Reviews by Tanalasta
Ode to Laura
From Eletech
Housed within the Flagships of Eletech ‘Parnassus’, the "𝐎𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚" features a fully maxed, triple bespoke copper configuration in 22awg geometry.
- 𝟐𝟐 𝐀𝐖𝐆, 𝟒 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞
- 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐎𝐂𝐂 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝
- 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧
- 𝟗 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐳, 𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝
- 𝐎𝐅𝐂 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
- 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝
- 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫
- 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐘-𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬
- 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Disclaimer and conflict of interest:
Cables are a personal thing. The synergy with an IEM can be either predictable or unpredictable. This is not an apologetic disclaimer. Even blind i.e. not knowing anything about a cable - the sonic characteristics are consistent and reproducible between multiple people. This is what I hear. Not everyone can discern the nuances. If you're exploring Ode to Laura, you probably can.
The cable is my personal cable for which I paid the asking price from my dealer.
I am told three different copper materials were sent around to some trusted Audiophiles/Head-Fi members for feedback during development. In the end, a complex hybrid of the materials to integrate the strengths of each were used in the final release.
Unboxing:
An exciting day of arrivals.
Absolutely beautiful unboxing experience.
I did not receive the "coin" - I assume by cable 432 they probably ran out.
The box is tastefully designed and included was the gorgeous IEM and cable case for which Eletech are well known for.
How does it sound?
These are cross posted in the Eletech thread
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ele...cussions-thread.919228/page-375#post-18125488
It is a noticeable improvement from Raphael which is my pick from the Virtues series.
Raphael was still slightly warm in a nice way. But not as full/rich as the OEM MestIII stock cable. Mids become more prominent and forward, especially the upper mids. Space and separation were quite capable with adequate detail retrieval. My comments were "would be a very respectable cable and a good pairing for IEM's that are not too bright". It is technically capable and balanced enough that it would pair well with many IEM's. I would safely recommend trialling Raphael as an introduction into cable upgrades.
Brief comparisons with Ode to Laura and Sonnet of Adam
Ode to Laura is my favourite Eletech cable. I own it and have it paired with Spartacus. There's an immediately noticeable improvement in the techs. Soundstage layering, holographic placement. Soundstage is not as wide or spacious as Sonnet to Adam and I actually thought they sounded very different. There's still a nicely balanced copper warmth to the low-mid end. I note a slight bass lift. Bass is tighter and well controlled, with detailed texture. There's a slight prominence to the vocal upper mids and it almost hones in on that frequency spectrum on Mest III that is harder to describe. OTL made me think it was SPC rather than OCC.
SP3000 + Orphy Shielded IC (which lends a subtle full but laid back and analogue tuning) + MK475 + Spartacus
Paired to Spartacus OTL was synergistically excellent. Tonality was well balanced. I look for that "X" factor in tonality, timbre, balance and complexity and this was very fine. Again, bass is authoritative and well controlled. Even for BA bass with relatively fast decay. OTL improves the quality and impact of the bass without any sense of excess weight or loss of clarity. Mids are again slightly forward and comments similar to previous. For the Hong Kong crowd (香港人) I very much enjoy this pairing with Jackie Chung.
Treble is very much controlled and reasonably extended without brightness. Not as rich as Euclid in scale.
Sonnet of Adam was technically excellent, less coloured than OTL but without the vocal prominence on the upper mids. It was less dense. Musical but in a more neutral sense. Layering, OTL does very well but SOA is very, very close. Smooth but clean and transitions really well. The treble sparkle and air is very well done without any sibilance. On MEST III it's near the upper limits of my preference (Elyisian Annihilator is also close) but without as much of the low-mid emphasis the upper registers shine. Staging is wide and magnificent.
Versa system means that Eletech cables will be compatible with 2-pin and MMCX (e.g. campfire) audio IEM's. Pentacon Ear for Elysian IEM's have just been released. The Versa kit means you can possibly ask your favourite custom cable manufacturer to give them ago.
Conclusion
I associate the Eletech house sound as technically excellent with clarity, detail and well controlled treble + extension being strengths. OTL has an authoritative bass lift, slam and impact that is textured, controlled but not floaty at the same time. There is no muddiness or excess weight with OTL. Sound is musical with excellent dynamics, a true Ode to Laura. There is a subtle coloration compared to the more neutral/natural tuning of Sonnet to Adam which I have grown to enjoy greatly.
It pairs very well with IEM's such as XE6 and Spartacus.
From Eletech
Housed within the Flagships of Eletech ‘Parnassus’, the "𝐎𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚" features a fully maxed, triple bespoke copper configuration in 22awg geometry.
- 𝟐𝟐 𝐀𝐖𝐆, 𝟒 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞
- 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐎𝐂𝐂 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝
- 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧
- 𝟗 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐳, 𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝
- 𝐎𝐅𝐂 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
- 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝
- 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫
- 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐘-𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬
- 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Disclaimer and conflict of interest:
Cables are a personal thing. The synergy with an IEM can be either predictable or unpredictable. This is not an apologetic disclaimer. Even blind i.e. not knowing anything about a cable - the sonic characteristics are consistent and reproducible between multiple people. This is what I hear. Not everyone can discern the nuances. If you're exploring Ode to Laura, you probably can.
