Develop Bugs

Review of FiiO X5 digital audio player (DAP) w/lots of pics!!!

*** UPDATE *** Now available directly from Miccastore: http://www.miccastore.com/fiio-port...c-player-special-bundles-available-p-118.html
This is a review of FiiO X5 digital audio player (DAP). http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000055517771&MenuID=105026016
I have shared with you a lot of different headphone reviews, especially of audiophile quality, because I consider headphones to be very important part of our lives. Many people's entertainment world evolves around their smartphone that we use to listen to music, to watch movies, to stream videos, to play video games, or to communicate with others. We have consolidated a lot of the other gadgets into this one universal device with headphones being a gateway to our entertainment world. That is why I put a high value on quality of the sound. Typically with high quality headphones you end up rediscovering sounds all over again and hearing new details for the very first time. To my very pleasant surprise, when I received FiiO X5 DAP - I actually ended up rediscovering my headphones, all over again!!!
It's great to have a portable entertainment system where you can do everything, but often NOT everything could be done at it's best because we are limited by the hardware. Sure, you can build a library with only lossless format files and you can get the best pair of audiophile grade headphones, but you are still limited by a path of digital files converted into analog sound to drive your headphones. You can get a quality audio app and even external amp, but the source of your audio will still come from a smartphone with every electronic component cramped in there, without any proper power filtering, and with low bit resolution and low sampling rate to deliver that sound. Yes, it's very convenient and you can significantly improve your sound quality by using, for example, Neutron MP app, external usb OTG DAC/amp like E18, and quality headphone cables and headphones (RC-SE1 cables with W40 IEMs in my current setup). This is a very adequate setup even for an audiophile, but there is still room for improvement. Nothing will match a dedicated Digital Audio Player (DAP) where from step one you will be processing your music source at the highest sampling rate with a highest bit depth resolution!!! There is a number of such DAP players available on the market, but often they cost north of $700 with a higher quality ones starting at $1000. That is why FiiO shook audiophile world when they introduced their next flagship X5 DAP priced at $350. This is my first experience using DAP, since I don't count my previous iPods or Sansa players as quality audio sources; and I can tell you with certainty that listening to X5 and Sansa Clip+ is like night and day. Let's take a closer look to find out more about X5.
There is no question you are dealing with a premium product the second you see their package box. You are greeted by a high res 1:1 scale picture of X5 on the front cover, and the back of the box has all the main function highlights. My review sample also had a sticker on the back mentioning that DSD playback and USB OTG support will be added in future firmware updates. Out of the package box, the actual X5 is stored inside of another "gift" box which is built out of sturdy carton with a nice foam padding inside to hold accessories as well. It's not exactly intended for traveling, but it definitely comes very handy to store X5 when not in use (the same with E18 and its storage box). Once you get a chance to hold X5 in your hand, you do realize it's not exactly lightweight at 210g (that's including 2 loaded micro-SD cards and silicone protection skin), although it's on par with typical smartphone weight. It was very clever for FiiO to include a high quality silicone protection form fitting sleeve. It enhances the grip, covers up aluminum CNC unibody to protect from scratches (although some might argue you would rather show it off!), and covers up volume and power buttons, as well as covering up Line out and Coax out ports leaving only headphone port exposed so there is no confusion which 3.5mm port to use. Furthermore, it comes already with pre-installed screen protector covering its gorgeous 400x360 res 2.4" IPS screen, and 2 more screen protectors for spare. Other accessories that come with X5 are high quality usb to micro-usb charging/data cable, 3 push plugs for each 3.5mm port, coaxial cable adapter, USB OTG cable, micro-SD card reader, and detailed easy to read manuals. I'm sure some will prefer to take X5 out of silicone protection sleeve to show off it's sexy aluminum brushed body, the same finish used in E18, but for others - you have an option to cover it.
Unboxing
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Accessories
Inside of silicone skin
Out of the skin
Of course, the biggest eye candy of this design is the mechanical control wheel. What looks like a miniature DJ spinning record is one cleverly designed control to scroll through the available menu options, song selection, and other controls. Some people mind find it resembles a classic iPod from a distance, but only by geometry of the circle. This is an actual mechanical wheel you can spin with your thumb and which provides a very tactile response and control of your selection. In the middle of the wheel you have a multifunction Ok/Play/Pause button, and at the corners of the wheel there are 4 other multifunction buttons to enable various controls and selections. In theory, you can use these 5 buttons without even a need for a wheel, but being able to scroll through selection or menu items or to adjust the volume with a wheel is just super cool! It gives an analog touch to the control and makes it feel more premium. At the same time, it's nice to know that function of analog wheel is duplicated with extra buttons which comes especially handy when you want to control your X5 without looking at the screen (skip, fast forward, pause, etc.).
X5 is not just an eye candy outside, its a power house inside. In order to handle every available lossless format (DSD, APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, WAV) and all MP3s without skipping a beat, X5 is equipped with a dual core 600MHz Ingenics CPU which supports 192k sampling rate with 24B resolution. It also has asynchronous USB DAC functionality where you can use it as an external DAC for your laptop or computer. The internal power distribution uses quad-balanced power supply architecture to avoid any coupling noise from capacitors. Remember, power supply reference is very important in order to process a clean signal without any distortion. Also, it uses a very advance DAC/pre-amp/amp audiophile grade path (from reading digital audio to analog headphone output) with some of the top electronic components available on the market. And this is not just a statement. FiiO actually provided a detailed diagram of that path with part number of every component used in their circuit to support their claim. They even have a detailed screen shot with a layout of their PCB. These guys are definitely proud of their achievement and have nothing to hide!
The storage for your music media is provided on two removable micro-SD cards. With a current firmware support, you can use 2x 64GB cards for a total of 128GB storage, and future fw upgrades promise a support of 256GB and 512GB. If you think about it, this is solid state storage, not a mechanical hard drive or internal memory that can never be upgraded or replaced. Here you have a total control of your storage with a smallest footprint media. You can either copy files using provided micro-SD adapter or connect X5 to your computer (select Storage instead of DAC mode), and copy files directly to your DAP. Once USB OTG connection will be available, most likely you will be able to connect an external usb storage, such as HDD or usb flash drive. Btw, when you are using X5 as external usb DAC or connected to copy files, it charges the device automatically. With a 3700 mAh internal battery, you get up to 15hr of interrupted play (which is going to be available with future fw update), while currently it works for approximately 11-12hr. Although charging from PC usb port is possible, I would recommend using external 2A wall charger for a faster speed.
Once the battery is fully charged and you are ready to go, turn the power on and enjoy what comes up next! The crisp high resolution IPS screen has fantastic colors and highly visible from wide angles. It bring up a great visual since X5 is capable of displaying the song artwork or using a default background when playing your tunes. Also, there is an extensive amount of customization with a lot of options of how you want your DAP to function, under System Settings, to how you want it to play your songs, under Play Settings. It felt almost like I'm using my smartphone, the level of customization was that detailed. It even included a full readable manual of how to use X5. There are a lot of ways how you can play the songs, browse by favorites, play by category, browse folders, by artist, by album, etc. There is also a fantastic 10-band graphic EQ to fine tune your sound with included presets or by customizing it on your own, but in my opinion leaving it at Normal is the beauty to enjoy it's pure sound. I was very pleased to hear neutral signature of this DAP without any coloring of enhanced bass or treble, at least to my ears. This becomes especially apparent when you start switching your favorite set of headphones between different audio sources. The sound really comes alive!!! I can even tell you that listening from my Note 2 w/E18 and comparing it to X5, I found X5 to have a bit wider sound, more sparkle in high, better extension and control of lows, and overall a little bit more details across the whole frequency spectrum. Without a doubt, headphones play a significant role in sound quality, but if you are not driving it with a clean source - you can't polish a turd lol!!! If you look at the spec of X5, it has some very serious power of [email protected] and 28mW even at 300ohm driving the most demanding high impedance audiophile headphones. It also has low/high gain setting to boost output by additional 6dB, and with Line out you can even drive an external amp, if you desire.
Overall, to say that I was impressed with FiiO X5 would be an understatement. Since the day I got it, I have been trying to find every possible excuse to use it. This brings me to one very important question, why would I want to set aside my current setup of Galaxy Note 2 and E18? What I discovered, my current smartphone total integration has its positive and negative sides. It's convenient, no doubt about it. But in order to enjoy your music to a full potential, you need to tune out the outside world. Doesn't matter if you are listening to EDM, Pop, Rock, Rap, R'n'B, or Jazz or Classical. If you are relaxing and want to enjoy listening to the sound, you don't want to be interrupted by another email or text message or social media update or reminder to update an app. Smartphone is a jack of all trades, while X5 is a master of one - the PURE SOUND QUALITY. Based on what I have seen and heard while using one, and read from other audiophiles on head-fi.org, FiiO X5 achieved and mastered that goal quite well at the price which is a fraction of competition. In my opinion, if you decided to invest into high quality audiophile equipment and spending hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars to achieve your goal - this little DAP will be an excellent investment. Or, if you are saving money for $700-$1000 DAP, don't be cautious by $350 price tag of X5 and give it a serious consideration!

