Can you link me to that mesh? I’ve had mine kicking around in my pocket a little lately and I could use a replacement soon. Also what does it do to the tuning?
Can’t access the old Aliexpress links (actually the vast majority of them right now), but I’m using the Simgot filters from their DIY kit. Comes slightly short of the actual nozzle diameter, but it sounds fine imo.
I use meshes to bring down the pinna gain/mids, which gives the end result of a bass boost at normal listening volumes. It makes it a “fun” set (so throwing away any semblance of timbral accuracy it had 
).
While I’m here, I might as well include my current Top 5 rollout:
- GL-AMT16
- KSE1200 (w/ EQ)
- Mega5EST
- Tea Pro
- BGVP Phantom (OG)
First two are really the fidelity sets, and I’ve been running them both on desktop and through the Hiby R4. Mega5EST is the YouTube binge set, Tea Pros are on the UTWS5 adapters, and I’ll just pull up the Phantom whenever I’m feeling it.
Top Pros en-route, so we’ll see how that fits into the equation when those arrive.
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When i saw that disappear off a previous top 5, I was going to ask if that meant you were trying to sell them, but I should have known better. I’ve still been meaning to pick up a set of those. They seem like they’d be right up my alley.
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The GL-AMT16, in my honest opinion, needs the tlc with the mesh filter and foam tips like @ToneDeafMonk can attest to, but with those modifications it’s a set, with my HRTF and preferences, that I can just put on and completely forget about —which is a GREAT thing if you’re not constantly chasing for unique sonic experiences à la FOMO. Even my favorites fall out of rotation in trying to maximize all the IEMs at my disposal.
If I may go on a bit of a tangent…
I settled on the GL-AMT16 after spending night after night comparing and tip-swapping the Monarch MK2, the original Prestige, and the Softears Twilight. Solely from a “perceived detail” sort of perspective, I find that it even outranks my qdc 8SL (and by extension the IER-Z1R.) Even with using oratory1990’s PEQ preset, I prefer the AMT16 over the KSE1200 in most respects.
—but I don’t think it’s the end-all-be-all. I’d love to demo and somehow settle on THE multi-kilobuck endgame in the leagues of the PMG Apx SE, Storm, Trailli Ti, MUXICBOX S-40, etc. The problem is, whatever it may be has to be at equal level to the Susvara OG for all its sonic characteristics —with my HRTF in mind. Then you have the wildcard of the mems drivers, etc. It’s likely I’m trying to chase a unicorn that will never exist in the IEM world.
…
Maybe I should get into speakers
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That’s a very interesting set, I wish more AMT drivers would have made it onto the market. Enjoy the music
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I’m hopeful for the future of xMEMS, but I’d like to see them with easier driving requirements. That bias voltage requirement is such a hurdle for using with normal portable gear and the wireless ones I’ve tried have both had a typical DD for the lows that didn’t really show what a full xMEMS set can do. I’m sure there’s going to be larger drivers that can sort out all of the lows and maintain that perfect phase response they’re capable of in a true multi driver xMEMS only setup and if that happens, I’m sure I’ll pick up a set because what I’ve heard so far seems pretty impressive. I’m still looking for an in ear I can use on the go that can compete with the STAX SR-003 mkii with or without the CES-A1 closed back kit. Either way, with EQ and with a little cotton damping in the closed back kit, it’s just easily the most technical thing I’ve come across personally for anything nearing portable size and if there were any convenient ways to use them portable, I’d probably do it, but having an energizer stack with a source is just a bit much for me lol.
As for the AMTs, they just seem like that nice compromise of being able to be driven off normal gear, extreme technicalities, and options for customizing your sound easily with filters, nozzles, tips, and EQ to narrow down a perfect combo and from what I’ve seen from you and other peoples experiences, they seem to take well to any kind of mods and EQ you can throw at them so it’s basically my ideal kind of set. Of all the super high end IEMs, I’ve only ever gotten to spend any time with the Trailli JP and while it was a fantastic set with tons of technical capabilities, it didn’t quite scratch the bass tightness itch for me and I couldn’t help but always hear that it wasn’t quite good enough to justify the cost for me personally. They’re probably the best traditional IEM I’ve heard overall, but they couldn’t quite convince me they should cost what they do/did.
