shotgunshane’s IEM (custom and universal) recommendations, favorites and classics

Quick follow up on this. Dunu had a shipping issue and I asked for a refund, I didn't see the need for two modular cables. I received the Hart Cable yesterday and the cable itself is very nice. It's thicker than the stock FD-X1 cable but still well within the thickness one would expect for an IEM. I have a braided balanced IEM cable that this is replacing and that one is thicker.

However you are correct that the point where the cable connects to the adapters is terminated with a mini XLR female plug, and then the adapters have a corresponding mini XLR male plug, and those add significant weight and bulk. In that sense, the Dunu would be preferable in that the connection point is smaller and lighter and is just for the plug, no additional cable length.

However the lowest cost Dunu cable is $80 and just comes with a standard TRS 3.5mm connector. I needed a 3.5m TRRS and a 4.4mm TRRRS so that came to $120 for a single cable with two additional connectors. By contrast, the Hart cable is $37, and the set with all of the connectors they offer but one (mini XLR to dual 3-pin XLR, which is only available as a $35 standalone purchase) is listed at $75 (additional cost if you want the fancy carrying case) but Hart offers a discount on the set if you buy a cable with it so it was $64.50, and that gives you six adapters. Individual adapters range from $12 to $19 depending on termination type, and they have less expensive adapter bundles if you don't need every type of connector. I was able to get two cables, one for my FD-X1 and one for my HD580, plus the set of all the adapters for $143.50 after $5 for shipping. And the cables sound great.

So yes, the Dunu would be the one to get if you value the lightest weight, least bulky option. I wouldn't throw Hart's cables out of consideration though, and since I now have the set of the adapters if I get more headphones or IEMs I can just order the appropriate cables for them at very reasonable prices and be able to play them with all of my gear. A good deal overall, I'd say.

 

Sure thing:








From the top we’ve got a shot of the 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR terminations, and I’ve angled the connectors on the MMCX so you can see the L and R markings.

Then a shot of the connection points on the mini XLR, the connected mini XLR, the Y splitter, and finally the full cable with 4.4mm termination attached.

There are a few stock sleeve colors that Hart offers. I got my cables in grey and the adapters in red for an easy visual indicator of where the cable ends and adapter begins, plus I figured since there are six adapters and they’re all relatively small, having them be bright red would make them easy to find when I want them.

I didn’t get the custom carry case for the adapters, so mine just came in plastic baggies. Nothing fancy.

 

Hi chaps. I got myself a gorgeous mutt a couple of months ago & we're walking about 3 hours per day. I like to have some tunes when we're walking, but I've always had issues with iem fit, even after trying a ton of tips. It's worse when walking around of course.

In good audio nerd tradition, I'm considering throwing some money at the issue and going custom. I've never had a CIEM though so I'm not sure just how good a seal I'm likely to get when hiking about. Anyone got an idea if they're likely to be a lot better in that regard over universals? Cheers!

 

excellent review as always! Sounds like an interesting iem. I was put off by any mention of upper midrange emphasis but then you said it was the same as the Nair which I don’t hear that in at all (hence the importance of comparisons) so that leaves me curious. I like resolution though....

thanks

 

Ahah, I quite understand what you say about pain... I've been trying to use SB-7 as an everyday carry IEM, but even though I have quite large and straight ear channels, this plan was failed

 

I second that the Aria is a good and also an interesting earphone. It does have that 10 kHz driver-resonance peak that introduces some hardness, but I find it extremely cohesive sounding. In my limited testing (MacBook Air, Dragonfly Cobalt), I'd describe the Aria as very disciplined with good note definition.

The earpieces have a flatter faceplate than the Starfield's...and that matte finish feels really good between my fingers. The textile cable is nice and supple. I am usually not too keen on textile, but this one works pretty well for me.

I initially found the Aria kinda inconspicuous in terms of both sound and haptic...but they grew rather fast on me.

 

Assuming the price were the same, I wonder if the Aria does something better than the starfield, tonally, technically, or in whatever else. I am sensitive to a bad transition between mids to highs more than anything else. On an side note as to why I just started getting interested in moondrop, the spaceship is actually quite impressive for me at 20 bucks. I have never heard any iem present sound more naturally at this price.

EDIT: I don't use the stock tips for the spaceship.

 

I was wondering about break-in of Starfield/Aria. While I never recorded any obvious differences in any DD earphone even after 200 hour break-ins, I wonder whether the diaphragm of either loosened a bit up with usage, which resulted mainly in a looser bass.

It was my perception that the new Aria was tighter at the low end than the Starfield. After some usage, this difference has somewhat disappeared.

It cannot be excluded that this is just my imagination...or a variation in insertion depth.

But what is clear is that one can save $30 on the Aria over the Starfield.

 

Does the Aria have more guitar bite than the Starfield? That was a part of your review that turned me off to the Starfield, less guitar bite than the FDX1.

 

The FDX1 remain my favorite IEM but the Aria might be a nice alternative.

 

Hi there, I have gifted my beloved JVC FD01 to my beloved father!

So now I'm looking for iems in the same vein but bettering it in terms of technicalities.
would the sony ier m7 or m9 be good options ? what else would you guys advise? preferably under 700 euros.