Dita Dream review
**Disclaimer: I was fortunate enough to be included in the Dita Dream tour, with the stipulation that I complete a review by the time the tour was completed. There was no influence conveyed by anyone, including Dita, to give a positive or negative review.**


Dream Specs:
Dita’s website lists the following as the Dream’s specs:

• Driver 1 Newly-Developed Ultra-wide Bandwidth 10mm Transducer
• FR 10-25000 Hz
• Impedance 16 ohms
• Sensitivity 102 db
• Colour Titanium Black
• Cable The Truth Custom Made By VDH 1.2M
• Solder VDH Lead-Free Silver Solder
• Connector Awesome 2.5mm TRRS / 3.5mm TRS

What’s in the box?:
Dita’s website lists the following as the included accessories:

• 3 Pairs Small Bore Tips S/M/L (sweeter highs)
• 3 Pairs Medium Bore Tips S/M/L (reference tuning)
• 3 Pairs Large Bore Tips S/M/L (airier highs)
• 1 Custom Flight Adapter
• 1 Premium Leather Pouch

Build and Fit:
The first thing you notice when you remove the Dream from the box is how light the unit is. The housings, made from titanium, weigh next to nothing. When compared to Rhapsodio’s Galaxy V2 brass housing, the Dream feels like a toy. However, the finish on the housings is exquisitely done, and the craftsmanship is nothing short of perfection. The dark gunmetal color screams sophistication and professionalism, and the physical size lends to a comfortable fit for almost any ear.

If I’m allowed one opportunity to throw stones at the Dream, it would be at the housings and the coating Dita employs. It loves to reveal fingerprints and oil, and that otherwise ruins something you can consider a work of art.


Cable:
Dita’s website lists the Truth replacement cable specs as follows:

• Van Den Hul patented 3T technology carbon based cable technology (Also available in copper/Cu)
• Available in MMCX and 2 pin configuration
• The Truth cable with its recognizable cable viewer which highlights the intricate twist and braid used.
• The Awesome plug allows for a multitude of configurations on the plug end for use on various types of players.
• Available in 3.5 mm TRS and 2.5 mm TRRS (4.4mm TRRS should be available now)

Right off the bat, I’ll say this: The ergonomics of this cable are HORRIBLE. Simply horrible. It coils. It’s springy. It tangles. It retains memory, meaning it likes to coil back up on itself. It really, really hates being straight. It’s really such as shame, because had it not been for the poor ergo I’d have purchased one already. I really did love how it sounded.
While it can be seen as the “Cable from hell,” it does do a lot of things right. One design feature I really, really liked was the 45* angled connector at the 2 pin side of the cable. For the Dream, and for IEMs with a certain type of design, it allowed the Dream to fit into my ear more comfortably than a regular straight 2 pin connector would allow. I wish other cable manufacturers would adopt this as an option, but one can only wish. The swappable jack size were designed to allow the owner the ability to go from 4.4mm balanced, to 2.5mm balanced, to 3.5mm single ended without ever having to buy another cable again. Fine for the “average” consumer, but not the last cable if you fall into the “fanatic” category.
Ergonomics aside, the Awesome cable’s strength was its sound. The Dream gives the buyer the option of the Van Den Hul Truth copper or Truth silver plated copper upon purchase. In comparing the two while doing my critical listening, the Truth copper won my affection. There was something really special about that Van Den Hul cable; perhaps it’s their “3T” technology or their method of braiding their cable. Whatever it is, that copper cable produced a sound I can only describe as spacious, holographic, detailed, and with a slight hint of warmth. I have yet to hear another pure copper cable come close to the Awesome copper cable.


Tips:
The included tips are of good quality, but I immediately installed a set of my trusty Spiral Dots and didn’t look back. I did try some Complys, but overall I preferred the SD tips.


My Setup:
My humble test rig consisted of the following: Lotoo Paw Gold-->Dita Truth Cu cable --> Dream

I only reviewed the Dream with the Paw Gold. No phone, no ipods, nothing else. You could conceivably listen to the Dream off a phone or lowered powered source, but in my experience, a DD driver loves power. In my opinion, any TOTL IEM should be used only with a quality, high powered source.


