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DuckyMoMo
4
Jun 10, 2017
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Hi, im really interested with this drop. Can anyone compare or give some insight for this compared to the CA Nova from the drop last year and the ie80? Im planning to replace my ie80 with smth slightly higher tier and this looks like my deal, esp the color! Thanks in advance
DuckyMoMo
4
Jun 11, 2017
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ZiadaxAhhh, thats nice to know. May i know what should push me to buy the lyra 2 instead of the ie80? I do not mind buying a new ie80 because my old one is actually 4 years old and somethings aren't really holding up anymore. I do have the budget for lyra 2 but other than built quality and looks, what should i look forward in this vs the ie80? 😂 sorry for asking you so many questions at one go
Ziadax
77
Jun 11, 2017
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DuckyMoMoI owned the IE80 before, and I currently have the Lyra II. Whether the Lyra II is worth it for you depends on what you liked and disliked about the IE80. I'll list mine.
Build: The IE80's build was plasticky and overall felt cheap for the 200 something I paid for it. It just didn't feel like a product that would last through time, and the Lyra II's solid metal build makes me much more confident that it would last a long time. Regarding the connectors, the IE80 had a pretty good 2 pin connector which I liked because it would not swivel like the MMCX ones on the Lyra. Thus, I wouldn't have to worry about the MMCX ones wearing over time. The stock Litz cable on the Lyra feels much better built than the stock IE80 cable. I won't comment on sound quality with cables since I don't personally believe in cables changing sound significantly.
Now onto sound:
Bass: The Lyra II's bass is simply what I wish the IE80's and Sony XBA Z5's bass would have been. There's a ton of midbass on the IE80 which I felt made the set sound bloated and sometimes bled into the midrange depending on the knob setting. The bass is very textured with great impact yet controlled so you don't have to worry about it affecting your mids.
Mids: The mids on the IE80 are veiled in comparison to the Lyra II. Many people will probably agree with me that the mids are the best part of the Lyra II for its smoothness yet fullness while still retaining good detail.
Treble: The treble feels very well integrated and feels a bit more extended than the IE80. Although the IE80 is a somewhat dark sounding earphone its treble rolls off super hard around the 10khz range and I didn't like that. This is also in my opinion the weakest part of the Lyra, but I think that it helps eliminate harshness and sibilance that can easily occur in brighter tuned IEMs with better treble extension.
Speed: The Lyra II's beryllium driver is really interesting to me because its speed is very fast, similar to a balanced armature, but still with dynamic timbre/tonality. The IE80 feels slower in comparison and its evident through listening to EDM music.
Soundstage/Imaging: The only real thing the IE80 does better for me is a sense of a wider soundstage compared to the Lyra. The Lyra sounds more like an intimate club/small room setting whereas the IE80 can sound like a large hall. However I think the Lyra positions instruments/vocals and layers a bit better.
Conclusion:
The IE80 is special to me because its one of the first IEMs that got me into this hobby, and although its not great anymore compared to when it first came out its still a decent mid-fi basshead IEM. Whether the Lyra II is worth $500 depends on what you prioritize in your sound and what types of music you listen to. I would not recommend them at the MSRP of $700 but I think at $500 they are a good upgrade to the IE80, and I personally enjoyed them more than Sennheiser's IE800 flagship, if that says anything.
EDIT: This may sound like I'm bashing the IE80 a lot, but the reality is that these are in 2 completely different price brackets, and also soundwise tiers. Campfire has focused with the Lyra and the Vega to perfect the art of the single dynamic driver, and I would say that for the second generation of the Lyra they've done a really good job. Although the Sony EX1000 is still my favorite dynamic IEM of all time, the Lyra II comes in at a close second simply because they do so much right and so little wrong.
Build: The IE80's build was plasticky and overall felt cheap for the 200 something I paid for it. It just didn't feel like a product that would last through time, and the Lyra II's solid metal build makes me much more confident that it would last a long time. Regarding the connectors, the IE80 had a pretty good 2 pin connector which I liked because it would not swivel like the MMCX ones on the Lyra. Thus, I wouldn't have to worry about the MMCX ones wearing over time. The stock Litz cable on the Lyra feels much better built than the stock IE80 cable. I won't comment on sound quality with cables since I don't personally believe in cables changing sound significantly.
