For review today is the $150 Creative Aurvana Ace 2, which is the noise-canceling version of the Creative Aurvana Ace, which is $20 cheaper. Pros:Price (Typically this kind of tech would cost at least $250) Sound Quality Fit/Comfort Charger … Continue reading Creative Aurvana Ace 2
Nonsensical Name – Great Sound Pros: Excellent soundstage/breadth/depthGorgeous ShellGood price/performanceGreat VocalsGreat clean instrumentsAwesome carrying caseGood stock cable Cons: Bass can be muddyDistorted instruments lacking detailPretty mediocre treble Overview: Up for review today are the Sound Rhyme SR8 – which oddly have 14 … Continue reading Sound Rhyme SR8
The Performer8 Performs admirably Pros: Excellent TrebleDecent cableGood MidsDecent packagingGreat Instrument SeparationGood imaging Cons: OK bassUgly color – my opinionMediocre/flat Soundstage Overview: Up for review today is the AFUL Performer8 (P8). This is the latest IEM from AFUL, which is either the … Continue reading AFUL Performer8
Campfire knocks another IEM over the Horizon Pros: Very well-balanced IEMLightweightGorgeous/good Build QualityAwesome Packaging/AccessoriesGood sounding cableGreat MidsGreat LowsGood Highs Cons: Cold – no reallyToo many cablesPriceyA little uncomfortableSibilance Overview: Up for review today is the gorgeous Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon – which I will refer to as the SSH or Stellar Horizon because that name is way too long. The SSH has 3 BAs, and 10mm 1 DD on bass duty. As always with Campfire, they manage to get some crazy good sound from a small IEM with a small number of drivers. Considering that most companies now use 10+ drivers … Continue reading Campfire Audio Stellar Horizon
Awesome Price for this IEM Pros: Insane Build QualitySurprising Sound QualityGood MidsGood HighsDecent Packaging/AccessoriesPrice Cons: Meh LowsA little heavyJust OK cableMeh Soundstage/Separation/Imaging Overview: Up for review today is the Earsonics Onyx – a relatively unknown IEM from a relatively unknown brand. The … Continue reading Earsonics Onyx
This Bird Sings Beautifully in the Mids Pros: Amazing MidsDecent stock cableAwesome stock carrying caseGreat Instrument SeparationGood Lows Cons: Poor HighsMeh Build QualityPrice – I mean seriously, PRICE Overview: Up for review today is what is likely the MOST famous IEM in existence – the Oriolus Traillii – fondly known as “The Bird.” This is the Susvara of the IEM world and it has a price to match – $6600 retail. It has 4 EST drivers and 8 BA drivers giving its sound. It’s also been out for almost 3 years now – and people still can’t stop talking about how good … Continue reading Oriolus Traillii
The Once and Future King Pros: Good packagingGood stock cableGreat MidsGood LowsGood HighsGood Instrument SeparationGorgeous faceplateUsed Price Cons: New PriceA black body is boring for this price rangePoor Soundstage/Imaging Overview: Up for review today is the King of Asgard – the Empire … Continue reading Empire Ears Odin
No Longer the Crown Jewel Pros: Decent midsGood bass quality, OK quantityBox may be bullet proof Cons: PriceCheap feelCrap cableNo HighsPoor instrument separationMediocre sound stageDoes not remotely scream $5,100 IEMHas been surpassed by modern IEMs Overview: Up for review today is the … Continue reading Aroma Audio Jewel
The King Has Retuned Pros: Excellent bass quantity/qualityExcellent midsExcellent highsBeautiful build qualityGreat cableswappable modules Cons: Limited to 300 copiesPackaging/accessories could use some workUnderstandably pricey Overview: Up for review today is the MUCH-revered FiR Radon 6 (Rn6) which I purchased at full price because of the kudos it was getting (and promptly threw up a little). FiR took the Xenon 6 (Xe6), kept the same drivers, retuned it, and fixed all of the complaints the Xe6 had. Now with lighter weight, a more durable finish, and an excellent cable, the Rn6 is ready to take on the current stable of TOTL IEMs for … Continue reading FiR Audio Radon 6 (Rn6)
There’s something about Xenon Pros: Insane bass you can actually feelGorgeous IEMs – basically a piece of gold jewelryAn emotional experience the Rn6 can’t replicateSomething different from your usual $3k+ IEMOne of the best for casual listeningGood mids Cons: Doesn’t do well with critical listeningScores poorly when analyzedBass bleed like crazy into midsTerrible cableNon-durable finishPackaging is consistent with a sub $1k IEM Overview: Up for review today are the “Love It” / “Hate It” FiR Audio Xenon 6 (Xe6) which I purchased used on the Head-Fi classifieds. With these IEMs, you either love their bass or hate their bass – I’m definitely … Continue reading FiR Xenon 6 (Xe6)
Bytes & Bull 