I just realized I forgot to mention that FiiO X5 will be available on Amazon US sometime in March. I will post an update with an exact date once I know for sure, but it's definitely should happen next month. X5 has been released in China already as part of a first batch to make sure everything is working OK. It's a very smart move because if they find an issue with a first production run, it's easier to recall and to service it locally versus dealing with this internationally. So far it looks like everything has been running smoothly, and the next batch of releases going to be in EU and then US.

How is the gapless playback quality (seeing the feature to turn it on or off)?
How long does the player take to build its internal database or can the player be used strictly as a file browser?

How is the noise level with sensitive IEM's? I have a set of Westone W4R that are pretty sensitive and do not want to hear any hiss.

TonyBigs said:
How is the gapless playback quality (seeing the feature to turn it on or off)?
How long does the player take to build its internal database or can the player be used strictly as a file browser?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest my audio collection is mostly EDM/dance tracks, and I noticed most of the songs in my library have a short blank space at the end, so gapless on/off won't be noticeable. But I'm paying very close attention to head-fi posts and I remember some mentioned that it wasn't as smooth yet, but the next firmware update will take care of that.
With building of internal database - it was super fast (dual core processor!), though I don't have as many songs loaded; and you get an option of auto or manual, where in manual you can use it as a file browser. That's how I have it set by default, and use a wheel to scroll through the songs.

Goodtill said:
How is the noise level with sensitive IEM's? I have a set of Westone W4R that are pretty sensitive and do not want to hear any hiss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is your audio source when listening with W4R? A lot of the hiss and other artifacts of noise floor come from noisy electronic components in your your phone or laptop (not a proper isolation and filtering of power supply). But regardless of that, I can reassure that I'm using X5 with W40 and there is not even a hint of hiss.

W40 cable
vectron said:
What is your audio source when listening with W4R? A lot of the hiss and other artifacts of noise floor come from noisy electronic components in your your phone or laptop (not a proper isolation and filtering of power supply). But regardless of that, I can reassure that I'm using X5 with W40 and there is not even a hint of hiss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Everybody,
it's my first post here.
I already ordered the Westone W40 and it seems that we have in future the same setting of mobile hifi.
The X5 should be also fit perfect for my use case. Need a DAC for work to avoiding crappy motherboard sound chip and also need a very good DAP for fair price.
My question now, because this looks for me very elegant, where did you get the alternate cable for the W40?

guerilla666 said:
Hi Everybody,
it's my first post here.
I already ordered the Westone W40 and it seems that we have in future the same setting of mobile hifi.
The X5 should be also fit perfect for my use case. Need a DAC for work to avoiding crappy motherboard sound chip and also need a very good DAP for fair price.
My question now, because this looks for me very elegant, where did you get the alternate cable for the W40?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using FiiO's RC-SE1 replacement cable: http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-RC-SE1-Shure-Replacement-Cable/dp/B00DB41AOW/ - the mini coax plug is universal with all Shure SE series headphones, UE900, and all the new Westone headphones. The sound difference is noticeable (http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000042227825&MenuID=105026014).
I've been using X5 a lot lately. Don't even touch my Note 2 for music playing. It's really cool how you can tag a bunch of songs to add to your Fav list and it only plays that list (select from the menu of Fav songs) where you can use a scroll wheel to cycle through it. Or you can play by file browsing where once you select a directory (either artist album or your own custom list directory) and it only plays files from there with a same wheel song scrolling exclusive to that list. Now, with Sandisk introduction of 128GB card and FiiO soon to be firmware update to support it, you will be able to have 256GB of storage, and with a same firmware update will be able to support OTG to connect external thumb drive or external hard drive.
Also, for initial release, the stability of this firmware and UI is very impressive. I heard/read a lot of horror stories about iBasso D50 initial release and how long it took them to fix the firmware. Here, FiiO started from scratch and delivered and solid release.

