Help needed finding a source for low-sensitivity IEMs

[BorisG]

Good day,

I’m looking at buying the Subtonic Storm iems, which seem to need a lot of power to drive – sensitivity 103dB@Vrms, impedance 6.1 Ohm. I calculated that as needing 2.6 watts (!) for 115 dB loudness peaks.

If the calculation is correct, could you please help me identify a DAC/amp combo that would drive those iems to that level?

Thanks very much in advance!

(PS if understand correctly, the forum’s position is that you shouldn’t be buying expensive iems at all – but I would appreciate it if you could help me find a source without making this into a discussion about the wisdom of buying expensive iems).

 

[solderdude]

The math is correct.
You need to reach 4V in 6.2ohm which requires 0.7A current capability.
Noise figures of an amp are not important here (due to the low sensitivity).

Schiit Midgard should be able to drive it loud enough.
SMSL H300 as well.
In fact any speaker amp that can supply 5-15W in 8 ohm will be perfect for the job.

 

[wilhelm2015]

wtf is that sensitivity for an iem ... if you dont want to look too much, get a topping la90d

 

[BorisG]

Thank you both!

Midgard – Amir’s review says it switches off under 20ohm (if I got that correctly), so that would probably rule it out?

SMSL H300 – is rated down to 16ohm by the manufacturer – would it be safe to assume it can deal with 6ohm, or better to ask the company?

And might something like Topping A70 Pro work?

 

[zonk]

Good day,

I’m looking at buying the Subtonic Storm iems, which seem to need a lot of power to drive – sensitivity 103dB@Vrms, impedance 6.1 Ohm. I calculated that as needing 2.6 watts (!) for 115 dB loudness peaks.

If the calculation is correct, could you please help me identify a DAC/amp combo that would drive those iems to that level?

Thanks very much in advance!

(PS if understand correctly, the forum’s position is that you shouldn’t be buying expensive iems at all – but I would appreciate it if you could help me find a source without making this into a discussion about the wisdom of buying expensive iems).

Send the IEM to Amir for measurements.

 

[BorisG]

Send the IEM to Amir for measurements.

Could do! Once I actually buy them – there’s a 3-4 months waiting list at the moment.

 

[zonk]

Subtonic Storm

Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK

Subtonic Storm / Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK

 

[BorisG]

Subtonic Storm
View attachment 474923

Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK
View attachment 474924

Subtonic Storm / Moondrop x Crinacle

Is the idea that the Dusks are better, because they better fit the target FR?

 

[zonk]

Is the idea that the Dusks are better, because they better fit the target FR?

I think the Dusk is one of the best IEMs actually available at any price point. It comes with two cables, a 3.5mm and a USB-C cable with DSP functionality. Another advantage is that it's not that critical which amp you use.
https://moondroplab.com/en/products/dusk

The upper frequencies of the Subtonic Storm look a bit too pronounced for my taste and probably makes sound a bit unnatural.

There is another nice called CrinEar DayBreak that is nice too. They have the so called "Meta Tuning".

 

[BorisG]

I have not heard the Crinacle Dusks, but I have heard the Blessing 2 (which I think is an earlier model?), and the notes’ weight was too much on the thin side for me. I’m happy to demo the Dusks if I can find them in London, but I don’t feel comfortable buying iems or headphones on FR graphs alone – too many other factors that influence the listening experience (spacial position of instruments in a mix, clarity, naturalness of timbre, speed and weight of notes…)

 

[zonk]

There have been some predecessors to the DUSK but the one we talked about is the latest version.
- Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK
- Moondrop Blessing 3
- Moondrop x Crinacle Blessing2 Dusk
- Moondrop Blessing 2
- Moondrop Blessing

If the sound is thin, it could be caused by wrong chosen eartips and/or unbalanced FR.

You are right, FR graphs are just one aspect, but a very important. Comfort, fit and seal are very important too, same as individual HRTF. The Blessing 2 has less emphasis below 1.2 kHz and above in the higher frequencies overemphasis. The FR of the Blessing2 looks therefore a bit unbalanced. This can cause that the IEM sound thin, but I suppose with the right eartips and a bit of EQ it can be fixed.

The FR of the new DUSK looks more balanced.

I just wanted to show that there are alternatives to the Subtonic Storm. I saw one video and I thought the reviewer could hardly find arguments that justify the price of the Subtonic Storm in comparison the other good or maybe even better IEMs like the DUSK.

 

[solderdude]

Thank you both!

Midgard – Amir’s review says it switches off under 20ohm (if I got that correctly), so that would probably rule it out?

Most likely not. Amir uses continuous tones which are very different to short term peaks in music.
The midgard is specified at 16 ohm (specs for headphone amps usually do not go below that.)

Schiit states 5.5W in 16ohm meaning 9V in 16ohm = 0.6A.
This means it can reach 3.6V peak in 6ohm = 114dB peak SPL.

SMSL H300 – is rated down to 16ohm by the manufacturer – would it be safe to assume it can deal with 6ohm, or better to ask the company?

And might something like Topping A70 Pro work?

Sure... it can deliver 1 Amp.

 

[BorisG]

Once again, thanks for the replies! A70 Pro was the one I was slightly lusting after…

Re IEMs – I will try to demo the DUSKS, but I can say that I spent hours comparing the Storm, using the same source and ear tips, to a decent list of current flagship IEMs:

Forte Ears Macbeth
Canpur 622b (both regular and TI version)
Elysian X and Annihilator 2023
7th Acoustic Asteria
Penon Rival
And my current Campfire Andromeda 2020, and older Etymotic ER4XR

… and do have exact reasons for each one of the above as to why the Storm is better. I wish this were not the case, as any of the above are significantly less expensive!

 

[solderdude]

Just a flat Harman compliant frequency response on a test fixture is not the same as having excellent sound quality to someone with a specific taste.
So no need to 'apologize' if cheap but Harman compliant IEM's are not what you prefer.

 

[BorisG]

Just a flat Harman compliant frequency response on a test fixture is not the same as having excellent sound quality to someone with a specific taste.
So no need to 'apologize' if cheap but Harman compliant IEM's are not what you prefer.

And… thank you! That’s the point I was trying to make above. But I didn’t want to appear discourteous, as I really cherish this forum.