Planar IEMs are REAL GOOD! - 7Hz Timeless / Salnotes DIOKO / SHUOER S12 Review
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- I’ve tested three KILLER Planar Magnetic IEMs: 7Hz Timeless, Salnotes DIOKO and Letshuoer S12, but how exactly they’re different? Let’s talk.
Links for The Stuff
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[Mention "Kenneth Tanaka" on Yaoyaotiger Store in AliExpress and you'll get a special discount!]
7Hz Timeless
AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dkc...
Tokopedia tokopedia.link/C6fLABWXdvb
Amazon amzn.to/3V3mCjF
Shopee
PH invl.io/clf6j4d
MY invl.io/clf6j4e
ID invl.io/clf6j4g
SG invl.io/clf6j4i
TH invl.io/clf6j4k
Lazada
PH invol.co/clf6j5u
MY invol.co/clf6j5v
ID invol.co/clf6j5w
SG invol.co/clf6j5y
TH invol.co/clf6j60
VN invol.co/clf6j61
Salnotes DIOKO
AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmJ...
Tokopedia tokopedia.link/nx1bn5XXdvb
Amazon amzn.to/3V6GrpZ
Shopee
PH invl.io/clf6j4t
MY invl.io/clf6j56
ID invl.io/clf6j4x
SG invl.io/clf6j50
TH invl.io/clf6j55
Lazada
PH invol.co/clf6j6f
MY invol.co/clf6j6e
ID invol.co/clf6j6b
SG invol.co/clf6j6a
VN invol.co/clf6j69
Letshuoer S12
AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dcz...
Tokopedia tokopedia.link/i4u8vl0Xdvb
Amazon amzn.to/3VckV3u
Shopee
PH invl.io/clf6j5c
MY invl.io/clf6j5f
ID invl.io/clf6j5m
SG invl.io/clf6j5o
TH invl.io/clf6j5q
Lazada
PH invol.co/clf6j6j
MY invol.co/clf6j6k
SG invol.co/clf6j6m
TH invol.co/clf6j67
Timestamps
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00:00 Intro
01:46 Salnotes DIOKO
06:24 Letshuoer S12
09:48 7Hz Timeless
13:37 What's Next
BGM
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Knuckles - Slynk
Glitch Sound Effect • 50+ FREE Glitch Sound ...
Catch Me When I Fall - TFK (feat. Nadia Gabriella)
Apple Music apple.co/2PBHEVs
Spotify spoti.fi/2ZJ6qrn
Transparency Notes
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The links provided are my affiliate links to Amazon or other related programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel.
This review was made after about a couple months of usage. The 7Hz review units were sent by Yaoyaotiger HIFI Audio Store (AliExpress), and S12 by Letshuoer free of charge, no approval copy has been made prior to publishing, everything said in the video is my own honest opinion, and is not influenced by any form of incentives.
Follow me on social media (and my review playlist) bio.link/kennethtanaka
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#TestedByKenn #PlanarIEMs #BestIEM2022 - Наука та технологія
Always good to see your reviews Kenneth! Great job as usual. Your channel has been mostly about TWS but your perception of sound is very good and much more advanced than most reviewers just specialized in tech stuff in general. Pretty nice to hear your take on planars as well.
Last 11/11 I got a pair of S12 pro's which are on the way. I heard from some that the treble tuning was a bit tamed so that it gets nearer to the Timeless. All in all, we know both have exactly the same driver inside. HBB (from the channel Bad Guy Good Audio reviews) has opened them up and confirmed this information. The difference between the S12 (either normal or pro) vs the Timeless is basically the shell and other physical stuff that interfere with the tuning. On the other hand, Dioko has another driver from a different manufacturer.
Cheers and thank you for another great review!
Appreciate the comment man! Tech and audio really has been two of the most influential things in my life and I'm really glad I could share them through this channel, and slowly but surely improving my game on both the tech and audio world (I'm looking at you next, electrostatic drivers!!)