Ok that sounds and looks very great for that low price for a cable.
Thanks for the information, that will increase my anticipation for the DAP/DAC and this will underline my opinion about the collected informations i have found through searching in the internet.

A couple more things I learned about X5 as I'm playing more with it. Gapless playback definitely works. I had a few Ministry of Sound FLAC albums where songs mixed in, though split in tracks, and gapless playback worked flawlessly. Furthermore, I really like how you can fast forward through a track, and when you do that the track continues to play at normal speed while the time marker moves to a new position and starts playing as soon as you release fast-forward. Also, when you playing and push'n'hold the middle button, it brings up a volume control which you can adjust with a wheel. So there is no need to use side volume up/down buttons. This is extremely convenient for one hand operation where you can control everything with a thumb. Last but not least, I'm really enjoying physical buttons instead of touch screen controls; feels more precise and you get full visibility of the screen.

For those who are interested, X5 is officially released and shipping worldwide!!!
For US, you can check now: http://miccastore.com/ and also soon to be available on Amazon.

Review of Pelican Case for FiiO X5
I don't have to tell you how much I love my X5. I stopped listening to music from my laptop or my Note 2 or other mp3 players, and it's all good when I'm using X5 at home. But when I want to take it to work or somewhere else on a go, I get paranoid how to pack it. The good news is that soon FiiO will be releasing a series of new X5 accessories, including different cases, but those are not available yet.
For the last month I have been searching high and low to find a storage/transportation case for X5 and couldn't find anything until I came across a series of Micro Cases from Pelican. I'm sure a lot of your are familiar with Pelican cases, but for those who are don't, check out their website: http://www.pelicancases.com/ - they are worldwide known for tough rugged protector cases and shipping containers. Prior to this find, I wasn't aware they make such small cases, down to Micro series. Though I knew the dimensions of X5 and their Micro Series 1020 model (http://www.pelicancases.com/1020-p/1020.htm) to be a perfect fitment, I also got for review 1010 model (http://www.pelicancases.com/1010-p/1010.htm) just to be sure, and as it turned out it was a bit too small but still great for other gear storage (like headphones).
What sets these Pelican cases apart is their extremely durable construction and IP67 rating. These cases are water resistant, dustproof, crushproof, and come with lifetime guarantee. They have an easy open latch, stainless steel hardware, removable rubber lining (which also works as o-ring), and one way air valve. As a bonus it comes with a carabiner, and there are two slots for lanyard attachment. One thing to keep in mind, X5 will be a little loose inside of 1020 case. This allows to add a few of your favorite IEMs and some cables, thus preventing it from moving around. Otherwise, you can add another piece of foam inside, or place X5 facing down toward the rubber lining to protect the screen and the scrolling wheel. Either way for about $15 (for 1020) and $13 (for 1010), it's a fantastic storage/carry option for X5 and your other small music accessories.
Here are the pictures.

Pelican is exactly what I've been using for a long time with my E11+clip+SE215 combo. I even have room for a usb card reader in there. Great cases in all sizes.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying

jRi0T68 said:
Pelican is exactly what I've been using for a long time with my E11+clip+SE215 combo. I even have room for a usb card reader in there. Great cases in all sizes.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which size do you use? I been told on Head-fi, where I also posted about it, to get Pick'n'Pluck foam kit for a better fitment of X5 to make a custom foam insert. Will have to try it out as well.
Btw, FiiO's next release is X1 which is going to be a slim/cut down version of X5 supporting only 1 microSD card (still fine if you use 128GB) and supporting less formats, like no need for DSD. The most important, it will be around $100 !!!!
More info about it HERE
X1

vectron said:
Which size do you use? I been told on Head-fi, where I also posted about it, to get Pick'n'Pluck foam kit for a better fitment of X5 to make a custom foam insert. Will have to try it out as well.
Btw, FiiO's next release is X1 which is going to be a slim/cut down version of X5 supporting only 1 microSD card (still fine if you use 128GB) and supporting less formats, like no need for DSD. The most important, it will be around $100 !!!!
More info about it HERE
X1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using a 1020. That X1 looks promising, just need to do more research on how good that dac is.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying

After doing a little mini-review of Pelican 1020 case for X5, I was suggested to get Pick'n'Pluck kit. I also got another case with a different color liner, so figured to post a few more pics. Basically, pick'n'pluck kit is perforated sponge material that you can shape for any opening. Since I'm using 1020 with X5, I didn't have to pluck anything and instead using it as a spacer to hold X5 firmly inside. Only $5 : http://www.pelicancases.com/1022-p/1020-400-000.htm

A quick update I got from TekFX/Miccastore.
X5 is finally back in stock and now they updated their order Page with Bundle options: http://www.miccastore.com/fiio-port...c-player-special-bundles-available-p-118.html
where you can add HS stacking kit (for E12) for only $8, or add/purchase E12 in a bundle for $100, as well as adding HS8 silicone skin (red, blue, or yellow) for $3. They also have an option for 64GB Sandisk microSD for $36.

FiiO X5 official accessories
This is a review of FiiO X5 official accessories. http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000056988354&MenuID=105026009 - coming in a few days to http://www.miccastore.com/
X5 is one amazing Digital Audio Player, and FiiO was generous enough to include a few basic accessories together with a player. Though a few screen protectors and basic gray silicone case was a good start, now FiiO released an official line of accessories to dress up your X5 in style!
HS8 Silicone rubber case has the same design and quality of material as the included case, but now you have a selection of 4 additional colors, with blue one shown below
HS11 Back Cover is a minimalistic protection for those who don't want to hide a beauty of brushed metal finish and just want to protect the back and the sides of X5 from scratches. It wraps securely around the player, has clear light tinted sides, matte back finish, and a perfect cutout for volume up/down buttons. This back cover leaves top and bottom of X5 open for a full access to all the ports and power button.
HS9 Leather case has a synthetic smooth finish leather on outside and soft micro-fiber material on inside which protects X5 screen, wheel, and top buttons from scratches. Actually it looks like X5 holder inside of this leather case is a Back Cover securely attached to the case. It has a darker tint than stand alone back cover to match the darker color of the "leather". The cover of the leather case wraps around and closes securely with a magnetic strip. One unique feature of this case is an elongated bump inside the case which aligns with a volume buttons opening of the holder. So while being closed, you can push on outside of the case to change the volume or perform functions assigned to volume buttons.
HS7 Carry case is a dual-layer hard protective case with a double zipper and attached carabiner. The hard shell of the case feels secure enough to be placed in a backpack or carry bag or luggage when you are traveling. Also, it will protect your X5 if you want to clip the case to your backpack. Each inner side of the case has a net-woven pocket, and one additional smaller pocket for your SD cards on the right side. The pockets are generous enough to store X5 with a case, and even has a little bit of room for a short cable. This case makes a perfect companion to carry X5 together with a portable AMP like E12.