I’m not quite sure I’ll be able to find what I’m looking for in the end for a portable set, but I’ve actually been having fun tweaking some EQ and tip swapping the Aethers. Been loving wide bores on them, and for some reason the Tang Sancai Wide bores fit me so perfectly with them and hold them against my ear so well that it almost gives the bass a bone conducting effect and I can’t quite explain it, but at times it’s over ear HE6/Susvara with solid leather pads and a bass shelf levels of slam and rumble I can feel in my head like I haven’t felt in any other planar in ear sets and it’s got me a little hooked right now lol. They’re pairing really well with the Questyle CMA18 by coincidence and I’ve been using them a ton lately despite having other sets that might beat them from an overall technical level, but they do hold up really really well for what they cost and especially if you EQ in a little clarity/emphasis in certain areas. Something about that driver size seems to be doing some things right.
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Right now: Moondrop Blessing 3, 7Hz Timeless, ThieAudio Monarch MKII, Etymotic ER2XR, and Sennheiser IE600.
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https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004052530517.html
Look at my squig and you see a ton of mods. (like with the CCA CRA.)
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$2.87 for the item and $42.11 in fees/shipping to US.
Just the next days and they’ve ‘fixed’ shipping to <$4.
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My current top-five sets in rotation.
- LUA Synchronicity
- Earacoustic Audio SPA High-End Max
- Eminent Ears Sapphire/Ruby/Nostalgia Camelot(I only keep one flagship in rotation at a time so)
- Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant
- LETSHUOER DX1.
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Love this rotation! You’ve got everything from technical beasts to bass blasters covered. Curious though, how are you finding the S15 at high volumes over longer sessions? Does it stay enjoyable or get fatiguing? Also, totally with you on the ND Planet… sometimes you just need that earth-shaking low end 
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I bet you would like the Topping Arpegear Hane. I got them at one point for free for review and they sound like a more technical Z300 which surprised me because I was expecting a thin and bright set from Topping but it was really smooth and warm and thick with the right dip switch setting and I really actually enjoy them for a relaxed listen. Good build, too.
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Indeed!
The past few sessions I’ve had with S15 I’ve blasted them so loud that my ears rang afterwards. They were 30-45 mins sessions and I didn’t find S15 at all fatiguing. I need to listen to S15 quieter to be honest, because I really was listening too loud… They encourage it with the tuning, though!
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Thanks, dude. I’ll have a look for them.
This severe tinnitus sufferer says, “Don’t be a dumbass.”
I played music loud through headphones as a youth. I never thought I would get tinnitus, either.
You don’t want this. Constant ringing, 24/7. I’ll never have a quiet day for the rest of my life.
Turn down the volume knob, dude. Trust me on this one.
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You know the DB range you likely listen to?
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My ideal volume is high 80s. I must’ve been listening to S15 at close to 100 dB, if not more.
@pk500, I hear you (no pun intended). I have been a drummer for years and did not protect my hearing when I first started playing… The last time I listened to S15 I ran it at med-high volume, around my ideal listening level, and they still sounded great. I have no intention of doing that again, regardless of how good it sounded - it was absurdly loud.
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Totally feel you—some tunings just invite volume, and the S15 sounds like one of them. Good to know it stays smooth even when pushed… though yeah, probably wise to dial it back before the ears file a complaint
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There’s hope. bimodal research looks promising. Sound tuned to one’s particular ‘damage’ range and electrical stim on the tongue rewires the brain to reduce the noise making.
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- Moondrop Blessing 3
- 7Hz Timeless AE
- ThieAudio Monarch MKIII
- Sennheiser IE600
- Kiwi Ears Quintet
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