Massdrop x Noble X

Discussion in 'IEM Measurements' started by purr1n, Nov 21, 2016.

  1. Chris1967

    Chris1967 Friend

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    Thank you for the answer, i am considering these to complement my UE900s and my RHAT20i's. My source will be Chord Mojo and Fiio X5 3rdgen.

    My main reference over ear phones are Senn HD800 (Anax1 and SDR) and Hifiman he500 (grill mod/vegan).

    At the moment my in ears do not match the extension of my over ears.

    I like the UE900s flatness (although compared to the HD800 the mids are ever so slightly raised and there is not so much treble extension bass is less in quantity but ok in extension).

    Should i go for them (the price for me in Greece will be at least 30% more due to taxes)?
    I find myself using InAirs most of the time since they dont deteriorate as quickly as the comply's. They tend to mellow the treble ever so slightly but give a good seal in my ears
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2017
  2. Kamaka

    Kamaka Friend

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    It does vary from country to country. As you said, you'll still need to declare a... more modest price to avoid the excessive VATs. The UK is by far the worst. I've been able to send a few people items without issue in the past though.
     
  3. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    The extension on these guys on both ends is one of the areas where this IEM could use a little improvement. But then again, at $250 I really can't complain about it. You'll see lack of extension pop up here and there for this IEM, such as on the very first post in this thread. I tend to get lured into wanting to compare this to a ToTL IEM instead of a budget IEM, but at the price I am pleased with the extension.
     
  4. numbercube

    numbercube Acquaintance

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  5. Chris1967

    Chris1967 Friend

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    I read the thread carefully and also read what @shotgunshane says about (never really liked the Nad Viso HP50) them and decided to give them a skip.

    I have a feeling that my UE900s would still be my favourites until i go for something TOTL
     
  6. ngohieu191

    ngohieu191 New

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    Im in the US and where I could buy the Spiral dot. I ordered from Ebay with insured shipping, waited 2 weeks and now USPS has it missing. Currently using spinfit medium but it doesnt give me a good seal and comfort.
     
  7. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    I get the spiral dots from Amazon via Japanese 3rd party stores. I've tried various Japanese stores and they've all shown up to California in about 2 to 3 weeks. Amazon will give u your money back if lost.
     
  8. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    From my measurements, AK120 is about 3.5 ohm OI. My iPhone 6+ is about 5.5 ohm.

    So yeah, I think that's what I'm hearing.

    iPhone 6+ is too bright (same business with Andromeda).

    AK120 is "just right" for my ears with both. Nice, relaxed, decently impactful. I might open it up and mod the caps sometimes to bring out a bit more clarity, but its refined sound is what I appreciate the most.

    My Geek Out 2 Aluminum out of SE output (assuming it's really 0.47 ohm) is just too bassy.

    So is the output of my Macbook (Andromeda is also far too bassy out of Macbook, so I'm guessing Macbook has very low OI). Weirdly enough, the Macbook is both bassy and bright/peaky.

    But Noble X doesn't react to OI as badly as Andromeda does. Andromeda is very extreme in how its treble response changes. Noble X simply goes from "shouty + peaky" to "somewhat less shouty + bright/peaky", but it stays relatively pleasant across all my source devices. Whereas Andromeda will swing from dark/stuffy/rolled to bright/bass-light/thin in an instant.
     
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Should i bother jumping on this drop? I heard @M3NTAL Andromeda and loved them but am waiting on the new revision. IEMs I have in order of preference are SE215>Carbo Tenore>Ety HF2>HEM4. SE215 gets the most use since I use them at the gym and they are the most consistent with fit/seal. Carbo Tenore sound great if I can maintain a seal, albeit bloated in the bass. HF2 is nice but seal is an issue (common theme it seems). HEM4 seals the second best but sound weak/dull.
     
  10. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    ...the drop is over...
     
  11. Aleatorius

    Aleatorius Friend

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    They sold out.
     
  12. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    I'll let you know after a few days of use. I should have a pair showing up tonight.
     
  13. gamerstudent

    gamerstudent Acquaintance

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    So I've owned these IEMS since the first drop and I've spent enough time with them to give this review. This review I will be comparing directly to the aurisonic rockets.

    Lets start by saying, I REALLY want to love these things, but I am having an incredibly difficult time getting a good seal. I've tried using the silicone tips that came with the package, ortofone tips, sony tips (actually ripping one in half due to the odd nozzle of the Noble X), spin fit and the sureseal tips that came with the rockets.

    The ortofone and sony tips really work well for me, the sony being my favourites on the rockets and other IEMs I've owned, however, they did not work at all with the Noble X. The best seal so far I have is the smaller suretip that came with the rockets. The issue is although they seal very well initially, over time, they "pop out" and lose their seal.

    When I get a good seal I am extremely happy with the sound out of a Fiio X1-ii for my tastes they are better than the rockets tone wise. However, when they lose their seal they do not sound good anymore.

    The build quality seems decent, they are not tanks like the rockets nor did I expect them to be. Cable also doesn't seem to be as strong as the ones on the rockets, but they are at least replaceable.

    I would 100% use them as my daily pair for my daily commute if they would seal properly, but they won't :( so I've reverted back to my rockets for now.

    I am looking for new tips, I'd like to try the sprial dots, but they are very cost prohibitive (being ~$15AUD for a single size on ebay) and they come in so many sizes I don't even know which ones to choose.
     
  14. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    My rockets died with far less use than my noble X have seen over the past few months. The non-removable cable sucks rear and I've had to recable them twice. The noble is significantly more durable in practice due to this fact alone.

    It's more important to actually be more durable and reliable in practice than to seem more durable.

    I like the noble x enough that I bought a second pair after my first went missing. That should tell you something.
     
  15. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    I have the same issue with the Noble housings backing out over time. The best solution I've found is to use very large tips. Larger than I normally wear, to achieve very shalllow but tight seal. I've found the more shallowly I wear them the less the housing wants to push back out. I'm using wide bore UE900 tips but I'd imagine large spiral dots might do the trick too. This seems to be an issue with the Noble housing shape/design imo. Good luck.
     
  16. gamerstudent

    gamerstudent Acquaintance

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    I've put the rockets to hell and back...still going strong :) If they do fail in the next few years I have the Australian Consumer law to back me up anyways :)
     
  17. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    You clearly don't have small children.
     
  18. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Well said. "Indestructible" is a relative term. Would love to see almost any product survive my 7 year-old twins. Cheers
     
  19. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    You and me both!

    I've just ordered the Spiral Dots in S, MS and L. 3 pairs each, so there will be some leftover. Keep an eye out here: The Earphone Tip Exchange

    Edit: @gamerstudent try Complys. They are a PITA to use but I get a decent seal and they stay in reasonably well, enough that I can use them for a work out without them coming out (as long as I don't accidentally bump them or get up and walk away from my phone).
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2017
  20. gamerstudent

    gamerstudent Acquaintance

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    Ah nice. I normally wear the small sony tips, I might try S and MS (each pair is $15 AUD shipped from japan). I have a dislike for the comply foam tips only because they are cost prohibitive and need replacing much more frequently than silicone tips.
     

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