That is such a cool info to hear! No wonder why the S12 and Timeless are performing closer to each other (they're both wonderful!) except that the S12 is *much* cheaper which is pure crazy
But yeah thank you, I hope you'll enjoy the S12 Pro and have a great day!
Great review bro😍😍😍
Hi Kenneth, like your review. Lots of good info of the products. It will be really good if we can hear how the sound from the products you are reviewing.
Nice review dude, I feel assured with my Shuoer S12 purchased that is already on the way. :D
You should try to EQ them. That's when they really shine
I love the change it variety.. as it's still dealing with sound and ear phones.. cool.. I like it.. 😊
Hi,
Overall a good video.
Nice job on how a planar works.
There is a wide range of prices for full size planar headphones - Drop Hifiman HE 4xx $149 usd for instance.
I usually hear planar pronounced ‘play-nar ’ vs ‘plan-nar ’ which for some people will distract from the video.
Impressive you listened to these for months before offering up your review.
I would like to see how each iem compared on the same tracks to help understand differences.
I appreciate this video comparison of these 3 planar iems that I’ve wanted to learn more about!
Hey there, really thanks for the comment! Always something new to learn everyday, and before giving my take on something new I tend to be more cautious and really test them for longer period 😁
Thank you for this video and your work, sir. I have preordered the newest 7Hz Timeless, which are not for sale yet. You must be much more knowledgeable than I am in this area. Can you therefore share your opinion based on what you experienced or have read from the sources you trust? I am very much interested in getting audiophile grade IEMs that also comfortable to wear for a long time too. So, I was thinking about Shure SE846 PRO Gen 2 (seems very versatile with all the extras you can get for them) or Sennheiser IE 600 or IE 900. Dear Kenneth, can you suggest anything else along these lines? I would greatly appreciate your advice, and I am sure many people who watch your videos would too.
Great content but which one is better for gaming like arcade and some really competitive ones??
I have the Dioko, and I put foam tips on it, which made a huge difference with the treble. (I think even the bass!) They are incredible regardless!
What's the Best Type-C converter, BTW Big Fan
Thanks for your review
Tried friends Timeless & S12 with my Qudelix 5K & RME ADI2 FS and naught the S12, it’s a beast.
Th
The Qudelix 5K was out of stock (seemingly everywhere) when I went to buy...settled for the BTR5. A good choice...but that Qudelix 5K is the winner IMO.
Often find myself using the S12 paired to a set of KZ AZ09 Pro's in Power Mode (3 successive clicks to left earhook button). Plenty of power for my S12's to bring out its charm...decent battery life in power mode (about 5.5 hours). AptX when receiving from my FiiO BTA Pro and SBC when paired to an Android phone. Wireless goodness for hours (home and office).
The BTR5 when at home and I "crave" LDAC.
I've got the s12 pro from Ali on 11.11. I use it with a kz az09 pro, Bluetooth with aptx, making it a really cool tws. It's a killer combo, you should try.
Nice video as always, you're really didactic, explain things that others make confusing in a really nice way. Congrats.
My question here, isn't the KZ AZ09 Pro comes with that plastic bit that covers the 2 pin connectors? (what's that called again Type C connector?)
And the S12 uses a normal 2 pin which means you can't plug them in unless you cut the plastic part right? This is something that's been bothering me and kept me from testing one myself
Anyway thank you so much for the feedback! I'm super glad the review format works, will definitely keep this going! 😁
@@namedkenn yeah, kz in theory had another version for the recessed pin such as s12, but I never got to find it on stock. I got the version you mentioned and bought an adapter, but I didn't like the result to much.
In the end i ended up just cutting the rubber to uncover the pins, is a soft rubber and really easy to do. This is how I'm using today.