The cable is my personal cable for which I paid the asking price from my dealer.
I am told three different copper materials were sent around to some trusted Audiophiles/Head-Fi members for feedback during development. In the end, a complex hybrid of the materials to integrate the strengths of each were used in the final release.
Unboxing:
An exciting day of arrivals.
Absolutely beautiful unboxing experience.
I did not receive the "coin" - I assume by cable 432 they probably ran out.
The box is tastefully designed and included was the gorgeous IEM and cable case for which Eletech are well known for.
How does it sound?
These are cross posted in the Eletech thread
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ele...cussions-thread.919228/page-375#post-18125488
It is a noticeable improvement from Raphael which is my pick from the Virtues series.
Raphael was still slightly warm in a nice way. But not as full/rich as the OEM MestIII stock cable. Mids become more prominent and forward, especially the upper mids. Space and separation were quite capable with adequate detail retrieval. My comments were "would be a very respectable cable and a good pairing for IEM's that are not too bright". It is technically capable and balanced enough that it would pair well with many IEM's. I would safely recommend trialling Raphael as an introduction into cable upgrades.
Brief comparisons with Ode to Laura and Sonnet of Adam
Ode to Laura is my favourite Eletech cable. I own it and have it paired with Spartacus. There's an immediately noticeable improvement in the techs. Soundstage layering, holographic placement. Soundstage is not as wide or spacious as Sonnet to Adam and I actually thought they sounded very different. There's still a nicely balanced copper warmth to the low-mid end. I note a slight bass lift. Bass is tighter and well controlled, with detailed texture. There's a slight prominence to the vocal upper mids and it almost hones in on that frequency spectrum on Mest III that is harder to describe. OTL made me think it was SPC rather than OCC.
SP3000 + Orphy Shielded IC (which lends a subtle full but laid back and analogue tuning) + MK475 + Spartacus
Paired to Spartacus OTL was synergistically excellent. Tonality was well balanced. I look for that "X" factor in tonality, timbre, balance and complexity and this was very fine. Again, bass is authoritative and well controlled. Even for BA bass with relatively fast decay. OTL improves the quality and impact of the bass without any sense of excess weight or loss of clarity. Mids are again slightly forward and comments similar to previous. For the Hong Kong crowd (香港人) I very much enjoy this pairing with Jackie Chung.
Treble is very much controlled and reasonably extended without brightness. Not as rich as Euclid in scale.
Sonnet of Adam was technically excellent, less coloured than OTL but without the vocal prominence on the upper mids. It was less dense. Musical but in a more neutral sense. Layering, OTL does very well but SOA is very, very close. Smooth but clean and transitions really well. The treble sparkle and air is very well done without any sibilance. On MEST III it's near the upper limits of my preference (Elyisian Annihilator is also close) but without as much of the low-mid emphasis the upper registers shine. Staging is wide and magnificent.
Versa system means that Eletech cables will be compatible with 2-pin and MMCX (e.g. campfire) audio IEM's. Pentacon Ear for Elysian IEM's have just been released. The Versa kit means you can possibly ask your favourite custom cable manufacturer to give them ago.
Conclusion
I associate the Eletech house sound as technically excellent with clarity, detail and well controlled treble + extension being strengths. OTL has an authoritative bass lift, slam and impact that is textured, controlled but not floaty at the same time. There is no muddiness or excess weight with OTL. Sound is musical with excellent dynamics, a true Ode to Laura. There is a subtle coloration compared to the more neutral/natural tuning of Sonnet to Adam which I have grown to enjoy greatly.
It pairs very well with IEM's such as XE6 and Spartacus.
Symphonium Crimson
Symphonium’s latest IEM. Crimson. BA driver with 4-way crossover. The exact driver configuration is not published on the website. Which is surprising as many IEM manufacturers are transparent with what is inside. *Edit: Now confirmed 4BA*
This was loaned as part of the Australian Tour. Many thanks to Symphonium and the organiser of the tour. It will be passed on after the tour period and there is no conflict of interest.
I deliberately avoided forum discussion, reviews or the product webpage and therefore did not know much about the IEM until after I formed my initial impressions.
Packaging and inclusions:
Aluminium circular IEM case with a screw-top lid. It is very tightly held in place in the box. I did not remove it to avoid damaging the packaging on the tour unit.
The usual cleaning tools though with the protective grill on the short nozzle it is unlikely to be necessary.
The included cable is 26 AWG OCC Copper Litz Novaron. Square braid. Ergonomic, flexible with no microphonics. A marked improvement to the feel of PWA cables on other IEM. Sonically “fine” with a 2-pin connector and on-par to better than most at this price tier.
The only cable roll was to a Mira cable (the cost of which exceeded that of the whole IEM package). Timbre and the richness of the sound was much improved although the soundstage became more spherical and intimate.
