Head/earphones Recommendations Thread

[Xamdou]

Where can I test or get it locally?

Not sure where you can demo it but for local there's lazada and treoo (from googling)

 

[Haonan]

Where can I test or get it locally?

Nuforce products authorised local dealer is by Audio Iconic, they are at Adelphi B1 just beside Funan IT Mall. You shd be able to test the Primo 8 model at either Audio Iconic or at E1PersonalAudio, but it has been awhile since I tried them at E1 back in 2014, so I would think it will be better for u to drop them a msg on FB first to confirm if they are still carrying this model.

OTOH, since I listen to roughly the same genres similarly as you, I hope you don't mind that I intrude this conversation and throw you some of my personal suggestions in terms of IEM choices. Since I assume you mean J-pop in terms of all genre Japanese and J-pop doesn't just fall under a single genre and can be spread among many diff genres/instruments, I will try to push IEMs options that mainly suits a wider genre that generally goes well with yr above preferences.

1) Oriolus 2nd Generation (Read Headfonia's review and another chinese review under Erji.net) - A 4-way 4-driver hybrid IEM created in collaboration by iBasso China/Hibino Intersound JP and marketed by Cyras Inc under japanese market but these are carried by a different maker name known as Mini-Audio (老人家) in Hong Kong and China markets afaik. E1PersonalAudio are accepting preorders for it at SRP 1599, there are demo sets avail too but I am not sure if there are physical ready stocks or not.

The Oriolus are very enjoyable for most japanese genre or stringed & drum instrument based tracks, personally I listen to quite a wide range of J-pop stuff from Akino Arai's Kooru Suna to Naoki Sato's drums in Rurouni Kenshin live-action OST, and it has been a true revelation for me despite that I have been into this hobby for awhile. Just take note that according to what I know, the Mini-Audio retail package carried by E1PersonalAudio may not come with the original PWAudio 7N-grade copper litz cable as seen inside 2nd Generation package carried under japanese market by e-Earphone/Fujiya-Avic official retailers. (I purchased my directly from e-Earphone abt a mth ago via my japanese contact)

2) JH Audio Angie II - Needs no introduction, Jerry Harvey's latest Metal Jacket Siren series in collaboration with Astell & Kern. Very high-priced IEM but still within your mentioned budget. A very clarity-focused based IEM made up of 8 BA-drivers with built-in variable modular bass output via adjustable cable for different levels of bass preference.

Out of the whole JH Siren series line-up, personally for me the Angie II is my fav IEM model besides the Layla II and Rosie siblings as I find them to be beautiful with many female vocalists out there but tonally they do not sound weird or lacking for alot of percussion-based instrumental tracks as well. Housings are considerably much heavier and bigger compared to iBasso Oriolus but these are also made of much better/sturdier build construction as the nozzle tubing is made up of stainless steel material. Can be demoed at E1PersonalAudio/ConnectIT/Jaben easily afaik, and retails for SRP 1999.

3) Audio-technica ATH-IM03 - Triple-driver BA offering from well-known japanese maker Audio-technica. The IM series were first introduced by in 2013 so they do seemed alittle dated by now, but rest assured their SQ still measures up pretty well to alot of other multi-BA offerings on the market these days.

Although I have no personal experience with the IM03 with the Fiio X5II pairing, but I do have alot of audition experience of the IM03 pairing with the Lotoo Paw Gold/NW-ZX1/NW-ZX100 players out there and they share a great synergy IMHO. If you are finding them to have too much warmth overall and lacking in clarity, be sure to try these with the AT-HDC5 removable cables with them for a minor upgrade. Can be demoed at E1PersonalAudio/ConnectIT/Jaben and retails for SRP 488.

Hope the above helps.

 

[haodede]

MEE pinncle P1 is almost similar to Tf10, for the fitting much much nicer than Tf10.

Is MEE pinncle P1 considered an upgrade or downgrade from TF10?

 

[blazin]

Nuforce products authorised local dealer is by Audio Iconic, they are at Adelphi B1 just beside Funan IT Mall. You shd be able to test the Primo 8 model at either Audio Iconic or at E1PersonalAudio, but it has been awhile since I tried them at E1 back in 2014, so I would think it will be better for u to drop them a msg on FB first to confirm if they are still carrying this model.