Test Music:
I used a variety of music spanning many different genres, including:

• Arne Domnerus Group : Jazz At The Pawnshop
• Bob Marley: Is this Love
• Daft Punk: R.A.M. - Fragments
• Eric Clapton: Change the World, Layla (Unplugged)
• Nora Jones: Come away with me
• Led Zeppelin IV: Stairway to Heaven
• Lorde: Royals
• Nirvana, Unplugged: All Apologies
• Pink Floyd, DSOTM : Time, Money
• Sade: Best of
• Steely Dan: Aja
• Sting: Thousand Years, Brand New Day
• Ultrasone: Test CD (It's quite superb)

Burn In:
This is quite the polarizing subject, but I admit I’m a believer in burn in, especially when it comes to a dynamic driver. Owners of the Vega all experienced a “drop off” or lowering of the sub bass over time, and I can say the same happened with my Galaxy V2. The Dream should be no different, but I did not do any burn in as it was a test unit and I only had 7 days to conduct my critical listening. I do not know the exact amount of pre-burn in hours this tour unit had, if any, but I do recall that Barra said it was burned in by Dita prior to being shipped out for the reviews. However, as it was a tour unit, I’m sure this Dream sample had a good number of hours under its belt by the time I received it.

For more insight into the matter, please read of one Alex’s (Twister6) reviews and his thoughts on burn in.


Sound Impressions:

Bass:
The Dream, like its distant cousin the Galaxy V2, has sublime sub-bass notes. The DD equipped Dream is able to hit those low sub notes that you not only hear, but you also feel. I’m talking those “in your gut” type feelings. The bass is powerful, deep, engaging, and lays the foundation for the other notes of the musical spectrum that follow. The decay, of course, is slower than that of a BA driver unit, but the overall quality and quantity of this DD bass IEM is hard to beat. Both the quality and quantity of the sub bass and bass are outstanding, I wouldn’t change anything here.
However, with the good, sometimes comes the bad. In the Dream’s case, the sub-bass outweighs the upper mid-bass, and that lends in the Dream to portraying itself with a slightly dark presentation.

Midrange:
Vocals on the Dream are the shortfall for me. They’re slightly laid back, which is fine to some extent. Some prefer laid back vocals, some prefer neutral vocals, and some prefer forward vocals. However, as I said above, the weight and density of the sub-bass and bass with the corresponding lack of upper mid-bass produce a midrange that, to me, is on the thin side of the coin. When I say thin, I mean that the midrange is lacking warmth, size, density and thickness. Although the midrange comes across as thin, it is that inherent thinness that adds to the Dream’s presentation of the midrange. The lack of the warmth results in midrange notes that will come across as clean and articulate with a good deal of clarity, but at the expense of being what one would call “dry.” I could even go as far as stretching the definition to call the Dream “sterile.” Although it portrays the vocal notes with clarity and resolution, some male and female vocal notes will come across as emotionless and non-engaging due to the lack of warmth.
Now, don’t get me wrong. When I criticize the vocals, I mean that ideally, we would like a good balance between those components of the midrange, but individual tastes may vary. While you may may prefer a dry midrange note, at times, and depending on the singer, recordings and resulting mastery, I personally like to have body to them. I like to “feel,” through the singers voice, what he or she is trying to portray through the music. Again, it’s a purely a personal preference. Quality and quantity could use improvement in order to present a more realistic, emotional, life-like vocal note.

Treble:
Treble on the Dream does err on the brighter side of the spectrum, but I did not notice it to be overly harsh or have any hint of sibilance. Listeners with a sensitivity to elevated treble may experience fatigue, but luckily I don’t fall into that category. A slight boost in the upper midrange and lower treble of the Dream results in a higher level of detail retrieval, which I believe was a goal of designers of the Dream. That boost further results in a higher level of clarity, resolution, and articulation of the notes in this area of the spectrum. The Dream has a good level of extension for a DD driver, but it will not come close to the current offerings from the likes of 64 Audio or Empire Ears. Although the quality of treble in the Dream is good, I personally would have preferred a bit more quantity of treble in order to have more excitement in the presentation and replication of the upper notes.


Soundstage and Imaging:
Overall, the soundstage of the Dream was very good. The Dream deals a good deal of separation, air and spaciousness to the soundstage, lending the listener to easily place singers or instruments on said stage. The stage presents itself with good width and depth, and the clarity and resolution of the treble lead to a holographic effect on certain recordings (“Could this be love”).