The cable is terminated in 4.4mm with the option of swapping (in the box) to an unbalanced 3.5mm plug via a 2 pin connection. Ingenious.
A digression on tips
A tray of Azla Sedna Standard & Divinius Velvet tips are included. Tips and fit are an much underrated aspect of IEM sonic performance and tuning. As well as highly individual.
The Azla Sedna tips are the sonically more neutral of the two. The Velvet tips have a mild bass emphasis and roll back the brightness. But are more closed than the Azla.
The Azla standard difficult to put on (I had to invert them). Slippery things too. Inverted the cups first to make it easier.
Alternatives:
Azla SednaEarfit Crystal does emphasise the low mids and bass tuning of the IEM.
Xelastcs are safe and I find pair well with almost all IEM’s with minimal coloration. These ended up being my preferred tips for Crimson.
Azla Sedna Max another (more expensive) alternative. These are medical grade silicone and not dissimilar to the W1 in comfort. They are less bright than W1, with less treble sparkle and more of a bass emphasis. And a narrower soundstage.
Initially, I used a pair of new W1 tips simply out of personal preference. They are technically excellent and top tier for comfort. But don’t necessarily pair well with already bright IEM’s. I do not recommend them for the Crimson.
IEM Appearance:
With top end IEM’s trying to outdo each other with fancy enclosures, this is a straightforward aluminium alloy with a forged carbon faceplate. Edges rounded. Relatively light. Comfortable. Short but thick nozzle. And with the flexible cable ergonomics, it is one of the more comfortable IEM’s on the market. I had no issues wearing these for an extended listen.
Initial impressions:
Source:
1. 2Go/Hugo2. Set the bar high to see what the IEM’s are capable of.
2. Sp2000 alone and then 6V line out to Cayin C9, Solid State/Tube, Class A.
Described as W shaped with the bass and mids and then a safe tail treble. Mids forward. Somewhat bright and therefore potentially fatiguing with the wrong source or tip. An idiosyncrasy in tuning rather than a fault. After all, my Utopia OG and LCD-5 have similar tuning characteristics.
After some hours of experimenting, I preferred the Sp2000 + Cayin C9 in Tube mode, Class A with Azla Sedna Xelastec tips. It did take several hours of listening and adjusting to the tuning before I was happy with them.
Soundstage and Technicalities:
Soundstage out left/right rather than spherical. Height and depth average if under-driven. Not as wide or airy as Andromeda 2020. Mest III is superior to both but not by much. Both of these IEM’s are strong for their respective era and price point.
I do prefer a more holographic soundstage.
Clarity and detail are acceptable. Separation is very good. I can easily discern individual notes listening to Piano Guys. Timbre is mostly natural and pleasant.
Driveability: Crimson likes power. It isn’t the easiest to drive to full potential. 85+ on the SP2000 was ‘okay’. Technical aspects and especially dynamics, soundstage, bass presentation are much improved if you have a portable amplifier or a DAP that can drive these to full potential.
Treble: Safe. Present. Extension is fine. No flaws. Improves when driven well. Cymbals can be sharp.
Mids: Vocals are a strength. Forward, somewhat intimate. Lovely presentation. Except when overwhelmed by the bass / low mid emphasis. Track dependent.
Bass: Symphonium tout “a dynamic bass presentation, reminiscent of high end speaker configurations”. For a (assuming) 4BA driver IEM, the bass is certainly present. It is satisfactory and I would rate it as A tier for a BA IEM. As mentioned above, a portable amplifier significantly improves the bass presentation and impact.
As someone used to Trialii and MEST III tuning, I find the bass emphasis just a tad prominent by a 1-2 dB. However, this is a personal preference and many prefer a less neutral tuning than I do. My music preferences lean towards acoustic vocals and classical crossover. It is not an uncommon tuning trait amongst IEM's and headphones and the tuning may appeal to many.
Dynamics and presence significantly improved with the Cayin C9. Subtle BA timbre to the bass.
BA Timbre: I’m sensitive to BA timbre. It is that subtly “plastic” like sound. I notice it particularly with piano and percussion. Yes, it is present. But subtle and a non-issue really. No driver flex in the tour IEM and I’m not aware that it is an issue for Crimson.
Short impressions
These are the first songs I played when I did my first serious listen.
Taylor Swift. Blank Space. Snare drums. Sharp. Mid-forward vocals are where I enjoy the Crimson.
Bon Jovi. It’s my life. 2003 Acoustic Version. Smooth male vocals. Lovely timbre. Still a tad bright. Low mids and bass have a richness that are a strength, especially for a BA only IEM.
Bon Jovi. Living’ On A Prayer. Drum and triangle easily placed. instrument placement and separation easy to discern. Though the DAC plays a significant contribution here. Technically a capable IEM.
Eagles. Hotel California. The Velvet tips do mute the sparkle on the guitar intro. On the SP2000/C9/Xelastec the guitar sounds fine. Doesn't quite have the sparkle or x-factor guitar timbre I'm used to.
Same comments with Taylor Swift, Love story. The bass guitar and drums slightly overwhelmed Tay Tay's vocals. Crimson does better with acoustic vocals where there is less emphasis on bass.
