Massdrop x MEE audio Pinnacle PX IEMs Discussions | Drop

Jul 2, 2017

I don't want the mic cable

Jul 2, 2017

Jul 2, 2017

SemicolnCome on! Let's show MD and MEE that if we are getting one cable, we don't want the mic! Endorse! Comment!

Jul 2, 2017

cpauya

Jul 3, 2017

SemicolnSorry but I need the mic coz I will be using PX with my smartphone and the inline mic will be really handy. :)

Jul 3, 2017

Jul 3, 2017

cpauyaGiven that MEE themselves don't even recommend driving these straight from a smartphone, I think you might be in the minority. Maybe they should give us the choice.

Jul 3, 2017

cpauya

Jul 3, 2017

SemicolnAh, perhaps I'm indeed in the minority. But I've read some comments on the P1 head-fi reviews that they were "okay" driving the P1 with their iPhones so I got my cue on those.
That's a good idea for them to give us the choice. And perhaps drive the price even lower if you opt for the non-mic version? ;)

Jul 3, 2017

Jul 3, 2017

cpauyaYou are correct, in practice a higher end phone is fine. I plan to use just an iPhone 7. But I don't want the mic. I can't even use it with the silly Apple dongle that doesn't seem to pass through mic audio.

Jul 3, 2017

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Jul 3, 2017

cpauyaI tried these with just an iPhone 6s and although they "work", ie there's sound, it's so soft and tinny...best to have an amp I believe. Waiting for my Oppo HA-2SE to arrive and then I'll go try them again with an amp. Hopefully it happens before the drop ends.

Jul 3, 2017

cpauya

Jul 3, 2017

sil3ntscr3amOh, thanks for the info. I was really hoping to enjoy the PX on-the-go with just an iPhone 5S. In that case I can use my Mojo for amp, now that would really be enjoyable, but then the inline mic becomes useless in such a setup. Sigh.
But, nevertheless I'm still excited to get the PX, hope the shipping date is not too far away. :)

Jul 3, 2017

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Jul 5, 2017

sil3ntscr3amI'm rather new to the audio thing, but the impedance isn't really high...why would a phone have trouble with 50ohms? I've been able to crank up a 250ohm headphone to reasonable volumes.
Also if true, suspiciously misleading photograph of iPhone at the end...?

Jul 5, 2017

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Jul 5, 2017

WolfcapeThat was what made my experience baffling. According to specs, it should be fine but somehow, from my experience, the P1 wasn't great just off the iPhone (at full volume). Never took a second look since then, but now that I bought (rather, ordered but not in hands yet) a HA-2SE, I will reaudition the P1 and make a decision on the PX.

Jul 5, 2017

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Jul 5, 2017

sil3ntscr3amMay I please request that you give me your thoughts on the re-audition? If Massdrop doesn't lie, the sound shouldn't have changed significantly. I was about to join the drop on the MDxNuForce IEMs, but perhaps this may be better. Since I don't have any access to the P1, may I please have your opinion? [If so, thanks! If not, no worries]

Jul 5, 2017

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Jul 5, 2017

WolfcapeSure thing, once I get the HA-2SE.

Jul 5, 2017

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Phasmainmachina

Jul 5, 2017

SemicolnIt's not just the mic, it's a remote to enable stop/pause/ffwd/skip back, all of which are very handy regardless of what device the 'phones are attached to.

Jul 5, 2017

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Phasmainmachina

Jul 5, 2017

SemicolnI've been listening all afternoon to music on my three year old iPhone 6+ with a pair of P1's plugged into the Lightning socket via the official Apple Lightning/3.5mm dongle, and I have no issues with the sound at all, there's tremendous clarity, very deep and clean bass, and the high and mid range are both clean and detailed, with very subtle details that I've never noticed before on some tracks I've listened to many times. I even have to turn the volume down at times, my phone seems to have no issues driving the P1's, although the sound does seem better via the Lightning port, possibly because it's a direct feed and not going through a conversion to analogue for the standard socket. I rip my music at 320Kb, and play back via the Onkyo HT player app, with no EQ applied, I could, if I dragged some over, play FLAC files via this app, but I'm not entirely sure there would be that much of a differpence, I'll give it a go when I've got some time, but at the moment I'm more than happy with the P1's, and I've just joined this drop to take advantage of the amazing price. I've already got the other cable anyway, and I have the Shure Lightning cable with the on-board DC on order, just waiting for Shure UK to get them in stock, so I'll have one pair with remote and one pair without.