Final Thoughts:
With the Dream, the listener is presented with an IEM that fits good, it looks good, and is capable of being worn for hours without discomfort or fatigue. It screams maturity, no doubt due to the choices made by Dita during its creation via their design cues and color choices.
Sonically, it’s very capable, detailed and resolute. For me, it excelled in its reproduction of classical, stringed, and jazz recordings, and it will reward the listener with an aptly large, spacious, and airy soundstage.
While very good, its shortcoming showed as the Dream faced difficulty portraying emotion in its vocals. When I listen to music, especially vocal tracks, I want the hair to stand up on my arm when I hear the warmth and heart in the singer’s voice. I want that quality in the vocal reproduction of my IEMs, and that’s something that the Dream simply did not do. While more than capable, it was sterile and emotionless.
And that cable. That otherwise great sounding cable. Let’s hope the Awesome cable version 2 (or whatever they name it) sounds as good or better, without those demon-child qualities. From what I’ve read on the Dita thread, the new version 2 cable addresses the numerous complaints regarding the ergonomics of the old cable.
Overall, the Dream with appeal to many, but will remain with a select few who desire this type of tuning. Sadly, for me, this Dream is not the dream I dream of.

Rhapsodio Galaxy V2
 
**Disclaimer:  I was provided a discount on the Galaxy V2 demo unit sent to me with no stipulation that I do a review**
 
Who am I?  (Part Deux):
I’m still relatively "new" here on Head-Fi, even though I'm coming up on a year of membership.  Still a "Semi-newbie," so to speak.   I sold my original setup (AK100mk2, Mojo, V1) and had every intention of leaving this hobby behind, but some things change and some don't.   After I sold my setup, I bought a pair of cheap IEMs to listen to through my iPhone and was "done."   As luck had it, the chance to buy a Paw Gold came my way and I somehow found my way back onto Head-Fi.  I guess there is no leaving once you're in, kind of like a cult, so to speak.  "Ministry of Sound" sounds apt, don't you think?
    
This will be my second review here on Head-Fi.  Honestly, I hadn't even planned on doing a review for the V2, but I wanted people to know the genuine "Magic" that comes out of Sammy's little shop of wonders.   Yes, he's still the "Magician" to me, and if you ever have the chance to audition or own the V1 or V2 (with a proper source), you'll understand why I gave him that nickname.
 
 
Galaxy V2 Specs: 
The Galaxy V2 employs the same 10.3 mm dynamic driver in a new custom brass housing.   The material, as well as the design of the new enclosure have a definite effect on the sound (more on that later)
    *10.3mm titanium diaphram dynamic driver
    *Frequency response: 10Hz~ 23,000 Hz
    *Sensitivity: 102dB/mV
    *Impedance: 16ohm
    *MSRP:  $1450 USD
 
 
What’s in the box?:
Overall, the accessories are the same as the V1 package (aluminum locker box, round metal storage case, tips), but the main difference is the included cable:
        *Rhapsodio Pandora Dwarf cable 
          *6N OCC litz
          *120*0.08mm conductors
          *TPU shielding 
          *Gold plated brass 3.5mm jack  
 
 
Build and Fit:    
If you're a V1 owner, the first thing you'll notice when you see the V2 for the first time is the larger enclosure.   Overall, it is larger than the original Galaxy in both shape and weight.   Sammy designed the V2 enclosure out of brass, and once you pick up the V2, you'll easily notice the difference in mass.   Each V2 enclosure is now triangular shaped, with a little more height than the V1.   Although the enclosure is larger than the V1, I found the V2  fit my ears well and is still very comfortable.   YMMV.
 

 

(Rhapsodio stock photos)

Make no mistake: the weight of each IEM isn't obscene to the point where you'd be fatigued wearing them, but these won't be the IEMs you take jogging or to the gym.  Although they will stay in place (with the correct fitting tip), these are more your "stay at home" headphones.
 
The below picture easily illustrates the larger enclosure (V1 on the left, V2 on the right).  Although it's taller in height, the general diameter of the base section has decreased.

 
A comparison showing JVC Spiral Dots on the left, Spin Fits on the right (V2 enclosure)

(Thanks to EagleWings for the above images)
 
 
 
Cable:
The cable and headphone enclosures employ the industry standard 2 pin connector, however, Sammy now uses a recessed connector on the enclosure side (very good choice).   I think everyone prefers the recessed connector vs the non-recessed one, as it makes the connection look much cleaner in appearance and more secure (IMO). 
 
