ARTTI T10 - PLANAR IEM

[OK1]

Fair enough- but the stock FR are very different between the Z2 and the T10. I would suggest adding a bass shelf to the z2 , a peak at 2.2k and a pretty broad peak at 6k would produce something a lot similar in terms of presentation between the 2 once you get the levels pretty even.

For me the priorities for buying any IEM should be fit/ comfort primarily along with a stock FR that is smooth and low distortion to allow easy EQ.

The driver tech would be somewhere near the bottom of the list
View attachment 411669

I did make every effort to EQ the Zero 2, in my case I am using Auto EQ, as the 1st layer of my equalisation. For both the Zero 2 and the T10.

Apologies for explaining what you may be already familiar with.

In AutoEQ.app, I target the same target curve, the default IEM target curve, in AutoEQ.app, to correct both IEM's, which is the best I can do, to make them sound as similar as possible. using an automated tool, so this takes out of the equation, my own skill or lack thereof with EQ.

The corrected versions of both IEM's the Zero 2 and the T10, I listened to for many hours. My detailed notes are where I also narrowed the playing field by using the same ear tips, so the fit was as identical as possible, is here :

Tips and cables- for IEMs

Side note. A pox on any company that ships a cable with the l/r markings on the 2 pin connectors on the inside as its mounted on the iem. What are you thinking? Those little L/R markings on IEM's are one of my pet hates. Does your wife use nail polish? Dab a little of the red nail polish on...

audiosciencereview.com

Tips and cables- for IEMs

Side note. A pox on any company that ships a cable with the l/r markings on the 2 pin connectors on the inside as its mounted on the iem. What are you thinking? Those little L/R markings on IEM's are one of my pet hates. Does your wife use nail polish? Dab a little of the red nail polish on...

audiosciencereview.com

Tips and cables- for IEMs

Side note. A pox on any company that ships a cable with the l/r markings on the 2 pin connectors on the inside as its mounted on the iem. What are you thinking? Those little L/R markings on IEM's are one of my pet hates. Does your wife use nail polish? Dab a little of the red nail polish on...

audiosciencereview.com

I have gone back to enable the EQ on the T10, cos it adds a certain clarity, but EQ is not essential to the T10, only a bonus.

The main difference when auditioning, the T10 and the Zero 2 are :

1. Clarity, with the T10. I am hearing layers of the stereo mix, that I could not hear or even be aware of with the Zero 2. With the T10, certain things are quite impressive, I hear all kinds of low level instrumentation, and notice immediately that lots of lead vocals on major albums, by major artists like Beyonce, are NOT center locked, contrary to expectation, but slightly panned to one side, and in some songs, her lead vocals are dead center. No other listening device I have heard, including speakers, was as revealing of such details. No other listening device, clearly with ease, highlighted such minute differences from song to song. Every song I hear, and these are songs I have heard critically on EQ corrected speakers, for at least a decade, continue to be a revelation, cues which I know well, are now not just cues, but I can pinpoint the exact panning locations, in the left to right horizon, from where each cue emanates., in the stereo field. The stereo presentation of the T10 was so wide, I had to implement a custom stereo width narrowing solution, to reduce it. I'm an audio engineer who mixes music in my home studio and also for live events, and done so for a good while. So when I heard the T10, and I already have pretty decent headphones like the AKG K702, which I have owned for a decade, it was a leap forward, for someone who thought he had a pretty good thing going. Nowadays, when I mix live events, I no longer take my AKG K702's with me for monitoring, that duty is now handled by the T10.

2. Frequency band - The T10 in comparison to the Zero 2, stretches the upper and lower frequencies in both directions, giving me not higher levels, but more. More sub bass, which is not existent on the Zero 2, and more twinklies like above 10 K, which the Zero 2 struggles with. The audio therefore sounds more like real life, cos I can simply hear MORE of what's in the audio.

3. Bass - The T10 goes not just lower, but lower with definition, being able to enjoy the texture of the kind of bass in use in a song, acoustic bass, synth bass, electric bass, rather than just hear the low frequencies.

