Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by ClieOS

MEElectronics GrooveMEE II

ClieOS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:34:48 +0800

I have been using this little player on and off over the last few weeks now and so I thought it is time to give it a review.

Spec
Screen: 320x240 262K color 2.6 inches touch screen TFT.
USB: 2.0 (MSC device)
Memory: 4GB / 8GB
Battery: 600mAh Li-ion 3.7v (rechargeable via USB)
Voice Record: 8KHz / 16KHz WAV
Music: MP3 (up to 448Kbps), WMA (up to 192Kbps), OGG, FLAC, WAV, APE
Video: AVI, MPG, MP4, WMV, MOV, RM, RMVB
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20KHz
FM: 30 preset stations with recording function
Multi-languages supported
Multiple EQ presets including Microsoft PlayFX
Built-in G-Sensor for motion control
TXT files (eBook) supported
JPEG/BMP/GIF images supported with slide show
microSD card slot
Software scratch pad for drawing and note
Built-in speaker
Files browser

Build Quality and Accessories

On the right side of the touch screen: Vol+, Vol-, Menu, Note(scratch pad), , Rec. microSD slot and mic/reset are on the bottom.

Headphone jack and USB slot on the side, ON/OFF (with hold) on the top.

Most of the outer case seems to be nickel plated steel, which gives the player a bit more weight than your typical mp3 player. All the marking and icons are either lasered on or engraved. The housing is very classy actually though it is a fingerprints magnet.

Inside the box, you will find the GrooveMEE II, USB power adapter, USB cable, pen for touch screen, MEElectrnoics' own IEM the M2 (with three set of eartips), silicone case, small CD with a simple video converting software inside, user manual. Pretty everything you will need for a mp3/mp4 player are included, which is of course great.

Overall the build quality is pretty good. The metal housing does have more weight to it, but not something too heavy to carry around. The included earphone is MEElec's own M2 with the new cable, which is definitely a step up from typical stock earbud you will get from most brand name mp3 player. Unlike most other DAP, with GrooveMEE II you get almost everything you'll need instead of spending more money trying to get things like silicones case or a decent quality IEM. The included pen is a nice touch. While the player itself doesn't have extra space to hold the pen, there is a side compartment in the silicone case reserved for it. The G-sensor actually works okay. You can use do Next/Previous by shaking the player to the right/left direction but it isn't too sensitive to randomly skip song.

If there is one thing that I want to complain about, it will be the viewing angle of the screen. Basically you will need stay in front of the screen to get 100%. While you can still see at an angle, the reflection becomes more of a problem. This is likely an issue when you want to share your video together with someone else.

Navigation
There is one physical switch on the player and it is the ON/OFF with hold key. To turn the player on, you'll need to push the ON/OFF switch to aside for a good 5 seconds. Push it to the other side and you will lock the touch screen down.

Most of the navigation is done via the touch screen. Basically there are 8 selections on the main menu: Music, video, photo, radio, record, eBook, extra, and setting. You will find the file manager, a calender, stopwatch and the scratch pad inside 'extra'. You can also change the color of the most of the font and the menu transition style inside the setting.

In music playback, you can either use the folder browser to play music inside a folder, or choose from ID3tag based categories such as 'artist' or 'album' (it is a bit slow this way as the player read the whole library). Generally the player acts more 'old school' (no necessary a bad thing) and works much like a MSC device. I do hope the browser can be a bit more straight forward (especially on the naming on different folder and submenu) as something it can get a little confusing. During music playback, you can choose whether to display the ID3tag info, lyric, album art or active equalizer. Since the player use kind of a file browser to navigate and select music, you will get both the internal memory and the microSD as two separate folder instead of a tightly integrated music library.

Video playback is much simpler to use. Just browse and select the file you want to play. Unfortunately it doesn't remember the last position so you will need to start from the beginning every time.

While there is a pen included for navigation, using finger is just as easy - but I do recommend you use a screen protector sticker so you won't scratch the screen in the long run. On a side note, the scratch pad (or 'note' function) is quite fun to use and function like 'Paint' in Wondows, but not precise enough for really create a drawing.

Sound / Video / Photo Quality
I mainly compare GrooveMEE II to my Sansa Fuze and Nano4 for its SQ. GrooveMEE II has a colder, brighter sound signature that slightly lack in warm, much like Nano4. However, the overall SQ is pretty decent. In comparison, I think its headphone-out on flat EQ can at least match, or even better than Nano4, while not as good as Fuze. On the other hand, GrooveMEE II has much better and more enjoyable EQ than both Fuze and Nano4. Another plus is it also supports the more common lossless codec such as FLAC and APE. I didn't test any lossless as my music library consist mainly of high quality mp3 or wma.

What surprised me at first about the GrooveMEE II is its video support. For testing, I put a DVD resolution RMVB movie into the player (w/o any conversion!) expecting to crash it (or at least make it quits) but instead it plays it rather smoothly without much pixelation. This put both Fuze and Nano4 to shame. GrooveMEE II does come with a simply video converting software for those oddly encoded video, but so far I don't find any need to install it.

For Photo, I have tested a 3MP pictures without problem. It will auto zoom the picture to fit the screen, but it also allow a fixed 2X(?) zoom but it won't do full size. It is a decent picture viewer overall.

Conclusion
Overall, I find GrooveMEE II to be a decent all around player for the money ($70 for the 4GB models and $90 for the 8GB). It does everything well but nothing very outstanding. Versatility is perhaps its strength in the three MEElectronics' PMPs line-up (MEElec also has the smaller MiniMEE II purely for music and portability while the larger RockMEE II oriented toward video playback). Strange enough RockMEE II also priced the same as the GrooveMEE II. It does has a bigger 3 inches 16:9 screen but lacks touch screen or G-sensor. The inclusion of microSD slot on both player is great as you can get really cheap microSD card these days which can easily double the capacity of the player.

Personally, I will still pick my Fuze for purely music playback (plus I already have custom LOD built for it), but if you are looking for a decent PMP that does everything well which isn't too complicated to use, this one is worth a consideration.

[REVIEW] MEElectronics' In-Ears

ClieOS — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:53:24 +0800

First, I want to say sorry about the delay of the review. it should have been posted a few days earlier, but the combination of sickness and some real life businesses have slow down the writing process considerately. Second, I want to take the chance to thank Martie @ MEElectronics for sending me the samples for review.

(M2 is not in the picture, as it comes as part of MEElec's GrooveMEE II player bundle, which I shall review in the near future).

Spec (for all models)
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Impedance: 16 + 15% ohm
Sensitivity: 95 + 3 dB SPL

M2, M6, and M9 use 9mm dynamic driver. M11 uses 7mm dynamic. R1 uses 10mm dynamic.

M2 is retailed at $12, M6 is $40, M9 is $18, M11 is $40 and R1 is $40 (in U.S. dollars). All available from MEElectronics. For oversea order (such as to Malaysia), you will need to email them first as their website doesn't really handle international order that well (software issue). The good news is, MEElec customer service is quite quick and responsive, and the shipping charge is reasonable (US$10 for one or two IEM, IIRC).

Packaging, Accessories and Build Quality
All MEElec IEM (except M2, which is a bundle) comes in all black paper boxes with silver printing, decent but no something to rave about. They might not be much a looker on the outside, but the included accessories and the build quality are actually quite good.

M2 has the new transparent cable with silver lining inside. The cable itself is flexible and a bit like the rubber hose used in fish tank. One thing that can be said about the M2, and all subsequent models in this review, is MEElec does pay great attention to detail. Not only the cable looks good, it functions well. Microphonics is surprisingly low, mini plug and Y-splitter are all well made, plus they even put an extra rubber tube on the cable exit on the earpiece to provide more strain relief. Since this M2 comes with the GrooveMEE II bundle, all it has is the 3 set of different sized eartips and a shirt clip. If there is one thing I would like to add to the M2, it will be a pair of bi-flanges. Thought MEEelc's eartips is of very good quality, the M2 slightly odd shape (big diameter on the base of the nozzle) really can use some bi-flange love to improve on fitting. Due to the fact that it is open back in design, isolation is slightly worst than average.

M6 is the only over-the-ear model of MEElec line-up. Compared to its previous version, It uses the new transparent cable as the M2, which of course is a welcomed change. The one I received is also the new 'clear' version where you can see the dynamic transducer inside. It actually looks very classy this way. It comes with a shirt clip, cable warp, airline adapter, soft pouch, 3 set of single flange eartips (S, M, L) and a pair of tri-flange. The included tri-flange actually doesn't fit the IEM that well and gives me a poor fit. I end up using the single flange instead. The rather odd nozzle size (5mm diameter) also presents another problem, that it is hard to use typical UE style eartips (for 5.5mm diameter) as replacement. The other minor problem is the memory wire. I am usually pro memory wire on IEM, but the copper wire used is a bit too thick in my opinion, making the memory wire hard to bend thought probably more resistant to breakage. I am quite happy about the M6, but I think there is still room for improvement on the nozzle (should be slightly longer and wider) and eartips selection. Isolation is about average.

M9 uses the old black cable. Thought not as good as the new cable, it is adequate for the job and the asking price but it does have a lot more microphonics in comparison. It comes with a hard case, cable warp, 4 set of single flange eartips and a pair of bi-flanges, plus one airline adapter. The one thing that should have been included is shirt clip, to combat the microphonics. Also, I actually like to see the hard case being included to the M6 while the M9 can have the soft pouch. It makes more sense that way since the memory wire on the M6 makes it harder to store in a soft ouch while M9 has no such problem. Overall, M9's build quality is still very decent. For those who read my Fischer Audio's review and wonder if M9 is the same as FA-999, rest assures that they are not. They might look similar at first, but they are not alike upon close inspection (look at the second picture) - not to mention they have totally different sound signature. For the same reason as M2, isolation is slightly below average.

M11 is one of the latest MEElec models. Equips with the same transparent cable and a new dynamics transducer in a shiny metal housing (I have the silver version), M11 feels a lot more expensive than its elder siblings. It comes with a soft pouch, 3 pair of single flange eartips, a pair of bi-flange, a pair of tri-flanges (which work out better on M11 than M6), cable warp, shirt clip and airline adapter. It also has a 45 degree mini plug instead of the L-shape (90 degree) plug. Isolation is slightly better than average. The smallish earpieces actually make it possible from deep insertion, but personally I like the bi-flange with a shallower fit which tend to have better detail and soundstage.

R1 is mostly made of wood, even on the nozzle portion (which is usually metal on other woody IEM). It uses the same type of transparent cable as other, but has a blackish color to it. It comes with a soft pouch, 3 pair of single flange, cable warp, shirt clip and airline adapter. The wooden housing itself is painted with a clear coat of water proof sealant, but one should probably be best avoiding too much moisture near the housing. The overall build is good but the marking (company logo and left/right channels) gets wiped off too easy, making it hard to tell which side is which. My solution to the problem is simple: clear nail polish. Isolation is about average.

Sound Quality
As always, each model has roughly 50 hours of burn-in (each) before any serious audition. For what it worth, I did not find any major sonic change during or after the process.

M2 is the fairly balanced with slight brightness. Treble has good extension but there is a bit of sibilance. Mid is slightly further away but not really recessed. Bass lacks real depth but still has good control and speed. Soundstage is about average. Overall, M2 has really outperformed its asking price of $12.

M6 shares largely the same sound signature as M2 but warmer with better energy. In comparison, M6's treble is slightly smoother and better presented (there are still a tiny amount of sibilance in the brightest note), mid is more upfront with better texture while bass has better impact and body. Soundstage is pretty good with decent airiness. While getting a good seal (and a good sound) is more difficult with M6, it is still a noticeable improvement over M2 and a very decent sounding IEM in its own right.

M9 also shares the same sound signature as M2 and M6, but not as warm as M6. Treble also has good extension but there is harshness (especially on bi-flange). Mid is slightly recessed in comparison. Bass is not as full as M6 but still has good body and decent depth. Soundstage is better than M6 with good sense of airiness and space. With performance almost as good as M6, M9's much lower price is practically a steal.

M11 has a darker, smoother sound signature compared to that of M2 / M6 / M9. Treble extents quite far but in much smoother, sparkle-less fashion. Mid is slightly recessed but not too far away. Bass has a fairly good body but not as impactful as M6 or M9. Soundstage is decent with a fainted sense of airiness. While M11 might not sound as exciting as M6 or M9 in a direct comparison, its smoother sound signature allows for more relaxing / less fatiguing listening session without losing quality. It will be good for those who don't like brightness yet demand a decent amount of detail.

R1 is warm and full. Treble is decent with a fainted sense of harshness. Mid is a bit distanced and has a sense of hollowness to it, bass is full but can get bloated on bass heavy music. Soundstage is below average due to the excess warmness. While R1 has been blessed with some woodified lushness to its sound, the lack of fine control at the bottom end renders it to be less impressive than it can be, or else it could very well be another great choice for basshead.

In many ways, M2, M6 and M9 share a majority of their sound signature. While I can't confirm it, it does seem like all of them are sharing the same transducer, or at least transducer of very similar build. The difference in sound can be (more or less) explained by the housing design and eartips used - or maybe it is all in my imagination.

Conclusion
I am impressed by MEElectonics' offering, especially on their build quality and the very competitive pricing. That is perhaps their greatest strength: providing great value products to the customer. Coupled with their quick and responsive customer service, I think MEElec has itself a formula for success. For IEM users like us, I think it is always a delight to have a company willing to go the extra miles on meeting the demand. Hopefully we will be able to see ever better IEM from them in the future.

A quick sum-up can be found here.

Headphone seller in Lowyat plaza

ClieOS — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:02:10 +0800

I'll like to gather some opinion as to which headphone seller (physical store, not online) in Lowyat Plaza that you think is trustworthy (as in you'll do business with the store). It doesn't have to be a dedicated headphone seller. I am just looking for some good store that carries good quality headphones (not random headphone). If you know any store outside of Lowyat that also carries a good range of headphones and have really good service, I'll like to know as well.

I am not in position to discuss in detail, but I am helping someone to develop a possible dealership that can be beneficial to all KL / Klang based audiophile (which exclude me since I am in Johor). That's why I need some buyer feedback, beyond just general store information. Thanks for the help.

[REVIEW] 6 IEM from Fischer Audio

ClieOS — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:50:08 +0800

[Prelude]
Just a few weeks ago, I have no knowledge what-so-ever regarding Fischer Audio. I would be crazy to even consider recommending any of their IEM models to you. After all, there are literally hundreds of small companies dumping ships-load of zero quality knock-off and generic Chinese made headphones into the market. It is often a very difficult job to sort through these 'offering' and find the handful of brands that actually do pay attention to detail and take the time to fine tuning the sound of their products. I am happy to report to you that Fischer Audio is just one of these companies that do things right.

Before the review begin, I want to take the chance to thank Fisher Audio for sending me the IEM for review and especially Alex (company rep.) for the communication and his boss for finding me. If you guys are reading this: Please do consider selling your products internationally.

[Spec]
There will be 6 models of IEM being reviewed here: The FA-999 is the latest entry of FA's "Premium" series, targeting budget orientated consumers who are interested in the bang-of-the-bucks deal. The Omega is one of FA's "Signature" series. It is a step up of "Premium" series and targeting people who are seeking a better sound with a limited budget. The Paradigm v.2, Enigma, Silver Bullet and Eterna are all in the "Fundamentals" series , which is more audiophile orientated.

