Audiophilepure

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” The UE 18+ Pro pairs fantastically with Fiio’s 3rd generation X5 DAP; the sound signature is smooth with great body and detailing. The Questyle QP1R, on the other hand, extracts even more detailing albeit with a slight compromise in soundstage proportions. The Fiio X7 presents a more analytical sound than Fiio’s 3rd generation X5 DAP with similar levels of separation and openness. At 37.5 Ohms, the UE 18+ Pro is ever so slightly harder to drive than the UERM and the UERR but is still relatively easy to drive in the grand scheme of desktop listening, DAPs and portable headphone amps.”

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“Bass and dark wood instruments sound amazing on both monitors. The overall bass quantity of the NF6i is more comparable to the PP8 with activated bass boost, but the InEar will show more slam and greater impact than the NF Audio. (This is likely due to comparing a CIEM with a universal.) Surprisingly, the NF6 have a wider and deeper soundstage while boasting equally impressive layering and separation.”

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“These are stunning, but sadly not in all departments quite yet. They no doubt look it, I don’t need to tell you that and minus a few little quirks like an annoying mic and short nozzles, build quality is great too. Ergonomics should be their main development next time around as even when I found tips that got a seal (bigger tips than I normally use and I went through much more) it was still a long winded process getting them to completely seal every time I stuck them in my ears.”

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“Max Richter’s “Recomposed: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons” that sometimes subtly and sometimes overtly revamps the original Vivaldi masterpiece was a joy over the X. Somehow the real chamber strings and synthesized sounds never clashed, and the ‘X just lets them be. Switching over to another of my favorite in-ears in the X’s price range, the 1More Quad Driver, that one made more, but less well-defined bass. In fact, the Quad Driver’s sound was less clear, less exciting, but that headphone was easier to listen to with harsh, over-compressed recording like Austin, Texas pop rockers Spoon’s latest album, “Hot Thoughts.” Their songs are just as good as ever, but like most recent Spoon albums, the sound grates on the ears with the X.”

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” The VE8 picks up a lot of noise with ALO Audio’s tube powered CV5 and as it’s audible during music playback, it’s a no go for me. When you can hear past the noise then you get a very rich sound with superb bass, rich mids and energetic treble. Such a shame about the CV5’s noise as this would have been a superb combination. With ALO Audio’s CDM in full balanced mode, you more or less get the same story but there is less noise which allows you to listen to music without it disturbing you. The sound is very clear, fast and precise with great dynamics.”

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“Many weeks and more than 5200 words into the review later I can honestly say, the Encore is a masterfully crafted in ear monitor with outstanding clarity and detail, superior control and coherence and the most natural iem I know. An earphone that undoubtedly deserves to be positioned at the top of the line. It has replaced K10 as my favorite in ear within one listen and is currently unrivaled at this spot and out shines any other earphone I have heard to this date”

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“While the UERM presented a mild U-shaped imposition on its midrange frequencies, the UE 18+ Pro brings the mids more to the forefront. However, the UERR is perhaps the most forward sounding and intimate of these three Ultimate Ears Pro monitors. While not the largest of soundstages, my preference leans towards the UE 18+ Pro’s rendering of midrange frequencies which sound natural and immersive. Mids are full-bodied which is something often lacking in balanced armature earphones”

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“Overall presentation is smooth and easy on the ear while maintaining the level of clarity and details. Now I have to say AF180 is really well tuned here, even when I like sparky highs I have to admit a bit more energy would have made it slightly uncomfortable for those who don’t love spark in their treble.”