I am still considering buying a Moondrop Variations despite owning and loving the timeless… I would primarily hope it to be even more detailed in the treble (everyone is talking about that magic Variations treble) and some more slam. I am aware of the analytical nature and the lacking mid bass of the Variations, which I expect to suit my preference.
Would you say it’s worth it or is the timeless on par and it’s not worth spending the money on the Variations?
The dilemma at the moment is: is S12 a killer of everything, including FH9? I don’t think so, but let’s wait for the people who will buy it. 
Not yet! Anything you wanna know?
Variations has more detailed and better treble, yes. regarding bass, it’s negative elevation and negative slam. If you want slam, avoid Variations. I’d say EJ07m for tribid if slam is request, but treble is darker than Variations (altho more naturaly detailed, but Variations feels as much if not more resolving due to fake treble elevation).
If Shuoer is able to do a timeless with better stage, everything will be in trouble under 500 usd. I’m just not sure it can be done. Let’s see how it goes 
Season of firsts for me: with first planars came along with first tube experience, as I decided the time was right to delve into this hole.
MT-602 kicks around 100 USD, is an hybrid Class-A amp, containing tubes on the pre-amp. Tubes can be rolled, but my impressions will be only regarding stock tubes. It’s non-balanced, which means both of the outputs are single ended (6.35mm and 3.5mm).
As expected, this source is very powerful and not made to IEMs making most of them have some background noise - You’ve been warned. There’s also some channel imbalance when volume is too close to zero.
Sound-wise, I’d describe it as slightly smoothed out - like EST drivers do, - a hair warmer and a soundstage increase. For power hungry IEMs like Timeless, P1 Plus or Heart Mirror, this is just heavenly, and they have no background noise.
Conclusion: This is my first time using any type of tubes but so far, this gets a big rec on niche situations. To me, planars sound better on it than on solid state only. Also, for 100usd, you can’t go wrong if you’re always at a desktop and you just want a toy to use from time to time.
I’ll keep playing with it when at home and maybe roll the tubes in the future.
Topping decided to come back again with another portable amp. The plan was simple, no bells and whistles, just the essential: A volume knob, a 3.5mm line-in, a 3.5mm single-ended output, a 4.4mm balanced output, a gain button and a usb-c charging port.
Simple right? It better sound good.
And hell if it does! 0.1ohm OI, 1400w @ 32ohm (srsly, wtf?!!) and negative gain on the lowest setting just makes your IEMs like you ever wished they always were: Dead silent but deadly.
No, I’m not joking. It’s dead silent even though it can power a horse. Perfect for IEMs.
How does it sound? Well, veeeery clean so if you like more colored sounding sources, avoid this one. Soundstage is also big, giving it a better sense of separation and air. It brings me back memories of my L&P W2 dongle, maybe a bit more clinical.
It’s very clinical, as Topping’s desktop amps are described, so I’m guessing it’s the same Mojo. I love it, but I can see why some would call it lifeless.
“But nymz, it doesn’t have a dac!”
Yes, you gotta use a dongle. Apple dongle is literally 8 USD.
“Also no Bluetooth!”
Yes, but you can use a BT dongle and solve both problems. Qudelix5k comes to mind 
Also, a word on portability: it’s not that heavy, somewhat slim and has a nice form factor, especially if you wanna stack it with your phone/dap.
Conclusion: Big rec. I thought xDuuo XD-05 balanced would win the source of year award for me personally, but I’m not so sure anymore. Insane. Rec’d if you like clinical sources - I love it.
Disclaimer: For some weird stuff it seems that I got a version (chinese?) without google play store. I’m in contact with the seller to figure it out, but that doesn’t matter as the hardware specs are the same and I’m using flacs to test this.
At around 400 usd but most of the times found on sale for 300-350, Hiby’s R5 Saber has impressive specs on the paper: 1W @ 16ohm, 4.4mm balanced output, 3.5mm single-ended output that also serves as a lineout, Android 8.1 and a claim of 18h battery life. Box already includes a leather case so, don’t be me, and buy one on the side 
Form factor is very good for portability. Slim, small and light - reminding me of a much better version of the Sony NWA-105 I’ve owned before. Interface speed is fine and I haven’t found any bugs so far.
Regarding sound, that’s where it keeps getting interesting: It sounds amazing! It’s somewhere between NX7 and XD-05 Bal, as it is very clean but feels slightly more alive than NX7, without being as colored as xDuoo’s. Separation and stage also on pair with my other portable sources. Once again, the W2 vibes kick in.
Regarding power and OI: So far, no hish (I’m looking at you M3X) and enough power to take anything I own to the tracks.
Conclusion: This is my 3rd DAP but by far the best. It sounds amazing, not just as a DAP, but a source itself. I love it and it quickly threw M3X and NWA-105 out of the boat. Size is amazing if you love smaller/more portable daps. Power is enough for pretty much anything regarding IEMs. Big rec as well.
