I can totally relate to the IEM love - I keep coming back occasionally to my trusted old (~15yrs I think) UE10Pro (recently re-fitted with Moon Audio‘s Silver Dragon cables) for their intimate, involving, “just right” performance.
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I am currently in love with my U18t’s. I’ve had them since the end of January. Though in this period I have suffered with chronic Sinusitis so my ears haven’t been at their best. But I have grown to love them. My Andromeda’s haven’t been getting much on the way of eat time lately even though I love these too.
To my shame I’ve still to put up my review on the U18t’s. Nearly there but I need some half decent, for me at least, pictures to accompany it. As I don’t have a measurement rig either it isn’t going to be polished like the rest of them on here. But I shall do my best.
You’ve got some nice iems there.
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@Bertel you are fortunate your UE10 Pros have lasted so long. Mine are 14 years old and while listenable, definitely have deteriorated in sound quality. Hence the new Decas to replace them. I did a lot of research on Ultimate Ears current CIEMS and passed on the UERR due to reports of shelved treble (wish I had bought the UERM before they were discontinued) and a report that the latest v3 tuning of the UE18+ Pro is not as good as the older v2.
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The best reviews tell a story, and with the U18T having drawn you away from your beloved Andromedas, you’ve already got an arc to yours. Measurements are like illustrations in a novel–they can add some flavor and interest, but they neither make nor break the story.
I’m sure many here would love to hear your impressions on these two TOTL IEMs, so please go for it and write a review!
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Thanks for the encouragement. I am actively getting it done and I should be much longer. Thanks.
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Lately, it’s the Verum 2. The more I listen to them, the more I like them. They don’t need EQ to sound good. No question they perform far above their price point. One does not need to spend thousands to get reference sound. These achieve this at 500.00 for the kit.
The HD 650 is the other favorite. It does need EQ compared to the Verum 2.
I find that two headphones get 80% of my listening time, not counting Koss PortaPros for phone calls. Two because I have two locations. I just happen to like them equally well, and I think they would share the duty even if in one spot.
ZMF Auteur Classic (work)
Nectar Hive (home)
After that it goes to the Sennheiser Momentum 4 for when I want ANC and wireless - sometimes that’s a movie. The Rosson RAD-0 because it’s good and deserves some time, the Audeze LCDi4 for quality on the go, and Apple AirPods Pro 2 for convenience.
Sadly, I no longer feel like I need anything else. Damn good quality dynamic, planar, and eStat covered.
Only place to improve is in the car or home. Speakers of one kind or another.
Also pretty satisfied with fountain pens and am working on controlling urges for fancy knives (although culinary cutlery is being upgraded). Space limits the hat collection.
Must. Find. New. Obsession.
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Any interest in espresso? It’s been a very interesting hobby for me, and getting a full feature set-up has never been cheaper.
Sometimes, even after all the decades, I found the way back to these 160€ Headphones.
They are still impressive
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I keep coming back to my Plunge Unity mostly because they offer so much transparency for all my types of music that I like, not just one. Their clarity and insight in the music is unrivalled in my opinion.
Mike
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I keep coming back to my Focal Utopia OG for pure pleasure, driven by my dCS Bartok.
For critical listening I turn to my Raal Requisite SR1a out of the same Bartok, but in this case amplified by the Raal HSA1b.
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So are you at your end game? And what exactly is critical listening? These days I do music as enjoyment, even when I try new stuff.
Criticism has devolved to another selection, unless I happen to be on speakers at home and using vinyl. Then there is the agony of deciding
- Will this track be over soon?
- Will the next be better?
- Should I bother to raise the tone arm?
- And select another record?
- Place it on the table?
- Ensure it is flat, use weight?
- Cue it up?
- Hope there’s no irritating track coming up…
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Yes, I am close to my endgame, based upon the gear available on the market today, but: I reserve the right to revise my current endgame setup when new breakthrough audio technology is released, which is sure to happen.
Critical listening to me is where I play close attention to every nuance of the music, where the presentation is as close to a live in-person performance as possible. This mode requires my full attention, leaning into the music.
The alternate mode for me I would call “background listening” where I listen to performances that I enjoy, but where my attention to the music is secondary as I perform other tasks at hand.
I love the ability in Roon to just skip a track that is not pleasing to me, and the ability to “love” a track that I want to come back to and hear again sometime.
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I keep going back to the ZMF Bokeh Open. And the dt1990 mk1. The porta pro wireless probably gets more head time than anything. The SQ on the koss is stupid good for the money. But if I’m sitting down and using my desktop gear the ZMF gets the most head time. The Bokeh Open just fits my HRTF, I guess. I find it to be ‘musical’ and ‘euphonic’, to use some audiophile terms. It can do almost every genre well, even without EQ. It has a more focal-esque squig than the typical ZMF, but Zach wanted to create a distinct product in the Open variant and, from what I’ve read about the Bokeh Closed, he succeeded. I am so torn right now as to how to use my xmas money: It’s either going to be a Bokeh Closed, or a new pair of custom boots. I do really need a good closed back for the coffee shop for homework…. but those Frank’s Boots in a Wickett and Craig Veg Tan with Dr Soles soles, maybe even handwelted. I’m not going to be growing very old, relatively, might as well enjoy music and comfy feet while I can.
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The Verum 2 have been a frequent favorite of late. The overall presentation is excellent across the entire frequency spectrum. One of very few headphones I’ve come across that does not need EQ to enjoy. The bass is tight, goes fairly deep, but not overly strong. I would call it balanced. The midrange is very detailed, with a great presence region. Vocals sound almost lifelike. The treble is clean, detailed, and extended.
The Verum 2 more than holds its own against other highly regarded brands such as Abyss, Audeze, Dan Clark, etc. Highly recommended for audition.