The included Pandora Dwarf cable is very well made (as are all the Rhapsodio cables), albeit slightly stiff overall.  The 4 braided cable construction can be considered soft and supple for copper, and it uses no memory wire over the ear.   The individual wires themselves are thin, although the overall diameter of the 4 braid section is slightly larger than the orginal V1 SG2.98 4 wire cable.  The build quality is remains excellent, and there's no discernible microphonics present.
 
This picture illustrates the new recessed connector in the V2 housing

(Rhapsodio stock photo)
 
Picture of the Dark Knight 2 pin cable installed into the recessed connector:

 
 
 
 
Tips:
As with the V1, I couldn't get the included Spin-Fits or Phillips tips to seal well with the V2, even when using the largest sizes.   Again, I swapped them out for my trusty JVC Spiral Dot tips in the large size and the fit was most excellent.  Tip rolling is highly recommended to ensure a good seal.
 
JVC Spiral Dot tip installed:

 
 
 
My Setup:
My humble rig has been upgraded since my V1 review and now consists of the following:  
    
    Lotoo Paw Gold-->Rhapsodio 4 braid Dark Knight cable --> Galaxy V2
 

 
 
Furthermore, I conducted this review using the Rhapsodio "Dark Knight" (DK) cable, which is constructed of the following:
    *Silver plated 99.9999% single crystal copper
    *400* 0.05 mm conductors 
    *Far infrared technology 
    *Japanese TPU shielding 
    *Cm/fitear/mmcx/im socket 
    *Carbon fiber Y  

When I originally received the demo unit, it came packaged with the DK cable and not the Pandora Dwarf cable.  While I waited for the Dwarf cable to arrive, I conducted my listening tests with the Dark Knight cable and did not receive the Pandora Dwarf cable until much later (too late for this review).   When I have more time, I'll include some brief comparisons between the Dwarf and the Dark Knight cable.   As an added bonus, I ordered an 8 braid Dark Knight cable from Sammy, and I'll do some tests on that when time provides.

As with my V1 review, I'm going to review the V2 only with the LPG.  No phone, no ipods, sorry.  Both the V1 and V2 "can" be used with an iPhone, but to hear them play to their full potential, you simply need amplification.   To be quite honest, the V1 and V2 love power.   They love it.  They simply shine with power, and the LPG fits that bill quite nicely.
 
 
Test Music:
 I used a variety of music spanning many different genres, including:
    Arne Domnerus Group : Jazz At The Pawnshop 
    Bob Marley:  Is this Love
    Daft Punk:  R.A.M. - Fragments
    Eric Clapton: Change the World, Layla (Unplugged)
    Jewel:  Somewhere Over the Rainbow
    Lorde:  Royals
    Nirvana, Unplugged:  All Apologies
    Pink Floyd, DSOTM :  Time, Money (of course, I went there!)
    Steely Dan:  Aja
    Sting: Thousand Years, Brand New Day
    Ultrasone:  Test CD (It's quite superb, get a copy if you can)
    

Burn-In:
As with the V1, Sammy recommends proper burn-in of the V2.   "Piano music, 100 hours minimum, 25% volume level."   Luckily for me, the demo unit was close to full burn so I didn't have much more to do.  I'm probably close to 200 hours by now.  Time well saved IMO.
 
 
Sound Impressions:
I don't have quite the experience as other reviewers on Head-Fi, so I'll do my best to explain what I hear in simple to understand terms.
 
 
  Bass:
In my conversations with Sammy, he related that the increase in bass/mid bass is a direct result of the brass material and the shape and design of the enclosure.  The bass continues to be heavenly, however, there's more mid bass present in the V2 than in the V1.  The bass remains deep, quick, snappy, and accurate with great extension.  Deep, deep notes continue to shine in the V2 as they did in the V1.  The bass is never sloppy, it never loses control, it never has a hint of distortion.  Fire up any track with great sub bass and mid bass and you'll instantly be rewarded with the extension and quality of reproduction that only a dynamic driver can achieve.