Hi @vectron, I have a HTC One but I am looking for an affordable DAP for use mainly while commuting and while I am at my desk.
Just wondering a few things, since I have read your reviews on them
1. have you tried fiio x3 and if so how does that compare to x5?
2. is the sound quality on the E18+note2 THAT much better than x3/x5?
3. have you tried any of the competitors in the same price bracket?
Also.. @geko95gek has recommended me the x3 and I read that a new one is due soon.. do you happen to have any info on that? I saw today the x1 is about ready for a september release
my budget is ~$250. Cheers
Sorry for my noobness. I am a bit new to this DAP stuff. Thanks for the excellent review and pictures

I haven't tried X3, but from everything I read it will be inferior to X5. It's probably on par with iBasso DX50, the same $200 price bracket. E18+Note2 is not that significantly better. Personally, I prefer a dedicated DAP for more convenience.
Based on your budget, I assume you are not a hard core audiophile with thousands of Flac files My advice is to wait another month when more X1 details will be available before September release. I probably will get a review unit and will do a comparison to X5 and my other DAPs (AP100 and HM700). The target price of X1 is $100 and you can use the remaining $150 to buy two pairs of decent dynamic IEMs.

What are the best replacement earbuds/IEMs under $50 for an Android smartphone?

My Samsung Note 2 stock earbuds are so cheap, low quality and they slip out of my hears (expecially the right one, I dunno why..).
Now I'm looking for:
• Good sound quality and volume (obviously).
• Great fit and comfortable, ideally with more than one size.
• Possibly white color.
• In-line remote/mic compatible with Android.
• Ruggedly built so I can shove them in my pocket and bag a lot and they won't break.
Any ideas? I'm coming up empty from reviews and lists of "top" earbuds. Anyway so far my candidates are Vsonic VSD1S/GR07 (but it lacks microphone) and SteelSeries Flux In-Ear (but too gaming attitude).
Thanks!

beautifulsun said:
My Samsung Note 2 stock earbuds are so cheap, low quality and they slip out of my hears (expecially the right one, I dunno why..).
Now I'm looking for:
• Good sound quality and volume (obviously).
• Great fit and comfortable, ideally with more than one size.
• Possibly white color.
• In-line remote/mic compatible with Android.
• Ruggedly built so I can shove them in my pocket and bag a lot and they won't break.
Any ideas? I'm coming up empty from reviews and lists of "top" earbuds. Anyway so far my candidates are Vsonic VSD1S/GR07 (but it lacks microphone) and SteelSeries Flux In-Ear (but too gaming attitude).
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest to start with Jeremy's Headphone Buying Guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2131021 and reply to that thread with questions from his original post. A number of people monitor that thread and can provide you with suggestions.
Regarding Vsonic, VSD1S will not have much of the bass, its what called "midcentric" with emphasis on midrange. Plus, I'm reading about a lot of build quality issues. GR07 cost way over $100.
I think your best bet going to be Soundmagic E10 headphones ($35); http://www.amazon.com/SoundMAGIC-Noise-Isolating-Earphones-BlackGunmetal/dp/B005HP3OB0/
Now keep in mind, none of these headphones will have volume up/down compatible with android, its only for iphone. But mic and multifunction button will work for play/pause/call, double click to skip the song, and song press to start Google NOW. I reviewed a ton of headphones (check out a link in my signature), and have Note 2 as well.
If you can wait a week or so, I have another pair of "budget" $20 headphones coming my way for review. I heard those blow Soundmagic E10 out of the water in sound and build quality, and supposed to have built-in remote with volume controls compatible with Android. I will not know for sure until I test it, but stay tuned.

Thank you!
vectron said:
GR07 cost way over $100.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I mean GR06!
About VSD1S I've read good reviews like this: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/more-less-vsonic-vsd1-and-vsd1s now I'm looking for something about these Soundmagic E10..
If you can wait a week or so, I have another pair of "budget" $20 headphones coming my way for review. I heard those blow Soundmagic E10 out of the water in sound and build quality, and supposed to have built-in remote with volume controls compatible with Android. I will not know for sure until I test it, but stay tuned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Name of this wonder?

I'd look into LG Quadbeat 2, price, sq, functionality shouldn't disappoint the majority of xda'ers (based solely on reviews I've read).
But, if you're more discerning about sq, please do post in my guide (after reading my long-winded op, you'll learn a lot).
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying

beautifulsun said:
Thank you!
Sorry, I mean GR06!
About VSD1S I've read good reviews like this: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/more-less-vsonic-vsd1-and-vsd1s now I'm looking for something about these Soundmagic E10..
Name of this wonder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, Joker liked it He is very highly respected reviewer on Innerfidelity and Head-fi, but often they don't look at long term durability. Either way, they do sound ok, I guess. I never had any experience with VSonic, so can't comment beside what I have read on-line where people were complaining about build quality.
Regarding the one I'm waiting for, its Xiaomi Piston 2. That one got a ton of praises on head-fi, but the problem is a lot of fake ones circulating around. Yeah, even at that low price they make fake knock offs which apparently sound like [email protected] So, I want to wait and see what I'm going to receive (real or fake), how do they sound, and the build quality. If its a real ones, I will definitely post a review about it.

Brainwavz r1!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

Pepton said:
Its amazing :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what it is?