4. Vocals - the only word to describe these on the T10 is "crisper". Diction, and intelligibility are heightened, with the end result that I can lower the volume and still hear with clarity what is being said, spoken or sung words., so the listening experience is less fatiguing, cos I can hear all day at lower levels of loudness. Mine are on my ears for upwards of 12 hours every day, for the last few months.

Maybe I got lucky, or have a golden sample T10 !!. Won't know until I hear another T10, or another planar, or some other supposedly high end IEM. I fully expected to be impressed with the Zero 2, based on the low distortion measurements published on ASR, which is why I bought the Zero 2, but my copy of the Zero 2, is not in the same league as my copy of the T10, in spite of all uniform efforts to EQ them, to the same frequency target. Two different worlds, and I would say, anyone who has done this comparison, on a good copy of both of these IEM's, I would expect them to come to the same conclusion as I have.

 

[Jimbob54]

It doesn't look bad at all, but I don't know how much I'd prefer this to the original T10.
I'm doing some testing with my own tracks and maybe the ideal would be a middle ground between the two. I'll have to listen more...

I was comparing OG t10 to Z2 here- the T10pro looks considerably improved stock FR- but yes middle ground is about where my EQd T10 lands

 

[Sebby]

I did make every effort to EQ the Zero 2, in my case I am using Auto EQ, as the 1st layer of my equalisation. For both the Zero 2 and the T10.

Apologies for explaining what you may be already familiar with.

In AutoEQ.app, I target the same target curve, the default IEM target curve, in AutoEQ.app, to correct both IEM's, which is the best I can do, to make them sound as similar as possible. using an automated tool, so this takes out of the equation, my own skill or lack thereof with EQ.

The corrected versions of both IEM's the Zero 2 and the T10, I listened to for many hours. My detailed notes are where I also narrowed the playing field by using the same ear tips, so the fit was as identical as possible, is here :

Tips and cables- for IEMs

Side note. A pox on any company that ships a cable with the l/r markings on the 2 pin connectors on the inside as its mounted on the iem. What are you thinking? Those little L/R markings on IEM's are one of my pet hates. Does your wife use nail polish? Dab a little of the red nail polish on...

audiosciencereview.com

Tips and cables- for IEMs

Side note. A pox on any company that ships a cable with the l/r markings on the 2 pin connectors on the inside as its mounted on the iem. What are you thinking? Those little L/R markings on IEM's are one of my pet hates. Does your wife use nail polish? Dab a little of the red nail polish on...

audiosciencereview.com

Tips and cables- for IEMs

Side note. A pox on any company that ships a cable with the l/r markings on the 2 pin connectors on the inside as its mounted on the iem. What are you thinking? Those little L/R markings on IEM's are one of my pet hates. Does your wife use nail polish? Dab a little of the red nail polish on...

audiosciencereview.com

I have gone back to enable the EQ on the T10, cos it adds a certain clarity, but EQ is not essential to the T10, only a bonus.

The main difference when auditioning, the T10 and the Zero 2 are :

1. Clarity, with the T10. I am hearing layers of the stereo mix, that I could not hear or even be aware of with the Zero 2. With the T10, certain things are quite impressive, I hear all kinds of low level instrumentation, and notice immediately that lots of lead vocals on major albums, by major artists like Beyonce, are NOT center locked, contrary to expectation, but slightly panned to one side, and in some songs, her lead vocals are dead center. No other listening device I have heard, including speakers, was as revealing of such details. No other listening device, clearly with ease, highlighted such minute differences from song to song. Every song I hear, and these are songs I have heard critically on EQ corrected speakers, for at least a decade, continue to be a revelation, cues which I know well, are now not just cues, but I can pinpoint the exact panning locations, in the left to right horizon, from where each cue emanates., in the stereo field. The stereo presentation of the T10 was so wide, I had to implement a custom stereo width narrowing solution, to reduce it. I'm an audio engineer who mixes music in my home studio and also for live events, and done so for a good while. So when I heard the T10, and I already have pretty decent headphones like the AKG K702, which I have owned for a decade, it was a leap forward, for someone who thought he had a pretty good thing going. Nowadays, when I mix live events, I no longer take my AKG K702's with me for monitoring, that duty is now handled by the T10.