@@namedkenn that's called C pin or qdc connector, yes. The CCA BTX is basically the same as the AZ09 Pro with a 2pin connector. Get that. Or you can just shave down the shielding on the qdc until it becomes a diy 0.78mm 2 pin and that will work. There's also 2 different sizes of 2pins to take note of, the 0.75mm and the 0.78mm. Often they create sockets compatible with both but otherwise it can sometimes cause connection issues and damage if 0.78 pins are used in 0.75 sockets. The safer options are obviously 0.78 sockets and 0.75 pins to cover most options with the least issues.
If ipx, size and other features other than sound aren't important then these make wireless earbuds obsolete.
@@mindsight1 Agreed. I have been using the S12 + B-pin modded KZ AZ09 Pro's for the better part of 1 year. For the planars, I also use the 3-successive clicks to the LEFT earhook button to switch them to POWER mode. This mode really makes the PLANAR's shine, IMO. It does reduce battery life by about 15%...but 5.5 hours (down from 6.5 hours) is still OK for me.
When I require ANC/Ambient, then I switch to a EQ tuned pair of EarFunFree Pro 2's (using AirReps15 6x ONCE on Android to establish a persistent default tune for my personal ear canal resonance, i.e. 6100Hz). Default tune is crap IMO...but the 10 band custom/default EQ makes them a terrific earbud (my personal favorite with a balanced tune). Using the S12 and AZ09 Pro's almost daily for both home and office and the EFFP2 earbuds mostly for car, train, plane.
Call quality with the AZ09 Pro's (and BTX) is also very good (CVC comes with the AZ09 Pro's & BTX). Also own the BTX...essentially the same product but with a sport use ear fitment and slightly less earhook battery life (...but not enough to matter for me). Same Qualcomm chip used on the AZ09 Pro and BTX. The BTX I have kept in factory CDC/C-pin without mod; for my KZ PR1 HiFi's. A spare set of AZ09 Pro's also in factory CDC/C-pin for a set of TKZK Waves (another excellent hybrid IEM at the sub $40 price pt).
IMO, these are excellent accessories...a must for me. So much so, my after-market cables and BTR5 have been collecting a lot of dust.
@@jb678901 would the dioko fit in the KZ az09 case?
The Tin HiFi P1 are the first chifi IEM’s IIRC. They’re $150 and came out in 2019
Will you make a review for the Haylou GT7 or a comparison with their latest releases?
I've been waiting for this video since you teased it 🤣 here are my thoughts.
1. I personally own a Dioko and it's a wonderful compliment to my Tripowin Olina. The Dioko isn't actually treble focused but more mid-bass deficient which makes things sound kinda thin and weightless. The timbre, though somewhat metallic, makes for some of the best details in the price bracket
2. I managed to get my hands on an S12 Pro earlier this month and upon first listen, the vocals just sound dead to me. It's too severely V-shaped to the detriment of the mid-range. That upgraded Chimera cable though *Chef's kiss wonderful 👌🏼
3. I've tried the Timeless on two separate occasions and they're still the most wonderful IEM I've heard 🥰 I'm waiting for more reviews and Impressions of the new Timeless AE with upgraded cable and slight signature tweaks
I've also tried other planars as well
1. The Raptgo Hook-X which sounded.. Really fuzzy in details but tuned exceptionally well
2. The Tin P1 Max which sounded absolutely boring but nice "dynamic driver like" timbre
3. The Moondrop Stellaris which is just treble murder. Don't subject yourself to this kind of torture
In any case, wonderful video, man. Can't wait for what's next 😉
Okay some replies!
1. Ahhh that's why I thought something felt off! But I didn't pay it much attention since the price is pretty nice haha
2. Interesting, and here I'm wondering about the Pro what's gonna be better, well what can I say V shape and "more" V shape 🤣 should've seen that coming
3. Hahaha hopefully soon! Heard great things about the AE
It's been a really interesting experience! You know I think this format is good since I can take care of a couple IEMs together, and at the same time they make for a good comparison/review. This is something that I've been struggling with in the past thinking that I have to review everything one by one, and yeah at this pace now I can confidently say, many more to come! 💪🏻
@@namedkenn if you compare the Dioko and the Timeless graphs, you'll see that the treble region isn't all that different from one another but the bass region is where it differs a lot.
the Dioko has plenty of Sub-bass but it rolls off immediately to the mid-bass region (around 200Hz); this was intentionally done by Crin himself.
