Only recently got back into the game, but tried a variety of new releases besides the current gen peak-fi stuff.
Would say something like the Yu9 Que or Hercules Audio Noah are easily there.
They're both resolving enough to easily compete with IEMs at double the price or more like the Monarch Mk2. While from personal experience I feel that he Monarch is just a tinge better at soundstage and timbre, the Que and Noah aren't far behind. In fact, they're very very VERY close.
Hence for just 400USD, I'd say they set both the new benchmark for the price-range, and also are the new lowest price-point for endgame technicalities.
From my note about them when I tried them at Canjam
1. Hercules Noah
\- Clean presentation in bass, still have good body but not as thick as Volume S.
\- Body are more to the clean side rather than full side
\- Forward vocal, some people may call it shouty but not for me, they're in the right amount.
\- Treble are present and compete with the vocal to be up front but not sharp or too much.
\- There's an Air present but not sharp or piecing.
Overall Fun IEM, nice presentation with nice build.
2. Yanyin Baker
\- There's a Bass texture, not present upfront but enough
\- Body are more to the clean side rather than full side
\- Bit forward vocal, I think they're in the right amount
\- have an "Yanyin" treble character where they feel a bit pillow'ish and soft, not sharp and decisive. (Pretty much happen to a lot of them to the point of become their signature)
\- still have an Air sharpness but not that much to the point of distraction.
3. Hype 4 Mk2
\- I can't remember much about them because it's many month ago that I tried them, but I do remember that I don't like them that much because of Treble energy (I just don't like big treble energy that's all)
Both of them are not really comparable to the Volume S and SR10 because they have different characteristic, feel like compare pizza to the corn soup.
That is true, just wanted to note that it's an all BA set(I guess Knowles 22955 still counts since it's a designated woofer BA).
I tried it at a local meet and the bass presentation oddly enough sorta reminded me of the Hercules Audio Noah.
I didn't get much time to look for finer details, but they both had a mid-bass punch that sounded physical, albeit a bit "loose" for my taste.
I got them, and love them
But I also have the Hercules Audio Noah and Punch Audio Martilo's as a side grade to them.
Thinking of getting either the Yanyin Baker, Mega 7, or Volume S as the next side grade, which would you recommend?
Thanks for the response. Huh interesting, I have both and I find the treble on the Martilo to hurt me more, I do like the Noah's but looking for something warmer. Hence I intend to get the Volume S next, have you had those? Could you compare them to the Martilo/Noah's.
AaronXeno21
