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[Sneak Preview] The Big October Mixup
🕑 Added 2019-10-12 15:01:51 +0000 UTCApologies for the lack of content recently, work piled on in the last weeks or so but I'll be back next week for more content.
I'll have to take another short hiatus after in November-ish, but I'll be back at the end of month for my semi-annual Singapore trip. So look forward to that.
General background: this new update is basically a downward revaluation of many entries in C-tier and up, after some reflection that I've been losing my edge and standards.
There have been some things that I've been undoubtedly influenced by hype and pricing, so this update also serves to correct those biases.
More details in the official update post, this is just a sneak preview. Please do not share this publicly as these changes may not be final.
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Format:
<Model>: Rank to rank
<Reason for revaluation>
Shure KSE1200: S to S-
Slightly off midrange tonality and massive treble spike
64 Audio U18Tzar: S- to A+
Lack of dynamics
Campfire Andromeda (includes S): S- to A+
Previously near the lower rung of S-, made sense to downgrade under new circumstances
Jomo Trinity SS: S- to A+
Lack of treble extension and overly coloured tonality
Sony MDR-EX1000: S- to A+
Treble spikes
Ultimate Ears UE18+ Pro (Gen 2): S- to A+
Resolution
64 Audio tia Fourte: A+ to A
Wonky midrange tonality
FitEar MH334SR: A+ to A
Resolution
HYLA CE-5 & TE-5B: A+ to A
Lower midrange suckout
Noble Khan: A+ to A
Treble spikes and midrange thinness
64 Audio tia Fourte Noir: A to A-
Worse Fourte
Dita Dream: A to A-
Metallic timbre
Empire Ears Phantom: A to B+
Resolution, extremely coloured tone (lower mids overemphasised)
FitEar MH334 & TG334: A to A-
Resolution
InEar SD5: A to A-
Resolution
Ultimate Ears UE18+ Pro (Gen 3): A to A-
Wonky tonality
Custom Art Harmony 8.2: A- to B+
Resolution
Campfire Atlas: A- to B+
Bass bleed
Empire Ears EVR: A- to B+
Timbre shortcomings
HYLA TE-5T: A- to B+
Extremely coloured tone (huge swings between upper mids and lower mids)
Jomo Quatre: A to B+
Resolution
Massdrop Plus: A- to B+
Resolution
Westone W80: A to B+
Upper midrange suckout
Campfire Jupiter: B+ to B
Upper midrange suckout
Custom Art FIBAE3: B+ to B
Upper midrange weirdness
Dita Fidelity: B+ to B
Extremely coloured tone (heavy V emphasis)
Earsonics EM10: B+ to B
General odd tuning direction
FitEar F/A111: B+ to B
Resolution
FitEar Private 333: B+ to B
Extremely coloured tone (heavy treble bias)
Rhapsodio Galaxy: B+ to B
Resolution
Campfire Vega: B to B-
Upper midrange suckout
Campfire Dorado: B to B-
Bass bleed
HYLA Nerva X: B to B-
Low dynamics
Rhapsodio Solar: B+ to B-
Resolution
Sony MH755: B to B-
Resolution
Ultimate Ears UE7 Pro: B to B-
Resolution
AAW A3H Pro V2: B- to C+
Resolution
Audeze iSine 10/20 (No Cipher): B- to C+
Skewed tonality
BGVP DM6: B- to C+
Resolution
Final E4000 & E5000: B- to C+
Resolution
TFZ King Pro: B- to C+
Lower midrange suckout
Ultimate Ears UE11 Pro: B- to C+
Resolution, coloured tone (bass/lower mid overemphasis)
BGVP DMG: C+ to C
Resolution (mostly bass)
Campfire Lyra 2: C+ to C
Resolution
FiiO F3: C- to C
Resolution, tonality
FiiO FA1: C+ to C
Resolution
Oriveti New Primacy: C+ to C
Resolution
Rose BR5 Mk2: C+ to C
Resolution
Tin HiFi P1: C+ to C
Resolution
Ultimate Ears Triple Fi 10 "TF10": C+ to C
Resolution
Ultimate Ears Live: B- to C
Resolution
Warbler Prelude: B- to C
Lack of extension in both directions
Campfire Nova: C to C-
Lack of treble extension
FiiO FA7: C to C-
Lack of dynamics, coloured tone (lower mids overemphasis)
Spiral Ears SE5U: B- to C-
Lack of treble extension, phase issues
Comments
Skedra
I'm surprised by the SD5, the one thing I wouldn't say about is a lack of resolution
Interesting, will push Final E4000/E5000 into same rank as E2000/3000.
