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HeaDphone Discussions. (Audiophile and Gaming)

Yisum Mense I've read just this page (143) & I am sed I didn't group order with someone, I popped in this thread last week as I've been wanting a set of KZ's for a while & found the ZEX everyone is going on about. It might be time to grip, I didn't think @Random_Sheep would grab so quickly but I'm lazy & delay things xD

Apart from being pretty set on the ZEX's, what foam tips are recommended, brand doesn't bother me too much (not that it matter on tips), more focused on the quality of the material to not irritate my skin.
 
Yisum Mense I've read just this page (143) & I am sed I didn't group order with someone, I popped in this thread last week as I've been wanting a set of KZ's for a while & found the ZEX everyone is going on about. It might be time to grip, I didn't think @Random_Sheep would grab so quickly but I'm lazy & delay things xD

Apart from being pretty set on the ZEX's, what foam tips are recommended, brand doesn't bother me too much (not that it matter on tips), more focused on the quality of the material to not irritate my skin.
I just have a cheap set from amazon that i got on my last order.
Definitely want to get something decent because the left just doesn't fit so lekker. Its definitely my kak ears
 
@neilh so you say the stock tips is a no-no for you?

Would you recommend these foam tips instead:
 
I'm actually struggling with the left.
Not sure why but don't have the issue with my set of TWS.

But am still blown away at the price to performance point.

Maybe must just shell out on some decent foam tips.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
 
I got my ZEX today, only issue is some white noise when plugged into my interface.
 
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Yip. Noise floor, my Audio GD does it as well

The Woo Audio WA7 I had was dead quiet at high volume levels. I almost miss it
 
@neilh so you say the stock tips is a no-no for you?

Would you recommend these foam tips instead:

Comply are amongst the best memory foam tips you can get but they are pretty pricey unless you find them in some special offer like when Musica were clearing their stock out locally - if you get them from overseas they cost around $20 + shipping and VAT and handling charges for 3 sets - whereas you can find generic ones that only cost $5 to $8 for 6 sets on E-bay - or in the Chinese Shops (Gearbest, Banggood, Aliexpress etc) at around R5 to R6 ZAR per set so you can buy in bulk in different colors and sizes - at that price i would buy 50 in one go and i would be set for life

one "tip" when using those foam eartips (pardon the pun) - you cannot clean them with water or use them just after having a shower and your ears are wet because they will deteriorate and disintegrate and could leave behind debris in your ears - just keep those away from water ..... i found out the hard way 🙁
 
for the guys that are suffering the white noise issue - the amps you are using may just be too powerful for highly sensitive IEMs - it might be worth your while to get an ifi IEmatch which will make most sensitive IEMs compatible with the most powerful amps

ifi IEmatch product page

you can get those from Francois at audio exchange (check at AVF for him) - there are two models available ie for the standard 3.5mm jack or for the balanced 2.5mm jack as well

i dont think that guys with lower power amps will suffer from this issue to double check this try and use the IEM directly with your phone if it has a headphone jack - if you don't get this white noise issue there then its definitely that your amp is producing too much power for an IEM - this is why most ifi DAC/AMPs come with that IEmatch built in
 
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for the guys that are suffering the white noise issue - the amps you are using may just be too powerful for highly sensitive IEMs - it might be worth your while to get an ifi IEmatch which will make most sensitive IEMs compatible with the most powerful amps

ifi IEmatch product page

you can get those from Francois at audio exchange (check at AVF for him) - there are two models available ie for the standard 3.5mm jack or for the balance 2.5mm jack as well

i dont think that guys with lower power amps will suffer from this issue to double check this try and use the IEM directly with your phone if it has a headphone jack - if you don't get this white noise issue there then its definitely that your amp is produsing too much power for an IEM - this is why most ifi DAC/AMPs come with that IEmatch built in
Well I get it on my ifi
But will definitely give Francois a shout and get a price.

Thanks dude.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
 
Well I get it on my ifi
But will definitely give Francois a shout and get a price.

Thanks dude.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
from what i know - the zen DAC has Powermatch which is effectively IEmatch - you need to to put it onto low gain for the IEMs and possibly higher gain for the full size headphones that need more power

check in the manual about Powermatch and how you can adjust it and see if it makes a difference - if it doesnt then im not sure if the IEmatch unit will work either

according to the audio exhange ifi price list the IEmatch 3.5mm was R1295 and the 2.5mm model is R1395 - seems expensive if you have only one high sensitivity IEM to drive though but if you have a few it might be worth your while (or even if you are going to keep upgrading to different models over time)
 
@naughty will test when Eskom grants me the right to spend my money with then.