FA-999
Frequency range: 20-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 101 dB
Impedance: 16 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.1 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L) and manual.

Omega
Frequency range: 12-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Impedance: 32 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M with Oxygen-Free Copper cable
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L) and manual.

Paradigm v.2
Frequency range: 10-20000 Hz
Sensitivity: 104 dB
Impedance: 16 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L), soft pouch and manual.

[Pictorial Review] FiiO E1

ClieOS — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:24:36 +0800

This came in yesterday, one of the very first final production FiiO E1. In case you have no idea what E1 is, it is an [all-in-one] line-out dock + headphone amp + remote control for iPod and iPhone. In case you still wonder: No, you can't use it with any other DAP.

FiiO E1 next to my hardcase'd Nano 4G. Remember, this is still a sampling package so there is no retail box what-so-ever. You can expect a more updated look by the time E1 hits the market (which ETA is mid October).

Spec
●Output power: 80 mW (32 ohms Loaded) / 16 mW (300 ohms Loaded)
●Signal to Noise Ratio: >= 95 dB (A Weight)
●Distortion: < 0.009% (10 mW)
●Frequency Response: 10 Hz - 60 kHz
●Suitable Headphone Impedance: 16 ohms - 300 ohms
●Power Supply: use iPod / iPhone power
●Dimensions: Line control 48mmx14mmx10.7 mm
●End-to-End: 845mm
●Cable length: 780mm

Here are from an IM conversation I have with James @ FiiO (as I quote him):

QUOTE

1, E1 is design for audiophile, but we hope more people will like to use it, that is why we add in-line remote function, we hope more and more people can enjoy the music by a quality setup.

2, the SQ is almost the same with E5, but without any EQ, cause it will suitable for any kind of music.

3, E1 is powered by the power output from the dock of iPod/iPhone, at the one hand , if you need more power to drive the earphone, it will decrease the play time of iPod/iPhone, but at the other hand, because the amp build inside the iPod/iPhone will not output any energy, so it will not affect so much.

As you can see, the dock connector itself is slightly bigger than just a pure LOD as most of the amp's hardware is built inside the connector. As you can see on the connector, there is not release button on the connector. Just pull the connector out when you want to disconnect E1 from your iPod.

My hardcase is actually stopping the dock connector from full insertion, but it still goes in deep enough to work. It is actually still secure enough that I can put in my pocket and walk around the house w/o the dock disconnecting.

The back clip is rather shallow and actually a bit difficult to press on. You can mis-press the front buttons when trying to open the clip (especially on one hand). While it is a bit inconvenience to use at the beginning, eventually I figure out a few ways to use the clip w/o pressing on the front panel. Well, practice makes perfection.

Earbuds Round-Up

ClieOS — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:40:20 +0800

I have always want to do a short comparison of my earbuds collection, but the task of listening them very critically in one session isn't for the faint of heart - while I have listened to each of them fairly extensive in the pass, it still took me over 4 hours of going back and fore (almost back breaking work) just trying hard to sort them out. With over 20 earbus currently in my possession, I realize a compilation with detail review of each will be a massive undertaking that I can't sure I can finish in a satisfactory fashion or even have the time to do so. So the decision went to separate them into categories based on my own interpretation of SQ, complete with a simple impression. Hopefully this is enough to provide some useful info for those who are interested in earbuds. Cheer.

Category 1: THE GREAT

1. Yuin PK1 - Effortless sound but does require an amp. Warm, a bit slow on speed and attack so it might not be best for fast music.
2. CrossRoads HR1 - Not as effortless as PK1 but still pretty good. More balnced and slightly mid focused with a better sense of speed.
3. Sennheiser MX90vc - Excellent sound. Warm but overall balanced. Fit can be difficult at first with the twist and fit system and it will need an amp to sound great.
4. Sennheiser MX760 - Also a fairly balance sounding earbud that is cleaner and more transparent than MX90vc, but has a lot more low end resonance which lead to slightly artificial 'surround sound' effect.
5. Sennheiser LX90 - Same transducer as MX90vc with almost identical sound signature. Good fit is not easy to maintain (which is why I rank it lower than MX760), also requires an amp to sound at its best.

Category 2: THE GOOD

1. B&O A8 - Bass light but very airy and detail, great synergy and sound with a warm amp.
2. CrossRoads HR2 - Not as bassy as PK3 but has a slightly more spacious, neutral sound.
3. Yuin PK3 - detail, fairly balanced and pretty good bass impact. Lively presentation.
4. Panasonic RP-HV600 - Neutral and a bit lean on mid with a tunable XBS switch.
5. Sony MDR-E888 - Good bass impact but too mid focus, bloated in a sense.

Category 3: THE DECENT

1. SoundMAGIC PH-10 - Well balanced and smooth sound, but soundstage is a bit small. Very well controlled.
2. Panasonic RP-HZE70 - Clean and airy sound but can't get a good fit easily despite of the earclip.
3. Sony MDR-E805 - More upper mid focused, airy and detail but can be harsh at time. Wide bud, not as comfortable.
4. Panasonic RP-HV337- less bass than MX500 but very clean and more detail.
5. Sony MDR-A34 - similar sound signature as MX500, slightly less detail and soundstage but sweeter in vocal. The headband makes it very comfortable in long term use.
6. Sennheiser MX500 - BenQ rebranded (same Foster-JP model ), warm but over all balanced, slightly congested in mid.
7. Apple iBud (new gen.) - very similar to MX500, slightly less sparkle but have a stronger bass slam. Said to be a tuned variation of the same MX500 series by Foster-JP.
8. AKG K311 - Big warm bottom, good detail but not airy enough. Excellent build quality.
9. JVC HA-F130 - Very lively presentation with PK3 like signature, but lack control.
10. Sony Ericsson Bass Flex - Warm mid and bass with a good impact. sweet vocal. Stock earbuds for many SE cellphone models.
11. Sennheiser MX50 - Not as easy to drive, warm mid but still airy.

Category 4: THE BAD

1. Panasonic stock earbud (L0BAB0000188) - Warm, smooth but lack detail.
2. Creative EP380 - Very warm, bloated mid, small soundstage.

Remember, always take this with a grain of salt

[REVIEW] Yet another 18 IEM reviewed and compared!

ClieOS — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:15:43 +0800

[Disclaimer] This review/comparison is on subjective term based solely on my personal experience, idea and opinion. You should not take any of the following as absolute truth and you are free to disagree. You are more than welcome to ask question regarding the rating but I can't guarantee a satisfactory answer, though I will try my best to reply. There is no question that some (*not all) of the IEM in this review / comparison are provided to me freely, but I am not a shill and I do not work for any seller / manufacturer. I do, however, work with some of them in providing R&D feedback solely from an end user's standpoint. So here is another 18 IEM reviewed and compared like my old thread under a more refined, but similar system.

Reviewing gears: Dell XPS420 - FooBar2K (ASIO) - Meier Audio's Corda 3MOVE (DAC+AMP)

Reviewing music:
1) Custom made music CD by ripping songs to FLAC than normalized/burnt via Nero9. Two songs with compression artifact included (CD → wma/mp3 → CD).
[INDENT]CD Tracks: [ Love Song - Sara Bareille / Have You Met Miss Jones? – Robbie Williams / Come Away with Me – Norah Jones / I Was Doing Alright – Diana Krall / Nostalgia – Yanni (Yanni Live At the Acropolis) / Not Of This Earth - Robbie Williams / Red Hot – Vanessa-Mea / Maneater – Nelly Furtado (artifact) / 1234 – Feist (artifact) ][/INDENT]

2) [August Rush: Music From The Motion Picture] ripped with Monkey Audio codec (.ape).

Rating Style: From one star (★, lowest rating) to five stars (★★★★★, highest rating), including half a star (☆). Note: The rating is based on comparison b/w the IEM reviewed by me before and not on absolute term. There might be better / worst IEM that are not listed in this review. To get a better understanding of the meaning in the rating, please read my previous multiple IEM review / comparison thread (Multiple IEM Shootout v.1). Note: Instead of giving a rating of stars, the new rating will give both Overall SQ and Overall Value a numeric rating. 1/5 is the lowest and 5/5 is the highest.

★★★★★-The best
★★★★---Really good
★★★-----Average
★★------Just OK
★--------Not worth it

For Soundstage ONLY:
█ ▆ ▄ ▂ ▄ ▆ █ - Great / Wide
▆ ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ ▆ - Good / Average
▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ - Small / Acceptable
▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ - Flat / In-Your-Face

Overall SQ:
[1 / 5] - Low-fi
[2 / 5] - Budget-fi
[3 / 5] - Entry-fi
[4 / 5] - Mid-fi
[5 / 5] - Hi-fi

Overall Value:
[1 / 5] - $$$ down the drain
[2 / 5] - The grass is in fact greener on the other side.
[3 / 5] - No loss; No gain.
[4 / 5] - Good investment
[5 / 5] - Sonic Diamond™
Note: A Sonic Diamond™ is awarded when the IEM achieves an overall value ranking of [4.85 / 5] or higher. What this usually means is that the IEM is selling at price point two classes (usually over $50~$100) below its own, representing the best of deals. Beware: this is just an endorsement based on personal opinion.

Glossary:
{┏━} - L-shaped / bent mini jack
{┃} - Straight style mini jack
Ч-cord - Asymmetrical cable (a.k.a. J-cord)
Y-cord - Symmetrical cable
ABF - Amplification Benefiting Factor
For definition of audio terms, please visit the Head-Fi audio glossary thread.

All IEM have been burn-in thoroughly by random music playback for at least 50hrs or extended until no detectable sonic alteration.

Head-Direct RE0

Variation: N/A
Transducer: Single 9mm Dynamic
Spec: 64Ω (@1kHz) | 100dB SPL | 15Hz ~ 22KHz
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.30m.
Mini Jack Style: {┃} style, light build.
Eartips Used: Single flange
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: N/A (sampling package)
┣ Accessories: ★★★★
┣ Build Quality: ★★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★★☆
┣ Microphonics: ★★★
┣ Comfort: ★★★★★
┗ Quick Sum: Not a very exciting look but it has by far the best build among Head-Direct's own IEM. Decent isolation is more than enough for daily use. The included filter replacement is a good plus. Quite sturdy. [Update] The new version of RE0 has a fabric 'knit' type of cable.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★★★★
┣ Mid: ★★★★
┣ Bass: ★★★★
┣ Soundstage: ▆ ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ ▆ [Good / Average]
┣ ABF: [Mid]
┣ Overall SQ: [4.6 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature is very balance and neutral, with a much fainted sense of warmness due to the rather smooth frequency response curve. Ultra fine detail like that of Etymotic, slightly lay back mid with good bass impact but lack true depth. Capable of rivaling some of the best universal IEM in the market. Not a very sensitive IEM but can be used unamped without any major SQ reduction. Pairing with a warm sounding amp is recommended.
Overall Value: [4.7 / 5] - US$ 200 | [5 / 5] - US$99 (Summer '09 sale)
Final Remark: RE0 is an excellent IEM that addressed some of the short coming of RE1 – amp is more or less not as important, detail has been significantly improved, and so is the overall SQ. All in all, it is the best of the family – and it put the IEM a few steps closer to being the best IEM in the market. The reasons why RE0 doesn’t receive the top value rating are 1) because user would probably be getting an amp down the road and 2) there are a few sub-$200 deals that come with very nice packaging with a lot of accessories even though they might not be as good in SQ. (In-depth review can be found here)
[UPDATE] A Sonic Diamond™ [5 /5] is given to RE0 for the current sale price of $99.

Maximo iMetal iM-390

Variation: N/A
Transducer: Single 9mm Dynamic
Spec: 16Ω (@1kHz) | 18Hz~ 22kHz | >100dB SPL
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.30m.
Mini Jack Style: {┃} style, light build.
Eartips Used: Single flange
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★★
┣ Accessories: ★★★★★
┣ Build Quality: ★★★★☆
┣ Isolation: ★★★
┣ Microphonics: ★★★
┣ Comfort: ★★★★★
┗ Quick Sum: Good packaging but I don't like blister pack in general. Quite an assortment of goodies are included but I do hope they will include bi-flanges eartips. Build quality is pretty high. The included hardcase is one of the best I have seen, especially considering its price point.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★☆
┣ Mid: ★★★
┣ Bass: ★★★
┣ Soundstage: ▆ ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ ▆ [Good / Average]
┣ ABF: [Low]
┣ Overall SQ: [2.5 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature is warm, energetic, and musical, but doesn't have a lot of detail. Good vocal and bass response suitable for most genre of music. Very good SQ for IEM in its price range.
Overall Value: [4.5 / 5] - US$40
Final Remark: With solid build quality, great accessories, and a decent sound, this IEM is quite a keeper. Not many IEM in the sub-$50 category are capable of doing everything right. More than often they have some kind of major short coming that lower their overall value. I am happy to say iM-390 isn't one of those. I am quite impressed by the solid performance and value of iM-390, especially since it isn't from a dedicated audio brand. If you have only $40 to spend on IEM, this one should be in your list of consideration. (In-depth review can be found here)

LEAR Le01

Variation: N/A
Transducer: Single 10.7mm Dynamic
Spec: 20Ω (@1kHz) | 10Hz~ 26kHz | 112dB SPL
Cord Style: Ч-cord, 1.00m.
Mini Jack Style: {┏━} style, normal build.
Eartips Used: Bi-flange
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★☆
┣ Accessories: ★★★
┣ Build Quality: ★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★
┣ Microphonics: ★★
┣ Comfort: ★★★★★
┗ Quick Sum: Le01 comes in a nice looking box, but the content isn't better than others in its price range. All in all, it is just about average / typical in most account. Relatively weak isolation means it won't stand up to big noise. There are still places that can use some improvement, like better cable, a pouch / case, etc.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★☆
┣ Mid: ★★★
┣ Bass: ★★★☆
┣ Soundstage: ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ [Small / Acceptable]
┣ ABF: [Low]
┣ Overall SQ: [ 2.7 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature is warm, fun, slightly dark as treble roll off a bit but bass is quite big though not the deepest. Sound better with bi-flanges.
Overall Value: [ 4.2 / 5] - US$40~50 (price depends on dealer)
Final Remark: Le01 has quite an easy going sound signature. It is fun to listen to and pretty fatigue free. There isn't a lot of detail but enough to keep thing interested. If you are a basshead on a budget (or just someone who are looking for a good bass), this will be the IEM you are looking for, but don't expect it to isolate against really loud noise. Overall, it is a pretty good sounding IEM for its price. (In-depth review can be found here)

SoundMAGIC PL20

Variation: N/A
Transducer: Single 9mm Dynamic
Spec: 12Ω (@1kHz) | 20Hz~ 22kHz | 94dB SPL
Cord Style: Ч-cord, 1.20m.
Mini Jack Style: {┃} style, light build.
Eartips Used: Bi-flange
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★☆
┣ Accessories: ★★★☆
┣ Build Quality: ★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★★
┣ Microphonics: ★★★★
┣ Comfort: ★★★★★
┗ Quick Sum: Unlike its bigger brother PL30, PL20 comes in a more inconspicuous package. Most of the accessories in the PL30 are in here as well, but there is no hard case. Instead you get a soft pouch. Build quality is typical of SoundMAGIC - decent but care will be needed to last. PL20's isolation is better than PL30, which is no surprising since PL20's design is more conventional. What is unexpected is how the very little microphonics the cable has.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★★
┣ Mid: ★★★
┣ Bass: ★★☆
┣ Soundstage: ▆ ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ ▆ [Good / Average]
┣ ABF: [Low]
┣ Overall SQ: [ 2.4 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature is balanced with a little bit of warmness, good on treble and mid but bass light. Not as airy / spacious as PL30's presentation but acceptable soundstage.
Overall Value: [ 4.3 / 5] - US$13~18 (price depends on dealer)
Final Remark: PL20 is by all means not a bad IEM for its price. It is a little step down on SQ in comparison to PL30. However, its (still) decent SQ, cheaper price and better fit / isolation make it a good inexpensive back up. For those who wish to know, PL20 also pair quite well with FiiO E3 but there is the suggestion of very faint hiss when silence.

