One thing im worried about with how crazy cheap chifi is getting, is the long term effect it has on brands and their survival (tied to both popularity and profit). For example, just a year ago, that price would have been fine and pretty competitive (depends on sound of course)ā¦imagine if Dunu has been working on it for that long, only for it to launch when prices as crazy low as they are right now. Makes me wonder if this will just deter brands from doing long term R&D and just focusing on pumping out new iems asap.
I see what you mean - To some degree, and I donāt really know honestly, but it does feel like this is what happened with the Moondrop Stellaris. I mean, I understand that some people do actually enjoy brighter leaning sets but, Iāve yet to see a single positive review of the Stellaris besides maybe one over on Head-Fi (I wonāt name any names). I really feel like Moondrop felt the pressure of the Planar landscape and somewhat rushed the set to the shelves to compete with the competition.
yes, that rush to bring out that new planar is definitely one (short term) issue of following hype-trains.
Although with the Stellaris, I am leaning more towards Moondrop tuning it like it is, intentionally. Knowing how preferences are in mainland China.
And especially since something as simple as this āfixesā it (for us westerners).
I see your point, but in this Dunu case, they already had Titan S in this segment. I can actually understand trying to not undercut it.
But this tuning is undercutting it already anyway. And if it doesnāt, it kneecapped itself
Itās called beta testing + good marketing and crowd.
Stellaris is just the begining, if I had to bet. Hell, all of the planars are.
Regarding Kima, the tuning looks great but same as Olina SE for around the same price. Thatās a tough battle to pick.
KZ tactic, throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks.
(it works.)
Definitely, companies are only just finding planars that work in iems and are using either the same ones as others or are trying to find ways to make it cheaper.
So its likely we will see a definite way of making them cheaper even more (probably either by using the DD voice coil method or a smaller driver to reduce the amount of silver (among other mats) used). While others are trying to push them on a SQ perspective.
A general update for the community following @MMag05ās experiences with RMA process with Letshuoer and @shouerās subsequent response regarding a revamped RMA process.
I just sent my EJ07s back to the factory for a repair today (rattling / loose drivers in right IEM). Joseph was great in his communication throughout. After providing my address details, he printed a label for me. I packed up my EJs in the carrying case and found the smallest box possible. A note was provided for technician regarding issues and stuck the label on the box. No customs declaration was required on my endā¦just dropped off at UPS. I was advised an invoice will be sent to me for repair and shipping at a later time. So far so good on the process, albeit weāre in the very early stages.
Wish me luck!
On a side note: @shouer has reassured me that if the IEMs get lost in transit, a new replacement set will be sent.
Yet again cancelled another pre order. I just canāt bring myself to buy anything over $300 without being able to listen first. It really sucks iām in the worst part of the US to be a fan of IEMs
Every buy has to be a blind buy and Iāve unfortunately returned about 10 different IEMs at this point so iām tired of buying just to not like it enough to keep them smh
I know following my post Letshouer made one about changes coming. Seems like they were going to change procedures regarding return of warranties which, included that they would prepare the label. Sure it was a culmination of more than my post just the timing lined up. Under my return itās my impression I wouldnāt have been covered because I prepared the shipping label and choice the carrier.
For the return of my repair @shuoer informed me that if I used their carrier it would be covered if lost. Them preparing the label had been mentioned in the post. Itās great to see them going the extra step covering lost items. Might take a little longer to get back but, at least itās covered. Between your return and mine it looks like the change is implemented. Which I think is awesome on their part.
Maybe the whole issue was a miscommunication. Thatās not meant as a jab to them sometimes it just happens with no ill intent. What I can say is during the import and now on the return they came through. Changes have been made that will hopefully smoothen the process for everyone in the future.
I believe they righted the situation. Surely not everyone here will agree with me. As some had already pointed out on my first post. Could it have been handled differently on my end? Looking back itās quite possible. For that thereās nothing I can do now except offer an apology to Joseph and the crew. And say thank you for handling the situation and looking at ways to improve procedures for the future.
My tastes in music are different, but I do have all but the OG Fan from Penon. I like and listen to all three. The Vortex is the smallest of the three, and the best-sounding single DD IEM Iāve heard⦠itās just excellent all-around. The Serial is larger, and has more pronounced bass than the Vortex, yet the mids and treble are still very good. Both the Vortex and the Serial are comfortable for my peculiarly dinky ears using ePro SS tips.