2. Frequency band - The T10 in comparison to the Zero 2, stretches the upper and lower frequencies in both directions, giving me not higher levels, but more. More sub bass, which is not existent on the Zero 2, and more twinklies like above 10 K, which the Zero 2 struggles with. The audio therefore sounds more like real life, cos I can simply hear MORE of what's in the audio.

3. Bass - The T10 goes not just lower, but lower with definition, being able to enjoy the texture of the kind of bass in use in a song, acoustic bass, synth bass, electric bass, rather than just hear the low frequencies.

4. Vocals - the only word to describe these on the T10 is "crisper". Diction, and intelligibility are heightened, with the end result that I can lower the volume and still hear with clarity what is being said, spoken or sung words., so the listening experience is less fatiguing, cos I can hear all day at lower levels of loudness. Mine are on my ears for upwards of 12 hours every day, for the last few months.

Maybe I got lucky, or have a golden sample T10 !!. Won't know until I hear another T10, or another planar, or some other supposedly high end IEM. I fully expected to be impressed with the Zero 2, based on the low distortion measurements published on ASR, which is why I bought the Zero 2, but my copy of the Zero 2, is not in the same league as my copy of the T10, in spite of all uniform efforts to EQ them, to the same frequency target. Two different worlds, and I would say, anyone who has done this comparison, on a good copy of both of these IEM's, I would expect them to come to the same conclusion as I have.

As a fanatic of measurements and parametric EQ, I confirm. To have an almost identical sound with the EQ you would need to have the same platform (t10 -> t10 pro. Sennheiser ie200 -> 900 etc...).
Despite everything, with certain EQs I managed to get a spectacular sound from the Zero 2, to the point of making them IDENTICAL to the Kiwi KE4, which is why I returned them, but it is not always possible. I confirm that without using the EQ, between the Zero 2 and the T10 there is truly an abyss on a technical level and with very similar sensations to yours and of the Zero 2 I have had 3 pairs of different colors (2 of which I then gave away).

However, the planar technology has nothing to do with it, because for me the IE200 is still better than the T10 and it is a single dynamic driver. Let's say that the Zero 2 are limited on the high frequencies and no, the EQ. can't compensate and I can see it well (it's not as obvious as it seems. I'm exaggerating the concept to make it clear)

 

[Sebby]

I was comparing OG t10 to Z2 here- the T10pro looks considerably improved stock FR- but yes middle ground is about where my EQd T10 lands

View attachment 411682

I'm still listening, but the T10 Pro still seems unclear and muddy in the mids. When I turn off the EQ, the IEM comes back to life.
For me, the T10 PRO is a downgrade.
I already have an IEM with a very smooth sound signature (Final E5000) and despite being released in 2017 and having even less emphasized highs, it performs better in the mids because it seems more controlled and detailed.

I will try your E.Q.

 

[Jimbob54]

I'm still listening, but the T10 Pro still seems unclear and muddy in the mids. When I turn off the EQ, the IEM comes back to life.
For me, the T10 PRO is a downgrade.
I already have an IEM with a very smooth sound signature (Final E5000) and despite being released in 2017 and having even less emphasized highs, it performs better in the mids because it seems more controlled and detailed.

I will try your E.Q.

Yeah- stock the T10 Pro looks a little too subdued in the mids - but because it doesnt have those humps the T10 OG has, you could address the Pro EQ with one or 2 gentle peaks or even a high shelf.

My posted a few pages up was to turn the Truthear Z2 into a T10 (very roughly)- The EQ I use on the T10 OG is attached here

 

[OK1]

As a fanatic of measurements and parametric EQ, I confirm. To have an almost identical sound with the EQ you would need to have the same platform (t10 -> t10 pro. Sennheiser ie200 -> 900 etc...).
Despite everything, with certain EQs I managed to get a spectacular sound from the Zero 2, to the point of making them IDENTICAL to the Kiwi KE4, which is why I returned them, but it is not always possible. I confirm that without using the EQ, between the Zero 2 and the T10 there is truly an abyss on a technical level and with very similar sensations to yours and of the Zero 2 I have had 3 pairs of different colors (2 of which I then gave away).

