Exhausted by the audio hobby

[Saeniv]

For me it's the other way around, all my OE headphones are gathering dust - I don't touch my HD6xx/650 anymore - I'm going to get it out of the drawer and test it - try hybrid IEMs with Multi DD/BA or EST drivers - it's a completely different sound - the cheap 1DD IEMs sound quite nice but they all lack resolution and separation - try Moondrop Blessing 3 Dusk or Dunu DaVinci - this is a different level!

For an inexpensive entry into this area I would recommend the Simgot EW300 (1DD+1Planar+1PZT Tribrid Driver IEM)

Thank you for your recommendation, I am thinking about the Aful Magic One 1 BA driver, kind of interesting.

I think the hope is they will cause OCD reaction in potential consumers. I find it a bit overwhelming and just ignore that segment, and don't suffer any FOMO over it. This is a common theme in the audio industry, trying to get you to be anxious enough that you will spend more money on more stuff in search of a unicorn, and it does lead to exhaustion.

I know what you mean, the possibilities are endless with new releases every month.

 

[Mikig]

I found subscribing to a streaming service introduced me to new music which re-energised my listening.
For many years and it is a cliché but when you are comparing components/speakers you do tend to use the same few tracks.
Also the kids help, I often ask what I hear them playing ( because it is often too loud).
Keith

for me too. I listened less and less, then when I did Roon everything changed. I would never stop listening. The radios are fantastic…

 

[CapMan]

for me too. I listened less and less, then when I did Roon everything changed. I would never stop listening. The radios are fantastic…

Love the Roon radio - I've heard so much great music that I would never have experienced

 

[Saeniv]

Love the Roon radio - I've heard so much great music that I would never have experienced

Are Roon Radios just online radio stations collected in the roon app or are they radio stations from roon?

 

[CapMan]

Are Roon Radios just online radio stations collected in the roon app or are they radio stations from roon?

It's an algorithm that streams content based on your listening choices.

 

[Soandso]

So my question is, is there any musical IEM, which you guys could recommend or think is worth trying?

Decidedly "yes"; I find that my relatively recent acquired portable shallow insertion IEM electrostatic STAX Sr-002 (with their companion portable amp) are "musical". I have other headphones and IEMs, both planar magnetic and dynamic driver designs, yet every time I put on the "Baby Stax" and start listening to music my early thought is of how exceptional the sonic experience is.

They can be EQ-ed and I can attest that extends to augmenting the bass. I'll add that with an adapter ( metal plug tip size reducer) plugged into a stationary amplifier's headphone out jack one can feed (plug) the audio signal right to the STAX Sr-002's companion portable amp and listen to the music that way as well. For me they are comfortable worn for hours, whether on my regular 2-3 mile walks or lounging around. [The non-portable shallow insertion IEM "Baby Stax" Sr-003, which I also bought, is the same " musical" electrostatic, however it requires more than a standard amplifier to use and of course with electrostatic headphones the amplifier design is deemed as introducing some variability to how things sound.]

 

[herr.jemine]

Thank you for your recommendation, I am thinking about the Aful Magic One 1 BA driver, kind of interesting.

I know what you mean, the possibilities are endless with new releases every month.

it's currently on sale for around €65, but I think it lacks bass, I wouldn't buy it.

AFUL is bringing out a new version of the Performer 5+2 - it looks promising:

AFUL Performer 5+2 / Performer 7 2DD+4BA+1Micro Planar IEMs

Buy AFUL Performer 5+2 / Performer 7 2DD+4BA+1Micro Planar IEMs with Free shipping on HiFiGo, you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

 

[Saeniv]

it's currently on sale for around €65, but I think it lacks bass, I wouldn't buy it.

Yes I bought it for 59€ at Hifigo, let see how it sounds.

AFUL is bringing out a new version of the Performer 5+2 - it looks promising:

I thought about the Aful 5, but the graphs don't look so different from the ones I already tried, so let's see how single BA driver sounds.

 

[Multicore]

They are all not bad, but miss what is most important to me, musicality and emotion.

For that I suggest changing the program material rather than the equipment. Not sure what floats your boat but for a problem like yours I recommend going to unknown lands. How about this... ?

Leo Brouwer - stunning new solo guitar recording on YouTube

Sonata Homo Ludens No. 8 played by Deion Cho This video went up on Youtube recently and I think it's really something. The composition is newish, 2021, and sensational. The performance is from 2022. The playing is unreal. Having that much control is mind bending to me but Cho uses that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[herr.jemine]

Yes I bought it for 59€ at Hifigo, let see how it sounds.

I'm excited to hear your opinion

 

[sulfuriq]

Instead of IEM why not try the Sony's new MDR-M1? Light, compact and easy on your ears. It had replaced all my IEMs, TWS and even my XM4 when I'm on the road.

 

[transformer-coupled]

So after years of trying new headphones, headphone amps, DACs I think I am kind of stuck in the audio hobby. In August, I came back from a year-long non reading any reviews or trying new stuff. The amps and DACs are measuring great sounding the same, nothing new and special any more, but I got excited, reading about all the great IEMs below 100€, so I tried some of the recommendations:

• 7Hz Zero 2
• Truthear Zero Red
• Truthear Hexa
• Moondrop Chu 2
• Sennheiser IE200,
• Tinhifi T2
• Tangzu Wan er
• RHA MA750

They are all not bad, but miss what is most important to me, musicality and emotion. I played the game with over-ear headphones, going higher until I reached my personal price limit for used gear, for years. I don't know if I want to play the game with IEM's or if I come to the same conclusion, that there is no benefit in going any higher. After years of trying, I settled on the Sennheiser HD600 as my most beloved over ear headphone. So my question is, is there any musical IEM, which you guys could recommend or think is worth trying?