I would venture to say that with the increase in mid bass versus the V1, the V2 bass is overall more balanced.  Everything in the lower range seems to blend in together better than the V1 did and thankfully I didn't notice any bleed from the mid bass into the the lower mid-range region.  The notes it produces to me are perfect; They neither hang nor disappear too quickly.  However, with as much bass as you do get, the V2 is  never overpowering and it never throws the music out of balance.  It's simply quality bass with effortless reproduction of the deep notes.  It's even better now, believe it or not.      
Be warned:  The V2 is still not a "bass head" IEM, so mark it off your list of contenders if that's a predominant quality you want.  
 
 
  Mid-range: 
Vocals on the Galaxy V2 are outstanding, and the new brass enclosure and resulting increase in mid bass bring the vocals ever so slightly forward.   Just a tad.  The clarity remains amazing, dare I say even better than the V1.
 
Vocal reproduction continues to be well defined, airy, superbly detailed and with great coherence.  However, what we now have is a hint of warmth that was not present in the V1.   Don't be afraid though, the new warmth does not equate to thickness in the mid-range.  Female vocals simply shine with the V2, even more so than the V1.  Recordings such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Layla" continue to sound "pure," but we now have a bit of intimacy that comes with the increase in overall warmth.   This increase in musicality in the V2 is a welcomed one, something the V1 was never quite able to, nor meant to do.
 
 
  Treble:
Treble on the Galaxy V2 remains something to experience.   Clear, defined, detailed, coherent, and extended with no sibilance heard.    A new, welcomed feature of the V2 is a slight "taming" of the top end.   The Violins in "Andate Larghetto" Concerto No. 2 (Track #9) and the Chakraphon in "Chakraphon - Improvisation II" (Track #14) of the Ultrasone test disc continue to reveal the extension of the Galaxy's upper end, but the 1 or 2 notes that became sharp on the V1 are now ever so slightly smoothed over.   Again, a most welcomed characteristic of the V2.
 
 
Sound stage and Imaging:
The sound stage on the Galaxy V2 remains very wide, with great separation between vocals and instruments.   With the V2, musical separation and spatial qualities have increased.  As with the V1, V2 reproduction of instruments or singers on the sound stage are easily identifiable and placed with very little effort.  But now, with the V2, the stage seems to have even gained some depth.  What the V2 now presents is an increase in the sense of space and air between everything on the sound stage, and the new holographic effect now present on some tracks is a welcomed treat.
 
 
Final Thoughts:
Sammy, again, has outdid himself.   Just when I thought I heard it all, Sammy produced a Galaxy that, to me, excels over the original.   The V2 has a new, stout brass enclosure that fits my ears very well, and I can wear them for hours with no fatigue.   The V2 also reproduces music extraordinarily, with great musicality that the V1 was simply not meant to do.
    
Continuing with improvements, the V2 is far more forgiving to poor recordings than the V1, while still reproducing the music as the musician and engineer intended.   The difference is now, you're rewarded with an IEM that's far more musical and enjoyable, yet it remains analytical and precise.  Classical music as well as vocal dominant music are the V2's sweet spot.   Fear not, as it also does very well with light rock, pop, and top 40 music.   Sorry guys, no trance or electronic music for me to listen to.  
   
Someone described the V2 and fitting in between the Galaxy V1 and the Solar in the Rhapsodio family lineup.   I believe that's a accurate and fair assessment, although I would reckon it leans more toward the V1 than the Solar.

People: what you now have is a choice, and a tough one at that.   Do you want a more "reference, flat" type of musical reproduction, or do you prefer an IEM that's in itself more musical but still very, very capable?  There's an appeal in either the V1 or V2, depending on your taste and preferences, and I can see either one fitting very easily into any Head-Fi'rs collection.   Yes, you now have that choice.  
  
V1 or V2, pick your poison!

**Disclaimer:  I was provided a small discount in return for writing an honest review for the Galaxy**
 
My “Journey”:
I’ll admit this right off the bat:  If I hadn’t lost one side of my Shure SE315 somewhere (it fell off the damn MMCX connector), I’d have never started this journey.  “Journey?”   Maybe, but it's looking more and more like an adventure!   An adventure of countless hours reading threads here on Head-Fi and elsewhere, reading reviews about possible IEM candidates, and doing research (I’ll get to that in a minute).   Basically, spending hours upon hours with my butt parked on my chair in front of my computer.
 