Now onto sound:
Bass: The Lyra II's bass is simply what I wish the IE80's and Sony XBA Z5's bass would have been. There's a ton of midbass on the IE80 which I felt made the set sound bloated and sometimes bled into the midrange depending on the knob setting. The bass is very textured with great impact yet controlled so you don't have to worry about it affecting your mids.
Mids: The mids on the IE80 are veiled in comparison to the Lyra II. Many people will probably agree with me that the mids are the best part of the Lyra II for its smoothness yet fullness while still retaining good detail.
Treble: The treble feels very well integrated and feels a bit more extended than the IE80. Although the IE80 is a somewhat dark sounding earphone its treble rolls off super hard around the 10khz range and I didn't like that. This is also in my opinion the weakest part of the Lyra, but I think that it helps eliminate harshness and sibilance that can easily occur in brighter tuned IEMs with better treble extension.
Speed: The Lyra II's beryllium driver is really interesting to me because its speed is very fast, similar to a balanced armature, but still with dynamic timbre/tonality. The IE80 feels slower in comparison and its evident through listening to EDM music.
Soundstage/Imaging: The only real thing the IE80 does better for me is a sense of a wider soundstage compared to the Lyra. The Lyra sounds more like an intimate club/small room setting whereas the IE80 can sound like a large hall. However I think the Lyra positions instruments/vocals and layers a bit better.
Conclusion:
The IE80 is special to me because its one of the first IEMs that got me into this hobby, and although its not great anymore compared to when it first came out its still a decent mid-fi basshead IEM. Whether the Lyra II is worth $500 depends on what you prioritize in your sound and what types of music you listen to. I would not recommend them at the MSRP of $700 but I think at $500 they are a good upgrade to the IE80, and I personally enjoyed them more than Sennheiser's IE800 flagship, if that says anything.
EDIT: This may sound like I'm bashing the IE80 a lot, but the reality is that these are in 2 completely different price brackets, and also soundwise tiers. Campfire has focused with the Lyra and the Vega to perfect the art of the single dynamic driver, and I would say that for the second generation of the Lyra they've done a really good job. Although the Sony EX1000 is still my favorite dynamic IEM of all time, the Lyra II comes in at a close second simply because they do so much right and so little wrong.
DuckyMoMo
4
Jun 11, 2017
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ZiadaxThank you for you wonderfull explaination, i got the hang of the sound signature from your description :) i guess im joining the drop now haha
Ziadax
77
Jun 11, 2017
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DuckyMoMoThe IE80 and IE8 were really great at the time they were released (2011 and 2001) but many years have passed since then and just like the SE535 was great at its time (2010) it is now 2017 and there are many better options now for similar or even less price. $500 is a lot (at least to me) to drop on an IEM you've never auditioned before, so comparisons to stuff you already have is always beneficial.
However there is a huge BA craze with multi drivers (64audio and their 18 driver shenanigans, anything from JH, Noble, etc) lately so whenever a new high end single dynamic comes out its always interesting to listen and compare. The Lyra does a lot of things well even compared to more expensive dynamics like the IE800, DITA Truth, A&K T8ie, and Rhapsodio Galaxy. You'll want to experiment with different tips when you get them because tips can change the sound a lot, depending on whether you use foam or silicon.
However there is a huge BA craze with multi drivers (64audio and their 18 driver shenanigans, anything from JH, Noble, etc) lately so whenever a new high end single dynamic comes out its always interesting to listen and compare. The Lyra does a lot of things well even compared to more expensive dynamics like the IE800, DITA Truth, A&K T8ie, and Rhapsodio Galaxy. You'll want to experiment with different tips when you get them because tips can change the sound a lot, depending on whether you use foam or silicon.
HeartOfSky
6
Jun 12, 2017
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ZiadaxAgreed. The tips make for quite a big difference in sound. I've got the Campfire Audio Vega and used the stock silicone, because they had the best fit for me. The sound was amazing. Then, one day recently, I finally figured out how to get the foam to get into my ear and stay there. The change in sound quality was rather significant and impressive. I'm a CA fan for life.
t1969p
18
Jul 17, 2017
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HeartOfSkylol, had the same experience with my Vega's, first i used the Spinfits... great sound... then i changed for the foams... and the music change... ohhaa... I'm also a CA fan for live, just received the ordered Massdrop Lyra II today... , my wife would sure also be a fan now :-)
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