IEM discussion thread (Part 2)

[Jaytiss]

I feel that the 300 mark is pretty competitive. Not sure how appealing this release is to me.

[rattlingblanketwoman]

Yes, definitely crowded. The configuration and build seem cool to me… but Shanling typically veer towards an Asian-market tuning when it comes to their upper mids.

[Rikudou_Goku]

and bellsing BAs lol.

[rattlingblanketwoman]

If you rearrange the letters in “custom”:

C U S T O M
T U S C M O
U S M O C T
B E L L S I N G

Ah! Every time.

[ftzen]

Any opinions on Simgot EA1000?

People seem to prize the detail retrieval and bass quality.

Edit. Give a recommendation for an iem between 200€ - 300€.

I prefer dynamic and detailed over polite.

[ZeusPro]

I truly love EA1000, but with a few mods:
Add 500 mesh filter(from Simgot tuning kit) over black nozzles, upgrade the cable to Simgot LC7 or Artti A9, use Azla Crystal or latex H570 tips, get deepest insertion into your ears- lowers lower treble.

[pylaczynski]

I think they are universally liked (at least). Actually I got used pair myself today and I think for the general package it is quite a deal!

Amazing build quality, good packaging and very good sounding. Not as bright as I was afraid them to be on Spinfit W1s and silver-black nozzle. After couple of months with Mest and Twilights only switching to EA1000 did not cause me to perceive any significant drop in the sound reproduction quality. If any. Just a different taste, but on absolute scale of good sound much closer to each other than I would like them to be considering them costing me 4-7x less

[ftzen]

I am thinking one of these.

1. Zunu Falkon Ultra,
2. EA1000
3. TANCHJIM Origin

[Rinderkappajoe]

That´s a nicely matching cable, you sir are a man of taste
Which one is it?

[Sonofholhorse]

Looks like a Tripowin Zoe

[pylaczynski]

Exactly as @Sonofholhorse said. But apart from I admit cool looks it is not the best cable from usability perspective. Tangles very easily, springy, feels a bit cheap. Which in fact it is

[Rinderkappajoe]

Thanks to both of you guys.
And especially thanks for telling me that it is not that good so I can throw it ouf of my head (it was not paying rent anyway)

I am awating delivery for a customized version of that bad boy anyway

[John_W_Clark]

@GooberBM

Let’s not act like 7Hz Zero didn’t move the hobby forward

I have heard both the Zero and Zero2, and I don’t get the excitement around them. The Zero2 had thin and grainy sounding bass, and it was the better bass version. The Chu was another stealth crin tuned set ( he did a video on it ) that I thought was meh as well. After the Zero2 I decided I just didn’t need any more of crin’s tuning. His tuning tends to be slightly bright for my tastes, which is fine, but Simgot does it better, which is likely why he felt the need to shit on Simgot before his new set hit the market.

If you want a cheap Harmon tuned, Truthear Hola or ZiiGaat Nuo would be my pick. If you want something in that price range that is fun, the QKZxHBB, KBear Rosefinch, or the KZ Castor ( either version, but the black is pretty dope ).

If you like bright and want to spend the $80-100 for a bright leaning set, skip Singolo and go EA500, EA500LM, or Olina SE which is my pick here, but it seems to be minority position. If you want something a bit more neutral the Tripowin Kailua is a great choice, and if you want something a tad warm, go Artti R1 ( which is my current favorite under $100 ).

[GooberBM]

I didn’t say Zero was the best (I’m Team Rosefinch all the way) but Chu and Zero were the first $20 sets of this era that did resonate, and Zero was the first with a detachable cable.

Those two were the sets that started the shift in the under-$50 market that we all benefited from, and I put that respect on their names.

And since Crin’s influence is why Zero exists, that deserves respect too

[ftzen]

Important topic that I am aware of, but this should be move to another thread.

[ctjacks336]

Such a great cable. Got this one not to long ago. On the thicker side but works great🤙

[Lexington99]

Looks nice, I dig the gold. 7n OCC sounds good too of course, but question is if the specs are authentic. The OCC process is different from OFC process. It has only been out of patent for 10 years or so, and usually reserved for more pricy products as they are costlier to make and achieve higher performance.

I’m eyeing the Effect Audio Griffin. The price is somewhat steep at $199 ($180 when the sale starts on Hifigo), but it comes with adapters for both ends - MMCX & 2pin as well as balanced & unbalanced termination. This raises the value proposition quite a bit in my eyes, you can use it for all your IEMs. Then there is the fact that it’s a reputable, official brand so I tend to trust their claimed specifications a lot more.

The specs are:

Selected Premium UP-OCC Silver Plated Copper Litz
Multi-Sized Stranding
24 AWG 4 Wires
EA Ultra Flexi™ Insulation
ConX® Basic Interchangeable Connector
TermX™ Ready Interchangeable Plug (2.5mm 3.5mm 4.4mm)

[Rikudou_Goku]

You are being fooled into believing those overpriced prices are actually the real cost…

XINHS/Ivipq is an oem for many other cable companies, including ones that resell them at a muuuuch higher price.

[Rinderkappajoe]

Hope it won´t be too bulky/heavy
I already chose lightweight accesoires to counter that a bit

Don´t know why some cables are so damn attractive, it´s almost as buying a shiny necklace or something

Cable manufacturers be like

[ctjacks336]

It’s not bulky,just not super thin. For me it was an perfect size