However, the planar technology has nothing to do with it, because for me the IE200 is still better than the T10 and it is a single dynamic driver. Let's say that the Zero 2 are limited on the high frequencies and no, the EQ. can't compensate and I can see it well (it's not as obvious as it seems. I'm exaggerating the concept to make it clear)

Just checking the current price of these :

Sennheiser IE200 - £99
7hz Zero 2 - I bought for £15
ARTTI T10 - I bought for £42

The IE200 had better be a whole lot better than the T10, I would hope, for it to cost at least more than double what I paid for the T10, so that would not be a fair comparison. Similarly the price differential between the T10 and the Zero 2 implies, we should not be comparing these !!

 

[Sebby]

Just checking the current price of these :

Sennheiser IE200 - £99
7hz Zero 2 - I bought for £15
ARTTI T10 - I bought for £42

The IE200 had better be a whole lot better than the T10, I would hope, for it to cost at least more than double what I paid for the T10, so that would not be a fair comparison. Similarly the price differential between the T10 and the Zero 2 implies, we should not be comparing these !!

With Sennheiser you are paying for the construction and reliability.
There are IEMs over €1000 that in my opinion are worse than the T10. Price is not always an indicator of sound quality. There are IEMs much more expensive than the IE200 that are worse (FinalAudio A5000 €299)

 

[DeineVatti]

I own Sennheiser IE 600 , along with my Moondrop Variations, they are the best IEM I've ever heard. I also had the T10 and the Zero2 - it's true that getting started in the IEM world isn't expensive, but for more Money gets you better sound - but unfortunately there are a lot of products out there that are sometimes totally overpriced and overhyped. I also own the Dunu SA6 MK2 and think it's terrible!

 

[Sebby]

I own Sennheiser IE 600 and, along with my Moondrop Variations, they are the best IEM I've ever heard. I also had the T10 and the Zero2 - it's true that getting started in the IEM world isn't expensive, but for more Money gets you better sound - but unfortunately there are a lot of products out there that are sometimes totally overpriced and overhyped. I also own the Dunu SA6 MK2 and think it's terrible!

For example, IE600 is worse than IE200 for me, even if the differences are subtle. As an "all-rounder" in my opinion IE200 is even better than IE900. For tracks like Classical, instrumental, symphonic etc... IE900 is magic, but less good for other things (female vocals, for example).
IE200 is a middle ground between IE600 and IE900. Instead for the audio community (Eg Crinacle or DMS) IE600 is better than IE900, even though it costs half as much.
Moondrop Variation è stato terribile per me, soprattutto a causa della depressione dei medi-bassi. Da Final Audio, A3000 è meglio di A4000 (il peggiore) e meglio di A5000 (€120 contro €299) non solo per me. Kiwi Cadenza è meglio di Andromeda 2020 per me. Ci sono IEM molto costosi che adoro come Sony Z1r, Dita Perfetua, Dita Project M... I soldi non garantiscono nulla.
For me Zero 2 is not great but it is distortion free, so I use it often because it is a great base if you use EQ

 

[OK1]

With Sennheiser you are paying for the construction and reliability.
There are IEMs over €1000 that in my opinion are worse than the T10. Price is not always an indicator of sound quality. There are IEMs much more expensive than the IE200 that are worse (FinalAudio A5000 €299)

Agreed 100% - I have a huge regard and recommend Sennheiser products, like their wired and wireless microphones, when I get the opportunity to use or suggest them, in my other vocation, mixing live music at events. They just work, year after year, in spite of the punishment they are subjected to from drops and poor handling.