EDM/Trance: Underwhelming if underdriven. Depends on how bright the synth is as to whether you like what you hear. Once amplified, prominent bass and low mids. Speed and accuracy are okay but I wouldn’t priortise Crimson if you don't have the power to drive Crimson properly.
DAP rolling:
SP2000: Flatter than the Hugo2. Technically excellent. I use the SP2000 for it’s neutrality so the IEM can show it’s colours.
Comparisons:
Andromeda 2020. Airy, wider soundstage. Also less exciting and forward. Natural mids and vocals. Very clean, transparent and detailed. Neutral tuning without coloration. And bass. Well what bass? Crimson is definitely more fun, dynamic and engaging.
Mest III: Mest has driver flex. Which I’m at a loss how that is acceptable in any IEM. However, technically more capable. Doesn’t have as much of that bright peak. Nor the degree or bass emphasis. Bass is tighter and controlled. Cleaner than Crimson.
I prefer MEST III on Crimson. But If you like the MEST III (and it is readily available on the second hand market) the Crimson should also be on your radar. Crimson is more dynamic and impactful. I find it more engaging. But I prefer MEST III technical aspects, multi-driver implementation and balance.
Storm: “It’s new, it’s fresh… it is the new standard but I much rather prefer to call it the new benchmark” to quote the Crimson website. Perhaps an exaggeration as it better applies to the Symphonium Storm.
Not even a comparison. Take a reference IEM to S tier in all aspects. Pair to a multi-kilobuck cable and finishing. No offensive colouration or peaks. Storm is to date, the most capable IEM I have heard.
Conclusion:
Crimson is a capable, modern BA IEM. The brightness can be mostly mitigated with tip and source matching. It is technically very capable and engaging. Bass is very good for a BA only IEM. Personally I find it prominent although my vibe is that Symphonium deliberately tuned the Crimson this way.
I suspect Symphonium learnt a lot from Storm’s development and this trickled down to Crimson but with a less neutral tuning.
Crimson is underwhelming if not properly driven.
I would suggest trialling a variety of tips with the Crimson and a quality portable amplifier if you have a DAP with an average amplifier stage. It took me some hours to get it right. I prefer the standard Azla tips over the Velvets.
For its tier it should well be worth an audition.
Symphonium’s latest IEM. Crimson. BA driver with 4-way crossover. The exact driver configuration is not published on the website. Which is surprising as many IEM manufacturers are transparent with what is inside. *Edit: Now confirmed 4BA*
This was loaned as part of the Australian Tour. Many thanks to Symphonium and the organiser of the tour. It will be passed on after the tour period and there is no conflict of interest.
I deliberately avoided forum discussion, reviews or the product webpage and therefore did not know much about the IEM until after I formed my initial impressions.
Packaging and inclusions:
Aluminium circular IEM case with a screw-top lid. It is very tightly held in place in the box. I did not remove it to avoid damaging the packaging on the tour unit.
The usual cleaning tools though with the protective grill on the short nozzle it is unlikely to be necessary.
The included cable is 26 AWG OCC Copper Litz Novaron. Square braid. Ergonomic, flexible with no microphonics. A marked improvement to the feel of PWA cables on other IEM. Sonically “fine” with a 2-pin connector and on-par to better than most at this price tier.
The only cable roll was to a Mira cable (the cost of which exceeded that of the whole IEM package). Timbre and the richness of the sound was much improved although the soundstage became more spherical and intimate.
The cable is terminated in 4.4mm with the option of swapping (in the box) to an unbalanced 3.5mm plug via a 2 pin connection. Ingenious.
A digression on tips
A tray of Azla Sedna Standard & Divinius Velvet tips are included. Tips and fit are an much underrated aspect of IEM sonic performance and tuning. As well as highly individual.
The Azla Sedna tips are the sonically more neutral of the two. The Velvet tips have a mild bass emphasis and roll back the brightness. But are more closed than the Azla.
The Azla standard difficult to put on (I had to invert them). Slippery things too. Inverted the cups first to make it easier.
Alternatives:
Azla SednaEarfit Crystal does emphasise the low mids and bass tuning of the IEM.
Xelastcs are safe and I find pair well with almost all IEM’s with minimal coloration. These ended up being my preferred tips for Crimson.
Azla Sedna Max another (more expensive) alternative. These are medical grade silicone and not dissimilar to the W1 in comfort. They are less bright than W1, with less treble sparkle and more of a bass emphasis. And a narrower soundstage.
Initially, I used a pair of new W1 tips simply out of personal preference. They are technically excellent and top tier for comfort. But don’t necessarily pair well with already bright IEM’s. I do not recommend them for the Crimson.
IEM Appearance:
With top end IEM’s trying to outdo each other with fancy enclosures, this is a straightforward aluminium alloy with a forged carbon faceplate. Edges rounded. Relatively light. Comfortable. Short but thick nozzle. And with the flexible cable ergonomics, it is one of the more comfortable IEM’s on the market. I had no issues wearing these for an extended listen.
