birdypooping

joined 1 year ago
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Hifiman Edition XS Initial Impressions in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I have the HE1000 Stealth and LCX21. They’re both way more competent compared to the XS. Much more resolving and handles both ends mindblowinly well. However the XS is the most fun to use.

I used to think I like em warm and moist. After getting hifimen. I actually prefer the zing in the highs.

Planars are amazing. Now that you have tasted the gateway drug. You’re going to be hooked for life.

2 Tips 1 nozzle in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I am pretty sure there is a porn category named that.

Owners of LCD-2 and other Audeze headphones, how many sets of neck crunches do I need to do before I buy? in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I use the i3 for long hours and the LCD-X21 for short periods.

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Hifiman Edition XS or HE1000 Stealth? (alien.top)
 

I heard the XS last week and thought. These sound fun. So I bought a pair. Read someone's comment the HE1000 Stealth is like the XS, but better all around. Fuck it. I bought both.

The Edition XS is like the guy who shows up at a party with a pocket full of fun pills. While the HE1000 Stealth is standing in the corner going tsk tsk.

The XS is built like it came as a free toy in a cereal box. I would also like to note that Kellogg's cereal boxes are better quality than the boxes both headphones came in. Comfort appears to be equally bad. Is there such a thing as comfortable planars?

I am not going to go into describing the sound since everyone and their moms have already done that. Both are bright headphones, but the HE1kSE reaches the highs and lows without effort and then some. The XS will distort at the extremes of both ends. However, the XS is much more fun to listen to. The HE1kSE is like a matured headphone, all refined and sophisticated, but also a dull conversationalist. While the XS will rock the house down. I actually prefer the cheaper XS. Especially without EQ.

Not sure if I will keep the HE1kSE. I already have the LCD-X21 which I feel is a better all rounder. Have you tried both the XS and HE1kSE? Which one do you prefer? Which one did you keep, or not?

I'm making more IEMs [crinacle] in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He rated the Moondrop variations on the same tier as the Monarch II. How is that even possible? LOL. I no longer trust his recommendations.

The IEM journey has ended, and it only took 2 weeks. in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Awesome. I just bought the Monarch III myself. It was on recommendation from one of the guys here. It's one of those all rounders. It's not exceptional at one thing. You get everything well balanced. It's very enjoyable and one of those IEMs you'll keep for the next 10 years.

I gave it to my son. I already have the LCD-i3 and prefer a "hotter" presentation. Something that makes me moan and groan like a clown while listening to music. There is something magical about planars that seems to work for me.

So I just got the Thieaudio Monarch MKii’s in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Nice! I just received the III today. No time to test it out yet.

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AutoEQ profiles making it worse? (sometimes) (alien.top)
 

After a few years away. I am thrilled to discover AutoEQ, bought SoundSource, and got the ball rolling.

The problem is the profiles based on Crinacle's charts. They all sound excessively bright, vocals sound distant and the bass is neutered. I tested it with everything I have on hand and nothing sounds remotely usable. Male vocals sound like an Eunuch and female vocals sound like someone whispering across the street.

I downloaded the Reveal plugin and it is amazing. Unfortunately, it's only for Audeze phones. Crinacle has got the most profiles and is great when I want to test new things.

Am I doing it wrong? Do you use the Crinacle profiles?

Moondrop Variations Drama (Part 2) in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I agree. I am gentle with audio equipment. I understand they're precision instruments, drop and knock them, and eventually, something bad will happen. However, this is not the case here. I would tickly my wife with more force.

You're right about Amazon. I am in the far east, so while I have Amazon. I don't get the entire Amazon catalog. From here on. I'll take your advice and use it as much as possible.

Moondrop Variations Drama (Part 2) in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

LOL. I saw most of the recommended stuff is about $200 to $300 tops.

Moondrop Variations Drama (Part 2) in c/headphones@hi-fi.community
[–] birdypooping@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I didn't have the foams. The pair I tried only had the normal tips. It sounded really recessed in the mids and the bass was just sad. I am not sure changing the foam tips will make that much of a difference. I suspect the cable needs to be changed as well.

1
Moondrop Variations Drama (Part 2) (alien.top)
 

Thanks for all the replies and insults on the first post. I don't really use IEMS. I have old pairs of Shure 846, Sony Z5 and the Audeze isine20. Recently got back into the hobby again after a long break. Bought the Audeze i3 (which will melt your brain good) and it's my main driver. I started looking for a closed IEM to use on occasion. I am not that big of a gearhead. I just enjoy nice music for the most part.

The Variations was pretty talked up in r/headphones like it's the bull's bollocks. I saw fellow countryman Crinacle rated it very highly. The guy really knows his stuff right? Beating about the bush is not a common trait here. How badly can this turn out? Well. It's boring. It does sound 500 dollarsish and nah it's not great. It's okay, passable. It's all my fault though. I bought it online without testing it first. I am used to Sennheisers and Audezes. That pretty much usually is a question of did it meet your expectations or exceed them? SQ is not the issue. It's $500 built like a $100 one.

Anyway back to the story.

I passed by the shop I bought it from and went to check with them.

Me: Hi, I bought a set of Variations about a month ago. The damn faceplate dropped off while the IEM stayed in my ear.

Shop Guy: Yep. (Not a hint of surprise) It's just a little glue holding it.

Me: So what do people do in such cases? Do they bring it back, you send it moondrop for RMA? I'll receive one equally bad? Should I just superglue it?

Shop Guy: Superglue it. Save the trouble.

Me: What would you recommend over the Variations? I want something with body to it.

Shop Guy goes on to recommend a couple of Chinese IEMs. Explaining what to expect. I lost interest really fast but noticed that everything recommended was half the price of the Variations or less. There you go, boys and girls. Don't buy the higher-priced Chinese stuff. Apparently, the recommended ones are somewhere in the $250 range. They seem determined to have a race to the bottom. By this time next year. You'll get the same quality for half of that. After that, it'll melt in the rain and most of the companies will be bankrupt.

I did test the Truthear Nova. Which appears to be talked up here like it's a pair of bear's bollocks. LOL. I get it, different yardstick. I wanted to try the Arya Organics, which wasn't available to test. I did try the Edition XS. It sounded great. The build quality however was hilarious. I am going to stick to something more familiar like Audeze or Sennheiser.

I'll like to thank everybody for allowing me to vent. Really appreciate. What do you think about Chi-fi? Love it? Hate it? Good for the hobby? Just a money grab? The guy (or gal) who called me a sucker for buying anything other than an APPLE airpod might be right. The Nova sounds like ........., I will pick the airpods non pro over it. I am very confused.

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