The Timeless, on the other hand, has a better bass glide that ends right at the mid-range; this results in the mid-bass that gives the higher frequencies more weight.
On the note of sibilance, the metallic timbre of the dioko simply exacerbates it even further. I personally try and tame the treble a bit by using Final E-Type tips and my Shanling UA1 Pro dongle
@@namedkenn maybe a good next step would be the 100 dollar region to see if there's anything that you might prefer over the Dioko
Stuff like the DUNU Kima, Tripowin X HBB Olina SE, Moondrop Aria (OG & Snow Edition), Tin T3+ & T2 DLC, Tri Audio x HBB KAI, Truthear HEXA, etc.
Most of them follow a generally similar signature and it'll be down to the technical performance and whatever slight differences in tuning it has
Hey, I know this is a older video but I would like to ask how would these IEMs hold up to the moondrop kato?
Hi there Kenneth! Can you also recommend a smartphone that's best used together with any of the IEM's. i'm currently using Poco x3 gt and it usually ruins my audiowares be it bluetooth or aux. Please help. Thanks
Do you have a detailed comparison to Planar Drivers vs BA Drivers IEMs?
please review tanchjim ola,im still undecided which should i get either nekocake or tanchjim ola😅
Just got my 7hz Timeless 2 weeks ago and ive fallen in love with them, my Amen Breaks and Rock have never sounded this good.
Why is it when i see people talk about the case they hate it lol? its literally the only case where i would feel like my IEMs were 'safe' and not going to get squashed, you're not going to carry the others in your pocket either?!
Will you review qcy h2?
Hi, I am planning to purchase the timeless 7hz. My question is, in your own opinion, do you think that this timeless iem's bass and isolation is better against the sony xm4 tws and its anc feature? I mean, anc is dead silent but I just want your opinion. Also, I wanted to choose iem because of dac resolution compatibility I am using wired.
Ofc anc will be better. But if its you gonna dump the high volume with it, and the right eartips, the isolation gonna be "accepted" if you're comparing into anc
what about moondrop stellaris?
saw it on the site, they look beautiful as heck.
any moondrop stellaris unboxing coming?
Actually would love to check them out but I’ve heard that they’re not the best release (too much treble?)
But yes man they’re beautiful to the core
@@namedkenn skin deep on the beauty, though.
What I only see is when I buy this even the cheapest one, I will be broke. 😂
Ahaha man no worries believe me in no time these stuff will come down in price
If you're interested in IEM planars there is also the KZ P1 Max . The Dioko and the P1 Max dropped around 80 bucks on black Friday. So price might drop again when sales take place again
I heard 7hz Timeless AE version have better SQ since they have lil bit bass boost that make it better
Idk if i should buy one, but unless?
Also will you review Truthear Hexa?
This one hype coz HBB said it sounds close to Moondrop Blessing 2 with $79 price tag
I order it without second thought lol
Well even without the bass boost the Timeless is already a great IEM, so I'm not sure if we're looking to S12 type of sub bass rumble or just slightly tweaked sub bass reach (because mid-bass is already great but that's just my opinion)
Anyway yes Trithear Hexa is coming so I can't wait to try it out, I actually also have Open Audio Witch supposed to come so we'll see, my first experience with both brands here haha
@@namedkenn maybe you should try the aful performance 5? a lot of reviewer praise it
Hello, can you make a Vivo v25e review for Genshin impact please?
If I love the 7hz Zero but wish that it had more energy in the bass department, which would you recommend as a significant upgrade to the 7hz Zero?