Best earbuds
you can try to this to find ones on the internet

Review of Xiaomi Pistons 2 headphones with Android in-line remote w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of Xiaomi Pistons 2 in-ear headphones with a full featured android in-line remote. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L92CU24/ or http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321443604850 (manufacturer website: http://www.xiaomi.com/huosai)
Once again I'm speechless, sitting down with a pair of $24.90 headphones that look and sound better than a number of other popular brand name IEMs that cost 4x-5x that much. How is it possible? For a lot of us who live in US and EU, there is a whole world of great headphone brands from Asia we never even heard of. After reading and participating in a number of discussions on head-fi, I decided to look into much talked about Xiaomi Pistons currently on their 2nd generation release.
I know the price of under $25 sounds ridiculous for anything of a high quality, but you have to trust me - these headphones are simply amazing! I know a lot of you see the name and the model and quickly get on Google to search for the best deals. Here is a thing, when it comes to these particular in-ear headphones, any search will yield a lot of results with fake models. And because those often cost almost as much or a few dollars less than original, it's really hard to find a trusted seller of Pistons. That is a reason I'm providing you Amazon link of a trusted seller who has real Pistons v2 in stock. Be very careful when placing an order even with amazon where you have multiple sellers, and make sure its with Zhengnan'shop. Apparently there used to be other sellers under the same listing which turned out to be fake ones. The one I received came from Zhengnan'shop, I confirmed it to be the real deal!
OK, since I got that explanation out of the way, let's take a closer look at the headphones itself. The small carton box they arrived in turned out to be a one piece design which unfolded with instructions and other info. Unfortunately, everything was in Chinese, but I can certainly appreciate the originality of this design. Once you take the actual box out, you are presented with a gorgeous view of golden in-ear headphones inside of jewelry-like box. When you lift the cover, the first thing you notice is... a smell. I know what you might think, probably a smell of toxic plastic? Absolutely not, you are getting a smell of a chocolate. Yes, I did say "chocolate". There is a lot of thought that went into design of these headphones and their packaging, including one of the most original presentation with a piece of molded rubber insert that houses earphones, inline remote, a plug, a cord which gets wrapped around, and also made out of material with a sweet smell of chocolate. Underneath on the bottom of the box you will find 3 bonus sets of eartips and a really cool shirt clip (a very original design). Once you take the headphones out, you can't help but notice how super lightweight these are and how detailed is their design. Everything from headphone housing to in-line remote (which also serves as cable y-splitter) and 3.5mm connector is made out of lightweight aluminum alloy material with a gold finish and laser etched circular lines. Everything feels solid, durable, and very premium quality. The cord itself is tangle free, and the portion between splitter-remote and 3.5mm plug has a threaded coating which almost looks like a shoelace. The part of the cable from the splitter-remote up to headphones has a durable rubbery coating attached to earpieces with a decent strain relief.
There is no doubt, Pistons have a very luxurious look and feel, but how about the sound quality? Once you put these in your ears, get ready for a very pleasant surprise!!! Featuring a patented beryllium diaphragm, I found these dynamic drivers to cover quite an extended frequency range. The first thing you will notice a rich deep bass which extends quite nicely down to a powerful sub-bass layer while still having a well controlled punchy mid-bass. The selection of a proper eartip size to create the best seal with your earcanal will play a significant role in the amount of bass you will hear. With my selection of medium eartips, I found the bass quantity to be definitely boosted. Not quite at basshead level, but enough to feel it. At the other side of the spectrum, treble was very clear and smooth, hardly any hint of sibilance. Mids were detailed, a bit recessed, but still leveled enough to enjoy vocals. Overall the sound was bright and balanced with a little bit of v-shaped eq, a nice low end enhancement, and in general very airy and smooth. Of course, as great as they sound, it will not replace $500 multi-driver IEMs with a fuller body sound and better separation, but the fact I'm even bringing up a comparison of $25 to $500 in-ear headphones can tell you how highly I think of these. The soundstage was above average thanks to semi-open design with a port on the back of these headphones. Despite that, they actually had a decent passive noise isolation, but as I mentioned above a good seal with a proper eartip is very important to achieve that.
Usually I don't spend too much time talking about in-line remote, but in case of Pistons it deserves a special mentioning. Every pair of headphones I reviewed so far with in-line remote never had a set of volume controls that works with Android phones. Typically you have multi-function button which is universal between android and apple devices, mic for taking calls, and up/down volume for iPhones. Well, Xiaomi is actually a very well known Chinese android smartphone maker, and that is why their headphones were designed specifically for android phones. Though I only tested it with my Galaxy Note 2, the volume control worked perfectly!!!!! Furthermore, multi-function button worked great for play/pause/call with a single click, skip next with a double click, and skip prev with a triple click, and long-press for Google Now. No additional software was necessary, everything worked by default. Also, phone calls were loud and clear.
Overall, I found Xiaomi Pistons 2 to be one of the best value headphones I have tested in a very long time!!! The combination of a sexy design, durable construction, amazing sound quality with a great bass, and full remote control compatibility with android phones makes this a MUST have accessory which gets my high recommendation.
Here are the pictures.
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Apparently these Pistons 2 just won a prestigious IF 2014 design award, and even going to be re-leased in a limited edition white box. For $25 with their sound quality and full android controls, it's a no-brainer.

Vectron,
Thanks for the great review. Just ordered them using your provided link. Question.
How long did it take to get them?
Rusty
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

Rsmin said:
Vectron,
Thanks for the great review. Just ordered them using your provided link. Question.
How long did it take to get them?
Rusty
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About 10 days.
Make sure to come back with your impressions Sound quality is very subjective, so I'm always curious to find out what others think about it.

Will do
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

amazing ear phone

vectron said:
Apparently these Pistons 2 just won a prestigious IF 2014 design award, and even going to be re-leased in a limited edition white box. For $25 with their sound quality and full android controls, it's a no-brainer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vectron,
Thanks for letting us know about these headphones. Just received them yesterday and the sound is fantastic. These are going to be my go to headphones for now. Now mind you I am no music guru but for me these are crisp, and super clear through the entire spectrum. I have had Sony's, V-moda, Panasonic, Skull Candy's (all which are good) but there is just something about these that seem a little better than the others I have had, plus the Android controls just make it that much better.
And the price just puts the icing on the cake.
Rusty
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app

yellowstarmoonsun said:
looks good, but i don't like golden... the sound is good or average?
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Click to collapse
The sound is VERY good, better than some $150 headphones I tested. Definitely highly recommend! Just make sure you get a real thing, too make fakes are floating around.