Philips SHE9850

Variation: N/A
Transducer: Single Balanced Armature
Spec: 12Ω (@1kHz) | 20Hz~ 20kHz | 115dB SPL | 14g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.20m.
Mini Jack Style: {┃} style, light build.
Eartips Used: Shure Black Foam
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★★☆
┣ Accessories: ★★★★☆
┣ Build Quality: ★★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★★★☆
┣ Microphonics: ★★★★☆
┣ Comfort: ★★★★☆
┗ Quick Sum: SHE9850 comes with pretty good packaging and very well accessories pack, as you might expect from such a big company. Beside the three different sized silicone single flange, you will also find a pair of Comply T100 in the box. The slide in/out black aluminum case is a big plus, it even has space for an extra set of eartips and the nozzle cleaning tool. A shirt clip is also supplied. The earpeice itself looks gorgeous with metal nozzle and BA drive housing inside transparent hard acrylic shell finished with soft rubber strain relief. The only downside is the cable used doesn't seem to be as high class as the earpeice, but that is just an minor issue. The good news is microphonics is quite low and isolation is excellent with both foam and silicone tips.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★★
┣ Mid: ★★★☆
┣ Bass: ★★★☆
┣ Soundstage: ▆ ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ ▆ - Good / Average
┣ ABF: [Low]
┣ Overall SQ: [ 3.25 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature is warm and full, musical but not to a point of fun sounding. Vocal is sweet and so is the mid (kind of remind me about Shure). Treble changes a lot with the eartips used. Pairing with silicone eartips can sound a bit dull as treble roll off too early. Pairing with foam tips give more treble at the price of a bit harshness, but it is still not a very detail sounding IEM. SHE9850 is definitely tuned with foam tips usage in mind. I put in a pair of Shure olive instead of T100. The overall difference b/w them is minor but T100 does sound a bit smoother and less harsh. One point worths noting is the bass response. It is very good (both in quality and quantity) for a single BA transducer with accuracy, body and impact all together.
Overall Value: [ 3.9 / 5] - US$90~95
Final Remark: I generally won't expect much from Philips, but SHE9850 does prove itself to be a well made IEM. I paid mine with a higher price tag since I got it from a local electronic chain store that doesn't do much discount on headphone, but the online price of $90 is about right for SHE9850's SQ. It reminds me of my old E3c, except SHE9850 is better in most way. I'll like to think of SHE9850 as E3c-done-right, with slight better treble (on foam tips), improved bass, and a great look. The little harshness can be a bit annoying some time but it is well with in tolerable range. All in all, SHE9850 is quite good as an entry level IEM as long as you can find it around / under $90. (In-depth review can be found here)

JAYS' s-JAYS

Variation: Black and white models
Transducer: Single Rounded 'SIREN' Balanced Armature
Spec: 69Ω (@1kHz) | 20Hz~ 20kHz | 113dB SPL | 10g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 0.60m + 0.9m.
Mini Jack Style: {┃} style, heavy build.
Eartips Used: Single flange
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★★☆
┣ Accessories: ★★★★☆
┣ Build Quality: ★★★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★★☆
┣ Microphonics: ★★★☆
┣ Comfort: ★★★★☆
┗ Quick Sum: Like all JAYS' product, s-JAYS is really well packed and top notch in build quality. It might not have as many accessories compare to its bigger brother the q-JAYS, it is still more than adequate. The IEM has two pieces cable which add up to a longer than usual length, but it is always better to be longer than shorter. You also get a small leather carrying case, five different sizes of eartips plus one set of foam, replacement filters, airplane adapter and signal splitter, and an user manual. The earpeices are physically larger than your typical single balanced armature IEM, more so when compared to its tiny dual drive brother q-JAYS. Then again, the balanced armature transducers used are very different from the normal small boxy shape. s-JAYS is in fact the first to utilize the rounded shaped BA transducers called 'SIREN', produced by Knowles Electronics. Isolation is typical, enough for most noisy environment but the extreme. Microphonics is also typical. Despite its larger size, I find s-JAYS with stock eartips to be more comfortable the q-JAYS with stock eartips. It might look bulky but in fact s-JAYS is quite light. The housing is easy to handle and surprisingly comfortable when used. One of my complaint about the small q-JAYS is that the housing is so small that the cable often pulls it out from my ear canal (I have to mod a foam tips to solve the problem), but s-JAYS stays firm in my ear easily. The one thing I don't like about the earpiece is the very tiny 'left / right' marking on the short strain relief. I would imagine a small 'red / blue' dot will serve the purpose more effectively. In all, I'll say JAYS has again successfully brought another fine product to the market.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★☆
┣ Mid: ★★★☆
┣ Bass: ★★★
┣ Soundstage: ▆ ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ ▆ - Good / Average
┣ ABF: [Mid]
┣ Overall SQ: [ 3.15 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature is warm, mid centric, laid back and very smooth . Unamped, the sound can feel a bit veil. Everything sounds further back on both sides but lacks a sense of depth. Amped, the detail and vocal is brought back to the front and it opens up the soundstage, especially on the depth. Treble rolls off a bit early, so not very detail sounding. Bass is strong, but slightly lacking in clarity and speed - yet it is still very good for a single balanced armature transducer. In a sense, s-JAYS carries a little taste of dynamic transducer in its sound signature. Though it may be too smooth and laid back for some, it is a very fatigue free and relaxing IEM.
Overall Value: [ 3.8 / 5] - US$80
Final Remark: s-JAYS is a very curious sounding IEM. It doesn't sound like what I would expect from BA drive yet it is not totally dynamic (moving coil) sounding as well. It gives me the impression of a hybrid especially when it is unamped. Thought not very difficult to drive, I do feel s-JAYS benefits quite a lot from the extra power, even from a small amp like the E5. JAYS has been marketing the s-JAYS as their lower end entry class, and I do think they have priced it just right for its SQ. It is definitely a good choice for stress free long listening session, and the alien / bee / bug shaped earpeices are a plus for those who want something unique. (In-depth review can be found here)

SoundMAGIC PL-11

Variation: N/A
Transducer: Single 9mm Dynamic
Spec: 12Ω (@1kHz) | 20Hz~ 22kHz | 97+3dB SPL | 12g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.2m.
Mini Jack Style: {┃} style, light build.
Eartips Used: Single flange
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★☆
┣ Accessories: ★★★☆
┣ Build Quality: ★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★★☆
┣ Microphonics: ★★★
┣ Comfort: ★★★★★
┗ Quick Sum: Packaging and build quality is basically consistent with the other SoundMAGIC products I reviewed (decent for the price). Accessories is about the same as PL20 - eartips (3 sized), Shure olive style foam tips, shirt clip, silicone cable warp, and a soft pouch. The earpieces has better isolation than those previously reviewed SoundMAGIC's but microphonics is also more of an issue. You probably will need to use the included shirt clip.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★☆
┣ Mid: ★★★
┣ Bass: ★★★
┣ Soundstage: ▄ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▄ [Small / Acceptable]
┣ ABF: [Low]
┣ Overall SQ: [ 2.4 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature is on the warm side with big bass. Treble is actually as good as PL20 but fine detail tend to get flooded by the bigger bass. Mid performance is also on par on PL20, but doesn't suffer the bass flooding issue. Due to the lost of fine detail, soundstage isn't as wide as PL20, but overall acceptable. In a way, you can say PL11 is bass enhanced PL20. If you want big bass, PL11 is the one for you.
Overall Value: [ 4.3 / 5] - US$13~18 (price depends on dealer)
Final Remark: Like PL20, PL11 is another very decent IEM of its price. It seems SoundMAGIC really has a strong point at making affordable good budget class IEM. You simply can't go wrong with any of its product - all you need to do is to figure out which IEM has the right sound signature you are looking for.

NuForce NE-7M

Variation: N/A
Transducer: Single 9mm Dynamic
Spec: 12Ω (@1kHz) | 20Hz~ 22kHz | 100+3dB SPL | 12g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.2m.
Mini Jack Style: {┏━} style, normal build.
Eartips Used: Single flange
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★★
┣ Accessories: ★★★☆
┣ Build Quality: ★★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★★☆
┣ Microphonics: ★★★☆
┣ Comfort: ★★★★★
┗ Quick Sum: NE-7M's box is pretty nice. Inside, you will find the manual, three set of different sized silicone eartips and a set of foam tips, a shirt clip which already attached on the IEM's cable, and a very nice synthetic leather pouch. Unfortunately all the included eartips are the same quality as those found on SoundMAGIC. I have a hard time getting good fit with those eartips and eventually switch to my old MylarOne eartips. With the proper tips in place, isolation is decent. Microphonics is not a major problem since there is a shirt clip. It is about as comfortable as any shallowly inserted IEM.
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★★
┣ Mid: ★★★
┣ Bass: ★★★★
┣ Soundstage: █ ▆ ▄ ▂ ▄ ▆ █ - Great / Wide
┣ ABF: [Low]
┣ Overall SQ: [ 3.3 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signature resembles PL-11, but better on all count. Treble is slightly more refine but harshness can still be detected especially on loud volume. Mid is about the same. Bass hits harder and very low - not quite the Atrio level but certainly better than most IEM I reviewed. Soundstage is very wide and spacious, some of the best I have ever heard.
Overall Value: [ 4.35 / 5] - US$49
Final Remark: In case you wonder: No, NE-7M isn't rebranded PL11 or X3. It is a class (or two) above those IEM. For the low price, NE-7M has fantastic price / performance ratio, just two things: 1) The included eartips couldn't match up with the IEM's sound quality and should be replaced. 2) You might not be able to use it as headset if you are not using iPhone. I tried it with my Sony Ericsson cellphone with no luck. Once you look pass those two minor imperfection, NE-7M could just be some of the best $50 you can ever spend on IEM.

CrossRoads' MylarOne Quattro

Variation: Red / Burgundy / Black (color)
Transducer: Single 7mm Dynamic
Spec: 16Ω (@1kHz) | 20Hz~ 22kHz | 95+4dB SPL
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.25m.
Mini Jack Style: {┏━} style, normal build.
Eartips Used: Bi-flanges
Physical Properties:
┣ Packaging: ★★★
┣ Accessories: ★★★★☆
┣ Build Quality: ★★★★
┣ Isolation: ★★☆ ~ ★★★☆
┣ Microphonics: ★★★☆
┣ Comfort: ★★★★★
┗ Quick Sum: Packaging is pretty plain and simple, but there are quite a few accessories included. Inside, you will find the IEM, a short manual, 4 set of different sized single flange eartips (L, M, S, XS), 1 set of bi-flanges, an airplane adapter, a shirt clip, an useful pouch, and 3 set of 'Bass select ports' for bass customization. Build quality is pretty solid, Isolation varies depends on the flange and the ports in use. Microphonics is acceptable. Again, it is as comfortable as any shallowly inserted IEM
Sound Quality:
┣ Treble: ★★★☆
┣ Mid: ★★☆
┣ Bass: ★★★
┣ Soundstage: █ ▆ ▄ ▂ ▄ ▆ █ - Great / Wide
┣ ABF: [Low]
┣ Overall SQ: [ 3.15 / 5]
┗ Quick Sum: The overall sound signatures are on the warm, slightly laid back side, probably because the upper mid~lower treble isn't very upfront. It actually resembles Bijou3 sound signature in many ways but better on all count. Treble extends very high but it is not the most detail sounding and should be adequate for none analytical listener. Bass (and mid to some extent) can be tuned by changing the bass select ports. Port #1 has the biggest bass but on the expense of resolution. Port #2 is the most balanced among the three. Port #3 has the best detail but a bit bass shy and has the narrowest soundstage. Due to the slightly low sensitivity, the volume might need to be turned up a bit more, but amping isn't necessary at all. Finding the right match between bass select ports and eartips is important for getting the right sound, which basically is the essence of Quattro's customizable sound.
Overall Value: [ 3.75 / 5] - US$88
Final Remark: CrossRoads has successfully applied the tunable concept and created a worthy IEM that is Quattro. It might not be a giant killer or ground shaker per se, but it is still a solid entry level IEM and a good follow up of the old MylarOne series. It does require a bit of effort to burn in so 50 hrs on high volume should be minimum before any serious audition. (In-depth review can be found here)

[REVIEW] SoundMAGIC PL-50

ClieOS — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:07:15 +0800

First, I want to thanks Tony @ SoundMAGIC for offering me the chance to review the PL-50. I first got wind of a balanced armature based SoundMAGIC few weeks ago when I came across a pre-order page on another forum. There wasn't a lot of info back then to made out how well this IEM are going be. Plus, SoundMAGIC usually like to operate under the radar, making it difficult to tell what kind of product they are planning for. I have been in contact with Tony since last year when the PL-30 is on hot sale, basically asking questions and getting detail of their flagship at the time. Personally I am not that excited when I received my PL-30. It sounds quite good as a sub-$50 IEM for sure, but I could never get a seal good enough for me to use it in long term. Instead, I take a liking to their PL20 and PL11 offering simply because better fit. As I always say, you are going to get a good sound only after you get a good fit.

For those who don't know anything about SoundMAGIC, they not only make their own line of headphone, but also are the OEM supplier of several well known headphone brands around the world (Beyerdynamic for an example).

the case is about twice as thick as PL11/20's case, but much better looking.

Spec
Driver: Single Balanced Armature Transducer
Sensitivity: 109 +/-2 dB SPL @ 1 kHz
Impedance: 55.5 +/- 15% Ohm @ 1 kHz
Frequency Response: 15Hz - 22 kHz
Cord: 1.20m
Plug: Gold-Plated Stereo 3.5mm Mini-Plug

Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality
PL-50 spots a very classy packaging - the best I have seen on any Chinese brand so far. The general foot print of the box is still quite small, but thicker on the side to accommodate a hard case (as the same kind found only on SoundMAGIC previous flagship, the PL-30). By opening the side windows, you can take a peak on the IEM itself (with the mid sized foam tips) and 4 pair of different sized silicone single flange eartips (S, M , L, XL). Inside the box, you will find the warranty card and a hard case in the back compartment with 2 silicone ear hooks and two more foam tips (S, L). Now you should take note that the foam tips are actually smaller in size compared to similar foam tips offered by other manufacturers. What I mean is, the large sized foam tips is actually about the same size as a mid sized Shure black foam (olive). Also, they are more rubbery than normal foam. The good news is, these foam actually have a inner tubing (as opposite to the cheaper type that has no inner tubing).