Update: as you guys can see, I’ve been busy. Part three will come in the next few days and it’s regarding TWS. But we all know what you are waiting for (as so am I because I literally gave them zero attention so far):
Igor sent me back my EJ07m so I can also do some A/B. 
oh, what about the tiny Sony SBH24? 
Completly forgot I had that lol. It’s still inside the box. Only took out MH755 
Really debating getting myself the Hiby R5 Saber 
Just throwing in my two cents.
In terms of detail and resolution, the Variations is definitely one of the most resolving IEMs out there. Among all the IEMs I’ve tried, the only ones that edge it out are much more expensive: Unique Melody MEST MK1/2, 64Audio U12t, QDC Anole VX.
Part of that is due to it‘s excellent treble extension, but the midrange and bass are equally as detailed. Bass Texture and Detail is a big strength of the Variations.
Another part of this is the overall tuning being very clean. The Variations is a very clear sounding IEM. The UM MEST is one of the other IEMs that come to my mind in that regard.
The ThieAudio Oracle is a very clear sounding IEM as well with beautiful timbre, but not quite as detailed.
Thanks for your input <3
One thing that I liked better with the Blessing 2 compared to the timeless was its bass punch (after EQ). The timeless base was plentiful, but pale in comparison. I guess I don’t know about top tier bass (since nymz said, that the bass on the Variations is not great), but I would imagine the bass not to be worse on the Variations than on the Blessing. And at the very least it is there without the need for EQ.
I had the chance to listen to the U12t some months ago… I can’t remember details, but the major thing was: I didn’t like it. For me personally the 7hz timeless is simply and plainly the better IEM. The U12t sounded too warm/laidback/dark/whateveryouwannacallit. It didn’t matter to me what qualities it may had otherwise, because of the end of the day, I didn’t enjoy the U12t. That is exactly why I am gravitating towards the Variations.
The MEST seems to be something, I could enjoy and may even be potentially my endgame. I would buy it, if I ever got the chance to try it without spending 1.5k$ and ending up liking it a lot. That is also the reason I didn’t even look into the Anole VX 
The major deterrent that keeps me from buying the Variations at this point, is the fact that I like the 7hz timeless so much.
Not something I ever expected to hear, but hey, Mest seems like your endgame for sure 
The thing about the Variations (and the Monarch MK1) is that it does Bass different than most other IEMs.
When other IEMs have a Frequency Response with a Bass Boost (be it V-Shaped, U-Shaped, Neutral with Bass Boost etc.) they usually boost the mid-bass and sub-bass. So the Bass shelf is present over the entirety of the bass band. This leads to a coherent and smooth bass presence no matter what kind of bass a track incorporates.
Therein lies a pitfall however. Mid-bass is usually more present in quantity overall when it comes to music compared to Sub-bass. One genre that usually incorporates a lot of sub-bass is electronic music. So it is much harder to tune a „proper“ or „tasteful“ amount of mid-bass compared to sub-bass. Have too much and you risk it bleeding into the midrange, coloring vocals and instruments present in the lower midrange, being too „boomy“ or „muddening“ the sound. Have too little and you risk missing proper Bass impact and feel, noteweight and proper sound of vocals and instruments in the lower midrange.
The Variations having a bass-boost pretty much exclusive to the sub-bass has two disadvantages; 1) some might miss the impact and quantity of mid-bass usually accompanied by a bass boost and 2) may feel like male vocals and lower midrange instruments lack body and/or presence. Now these two disadvantages are not that notable and/or significant to me, but they are there and my observations seem to align with the general consensus here.
Now to the advantages, and there are quite a few:
Sub-bass is excellent on the Variations; in impact, quantity, and quality. Bass Texture and detail are great, resolution all around incredible.
Mid-bass, while maybe lacking in quantity for some, still carries the excellent technicalities of the sub-bass.
Due to the kind of the bass boost being in the sub-bass, there is no bleed or coloration into the mid-bass. One of the reasons this set is so clean. Bass is very well separated while still sounding coherent in relation to the other frequencies.
…so yeah, in my opinion, the Bass on the Variations is both excellent and maybe not. The Sub-bass definitely is, and the mid-bass is either fine or lacking (in quantity) given your taste, library and HRTF.
Cheers 
Can you give Amazon music appa whirl. I find if I open other music apps, when I use the Amazon music from then on the physical play,pause, next track etc don’t work on the app. I have to reinstall the app and not open any other media players e.g. Tidal, youtube, for the physical buttons to work… All other music apps work fine as far as I know. I have a regular non-Saber r5. I emailed Hiby more than once but never got any response. I wonder if I am the only one with this problem. Thanks!
You got it from Stars picker audio by any chance?
As I said on my disclaimer, I cant install any apps atm 
I’m in touch with support and I’m trying to figure out a way.
Yea.
Maybe I’ll buy again on CNY hopefully for a bit cheaper than that😂.
I see the nx7 is approx 170€. Would you say it is worth it if I already own, let’s say, a qudelix 5K? As you said, the qudelix can be transformed into a glorified BT DAC paired with the nx7. But I wonder if the improved sound would justify the price and added inconvenience. 
Oh, and thank you very much for your great feedback on all these gear! 
