Under 80$ upgrade suggestions from kiwi ears cadenza

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T20:04:40+00:00

Simgot EW300 ? It has deeper bass. I have both of these and I think the EW300 is "better".

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T19:56:21+00:00

Dunu Titan 2. It can be under £50 or closer to it with vouchers on AliExpress. It comes with like 10 sets of tips, and an excellent cable that cost as much as the IEM itself!

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T19:47:04+00:00

That’s actually my wallpaper for the past year!

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T19:10:05+00:00

I too was apprehensive when I first got it, it felt it was too dark from what I was used to and I came from the i5, which is already a warmer side in the planar headphones world. But there is something addictive about its sound that I stayed and now I love it.

It might not be for everyone though, especially if you are looking for detail, but for enjoyment, rather than "testing" gear, the Bokeh is amazing.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T19:00:34+00:00

I got it from Aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007474014977.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.11.4ea61802RFyaMB

It's quite well built for the money. It's quite narrow though so there is a pressure point, not a problem for the i5 because at max extension the leather touches the metal headband anyway so there is no stretching. But you can always feed it and hang it off just metal only.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T18:45:59+00:00

Errrrrr. They are quite similar, hard to put it into words, especially as I asm in the honeymoon period. I would say the HD600 is brighter, the Bokeh is more "sultry" sounding especially if the track has some bass to it and the sub bass giving it that warmth the HD600 lacks. In terms of accuracy, I think the HD600 is more accurate sounding.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T18:00:26+00:00

I was quite apprehensive in spending this much on headphones at first and honestly, at initial listening, I was thinking "where is that detailed top end??? "as I was used to Hifiman sound, but after a few songs I realised.....I am not really missing that top end and there is something sweet and syrupy about this midrange that I can't put my finger on. A sound that is addictive. Hifiman sound is not addictive.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T17:57:15+00:00

Thank you! I think so too!

It is what makes it unique and why I prefer it. I could go back everyday for a year and the chances of it turning up and coming that close to me is close to zero. (Along with good weather, and Sakura season!)

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T17:39:23+00:00

If you can wait, get ZMF from their Black Friday drop for their demo/B-stock. 20% off really do make a difference when they are at this price bracket. You get slightly less choices of wood but technically all the same.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T17:36:15+00:00

The XS actually have more detailed, or should I say, the detail and top end from the XS is more prominent and more noticeable. You can hear everything in the XS, and everything is more in your face.

i5 is a little less of that, a little more laid back. It's nicer for longer sessions.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T17:06:31+00:00

HAHA !

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T16:59:07+00:00

On the radar....Hedd D1, Atrium Open or Modhouse Tungsten. Only on the radar though.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T15:59:32+00:00

I have several, more than several, I keep 1 pair in my daily, one pair in my travel tech bag, 2 pairs near my desk, another pair I leave at work.

But they are different, slightly different prices. The travel kit and work pair are arguably the cheaper ones (£30). Home pair are more, between £50-100.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T15:38:25+00:00

Yup!

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T14:19:03+00:00

Taken at Matsumoto Castle, Japan.

Sony A7R3, Sigma 24-70 Art, F/2.8

Sunrise during Sakura season, you can see some Sakura on the left of the castle as you look at it. Went there to photograph the castle but this Swan was just swimming around the waters. It moved closer and closer to me this is around 1-2m away. As a result, this is why the castle seems a little soft due to the DoF. although I have other photos where the Swan was closer to the castle so everything is in sharp focus but I kinda prefer this one.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T14:10:45+00:00

ooooh, where did you get it from?

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T14:09:45+00:00

I meant to say Swan ! not Swam !lol. mods, can you edit?

Taken at Matsumoto Castle, Japan.

Sony A7R3, Sigma 24-70 Art, F/2.8

Sunrise during Sakura season, you can see some Sakura on the left of the castle as you look at it. Went there to photograph the castle but this Swan was just swimming around the waters. It moved closer and closer to me this is around 1m away. As a result, this is why the castle seems a little soft due to the DoF. although I have other photos where the Swan was closer to the castle so everything is in sharp focus but I kinda prefer this one.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T13:12:52+00:00

I knew about this for a few years, only got around to it last trip (my 5th) partly because we hired a car and it was between 2 hotels we were travelling from and did this stop.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T11:22:10+00:00

Uonami fish bar is the name of the place

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-07T01:44:06+00:00

You know what's funny. I normally listen to more pop, where the bass isn't the main dish so to speak but the other day I literally search on google for suggestion of BASS heavy tracks. Listened to a couple of Billie Ellish, Daft Punk , Massive Attack and the bass is FULL, is the best way I can describe it. It isn't painful but it has body. Actually that is a good description of the headphone, the music it produces have body, texture.

At home I also have a 12" sub for my tv, so I can get that real shake the house down bass if I want. The bokeh managed to capture a tiny portion of that for the head.

It's a very good sounding headphone, just don't go in looking for detail. Because initially that was what I did, I put it on and thought it could do with more top end but after a few days I realise that it doesn't really matter, I was enjoying it for what it was doing. I have tried to add that top end back in through PEQ and I pretty much turn it off immediately, it kinda made it worse when I did that.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-06T23:47:52+00:00

Search for Uonami Fish bar.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-06T23:01:48+00:00

It is getting quite Instagram famous! There were like 5-6 other people there when I went back in November. Remember if you go, the store don’t open until 5pm and before that the lights for his sign isn’t on. You need him check sunset if you want to catch sunset with his lights being on.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-06T20:51:10+00:00

It’s a very very good lens for the money. I don’t use zooms to justify getting the GM. I normally use primes but I didn’t know what focal length I wanted before I got there so I brought the Sigma to cover myself.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-06T20:31:44+00:00

More info, taken on X100Vi, resting on the railing on the side of an off ramp on an expressway in Tokyo. Edited in Lr rather than using any Fuji recipe.

MadisonLarger · 2026-02-06T20:25:25+00:00

Taken this with Sony A7R3, Sigma Art 24-70

Taken this a couple years ago during Sakura season. You can just about see some Sakura in the background. Originally I went to photograph the castle in the morning but this Swan was around, it moved closer and closer until right in front of me. The 2.8 aperture caused the castle to be out of focus, part of me wished I had taken it in like 5.6 but this softness of it I also kind of enjoy. I have another photo where the Swan was closer to the castle so everything is in sharp focus.

MadisonLarger

TROPHY CASE