OTOH, since I listen to roughly the same genres similarly as you, I hope you don't mind that I intrude this conversation and throw you some of my personal suggestions in terms of IEM choices. Since I assume you mean J-pop in terms of all genre Japanese and J-pop doesn't just fall under a single genre and can be spread among many diff genres/instruments, I will try to push IEMs options that mainly suits a wider genre that generally goes well with yr above preferences.

1) Oriolus 2nd Generation (Read Headfonia's review and another chinese review under Erji.net) - A 4-way 4-driver hybrid IEM created in collaboration by iBasso China/Hibino Intersound JP and marketed by Cyras Inc under japanese market but these are carried by a different maker name known as Mini-Audio (老人家) in Hong Kong and China markets afaik. E1PersonalAudio are accepting preorders for it at SRP 1599, there are demo sets avail too but I am not sure if there are physical ready stocks or not.

The Oriolus are very enjoyable for most japanese genre or stringed & drum instrument based tracks, personally I listen to quite a wide range of J-pop stuff from Akino Arai's Kooru Suna to Naoki Sato's drums in Rurouni Kenshin live-action OST, and it has been a true revelation for me despite that I have been into this hobby for awhile. Just take note that according to what I know, the Mini-Audio retail package carried by E1PersonalAudio may not come with the original PWAudio 7N-grade copper litz cable as seen inside 2nd Generation package carried under japanese market by e-Earphone/Fujiya-Avic official retailers. (I purchased my directly from e-Earphone abt a mth ago via my japanese contact)

2) JH Audio Angie II - Needs no introduction, Jerry Harvey's latest Metal Jacket Siren series in collaboration with Astell & Kern. Very high-priced IEM but still within your mentioned budget. A very clarity-focused based IEM made up of 8 BA-drivers with built-in variable modular bass output via adjustable cable for different levels of bass preference.

Out of the whole JH Siren series line-up, personally for me the Angie II is my fav IEM model besides the Layla II and Rosie siblings as I find them to be beautiful with many female vocalists out there but tonally they do not sound weird or lacking for alot of percussion-based instrumental tracks as well. Housings are considerably much heavier and bigger compared to iBasso Oriolus but these are also made of much better/sturdier build construction as the nozzle tubing is made up of stainless steel material. Can be demoed at E1PersonalAudio/ConnectIT/Jaben easily afaik, and retails for SRP 1999.

3) Audio-technica ATH-IM03 - Triple-driver BA offering from well-known japanese maker Audio-technica. The IM series were first introduced by in 2013 so they do seemed alittle dated by now, but rest assured their SQ still measures up pretty well to alot of other multi-BA offerings on the market these days.

Although I have no personal experience with the IM03 with the Fiio X5II pairing, but I do have alot of audition experience of the IM03 pairing with the Lotoo Paw Gold/NW-ZX1/NW-ZX100 players out there and they share a great synergy IMHO. If you are finding them to have too much warmth overall and lacking in clarity, be sure to try these with the AT-HDC5 removable cables with them for a minor upgrade. Can be demoed at E1PersonalAudio/ConnectIT/Jaben and retails for SRP 488.

Hope the above helps.

That's a lot of help~

What's the sound difference between Roxanne and Angie?

I listen to a lot of Singers and groups.
I follow mostly anime songs and Voice actors like Nana Mizuki etc...
Mostly female Singers with very good vocals.

I love those hybrid modern instruments with traditional/classical instruments mix, so recent years i also followed Wagakki Band.

 

[Haonan]

That's a lot of help~

What's the sound difference between Roxanne and Angie?

I listen to a lot of Singers and groups.
I follow mostly anime songs and Voice actors like Nana Mizuki etc...
Mostly female Singers with very good vocals.

I love those hybrid modern instruments with traditional/classical instruments mix, so recent years i also followed Wagakki Band.

Opps, almost missed yr reply.

Nana Mizuki and those anime song artists u had mentioned earlier would usually fall under a genre known as AniSong (or known as アニソング in japanese). Although I don't follow each season's anime line-ups that closely, I am indeed infatuated and do regularly listen to most AniSong artists out there just like you and listen to most of their artist releases these days so rest assured I'm well-acquainted with these genres, and also understand the importance of the ability to portray good female vocals/midrange presentation in terms of IEM selections.

