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[Sneak Preview] The Big October Mixup

Apologies for the lack of content recently, work piled on in the last weeks or so but I'll be back next week for more content.

I'll have to take another short hiatus after in November-ish, but I'll be back at the end of month for my semi-annual Singapore trip. So look forward to that.

General background: this new update is basically a downward revaluation of many entries in C-tier and up, after some reflection that I've been losing my edge and standards. 

There have been some things that I've been undoubtedly influenced by hype and pricing, so this update also serves to correct those biases. 

More details in the official update post, this is just a sneak preview. Please do not share this publicly as these changes may not be final.

***

Format:
<Model>
: Rank to rank
<Reason for revaluation>

Shure KSE1200: S to S-
Slightly off midrange tonality and massive treble spike

64 Audio U18Tzar: S- to A+
Lack of dynamics

Campfire Andromeda (includes S): S- to A+
Previously near the lower rung of S-, made sense to downgrade under new circumstances

Jomo Trinity SS: S- to A+
Lack of treble extension and overly coloured tonality

Sony MDR-EX1000: S- to A+
Treble spikes

Ultimate Ears UE18+ Pro (Gen 2): S- to A+
Resolution

64 Audio tia Fourte: A+ to A
Wonky midrange tonality

FitEar MH334SR: A+ to A
Resolution

HYLA CE-5 & TE-5B: A+ to A
Lower midrange suckout

Noble Khan: A+ to A
Treble spikes and midrange thinness

64 Audio tia Fourte Noir: A to A-
Worse Fourte

Dita Dream: A to A-
Metallic timbre

Empire Ears Phantom: A to B+
Resolution, extremely coloured tone (lower mids overemphasised)

FitEar MH334 & TG334: A to A-
Resolution

InEar SD5: A to A-
Resolution

Ultimate Ears UE18+ Pro (Gen 3): A to A-
Wonky tonality

Custom Art Harmony 8.2: A- to B+
Resolution

Campfire Atlas: A- to B+
Bass bleed

Empire Ears EVR: A- to B+
Timbre shortcomings

HYLA TE-5T: A- to B+
Extremely coloured tone (huge swings between upper mids and lower mids)

Jomo Quatre: A to B+
Resolution

Massdrop Plus: A- to B+
Resolution

Westone W80: A to B+
Upper midrange suckout

Campfire Jupiter: B+ to B
Upper midrange suckout

Custom Art FIBAE3: B+ to B
Upper midrange weirdness

Dita Fidelity: B+ to B
Extremely coloured tone (heavy V emphasis)

Earsonics EM10: B+ to B
General odd tuning direction

FitEar F/A111: B+ to B
Resolution

FitEar Private 333: B+ to B
Extremely coloured tone (heavy treble bias)

Rhapsodio Galaxy: B+ to B
Resolution

Campfire Vega: B to B-
Upper midrange suckout

Campfire Dorado: B to B-
Bass bleed

HYLA Nerva X: B to B-
Low dynamics

Rhapsodio Solar: B+ to B-
Resolution

Sony MH755: B to B-
Resolution

Ultimate Ears UE7 Pro: B to B-
Resolution

AAW A3H Pro V2: B- to C+
Resolution

Audeze iSine 10/20 (No Cipher): B- to C+
Skewed tonality

BGVP DM6: B- to C+
Resolution

Final E4000 & E5000: B- to C+
Resolution

TFZ King Pro: B- to C+
Lower midrange suckout

Ultimate Ears UE11 Pro: B- to C+
Resolution, coloured tone (bass/lower mid overemphasis)

BGVP DMG: C+ to C
Resolution (mostly bass)

Campfire Lyra 2: C+ to C
Resolution

FiiO F3: C- to C
Resolution, tonality

FiiO FA1: C+ to C
Resolution

Oriveti New Primacy: C+ to C
Resolution

Rose BR5 Mk2: C+ to C
Resolution

Tin HiFi P1: C+ to C
Resolution

Ultimate Ears Triple Fi 10 "TF10": C+ to C
Resolution

Ultimate Ears Live: B- to C
Resolution

Warbler Prelude: B- to C
Lack of extension in both directions

Campfire Nova: C to C-
Lack of treble extension

FiiO FA7: C to C-
Lack of dynamics, coloured tone (lower mids overemphasis)

Spiral Ears SE5U: B- to C-
Lack of treble extension, phase issues




Comments

I'm surprised by the SD5, the one thing I wouldn't say about is a lack of resolution

Skedra

Interesting, will push Final E4000/E5000 into same rank as E2000/3000.


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