 

[OK1]

For example, IE600 is worse than IE200 for me, even if the differences are subtle. As an "all-rounder" in my opinion IE200 is even better than IE900. For tracks like Classical, instrumental, symphonic etc... IE900 is magic, but less good for other things (female vocals, for example).
IE200 is a middle ground between IE600 and IE900. Instead for the audio community (Eg Crinacle or DMS) IE600 is better than IE900, even though it costs half as much.
Moondrop Variation è stato terribile per me, soprattutto a causa della depressione dei medi-bassi. Da Final Audio, A3000 è meglio di A4000 (il peggiore) e meglio di A5000 (€120 contro €299) non solo per me. Kiwi Cadenza è meglio di Andromeda 2020 per me. Ci sono IEM molto costosi che adoro come Sony Z1r, Dita Perfetua, Dita Project M... I soldi non garantiscono nulla.
For me Zero 2 is not great but it is distortion free, so I use it often because it is a great base if you use EQ

I watched this, which went a long way to explain why different listeners come to differing opinions, on the same listening device.

 

[Sebby]

I watched this, which went a long way to explain why different listeners come to differing opinions, on the same listening device.

That's why I said a higher price is no guarantee of better sound

 

[DeineVatti]

For example, IE600 is worse than IE200 for me

have you really heard the IE600 or are you like this "Sharur" just looking at the FR and thinking it's worse?I've heard almost all of the cheap IEMs presented here by ASR and they don't stand a chance against the IE600!

 

[Sebby]

have you really heard the IE600 or are you like this "Sharur" just looking at the FR and thinking it's worse?I've heard almost all of the cheap IEMs presented here by ASR and they don't stand a chance against the IE600!

I have IE200, IE900 (bought used) and sold IE600. You've heard a lot of cheap IEMs, but have you heard a lot of expensive IEMs?
Never shoot a gun without reloading first

I'm glad you prefer IE600 over everything else, but that doesn't apply to others. For me IE600 has the highs too high just enough to bother me.With IE200 I found the right balance.
Almost everyone who has heard IE600 (including some reviewers) is the first to say "if you have IE200, go straight to IE900. IE600 is not a worthwhile upgrade since, especially with the Nozzle Hole Mod, it's almost identical to IE200" and I agree with them. IE900 is not better than IE200 but simply more specific and therefore works much better on some tracks and worse on others (I've already listed the typology). I also own, for example, Final F7200 (€500) and the vocal tracks are the best I've ever heard, but they are worse than €20 IEMs when it comes to POP, TRANCE, etc... One thing I've learned is that up to €150/200 you have upgrades, but after that they simply become more "specialized".
Out of pure curiosity, I give you the FRs of IE200 (with different Eartips that have the same effect as plugging the hole on the nozzle) and IE600

 

[DeineVatti]

I have IE200, IE900 (bought used) and sold IE600. You've heard a lot of cheap IEMs, but have you heard a lot of expensive IEMs?
Never shoot a gun without reloading first

"used" unfortunately there are a lot of fakes, the Chinese build the housings of the Sennheiser IE models almost 1:1 and equip them with other drivers!
used "originals" are hard to get !

my better IEMs are: the Moondrop Blessing 3, Variations, Dunu SA6 MK2 and the IE 600

The Variations blew me away - I don't know what you find bad about them!?
They have a larger stage than the IE600 and a very nice separation, vocals sound perfect, nice bass.
In my opinion there is nothing to complain about

The IE600 have a perfect bass, very nice stage and lots of details - the highs don't bother me in any way.

The Dunu SA6 MK2 are disappointment for me , they sound how should I say "unmusical"
I can't listen to them for long.

The Zero2 simply have less detail and less stage, the sound is reduced but it's not noticeable because it's "even" (distortion-free).

 

[Sebby]

"used" unfortunately there are a lot of fakes, the Chinese build the housings of the Sennheiser IE models almost 1:1 and equip them with other drivers!
used "originals" are hard to get !

my better IEMs are: the Moondrop Blessing 3, Variations, Dunu SA6 MK2 and the IE 600

The Variations blew me away - I don't know what you find bad about them!?
They have a larger stage than the IE600 and a very nice separation, vocals sound perfect, nice bass.
In my opinion there is nothing to complain about

The IE600 have a perfect bass, very nice stage and lots of details - the highs don't bother me in any way.