The Oriolus and JH Audio Angie II's definitely shines in these areas no doubt, that is if you trust my taste preference. However I don't think I am qualified to elaborate more on the JH Audio Roxanne's, but these have also been given the Metal Jacket treatment/overhaul as well recently despite that they have been available since late-2013 period. Based on my prev auditions of the norm Roxanne universals and the Astell & Kern limited edition AKR03 version, according to my ears these definitely do not sound as flat or linear-sounding as the latest Siren series Layla or Angies, the latter Siren models definitely have a much more reference-monitor grade signature to their overal tonal quality as advertised by Jerry Harvey himself with much better accomplished highs/treble extensions and micro-detailing in terms of overall technicalities to me.

However that is not to say the Roxanne's are inferior sounding though, these just don't really suit my own listening preference according to the genres I tend to listen to (J-pop genres that I share with you similarly) as they are seemingly tuned to be more 'fun-sounding with warm tonal qualities' as well as emphasized musical factor while at the same time w/o inducing that much ear fatigue in terms of treble region to me. Their vocal qualities definitely have a much more intimate, full-bodied tonal quality to them, as prev mentioned under that blogspot article review by the blog author that I have linked here earlier.

I do not listen to Wagakki Band or any visual-kei bands these days, I tried to avoid progressive metal/rock stuffs as much as possible, if I wanna listen to noisy stuff I would rather relegate myself to EDM or house/trance genres. (no offense of course to other visual-kei fans out there) However I do understand that songs by Wagakki Band would usually fall under a genre known as HR/HM系 (short form commonly for Hard Rock/Heavy Metal under japanese industry), and indeed Jerry Jarvey IEM creations are usually known to excel in these genres from my basic understanding.

Anyway these are all the advise that I think I can dispense to you, ultimately I think you should still head down to the storefronts to give them a demo in order to draw a better personal conclusion for yourself. I also do not use the same DAP as you, so you might very well have different discoverings/findings via the IEM choices that I had recommended you earlier too, who knows?


Cheers.

 

[blazin]

Opps, almost missed yr reply.

Nana Mizuki and those anime song artists u had mentioned earlier would usually fall under a genre known as AniSong (or known as アニソング in japanese). Although I don't follow each season's anime line-ups that closely, I am indeed infatuated and do regularly listen to most AniSong artists out there just like you and listen to most of their artist releases these days so rest assured I'm well-acquainted with these genres, and also understand the importance of the ability to portray good female vocals/midrange presentation in terms of IEM selections.

The Oriolus and JH Audio Angie II's definitely shines in these areas no doubt, that is if you trust my taste preference. However I don't think I am qualified to elaborate more on the JH Audio Roxanne's, but these have also been given the Metal Jacket treatment/overhaul as well recently despite that they have been available since late-2013 period. Based on my prev auditions of the norm Roxanne universals and the Astell & Kern limited edition AKR03 version, according to my ears these definitely do not sound as flat or linear-sounding as the latest Siren series Layla or Angies, the latter Siren models definitely have a much more reference-monitor grade signature to their overal tonal quality as advertised by Jerry Harvey himself with much better accomplished highs/treble extensions and micro-detailing in terms of overall technicalities to me.

However that is not to say the Roxanne's are inferior sounding though, these just don't really suit my own listening preference according to the genres I tend to listen to (J-pop genres that I share with you similarly) as they are seemingly tuned to be more 'fun-sounding with warm tonal qualities' as well as emphasized musical factor while at the same time w/o inducing that much ear fatigue in terms of treble region to me. Their vocal qualities definitely have a much more intimate, full-bodied tonal quality to them, as prev mentioned under that blogspot article review by the blog author that I have linked here earlier.

I do not listen to Wagakki Band or any visual-kei bands these days, I tried to avoid progressive metal/rock stuffs as much as possible, if I wanna listen to noisy stuff I would rather relegate myself to EDM or house/trance genres. (no offense of course to other visual-kei fans out there) However I do understand that songs by Wagakki Band would usually fall under a genre known as HR/HM系 (short form commonly for Hard Rock/Heavy Metal under japanese industry), and indeed Jerry Jarvey IEM creations are usually known to excel in these genres from my basic understanding.

Anyway these are all the advise that I think I can dispense to you, ultimately I think you should still head down to the storefronts to give them a demo in order to draw a better personal conclusion for yourself. I also do not use the same DAP as you, so you might very well have different discoverings/findings via the IEM choices that I had recommended you earlier too, who knows?


