Perfect Seal Deca IEM Measurements

Discussion in 'IEM Measurements' started by purr1n, Oct 24, 2016.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Perfect Seal Deca Measurements

    See general measurement notes before digesting the plots below: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/note-on-iem-measurements-changelog.2153/

    Perfect Seal Deca Frequency Response
    PS Deca FR.png

    Perfect Seal Deca Harmonic Distortion (at above FR levels)
    PS Deca L HD.jpg
    PS Deca R HD.jpg

    Pre-measurement Impressions: Nice overall FR with warm bloomy bass, midrange emphasis, and sibilant. There's a little bit of a reverb thing going on that gives it a nice sense of spaciousness. I have no answer in the measurements for the sibilance that I hear except maybe for the small 5-6kHz peak or the rising D2 past 7kHz. I tried Comply tips and the sibilance was still there.

    Perfect Seal Deca Impedance and Electrical Phase
    Deca Z.png
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2016
  2. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    I have been enjoying Deca, thanks for the measurements. They essentially correlate with what I am hearing; downsloping 'done right' IMHO. I haven't really noticed any sibilance though... I found them at their best with Spiral Dots.
     
  3. purr1n

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    It's not like a nasty peak. Just "sibilant" at times, a timbre thing. Hard to describe. @CEE TEE heard it too, but I also know our ears are very similar. His customs kind of fit me.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2016
  4. muse

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    I have not owned/heard the Deca, but am the owner of the AR6 and Sportsbud Silver. Auditioned the entire PS line from Perfect Seal as well (had the Fusion 11 for a short time as well).

    I'd say that this is Perfect Seal's signature characteristic - readily apparent in the models that I've heard so far.

    I also have the same 'issue' with regards to 'sibilance' in my AR6 and the F11 in the past (none with their other models however). Source matching might be the issue. They were the only IEMs that reproduced the telltale 'Sabre glare' out of the GOv2. More apparent on shitty recordings as well.

    In general, I find that warmer, more laid-back gear make a good pairing with Perfect Seal IEMs/CIEMs. Momby -> Vali 2 with a good NOS tube is my preferred pairing. Perhaps the Deca benefits similarly.

    *PS: Marv, it's DECA.
     
  5. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    How do you feel about those distortion measurements? They look unacceptable to me at their asking price. Is it a "feature" or an "issue" ? I'm guessing it helps with the "warm / bloomy" sound that you are stating.
     
  6. purr1n

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    I guess you could look at it either as a feature or an issue. The bass reminded me a little bit of the Dharma headphone's bass, but just a touch of it. Hard to describe. Warm, bloomy, full-bodied, rounded. It's not horrible by any means. The biggest gripe I had with it was the internal reverb thing combined with the defuse field tuning - just a bit too much midrange for my taste.
     
  7. shotgunshane

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    In my custom Deca, I don't get any exaggerated sibilance. Perhaps it's due to the shallowe fit you get with the demos/uni's. I'd imagine the peaks to be slightly higher with shallow fit. At any rate it sounds similar to the UERR tuning to my ears but more spacious and resolving.

    Are you measuring the AR6 too? It's my favorite of the line up. It sounds even more spacious and has a slightly brighter tuning.
     
  8. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    The Vali 2 pairs well with the AR6? I might have to try this.
     
  9. purr1n

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    I've got the AR6. Tonight.
     
  10. daytripper

    daytripper Friend

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    If the AR6 or Deca go out for a loaner tour, please count me in!!
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Sign up for it in the appropriate thread.
     
  12. daytripper

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  13. purr1n

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    FYI. Impedance curve plots added to the bottom first post. I should have done this way earlier. While not as reactive as the Andromeda, the Deca is still fairly reactive to higher amp output impedance. A higher Z source will bring out the bass and treble.
     
  14. shotgunshane

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    I have a 15 ohm adapter. It makes the Deca pretty fun sounding. More bass quantity and more treble sparkle. I'm thinking 10 ohms might be the sweet spot between diffuse field reference and fun.

    Anyone know who can make a 10 ohm adapter? The place I got my 15 ohm from doesn't make a 10.
     
  15. fishski13

    fishski13 Friend

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    I need an excuse to brush up on my soldering skills. PM me if interested.
     
  16. shotgunshane

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    I really appreciate the offer but I found someone to make an inexpensive one.
     

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