Initial impressions:
Source:
1. 2Go/Hugo2. Set the bar high to see what the IEM’s are capable of.
2. Sp2000 alone and then 6V line out to Cayin C9, Solid State/Tube, Class A.
Described as W shaped with the bass and mids and then a safe tail treble. Mids forward. Somewhat bright and therefore potentially fatiguing with the wrong source or tip. An idiosyncrasy in tuning rather than a fault. After all, my Utopia OG and LCD-5 have similar tuning characteristics.
After some hours of experimenting, I preferred the Sp2000 + Cayin C9 in Tube mode, Class A with Azla Sedna Xelastec tips. It did take several hours of listening and adjusting to the tuning before I was happy with them.
Soundstage and Technicalities:
Soundstage out left/right rather than spherical. Height and depth average if under-driven. Not as wide or airy as Andromeda 2020. Mest III is superior to both but not by much. Both of these IEM’s are strong for their respective era and price point.
I do prefer a more holographic soundstage.
Clarity and detail are acceptable. Separation is very good. I can easily discern individual notes listening to Piano Guys. Timbre is mostly natural and pleasant.
Driveability: Crimson likes power. It isn’t the easiest to drive to full potential. 85+ on the SP2000 was ‘okay’. Technical aspects and especially dynamics, soundstage, bass presentation are much improved if you have a portable amplifier or a DAP that can drive these to full potential.
Treble: Safe. Present. Extension is fine. No flaws. Improves when driven well. Cymbals can be sharp.
Mids: Vocals are a strength. Forward, somewhat intimate. Lovely presentation. Except when overwhelmed by the bass / low mid emphasis. Track dependent.
Bass: Symphonium tout “a dynamic bass presentation, reminiscent of high end speaker configurations”. For a (assuming) 4BA driver IEM, the bass is certainly present. It is satisfactory and I would rate it as A tier for a BA IEM. As mentioned above, a portable amplifier significantly improves the bass presentation and impact.
As someone used to Trialii and MEST III tuning, I find the bass emphasis just a tad prominent by a 1-2 dB. However, this is a personal preference and many prefer a less neutral tuning than I do. My music preferences lean towards acoustic vocals and classical crossover. It is not an uncommon tuning trait amongst IEM's and headphones and the tuning may appeal to many.
Dynamics and presence significantly improved with the Cayin C9. Subtle BA timbre to the bass.
BA Timbre: I’m sensitive to BA timbre. It is that subtly “plastic” like sound. I notice it particularly with piano and percussion. Yes, it is present. But subtle and a non-issue really. No driver flex in the tour IEM and I’m not aware that it is an issue for Crimson.
Short impressions
These are the first songs I played when I did my first serious listen.
Taylor Swift. Blank Space. Snare drums. Sharp. Mid-forward vocals are where I enjoy the Crimson.
Bon Jovi. It’s my life. 2003 Acoustic Version. Smooth male vocals. Lovely timbre. Still a tad bright. Low mids and bass have a richness that are a strength, especially for a BA only IEM.
Bon Jovi. Living’ On A Prayer. Drum and triangle easily placed. instrument placement and separation easy to discern. Though the DAC plays a significant contribution here. Technically a capable IEM.
Eagles. Hotel California. The Velvet tips do mute the sparkle on the guitar intro. On the SP2000/C9/Xelastec the guitar sounds fine. Doesn't quite have the sparkle or x-factor guitar timbre I'm used to.
Same comments with Taylor Swift, Love story. The bass guitar and drums slightly overwhelmed Tay Tay's vocals. Crimson does better with acoustic vocals where there is less emphasis on bass.
EDM/Trance: Underwhelming if underdriven. Depends on how bright the synth is as to whether you like what you hear. Once amplified, prominent bass and low mids. Speed and accuracy are okay but I wouldn’t priortise Crimson if you don't have the power to drive Crimson properly.
DAP rolling:
SP2000: Flatter than the Hugo2. Technically excellent. I use the SP2000 for it’s neutrality so the IEM can show it’s colours.
Comparisons:
Andromeda 2020. Airy, wider soundstage. Also less exciting and forward. Natural mids and vocals. Very clean, transparent and detailed. Neutral tuning without coloration. And bass. Well what bass? Crimson is definitely more fun, dynamic and engaging.
Mest III: Mest has driver flex. Which I’m at a loss how that is acceptable in any IEM. However, technically more capable. Doesn’t have as much of that bright peak. Nor the degree or bass emphasis. Bass is tighter and controlled. Cleaner than Crimson.
I prefer MEST III on Crimson. But If you like the MEST III (and it is readily available on the second hand market) the Crimson should also be on your radar. Crimson is more dynamic and impactful. I find it more engaging. But I prefer MEST III technical aspects, multi-driver implementation and balance.
Storm: “It’s new, it’s fresh… it is the new standard but I much rather prefer to call it the new benchmark” to quote the Crimson website. Perhaps an exaggeration as it better applies to the Symphonium Storm.
Not even a comparison. Take a reference IEM to S tier in all aspects. Pair to a multi-kilobuck cable and finishing. No offensive colouration or peaks. Storm is to date, the most capable IEM I have heard.
