Eh I thought they would have similar advantages to an IC board application. Thanks for the info
I’ve decided I am skipping the Zen. I love it’s cable tho. I hope they make it available apart from the IEM.
Any particular reason for that?
The cable is going to be available for sale soon. It is called the “DUW-03”, stock cable for both the Zen and the SA6. I believe the price is around 200 usd.
Have you posted your EX1000 review? I got my eye on a pretty good unit. Might buy it, but it all depends on your review.
I will review it after the Zen. Not sure if I review it before or after the T180 pro though.
it needs EQ though. So if you cant use EQ dont bother with it.
Ah I see. A part of me really want to buy it just for the sake of having it as a collection lol.
How much does it cost? I got mine at 250 usd (used pair).
It’s $389 opened box
Sounds like a good price, If you can ask for pictures on the nozzle, so you can check the condition on the foam in it would be nice.
Ah thanks for the tip. Are they prone to damage?
Depending on the usage, the foam might either be missing completely (aka, they took it out, like the previous user did with my EX800ST filter) or it could be a bit disintegrated (like my EX1000).
I see. I wonder if they sell a replacement or if there’s some DIY solution
You can probably use earbud foams or there should be some 3rd party foam you can use. (look around in the EX1000/EX800ST threads at head-fi.)
But it needs EQ, preferably PEQ for full control over adjustments. If you havent tried the EX800ST before, then the best way to describe how both the EX800ST/EX1000 sounds like is to imagine earbud sound with iem bass.
Aw man you make me even more curious about the IEM. Well looks like I’ll buy it. I probably won’t like it, but man it’s really interesting.
If you arent going to EQ it then I wont really rec it, the treble isnt tuned well.
But the technicalities and the airiness is very similar to earbuds rather than iems.
I feel like it will be one of those IEMs that you need to fine tune until you hit the sweet spot. I’m all for it.
Then go for it.
Here is a sneak peak on my Zen vs EX1000 section in my Zen review:
IEM: Sony MDR-EX1000 (EQ), Final Audio Type E LL tips, stock cable 3.5mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), Extends lower on the Zen but rumbles more on the EX1000. Punch quantity is similar but a bit more textured on the Zen while speed and tightness are similar.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more quantity on the Zen, texture, speed and tightness are a bit better on it as well.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), similar tightness and speed but more textured and a bit more quantity on the Zen.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), a bit better vocal tonality and more forward vocals on the Zen. Instrument tonality are very similar. Macro-details are better on the Zen but similar micro-details.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), more relaxing and non-fatiguing on the EX1000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), better tonality and naturality on the EX1000 due to the warmth. But cleaner and more detailed on the Zen.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), more relaxing and non-fatiguing on the EX1000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and details are better on the EX1000. Violin timbre, tonality and details are also better on the EX1000. Treble extension is a bit better on the EX1000 and sounds more natural because it is a lot airier.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better timbre and tonality on the EX1000. But cleaner and more forward vocals on the Zen.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), much bigger soundstage both in width and depth on the EX1000 and also a lot airier. Timbre is also better on the EX1000. Imaging, instrument separation and macro-details are better on the Zen. Micro-details is similar (both have upper-treble roll-off and the Zen especially suffers from lack of air, the EX1000´s vent helps a lot more with air flow in/out, very similar to an open-back headphone/earbud.)
Overall: The EX1000 is more fun and natural so it suits acoustic music more than the Zen while being similarly versatile. Although the Zen has a better ability of adjusting its tonality to match the track, so it still wins in versatility and it also has better resolution overall and is more accurate (imaging).
Here is my PEQ settings for the EX1000:
preamp: -6db
low-shelf: 80hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 4db
low-shelf: 200hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 2db
peak: 3300hz, Q: 2, gain: 2db
peak: 5500hz, Q: 2.2, gain: -6.5db
high-shelf: 10 000hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 2.5db