I wanted an upgrade to the SE315, and after much ado, I selected the Westone W40s.  After a few weeks, they broke (damn MMCX connector again) and I returned them.   After much more reading, I opted this time for the Noble 4 universal IEM (N4U).  “How’d you come to that decision” you may ask?  Read, read, and read more!   Now, you’re probably thinking “Read?” and why not “Listen?”  Yes, for me it's "read."   Unfortunately for me, my only choice was to "read."   See, I live in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu.  You must be thinking "You lucky dude," or "Wow, what a problem to have."  True, I’ve got access to some of the greatest beaches in the world, a tropical climate, an average temperature in the mid 80’s year-round, and beautiful women!  What I don’t have access to, is a store where I can audition IEMs.  Nor do we have a “CanJam” here, or very many "meetups" for that matter.  None of that great stuff!  So, by reading reviews, I ended up on the N4U.  I was happy with my choice, they were a great upgrade to the SE315 and the W40 -  I had a great sounding IEM with basically a “reference curve,” which was one of my checklist requirements.  The memory wire leaves a bit to be desired, but it’s a great piece.
 
But, as with anyone who plants roots in Head-Fi for any amount of time, I wanted MORE.   MORE!   Why can't we be satisfied???  Will we ever be satisfied for that matter?  And with that, I began to create my new checklist.  More bass and sub-bass.   Clearer, more open, and more coherent midrange.   More treble/high extension without being harsh or shrill.  In essence, I wanted a true TOTL IEM.
 
      
Who am I?:
I’m new here on Head-Fi, yup, a venerable “newbie.”  I’m a self-proclaimed newbie to the world of TOTL IEMs.   Prior to purchasing the N4U, my most expensive IEM was a measly $150.00.   That “Shure” changed (PUN intended), and quickly at that!  
 
Although I’m new to this wonderful world of IEMs, I’m not new to audio.  In my younger life, I was in audio sales and a rep for most of the major car audio brand names.   Alpine, MB Quart, Rockford, Dynaudio, to name a few.  I’ve been to CES a few times, and I had the privilege of hearing 2 of the multi IASCA winning vehicles.   Anyone remember Richard Clark?  The 4 time IASCA winner? (Yikes, I'm showing my age)  Yup, I listened to that car and was APPALLED at how GOOD a sound system in a vehicle could be.   It was literally a game changer.  I’ve also heard many top of the line 2 channel speaker systems with single components costing more than my annual salary.  So, this isn't quite my first rodeo lol. Enough about me, let’s get into it.
 
 
Galaxy Specs:

 
(Edited on 03-17-16:  Added the Galaxy frequency response chart provided by Sammy)
 

 
A single driver you ask?   Absolutely!  One 10.3mm driver makes all the magic here.

 
 
 
What’s in the box?:
 
     


 

 

 
 

    *Pair of Rhapsodio Galaxy in-ear headphones
    *Rhapsodio RSD SG 2.98 4 braid cable (exquisite!), composed of OCC alloy wire with 2% gold and 98% silver
    *6  pairs of tips    
        *3 Phillips tips (S,M,L)
        *3 Spin Fit tips (S,M,L)
    *Metal Rhapsodio branded storage container (beautifully made)
    *Rhapsodio branded aluminum locker box (hefty!)
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
Build and Fit:
When you first open the box and notice that the earpieces are metal, you naturally expect some heft and weight to the phones, but you'll be sadly disappointed.   Fear not, for you will be disappointed in a good way.   Each headphone is seriously light, and weigh next to nothing.  If I had to guess, I'd say the enclosures are made out of CNC'd aluminum.   The machining of the enclosures is very well done, and they feel very sturdy and strong.  There are no sharp edges present, and each enclosure is very smooth to the touch.   Sammy stated that they're made out of metal for the bass response.  Coincidentally, they clink like a pachinko ball when tapped together!  I'll admit it, they're rather unassuming at first sight. If you didn't know what you were looking at, you'd think they're some low-tier or budget IEM.   However, what they "give up" in heft and physical presence, they more than make up with comfort and non-fatigue for extended wear.
 
 
Cables:
The cables and headphone enclosures employ the standard 2 pin connect (thank god no MMCX) with a non-recessed connector.   The included Rhapsodio RSD SG 2.98 4 braid cable is simply beautiful.  Exquisite. The wires are soft and supple, with no memory wire over the ear (Hooray!).    There is, however, a small section of clear sleeve about 4 inches long from the 2 pin connector back with helps to keep the shape over the ear but it is in no way memory wire.  The cables themselves are very thin, with the diameter of the 4 braid section equal or less than the diameter of an Apple lightning cable.  The build quality is nothing short of excellent, and there's no discernable microphonics present.
 