Conclusion:
Crimson is a capable, modern BA IEM. The brightness can be mostly mitigated with tip and source matching. It is technically very capable and engaging. Bass is very good for a BA only IEM. Personally I find it prominent although my vibe is that Symphonium deliberately tuned the Crimson this way.
I suspect Symphonium learnt a lot from Storm’s development and this trickled down to Crimson but with a less neutral tuning.
Crimson is underwhelming if not properly driven.
I would suggest trialling a variety of tips with the Crimson and a quality portable amplifier if you have a DAP with an average amplifier stage. It took me some hours to get it right. I prefer the standard Azla tips over the Velvets.
For its tier it should well be worth an audition.
Cayin Fantasy Review
Cayin Fantasy Tour
I thank Cayin for including me on the Asia-Pacific Tour as advertised for head-fi. This is my first headphone tour. I generally post impressions rather than a full review.
The only mandate was to write a review and participate in the Cayin impression thread. I have no other conflict of interest and the Fantasy will be posted to the next tour member this week.
Specifications
Specifications (from Cayin)
https://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=136
Cayin Fantasy Single Dynamic Drive IEM
Burn-in:
I listened to a variety of my other headphones during my time with the Fantasy. However, subjectively I did note that the treble peak and harshness softened ; as did the forwardness of the mid(s) over the time I had the Fantasy. Burn-in occurred mostly by listening.
Other notable Reviews
https://twister6.com/2021/06/02/cayin-fantasy/
https://headfonics.com/cayin-fantasy-review/
Packaging and accessories
https://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=136
Others above have described a well packaged, compartmentalised cardboard experience. Please see Cayin’s link for included accessories.
Cayin supply 12 pair of eartips (S,M,L). There are balanced, vocal, bass and foam. I am not one to tip-roll once I settle on the best fit.
I much preferred the balanced ear tips (large) which were a comfortable fit with no seal issues. I have the fortune of having little difficulty with stock tips usually ML or L depending on brand.
Construction quality and build
This cannot be faulted. Made in China is no longer a moniker for anything other than TOTL Chi-Fi build at this level. Build quality and feel are top end. I love the heft of the Stainless steel although as the housing is smaller than my Andromeda, they fit well without being weighty. Appears well made and the 2 pin cable junction sturdy. The cable is well made as are the protruding connectors which friction fit without issue. There was no issue with microphonics.
In the ear, they are relatively comfortable. The low-profile sits well within the ear and I was able to side-sleep on my Tempur pillow with these on.
Source Pairings:
Fiio m11 Pro with 4.4mm balanced cable
Astell and Kern SP2000 with 4.4mm balanced cable and effect audio adapter
2Go / Hugo2 with PWA RCA to 4.4mm adapter and 4.4mm balanced cable +/- C9
Chord Hugo TT2 with stock 3.5mm TRS cable
Sound Impressions:
Initial impressions are mostly positive (from a m11 pro followed by the Hugo2/2go to bring out some warmth and apply the HF roll off filter). The Fantasy paired well with the m11 Pro which I did the most listening with and from which the below impressions are based upon.
Lovely air between notes. Does Piano reasonably well. I question whether silver is really necessary though as the IEM approaches bright. There is sibilance with “s” and lisps, snares, cymbals. This did improve over 20+ hours. But did not go away. However, I suspect the sound may approach fatiguing for some. Even after burn-in, the prominent forward mids and bright presentation were notable as the Fantasy sound.
Timbre is “fun”. Forward, dynamic mids in keeping with beryllium and a dynamic driver. Not muddy at all. There’s a subtle harsh highlight to mids and vocals that improved over time. I found myself often reaching for the Trialii. Which isn’t fair. However, the bird is the reference many of us are now comparing to as the pinnacle of IEM’s. The lush, organic rich fullness to the sound of the bird was noticeably missing in the Fantasy, especially when paired with the Cayin C9.
Bass, whilst present in dynamics are controlled but felt somewhat rolled back compared to the mid and low-treble emphasis.
Soundstage not particularly wide as Andromeda or Trailii which are my other two IEM'S that I own. More of a semi-circle than holographic.
Addition of the Cayin C9
The advantage of having a Hugo2 and Cayin C9 allows me to tune the sound signature depending on preference and the IEM presentation. I’m not a fan of EQ via DSP so adjust my sound based on equipment sources.
I’ve postulated the Fantasy was tuned with the C9 or the Cayin DAP with the Korg NuTubes in mind. Whilst the HF roll off filter on the Hugo2 didn’t quite modulate the bright presentation enough, switching back to incisive neutral and plugging in the C9 did.
Class A/Tube on the C9 synergises beautifully. Perhaps one of the best matches to the C9 I’ve heard. It brings out a more organic sound, warmth and tames treble. The C9 also opens up the soundstage which becomes more holographic as it generally does. Here, the Fantasy and C9 pairing really does shine and would take the rating up at least another half star.