May I ask about the length of the wire between the controller and the in-ear headphone? Because I've seen in some reviews that people say the distance is long, thus it is hard to either reach for the controller, or talk in a call while walking or standing outside

Eleo said:
May I ask about the length of the wire between the controller and the in-ear headphone? Because I've seen in some reviews that people say the distance is long, thus it is hard to either reach for the controller, or talk in a call while walking or standing outside
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's about 10.5 inches. There is no problem to reach the buttons, it's actually very convenient since the in-line remote is also y-splitter for the wires. But sometime when I make a call the mic is too far away and I have to lift it up to speak. For those occasions the included metal shirt clip is a lifesaver Just attach it to the cable underneath of the remote and place it closer to your face. Problem solved! This headphone has the highest price/performance ratio at the current moment from everything I have tested. For $25 it's an amazing value, great sound quality, sexy design, and full android integration including volume up/down.

xiaomi
wow xiaomi is a big name in china:victory::victory:

it looks good
Maybe I should try to get one to use

Doesn't work for my Moto X 4.2

I want to buy this, I don't live in the US, I'm assuming the ones on eBay are mostly fake
?
Faux - Cataclysm Nexus 5

gunrunner25 said:
Doesn't work for my Moto X 4.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean volume control, right? The multifunction middle button should work for play/pause/call. I have no idea why Moto had to be different with volume control

honeybunchie said:
I want to buy this, I don't live in the US, I'm assuming the ones on eBay are mostly fake
?
Faux - Cataclysm Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you contact Zhengnan's shop on Amazon (US) and asked them about it?

Just ordered a pair, and awaiting shipment!
vectron said:
Be very careful when placing an order even with amazon where you have multiple sellers, and make sure its with Zhengnan'shop. Apparently there used to be other sellers under the same listing which turned out to be fake ones. The one I received came from Zhengnan'shop, I confirmed it to be the real deal!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the heads up.
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

vectron said:
You mean volume control, right? The multifunction middle button should work for play/pause/call. I have no idea why Moto had to be different with volume control
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right. the middle button works fine. On my wife's HTC DNA, the volume controls function as the next/previous track. I assume it's software dependent.

gunrunner25 said:
Right. the middle button works fine. On my wife's HTC DNA, the volume controls function as the next/previous track. I assume it's software dependent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried JAYS Headset control app? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.jays.headsetcontrol
Not 100% sure it will resolve your problem, but still worth a shot!

vectron said:
Have you tried JAYS Headset control app? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.jays.headsetcontrol
Not 100% sure it will resolve your problem, but still worth a shot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes. in the advanced options, it only recognizes the button press for the center button.

Review of SIDY DM2 HiFi in-ear headphones with DIY filters and MIC w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of SIDY DM2 HiFi in-ear headphones with MIC. http://penonaudio.com/SIDY-DM2
After my recent review of Xiaomi Piston headphones, I made a point about being careful where you buy your headphones from, no matter how much they cost (even $25 original headphones have fake versions). Since I was only able to provide a trusted link on Amazon US to purchase Pistons, I received a lot of inquires asking about where to get these outside of US. The store I highly recommended was http://www.penonaudio.com (also, they have eBay store http://stores.ebay.com/bigbargainonline). These guys sell everything legit, they are an authorized distributor for most of the products in their store which also means a valid manufacturer warranty, and overall provide a great support and excellent shipping service with very careful packaging. But what is most important - they offer a lot of rare headphone gems from Asian manufacturers at a very reasonable discounted prices. Instead of doing my own research for the next pair of in-ear headphones to review, I put my trust into their hands and asked Penonaudio to give me their recommendation. Now after I received DM2 - I couldn't be happier because this is one pair of amazing headphones with DIY bonus I haven't seen before. Let's take a closer look.
This time I was a little less surprised with a tin can packaging box DM2 arrived in since I experience similar one from Astrotec I reviewed before. I still think its a great way to present your product and to ensure the packaging box will be used later since you can find a lot of great uses for a tin can. Inside, beside headphones itself, SIDY included a very impressive collection of eartip accessories, interchangeable duct filters, and a pair of soft silicone earhooks for behind-the-ear fitment. It's always great to have a selection of eartips to make sure you find the best fitment to ensure a perfect seal - #1 contributing factor to get the best sound! Here they included 2 pairs of double flange tips, 3 pairs of S/M/L regular wide opening eartips, and 3 pairs of S/M/L original narrow opening Audio-Technica branded eartips. 2 other pairs were used for extra duct filter "packaging". Typically, that's all that you get for tweaking the sound - different sizes for your ear fitment and going between wide and narrow opening to change the sound signature. With SIDY DM2 there is a little surprise which adds DIY capability to change the sound even further. Included are 3 pairs of interchangeable filter ducts, color coded for different sound characteristic. These filter ducts are threaded on one side and securely screw into the shell of earpieces. Red one - designated for a balanced sound, Black one - for enhanced bass sound, and Silver one - for mid-centric sound. I do have to note that Silver duct was included with my pair of DM2, but moving forward I was informed it probably not going to be included with a package due to a sound signature which is not necessary a desirable one (I will not go into too much details, just that it cuts too much of low frequency content).
I will talk about the sound a little bit later, but for now let look more into the design of these headphones. Without a doubt DIY bonus is very unique, but so does the design shape of these earpieces. With a solid metal housing, these have a very interesting shape which obviously contributes to internal acoustics of the sound. At the same time, the tapered down shape can feel a bit slippery between your fingers when you insert these into your ears. Another less favorable comment, I wish they should have a little longer strain relief of the cable at the earpiece. OK, those are probably the ONLY two critical comments I have about these headphones - everything else is done to a perfection! DM2 comes in two variants, one with MIC/phone control and OFC cable and the other one for audio only with Silver wires cable (the one I got). Cable insulation is made with a durable TPE material, where cable is not too thin, a bit springy, tangle free, and with no microphonics. I was a bit surprised there was no chin slider, especially on Silver audio cable version, but I can live without it. 3.5mm plug is gold plated and 270deg angled for convenience. Though I haven't tested MIC version of the cable, I'm sure it has multifunction button for play/pause/call and Android/iOS phone/playback controls.
Now comes the fun part - sound test! I already mentioned about silver duct and will not go into more details since most likely it will not be included in future shipments (no loss here). Black filter duct added substantial amount of sub-bass rumble to satisfy even a basshead demand, but of course you have to pay a price of a little bloated low end and reduction in mids level due to overpowering bass. But once you move to a Red filter duct - you are rewarded with a sound heaven!!! I found the best combination that worked for me was with Audio-Technica largest tips. I didn't even have to do too much of burn-in, 4-5hr of running a pink loop sealed a deal for me! DM2 has a perfectly balanced warm transparent sound I heard in a while! Starting with a low end, even with red duct you get an enhanced bass quantity extended down to sub-bass layer and a fast punchy mid-bass. It's very well controlled, detailed, and separated without spilling or overpowering mids, and actually got a bit tighter even after a short burn-in. Mids are very well detailed and sound natural. I absolutely love the clarity of upper mids and top end which makes vocals sounds very clear, lush, and natural. Not too bright or pushed back, in my opinion these headphones are definitely not v-shaped (despite fun factor of enhanced bass quantity). Treble is very detailed and clear as well, not too bright yet still with a pleasant sparkle, very easy on your ears without fatigue while listening for extended period. Definitely don't have to worry about sibilance, the sound is very smooth. And if that wasn't enough, the soundstage is quite wide with a detailed instrument placement which is surprising for in-ear headphones. Also, it was equally easy to drive it from a dedicated DAP and my Note 2.
Overall, I was VERY impressed with a sound quality of these in-ear headphones. I know some might think I have "new toy syndrome" hyping these up, but honestly I'm comparing it to other dynamic and multi-driver IEMs that cost hundreds more, and with an exception of sound being not as detailed or a bit thinner, at $65 these stand up to other headphones that cost double or triple as much. I know the Asian market has a bad rep for counterfeits and fake headphones, but at the same time it's filled with small lesser known companies that produce simply amazing and unique headphones that I find to be a true sound gems! SIDY and DM2 is definitely one of them which I highly recommend. And of course, Penonaudio is among top trusted places where you can collect these gems at a very reasonable price!
Here are the pictures.
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Need more comparison to your other IEM