The nozzle on the earpeice is slightly larger in diameter than typical Shure or Westone and has a bump close to the base to hold the eartips in place more firmly (those who own Philips SHE9850 will know the design). That said, Shure olive can fit in but it is very tight - so tight that I won't recommend even trying (as you might break the nozzle when trying to remove). Comply T100 fits too, but it is also a tight fit (just not as tight as olive). If you are seeking aftermarket replacement eartips, here are some that I have tried and work quite well: Shure grey flex sleeve, Sony hybrid replacement silicone eartips, tri-flanges, big bi-flange, and JAYS's replacement eartips (including their foam tips). In all, I will recommend JAYS eartips as the eartips of choice for replacement, but not their foam tips since it exposes too much of the nozzle opening for earwax. For those who are looking a long term foam solution, I will recommend you to try my Olive-on-Jays mod, which works very well and give optimum comfort, grip and easy access for future eartips replacement / exchange.

As far as I can tell, the earpiece itself is plastic and it is extremely light. It finished with a dark blue metallic coating which is very classy to look at. The fit is close to phenomenal - I dare said PL-50 is almost as good as my Westone UM2, which is renowned for its fit. The strain relief is color coated for left/right channels. The cable in use is similar to those found on NuForce NE-7M, soft but generally strong and don't have memory effect or tangle easily. The Y-splitter and the mini jack look very well built. I especially like how the mini jack is designed for iPhone yet still remains very practical- much more elegant than the solution Shure has on its SE530. The inclusion of ear hook is a good plus though the cable is quite easy to use in over-the-ear style without the hook, which of course also help eliminate any microphonics issue. If you are wearing PL-50 in a more or less stationary position (such as in front of desk), you can plug it in upside-down / hanging position. It still works very well but there will be a bit of microphonics issue if you start to move around. Overall, I am very please with the quality of PL-50.

[REVIEW²] alpha + beta Brainwavz

ClieOS — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:27:39 +0800

First, wanna thanks Raz @ MP4 Nation for giving me the chance to review the beta Brainwaz. Since the alpha Brainwaz is included with the sample of beta, I thought I'll review it as well. Keep in mind that both IEM are in OEM package, and beta hasn't received its final packaging yet, so you should expect better packaging and more accessories after its official launch, which I guess is pretty soon (estimated to be early July).

alpha Brainwavz
As the first generation Brainwavz, MP4 Nation's aims alpha as the cure of the common stock-earbud-syndrome. For that, they decided to work with well known Chinese manufacturer to introduce some of the best-bang-of-the-bucks models in China to the rest of the world under MP4 nation's own 'Brainwavz' brand name. Long story shorts, that is how alpha comes to life.

Spec
Driver: Single 8mm Dynamic
Sensitivity: 100dB SPL @ 1 kHz
Impedance: 20Ohm @ 1 kHz
Frequency Response: 15Hz - 28 kHz
Cord: 1.26m
Rated Power: 10mW
Max Input Power: 30mW
Plug: Gold-Plated Stereo 3.5mm Mini-Plug

Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality
alpha comes with a no thrill, OEM-like packaging with three set of different sized single flange eartips, probably similar to the bundle package comes with MP4 Natin's own brand of PMP. Since it is very much a budget oriented IEM, I guess there isn't anything to complain about. For similar price, you will find SoundMAGIC offering better packaging and accessories. Build quality wise however, alpha seems to be stronger and more durable. Microphonics is slightly worst than average, but nothing too terrible that an extra shirt clip won't fit. Isolation is average. Decent for daily use but not for the noisiest of situation

Sound Quality
I gave alpha a 100 hrs burn-in before the auditioning, but I couldn't say in definite that it improves the sound quality. Maybe the are some changes, but probably not very obvious.

alpha's sound signatures are on the warm to slightly dark side. Big bass, heavy mid, and not very detail on the treble but still have a tiny bit of sparkle. Despite the fact that the overall sound feels slightly congested due to the heavy mid, the bass actually has quite a good resolution and texture to it. Vocal is pretty forward and dominant. Upper treble rolls off early. No sibilance to speak of. Soundstage is small due to the lack of fine detail and airiness. Overall, alpha Brainwavz is slightly dark with a very mid and bass centric, fun and more personal sound

Conclusion
For about US$14~16, alpha Brainwavz is in the same line of fire as the SoundMAGIC PL11 and PL20. PL20 is good on detail but lean on bass while PL11 is more bass oriented. Both has better soundstage and detail than alpha. However, alpha has better bass performance and sweeter vocal. SQ wise, I consider them to be just about the same. It is definitely one for the basshead with small budget.

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beta Brainwavz
beta comes not as a replacement of alpha, but more of an evolution. If I am not mistaken, this pair of IEM is also from a Chinese IEM maker. Those who are in China might have seen a very similar IEM on the street or over the shop counter. Nevertheless. MP4 Nation is giving the IEM an updated look and a new set of accessories for its international debut.

Spec
Driver: Single 11mm Dynamic
Sensitivity: 110dB SPL @ 1 kHz
Impedance: 24Ohm +/- 10%@ 1 kHz
Frequency Response: 8Hz - 28 kHz
Cord: 1.20m
Rated Power: 10mW
Max Input Power: 40mW
Plug: Gold-Plated Stereo 3.5mm Mini-Plug

Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality
Like the alpha, beta also came in a pretty OEM looking packaging - but no need to worry here, as final version will have a box and a few more accessories. The final version will have a pair of orange cone silicone eartips, a pair of translucent white cone eartips, a pair of big bi-flanges, a pair of orange foam eartips, shirt clip, a fish bone shaped cable winder, a pair of removable metal mesh and a soft pouch by Mofi. A few things worth noting: 1) beside the foam tip, none of the other eartips can be considered for small ear canal and 2) The Mofi pouch is actually quite good.

beta's nozzle diameter and length are a bit of the odd side. Diameter wise, it is larger than those found on Shure or Westone, but smaller than the UE. If you want to use aftermarket eartips, you can use Shure's eartips if you don't use the metal mesh. If you do have the metal mesh on, you can use a tight fitting UE style eartips like the Sony hybrid replacement eartips, but not the loosely fitted genuine UE eartips. For foam tips replacement, I can fit a Comply T100 on beta when the metal mesh is off. So you wonder what is the big deal about those metal mesh? They are actually used for sound tuning instead of earwax stopper. More on this later.

(left: no mesh)

Beta appears to be well built. The wire is pretty soft yet seems to be strong. The nozzle of the earpiece is made out of aluminum alloy, individual marked with serial number (for QC and warranty, if I am not mistaken). The metal mesh can be screwed on or off based on the user preference. There is also an one inch transparent sleeve over the cable where it meet the earpiece, protecting the weakest part for wear and tear. Microphonics is very good while isolation is average. Overall, I think the build quality has vastly excessed its asking price. The finished version is said to have even better looking.

Sound Quality
As suggested by MP4 Nation, I burnt the beta in for 100 hrs before the auditioning. Like the alpha, I didn't notice any major change in sound quality.

beta's sound signature with the metal mesh is balanced but on the warm, smooth side. Bass extends quite further down but lacks big body or impact. Mid is full and warm. Treble performs well, capable of showing a good degree of fine detail. Soundstage is about average. Without the metal mesh, bass definition suffers a bit while the upper mid and treble become more forward, brighter with more fine detail. Soundstage is also very slightly more airy.

In sum, beta with the mesh has a well balanced sound without any major strength or weakness. Its sonic characteristics resemble that of CrossRoads Woody 2, but in a lesser form. Without the mesh, beta becomes brighter sounding.

On a side note, my beta also comes with a FiiO E5 as part of the bundle. Personally, I find beta to be just fine without amping, but pairing with the E5 can gives you more bass if that is what you crave for, since beta is more on the balanced side instead of the alpha's big bass side. For the least, I don't find any synergy issue between them both.

Conclusion
beta is an major upgrade from the alpha, both on build and sound quality wise. People with tight budget will not be disappointed by the beta, especially consider it high performance / price ratio. It is one of those IEM that are fully capable on taking down many other that have double or even triple the price tag. Those who are looking for the best bang for the bucks should put this one high on your list of consideration.

For a quick sum up on both IEM, read this.

[REVIEW] Maximo iM-590

ClieOS — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:20:09 +0800

Right about the end of last year, Andrew @ Maximo Product contacted me asking if I would like to have a listen to the demo unit of their upcoming flagship IEM and perhaps give some opinions, naturally I agreed. To cut things short, it was one of those IEM I really like in first listening but couldn't tell anyone due to confidential agreement. That IEM was later announced at CES2009 as iM-590. Since I had reviewed iM-590's little brother, the iM-390, right about the same time, I have high expectation for iM590's debut. Personally, I think iM590 is taking Maximo to a higher level as a headphone manufacturer, separating them (SQ wise) from only offering consumer grade products to a more serious audiophile market - that kind of remind me a comment I made 6 months ago on iM390's review which still holds true today: "Obviously Maximo have good confidence in their IEM and are willing to prove themselves to be more than just-another-accessories-maker."

That said, let get into the real topic.

[Specifications]
• Earphone drivers: 9mm neodymium
• Frequency response: 12Hz-22KHz
• Sensitivity (1KHz, 0.1V): >100dB
• Maximum SPL output: >120dB
• Impedance: 17ohm (estimated)

Included:
• 4 sizes of proprietary eartips (S, M, L, XL)
• 2.5mm stereo plug adapter
• Airline dual-plug adapter
• 2-ft extension cable
• Shirt clip
• Carrying case
• User guide
• 2 year warranty

Packaging, Accessories and Build Quality
The packaging on iM-590 is a genuine improvement over the old iM-390 blister pack. Nothing is sealed hard so there is no need to cut around. Definitely one of the best packaged sub$100 IEM in the market. Needless to say, you will find pretty much all the goodies in front of your eyes as soon as you opened the front cover. The only thing missing is the extra large eartips which hide inside the hard case. AsI had commented before (on iM-390's review), the included case is one of the best quality hard case included with any IEM.

[REVIEW³] Quattro, Woody One, and Woody Two

ClieOS — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:38:13 +0800

Here are a triple reviews of all three recently released new CrossRoads IEM, including the MylarOne Quattro, Woody One and Woody Two.

Quattro - The Latest Generation of MylarOne

Spec
Driver: Single 7mm Dynamic
Sensitivity: 95dB + 4 SPL @ 1 kHz
Impedance: 16Ohm @ 1 kHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 22 kHz
Cord: 1.25m
Rated Power: 2mW
Max Input Power: 10mW
Plug: Gold-Plated Stereo 3.5mm Mini-Plug

Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality
Quattro's packaging is plain and simple, which is quite typical of CrossRoads' products. Inside, you'll find the IEM itself, a manual, 4 set of different sized single flange eartips (L, M, S, XS), 1 set of bi-flanges, an airplane adapter, a shirt clip which is already on the cable, and an useful pouch that you can put in all the accessories. There are also three pair of 'bass select ports' numbering 1, 2 and 3. The bass ports can be screwed into the back of the earpieces to control the bass response (more on these later).

There are always talks about CrossRoads' build quality issue. To be honest, I don't think CrossRoads has the best build quality in the market but neither do I find it to be the worst. My first generation MylarOne, which has seen some heavy use for the first year of purchase (*2 years ago), still working fine as it is. If you have to wrap the cable around your DAP or stuff it in your pocket or bag without a case or pouch, then perhaps you really need something with much stronger build. However, IEM in general need a bit more care and attention to last and as far as I can tell, MylarOne build quality has constantly been improved upon since the first gen. As for Quattro itself, I think it is safe for me to say that it is the best built MylarOne to date.

The cable used is really soft and can be a bit microphonics, but it is about average of all the IEM I have experienced before. The earpieces are cylinder shaped with a rather small diameter of 8mm. The anodized aluminum housing is rather good looking, to say the least. If you pick eartips that are a size smaller than your regular size, you can easily insert the earpieces deeper. For example, my usual eartips size is mid and so about half of the earpiece will stick out. If I change them to small, only 1/3 will stick out. Of course, whether you feel comfortable inserting the earpieces so deep is really up to you. I actually choose to use the bi-flange (which protrudes the most) because it gives a more neutral, spacious sound.

Sound Quality
As usual, I gave the Quattro a standard 50hrs minimum burn-in before the review (like I did with all IEM I reviewed). The sound pretty much settled down after 10 hours or so. As I said before, I end up using the bi-flange since it sounds best to me pairing with number 2 ports. However, I do find different ports sound best pairing with certain set of eartips. For port number 1 and 2, bi-flanges is usually my option. For port number 3, I prefer the deeper inserted mid and small sized eartips since both give a more solid mid~bass response. You'll have to find the best combo to fit your taste.

Number 1 ports are the bassiest by far. It basically turns the IEM into a semi-open design (number 1 ports have open vent ). There is more low end rumbling and more bass quantity. However, the trade off are 1) the mid bass can be slightly boomy at time. 2) they are slightly less isolating than the other two set of ports. The mid on number 1 ports is also the most forward, thus making its overall sound signature being the warmest of all three set of ports. Treble seems to be more immure to port selection, but in the case of number 1 ports, the finer detail tend to get flooded over by the stronger mid and bass. It also sounds more recessed in comparison to other ports/

Number 2 ports are the most balanced sounding of all. This is my personal favorite of all three set of ports as it has about the right amount of bass, mid, treble, airiness, and soundstage between the three.

Number 3 ports are the most bass light, analytical sound of all. Detail and upper vocal tend to get presented more forwarded and better but soundstage is the narrowest of all three set of ports even though it has the airiest presentation.

You can also use Quattro port-less if you don't mind the risk of exposing more of the inner wiring / transducer. It will gives you a sound between port #1 and 2. It is like port #2 with more mid, bass, and soundstage, but not to the warmness of port #1.

There is also a tiny bit of sibilance but not to a point of annoyance. It is actually totally acceptable if you are not listening on high volume. That is probably a side effect of how far the frequency response extended and presented. Quattro is the second pair of IEM that I ever heard that can tackle the 16~17kHz region without a quick roll off (the other one will be Head-Direct RE0), even though it does come short in comparison since RE0's treble is smoother and sibilance-free. Still, the performance is quite commendable by its own.

So how does Quattro compare to older generation of MylarOne than? I think it is pretty safe for me to say that I prefer the port #1 Quattro with bi-flanges over Bijou3. Port #3 Quattro (on mid single flanges) compares pretty well with X3 too. Though I still prefer X3 more upfront, Ety like presentation, Quattro has an edge on treble extension and warmer, fuller mid~bass.

In sum, Quattro's sound signatures are on the warm, laid back side, perhaps even a bit dark at times despite the fact that its treble extends very far. This is probably because it doesn't have a very upfront upper mid~lower treble that commonly found on other IEM. It actually resembles Bijou3 sound signature in many ways but better on all count. It is not quite detail sounding, but should be adequate for none analytical listener. Due to the slightly low sensitivity, the volume might need to be turn up a bit more, but I don't find amping necessary at all. One thing that I noticed is the importance of finding the right match between bass select ports and eartips. That is basically the essence of Quattro's customizable sound.

