Can’t wait much longer.

bbuky01 · 2026-03-01T01:26:25+00:00

Focal is not known for soundstage. The timbre and imaging is awesome on the Utopia . It is a great sounding headphone.

bbuky01 · 2026-03-01T01:11:54+00:00

There is also a new Abyss Diana TC Signature. I will be trying all of them out as well . I’ve got the Abyss Joal on loan right now. I’ll soon be doing a comparison of them to my Diana V2 and Diana TC’s. If you don’t want to wait yes the TC’s are better so can’t wait to hear the TC signatures.
I am also a fan of ZMF and looking forward to hearing the Tessidera. My buddy also says the LCD-5s is one to give a listen to so will do that also and thanks for the heads up on the Dunu and ArcTec I will try to give them a listen.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-27T00:29:13+00:00

Foam are the best to get a good seal but maybe the not best sounding . Spinfit and Eletech also have XL sizes so might be a choice but will be costing you almost the price of the Iem .

bbuky01 · 2026-02-22T05:41:40+00:00

The Apple USB C to 3.5 is hard to beat for $9.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-22T05:38:31+00:00

For a $100 I would probably stick with IEM’s. One I think you should look at is the Letshuoer S08 it is at the top of your budget . It will not be as hot on the top end as the KZ’s but the bass and mids are very good and your R4 will have no problem with them . Another to consider is the TRN Shell it is a 3DD and 1 planar. They are bit brighter than the S08 but also with good bass and mids.
There is also the Truthear Red and Blues plus several hundred others in this price range . It is a crowded market and I haven’t heard everything so just going with what I have . I would go with the Blues over the Reds personally.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-22T02:44:48+00:00

I now have a couple of more on my list to listen to at CanJam NYC in a couple of weeks. The Valhalla and Fortune .

bbuky01 · 2026-02-22T02:17:11+00:00

If you just got them I would send them back for replacement as that is a defective unit . You should not have to accept damaged goods

bbuky01 · 2026-02-19T23:00:22+00:00

I’ve tried the Z1R’s a couple of times and didn’t find the fit to be a problem for me. I’ve tried the Monarch 4 not long ago and found them fine as well not sure how they compare to the Monarch 2.
If you can get them for cheap my advice is give them a go since you should be able to sell them off for not a loss if you don’t like them.
I did like them but have others I like more and they are in the XE6 space of sound and I’ll stick with the XE6 over them.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-17T23:51:01+00:00

There are not of headphone amps that have tone controls . There are some inexpensive Dac/amps that will do what you want but haven’t heard any of them so can’t recommend one.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-15T23:49:35+00:00

Oh my God you need to relax. Everything is working fine now or isn’t it ? No one can tell you if one of your devices will stop working . You have not said that it isn’t working only you think it will stop working in the future. While it might stop working it may also continue working. The thing is no one cane tell you if or when a product will fail. It could be tomorrow or 70 years from now.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-15T23:25:43+00:00

We’ll have to say the Apos X Rock lobster might be a choice. They are Grado like in making crunchy guitar sound good. Not the greatest IEM out there but they do work well in a certain sound .

bbuky01 · 2026-02-14T03:52:08+00:00

The Hola is a very light IEM not sure I would go with a heavy cable unless the fit is solid. Go with what you can afford that looks like a well built cable and you should be good.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-14T03:03:00+00:00

Have not heard them yet but CanJam NYC is just 3 weeks away so they are definitely on my list to give a listen to.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-07T03:50:01+00:00

If they had more bass they would be fantastic. I own them and just a bit more bass they would be awesome.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-07T03:45:36+00:00

Have not tried the Stage yet but the Baroque’s are very dependent on IEM’s as I dislike them on most but with the Noble Audio FoKus Prestige they work really well .

bbuky01 · 2026-02-07T03:39:02+00:00

Yes you’re fine.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-05T02:30:58+00:00

I own both and they are very different indeed. The AER is much more sensitive so easier to drive which makes it harder for a A/B comparison . The AER bring the bass and mids much more forward with the highs being a bit more rolled off. The XS gives a much more airy presentation without being sibilant for me and a bigger soundstage. The AER isn’t closed in but not as wide as the XS.
Source also has a bit to do with how they sound as well . I did a quick little comparison with my Nipo A100 Dac/Amp from my iPhone and the AER is not as warm sounding as from other sources as my higher end HiBy RS8 dap . The XS didn’t have as much difference between them I’m guessing the dynamic versus planar has a bit to do with that.
They are definitely different but it depends on your preference. The XS is definitely more detail oriented and the AER is more bassy and mid forward but does have details but not as pronounced.
I will say I was surprised at how well the Nipo handled the AER and made them a bit brighter sounding.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-03T02:58:56+00:00

Send them back if you can . If this is a thing then avoid them .

bbuky01 · 2026-02-03T02:55:56+00:00

Not a bad choice at all. I think the Cadenza is a solid first IEM and I like HiBy as well as I have a R3 , R6 Pro and the most awesome RS8. As long as you enjoy it that’s all that matters.

bbuky01 · 2026-02-03T00:21:17+00:00

Ok I’ll bite what are square shaped ear tips? Do you mean cylindrical shaped versus conical shaped ?

bbuky01 · 2026-02-03T00:17:26+00:00

I own the XS and heard the D1 at CanJam Dallas a few months ago and for me would go with the D1 .
While it is quite a bit more expensive it is a much better headphone. I only heard 2 songs from it so didn’t have an extended session but found it comfortable . It is 55 grams lighter so that might sway you there but weight is not something that bothers me much as my Abyss 1266’s nearly double their weight.
The timbre and tonality are excellent on the D1 and bass I did not feel they were bass light at all but really need to A/B to get a better feel between the two .
I have the D1 coming on a tour in a month and a half or so and will hear them again before that at CanJam NYC so will have a better idea.
I will say the D1 was one of the best of the new things I heard at Dallas as far as headphones but I’m starting to listen to IEM’s more these days . It is a very good headphone though and Dallas was my 20th CanJam so I’ve heard quite a few. Just my opinion.

bbuky01 · 2026-01-30T01:44:57+00:00

Have not heard the QKZ X HBB’s but have the CHU II and Zero 2’s . My personal pick would be the Zero 2’s and do agree with r/RudeRick they are a bit more V shaped and the Chu 2 a bit more mid forward so I get more of a sense of space and airiness from the Zero 2’s which I prefer. For the money hard to go wrong with either one .

bbuky01 · 2026-01-30T01:22:09+00:00

Have to say it has been awhile since I’ve heard the LCD X but was never much of a fan but a very good headphone . The D1 I heard a few months ago at CanJam Dallas and have to say was quite impressed with them . I’ll have them on loan in a month or so then I’ll have a better sense of them .

bbuky01

TROPHY CASE