Oof that background on your squigâŚâŚ Magnifique!
If you like some snake-oil-free simple minded approach to technical stuff I highly recommend reading Crinacleâs blog for good amount of high quality explanations of those basic audio concepts without any marketing shilling, based purely on measurable data. Sometimes he overlooks some details, but generally it is great and simply presented content.
On the other end of the spectrum of knowledgeable people on the internet you have PSaudio blog on YouTube. He must be the nicest and easiest to listen person in there and he generally describes audio concepts in very friendly way. There is one BUT though as he is front man of company selling high end audio stuff (DACs, speakers, cables for thousands of dollars) and for stuff he does not have verifyable data (like cables composition effect on sound) he just forgets his technical background and data-based approach and goes over with statements like - âit changes the sound noticeablyâ etc
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Went to my local audio store to demo some DAPs today and boy do I found some neat and not so neat ones. I mainly demo-ed the Shanling M6 21 and M6 Pro 21 and I only used my Moondrop Variations though out my time there.
Left, my M3X. Middle, Shanling M6 21. Right, Shanling M6 Pro 21.
Quick impressions, M6 21 felt like a beefed up version of the M3X. Itâs slight wider and resolving but so does my M3X when I stacked it up with my Q3 to an extend. Not a huge upgrade but it is an upgrade in an ok way.
The M6 Pro though⌠man, that opened up my Variations wide open in the soundstage and imaging. The sound does felt more flat and clinical in a way, but it still has that great shanling sound to it that Iâm used to. It also brings out the sub-bass from my Variations.
Next, I tried the Fiio M11 plus that recently came out. Long story short, despite having the same DAC chips as the M6 Pro 21, the sound felt more intimate and brought out the vocals a lil bit more. Itâs pretty good for vocal focused songs but not really if I listen to the majority of my Kpop music library. Even if Fiio have all the bells and whistles android features that other DAPs doesnât have, I still prefer Shanlingâs tuning. Maybe cause my ears are used to it compared to the Fiio sound so YMMV. The Fiio M11 Plus is also cheaper than the M6 Pro 21.
Finally, I listened to the Astell&Kern SR25 MKII that I didnât know it got an upgrade. To put it simply, itâs also kinda like a beefed up version of the M3X. Slight better sounding here and there so it was nothing to shout about. Itâs also almost similar sounding to the M6 21 and the M6 21 is much cheaper. For almost double the price of the M3X, they sure are the same size, though the SR25 MKII felt more weight-y and premium-y. Sound-wise, not for me and my music library.
I went out of the store today loving the Shanling M6 Pro 21 a lot. The only set back was that itâs using the old Android 7 OS which canât be upgraded so Iâm mildly cautious in terms of the longevity of the device. As much as Iâm listening offline when Iâm out, I tend to use Apple Music Lossless more ever since I got my M3X. Was scarily close to pulling trigger to trade in my M3X though 
I may or may not be able to demo those 2 upcoming Sony DAPs next weekend. 
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Thanks for sharing, I love DAPs!
Iâm currently in love with Cayin house sound. Hope you get to try one soon! 
That sonys look hot 
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They have the new Cayin n8ii available to demo but I was too into the Shanling DAPs today. 
Will definitely try their DAPs the next time Iâm there!
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You gotta do it for science!!
Wish I could demo stuff 
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Ever since I got into IEMs, I would love to do a vacation in Singapore
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âWish I could demo stuffâ, well said nymz!!!
And lilhm, I used to get to go often to Sâpore, sure wish I could again!!!
But sadly, cannot.
That is why reviews are so important to so many of us these days.
God Bless,
Wayne
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Thread and Life update
Well⌠How do I start?
From the begining I guess. When I made this thread I had no idea I would become a reviewer. All I had was a collection, friends, a passion and a pair of ears. Fast forward a couple of months later, here we are. This thread turned into a small reflection of the comunity, which was the target all along.
To reach and help such comunity, I had to make choices that I couldnât without any help. I had to start accepting loans, review samples and basicly: become a reviewer. My intention was never to get freebies, and those who talk to me behind the scenes know it. Iâm the guy that will pay if he cans for something he could probably get some other way. But all that exposure got me to where I am today, doubling the experience and being able to give back the double.
Given that, I kept investing in better ways to help around. I gave away most of my gear for free, in private, including samples, so people can experience new stuff. I also invested in increasing the quality of my reviews and databases:
1. I bought a coupler, a soundcard and I made a squig database
PS: HUGE shoutout to Mark/SuperReviews for setting me up in no time and giving me the opportunity to use this platform! Make sure to check him out on his YouTube channel!
My database is still small, as I gave most away or I donât have most of the stuff Iâve demoed to date with me anymore, but it will grow.
My target was also slightly tweaked to match better my coupler:
From now on I can basicly graph all my new stuff on the fly, especially IEMs that are still prototypes, without needing 3rd parties. I can also measure EQs, mods, tips or anything that needs to be done.
2. I bought some photograph gear
Well, I love taking nice pics of my gear. I finally invested in some lightning and a macro lens. I can finally do some cute stuff like this:
3. I edited some posts/the thread
When I made this thread, I had no idea of some of these forums limitations about edits. I had to ask help to @M0N , which I would like to publicly thank by the way. Some of my posts were misleading and out of date, so most were edited or removed. Basicly, a generic clean canvas.
Threadâs name was also updated to avoid misleading. All the rest is the same!
Now, to finish the update, Iâd like to give you a small life update and why I went semi-rogue on the last 2 weeks.
Work got heavy, I basicly did no music time unless for first impressions. I literally had no time but comutes only. That ended up kinda well as I got a promotion (yey, more money for IEMs I guess⌠but also more responsability? -.-), and weâll see from here.
I will now proceed to dump all the stuff I got noted, photographed and others over the last weeks. I had my Tea2 review done for 2 weeks and I couldnât post it⌠Iâm hoping Linsoul isnât that mad : â )
I hope everyone is doing great, listening to music, in good health and f*** Put*n.
With love,
nymz, the reviewer
CEO of Tea Cult
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Question for you @nymz , i noticed that your graph of KL and @hawaiibadboy 's is drastically different in the bass region. I know graphs will differ depending on a lot of factors but this seems like a huge difference.
I used precogs target as a reference. HBBâs graph follows the target whereas yours is a way leaner in the mid bass.
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Different couplers, different tips, different insertion
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I am aware of that. Might be nothing, might be something. I have to re do the measurements tomorrow on ejs, teas and rsv.
Edit: I just re-did it with comply foams:
Same results. Iâll talk to Joseph.
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Do you think you got a regular EJ07M?
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I would hope that it would not make such a difference. I get the treble area may be affected most but that bass looks radically different and rather EJ07M -esque
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They can, Dunu has compiled multiple graphs from other people with their iems.
(Titan S, IEC711 couplers)
@nymz looks like it has less sub-bass than mine. Could be his coupler combined with the fact that my own coupler has a bit more sub-bass than some others.
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Where are the kinda lavas on sale?
iiiii hope they go on sale in 10 hrs on linsoul
wait now there is coupler variaton 
Measuring couplers response on one rig with fixed source - thatâs a next level niche in this hobby⌠But honestly that would be somehow fun if someone would agree with Crin, HBB, precog and all whales to measure their equipment and how do they vary and how it impacts the perspective.
Or probably not THAT lot of fun