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Randingo
30
Oct 28, 2017
Following some of the comments, I feel like I have to make a few remarks given that I left a positive review. I have no doubt that these aren’t going to be an IEM that makes everyone happy. First of all, their presentation, no matter what, is somewhat bass light. This is really exacerbated with tips that don’t get a really tight seal. Of the included tips, only the Comply tips worked for me; every other tip sucked. After some tip rolling, I found that Spinfit were the only silicone tips that provided an adequate seal, but the best of everything were the Comply Professional series, which are extra long. With these I don’t feel too much need to eq, especially when I’m using my iPhone 6+/Mojo combo. To my ears, their mid-centric sound gets more noticeable and objectionable with higher impedance sources (headphone out of the iPhone or Shanling M2.)
It seems the frequency where they “honk” worst is around 500Hz. With the wrong tips, it seems that’s all you hear, but with low impedance sources and the right tips the bass is reasonably balanced and extended if still a little light, and the high end is open and sweet. They also definitely require some run in to sound their best.
I’ve honestly had times when I wondered whether they were worth all the effort, but for now, I find them pleasant enough and nicely detailed. They’re kind of more sophisticated sounding than my other IEMs, which are all single dynamic drivers. At times, I would have placed these as the worst of my 5 fairly unremarkable IEMs, but with a good source, they’re probably my second favorites to my Sennheiser IE7s. They certainly haven’t put to rest my desire to try more IEMs, especially since the housing on on the right ear of my IE7 has split along one of the seams (fortunately it’s back together for now and sounds fine). Give them a good source, the right tips, and at least 150-200 hours of burn in, and I think you’ll find them worthwhile, especially at the current drop price.
By the way, I’ve been listening to them as I typed this and for two hours prior, and they’re sounding great on variety of material from Sara Evans to XTC, and Lake Street Dive to Mark Knopfler. The sound remains slightly mid-centric but nicely balanced with a truly sweet top end.
RandingoAny troubles with a wonky connection to the top of either ear monitor? Because I've had nothing but TROUBLE from my right ear connection,(as in, POPS OUT, mentioned this in one of my reviews), some other folks have complained of the same issue. One should NOT have to keep things connected with a strip of electrician tape, I don't care HOW deep the discount is. :(

oh, and p.s. this happens with the provided cable and with the cable from MEE P1 Pinnacles that have the same connection. So it has to be the actual IEM, and not the cable.
Randingo
30
Oct 29, 2017
TiffanyPoodleslideShort answer: no. I had problems when I first got them with wonky, inconsistent connections on both sides, but after reseating the connections, they have been trouble free other than the fact that they are supposedly indexed to prevent spinning but instead spin fully. I agree: no discount is worth what you’ve experienced.
Randingo
30
Oct 29, 2017
TiffanyPoodleslideTo be honest, I’m not enamored of the build quality of these, especially considering the price. I’m convinced that some of the negative reviews— especially those referring to these IEMs as “muffled”—are because of bad units. There’s no way you could listen to mine and call them muffled, so there has to be something amiss with the consistency between the various sets, and the fact that they didn’t respond to large publications like What Hi-Fi when they described the sound as “muffled” with the offer of another set suggests that NuForce isnt quite committed to support to the extent that they should be.
I understand that audio reviews are, by their nature, subjective, but if you know your product and care about public perception, you don’t let high profile reviews that seem very unlike the product you’ve made go without response that tries to address negative perceptions.
Maybe i I expect too much from manufacturers making extremely small and delicate devices in a semi mass-produced environment, but NuForce isn’t selling these for $40–they’re multi-hundred dollar units. I kind of doubt Shure and Sennheiser, not to mention higher end boutique builders like Campfire, are letting poorly made products stay in the field on the much rarer occasions that they actually get past qc and make it out the door.
npc2
43
Oct 30, 2017
RandingoI don't think my impression of them as muffled is with respect to a bad unit as it sounded the way it does out of the box in both channels (and isn't to the extent of entire frequencies being missing), though with some tips better or worse than others (note: haven't had any MMCX issues). I am sure that some people with actually broken units or like many with issues with tips/fit, muffled is true in the literal, absolute sense.
(Relatively) "muffled" is still the word I would use for direct comparison to other IEMs/headphones I own and with consideration to the drop price (the higher original drop price) I paid I was not satisfied. To me, the high end is attenuated in upper frequencies (fixable to a degree with EQ I guess), and lacks extension and airiness. While this isn't as noticeable after extended listening (after adapting to the FR) depending on the music or listening a high volumes, it is apparent in direct comparisons to other headphones and especially when listening to music with lots of busy high frequencies (e.g. synthesizer, upper winds/strings) and the tonality of some instruments (not necessarily just high notes). The low-end extension and quantity didn't bother me as much but more detail/precision is what I would like. I think you are nearly spot on that the emphasis around 500 Hz is probably the biggest problem in the signature.
Randingo
30
Oct 30, 2017
npc2Interesting, and thanks for elaborating. Given that these are my first set of IEMs with balanced armatures, I may be responding to the way they present music as opposed to dynamic drivers. I’ve been a speaker listener for most of my life and have only in the last several years switched to approximately equal listening on IEMs and headphones. As such, I’m still probably establishing a foundation of references and expectations. I’m not financially able to try a huge variety of products, and there’s no place I know of to try before I buy, so it’s a slow process for me.
Not having anything else similar in my collection, and the Primo 8 being the most expensive IEMs I own, I guess there’s a limit to the scope of what I’m able to comment on. I hope someday to have something like a set of Andromedas to use as a reference, and maybe I’ll eventually make it to some Can Jams to hear a larger variety of products. Still, I trust my ears, so hopefully there’s something useful to be gleaned from my comments as well as yours.
RandingoThank you for taking the time to give a detailed response. I am inclined to agree with your speculations regarding the rather tepid concern that Nuforce is demonstrating. Even if they have kicked this highly regarded IEM to the curb, the loyalty that a manufacturer demonstrates toward any of its products says much about how much past customers are likely to mean to them.
I have plenty of ear-gear to keep me happy, so never fear. I am glad that you are pleased with how your venture into higher-end IEMs is sounding for you, truly. Good wishes to you! :)
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