I know what you mean. Biggest drawback is the need to fidget with them so much. Makes them less-viable to use on-the-go (which is why I got them) but really nice if you’re just sitting around w/a laptop. Compared to the Aeons, which have been described as having the feel of sitting in a small jazz club, these move the music much more inside your head/between your ears, to a degree – emphatically with percussion-heavy music – that has made me jump in my seat on more than one occasion. They very much fulfill that audiophile craving for the “wow” factor, even if they turn out not to be so practical in use (because they are challenging to fit into your ears and keep them there).
IMHO Solaris > LX > Atlas. Pound for pound the Solaris is one of the best IEMs on the market right now…especially for the price. Detail, balance, separation, soundstage…it excels at all of these.
I don’t know enough about this, but what I think makes the Solaris special in terms of its presentation, other than the fact that it’s a hybrid BA/Dynamic driver IEM, is also what is it greatest weakness for many: It’s size.
I was just reading a thread on another forum involving Floyde Toole, a well known acoustical engineer. He was making the point that counter to what many believe, anechoic chambers are not the best environments to hear music because humans use reflections (repetitions of the radiated sound) to accumulate more information about the sound because all voices and musical instruments are collections of resonances. This is one of the reasons why music in a venue sounds so much better than at an outdoor concert. The resonances in the venue enrich the timber of what we are hearing.
With most IEMs there is no resonance as the ear canal is too small compared the to size of the sound waves. But the Solaris appear to have a large acoustic chamber and perhaps it’s the resonances in this chamber that gives them their magic. As I have mentioned before, like the ZMF Verite, they have a rich timbre and a 3 dimensional sense of space I don’t hear with most other IEMs or headphones.
That’s just my theory. I could be completely full of it, I don’t know.
This falls inline with how I view them…and I think your assessment of the chamber is probably correct! They did remind me of the Verite also…but they just wouldn’t fit in my ears proper…=‘(
For me they are so far the best sounding IEMs I’ve heard to date, but that isn’t saying much
The Andromeda Golds are my daily carry now, and I love them…except that the nozzle is too long for my preferred Spiral dots to work properly with them.
Interesting that you find the Andromeda Gold to be more comfortable because I did find the shorter nozzle on the Solaris to be less intrusive but this also makes them more unstable in the ear, especially because of their weight, so you have to fiddle more with them.
The Westone UM 50 Pro have quite a thin nozzle, are small and light but the nozzle goes deeper than the Solaris and I also find them uncomfortable. Maybe I am one of those people that just can’t wear in-ears
I currently own the Legand X and am looking to grab the Atlas or the Solaris, but the more and more I hear you guys talking about the Andromeda it makes me wonder if I should grab that instead.
The Atlas right now is currently discounted, so if I went with the Solaris it would be an added 600, I mean the Atlas at 900 is steal it seems, but I am not sure if its worth spending the extra 600 for the Solaris or not, would you spend the extra 600 to get the Solaris after hearing both? Or would you use that 600 and put it towards getting the Andromeda as well?
To me it seems I could get the Atlas for fun music plus detail and the Andromeda for more neutral listening.
Thank you very much, I am very sorry to be asking these questions, but its a lot of money for me and I want to be sure I am making the correct choice.
I’m very sensitive to in ears…even the Andromeda’s which for what ever reason seem to be the most comfortable…I can only do a couple of hours before my ears are screaming at me to take them out.
I would personally suggest the Sony IER-M9. I have not heard the Atlas, but IMO it is M9 > Solaris > LX. If I hadn’t upgraded to the 64audio U12t, I would definitely keep mine. The Solaris is still a great IEM (it’s in my top 5), but it just can’t compete with the value of the M9. Anyway, let me know if you’re interested, as I might put mine for sale soon !
A lot has been written about the Solaris and Andromeda on SBAF. Maybe you should see if you can find a thread that compares the two over there.
For me the Solaris’ most remarkable characteristics are its soundstage, instrument separation, natural instrumental timbre and coherent signature-- in my experience there is no other IEM on the market right now which combines those qualities to the degree that the Solaris does, and I have heard the Andromeda, LX, Atlas, U12t, Z1R and VX. I’m going to be picking up an SE Solaris this Friday and I’m curious to see if it will tempt me away from the VX based on everything I just said. To anyone wondering it’s absolutely worth the money and the OG Solaris can be had for ~$1100 used pretty easily these days.
That and what you wrote in an earlier post:
I find that too often with headphones and IEMs when imaging and separation is very good there is also a somewhat disjointed nature to the sound, or a lack of “wholeness” as you say, that does not exist when listening in an open space and is an expected compromise when using headphones and IEMs. But not so with the Solaris and that for me is another important quality that makes them special.
Would any of you rather own the Anderomda and the Atlas? Or just own the Solaris alone?
Nope. The Solaris is a combination of the best of both the Atlas and the Andromeda. It’s a step above both imho.
I only ask because every reviewer keeps saying how much they love the Andromeda when comparing to Solaris but yet the Solaris is better. I think reviewers don’t want to admit they like bass presence. It’s taboo in this industry. They always say the Solaris is better in some things but the Andromeda is still best for vocals and imaging and soundstage. Also, the mids, I heard are better on the Andromeda.
Thanks
I would disagree with that personally…the only thing the Andro truly does better than Solaris is upper end air and sparkle…a worthy sacrifice for the dynamic bass imho.
I just placed an order for the Solaris which said it was in stock, after placing the order it said it ships one week after the order is placed? Very disappointing, self helps says “If the item is in stock it ships next day or same day”.
Wicked bummer, so I reached out to ask if the Atlas and Anderomda are the same time frame.
I understand its a small business but the website should be updated to reflect this, IMO. Unless I missed it.
I personally have the green Andro ver2 Or 3, and the Andromeda Golds
If I could have made the Solaris work in my sensitive ears I probably would have gone with them…but…the Andromeda’s in my opinion still beat out the Solaris ever so with its unique “sparkle” in the treble.
But I think as the better all around IEM the Solaris takes it in the sound department. That being said I haven’t heard for an extended period of time much of the 64audio stuff or the new darling IEMs that everyone is ranting about…qc anole?? Eh @antdroid save me from myself what IEM has the switches that everyone loved so much a couple weeks/months ago?
You are talking about the BVGP EST 12’s or whatever, to bad you cannot find them anywhere. Only sketch websites.
Yea I think I might cancel the order and get the Anderomda and Atlas its a better value, I get 2 IEMS for 2000 vs one for 1500.
I suppose it depends on what they say about the shipping, I know its a first world problem thats stupid, but I would like to enjoy the earphone for next week wile on vacation.
Actually these Anole QDC VX
Looks like I figured it out, the office has been closed for the past week. 11-17 of Dec.
Go figure, lol i’ll wait to see what happens tomorrow.
Please note our offices will be closed December 11-17. We apologies for any delays during this period.