InEar ProPhile-8: Reference Universal With Two Switches

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by k.e., Dec 5, 2016.

  1. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Yeah, I have some double flange that I can include in the loaner. They do tip the balance a bit downward and help with a bit more low mid, but then there's an upper mid or lower treble peak that really stands out to me, and the shoutiness still persists.
     
  2. deafdoorknob

    deafdoorknob Almost "Made"

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    wait till you hear the polaris... cupped hand telephonitis extremis...
     
  3. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Some things to preface before my comparison below:
    When I mention upper midrange, I’m specifically mentioning the 2k-4k area. I mostly listen to guitar driven rock and the crunch, bite and attack of distortion, sleaze rock guitars are of utmost importance to me. All listening for this comparison was done on the Lottoo Paw 5000 in high damping mode with high gain but I can say the comparison mostly holds across all my daps.

    On a side note, I’ve read some mention a cupped hand shoutiness but I just don’t even remotely hear this in the PP8. To me a prime example of this cupped hand effect was on the original Aursonics ASG-1. It’s middle midrange peak, somewhere around 1k or so made it very shouty indeed.

    The deepest end of Andromeda bass is more lifted than rest of its bass and puts more focus on deep/sub bass rumble. PP8 bass, in general, is not quite as lifted as the deep bass of Andromeda but sounds more linear overall with more impact. PP8 bass is denser, more solid sounding than Andromeda’s bass, which lingers longer, rumbles more and sounds airier/less dense in direct comparison. I prefer the bass texture and timbre of the PP8 here.

    PP8’s midrange sounds closer to the listening position but also sounds weightier, more solid and more balanced across the spectrum in direct comparison to Andromeda, which sounds further away, more aloof with it’s greater emphasis on the lower midrange versus the upper midrange. This is especially noticeable when switching from male singers to female singers. Andromeda places female vocals a little further back than male vocals but the PP8 presents them more evenly placed in comparison to each other. Lizy Hale has more raw emotion and energy with the PP8. Sleaze rock guitars are dirtier, grittier, sleazier on the PP8. Midrange resolution, decay and micro dynamics are better to me on the PP8.

    While Andromeda doesn’t present anthem rock guitars as forward as the PP8, it’s treble presentation (along with the Tia Forte) is the best I’ve heard. Rock guitars absolutely soar with energy and are full of air and sparkle. Treble timbre, decay, sense of extension and micro dynamics are just better on Andromeda. I contribute much of this to the spoutless armatures used. They just sound different (better) than anything else I’ve heard in an iem. The PP8 has good treble weight but is lacking presence in the last octave and just doesn’t have the necessary air and sparkle. The PP8 peak is closer to 8k or 8.5k and Andromeda closer to 9 or 9.5k. This small difference seems to give the PP8 treble a hard edge without air and gives Andromeda a brighter, crisper ease. Even though the midrange is my primary focus, as it holds all the raw emotion, treble is the area that can make a speaker, headphone or iem unbearable. I'm a super picky connoisseur treblenaire. As far as iems go, the Andromeda treble is world class to me.

    As far as staging goes, Andromeda sounds a good deal wider left to right. It’s airiness just expands staging that much wider. PP8 is much more intimate in comparison and more average in head stage. I do hear the PP8 as perhaps better proportioned due to it’s depth better matching it’s height and width but Andromeda sense of space in an iem is pretty special and something I greatly enjoy.

    Anyone that knows me, knows Andromeda and the PP8 are my two favorite iems and I enjoy both of them immensely. For my listening pleasure it’s PP8, Andromeda, UERM, MD Plus and then all the rest.
     
  4. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    This definitely gels more with my view of PP8 than some other recent impressions. Andro treble is perfect, bass is fun and staging is impressively wide, but PP8 just sounds more even across the FR and the soundstage, while being compact compared to Andro, is ‘spherical’ and just sounds more natural to me.
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2017
  5. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

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    I have to ask out of curiosity. How do people wear the PP8? In front of the neck or behind? Can this affect measurements in any meaning full way?
     
  6. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    It will have no affect on measurements, assuming you are able to achieve the same fit either way. I typically wear the cable down in front, as sitting against a chair or seat back with the cable down my back tends to get pulled/tugged.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I don't doubt what you guys hear given the thought exercise (in the other thread) on why IEMs are going to sound different from person to person given the variability of individuals' HRTFs and how IEMs bypass so many individuals' elements (head, pinna, concha, etc.).

    My favorite aspect of the PP8 was its denser presentation as opposed to the Andro's lighter presentation. @brencho and I had talked about this and felt that a IEM that combined the Andro's frequency response / headstage, and the PP8's denser tone would have been ideal, that is ideal for us two.
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2017
  8. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Conversely: for me, mutant PP8 with Andromeda treble zing would be schwifty...
     
  9. Audioviel

    Audioviel New

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    I downloaded their leaflet, but was not able to figure out, what cable to choose for the PP8 and LH GO2Pro (single ended and balanced). Please, can you help?
     
  10. TomHP

    TomHP Facebook Friend

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    Dunno man. I just ordered one from Amazon.jp that had the right configuration for me (2-pin and 3.5 SE).
     
  11. Audioviel

    Audioviel New

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    iect_02_ub3c, iect_03_ub3c or iect_04_ub3s?
     
  12. TomHP

    TomHP Facebook Friend

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    Checked my amazon email. It says iect_03_ub3c. So that's for the 2-pin with 3.5mm SE.
     
  13. zhouharvey

    zhouharvey PayPal’s $2 Sensible Enforcer

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    Did you end up paying VAT or customs charges on top of the purchase?
     
  14. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    No vat or custom charges. Vat was removed at order and I’ve yet to get any custom charges with overseas purchases.
     
  15. zhouharvey

    zhouharvey PayPal’s $2 Sensible Enforcer

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    Thanks! From what I note from thomann, US customs charge fees for order above 800 US$. This kind of became a serious purchase factor (dealbreaker) but now it's cleared, thanks!
     
  16. Nordpol Anton

    Nordpol Anton New

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    New PP8 owner here: What tips do you guys recommend? I am using the spinfits right now but ordered the Hybrid MandarinEs Symbio N tips. What about the JVC Spiral Dots?

    Edit: An if I´d buy the ortofon tips, which ones do fit the nozzles of the PP8 best (the large ones, diameter 12,5 mm)?
    https://www.ortofon.com/silicone-eartips-set-p-577
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
  17. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    I like and use the stock tips for their good grip.

    Ortofon tips are my favorite in general. Really supple. All the Ortofon tips are all the same bore. The measurements they are giving is for the overall tip dimension. Ortofons run a little on the smaller side, so a large is kind of a ML size.
     
  18. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    I cut the red ‘stem’ out of a spinfit, then split it in half into two rings. With one of these rings on the bore, you can then use Spiral Dots, which are my favourite tips for both PP8 and Andromeda (Ortofons probably win for comfort though).
     
  19. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    Hmm. I’ve been using the Final Audio silicone tips on mine simply because they’re the only tips I can find that don’t fall off the IEMs after a short period, including stock tips.
     
  20. Nordpol Anton

    Nordpol Anton New

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    So the Spiral Dots won´t fit if I wouldn´t do this mod?
     

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