More IEM Comparisons
I compared the Neo5’s with even more IEMs at Addicted to Audio in Melbourne. My new Astell & Kern SR35 was used for comparisons and for reference the Neo5s require a volume level of 40. Do bear in mind the SR35’s 4.4mm jack is more powerful, so IEMs using 3.5mm cables need more volume.
Letshoer s12 Pro – 1xPlanar (USD $169)
The s12 Pros’ metal shells are extremely light & comfortable, and with their 3.5mm cable requiring a staggering 70 volume on the SR35 it’s clear they require a lot of power to shine! Immediately obvious is how much lower bass quantity is than the Neo5s, but texture is decent despite being on leaner side.
I do find their treble rather wispy and ethereal which isn’t quite to my taste, but dynamics are very impressive and resolution & imaging are also terrific. The s12 Pros deliver a much cleaner, more detailed sound but lack the Neo5’s visceral punch. They represent surprisingly good value.
Dunu Falcon Ultra – 1xDD (USD $239)
The metal Falcon Ultra shells are tiny and extremely comfortable, and require the same volume of 40 so they’re as easy to drive as the Neo5s. Falcon Ultra bass skews towards sub rather than midbass, features impressive bass texture and a satisfying amount of quantity – but still less than the Neo5s.
Falcon Ultra’s stage dimensions are similar to Neo5’s, dynamics are weaker with a less-punchy presentation and a slightly less prominent midrange, though the Falcon Ultras feel a little warmer. I prefer the Neo5s tonality but am very impressed by the Falcon Ultras which are superb value.
Dunu Vulcan DK-X6 – 2xDD, 4xBA (USD $379)
The Dunu Vulcan’s 3.5mm cable requires a volume of 60, and their smooth metal shells are on the slightly large side.
Unfortunately they’re a little shouty with upper midrange being a bit of a problem. Treble is somewhat recessed, resolution feels a trifle one-note and even the midrange demonstrates a hint of hollowness. Conversely, soundstage depth is fairly impressive and there’s quite a bit of sub bass rumble though bass is less emphasised than on the Neo5s.
Campfire Audio Ponderosa Universal – 5xBA (USD $799)
Ponderosas’ bright green shells are large and stick out quite a bit, but I find them snug & comfortable. On their 3.5mm cable Ponderosas require 60 volume on the SR35 so they’re fairly hard to drive.
I find Ponderosas have a warm tonality, with more mid bass than sub, but the midrange feels somewhat recessed. They have a fairly relaxed tuning, soundstage depth is quite good and resolution is impressive.
All things considered the Ponderosas don’t impress me greatly, compared with the Neo5s which are much more punchy, dynamic & energetic which suits my taste a little better.
Campfire Audio 2023 Supermoon Universal – 1xPlanar (USD $1099)
The bright orange 2023 Supermoons are tuned slightly differently to their predecessors which were only available in custom configuration – it’s nice to see CFA adding the universal option.
Their 3.5mm cable requires a volume of just 33 so they’re super easy to drive, and their shells feel identical to the Ponderosas. With just one driver their tremendous cohesiveness jumps right out immediately, so if that’s a quality you value highly I’d recommend auditioning the Supermoons!
In fact I’d go so far as to say the 2023 Supermoons are possibly the most technically proficient single-driver IEMs I’ve heard, challenging the Final A8000s & Softears Turii Ti but priced lower than either. Soundstage dimensions are very impressive for a single driver, and resolution is similarly terrific.
I do find Supermoon sub bass a touch weak, treble is fine but again not as prominent as I’d prefer. As with every other single-driver IEM I’ve heard there’s also a slight ‘hollowness’ to the sound as if the entire frequency spectrum isn’t being quite as effortlessly covered as it might be by a multi-driver hybrid.
Thieaudio Monarch MKIII – 2xDD, 6xBA, 2xEST (USD $999)
With their 3.5mm cable requiring a volume of 66, the MKIIIs do require a fair bit of juice. Their shells are fairly large & smooth and comfort is reasonable. Immediately I notice that Thieaudio have ‘woken up’ the MKIIIs slightly, which are no longer quite as flatly-tuned as the MKIIs.
They still have the same smooth Monarch sound we’re used to, pushing impressive amounts of effortless detail towards you in a fairly inoffensive fashion with a soundstage that’s very wide but not terribly deep, and they’re also bassier than the MKIIs with a less flabby DD being used.
I consider the MKIIIs solid value if you want an earphone that mimicks the refinement of flagship IEMs but you can’t quite afford one, yet they’re a different animal to the Neo5s which are more dynamic & visceral with far more bass quantity, but lack the same refinement, resolution & stage width.
Campfire Audio Trifecta – 3xDD (USD $3375)
Let’s cover the good news first. The Trifecta shells are oddly shaped but actually fairly comfortable despite sticking out quite far, and requiring just 40 volume from a 3.5mm cable they’re easy to drive. Trifecta’s soundstage is massive, extremely wide and with great depth. They also deliver a similarly visceral bass experience to the Neo5s, with even more bass quantity – the only IEM compared that does.
Trifecta also feels cohesive, largely because it projects a gigantic wall of sound. Unfortunately its’ three drivers are horrendously slow, utterly failing miserably to keep up with music of any significant pace. Dynamics are also poor, and at the lower volumes I listen at treble seems nearly non-existent. Everything feels bloated & slow, though some may perhaps find the presentation non-fatiguing. Ultimately I much prefer Neo5’s superior dynamics, far more prominent treble, deeper sub bass and cleaner sound.
I joked with one of the Addicted to Audio staffers and he agreed, that if FiR Xenon 6 sounds like being inside a nightclub, Trifecta sounds like being outside a nightclub… on the other side of a brick wall.
Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging & Ergonomics
Page 2 – Sound Impressions & Technical Performance
Page 3 – IEM Comparisons
Page 4 – More IEM Comparisons
Page 5 – Cable Comparisons
Page 6 – Conclusion
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