Cheers.

I will try those soon~ I am also thinking about getting Angie II.
I going Japan so maybe I will go audit the Ocharaku ones also

 

[obichacha]

Is MEE pinncle P1 considered an upgrade or downgrade from TF10?

LOL you can considered for Flc8s or Jupiter or nuforce hem8 too

 

[haodede]

LOL you can considered for Flc8s or Jupiter or nuforce hem8 too

I purchased Pinnacle P1 from Stereo after auditioning it (the staffs were friendly and welcoming).

Time to burn in...

 

[obichacha]

I purchased Pinnacle P1 from Stereo after auditioning it (the staffs were friendly and welcoming).

Time to burn in...

But the sounds is low than what i expected.
The only way pump from Amp

 

[Sinkie]

Budget is $200, any good earphone to recommend?

 

[KlavierX]

what sound do you like?

 

[Sinkie]

what sound do you like?

Just hooted Sennheiser momentum in-ear m2-iei

hope it's a good choice

 

[Dreammusic]

Just hooted Sennheiser momentum in-ear m2-iei

hope it's a good choice

Without amp the Sennheiser momentum in ear is a good choice too.

 

[KlavierX]

Just hooted Sennheiser momentum in-ear m2-iei

hope it's a good choice

not bad la easy to get used to and got bass haha for around $150 thats good

 

[initialtbk]

I'm looking for a Bluetooth headphone. Budget around $100. Decent audio quality would be enough as would be used mostly for watching movies, YouTube, podcasts and TV shows. Thanks!

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 3 using GAGT

 

[jokerftw]

tinking of hooting gr07classic, mostly listen to pop songs and taylor swift. good choice?

Sent from Asus ASUS_Z00AD using GAGT

 

[KlavierX]

I'm looking for a Bluetooth headphone. Budget around $100. Decent audio quality would be enough as would be used mostly for watching movies, YouTube, podcasts and TV shows. Thanks!

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 3 using GAGT

paiseh bt not really sure

tinking of hooting gr07classic, mostly listen to pop songs and taylor swift. good choice?

Sent from Asus ASUS_Z00AD using GAGT

its good but lendmeurears might have demo i like mine before it got spoilt

 

[justagiraffe]

Your rig: iPod Touch (4th Gen)
Usage: Mainly music and when I watch videos on my laptop
File format: mp3, m4a
Genre: K-pop (basically ranges from dance-pop, pop ballad, electropop, rock, hip-hop and R&B), pop, alternative rock
Headphone: IEM
Other requirements: mic, volume control (good to have)
Budget: Below $200

I’m not really an audiophile but I’ve been eyeing on Shure’s SE215. The shop I went to didn’t have SE215 to try so I tried out SE215 Special Edition and I wasn’t quite satisfied with it (apparently they are 2 different things). Don’t really want to regret buying something I won’t quite enjoy or like.

Any recommendation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Besaid]

Your rig: iPod Touch (4th Gen)
Usage: Mainly music and when I watch videos on my laptop
File format: mp3, m4a
Genre: K-pop (basically ranges from dance-pop, pop ballad, electropop, rock, hip-hop and R&B), pop, alternative rock
Headphone: IEM
Other requirements: mic, volume control (good to have)
Budget: Below $200

I’m not really an audiophile but I’ve been eyeing on Shure’s SE215. The shop I went to didn’t have SE215 to try so I tried out SE215 Special Edition and I wasn’t quite satisfied with it (apparently they are 2 different things). Don’t really want to regret buying something I won’t quite enjoy or like.

Any recommendation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I was eyeing on the SE215, but too bad the mic cable is a separate purchase. Ended up going for ATH IM01 (which Jaben was giving away the mic cable for free as promotion)

 

[philipsony]

That's a lot of help~

What's the sound difference between Roxanne and Angie?

I listen to a lot of Singers and groups.
I follow mostly anime songs and Voice actors like Nana Mizuki etc...
Mostly female Singers with very good vocals.

I love those hybrid modern instruments with traditional/classical instruments mix, so recent years i also followed Wagakki Band.

my god bro, these 2 are my fav jap artist/band as well
i have not yet come across someone with the preference of music as me until i saw your post