[Update] After the review, I decided to give Quattro a go on a more intensive burn-in. My normal burn-in method is just looping music of different genre on a volume slightly higher than my normal listening volume for 50 hrs. This time, I crack the volume all the way up to pretty much the level where if you listening to it for more than 10 minutes, you will probably get a headache. However, the volume was still kept in a level that is not enough to crackle or distort the sound. The whole burn-in takes about 7 hrs (basically my sleeping time), and when I gave it another listening, to my surprise, the vocal has already became a bit more upfront. To ensure I am not just listening to what I "hope" to listen, I give it another quick comparison with X3 (which had been used for comparison just yesterday) and confirm the result. The overall sound signature is still on the warm side but no longer dark or as laid back as before, which of course is a welcoming change. To those who haven't give it an intense burn-in, you might want to give it a go as well.

Conclusion
Though the idea of tunable IEM is by no mean originated from CrossRoads, I think they have successfully applied the principle and created a worthy IEM in its own right. Quattro might not be a giant killer or ground shaker per se, but it is still a solid entry level IEM and a good follow up of the MylarOne series IMO.

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Woody One & Two - The Musical Duo

Spec (of both)
Driver: Single 10mm Dynamic
Sensitivity: 105dB + 4 SPL @ 1 kHz
Impedance: 32Ohm @ 1 kHz
Frequency Response: 18Hz - 22 kHz
Cord: 1.30m
Rated Power: 2mW
Max Input Power: 10mW
Plug: Gold-Plated Stereo 3.5mm Mini-Plug

Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality
Again, Woodies' packaging is as plain and simple as it can be, or perhaps even a bit dull - but don't let the look deceives you: Nothing inside is dull at all.

First thing you will notice about the package is its weight. Both Woody are a lot more heavier than you might expected. The weight comes almost entirely from the gorgeous wooden box included with each IEM. Inside the wooden box is the IEM itself and 4 set of different sized single flange eartips (L, M, S, XS) and a set of bi-flanges. Not as many accessories as Quattro perhaps, but I think Woodies are targeted at home listening as oppose to Quattro's need for versatility. The cables used are the slightly stiffer type, but the good news are microphonics is very low and they don't have much 'memory effect' so they won't get tangle up easily. The Y-splitter is actually quite nicely built, like those found on Westone ES cable. You will also find the marking of 'Woody X' here to indicate which version of Woody you have. Without the marking, you won't be able to tell them apart since they share identical outer appearance.

Each earpiece is made up of a wooden barrel (obviously!) with both end sealed with (what I believe to be) aluminum. One side of the aluminum plate has the nozzle with the 10mm transducer behind it. The housing itself is quite large and the nozzle isn't very long - so if you have a very small outer ear (*ear canal opening), you might not be able to get a good fit easily (the base of the nozzle measured 13mm in diameter). I switch to bi-flanges very early on for both the easier fit and the extra airiness / soundstage. Isolation is about average, not strong nor lacking. The overall build quality seems quite good, but obviously the wooded housing won't take up the same abuse that a full metal or plastic housing can endure. I think 'handle with care' is the key here. For home use, it shouldn't be any problem at all.

Sound Quality
Like Quattro, I gave both Woodies a 50 hrs burn-in before auditioning. To make sure they are not as difficult to burn-in as Quattro, I also gave both an extra 5 hours of intensive burn-in. Clarity seems to improve slightly during the first 10 hrs or so but their overall tone remain relatively stable throughout the whole burn-in process.

The first thing that needs to be clarified: despite the model name might suggest, there is no 'better' between the two Woodies. Each of them has its own sound signature and as far as I concern, it is more about which fits into your taste rather than any actual difference in sound quality that distinguishes one from being better from the other.

Woody One sounds very warm with a mid / bass focus. Bass is big, deep, and slightly wet with a moderate attacking speed. Compare to Atrio, it is also capable of tackling the very low end of 15Hz but still able to deliver more in quantity. It does come short overall in comparison as Atrio's bass response is more refined, but it does retain enough control to not sound boomy or muddy. Mid is full and upfront which tend to sound best with male vocal but not as well on female vocal. Its upper mid and especially the treble are flatter in comparison which means that it sounds smoother without a lot of upper end sparkle and detail. The good news is of course there isn't any sibilance to speak of. Soundstage is slightly better than average and not as good as Woody Two. Overall, Woody One sound signature is very warm with big deep bass, full, upfront mid and a smooth upper end. Those who prefer a warm sound with a big lower end and a smooth upper end will like it.

Woody Two sounds warm yet still pretty well balanced at all frequency. Bass goes pretty deep as well but not as much as Woody One nor has the pronounced rumbling quantity. It does has a better sense of control in speed and attack. Mid is well balanced with a more upfront upper vocal (which is what makes female vocal sweet to listen). Treble is well extended with good highlight and sparkle which give great detail close to the point of being analytical. Soundstage is quite good and have a sense of airiness. Sibilance is minimum at worst and only very brief during the brightest passage. Overall, Woody Two sound signature is on the warm side yet still well balanced without any obvious flaw. Those who like a balanced sound will like it.

Conclusion
Both Woodies might not be as versatile as Quattro, but they do offer more in what they have. If SQ is the only concern, I certain prefer both over Quattro (and a whole lot of IEM in that matter). I am not sure whether it is because of the use of wooden/metal housing or any other reason, but both woodies seem to have a distinct lushness in their sound that set them apart from other IEM eventhough one might consider the sound to be colored. Regardless, I am a believer now: just give me more wood!

[REVIEW] Philips SHE9850

ClieOS — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:08:17 +0800

As promised (on another thread), here is the review of SHE9850:

Generally I am not a big fan of Philips' product, but SHE9850 beautiful design got my attention when it was announced about a year ago. Due to numerous reasons, I was never able to get my hands on them until recently. So here is a somewhat postponed review.

SHE9850's spec:
* Sensitivity: 115 dB SPL per 1 mW
* Frequency Range: 20 Hz-20 kHz
* Impedance: 12 ohms
* Cable Length: 1.2m
* Weight: 14g

Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality
The packaging is quite typical of Philips' consumer product. It is decent but not spectacular. Nevertheless, it is already better than most Philips headphones out there. Inside, you will find the IEM, a manual, three set of different sized single flange silicone eartips, a pair of Comply T100, a shirt clip, a black aluminum case with the cleaning tool inside - basically you got everything you will want a pair of decent IEM to include, and that is a good start. I like the metal case by a lot. It can be slide in / out and has the space to hold extra set of eartips (not to mention the cleaning tool). The earpeice itself is half metal (nozzle + transducer housing) and half transparent acrylic, making it one of the best looking IEM I even seen. The overall shape / size is about the same as Shure E3c, but it is obvious from the beginning that it is intended to be wore normally and not over-the-ear (though you can). The cable and the mini plug used isn't really as impressive as the earpeice. It is really plain and normal - I would have want something better consider Philips is marketing it as a high end model. Thanks to the big rubber strain relief, I didn't detect much microphonics on the cable, so I end up not using the included shirt clip. Regarding isolation, I find HSE9850 to be very well on either foam or silicone eartips.

Overall, I am happy with what I see.

Sound Quality
Out of the box, I find SHE9850 sounded a bit veil. It has a warm and full sound signature resembling Shure's house sound, but the treble response seems to be even worst than my old E3c. After switching the stock silicone eartips to a pair of Shure olive, it becomes apparent that it is the stock single flanges that are really muffing the treble up. It is safe to say SHE9850 is tuned with foam eartips in mind as treble extends much better after the switch. I mainly choose to use olive as they last longer, but I do find Comply T100 give a slightly smoother, more enjoyable sound. However, the different is subtle enough that I don't think it matters. The slight downside of using olive is the slight harshness on the vocal region - not a big deal as it is still with in acceptable level. I give my SHE9850 a total of over 60hrs of run-in time and didn't notice any significant change. Bass is impactful and deep with just the right speed, it is close to the best bass response of any single balanced armature IEM I ever tried. Mid is warm and full body, giving the overall sound signature a sense of musicality. Treble is by far the most problematic. As mentioned, you will need to use foam tips for the treble to reveal itself, or else all you'll get is mudded up mid + bass. Even with foam tips, SHE9850 can hardly be called 'detail'. There are still roll off on the upper treble, but acceptable and better than E3c in comparison. Soundstage wise, SHE9850 is pretty 'normal'. I find that amping help introducing a sense of airiness into the mix and open up the soundstage a bit, but the low impedance and the high sensitivity of the IEM makes it not really suitable for amping (getting too loud too fast). In all, I'll describe SHE9850 as a well made all-rounded entry class IEM - Warm sounding with good bass, sweet mid, adequate treble / detail and decent soundstage. In a sense, it is Shure-E3C-done-right.

Conclusion
The initial MSRP (US$100) seems a bit too high for SHE9850, but the current street price (≤ US$90) places it just in the right zone to compete with other entry level IEM. For those who doesn't like their music clinical sounding, this is the IEM I'll recommend to you for consideration. I'll pick it over low end Shure any day of the week.

Just a note, SHE9850 is a bit more expensive on the local market (like US$100~120), but higher price tag generally applies to any big brand name IEM anyway.

For a quick sum up, you can read this.

[Review] LEAR Le01

ClieOS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:28:45 +0800

Here is a review of another Made-in-China IEM, the LEAR Le01. I was first contacted by a fellow member GodLuvSxS (thanks buddy!) asking if I would be interested in reviewing this IEM. If you haven't heard of an IEM company called LEAR before, don't worry - I didn't too until a few weeks ago. In short, LEAR is a new startup and Le01 is their very first IEM attempt. They are so new, they didn't even have a website yet. As far as the end users' concern, LEAR are still trying to improve the Le01 even as it has already been released into the market, so don't worry if you received a slightly different Le01 than mine (i.e. I read on another HK forum, the next batch of Le01 will have Y-cord instead J-cord because of users' feedback, so more improvement might be implemented)

Here is the listed spec:
Driver units: 10.7mm Dynamic
Rated impedance: 20 ohm
Sensitivity: 112dB
Frequency: 10Hz to 26kHz
Distortion: <=1%94dB (20u pa)
Channel balance : <=2% (at 500Hz)
Rated input power: 10mW
Maximum output power: 40mW
Plug size: 3.5mm mini-plug
Cord length: 1.3m O.F.C
Eartips: 3 pairs single flange silicone tips (Large, mid, small)
1 shirt clip

Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality
You can see from the picture above that the packaging of Le01 is actually quite nice. It has a very classy look to it. Inside, you will find the earpieces and the rest of the eartips sit in a piece of green dense foam. Underneath the foam, you will find the cable, a shirt clip and a user manual in English in a piece of soft sponge. I was a bit disappointed to see no case or pouch of any kind. I think even a cheap soft pouch can really enhance the overall package. The good thing is, they did include the shirt clip - as the cable they used are quite microphonics. The earpieces are made out of plastic. To improve the look, LEAR coats the outer facing part (white) of the earpieces with a clear coating. It is quite slick to touch and added a bit of scratch-proof to the 'LEAR' and 'L/R' marking. On the downside, it also makes the earpiece slightly harder to hold on to (which means not as easy to remove when you are wearing them). The earpiece design is basically a look-alike with many others Chinese made IEM though it is slightly slimmer, no much to really comment about. The included single flange eartips are thicker and spongier than you typical single flange. They tend to fit harder but mud up the bass a bit. In comparison, I find the bi-flange sounding most neutral and spacious soundstage wise. Unfortunately, the bi-flange doesn’t really isolate that well.

The overall build quality is quite good as LEAR is paying a bit of attention to the finer detail and finishing, however, I do see places that can use some improvement.

Sound Quality
Fresh out of the box, Le01’s bass is a bit overwhelming while treble is a bit lacking. It will take at least a good 3 days of burn-in to calm down the bass and bring out the detail. I’ll recommend for a full 100 hrs of burn-in before any serious auditioning. After burn-in, the overall fun sounding signature will still persist but more balanced and controlled than before. Bass hits quite strong but there are more mid bass than deep bass. Mid is quite full which in term makes the overall sound signature warm. Treble starts rolling off early but there is still enough detail and sparkle left. On the good side, it doesn’t have any sign of harshness at all. It does, however, makes it sounds a bit dark (just a bit). Soundstage wise, the warm and slightly dark presentation do limit the sense of space. In all, it is a fun and warm sounding IEM with good bass and a lay back signature. It kind of resembles UM2 sonic characters with slightly lesser detail and bigger bass. For those who don’t mind EQ, a bit of treble boost goes a long way.

Conclusion
Le01 is a pair of pretty easy going IEM. For its price (roughly US$40~$50), I think it performs quite well sonically. Personally, I’ll like to see a longer Y-cord on it instead of the J-cord. A pouch or case of some kind is welcomed too. If isolation isn’t top of the list of consideration, I think Le01 is a really good choice for casual listener, especially if you are a basshead.

You can read the quick sum up here.

[Pictorial] Miniature Amps Face-off

ClieOS — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:06:31 +0800

Just got the iBasso T4 this afternoon, so here are some pictures and a quick impression. Sorry boys and girls, no Xin here

In picture, Travagan's Colors (dogbone), Fii) E3 and E5, iBasso T4.

Quick Impression:
I was mainly comparing T4 to E5, which is my main on-the-go portable amp at the moment. The source is iriver clix2's headphone-out on 80% volume. Music of choice are various album ripped as >256kbps LAME mp3 or WMA. The earphone of choice is Head-Direct RE0.

In very rough and subjective term, I'll say E5 is about 70% of a T4. The main improvements are bigger soundstage, slightly better instruments separation, slightly better treble and better bass (fuller, warmer body) if you switch both to bass mode. In comparison, E5 sounds more mid centric while T4 is better on extending to both end.

Regarding hiss, I chose to use UM2 for the test. For E5, hiss is most noticeable in max volume, and decreases to none as the volume approaching minimum setting (about <1/4 of total). For T4 in low gain with lowest volume, a constant hiss is detected but the volume is very low, roughly the same as E5's hiss on 1/4 volume setting (which is when E5 just starts to hiss). For T4 in high gain with lowest volume, the level of hiss about about E5's hiss b/w 1/2~3/5 volume. The good news is, T4's hiss doesn't increase a lot even when the volume is turn to max. The increase of hiss b/w lowest and highest volume is perhaps less than 50% of that in lowest setting..

[REVIEW] CrossRoads MylarOne HR1 / HR2

ClieOS — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:11:26 +0800

[HR1 spec]
Driver: 15mm
Sensitivity: 120 + 3dB/mW
Impedance: 150 ohms
Freq. Resp.: 20Hz ~ 24kHz
Max. Input Power: 1000 mV

[HR2 spec]
Driver: 15mm
Sensitivity: 123 + 3dB/mW
Impedance: 16 ohms
Freq. Resp.: 20Hz ~ 20kHz
Max. Input Power: 500 mV

Accessories: Donut foam pad (x4), regular foam pad (x4), gold plated 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, wooden box.

[Build Quality]
I think the first thing most of you have in mind must be 'those look like Yuin!', and you are correct - they do look like Yuin, and there is no point denying that. The same earpieces' design have been copied by many and become rather generic at this point. The earpieces themselves are said to be UV coated, and I assume it is the clear and sleek coating that covers the whole earpiece. The coating covers the color marking (blue/red) and all the letters which in term making them scratch proof.