Second question I tried Tidal to discover new music, but it does not really show me anything new, does somebody have a recommendation for a better streaming app?

You need join low distortion dac and power amps with very musical euphonic line stage and speakers and cables. Not only ultra low THD DAC and power amps are needed for increase resolution and definition. You also need a musical line stage and speakers. I advise you a very popular in audiocircle forum malaysian transformer based passive line preamp and a very popular highest sensitivity American speaker floor-stander manufacturer, linked with high gauge german coaxial speaker cables and a popular brand of high capacitance balance microphone cable made in japan.
Cannot mention manufacturer names because i don't advertise nothing. All powererd by best measuring Topping brand dac and B100 monoblocks

 

[Palladium]

I just use Galaxy Buds FE outdoors since I don't give a rat's ass about headphones at home.

 

[Saeniv]

You need join low distortion dac and power amps with very musical euphonic line stage and speakers and cables. Not only ultra low THD DAC and power amps are needed for increase resolution and definition. You also need a musical line stage and speakers. I advise you a very popular in audiocircle forum malaysian transformer based passive line preamp and a very popular highest sensitivity American speaker floor-stander manufacturer, linked with high gauge german coaxial speaker cables and a popular brand of high capacitance balance microphone cable made in japan.
Cannot mention manufacturer names because i don't advertise nothing. All powererd by best measuring Topping brand dac and B100 monoblocks

I am not paying for magical cables and other wierd stuff

 

[raif71]

My headphone adventure started out with the Sony MDR (cheap ones)... then I ventured towards Sennheisers 6xx series, I have the hd800 but did not like it. I was excited with the Sundara, after that Edition XS and finally with Ananda Nano... I love to get the Arya Organic but it is quite beyond my reach. I have been using iems but to me they're good on the go. Headphones are better for serious listening imho.

 

[pablolie]

The audio hobby is exhausting if always gear lead. It's actually very rewarding when you just enjoy music and feel thankful for being able to hear it in such high quality as we can easily do these days.

 

[Saeniv]

The audio hobby is exhausting if always gear lead. It's actually very rewarding when you just enjoy music and feel thankful for being able to hear it in such high quality as we can easily do these days.

That is so true. I guess I will keep the IEMs aside and go back to my headphones and try to discover new music.

then I ventured towards Sennheisers 6xx series, I have the hd800 but did not like it. I was excited with the Sundara, after that Edition XS and finally with Ananda Nano... I love to get the Arya Organic but it is quite beyond my reach. I have been using iems but to me they're good on the go. Headphones are better for serious listening imho.

Did not like the HD800 and Sundara have not tired the others. IEMs can be great, but the tuning of those I tried are too similar, I have to try other ones.

 

[goat76]

Here's an easy way to solve your dilemma : Read a one or two paragraph review in this link, there are thousands if it seems interesting, go with Qobuz (most diverse inclusive service I've found) or other and listen. If you find an artist or genre you like put that in the search box and find more. Which DJ's are playing the songs/artists/genres you like are found by clicking on the review. If you find one that plays a lot of music you you like you can stream their shows as they are archived also and may find some more good music. Time to move away from gear to music or maybe another type of gear.

KFJC 89.7FM

A sidenote to your link...

KFJC has been my go-to radio channel for the last year whenever I don't know what to listen to or when I just want some background music. However, I must say the "background listening" hasn't worked that well, as they often play something strange that gets my full attention. For a long time, I listened to the Iowa college radio channel KRUI.89.7 which also often plays strange and interesting music I've never heard before.

Listen To KRUI - KRUI Radio

89.7 FM Stream Request Line: (319) 335-8970

krui.fm

 

[Timcognito]

A sidenote to your link...

KFJC has been my go-to radio channel for the last year whenever I don't know what to listen to or when I just want some background music. However, I must say the "background listening" hasn't worked that well, as they often play something strange that gets my full attention. For a long time, I listened to the Iowa college radio channel KRUI.89.7 which also often plays strange and interesting music I've never heard before.

Listen To KRUI - KRUI Radio

89.7 FM Stream Request Line: (319) 335-8970

krui.fm

As I live in the broadcast area of KFJC and KCSM (Jazz 24/7/365) listen to those mostly in my car. I find for KFJC the short reviews help me find new stuff and have gotten behind on my favorites that gleaned from there in Qobuz. Plus I have 1000+ albums on my NAS, to point where that there are forgotten hidden gems that get rediscovered as my taste is eclectic with the exception of 50+% Jazz. If I hear some bluegrass or highlife or something that reminds me of a collected treasure I will mine my NAS for similar content. We are lucky to have the internet with those and other stations (20+ presets) and services like Bandcamp to download so the money goes to the creators.

 

[Saeniv]

Aful Magic One is great, not only beautiful but sounds extraordinary. I got it, listened for 2 hours and played for 3. The sound is lush, warm, spacious, like i am not listening to an IEM.
I will try to discover old music, but live concerts of the interprets, this is an idea i had for a while now. Don’t know which of the streaming services is giving me live concerts in high quality.
For my general problem, i come to the conclusion that i was stressed by work and the force i put on me to find and IEM i enjoy and the little time i have for that hobby