IEM general discussion thread

Righto, forgot it got wiped in the Great Server Purge of 2017.

FutureSonics has 2 new models that is somehow only on their facebook and not their website, but I've been emailing them to badger for more details, select portions reproduced as follows:

I'm on the fence about getting mine upgraded - I'm sick of that silly faceplate vent dropping off and disappearing, and my unit's old enough that the 2pin has some cracks in the module portion, but I love the sound so much that even with an Andromeda the listening time recently has been more like 95% MG6pro 5% Andromeda. I could use more treble, but not exactly sure how the sound has changed (if any).

 

Let us know if you go for the upgrade. I would say the mg5 (also now available with helix vents) would be something to pick up. It has a different flavor of FS bass, still great, more dynamic, slightly less. The treble is slightly more with slightly less vocal lift. I know SBAF'er Hiflight likes his mg5 over his Vega.

 

I like many many things over the Vega though! Thinking about it hard.

 

Well, the Vega is impressive. It's very detailed and has that air-moving feel of a dynamic driver in a great degree. If you like the tuning, then it's hard to go wrong with it.

 

I realise it came out worded a bit ambiguously. Based off about 15mins with the Vegas at the vendor's, I don't like it. I even picked the Andromeda's over it, which surprised my local friends who know my signature and love for DDs well. The tuning disagreed with my tastes.

(In hindsight picking up the Andromedas was also a bit fruitless since I'm still mainly using the MG6pros instead of a 60:40 or 70:30 usage model. I suppose they're better auditioning IEMs since I can't audition with the MG6pros, too distracted.)

 

In that case, mg5hx will be a good bet for an FS sound with a bit more treble and balance.

 

Dual dynamic for mids, first hybrid from JH audio.
https://www.facebook.com/JHAudio/posts/10155733974644041

 

That's interesting. I haven't been impressed with the detail resolution from the dual-dynamics I've heard from Hifiman and tralucent. Maybe JHA will do better.

 

Did you hear the JH13 v2? I enjoyed the short demo I got. That 3x... eek.

 

Have some more impressions:

Finally had a chance to listen to the infamous Andromeda. Well, my hearing impressions do not match with most of the reviews I read. I do not find them natural sounding. They are a semi-strong balanced signature with a tendency for sibilance in the treble. Bass is quite heavy. Mids are very recessed. IMO, they have nothing on the ProPhile 8. I also expected some more clarity based on most reviews. I can think of quite a few earphones that impressed me more.
The Andromeda are still good. But not reference good or 1.000+ good. Personally, I would not buy them.

And along came the Vega. Nope, sorry. No can do. I admit, I didn't listen to a dynamic for a long time, but this sounded like a budget IEM to me. Bloaty and slow bass, muffled mids, harsh treble with very muddy details. But what was the price again? Hello? WTF

PSB M4U did alright. Vocals can be a bit shouty, yet transition from upper midrange to high frequencies showed a large dip. Treble goes crazy starting at 8 kHz and balanced the surplus of bass. The bass is much too slow for demanding tracks. Well, depends if 200 $ is considered budget category nowadays. I don't feel like recommending these, though.

Finally, the NuForce HEM4. Muffled mids, sadly. Definitely can use an equalizer for everything above 2 kHz. I also noticed a narrow peak at around 9 kHz. Bass response was nice and tight, though.

 

What were your sources?

 

I agree with the Vega's, but the Andromeda's are annoyingly sensitive to source. Most modern sources will give it a bass heavy tilt.

 

JDS Labs C5, O2 and ifi iEMatch.

 

@k.e. , any news of the prophile 8 being offered as a CIEM any time soon?

 

That's a fairly accurate take for the Andro, depending on the source and tips. @KenBall'sFR chart for it (and I find his charts match what I hear for his iems quite closely) shows treble peaks starting at 6.5k, iirc. Definitely too harsh for some, others like the peaks. The bass is elevated, although I like everything about the andro bass a lot for a BA-based iem. For the mids, I was more aware of the mids of the Vega having a slight recession.

The Vega really needs a ver 2.0 with better treble extension and no treble peaks. Then, the bass can be reduced slightly (but still north of neutral) and it'll be clearer and less fatiguing.

Glad you had a chance with the Andro and Vega.


P.S. @Grahad2 I'll be getting an MG6 (or5)hx in a month or so.

 

Ooh nice. I'm considering going into 2 channel so holding my horses on the upgrade at the moment. Might even sell off the Andromedas since I'm using them so little.

 

So the iSine has an upgrade
picture from hf thread.

Spoiler

 

Interesting video of Jerry Harvey explaining the tech behind his new Lola piece, claims that this is the first coherent/in-phase IEM. What a load of schitt... On his table, that's a mighty fine schitt stack. Pretty excited to see impression of the Lola from some veterans around here. I may not agree with some of JH's decisions in the past but I'm always interested in his engineering.

Bit more background, touching on the tonality differences a bit more.