I think the second thought that went across your mind would probably about the braided cables (both are about 145cm in length). Those of you who own or had used a Westone IEM will notice the similarity. In fact, they are almost identical to the naked eyes, except those on HR1 / HR2 are braided tighter than those on Westone. Beside a tighter braid, they feel and function in identical way. Like that of Westone cable, the braided cables are very soft and light. Best of all, they won't get into you way like most other cables did. That is a big plus on comfort. Others noticeable things include the sturdily built Y splitter and the light angled jack.

Overall, the build quality of HR1 / HR2 are really high in both workmanship and material. I'll say CrossRoads has done their homework for their first trial in making earbuds

[Sound Quality]
Review Rig: Dell XPS 420 -> Meier Audio Corda 3MOVE
Music: Random choice of high quality ripped lossy music in either WMA-VBR or LAME MP3 codec.

HR2 vs. PK3
Overall the two earbuds share some similarity in their sound signature. PK3 has a slightly warmer quality in its sound due to the stronger bass response. In comparison, HR2 spots a more neutral resp. with less coloration across all freq. The bass on HR2 is still adequate for listeners who are not seeking big bass. After all, bass has always been considered a PK3's strong point. Besides bass, the most obvious difference b/w the two lies in the mid ~ treble region, especially on female vocal. Like its bass, PK3 has a highlighted / colored treble that often sounds harsh on bright tracks. PK3's sibilance is a two ways sword - it makes some music more fun and detail with the addition of extra sparkle, but also turns bright songs into ear piercing nightmare. For that reason, I have always been using my PK3 with regular and not donut foam pad just to reduce the extra treble energy. On the other hand, HR2 handles treble in a more controlled manner. There are still highlight on the treble, but HR2 is able to present the detail effortlessly w/o any sibilance – and that is all done with the donut foam pad. In a sense, HR2’s sound is more mid ~ treble orientated that tend to perform more neutrally, as in contrast to PK3’s fun sound. The difference means HR2 is more resolving on both vocal and instruments, and it gives HR2 a slightly airier / bigger soundstage and imagery. If HR2 was to be used with regular foam pad, I think its most essential quality will be covered up, making it too dull and dark sounding in comparison with the donut pad.

In conclusion, I prefer HR2 over PK3 in overall sound quality. Though I don't have a PK2 to compare HR2 to, I do believe HR2 might still be able to compete with PK2 to a certain level, especially for those who find Yuin's warm presentation not to their liking.

HR1 vs. PK1
Unlike the HR2 and PK3, HR1 doesn't sound much like PK1. Amped PK1 has a slightly warm sound signature, a well controlled and good kicking bass response, an only slightly elevated mid and a treble that shows a little bit of sparkle but doesn't extend up very far. In sum, PK1 is an all-arounder with a merrow-ish warm sound and a wide soundstage which does well with most genre but doesn't excel with any particular. HR1, on the other hand, retains the similar sound signature of HR2. like the HR2, HR1 is also less colored on the lower freq. in comparison to PK1. Bass is neither as full body (especially on the lower bass section) as PK1 nor kicks as hard, but still adequate and accurate. Not surprisingly, PK1's full body bass sounds a bit deeper in comparison. HR1's sound is more mid ~ treble orientated that tend to bring out the best of vocal. While HR1 loses on bass, it gains back in the treble ~ mid detail and a sense of speed. However, the rather up front vocal presentation reduces the overall soundstage, but not by a large degree. It is, however, noticeable smaller than PK1. As for the upper treble section, both are about the same. There are a very slight hint of sibilance on HR1 in the very bright section of music, but not to any irritating point (unless you are listening to it very loudly). In sum, HR1 is more neutral, detail, fast, bright and upfront with a vocal centric sound.

In conclusion, I prefer PK1 over HR1 in overall sound quality, but only slightly. I think they are closely matched and my choice has less to do with the actual SQ but my own listening preference. PK1 is more easy going, but HR1 tend to be more engaging. If we only consider vocal along, I do prefer HR1's presentation over that of PK1's. Depends on what you looking for, you might draw a conclusion different than mine.

[HR1 or HR2?]
Beside having a higher impedance, HR1 is more refined than HR2 in every way. HR1 is very slightly warmer with a fuller body of sound, more detail and control especially from the mid and up. HR2 sounds a bit drier in comparison. The bass quantity and quality on both, however, are about same. Unsurprisingly, HR1 is affected more by amping, mostly on the bass and treble extension. In comparison, HR2's improvement by amping is very subtle. Pairing with FiiO E3 will give HR2 a warmer low end at the expense of airiness and detail, acceptable though I won't really call it an improvement.

In sum, If you are using your DAP unamped, than I'll recommend HR2 instead of HR1 (for obvious reason). I do personally feel that HR2 has a better value, but HR1 is an excellent earbud by its own right. I certain believe both of them have shown themselves to be worthy competitors in a market that has been mostly dominated by Yuin over the last few years.

[UPDATE] There are complaints about the quality of the mini plug as it tends to brake easily. Though Jaben alway honor their warranty and replace the faulty pair, the better long term solution would be just re-terminate the mini jack yourself with something better, like a Neutrik or SwitchCraft jack.

[FYI] Basic Guide to In-Ear-Canalphones

ClieOS — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:26:30 +0800

[Disclaimer]This guide might contain error that I don’t know of. This guide is only meant to provide general information for newbies who newly venture into the canalphones’ world. If you find any error in this guide, please kindly point it out. Also note that some information with in this guide are copied or modified from Etymotic, Shure, Headwize, Headroom and Wikipedia website. I do not reference all of them in the article, but links to the original page have all been listed at the end. The credit goes to the original writer/companies for providing the information online and free. Thanks.

*Don't have time to read? I have created a .pdf version of this post and you can download it here.

What is an In-Ear-Canalphone?
In-Ear-Canalphone, also known as canalphone, ear-canalphone, ear-canal headphone, or In-Ear-Monitor (IEM), is a type of Inter Aural headphone that is designed to be used where the user’s ear canal is sealed by the ‘phone. The seal generally serves two functions: 1) blocks noise and 2) forms a sealed acoustic chamber to achieve a fuller sound. To create such as a seal, the earphone’s nozzle along with its tip (or sleeve) is inserted into the front part of the ear canal. Many high end canalphones are custom molded for comfort and perfect seal.

QUOTE

Is it a canalphone or an IEM?
Due to its great portability, high sound quality and noise blocking ability, specially tuned (and often custom molded) canalphones have been used on stage very early on by musicians and audio engineers alike. These canalphones are part of the In-Ear-Monitor-System (IEMS), which can be either wired or wireless. For the ease of naming, canalphones used in such system are referred as IEM. Later, as canalphone manufacturer began to make high quality canalphone available for the general consumer (iPod generation), the word ‘IEM’ becomes popular thus replacing ‘canalphone’ as how we refer to all canalphones. Technically speaking, only canalphones on an IEMS should be called an IEM. However, there is no hard definition on the word ‘IEM’ and it is easier for general consumer to use a simpler terminology. Sometime ‘IEM’ is also used only to refer to high quality canalphone. For the purpose of this article, we will refer to all canalphones as IEM.

[Basic components of an IEM]

I thought IEM/canalphone is also called 'earbud'?
No, IEM and earbud each refer to two different kind of Inter Aural headphones.

Inter Aural headphone, or in-the-ear headphone, is sometime known as earphone. It refers to headphone with transducer small enough to be placed/worn in the ear. The two major types of inter aural headphone are earbud and canalphone.

[Picture of various types of earbuds]

Earbuds are worn in the opening of the ear, often just outside of the opening of ear canal. They can have headband or clip-on to increase comfort, but they do not form an air-tight seal to the ear canal as they are not intended to go into the ear canal.

[Picture of various types of IEM]

On the other hand, canalphones/IEM are intended to be partially inserted into the ear canal to create an air-tight seal (reasons see first question).

The reason why so many websites mislabeled IEM as 'earbud' is simply because... they don't know the differences.

Why noise isolation and not Active Noise Cancellation?
Despite their larger size, ANC headphones do not always provide better noise reduction in comparison to IEM. Also, many ANC headphones’ sound quality (SQ) is often found to be ‘second class’ at best (in comparison to the price you pay for them). In contrast, IEM provide better noise reduction with out sacrificing SQ.

Here are some measurements taken from tests done at the Auditory Systems Lab at Virginia Tech University on isolation vs. noise canceling. While all the Shure‘s IEMs in the test provide 29 dB ~ 37 dB of isolation, the result of ANC headphone are not as great as one might believe:
Bose QC2: 20dB (77% of ambient noise)
Sennheiser PXC-250: 11dB (58% of ambient noise)
Sony MDR-NC20: 8 dB (40% of ambient noise)

Transducer types
There are two major types of transducer being used on IEM: Dynamic and Balanced Armature (BA) transducers.

[Picture of dynamic transducer]

Dynamic (moving coil) transducer is often found on low to entry class IEM due to their easy availability and lower cost (relative to BA transducer). They commonly range from 8mm to 16mm in diameter. Dynamic transducer is known for their ability to create a more powerful bass response since relatively more air is moved during sound reproduction. More air movement means stronger bass sensation as we tend to ‘feel’ more about low end bass than actually hearing it. The downside of using dynamic transducer on IEM is its larger side. Also worth noting, many big brand name manufacturers use dynamic transducer of relatively low sound quality in their IEM, therefore you should avoid most of them as much as possible if sound quality is your priority. Of course, there are also IEM manufacturers specialize in producing high end dynamic transducer IEM, most noticeably Future Sonics, one of the very first IEM manufacturers.

[Pictures of BA transducer]

BA transducer has the benefit of being really small, therefore you can easily find many IEM maker using 2 or 3 BA transducers in each side of their ‘phone. By dedicating at least one of the BA transducer as a woofer, multi-ways IEM tend to perform better on bass than most single-way BA transducer IEM. The use of multiple BA transducers partially solves the bass problem as BA transducer moves a lot less air than dynamic transducer (and noticeably less low end bass). The downside of BA transducer is its higher price tag.

There are also hybrid IEMs (ie. UE Super.fi 5 EB) that utilize both dynamic and BA transducer together in order to have the best of both worlds. However, review of such type of IEM often contains mixed opinion.

For more info about transducer, please visit wikipedia.

Choosing the right eartips

[Eartips of various kind]

Three types of eartips that can be commonly found on IEM: soft plastic (also known as ‘flanges’ or ‘sleeves’, often silicone or PVC based), foam, and custom hard acrylic mold (there are soft silicone custom mold and hybrid hard/soft mold, but less common).

Soft plastic eartips have two versions: Universal and size-dependent. Universal soft plastic eartips such as Etymotic tri-flanges and bi-flanges allows user to insert the eartips to a suitable and often relatively deeper canal depth to create the seal (which sometime can be seen as too intrusive to the user). Size-dependent soft plastic eartips such as Shure soft flex sleeves have three sizes: small, middle, and large. User selects the size of the eartips based on their comfort of the seal.

Beside custom mold, foam tips are generally being considered to be most comfortable and provide a better seal. The tighter seal means foam tips tend to give a warmer, fuller and often more enjoyable sound than soft plastic tips. Foam tips also have two versions: Universal (ie. Shure yellow foam) and size-dependent (Shure black foam). Most foam tips are not washable and require replacement after a few weeks of use (see section: Cleaning and maintaining your IEM and eartips).

Foam tips made by Comply are often considered to be the most comfortable. Comply also manufacture different types of foam tips for different IEM. Unlike soft plastic tips, foam tips are often nozzle’s diameter specific and can not be used on IEM with different nozzle diameter (unless modification has been made).

Shure black foam is one of most popular foam tips in the market as they are quite comfortable and designed to be user cleanable (see section: Cleaning and maintaining your IEM and eartips). They are now made with dots on the bottom of the sleeve. 1 dot = small, 2 dots= medium, 3 dots= large. For real measurement, please read the following PDF file provided by Shure.

Custom mold are commonly found on high-end IEM (or ‘custom IEM’) where the transducers are part of the tips. However, custom molded tips can also be ordered to fit universal IEM (IEM that are designed to use soft plastic or foam tips). Recently, custom IEM has become more and more popular on mid-end IEM market too (like those found on Livewire and FREQ). The biggest advantage of custom mold is its fit. Since the mold is custom made to match each user, it ensures a perfect seal while providing the best comfort and SQ (which is why many musicians prefer custom mold).

For visual reference of different type of eartips, please visit this link.

For visual reference of different IEMs' size, please visit this thread.

Eartips’ size

[Picture shows UE's eartips of various sizes]

Choosing the correct tips’ size to use on IEM ensures a perfect seal, which in term translate to comfortable and good sound quality.

Using a tip that is larger than needed often left user with burning sensation or pain in the ear canal with in a very short period of use.

Using a tip that is smaller than needed will result in either a weak seal or air/sound leakage. In such situation, user will notice that bass is weaker than normal or not presented, and the IEM tips will fall out from the ear canal very easily.

One should note that despite the best fit, inserting a foreign object into the ear canal can feel very uncomfortable in the first few times. In order to overcome this issue, choosing the right type of tips of the right size and a bit of patient is often needed.

Eartips: Factors for comfort
We have talk about the importance of a perfect seal in regard of SQ and the basic design of eartips, now we will discuss how other factors will affect comfort, mainly regarding flanges using IEM (Foam tips generally don’t get affected as much by the factors below as they are often very soft and don’t feel as intrusive).

Factor One: Shallow vs. Deep Insertion
Most single flanges IEM, noticeably those like EP-630 and CX300, allow user to fully insert them shallowly (roughly 8~9mm fully inserted). The shallow insertion means less intrusion and isolation, but more comfortable to the user. Most multiple flanges IEM will require user to insert them deeply (>9mm fully inserted). Deep insertion means better seal thus more isolation, but less comfortable.

Factor Two: Flanges’ Material
As the most commonly used eartips, soft plastic eartips can be made from silicone or PVC with various thicknesses. Generally speaking, silicone is softer thus more comfortable than PVC. Note that silicone tips don’t all have the same hardness/sponginess.

Factor Three: Flanges’ Thickness
The rule is, the thinner the eartip the more comfortable it will be. However, thinner eartips will provide less isolation.

Factor Four: Earpiece's Design
The earpiece that houses the transducer plays a role too. Basically, the smaller and lower profiles the earpiece, the more comfortable it will be. This is why UE are often considered to be uncomfortable as their Super.fi and Triple.fi series all have very large and extrusive earpieces.

Here is how these factors affect comfort:
Example 1: UE single flange – shallow insert, hard/spongy, thick, large earpiece = not so comfortable, but OK isolation.
Example 2: CX300 single flange – shallow insert, soft, thin, small earpiece = comfortable, but less isolation.
Example 3: ER6i tri-flanges – deep insert, soft, thick, small earpiece = not so comfortable, but great isolation.
Example 4: SA6 bi-flanges - deep insert, soft w/ slightly spongy, mid thickness, small earpiece = comfortable with great isolation.
Example 5: RE1 big bi-flanges - deep insert, variable softness, variable thickness, small earpiece = very comfortable with good isolation

Remember: It takes time to get used to certain kind of eartips, therefore don’t rush to judgment. Even though personal preference plays a big role as what constitute comfort, it often will change w/ time. My advice to you is, give both yourself and your IEM sometime before calling it quit – you might even fall in love w/ that you found to be uncomfortable at first.