 
Tips:
The Galaxy is shipped with 6 pairs of tips, but I just couldn't get the included Spin-Fit or Phillips tips to seal well, even when using the largest sizes.   Taking the advice from a bunch of forum members, I purchased the JVC Spiral Dot tips in the large size and viola!  Problem solved.  I get a better seal than the old Shure grey silicone tips I loved so much with more comfort to boot.   Do not hesitate to try these! 
 
 
One great feature of the JVC tips is that they sit down on the sound tube, and offer very little obstruction to the end port where the sound exits.   Although the picture seems otherwise, there's very little to shroud the grill.
 

 
My Setup:
My humble rig consists of the following:  AK 100 mk2 -->  Chord Mojo -->  Sysconcepts 5mm optical cable -->  RSD SG 2.98 cable -->  Galaxy
 
I'm not going to review it with the DAP only, because the majority of people playing ball at this level have some sort of secondary amplification and/or processing in their system.
 
 
 
Test Music:
I used a variety of music spanning many different genres, including:
 
    Pink Floyd, DSOTM :  Time, Money (of course, I went there!)
    Daft Punk:  R.A.M. - Fragments
    Steely Dan:  Aja
    Sting: Thousand Years, Brand New Day
    Ultrasone:  Reference CD (If you haven't gotten had the chance to listen to this, do it, it's quite superb)
    Arne Domnerus Group : Jazz At The Pawnshop (Thanks to dan2112 for the excellent recommendation)
    Eric Clapton: Change the World, Layla (Unplugged)
    Jewel:  Somewhere Over the Rainbow
    Lorde:  Royals
    Nirvana, Unplugged:  All Apologies
 
 
Burn-In:
First things first: Right off the bat, I was insructed by Sammy "The Magician" to "burn in."   "Piano music, 100 hours minimum, 25% volume level."   He's a man of few words, but man are those words powerful.  Me, being the newbie that I am, immediately opened up Google.  "Burn in headphones" was the search string.  Call me inquisitive, call me a skeptic, but I had to investigate.  It's in my nature.  Google rewarded with a plethora of information, ranging from "Wow, the sound changed" to "It's all snakeoil and viper venom."  I begrudgingly listened to him (Hey, I wanted to see what my brand spanking new TOTL IEM sounded like, wouldn't you?) and began organizing my piano music into a folder.   "Good god" I thought, this is going to take forever!   So, I snuck a listen to some Sting and Nirvana.   (From my wish list) More bass and sub-bass...check!    More treble/high extension....check!   No shrill or harshness in the highs....check!    More coherent, clear and open midrange....err, wait.   Hold on a minute, it's not happening here.   "Good god," I thought, "Did I make a mistake in my decision?"  It can't be, everyone who owns one says it should be there.   So I unplugged the Mojo, hooked up the Galaxy to the AK, fired up the piano music, and waited. And waited.  And waited.   10 hours went by, and it was the same.   Dammit!   Back to burn-in.   30 hours went by, and hey, something's happening here I thought.   Could it be?   Back to burn-in.   50 hours went by, and by golly, that Magician knows what he's talking about.   100 hours completed, but I went for more, and judging by how things progressed, I'm now a believer.  Easily over 200 hours by the time this review is completed.   Prior to writing this, every chance I got I continued to burn-in.   Man was I rewarded for my efforts.
 
 
Sound Impressions:
(I'm no expert, and my inventory is rather slim, so this will not be nearly as technical as a review by ShotGunShane, Mim, Twister6, Hisoundfior the like.  I'll try my best to use layman's terms and make this entertaining and understandable.)
 
 
Bass:
By God the bass is heavenly.   Deep, quick, snappy, and accurate with great extension.  Deep, deep notes galore!   "Is it a bass heavy IEM you ask?"  No, not at all.  The bass is never sloppy, it never loses control, it never has a hint of distortion.  Very balanced with no discernable mid-bass hump as in other IEMs I own.  The notes it productes to mne are perfect; They neither hangs nor disappear too quickly.  However, with as much bass as you do get, it's never overpowering and it never throws the muisc out of balance.  It's simply quality bass with effortless reproduction of the deep notes.  It's that good.  In fact, I was listening to a track on the Ultrasone disc and the Galaxy actually vibrated my sinuses!
 
