IEM discussion thread (Part 2)

[zepp1108]

DUNU Falcon Ultra.

Sadly I am very very late to these iems and miss all the time I could have spent with them.

So musical, out of the box. Bass quite good and impactful. There is touch of warmth in the sound. Very very smooth sound which is throughout pleasant. I am in love with the small size too, disappears in the ears. Good for long listens. Good imaging though soundstage is a bit narrow but not an issue at all as long as the technicalities are good.

I think this is what I was missing in the Simgot EA1000. This sound is more to my liking. And talk about the price to performance ratio, they are just outstanding on this parameter.

[RBRIII]

I wonder how these compare to the EA500LM. I had these on my wish list for a warmer single DD IEM to add to my collection for a while, before I messed my eardrum up. I haven’t heard of, or accidentally glanced over, any mentioning of how it stands up to the aforementioned newcomer by Simgot. Curious is all…

[Ohmboy]

‘Linsoul’ explains DSP …

Why do some IEMs have "DSP"?

[zepp1108]

I received the Kinera Verdandi this afternoon.

EDIT: This unit was bought from Kinera with my own money. I love the way they helped me with buying and the fast 3-day delivery.

Sharing my initial impressions after a couple of hours of listening.

These iems are outstanding from the get-go. I think Kinera as a brand is on a good path to progress. They take customer experience very seriously, which is quite evident from the look and feel of their products. The unboxing is top-notch, as it usually is with Kinera. Those shells are so beautiful, I nearly spent 5 minutes checking out the art on them. It’s such a great work of art. One of the most beautiful iems I have seen, for sure. It has a big shell, but it’s lightweight.

Eartips and source:

The nozzle is on the bigger side. Azla SednaFit Light comes to my rescue every single time. Though there is a pack of Azla Crystal tips with the iems, I find the Azla Light better fitting.

The cable is very nicely built, complementing the colour of these iems. It sounds nice, too. I think with this quality, there is no need for cable rolling with these iems.
It takes a lot of power, my god. I am at 45-48 sound level through balanced 4.4mm on LPGT. I don’t remember using any iems at this volume level.

Early sound impressions:

It’s just a couple of hours of listening to the iems, and all I can say is that it’s highly musical and addictive. The vocals are rich, lush, and very sweet. There is a feeling of open sound with a huge stage, to the point that sometimes it feels gimmicky (in a positive way, though). There is excellent layering, and the separation of instruments is quite commendable.

The bass is full, fast, and impactful. The BCD is surely adding a lot to the bass. The subbass presence is quite pronounced. The treble has an ample amount of energy and is not sharp or harsh at all. It’s safe throughout. The sound is no less than what TOTLs offer. I think Verdandi, at it’s price point, will surely receive a lot of praise.

I have spent just a little time, so I cannot share quite a lot of things. I will return in a few days to share more thoughts.

[cal_lando]

those are absolutely beautiful shells

[cal_lando]

Just dropped a short review on the Kinera Imperial Loki

Cal's Corner Store - I like Bass

Kinera Loki Emerald - King Louie V The Kinera Loki Emerald is an Elise Audio exclusive and a re-tune on the original Loki. It boasts a BC driver that adds an extra dimension of physicality to the bass on this set. I was skeptical of these types of BC drivers and their impact but this one noticeably contributes to the overall feel of the bass in this set. I will say I am sucker for a good V shape and this one is maybe the best V I have ever heard. It’s not airy or artificially boosted in the upp…

[psykano]

Mfw someone says they don’t EQ then use a DSP IEM:

[Sonofholhorse]

Okay, so time to lay down some notes on the Canpur CP32E:

• They are fairly sensitive as far as driveability goes, but still have black background with good sources to my ears.
• Comfort is good; they have a bit of a “hump” that goes into the Concha, but I find that with rotational adjustment I can get great fitment that allows hours of comfortable wear.
• Stock cable is fine, but I’ve been rolling others since I don’t do 4.4 (which is the default termination). Seems to be fairly linear with cable OI given that it’s all BA/EST (although I’m also probably using decent cables, mostly Tripowin Zonie and an IVIPQ cable I got from @ctjacks336 so it could just be that there isn’t that much variance).
• Isolation is decent, probably average. They were fine for wear while flying over the last week, but nothing like Etys or Plunge Audio Unity. They definitely benefit from mostly quiet surroundings.
• No pressure build that I have been able to notice. There is a small pinhole vent ahead of the 2-pin connectors, not sure if this is actually for tuning or letting the sub-bass drivers breathe or pressure adjustment.
• Tip sensitivity is moderate; some change with rolling but nothing particularly drastic. I have found my preferred tips to be the darker pack-in tips, which resemble (or actually ARE) Symbio Peels.
  On to sound:
• I don’t think that I could classifiy these as TOTL, but for the money, I am still impressed! I do not get any hits of BA timbre and they image well, especially depth and separation (which is interesting considering that a single full-range BA handles everything from the midbass up to the upper treble). The soundstage is pretty natural, only certain recordings will really throw things far to the left or right but you also get some high/low positioning.
• The Subwoofer BAs are still BAs, but they bring some serious rumble and thump when called on. The tuning is clearly above neutral down low, but the mids don’t have to fight for attention. These are not Basshead IEMs, and I don’t think that was the intention. This current generation of Sonion drivers is pretty impressive considering where we came from!
• Mids are where the money is! These do fantastic with vocals and especially strings. Like, just enjoying the music and then snapping to attention when certain passages come through.
• The highs seem like there may be a spike or peak somewhere in the upper mids or treble, but not in a painful way. More of a highlight than anything IMO, I’ll be curious to see how these measure once I can get them squig’d up. Not sure if the ESTs are making a difference versus if they just used BAs, but they sparkle well to my ears and that’s proof that they’re doing their job IMO. Integration > all else.
• At $819 they are not a cheap set to gamble on, but I have no complaints for their performance. Definitely a set to keep your eyes on for used, sales or Open Box if you want an enthusiastic set that plays clean and fast!
  As an additional note, the two IEMs I had with me on my recent trip were the CP32E and Prestige LTD, and they are complementary flavors (CP32E as lively and agile, LTD as Smooth and vast) which didn’t leave me particularly favoring one over the other!

