Here are my quick impressions. Forgive my as I tend to follow my wallet 1st (set a budget), before I listen to an item. For this event, my ceiling is US$1.5K - so no TOTL items to be seen in this post.
DAY 1
DAP used: AK SE180 with SEM1 Module
Effect Audio Ares S 8W and Cadmus 8W
Intending to pair it with my EE ESR MK2 - the Ares S 8W even beefs up the ESRs tonality, suprisingly pushed the mids a bit more forward, fair bit of extension on the highs, tighter bass. For the Cadmus 8W - even extended the highs of the ESR MK2 but made the mids lacking. Both are easily as pliable as their 4 wire counterparts. Excellent build quality.
Effect Audio Code 23
Surprisingly very pliable for a 16.5AWG, solid core cable. Tried it with the ESR MK2, improvement on every level (was thinking of ESR MK2 on steroids. Excellent build quality.
Effect Audio Gaea
1st time trying out Elysian "based" product. Very engaging (me likey), mids are silky smooth.
CA Andromeda "Emerald Sea"
Is it just me or does it really sound thick? There's something about it's treble as well that I can't really point out. Sounds off to me. I hate flat cables as well.
Sennheiser HD 660S2
(with C9 on Tube Mode, High gain) Hhhhmmmm....I'll stick with my 600 and 650s...maybe it's just the show environment but I can't hear much improvement over my 600/650. I might need to revisit again but this time in a more quiet environment.
Elysian Diva 2023
I almost ordered this one. Extended highs are a delight.
FiiO M15S
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, sounded a more refined M11 Plus ESS - but it also sounded too dry, sterile for me as well. I love the volume pot. Snappy.
64 Audio U4s
Not my cup of tea. Don't know why but with the genres I was trying it with, it just doesn't sound engaging - too clean/dry sounding for me.
DAY 2
DAP used: Hiby RS2
Inear Black Moon
Interesting - it was marketed as a gaming IEM, but sounded dang good. Staging and separation is impressive. The glowing shell (to me) is a gimmick.
Inear ProMission X (an outlier as I was asked to listen to it 1st, then later on learned of it's pricing)
Detail monster.
FiR Audio NE4 (another outlier as I didn't specify my buget but only asked the cheapest FiR Audio IEM)
I liked it. Full sounding, engaging...until I learned of it's pricing
Dunu SA6
Very detailed, full of treble, may be too fatiguing for me in long listening sessions.
Dunu EST 112
They sounded about the same presentation as my Variations (But the Variations edges on separation and detail)
QDC Dmagic 3D
Definitely needs an amp, I felt it can give a lot more than what the limpy amp section of the RS2 has to offer. May need to revisit.
QDC Folk
Super surprised of it's asking price. I thought it was priced slightly about the 3D. Engaging, more refined mids (than the 3D).
Stax D10 and SR-003MK2 (D1003 system)
Was long eyeing this system - curious about Stax in general - but the on canal type annoyed me immediately, it simply doesn't stay put on my ear (opening). I didn't even bother to really "listen" to it. It was just ok - the annoying part is enough to cross it off my list.