Price range?
@@jb678901 I got the Letshuoer S12 Pro. Not exactly what I wanted, but it sounds very smooth. It had that punch that I was looking for, slightly sacrificed the mids and very easy to listen to. Now, I'm looking for one that does not sacrifice the mids. I might be looking for trouble in the wallet department too.
Bang, S12 kalau HP + dongle DAC 1jt an udah ngangkat belum suaranya? Apa musti pake DAP?
Timeless or s12 for gaming?
Bro, from what I've heard about s12 is that they sound almost as good as timeless if not better. They fit better, are more cheaper and also more bassy than timeless. What's your take on that? I'm thinking about buying s12 pro here in India I'm getting them for around 125 usd . I mostly listen rap but also like some acoustic and will embrace good sound quality. Timeless and timeless ae are too much costly for me bro. 200 usd and 260 usd. Liked your video. Great work i appreciate
I think both the S12/S12 Pro are an absolute bargain and one cannot go wrong with these IEM's. Own the S12 and prefer them over an embarrassingly large stable of other IEM's...T3+, modded Olina, Tangzu Wan Er, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, Lea, KZ PR1 HiFi, TkZk Wave, modded HZ Heart Mirror, KZ CRN, CCA CRA, CCA NRA, DQ6, ZS10 Pro. Also own the HEXA and am on the fence on this one vs S12...it is also very VERY good. But the detail retrieval and overall performance of the S12 (with proper power) is just terrific, for me. Also, love to pair my S12's with a B-pin modded set of AZ09 Pro's (in power mode), for wireless enjoyment and productivity at both home and office.
$125 is an excellent price (new) IMO.
@@jb678901 thanks...looks like this hobby really is not good for pocket those are too many iem i currently have blon 03 , ks as12 , salnotes zero i always use zero and wonder why I even wasted money on other iems. Btw I have btr5 2021 and i think that's enough power for s12.
@@7wikk Thanks for reminding me...yes...add to the long list the Blon 03 (very nice balanced sound, excel. build, poor fitment, blah cable).
I suppose its OK to have more than a few 15-30 dollar IEM's over the course of 3 years. I have also given a handful to my teenagers and relatives, along the way. It's cheaper than photography...trust me on that one. The ZERO, CRA, and Tangzu Wan'er would probably be the few I would spend money on in the sub $30 category, today. For under $40, really like the sound of my TKZK Wave and its wavy emerald green/blue look (different, nice). For under 70 bucks, the T3+. Under $100, the HEXA. Under $150, the S12 all day long! Can't say much about the S12 pro...if it is an improvement to the S12 or not. I do prefer the Pro's look and better cable.
The original S12 is my endgame IEM...really do not see the benefit of spending more. Not convinced I would appreciate the difference for the substantial premium necessary to make that difference. In today's market, no way would I spend more than $200 for an IEM, too many excellent choices in the sub 160 range...I think I am good for a long while.
BTR5 is plenty for S12, power-wise. Still prefer KZ AZ09 Pro BT earhooks in power mode, for the wireless convenience and hands free productivity. BTR5 when wanting LDAC level quality at home.
I got s12 pro last 11.11 for about $84. Great deal.
Holy smokes isn't that a steal hahaha enjoy man!
You did get one hell of a deal, Sir!
Hi your reviews are great but Please give us music samples soundtests for all the different ones on different videos talked about so we can listen to the actual sound when playing different sounds for the fullest understanding possible , to make the most accurate choice of purchase without hearing it from the real thing - soundtests please 🥺🥺🥺
Soundtests aren't gonna give you the experience of hearing these IEMs. But if you do want some, checkout Dan Audio Reviews
Hi, i am little confused , what to pick, 7hz timeless or Moondrop KATO?
Can anyone help or give suggestions.