coffemix said:
Need more comparison to your other IEM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With a current setup of red filter duct and audio-technica largest eartip, it blows out of the water most of the single driver dynamic or single driver balanced armature in-ears I have tested with an exception of RE-400 (regular non-balanced review coming up shortly, since RE-400B was balanced version for HM-700). RE-400 doesn't have as much bass, but has midrange details that I value a lot. Just in two different categories. When it comes to multi-driver BA IEMs, they offer a bit more details, but I can tell you that DM2 comes close to ATH-IM03, though IM03 sound will be thicker and more detailed, but not $300 better.

vectron said:
With a current setup of red filter duct and audio-technica largest eartip, it blows out of the water most of the single driver dynamic or single driver balanced armature in-ears I have tested with an exception of RE-400 (regular non-balanced review coming up shortly, since RE-400B was balanced version for HM-700). RE-400 doesn't have as much bass, but has midrange details that I value a lot. Just in two different categories. When it comes to multi-driver BA IEMs, they offer a bit more details, but I can tell you that DM2 comes close to ATH-IM03, though IM03 sound will be thicker and more detailed, but not $300 better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi! Thanks for the review. I was considering getting the DUNU DN-1000 but after reading your review i really don't know what to do. I have the X5 too and pairing it with the Phonaks PFE 113 but I found they are lacking bass with the X5. So i'm looking for a nicely balanced sound but with some good bass. Any suggestion, please? Thanks!

addsfsds said:
Hi! Thanks for the review. I was considering getting the DUNU DN-1000 but after reading your review i really don't know what to do. I have the X5 too and pairing it with the Phonaks PFE 113 but I found they are lacking bass with the X5. So i'm looking for a nicely balanced sound but with some good bass. Any suggestion, please? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ciao, man! Just replied to you on head-fi in X5 thread Hopefully "mochill" in there will be able to chime in since I believe he has DN1k, but honest DM2 is a great value and sound fantastic.

vectron said:
Ciao, man! Just replied to you on head-fi in X5 thread Hopefully "mochill" in there will be able to chime in since I believe he has DN1k, but honest DM2 is a great value and sound fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ciao!! Thanks for the replies, I prefer to continue here as the X5 thread is a bit too much crowded Mochill came in and now i'm confused about what he said in various Ostry kc06A (the new variant) threads.. Can you please tell me a bit more about the DM2 (paired with the X5) and the bass response? I still love my PFE but bass is very weak, they sound too flat now :\ I just need some punchy bass and i'll be happy

addsfsds said:
Ciao!! Thanks for the replies, I prefer to continue here as the X5 thread is a bit too much crowded Mochill came in and now i'm confused about what he said in various Ostry kc06A (the new variant) threads.. Can you please tell me a bit more about the DM2 (paired with the X5) and the bass response? I still love my PFE but bass is very weak, they sound too flat now :\ I just need some punchy bass and i'll be happy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There not going to be a limit to variants because of all these great little budget headphones As I mentioned before, IM03 is my favorite IEM right now, but it's very pricey. DM2 is a great budget alternative. It has a nicely balanced sound and a mid-bass hump which results in a fast driving bass punch. You also get bass extension down to sub-level with a nice texture, but it's not overpowering. It pairs up nicely with X5, but keep in mind with fw1.2 it will sound a little warmer and with fw2.0 update it will be a bit more cleaner (I hope FiiO will find some happy medium in fw2.1 lol!!!). Regarding Ostry KC06, a lot of people are raving about it. I should have KC06 sometime next week, and also I should receive KC06A sometime in June (their first production batch was sold out within a week, they have to manufacture 2nd batch now). If you can wait a month, I will be able to compare DM2 to KC06 and KC06A. I'm also waiting for MOE-SS01, supposed to be the same as one of those JVC in-ears.

vectron said:
There not going to be a limit to variants because of all these great little budget headphones As I mentioned before, IM03 is my favorite IEM right now, but it's very pricey. DM2 is a great budget alternative. It has a nicely balanced sound and a mid-bass hump which results in a fast driving bass punch. You also get bass extension down to sub-level with a nice texture, but it's not overpowering. It pairs up nicely with X5, but keep in mind with fw1.2 it will sound a little warmer and with fw2.0 update it will be a bit more cleaner (I hope FiiO will find some happy medium in fw2.1 lol!!!). Regarding Ostry KC06, a lot of people are raving about it. I should have KC06 sometime next week, and also I should receive KC06A sometime in June (their first production batch was sold out within a week, they have to manufacture 2nd batch now). If you can wait a month, I will be able to compare DM2 to KC06 and KC06A. I'm also waiting for MOE-SS01, supposed to be the same as one of those JVC in-ears.
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Hey man, this sounds just so good!! I'm really looking forward to read about your comparisons, it seems like we both like the same sound signature from what I read and the IM03 are the IEM i really wanted to get but i can't Paid 30 minutes ago for my university fees, no more money for months
If you want to get the KC06A earlier you could use mistertao.com Cheers!!!!!