The Dunu SA6 MK2 are disappointment for me , they sound how should I say "unmusical"
I can't listen to them for long.

The Zero2 simply have less detail and less stage, the sound is reduced but it's not noticeable because it's "even" (distortion-free).

About the Variations I already explained it to you; just read it
The IE900s belonged to a dear friend of mine. I helped him buy them myself on the Sennheiser website and he is the same person I sold the IE600s to, so don't look for excuses.
As for the rest of the speech: it's fine. If you are happy, I'm happy for you.
I'm happy with my purchases and my choices.
I agree with you about the Zero 2 without E.Q. (again, just read the comments) but it is a great base to work on with E.Q. thanks to its very low distortion. Now, after saying it and repeating it, what exactly do you want from me?

 

[DeineVatti]

I don't understand your opinion on the Variations - but whatever... I tried different EQ profiles with the Zero2 and they don't change much!
"EQ Voodoo" doesn't work for me, it sounds different but not "better", I don't notice any better soundstage or more details!
I get out of the box with the IE 600 better , clearer sound, better bass,better everything - EQ can't work miracles, but better IEM works for me..

 

[Sebby]

I don't understand your opinion on the Variations - but whatever... I tried different EQ profiles with the Zero2 and they don't change much!
"EQ Voodoo" doesn't work for me, it sounds different but not "better", I don't notice any better soundstage or more details!
I get out of the box with the IE 600 better , clearer sound, better bass,better everything - EQ can't work miracles, but better IEM works for me..

That the IE600 is a great IEM is something that no one doubts! For me, the only advantage of the Variation is that it has too high mid-highs and too recessed mid-lows: it obviously seems detailed and open, but for me that's not good.
From what I understand, you appreciate high mid-highs more than me and that's fine.

As for the E.Q. on Zero 2, I don't use other people's equalizations but I go to Squiglink and choose the IEM I want to reproduce. With Zero 2 I was able to faithfully reproduce both the Kiwi KE4 and the Moondrop Dusk x Crinacle (had side by side). Yes, to get a great fit I had to change the tips with the ones supplied with Zero Red, but apart from that...

IE900 was a whim and I love it aesthetically, knowing what methods they used to achieve that signature, construction, etc., but IE200 + E.Q. it's the exact same result as the IE900 in terms of audio. Basically the only real differences are around 4000Hz, but otherwise they are basically identical IE200/600/900.

 

[markanini]

All I know is that I'm happy enough with my Hexa that I'm not in a hurry to buy another IEM. If I could make my other IEMs sound like Hexa with EQ I would. But, in my ears the FR sounds different than the graph tells me, even after EQ matching. It's a plus to me that Hexa fits me comfortably and securely and was not too pricy in the grand scheme of things. These are things I can't take for granted after being disappointed with both cheaper and pricier IEMs. Wishing everyone will find "their" Hexa. Trying out new IEMs can be fun, somewhat addictive even, but it's nice to have an IEM that feels like "home".

 

[OK1]

I watched this, for the 1st time, at least a year ago, about the time I became interested in the smaller listening devices which fit into the ear canal. Looking back, I now get it, a lot more, we do not hear audio in exactly the same way, cos our personal listening preferences are NOT the same.

While the sample size of participants in this review was small, an interesting note was how the IE200, in this comparison, was one of the least favourite, with the Kiwi Ears Cadenza, a much cheaper option, almost unanimously picked as the favourite. Lesson to all of us, let's be far more accomodating about all manner of opinions on listening devices, cos we DO NOT all hear audio in exactly the same way. So the subjective opinions we share here are all correct, and not things we should bother to debate or argue about. This variation in our listening preferences, has a scientific basis, from research that most of us here cannot argue with.

Over time what's probably more instructive is to discover those whose preferences align with ours, and whose recommendations are more likely to result in us being happy with our purchases. And for those whose preferences do NOT agree with ours, to understand why. Nothing wrong with their ears, they just hear in a manner different from us.