 
Midrange:
Vocals on the Galaxy are outstanding, I would say spot on almost dead in the middle with maybe a slight hint of forwardness.   The clarity is amazing, both male and female vocals come out very well defined, airy, and are superbly detailed with great coherence.   Initimate recordings such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Layla" simply sound "pure," for lack of a better word.   No unnecessary coloration of the vocals, just accurate, coherent, airy reproduction of the male and female voice.  Besides reproducing spectacular vocals, the Galaxy also excels at instrumentation.   In "Change the World," Clapton's acoustic guitar is front and center and simply sounds "alive" when he plucks the strings and reaches into the lower extension effortlessly.    The accompanying acoustic guitars easily reach into the upper ranges
 
 
Treble:
Treble on the Galaxy is something to experience.   Clear, defined, detailed, coherent, with no sibilance heard.  Transparency is amazing, with instruments such as cymbals, flutes, etc, that live on this side of the spectrum sounding airy and detailed.    The Violins in "Andate Larghetto" Concerto No. 2 on Utrasone's Test CD (Track #9) easily detail the treble extension of the Galaxy whilst not having any harshness or shrill.  An even better example can be had with "Chakraphon - Improvisation II" on the Ultrasone Test CD (Track #14), where the Chakraphon shows some serious treble extension with notes that almost sound like tuning forks being struck.
 
 
Sound stage and Imaging:
The sound stage on the Galaxy is very wide, with great separation between vocals and instruments.   Furthermore, the sound stage itself has good height.  Closing your eyes, you can very easily place each singer or instrument on the sound stage with very little effort.  I will say the stage is easily more wide than deep, although I would not call the stage "shallow" in any way.   There is a great sense of space and air between all facets of whatever music pushes forth, and nothing sounds bunched together or "tight."  Both smaller and larger sound stages are presented well with the Galaxy.  In Arne Domnerus Groups' "Jazz at the Pawnshop," you're treated to a small, intimate sound stage with good width but short depth.   You can easily place the xylophone behind the clarinet, with the piano out to the left and the drums in the rear.   While larger, orchestral records easily portray a concert hall sized stage with great width and depth.
 
 
Final Thoughts:
Sammy has outdid himself.   When I began looking into the Rhapsodio line in my search, I was initially leaning toward the Solar instead of the Galaxy.   Multiple PMs to Sammy resulted in the recommendations below when asked of the differences between Solar and Galaxy (with the following requirements: more sub-bass/bass presence and extension, more clarity and slightly more upfront mids and more treble extension without being harsh or shrill sounding):  
 
Sammy replied that I should be should be looking into the Solar, but "Solar but the treble extension is worse than galaxy. The galaxy soundings ultra bass and treble extension with front vocal. The resolution better grade than Solar two grade.

Bass texture: Galaxy >solar
BASS attack: Solar > Galaxy
Vocals. Men: Solar =Galaxy
Vocal women: Galaxy >Solar
Soundstage: Galaxy >solar
Treble: galaxy >Solar
Resolution: Galaxy >SOlar
Color. : Solar >Galaxy"
 
What Sammy has done here is nothing short of incredible.   You get in the Galaxy is a set of IEMs that are seriously light, fit very well, and can be worn for hours with no fatigue.   They reproduce music extraordinarily, and have seemingly no shortcomings.    What they do, in my opinion, is reproduce music very honestly, with no unnecessary coloration to the sound.   I would label them more "reference" than "full or thick."  Galaxy's bass is deep and accurate, with a quick and snappy mid bass notes.   Vocal midrange reproduction is simply "pure," for a lack of a better word.   It performs equally superb in regards to either male or female vocals tracks.   Midrange musical instrument reproduction is simply effortless and accurate, with detailed, resolute, and airy output.  And ooh, that treble and extension! Glorious!
 
If there's one caveat with the Galaxy, it's that it will make your reference recordings shine, while mediocre and poor recordings are exposed for what they are.   For that, beware!
 
In closing, if you're looking for a new TOTL IEM that can excel at playing almost all genres of music with an honest, uncolored, detailed representation of the artist's work, then look no further.   

Thank you to Sammy and everyone that's helping along my adventure!