The Fan 2 is something else (at least for me). Itās the largest of the three, and has a wider nozzle. I couldnāt get a comfortable fit using ePro tips, tried several others, and settled on the smallest Sedna Earfit Xelastec tips, Those work for me. The biggest difference is sound stage (if I understand what that means). The Fan 2 delivers a much larger (wider?) sound stage than any IEM Iāve heard⦠it surprised me because it does seem as though Iām in a large space. The Bass is present, and thumps when it needs to, but doesnāt overwhelm the mids and treble which, to my ears, tick all the right boxes. I seem to be hearing things in familiar music that I donāt recall noticing before, and donāt think Iām just imagining it.
The Fan 2 is a little too large for me to wear while walking around, so I go with either the Vortex or Serial for that. And though itās still early days with the Fan 2, itās what Iāve been listening with at home most of the time since receiving them.
QKZxHBB First Impressions: (By an idiot)
Did someone say they wanted my first impression thoughts on the QKZxHBBs!? Well since you asked!
Packaging:
Pretty straight forward and simple packaging, comes in a small plastic box with a cable, the IEMs themselves, and bud bits. These are just $20 boys, so of course the packaging isnāt going to be all flashy and fancy.
Build: 4/5 (IEM), 0/5 (cable)
To be honest, these buds online didnāt really look that good to me, they looked like cheap buds trying too hard. In personā¦holy crap itās a completely different story. They are built fantastically, and look awesome. Iām genuinely shocked at how nice they are. Solid build, honestly if you told me they were over $100 I wouldnāt bat an eye.
Cable:
Now, while the IEMs themselves are made gloriously, I absolutely hate the cable. It is the complete opposite to the IEMs. It looks cheap, feels cheap, and is 120% built cheap. They fight to stay a shape the most. The KB Ear 2ās cable is 5x better. The ear hooks donāt work no matter what I do, so when wearing them the loops just hang off my ears, ironically making it actually harder for the IEMs to stay in. I just grabbed the cable from the Olina SE and used it instead. I would much rather have these cost like $30 and we get a decent cable, cause itās like giving someone a gold bar wrapped in used toilet paper.
Comfort/Fit: 3/5
Pretty standard fit Iād say. They donāt feel heavy in the ears and overall are comfy. One thing I wanna say though is in my left ear doesnāt feel as good with these in. Itās nothing painful or annoying, just noticeable when put in. Does seem to disappear after a few minutes of use though. When I put on other IEMs like the FH3 or Kai, they feel nicer in the ears. Overall they feel fine Iād say. Nothing really to complain about.
Sound: 4/5 (5/5 for their price)
First day of use so opinions might change.
What the heck? These should be illegal. Why do they sound so good for $20? The moment I turned on music it was surprising. I donāt hear any muddy sound from them, but the bass slaps you around wonderfully. Itās punchy and sub bass doesnāt disappoint. Mids are a bit quieter, but still enjoyable enough and clear sounding. Treble doesnāt feel that sharp or fatiguing. It plays Metal suspiciously well. Again, what the heck?
Overall:
Probably the best value IEMs out there, at least from what Iāve tried. If you like bass, these are just āchef kissā. They are easily built like a pair of $100 IEMs, and even sound the part. I compared them to my other $20-$30 things and it was genuinely sad lol. Those sounded insanely muddy and muffled in comparison. Currently gonna be comparing them to my higher end IEMs. The fact that Iām even saying that is enough you need to know to buy these. If you do get them, I really recommend getting a better cable for them though. Youāll thank me later. Even if these arenāt gonna be my main IEMs I use. Just for the fact they cost as little as they do, theyāre a keeper. Also dat bass tho.
Iāll definitely keep that in mind. A large fit and huge sound stage does feel like wonāt be for me. But I still would like to try the Fan 2 once I get the chance. I canāt wait for 11/11!
I found the cable on Titan S average at best
Hellooo, i have a question⦠my 7hz zeroās right side, the metal plate thing on the shell is loose, is the metal plate a plating on the shell or is it connected to the shellās opening? i noticed that to open the iem the opening is between the 2 pin but just to be sure that the metal plate isnt aslo a hole to the inside/driver, so that there wont be any incoherent sound (not that i noticed). i dont know of any pics taking zero apart so i asked here⦠thanks!
Thatās fair - never really looked into the titan S as much as their other releases.
Symphonium emailed me asking to confirm my cancellation but I decided to keep the pre order in place since I shit the bed with the SA6 Ultra
Can you take a pic of the part thatās loose so we can see what youāre talking about to make sure you get correct info in any answers, please?
Youāre a mad man ā¦.
I love it
I figured I would take a chance the worst that could happen is I donāt like it and have to EQ it
Thatās true - Iāve heard great things about them, I hope you dig em, brother