Treble Extension isn’t Trailii Electrostatic level but that’s not fair for a single DD. I’d be interested in the graph, I suspect had they tuned the IEM with the Trailii treble scoop we may not be having this discussion.
Not many Fantasy owners will have a 2Go/Hugo2 plugged into a C9.
However, if you own the Cayin C9, it does and can transform the sound from your headphones/IEM. The C9 works very well with IEM’s with no perceptible hiss (except CFA) and the different modes allow you to modulate the sound signature to your liking.
SP2000
I’ll agree with Twister that SP2K alone wasn’t the greatest pairing. I found it rather too cold and having come straight from the H2/C9, the SP2K pairing wasn’t really my thing. This audition did not really last long at all as I preferred the Fantasy out of the Fiio m11 Pro.
Chord TT2 with Fantasy
Roon (Tidal) -> SP2000 -> optical out into Chord TT2. Balanced tips on the Fantasy
No audible hiss with music playing. Chord TT2 tends to show me what an IEM is really capable of from a soundstage and detail retrieval perspective. Filter 2 (HF roll off) to tame the bright treble sparkle, especially with piano.
My impressions stand. “Let it go” Frozen soundtrack. Vocals are forward, with a mid emphasis. Borderline harsh and a counterpoint when compared to the smooth, laid back vocals from the Trailii. Still mild sibilance with “s”. Perhaps not the best source pairing
Soundstage, placement technically correct and rather wide out of a TT2. Not quite the detail, separation or air on the Andromeda 2020 or the Trailii.
Attack, dynamics are on par with a DD IEM at this price point, perhaps above average.
Bass doesn’t quite have the punch, slam of the best IEM's and is controlled but still dialled back. As if there’s the damper on the bass drum.
Still fun and enjoyable.
I prefer the Hugo2 -> C9 more though.
Overall conclusion
The Cayin Fantasy is fantastically fun. It's vivid, vibrant with a prominent presentation. Whether this is your thing however is up to subjective interpretation. It paired very well with a more affordable DAP (Fiio m11 Pro) and those with a warmer DAP or a Cayin C9 could very much enjoy the technical ability of the Fantasy. I preferred simple acoustic pieces (e.g. Caleb + Kelsey) with it.
Is it for me? Well ... I have a Trailii ...
However if it's a single DD IEM you're after, this should be on a shortlist to at least audition. I almost PM'ed AndyKong about buying the tour sample as it very much did grow on me during my tour audition.
Cayin Fantasy Tour
I thank Cayin for including me on the Asia-Pacific Tour as advertised for head-fi. This is my first headphone tour. I generally post impressions rather than a full review.
The only mandate was to write a review and participate in the Cayin impression thread. I have no other conflict of interest and the Fantasy will be posted to the next tour member this week.
Specifications
Specifications (from Cayin)
https://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=136
Cayin Fantasy Single Dynamic Drive IEM
- Driver: 10.3mm dual cavity with two-way magnetic structure
- Diaphragm: beryllium-plated bio-cellulose diaphragm to deliver fast, accurate and low distortion sound.
- Design: elegant design inspired by stringed musical instruments with dual venting tubes.
- Shell: CNC Machined 316 surgical grade Stainless Steel
- Sensitivity: 108 dB at 1kHz
- Impedance: 37 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 40kHz
- Connector: 0.78mm 2 pin
- Isolation: 26 dB
- Cable Type: 4x 38 strand conductors, composed of 0.08mm 6N OCC and 0.05 silver-plated core
- Termination: Gold plated 3.5mm TRS Male
- Cable length: 130cm
Burn-in:
I listened to a variety of my other headphones during my time with the Fantasy. However, subjectively I did note that the treble peak and harshness softened ; as did the forwardness of the mid(s) over the time I had the Fantasy. Burn-in occurred mostly by listening.
Other notable Reviews
https://twister6.com/2021/06/02/cayin-fantasy/
https://headfonics.com/cayin-fantasy-review/
Packaging and accessories
https://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=136
Others above have described a well packaged, compartmentalised cardboard experience. Please see Cayin’s link for included accessories.
Cayin supply 12 pair of eartips (S,M,L). There are balanced, vocal, bass and foam. I am not one to tip-roll once I settle on the best fit.
I much preferred the balanced ear tips (large) which were a comfortable fit with no seal issues. I have the fortune of having little difficulty with stock tips usually ML or L depending on brand.
Construction quality and build
This cannot be faulted. Made in China is no longer a moniker for anything other than TOTL Chi-Fi build at this level. Build quality and feel are top end. I love the heft of the Stainless steel although as the housing is smaller than my Andromeda, they fit well without being weighty. Appears well made and the 2 pin cable junction sturdy. The cable is well made as are the protruding connectors which friction fit without issue. There was no issue with microphonics.
In the ear, they are relatively comfortable. The low-profile sits well within the ear and I was able to side-sleep on my Tempur pillow with these on.