addsfsds said:
Hey man, this sounds just so good!! I'm really looking forward to read about your comparisons, it seems like we both like the same sound signature from what I read and the IM03 are the IEM i really wanted to get but i can't Paid 30 minutes ago for my university fees, no more money for months
If you want to get the KC06A earlier you could use mistertao.com Cheers!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm all about commercial EDM (Avicii, Afrojack, Showtek, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, R3hab, Mike Candys, etc.). So it's mostly synthesized music with a powerful beats and vocals. I like enhanced bass (a little of sub-bass rumble for a nice low end texture) and mid-bass hump to get that strong beat with a fast attack. And I'm moving away from v-shaped sound signature since I want to hear vocals loud and clear. So, I'm trying to focus mostly on balanced in-ears with bass enhancement (but not basshead type).
DM2 fits that signature. Just keep in mind, they do have a slightly odd shape which could be slippery toward the end of the shell (due to narrowing down) - but overall you can leave with that. Just have to be careful with a cable because strain relied is shorter.
Regarding Ostry, I was actually contacted by them directly, and they are sending me review samples. KC06 is available right now, while KC06A has to wait for a second batch. I have done so many headphones reviews (check out my signature link with all the reviews I have done on XDA), and post across so many different websites - I get contacted by a lot of companies asking me to review their products, but as you can see it's a lot of work (don't want anybody to think reviews are just a way to get free stuff).

I'm mostly into Rock, Jazz and live recordings (Beatles, Muse, Black Keys, Franz Ferdinand, EST etc) and i like a balanced sound with some bass "action", i'm annoyed at how the PFEs sounds "boring" paired with the X5, that's why i need a more "fun" IEM
I'm really intrigued by these DM2 and i think I'll eventually get them when I'll get some money, the comparison with the IM03 is just too tempting!
I read a lot of your reviews so I know who you are And it's great to see that the time spent reviewing is rewarded with samples! It must be absolutely great to have the chance to listen to all these beauties! And I really can't wait to read the comparisons between the Ostrys!
My IEM story is pretty short.. I started feeling the need of something better in 2003-2004 (I was 16 years old) and bought my first IEMS, the Koss sparkplugs ( that farting bass! xD), then bought my first "strange" pair after 2 years, the Crossroads MylarOne XB, i've been in love with them so much! Then, after a lot of years, bought the PFE 113 in 2010 as my personal graduation gift, i love them so much! The year after (thanks to head.fi xD) i also bought the Panasonic RP-HJE900. Those were some bad ass and fun to hear IEM! End of the story. I still have all of them in working order but the Panas..While in China, I went to the gym, then went home to the campus and washed the pants with the poor babies and let them soak overnight..the result was a faulty right channel...It broke my heart that I couldn't buy them back!
Sorry about the long story Have a good day!

Quick update: After reading mochill changed his idea and all the hype around and after reading that a user said they sound like a refined with more bass version of the PFE 112, I just ordered the tenores! I think I'll still get the DM 2 as I'm having a summer job and these IEMs are not as expensive as shures and others so i can afford to buy another pair..damn head-fi xD

addsfsds said:
Quick update: After reading mochill changed his idea and all the hype around and after reading that a user said they sound like a refined with more bass version of the PFE 112, I just ordered the tenores! I think I'll still get the DM 2 as I'm having a summer job and these IEMs are not as expensive as shures and others so i can afford to buy another pair..damn head-fi xD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which one are these? Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT or something else?

vectron said:
Which one are these? Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT or something else?
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They are exactly the Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT, on amazon.com i found them for $49 shipped, couldn't resists having a bit of money left on the prepaid card

addsfsds said:
They are exactly the Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT, on amazon.com i found them for $49 shipped, couldn't resists having a bit of money left on the prepaid card
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Click to collapse
That's not bad shipped to Italy. Btw, that Amazon review is too much fun. When you read through all the comment afterwards, it's like a head-fi discussion on Amazon lol!!!

Review of DUNU DN2000J Premium 3-way hybrid IEMs w/lots of pics!!!

removed.

Hello. I'm looking for a new pair of IEM I was using a senheiser omx 980 pair but found them flat sounding then I bought the shure 245 (haven't received them yet) but they will go to my wife is think. So my setup is simple, s7edge with a Oppo ha-2 I mostly listen to jazz hip hop and Edm. Would you recommend dunno, fidue a83 or anything better at 350usd range

skivnit said:
Hello. I'm looking for a new pair of IEM I was using a senheiser omx 980 pair but found them flat sounding then I bought the shure 245 (haven't received them yet) but they will go to my wife is think. So my setup is simple, s7edge with a Oppo ha-2 I mostly listen to jazz hip hop and Edm. Would you recommend dunno, fidue a83 or anything better at 350usd range
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you have your heart set on hybrids , and considering you are into jazz/hiphop/edm where you want to have a smoother analog full body sound, I would actually recommend you to check out Oriveti Primacy, look through my review index: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2192333 - should be somewhere at the top. I actually preferred it over A83, DN2kJ, and A350. It has this smooth detailed full body sound with a nice low end impact. Removable mmcx connector cables (big plug since you can replace or upgrade them), and very small and comfortable all metal shell you can even put your head on a pillow while wearing. Also, you don't need HA-2 for it, just use straight from your S7edge and it should sound great without stack up. With HA-2, you might even improve resolution and detailed retrieval. Primacy is under $300, so will fit your budget.

vectron said:
Since you have your heart set on hybrids , and considering you are into jazz/hiphop/edm where you want to have a smoother analog full body sound, I would actually recommend you to check out Oriveti Primacy, look through my review index: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2192333 - should be somewhere at the top. I actually preferred it over A83, DN2kJ, and A350. It has this smooth detailed full body sound with a nice low end impact. Removable mmcx connector cables (big plug since you can replace or upgrade them), and very small and comfortable all metal shell you can even put your head on a pillow while wearing. Also, you don't need HA-2 for it, just use straight from your S7edge and it should sound great without stack up. With HA-2, you might even improve resolution and detailed retrieval. Primacy is under $300, so will fit your budget.
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Thanks for the advice however it seems like the oriveti are hard to come by. I can only buy from ebay, aliexpress or online sites offering international shipping if you know any I'll be grateful
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