[Sonofholhorse]

Got a sweet treat in today (although DHL was a little…overzealous with their packaging, but it’s what’s inside that counts!):
Kinera Celeste x Elise Audio Dark Phoenix

I’ve never heard the OG Phoenix Call, so we’ll have to wait for someone else that has to do comparisons. I will put up impressions once I’ve had some time with them!
Edit: the caps have that lenticular quality as the Prestige LTD, way prettier in person than shots: Giveo

[VIVIDICI_111]

Just realized this is the public chat oops

[Leviathan]

They are working at the successor of the Volt model, so is better if you wait.

[eargasm]

Has anybody listened to both Dune Zen Pro and Aur Audio Neon Pro?

I like my Zen Pro but I’m really curious about the Neon Pro. I mostly listen to punk and rock music and I’m wondering if they’d be a sweet great addition to my collection.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[zepp1108]

There are lot of reviews about the AUR NP on HeadFi. It’s quite competitive iem and generally praised by all.

[zepp1108]

Hidizs MP145

MP145 is a very very special iem. Prior to trying them, I had read a lot of good reviews from others, and now, having experienced these iems myself, I truly understand why they are regarded as something truly special.

Build Quality:

These iems are built like a tank. They have a metal body and a design that takes inspiration from whales. The shells are on the heavier side, though the weight is well distributed, and I don’t find them bulky. People with small ears can have a bit of a fit issue.

Sound:

I mostly spent my time on the pink nozzle, which I find balanced. MP145 has a very pleasant tuning with a hint of planar timbre but is not overwhelming. I find a relaxed tuning on the iems. The bass on it is quite decent. There is a midbass focus. Subbass is prominent too but does not go very deep. I like the quantity of bass on it—just the right amount—not less, not more. The bass maintains it’s decency by not disturbing the higher frequencies.

The mids have a good body and have sweetness. Vocals are rich and feel natural. Lower mids benefit from the bass and gain weight. There is some brightness in the upper mids, but nothing sharp or harsh.

Treble has very decent energy. There is a good sense of airiness and openness. I find the treble very controlled and not too energetic. It does not get sharp and piercing, so I find it safe for long listening sessions. Cymbals and high-hat sounds are enjoyable with the right amount of splash and energy.

The soundstage on these iems is quite wide. One of the widest I have noticed in planars. Together with very accurate imaging, I find these iems very capable on the technical front. The resolution is very good, as is the detailing. Instruments are well separated, and the sounds come out quite clean. These iems work well for most of the genres. They are not hard to drive, but they do sound more open from a powerful source.

Conclusion:

These iems make me smile every time I put them on. The tuning is very impressive, and the sound is exceptional for this price range. The sound is expansive with a high level of resolution. There is nothing that I can complain about. I reach out to them more than any other planars—Klanar and Letshuoer S15. They are good, but not as special as the MP145. I love these so much that I want to get another pair in a different color. There is a limited titanium edition too, which I find quite interesting. Highly recommended.

[domq422]

Thanks for sharing!

It’s too bad they stealth retuned these things because from what I’ve heard, it’s all positive on the sound quality front.

[zepp1108]

I am seriously clueless about why did Hidizs do that or it was some qc control that few units sounded differently and had a different graph. Nevertheless, this is a very solid iem.

[SuPeR.UsEr1]

How is the Quattro fairing?

[zepp1108]

Quattro is good but not something I feel special about. Some day you connect to it’s sound, on other it’s not what you want. Kind of average for me, for now. But it’s good at what it does.

[ASD]

hello
where would you put EJ07M wd 700vb
regards

[StanislavI]

Advise, cool fun bassy headphones for the soul under 300$. From music I like punk-rock, metal and EDM. I’m thinking of taking either hisenior okavango new, or fatfreq maestro mini used, or xenns up used. Can you recommend something else or from these options? Can second hand…
P.s.: Do you think the Pula pa02 will lose much to these models? For example, in comparison okavango?