes me want it. However i dont really like EQing and while the extra power is good I doubt I’ll ever need more than the btr3k puts out. Since I got the btr3k on Amazon via prime I can return it no problem. My biggest concern is I won’t like the buttons and general finish on the Q5K vs the btr3k but maybe I should just pull the trigger and do it
What transducers are you using on it?
And I assume you are using balanced, cuz otherwise its not much better than some smartphones.