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heres the Zen DAC product page - they do mention this

zen-power-match.jpg


most likely with non-ifi amps it might help to use low gain if its available 🤷‍♂️
 
Friend of mine recently purchased that KZ carry case along with KZ ZSN Pro. His only complaint was that the case is a bit small, so fitting the IEMs and the cable in is a bit of a struggle.

I just went to the closest pic n pay, grabbed a Tupperware and hot glued some packaging foam I had laying around. Works nicely. View attachment 60996

top moneysaving idea (y) and probably hugely convenient too
 

Never tried these but heard good things about Jabra
 
@neilh have you tried low gain on your DAC/AMP to see if the hiss goes away and @Random_Sheep have you checked if powermatch works for you to reduce the hiss as well?
Mornibgs
Yes, 99% of the hiss has gone now since I changes the power match.

Thanks dude!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
 
@neilh have you tried low gain on your DAC/AMP to see if the hiss goes away and @Random_Sheep have you checked if powermatch works for you to reduce the hiss as well?
Noise floor still there, just put it down to the R28 being overkill

I just make sure there is always music playing and its all good
 
Yes, 99% of the hiss has gone now since I changes the power match.

Thanks dude!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

great - so now most people can buy with confidence that the IEM will work as it should (y) - i think that high sensitivity IEMs will work better with lower powered sources - and the higher end (read that as more expensive models) will work better being properly powered with amplifiers

the cheaper end of the scale should be more populated with highly efficient models that work perfectly with small DAC/AMps and dongles and direct of headphone jacks from most devices like phones and tablets

i'm still gonna get a ZEX as soon as my finances improve because my DAP only gives around 255 mw at 16 ohms or 195 mw at 32 ohms - should be plenty to drive those IEMs but in balanced mode with either a 4.4mm or 2,5mm jack it will provide 550mw at 32 ohms which is better for my full size headphones which is why i have the balanced cables for those (y) - plus the ZEX will work perfectly with the phone too (most phones will typically only give around 8 to 16mw from the headphone jack socket)
 
Noise floor still there, just put it down to the R28 being overkill

I just make sure there is always music playing and its all good

as long as there is no hiss when playing music (y) - i think that the R28 is definitely way above what most people would use with the ZEX but right now you are ready for whatever other higher end headies the universe throws at you ;) - what worries me is that if the noise is there with the ZEX and not there with the ZSN pro ..... though this probably just signifies that the ZEX is more efficient than the ZSN pro
 
@Ninja_Theory you not posting all your new stuff here? or does the wife monitor this forum 🤣

create some excitement here IMHO by showing off what you have now (y)
Yeah I should (and I will). Wifey doesn't monitor here, It just mostly gets sold before it hits forums. I can post an Audeze LCD-3 here.. will do so later!
 
Morning all.
Looking for some Purchasing advice, between the Sony 1000 XM4 Vs the Bose QC 35 ii.

Budget around 5k. Ideally I'd like wireless with decent battery life and comfort over long periods of use, with active noise cancelling.

Any other options I could look at?
 
Morning all.
Looking for some Purchasing advice, between the Sony 1000 XM4 Vs the Bose QC 35 ii.

Budget around 5k. Ideally I'd like wireless with decent battery life and comfort over long periods of use, with active noise cancelling.

Any other options I could look at?

Nope. Those two hit the sweet spot quite well.
Otherwise, you should look at earbuds.
 
Morning all.
Looking for some Purchasing advice, between the Sony 1000 XM4 Vs the Bose QC 35 ii.

Budget around 5k. Ideally I'd like wireless with decent battery life and comfort over long periods of use, with active noise cancelling.

Any other options I could look at?
I first bought the Sony but ended up returning them because they hurt my ears after long periods of time. Just received the Bose today and already they feel more comfortable. YMMV but this is my experience with them.
 
Sooo

Due to the bad flooding we had here recently in George.

One of my friends who works at a retail outlet let me know he can give me some nice discount pricing on below due to the boxes getting but damp not even wet just a bit damp.

Everything inside looks perfect I checked on the 599s and the others looked just as good. Box looks tiny bit warped but otherwise looks as new

But this is what he's got

1 x Hd600 sealed.
1 x Hd650 - sealed
4 x hd599s - sealed

He wants R4200 for the hd600
R4500 for the hd650
R1200 PER HD599..

Should I jump on this?

b3b35103c656cce9c90d1220bfe25e51.jpg
7fd2fa4ed44314e49d94a1fbba2b0a31.jpg


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