Jul 5, 2017

Jul 5, 2017

PhasmainmachinaI was saying I don't think the buttons/mic work through the dongle. I know audio will be fine, of course better with the amp. I'm happy to hear it sounds so good with the dongle!

Jul 5, 2017

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stands

Jul 6, 2017

sil3ntscr3amAt full volume? Thats weird, you shouldn't need an amp. Mine arent really noticeably different with an amp, maybe it's the app your using? Cause mine get too loud after 80%. (And no, im not one of those people that listen to things at the "speaking level", I rock out)... iphone 6s btw with tidal usually

Jul 6, 2017

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Vibrum

Jul 6, 2017

PhasmainmachinaFLAC's so worth it though. It's at least a noticeable difference listening to twenty one pilots on Spotify 320 kbps vs. ripped FLACs from CD. And then with classical it's even better...

Jul 6, 2017

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Jul 6, 2017

sil3ntscr3amThank you :) I await!

Jul 6, 2017

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Jul 6, 2017

standsYeah, full volume using foobar, Spotify and default music player. Granted, I don't have FLAC on my phone but was surprised that everything sounded soft and lack of any impact. Hence a re-audition when I get a proper portable amp with me. I'm considering getting this to add to my collection. =)

Jul 6, 2017

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Hiroyuki_Sawano

Jul 7, 2017

sil3ntscr3amWould you recommend any amps? Recently wanted to get some good iems to listen to. Some people are saying you need an amp, some aren't ill get an amp just to make sure.

Jul 7, 2017

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Jul 8, 2017

Hiroyuki_SawanoWhether or not IEMs require amping is largely up for debate but there's no denying that having an amp does have its benefits. However, depending on your budget, my personal take is to get the IEMs you like after auditioning and perhaps add a portable amp when budget permits. Some IEMs will sound perfectly alright out of your source (phones, DAP), so, invest into a pair of IEMs that you really like first.
As for amps that I would recommend, it depends on your needs. I'm currently using iphone 7 (6 previously) and I need a MFI certified portable dac/amp for minimum wire/adapter clutter with a small footprint, hence the Oppo HA-2SE. I auditioned the amp and am very happy with what I heard but it does cost more than other portables.
Offerings from Fiio, XDuoo, Teac are some good alternative to consider as well.

Jul 8, 2017

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Hiroyuki_Sawano

Jul 8, 2017

sil3ntscr3amOk thank you, ill certainly start trying to get my hands on more IEMs to test them out, seeing as how everybody has a different taste in sound.

Jul 8, 2017

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Petronas44

236

Jul 8, 2017

WolfcapeI haven't looked at the specs of these yet but you have to look at the impedance so 50 ohms wouldn't indicate hard to drive but you also have to look at the sensitivity at that impedance if the impedance is 50 ohm and the sensitivity was say 105db spl for instance they wouldn't necessarily be hard to drive but if the sensitivity was only 90db spl then they would be much much harder to drive this is why planar headphones that have lower impedances tend to be hard to drive Edit- 50 ohms, 96 db +/- 3db, I would definitely suggest an amp they should get loud enough without one but there right on the line of needing one and would definitely benefit from one both in volume and dynamics

Jul 8, 2017

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Jul 8, 2017

Petronas44I see, thanks for your input! I never understood the importance of sensitivity in driving power.

Jul 8, 2017

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Jul 11, 2017

Petronas44Hang on for a sec; does that mean the Massdrop x NuForce would be even more difficult to drive as theirs is 16 ohms impedance, but sensitivity (at 1kHz) 90.5 +/- 3dB?

Jul 11, 2017

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Petronas44

236

Jul 11, 2017

WolfcapeNo it does not because the impedance is much lower basically anything at that low of an impedance would be easy to drive. At only 16 ohms most players or whatever will put out lots of power so that you can get them higher than the 90db rating, I would only consider the low sensitivity a factor when the impedance is also high, the hifiman he400i is 35 ohm at 90db and they are still fairly easy to drive. Another thing to consider is not only how much volume you can get but the control of that volume, when I'm using my phone on easy to drive stuff I have the problem that a volume setting will be to low but then the next level up is to loud and with a small amp especially with low/high gain and your source volume control you have a huge amount of volume adjustment to get the level just right

Jul 11, 2017

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Petronas44

236

Jul 11, 2017

WolfcapeTo be clear, if I wasn't, the nuforce would be easier to drive than the pinnacle and if I may make another suggestion if you are going to get an amp to use with iem's make sure it has a low output impedance, not how much power it makes at a given ohm load but the amp output impedance, it will be listed in the specs separately from the output power

Jul 11, 2017

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