[REVIEW] 18 IEM reviewed and compared! (2/11/08)

ClieOS — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:20:41 +0800

I wrote this review for Head-fi.org as I have achieved 1500 post count and earned the title of 'Headphoneus Supremus'. Please bear in mind that this review is based on international (U.S.) price so our local price will be a bit different (more $$$, if you know what I mean). You are welcome to ask any me any question regarding the IEM and how I rank them.

QUOTE

[OPENING] In celebration of all the time I wasted on this little hobby of mine and the post count I thought I won't achieve. here is a review of all the considerably good IEM I own over the years. I started my Head-fi journey in research of my first IEM, and I think this should serve well as my personal testament of sonic progression.

Reviewing gears: Sony D-EJ1000 PCDP’s line-out to Practical Device’s XM3 portable amp with AD8620 installed.

Reviewing CD: Custom made by ripping songs to FLAC than normalized/burnt via Nero9. Two songs with compression artifact included (CD → wma/mp3 → CD).

CD Tracks: [ Love Song - Sara Bareille / Have You Met Miss Jones? – Robbie Williams / Come Away with Me – Norah Jones / I Was Doing Alright – Diana Krall / Nostalgia – Yanni (Yanni Live At the Acropolis) / Not Of This Earth - Robbie Williams / Red Hot – Vanessa-Mea / Maneater – Nelly Furtado (artifact) / 1234 – Feist (artifact) ]

Rating: From one star (★, lowest rating) to five stars (★★★★★, highest rating), including half a star (☆). Criteria include [Packaging / Build Quality / Accessories / Isolation / Microphonics / Comfort / Soundstage / Sound Quality / Value]

IEM have all been burnt-in throughly and will be reviewed in chronological order of purchased date:

Shure E3c (2004)

Variation: E3g, SCL3
Transducer: Single Balanced Armature
Spec: 26Ω (@1kHz) | 25Hz~ 18kHz | 115dB SPL | 28g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.41m~ 1.57m.
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated L style, heavy build.
Eartips Used: Shure Gary Soft Flex
Packaging: ★★★★★
Build Quality: ★★★★★ (heavily build)
Accessories: ★★★★☆ (everything you need is included)
Isolation: ★★★★
Microphonics: ★★ (earbud style) | ★★★★ (over-the-ear style)
Comfort: ★★★ (thick cable is too heavy, plus not memory cable)
Soundstage: ★★☆
Sound Quality: ★★★ (warm, but lack bass and treble)
Value: ★★★ (not the best sounding for its price)
Remark: With sound quality of an entry class IEM, E3c does nothing spectacularly good but comes with a higher-than-competitor’s price. A solid choice 4 yrs ago, but not anymore. The thick cable is quite a burden to use on any wearing style.

Etymotic ER6i (2005)

Variation: Black and white models with different accessories
Transducer: Single Balanced Armature
Spec: 16Ω (@1kHz) | 50Hz~ 16kHz | 108dB SPL | <28g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.40m
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated straight style, light build. (Black model is L plug).
Eartips Used: Tri-flanges
Packaging: ★★★★☆
Build Quality: ★★★★ (light build)
Accessories: ★★★★ (included pouch offers little protection)
Isolation: ★★★★★ (-36dB!!!)
Microphonics: ★★★ (earbud style) | ★★★★★ (w/ shirt clip)
Comfort: ★★★★ (light to wear, but deep inserting eartips)
Soundstage: ★★ (one of Ety’s weak point]
Sound Quality: ★★★ (analytical, bass light but offers great detail)
Value: ★★★★ (cheap street price and great sound when used with foam)
Remark: One of the main competitors with E3c when it was released. Street price is low now which makes it a good choice as entry class IEM. With Shure Black Foam sleeve, the bass problem can be improved. Thin cable but it will harden up in time result in more microphonics.

Creative EP-630 (2006)

Variation: Black and white color, EP-635 (lanyard style).
Transducer: Single 8mm Dynamic
Spec: 16Ω (@1kHz) | 6Hz~ 23kHz | 106dB SPL | 9g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.20m
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated straight style, light build.
Eartips Used: Single flange
Packaging: ★★★
Build Quality: ★★★★ (light build)
Accessories: ★★☆ (nothing but different size eartips)
Isolation: ★★★
Microphonics: ★★★
Comfort: ★★★★★
Soundstage: ★★★
Sound Quality: ★★ (warm, muddy bass without much treble)
Value: ★★☆ (cheap price so there is nothing to expect)
Remark: Except for comfort, there is nothing especially good on EP-630. However with price so low, how can one expect it to sound good? It will serve okay as a cheap backup, but not really a good choice for SQ.

Sennheiser CX300 (2006)

Variation: n/a.
Transducer: Single Dynamic
Spec: 16Ω (@1kHz) | 18Hz~ 21kHz | 112dB SPL | 9g
Cord Style: J-cord, 1.20m
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated L style, normal build.
Eartips Used: Single flange
Packaging: ★★★
Build Quality: ★★★★ (light build)
Accessories: ★★☆ (nothing but different size eartips)
Isolation: ★★★
Microphonics: ★★★
Comfort: ★★★★★
Soundstage: ★★★☆
Sound Quality: ★★☆ (warm, bloated bass)
Value: ★★★ (Get it for cheap than it is a slightly better choice than EP-630)
Remark: The bloated bass is the biggest weakness of CX300. The official price is also too high, but this seems to be very common among Sennheiser’s low end products. With the current low street price, it is a reasonable good backup option.

Altec Lansing ‘InMontion’ iM716 (2007)

Variation: n/a.
Transducer: Single Balanced Armature
Spec: User selectable HD / Bass mode on inline volume control pod
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.40m
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated L style, light build.
Eartips Used: Tri-flanges
Packaging: ★★★★
Build Quality: ★★★★
Accessories: ★★★★☆ (Included case is balky, but functional)
Isolation: ★★★★☆
Microphonics: ★★ (w/o clip) | ★★★★ (w/ clip)
Comfort: ★★★ (not the best to wear because of the inline volume pod)
Soundstage: ★★ (HD mode) | ★★☆ (Bass mod)
Sound Quality: ★★★★ (Analytical, Bass mode adds a bit warmness)
Value: ★★★☆ (One of the best bargain when you find it cheap. Only downfall is it is out of production so don’t expect warranty for long)
Remark: One of the best values in IEM market as dealers are clearing their stock with ultra low price. The volume pod can be mod'ed to give an even better SQ closer to than of ER4P. However, don’t expect Altec Lansing to honor the warranty once you mod it. Will sound really great if you amp it.

CrossRoad MylarOne X3 (2007)

Variation: n/a.
Transducer: Single Dynamic
Spec: n/a
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.20m
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated straight style, light build.
Eartips Used: UE style bi-flange
Packaging: ★★ (very simple package)
Build Quality: ★★☆ (light build, need good care to last)
Accessories: ★★★★☆ (A lot compare to its price)
Isolation: ★★★
Microphonics: ★★ (w/o clip) | ★★★★ (w/ clip)
Comfort: ★★★★☆
Soundstage: ★★★☆
Sound Quality: ★★☆ (balance, a bit bass light, but good detail)
Value: ★★★★ (Cheaper than EP-630 on local price, yet better than CX300)
Remark: Despite the build quality isn’t really good, X3 sounds like a pair of less refine ER6i, and you can’t beat it for the low price and a good solid warranty.

Sleek Audio SA6 (2008)

Variation: n/a.
Transducer: Single Balanced Armature with Custom Porting
Spec: 50Ω (@1kHz) | 110dB SPL
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.15m, Replaceable
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated L style, heavy build.
Eartips Used: bi-flanges
Packaging: ★★★☆
Build Quality: ★★★☆ (there are still room for improvement, but overly good)
Accessories: ★★★★☆ (Included case isn’t very functional)
Isolation: ★★★★★
Microphonics: ★★★ (earbud style) | ★★★★★ (over-the-ear style)
Comfort: ★★★★☆ (one of the most comfortable deep inserting IEM)
Soundstage: ★★★★ (w/ Bass+ port)
Sound Quality: ★★★★☆ (warm, mid centric with some of the best vocal but doesn’t lack bass or treble)
Value: ★★★★ (For $250, I expect a bit better on quality)
Remark: SA6 is a great example of how single BA transducer can sound great. Though the overall quality (both on sound and build) isn’t the best yet (when considering its price), I believe there is still room for improvement as SA6 is the first IEM for Sleek Audio. The custom porting (VQ system) works well. For people who love a warm, full, detail yet musical sound, SA6 just might be the one for you. [UPDATE] To me, SA6 is on the warm side, but not dark. The mid has a full body that is especially good with vocal. The treble (T++ port) reaches quite far and gives enough detail to show some sparkle but not to a point of fatiguing. Bass (on B+ port, pin hole mod) is accurate and fast, though not the best or biggest impact I heard and lack a good resolution on depth, it seems to well suit the full mid. The soundstage is better than most but not the best I heard. All and all, SA6 present a very musical sound that can easily make most music more engaging. I'll say SA6's sound signature is a combination of all the nice characteristics I'll be looking for in a pair of IEM. As of why it falls short of being the best is because, though SA6 is really good sounding, it can still be a bit congesting on busy passage. I think it is because SA6 still lacks the best resolution and the body of sound to be ranked as the best. [EDIT] With some retailers now selling them for only $200, SA6 are now one of the best value IEM in the market IMO.

Head-Direct’s RE2 (2008)

Variation: n/a.
Transducer: Single Dynamic
Spec: 32Ω (@1kHz)
Cord Style: Y-cord, 0.90m.
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated straight style, very light build.
Eartips Used: Big bi-flanges
Packaging: n/a (sampling package)
Build Quality: ★★★★ (solid but nothing spectacular)
Accessories: ★★★☆ (a shirt clip will be nice)
Isolation: ★★★☆ (semi-open design but doesn’t leak sound)
Microphonics: ★★★ (earbud style)
Comfort: ★★★★★
Soundstage: ★★★★☆
Sound Quality: ★★★☆ (analytical, light on bass, clearly a step up from ER6i and approaching the amped iM716)
Value: ★★★★★ (what can a man ask for with such a low price of $99?)
Remark: RE2 sounds like a more refine ER6i. Though not pumping out a lot of bass, the great detail should be more than enough considered it is only $99. The included big bi-flanges really do their job well. Better soundstage and not need for amping make it a better choice over iM716. The only downside is the short cable (plus the included extension cable is quite heavy).

Head-Direct’s RE1 (2008)

Variation: n/a.
Transducer: Single Dynamic
Spec: 150Ω (@1kHz)
Cord Style: Y-cord, 0.90m.
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated straight style, very light build.
Eartips Used: Big bi-flanges
Packaging: n/a (sampling package)
Build Quality: ★★★★ (solid but nothing spectacular)
Accessories: ★★★☆ (a shirt clip will be nice)
Isolation: ★★★☆ (semi-open design but doesn’t leak sound)
Microphonics: ★★★ (earbud style)
Comfort: ★★★★★
Soundstage: ★★★★★ (the best soundstage when amped)
Sound Quality: ★★★★☆ (slightly dark but very smooth and forgiving, must be amped well to reveal its potential. One of the best dynamic I ever heard).
Value: ★★★★☆ (Not getting 5 stars after factor in the price for an amp, but still quite a great deal)
Remark: With a fast and detail amp, RE1 can sound amazingly great, putting it next to some of the best universal IEM in the market. Even after factoring in the price of reasonably good amp (~$150), I still think it is a good deal. If you already have a good amp, than there is no reason why you shouldn’t consider getting a pair of RE1. Mind you the slightly dark SQ means it is not the ultra detail IEM you are looking for. However, It is perfect for those who want a smooth and laid back sounding IEM that you can listen for hours and feel no fatigue at all. Note that RE1 has the same short cable as RE2.

Ultimate Ears’ Triple.fi 10 Pro (2008)

Variation: n/a.
Transducer: Triple Balanced Armature in two ways configuration
Spec: 32Ω (@1kHz) | 10Hz~ 17kHz | 117dB SPL | 16g
Cord Style: Y-cord, 1.10m. Memory cable. Replaceable.
Mini Jack Style: Gold plated L style, heavy build.
Eartips Used: Mod’ed Shure Black Foam
Packaging: ★★★★☆
Build Quality: ★★★★★
Accessories: ★★★★☆ (Included foam are trash)
Isolation: ★★★★ (-26dB, better with foam eartips)
Microphonics: ★★★★★ (over-the-ear style)
Comfort: ★★★☆ (won’t work if you have really small ear canal. Big earpiece)
Soundstage: ★★★★☆ (very good, but not the best. Great instrument separation)
Sound Quality: ★★★★★ (very balance and airy, a slight harshness on treble but fixable by foam).
Value: ★★★★☆ (Not getting 5 stars because I am expecting everything to be perfect but it is not, see remark)
Remark: If you can get a good fit, there is no doubt that TF10 has one of the best SQ in universal IEM. I’ll like to think that I am paying a premier price because everything is best in its class, but it just isn’t so. The foam tips included are basically trash as one of them broke apart even before I fully inserted it onto the IEM, and the other one is even worst as the foam is glued to the silicone tube on the wrong side (the smooth side should be facing the eardrum but it is not). They should have asked Comply to produce the foam instead of making some sub-par accessories themselves.

[REVIEW] Head-Direct's RE1 & RE2 (56K warninig)

ClieOS — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:11:08 +0800

[Disclaimer] I don't have any direct association with Head-Direct, nor am I gaining profit for any sell. I am just one of few on Head-fi.org who received the IEM free for evaluation and review. I have posted my review over at Head-fi.org and thought I'll introduce to my fellow Malaysian audiophiles a new entry of the IEM market as alternative to the big brand name. With that being said, here are my review of both:

The RE2
Early Impression
My initial impression of RE2 is (as I told my brother who just happened to be on my side when I listen to it for the first time): "Wow, this IEM sounds like US$100 kind of 'phones". Mind you, I didn't even know the retail price (or Fang's thread) before I received the package.

Fang told me the retail price after the group buy will be around US$119 - Not a bad price considered its performance so far, definitely fits into my early impression that this shouldn't be a sub$100 IEM. However, those of you who are currently looking for a sub$100 IEM should really get into the group buy (over at Head-fi.org, end @ 25th). For $80, this is a steal.

^ Not much to say about, just an early sampling package

Full Review
A common mistake by many is to automatically associate bad quality with every headphone that labeled 'made in China', despite the fact that most 'phones and parts these days are OEM'ed in China. The fact is, China has one of the largest (if not the largest) and most active headphone industry in the world. A company that is once nameless, like Yuin, can appear suddenly in this land and shock the world with high quality headphones that we have never seen before. This is a true testament showing that even with out any fancy design or material, we can still find the best in sound quality in those 'made-in-China' headphones. However, we are not here to talk about any Yuin, rather a new canalphone from the company which brought Yuin out of China. I present to y'all: Head-Direct's RE2.

As the story went, I was PM'ed a few weeks ago by Fang @ Head-Direct asking if I would like to do some review on what will become his company own IEM (and of course I agreed immediately). It is the same IEM that those of you (refer to head-fi'er) who visited NYC meet last month saw and demo'ed (plus those who were lucky enough to buy it for $50) on Head-Direct's table: The RE2.