To be honest I recommend the Shuoer S12 more, the more I use it (it's really great!) but between KATO and Timeless it's pretty easy actually, depends on whether you want something V-shaped (7Hz) or less on bass (Moondrop)
Affordable planar over ear headphones have existed in some form since or before 2016... they haven't just been in big, heavy and expensive headphones.
Thanks for the info! Always something new to learn everyday, mind sharing what are some of the early examples that are popular?
Did they? 🤔 I need some examples
I recently got the Diokos for the 11:11 sale at Linsoul, cuz like for $85 for The under 100 market....no brainer lol. I do agree though they could get sibilant right out of the box 😅. However, After EQing with equalizer APO/peace GUI (on computer) and a sine sweep generator.... Oh my goodness gracious... Truly an amazing sound, the planars very well respond to EQing and they're absolutely phenomenal (as for the fit in the ears I also agree but I found that if I maintain the polarity by switching the sides on both buds, they fit pretty well in the ears without the cord wrapped around my ears)
yeah EQ is very fun on planar, i have my dioko EQed to VX/SA6Ultra-ish, tonailty, details and soundstage/imaging is better, even the bass impact is fixed too xD (cause by treble tuning, EQ bass up won't fix this).
That's amazing and very interesting to hear at the same time! The last time I tried flipping the buds is with the Moondrop Chu haha didn't know it could work great here
Also agreed on the bass impact too, a bit of taming on the treble end would most likely to fix the low freqs. Thanks for sharing these great info!
@@namedkenn The chus? I thought those didn't have a detachable cable? I mean more so I unplugged the 2 pin on the diokos and flipped them so the loop is like curling outwards lol (although at this point i just replaced the cable hah)
@@exa7283 It truly is amazing how much EQ affects more than just the tuning. I fully agree, the soundstage feels much more open and spacious
@@Matt-ig1gh oh no no I mean with the chus I just wear them the opposite way, like instead of wrapping the cable around the ear I just let it drop down
But yeah agreed at this point just change the cable and problem solved 😂
Which music app do you use to differentiate high end earbuds and a 20$ one? I can't find the difference in spotify even with very high quality turned on
IMO The difference will not be on the player app, but rather the audio files you're using.
Lossless files will storr more information and thus challenge your gear to be able to handle them.
@@vianhoho19 does that mean spotify is a no go? Is it better to download music directly and if so what file format is lossless?
I’ll probably make a video on this, but to be honest, I rarely (if ever) notice any difference when listening between different codecs and music sources, but telling apart a $20 to the Moondrop KATO for example? That would be pretty obvious no matter what I’m listening to
I know it’s completely normal for some people to find it hard to tell why the KATO (for example) would cost 190 bucks, but it’s a matter of time and as you’ve listened to better and better quality earbuds, you’ll be left missing for the subtle details and nuances
Talking about music sources, OK sometimes I can tell YT music videos are worse (think more compressed) than Apple Music but between Apple Music to Spotify (320kbps)? Nada.
Also between LDAC (990kbps) to SBC? Can’t tell anything too 😅
So yeah I really recommend you to just enjoy what you have right now, no need to fuss over these things and maybe in the future if Spotify comes up with lossless, well you might be able to try and hear the difference for yourself
@@namedkenn thank you so much for helping us out ♥️
Love from Philippines
@@gaviolakuji always a pleasure 😁
I used the Dioko with a bluetooth adapter that has apt-x HD. I have a galaxy buds pro but i rarely use them anymore.
That’s great! Is the adapter the ones from FiiO? Or there are others that I miss
when I was planning to buy earbuds, Kenneth Tanaka was one I watched, sometimes el jefe or picky audio, now my focus is on the mountain bike now I'm going to buy but I'm really having a hard time familiarizing components parts, but talk about tws/iems just a chick to me
Haha man I’m hugely inspired by those others you mentioned too! Anyway enjoy your mountain bike journey!
Is it still good when paired with entry level phones??
Absolutely!