Source Pairings:
Fiio m11 Pro with 4.4mm balanced cable
Astell and Kern SP2000 with 4.4mm balanced cable and effect audio adapter
2Go / Hugo2 with PWA RCA to 4.4mm adapter and 4.4mm balanced cable +/- C9
Chord Hugo TT2 with stock 3.5mm TRS cable
Sound Impressions:
Initial impressions are mostly positive (from a m11 pro followed by the Hugo2/2go to bring out some warmth and apply the HF roll off filter). The Fantasy paired well with the m11 Pro which I did the most listening with and from which the below impressions are based upon.
Lovely air between notes. Does Piano reasonably well. I question whether silver is really necessary though as the IEM approaches bright. There is sibilance with “s” and lisps, snares, cymbals. This did improve over 20+ hours. But did not go away. However, I suspect the sound may approach fatiguing for some. Even after burn-in, the prominent forward mids and bright presentation were notable as the Fantasy sound.
Timbre is “fun”. Forward, dynamic mids in keeping with beryllium and a dynamic driver. Not muddy at all. There’s a subtle harsh highlight to mids and vocals that improved over time. I found myself often reaching for the Trialii. Which isn’t fair. However, the bird is the reference many of us are now comparing to as the pinnacle of IEM’s. The lush, organic rich fullness to the sound of the bird was noticeably missing in the Fantasy, especially when paired with the Cayin C9.
Bass, whilst present in dynamics are controlled but felt somewhat rolled back compared to the mid and low-treble emphasis.
Soundstage not particularly wide as Andromeda or Trailii which are my other two IEM'S that I own. More of a semi-circle than holographic.
Addition of the Cayin C9
The advantage of having a Hugo2 and Cayin C9 allows me to tune the sound signature depending on preference and the IEM presentation. I’m not a fan of EQ via DSP so adjust my sound based on equipment sources.
I’ve postulated the Fantasy was tuned with the C9 or the Cayin DAP with the Korg NuTubes in mind. Whilst the HF roll off filter on the Hugo2 didn’t quite modulate the bright presentation enough, switching back to incisive neutral and plugging in the C9 did.
Class A/Tube on the C9 synergises beautifully. Perhaps one of the best matches to the C9 I’ve heard. It brings out a more organic sound, warmth and tames treble. The C9 also opens up the soundstage which becomes more holographic as it generally does. Here, the Fantasy and C9 pairing really does shine and would take the rating up at least another half star.
Treble Extension isn’t Trailii Electrostatic level but that’s not fair for a single DD. I’d be interested in the graph, I suspect had they tuned the IEM with the Trailii treble scoop we may not be having this discussion.
Not many Fantasy owners will have a 2Go/Hugo2 plugged into a C9.
However, if you own the Cayin C9, it does and can transform the sound from your headphones/IEM. The C9 works very well with IEM’s with no perceptible hiss (except CFA) and the different modes allow you to modulate the sound signature to your liking.
SP2000
I’ll agree with Twister that SP2K alone wasn’t the greatest pairing. I found it rather too cold and having come straight from the H2/C9, the SP2K pairing wasn’t really my thing. This audition did not really last long at all as I preferred the Fantasy out of the Fiio m11 Pro.
Chord TT2 with Fantasy
Roon (Tidal) -> SP2000 -> optical out into Chord TT2. Balanced tips on the Fantasy
No audible hiss with music playing. Chord TT2 tends to show me what an IEM is really capable of from a soundstage and detail retrieval perspective. Filter 2 (HF roll off) to tame the bright treble sparkle, especially with piano.
My impressions stand. “Let it go” Frozen soundtrack. Vocals are forward, with a mid emphasis. Borderline harsh and a counterpoint when compared to the smooth, laid back vocals from the Trailii. Still mild sibilance with “s”. Perhaps not the best source pairing
Soundstage, placement technically correct and rather wide out of a TT2. Not quite the detail, separation or air on the Andromeda 2020 or the Trailii.
Attack, dynamics are on par with a DD IEM at this price point, perhaps above average.
Bass doesn’t quite have the punch, slam of the best IEM's and is controlled but still dialled back. As if there’s the damper on the bass drum.
Still fun and enjoyable.
I prefer the Hugo2 -> C9 more though.
Overall conclusion
The Cayin Fantasy is fantastically fun. It's vivid, vibrant with a prominent presentation. Whether this is your thing however is up to subjective interpretation. It paired very well with a more affordable DAP (Fiio m11 Pro) and those with a warmer DAP or a Cayin C9 could very much enjoy the technical ability of the Fantasy. I preferred simple acoustic pieces (e.g. Caleb + Kelsey) with it.
Is it for me? Well ... I have a Trailii ...
However if it's a single DD IEM you're after, this should be on a shortlist to at least audition. I almost PM'ed AndyKong about buying the tour sample as it very much did grow on me during my tour audition.
Attachments
Tanalasta
Not a contest. Just a comparison with a reference. I don't have many IEM's so had to compare it to what I do have.
Darkeye999H
Any improvements in bass quantity after burn-in?
Tanalasta
Sorry - I missed replying. I postulate burn-in may be mostly my own psychological and brain adjustment to the sound signature over time which may modulate how I perceive it. But to my recollection, No improvement to the bass quantity.