Package & Build Quality
The sample package arrived on April Fools' day. Although it was just a sample package with out any fancy box or extra accessory, I was impressed by the really nice finish on the IEM and the material after I took it out.

^ Really looks good in person.

The IEM earpieces resemble the generic design found on many old Sony's IEMs. However, RE2 spots a very classy, glossy piano finish, instead of the dull matte Sony like finish. A chromed plastic vent holes' cover are located on the back of the earpiece to allow air movement (which increase soundstage and bass response, more on this later).

^ Very classy looking with those metal parts on the extension cable, but quite heavy.

As you can see on my pictures, the Y-junction, split-stopper, and as well as both end of the extension cable are made out of nickel plated metal pieces, giving the IEM an even better look. However, I find the extension cable to be a bit over weight (due to the metal) and a bit difficult to use. It tend to weight the whole IEM down (when used together of course) thus making the earpiece fall out from the canal much easily, especially of the single flange. I think either wearing the IEM with shirt clip or in over-the-ear style should fix this.

^ Shiny metal.

The cable used on RE2 is above your average iBud cable's quality. It resembles (though not as high quality as) that has been used on Sennheiser high end MX series - a kind of bendable cable that can afford more wear and tear (see my MX90vc review for more info). The length is on the short side: 100cm (or 40inches) on the main cable and 78cm (or 31 inches) on extension. Personally, I'll like a 120cm (or 48 inches) main cable.

^ iPhone friendly jack.

On a minor note, all the marking on the metal pieces can be easily rubbed off (not that it will affect SQ or what not).

Isolation
Not the strongest point of this RE2. With my own UE bi-flanges, I'll say RE2 is about 3dB less isolation than EP-630 or CX300. The fact that they are semi-open (vent holes, remember?) probably allow more sound to leak-in. Fang has told me the larger bi-flanges in full retail package will provide more isolation, but since I didn't have one to test it out I'll have to wait for Fang to sent me a pair before I draw my conclusion. The good thing is, the isolation is good enough on normal use. Those who do not like to have too much isolation will find RE2 to be just right. Those who do concern about isolation, I'll recommend the Comply T400 foam tips.

[UPDATE]Finally got the bi-flanges Fang send me along with the new RE1. I swap out my UE bi-flange and test it out on the RE2 and the isolation is indeed better. Now it provides roughly 20~23dB of noise reduction (the original tips has about 16~18dB on it). The magic in these bi-flanges lies in the different thickness b/w the first and second flanges: The first flange is soft and comfortable in the canal but not as isolating, while the second flange is thicker thus provides the necessary isolation and shielding the canal opening from the outside. Also worth noting is that the bi-flanges also kick out slightly more bass.

^ These tips work really well.

Sound Quality
The first thing that jumps into my mind on my first audition (before any burn in or knowing its retail price) is, RE2 spots an expensive SQ that separates it from most sub$100 IEM. If I dare to say, this little pair of IEM can provide SQ close to that typically found in the mid-class IEM.

My review rig consists of Sony D-EJ1000 PCDP to Firestone Audio Little Country amp (tweaked for maximize detail/soundstage) via line-out. IEMs of choice for A/Bing are iM716 (original) and SA6 (B+ and T++ ports). RE2 has been burn-in for 50hrs via different genre of music.

Robbie Williams's Have You Met Miss Jones? from album 'Bridget Jones's Diary: Music From The Motion Picture'

As always, iM716 gives the best detail and treble extension. What are lacking are the fullness of Robbie's vocal and a warmer mid-bass transition, even in the Bass mode. Also quite noticeable is the very narrow soundstage.

The fullness of Robbie's vocal has found his way back to the RE2. Bass impact equals (or a bit better than) that of iM716 in HD mode but with a fuller/warmer tone. A highlight on the lower region high emphasizing the saxophone's detail but doesn't extend as far as iM716. A smooth and detail sound that is more fun to listen than iM716 yet preserves enough analytical quality overall.

SA6 is the most sensitive among the three. The treble extension is compatible to that of iM716, but slightly harsher (due to the fact that I am using T++ port. Shouldn't be a problem if T+ port is used). The mid and bass is just spot on. Definitely the best sounding overall among the three.

Sara Bareilles's Bottle It Up from album 'Little Voice'

iM716 performs better on the female's vocal than male's. A sturdy performance resembles that of the first song, but better.

For RE2, the lower high region is noticeably over emphasized, causing a slight harshness to the female vocal. However, the SQ isn't too fatiguing since RE2's treble doesn't go as far.

Harshness on the treble region is worst on SA6 (reason listed on first song).

Diana Krall's Isn't This a Lovely Day from album 'From This Moment On'

iM716 is quite airy, presenting the instrument perfectly on the background. RE2 are warmer thus Diana Krall's is sexier in comparison. Again, SA6 wins this round by giving a sound that is both detail and warm, which is just great on Diana Krall.

Sara Bareilles's Bottle It Up from album 'Little Voice' [Ampless, headphone out from iriver clix (warm), wma vbr on second highest setting]

With out the amp, iM716 takes a major hit on SQ as the lean mid - bass is even leaner now. iM716's sound signature becomes quite dull and lifeless.

For RE2, the lower high region is no longer over emphasized. SQ resembles that of the first song. A sense of airiness can be detected. Better performance than on second song.

SA6 has a full mid that is very different from RE2 airiness. It may be a bit too warm for this particular song (or source). Treble and bass impact are still better than the other two.

Conclusion
Head-Direct's RE2 isn't as detail as iM716, nor is it has a very fun and full sound like that of SA6. However RE2 does have a SQ that compromises the better part of both. It is detail enough to show spark, but not to a point of fatiguing. The bass might not be strong, but it is not lean. The mid has a feeling of airiness in it, but warm enough to still be fun and lively.

All in all, I find RE2 to be a much better IEM than ER6i and unamped iM716, and almost on par with my amped iM716. It might not be able to match up with SA6, but it certainly has a very solid and compatible performance directly out of a DAP. I believe it will be most suitable for those who are looking for a top-end entry class IEM with kind of an analytical SQ, plus a bit of fun element in it. Definitely worth the $119 retail price and it is a steal for the current $80 group buy.

The RE1
In short, if RE2 is intended for the entry/mid class IEM market, RE1 is, without any doubt in my mind, a heavy weight contender for the current top end universal IEM market. RE1 is currently not on sell yet, but I got an estimated price quote from Fang @ Head-Direct that this little baby will likely be sold at around $200, placing it's price tag close to the reign of top end IEMs.

^ Triple.fi10 pro, RE1 and RE2.

Package & Build Quality
As like the RE2, the RE1 I got is just sample package with limited accessories. However, this time Fang did include the special bi-flanges missing from my RE2 package.

^ RE1 with the special bi-flanges.

The basic build quality/ design is equal to that of RE2 (see RE2 review for more detail), except RE1 spots a golden finish instead of the RE2's silver finish. I am not sure whether it is really gold plated or not, but it does look higher in class when compare to RE2. Like RE2, the only complaint I have is the rather short main cable. It would be great if we can get 120cm on it instead of 100cm.

^ Yes, gold is the way to go.

One of the most significant difference b/w RE1 and RE2 is, RE2's impedance is 32ohms but RE1 is 150ohms - with that saying, yes, RE1 really shine when paired with amp (more on this later).

^ The slightly heavy extension cable, same as the one with RE2.

Isolation
Also equal to RE2, which is roughly 20~23dB of noise reduction on the special bi-flanges. Although not as highly isolated as many other IEMs, RE1 is more than adequate for use on busy street. Like the RE2, the new Comply T400 will also fit on RE1 and give even better isolation.

Sound Quality
Same as my review of RE2, my rig consists of Sony D-EJ1000 PCDP to Firestone Audio Little Country amp (tweaked for maximize detail/soundstage) via line-out. IEMs of choice for A/Bing are iM716 (original), SA6 (B+ and T++ ports), and the addition of my newly acquired Triple.fi 10 pro. RE1 has been burn-in for around 35hrs via different genre of music so far. I don't think extra burn-in time will significantly change the SQ, so I decided 35hrs is good enough.

Robbie Williams's Have You Met Miss Jones? from album 'Bridget Jones's Diary: Music From The Motion Picture'

Like last time, iM716 give great detail, but lack in mid-bass and soundtage.

SA6 is harsher on treble but give great detail as iM716. Mid and bass is warm and present with a pretty good soundstage.

TF10 too shows great detail, but sound a lot smoother than SA6. It also have a fuller body but the bass is slightly less punchy / tight as SA6. Great soundstage and instruments separation with a sense of airiness to it

RE1 also has a very full sounding body. Although pretty detail, the treble is definitely recessed in comparison to TF10. Great soundstage, just a tad less than TF10. Instrument separation not as good as TF10 but it does sound smoother. Bass is slightly punchier than TF10, almost close to that of SA6.

Sara Bareilles's Bottle It Up from album 'Little Voice'

iM716 perform better with this song, especially on bring out the detail. Female 's vocal definitely is better on iM716 than male's.

SA6 becomes a bit too harsh on treble on this song.

TF10 doesn't sound as detail as iM716, but more than enough and not as fatiguing.

RE1 doesn't sound as full and clear as TF10 on this song (perhaps it is the lack of spark) , but everything else is almost as good.

Diana Krall's Isn't This a Lovely Day from album 'From This Moment On'

Again, iM716 is quite airy, presenting the instrument perfectly on the background.

SA6 is just as detail, but with a warmer, more Diana like mid-bass. Has a slight airiness to it's sound.

TF10 is smoother than SA on treble, but also has a warm tone to its mid-bass. Fuller body than SA6 but not as punchy on bass. Vocal is more refined and detail. The best performance out of the four.

RE1 doesn't sound as warm as SA6 or TF10. It also doesn't sound as detail as SA6 but with a fuller body. However, there seems to be more emphasis on mid-high than on mid-bass, and make me a bit wanting.

Sara Bareilles's Bottle It Up from album 'Little Voice' [Ampless, headphone out from iriver clix (warm), wma vbr on second highest setting]

Neither iM716 nor SA6 perform very well on this setting (reason see RE2 review). In comparison, I can easily notice all the missing note / artifacts from the lossy music file with TF10, even though the music still sound pretty good overall. Re1 isn't as picky as TF10, but more power demanding. Turning up the volume and RE1 sounds absolutely the best out of the four.

Conclusion
If RE2 is like Yuin PK3, which sounds pretty good with most unamped DAP, than I guess RE1 is like PK1, which sounds very good unamped and fabulously great amped. It has no doubt a very high impedance, but you should be able to use it unamped, just not as good as when you amped it.

Out of the three I compare it to, I find RE1 (when amped) to be almost as good as TF10, out performing SA6 in general and smoking iM716 with out a doubt. Even when use with out an amp, RE1 is still as good, if not better than my SA6 (just not as detail) - plus it is very forgiving, so you can pair it with most of any source, especially with lossy music. However, a brighter source will be more suitable as RE1 seems to be a bit recessed on treble.

Overall, I think RE1 will prove to be a worthy competitor on the current top end universal IEMs' world. It certainly has impressed me

[Impression / Pictures] Travagan's Colors

ClieOS — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:08:32 +0800

I get one of these because I need something small enough to be placed in my pocket together with my DAP while I am moving around the house. Kind of an ultra-portable solution.

Here are some spec:
No volume control (designed to be used with DAP's phone-out)
Rechargeable Li-ion battery, 100mAH, 3.7V (last 12 ~18 months, replacement plan in future)
Operation over 24hrs in single charge (4hrs to full in first charge)
16ohms / 80mW max on each channels
10Hz~55KHz ; -/+ 1dB (32 ohms Loading)
Fixed gain of 2.5
Charged via mini-USB (w/ overcharge protection)
Switch on/off automatically when headphone is inserted/removed.
Four different colors: Green, red, gray, white.

Accessories:
Leather case
Two interconnecting cables (10cm + 60cm)
lanyard cable
Three sized elastic bands
Mini-USB cable

^you can take the whole PCB out, but quite difficult to put back in. Unknown opamp.

For something that cost me only ~US$50, the Travagan's Colors certainly comes with a lots of goodies.

Sonic impression: (iriver clix2, flat EQ)
While Colors is probably one of the best looking/packaged small amp around, it is not designed to compete with other larger sized counterparts. I use it to drive my PK1, iM716 (HD mode) and MX90vc. A quick A/B-ing reveals that Colors is less detail and, more noticeably, less in the bass department when compare to other portable amps I have. This result is of course expected, when giving the consideration of its small size.

For all the three 'phones, iM716 is the most difficult to drive (probably better off with Bass mode, or amped Bass mode); PK1 sounds better, but still lack a bit in bass for my desire. MX90vc sounds pretty good, definitely improved the most out of the three. Over all, I think the improved SQ of (PK1 + Colors) is acceptable, especially if EQ to increase the treble and bass response. However, you will get the best result with a more sensitive 'phone (than PK1).

IMO, Travagan's Colors will be good as an inexpensive startup amp for newbie. For those who are serious about getting into the headphone amp market, you can probably find a better sounding DIY'ed amp on the same price range (just less colorful and not as many accessories). For me, it will be my ultra-portable solution from now on

+Small size, great for small DAP w/o line-out
+Great accessories
+Rechargeable
+Good minimalistic design
+Improves SQ over most DAPs' headphone-out
-Could get better SQ from (larger) amp of same price
-Less suitable for very demanding headphones

Summery:
Great as a startup amp or ultra-portable solution for DAPs with small output (as it has intended to be), but won't replace any larger portable amps any time soon.

Possible auditioning @ Jaben.net, any interested?

ClieOS — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:17:48 +0800

Hello to you all,

Here is the thing: while I am the newbie around here (seriously, I am mostly here just for the pricelist on front page ), I do know a few members here from Head-fi.org / Jaben.net (and perhaps, on some iriver forum). As a fellow headphones lover, a Malaysian, and a moderator of Jaben.net, I was given a simple task:

I am here to ask you a question: Assuming you are living in the Selangor region (doesn't have to be specific or bonded to), will you be interested in coming to visit Jaben.net @ Singapore for auditioning headphones? Of course, you will need some free time, a valid passport, and maybe some money (for your own living expense).

The reason (of me asking the question) is, during a recent forum discussion, I made some comment about me not being able to visit Jaben.net as much as I like (well, I am quite busy at home). So Uncle Wilson (owner of Jaben.net) got the idea of sponsoring airline tickets to a few Malaysians to visit Jaben.net (Singapore) for headphones audition, that is, if enough people is showing interest. Lets me make it clear (in case you are wondering if I am trying to spam you or something): You don't need to buy anything from Uncle Wilson, nor is he doing this for a profit; It is only an act of his generosity/good will.

We are still in the beginning stage of organizing the audition, so nothing is written in the stone yet. However, if enough interest has been shown, a lucky draw might take place on Jaben.net's forum (opening to Malaysian members only) to select a few for free tickets (at this point, most likely be airline ticket, but not limit to) to visit Jaben.net.

Again, I am only here to see if any of you be interested in such an event if Uncle Wilson is willing to sponsor the transportation fee, so what say you?

Stay tuned as I'll update this thread for any further development. Thanks.

Regard,
ClieOS

* btw, I'll apologize to the mod team in advance if I am posting in the wrong place or violating any rules. Please feel free to contact me if any of you is in doubt.