Should i get dioko, aria snow or titan s? Still cant decide
At that price pt...HEXA imo.
Out of the three, Titan S for sure.
hello, I have a Samsung device, should I get galaxy buds live or beats studio buds?
Galaxy will almost always be the better choice, but again do you prefer half in-ear over in-ear?
@@namedkenn I personally like full in ear but if it is the way better choice I don't mind switching, is it that much better?
@@mohammadalrashdan2394 well to be honest I still haven't tried the Beats Studio Buds yet, but I do have and still recommend the Buds Live until now, it is one of the best half in-ear out there
That said though if you're in the market of Samsung Buds and you prefer in-ear, the old but gold Galaxy Buds+ is still an excellent performer, or you can get something like edifier W240TN which I also like a lot (review coming soon)
🤩
😍
Iem planar's oWo the future has arrived
Hahaha I know right!
I’m in a paused game staged with headphone Sundara & iem 7hz Dioko,, dayyuuuuummmm
Can you Drive shuoer s12 with a phone?
Absolutely! And it will still sound great!
@@namedkenn ok thanks bro
Yes...but I would use a dongle for optimal performance. I have Android (S10+ Dev mode-LDAC) and with the S12, something like the Abigail dongle for about US$12. Planars prefer a bit of power. My preference being the BTR5 (codec LDAC) or full wireless with AZ09 Pro BT earhooks (codec SBC w/Android, earhooks in power mode). However, with only phone and cable, recommend a good dongle (Apple dongle OK too if iPhone/AAC codec).
@@jb678901 thanks bro for your advice😁
dioko really need power..atleast 500mw@32ohm..the treble can be tame with eartips change..
Man tell me about it! Thanks for the tip I'll try different eartips and see how it'll tweak the treble 😁
@@namedkenn Try narrower bore ear tips for reduced treble but more warmth.
The more drivers you have, the more detailed sound you get. That said, professionals don't even use that fancy IEM's, usually they have expensive ones only because they get the special molded ones to fit their ears perfectly. A lot of professional musicians use sub $100 or even sub $50 IEM's, because there's barely any difference as long as they fit properly. CCA C12 are one of the more popular ones i believe. The "speed" or whatever doesn't really matter, as it's not noticeable. I go by "if it's good enough for a professional musician, it's good enough for me"
Not convinced about that one...really depends on the technology and quality of the driver(s), design implementation, tuning and , if multi-driver or hybrid, management of phase coherence in the cross overs. Advantages of less versus more drivers: space/weight/costs. That being said, I do like my HEXA and prefer it over other excellent price/performance IEM's like my T3+ or modded Olina (both are single DD's). Personal favorite remains the stock S12 (single planar) and really like the flexibility of a planar vis a vis EQ.
Agree that fitment (w/tips) is also key...and that is a personal choice/experience.
IMHO only.
@@jb678901 it depends on what you do with IEM's. Musicians, at least guitarists, try to get at least a few drivers for more low/mid/high freq separation, that's really important. And sure the quality of drivers is important, but if you would give a decent $50 IEM to a musician, they would have a hard time finding a difference between that and a $1k IEM's, as long as the fit is good and the drivers are decent. There's no need to purchase super expensive ones for the extra 1-5% of the sound. IEM's have a specific purpose, and that purpose doesn't require to spend so much money
@@temorinkaarimusicians are different from "audiophiles". When performing, musicians usually have special in ear tracks for them so they can concentrate on their instrument. And they just use IEMs to listen to the sounds and be somewhat isolated. That's why it doesn't really matter for them. Not that it matters more for audiophiles, but the whole purpose of this hobby is to find the "perfect" sound for you, and to explore the different sounds of different sound system. Of course, a well tuned, mediocre technicality iem is better than poorly tuned, God tier technicality iem.
this is random, but you kinda resemble Jojo Asmr
Hahaha I need to check it out
why planar earbuds are all in-ear