My main review is here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/764001/review-riva-turbo-x-high-performance-premium-mobile-bluetooth-speaker-plus-headquarters-tour
 
This will house the TL;DR version.
 
I listened to the RIVA TURBO X Premium Bluetooth Speaker for the first time when I attended CanJam, and adored the fidelity and the potential loudness of the sound that was emitting from the speaker! 
 
Shortly after listening to the speaker, I was able to tour their facility in Fountain Valley, CA for an in-depth look into the company.
 
Everyone who I met at the ADX/RIVA headquarters were very down to Earth, and very personable. 
 
Here are some specs of the RIVA TURBO X ($349 USD):
 
Speakers: Three ADX 60 mm full range proprietary drivers
Four ADX custom dual piston bass radiators
Amplifier Power: 45 Watts RMS
Remote Control App: Yes, RIVA Ground Control for iOS and Android
Dimensions: 230mm (9.1 in) L X 89mm (3.5 in) W X 105mm (4.1 in) H
Weight: 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg)
Speakerphone: Microphone with Noise & Echo Canceling Technology
Bluetooth Range: 33 FT
Audio Codecs Supported: SBC, AAC, aptX
Surround Sound: ADX Trillium™
TURBO DSP for 100 dB party mode (Turbo Mode)
Proximity Sensing: Yes
USB port for charging your phone, tablet, or wearables
Battery Playing Time: 26+ Hours at 75 dB, 6+ hours in Turbo Mode at maximum volume.  (Playing time varies with listening levels)
 
2 year materials and manufacturing warranty
1 year lithium battery warranty
 
In the Box
 
External Power Supply (19V DC, 3A)
70” 3.5mm to RCA Connector
48” 3.5mm to 3.5mm Connector
Splash-Resistant I/O Cover
User Guide
 
Riva Audio – Support
 
If you love music, you should give the TURBO X a try - it may very well captivate you with not only its impeccably constructed speaker, but the music that flows from the speaker may cause a lot of toe-tapping, head-nodding, and spontaneous dancing! 
 
Happy listening and dancing, everyone!

My main review is here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/762142/review-earwerkz-legend-omega-and-legend-r-with-comparisons.
 
This will house the TL;DR version:
 
The awesome customer service, comfortable fit, and an auditory experience like no other, EarWerkz manages to pull off a full house, a three-minute mile and maybe even Ellis Coleman's Flying Squirrel!  
 
Here's a couple of snippets from the review:
 
...The Legend R is neutral focused, but leans towards the warmer side with a bass gradient. The presentation is simply one of the most coherent and resolving of any IEM I have listened to.  The detail retrieval is colossal!  The layering has seeming real texture to it.  The sub-bass can be felt when the song calls for it.  The mids are smooth and natural.  The highs are not ear-piercing, rather, they are effortlessly presented in a way where you can enjoy them, but never hear any sibilance or feel anything other than sheer enjoyment.   The soundstage is more on the intimate side, but you feel like you are right in on the action, meaning it feels like you are actually a part of the music.  The overall sound is thoroughly engaging and non-fatiguing...
 
...In comparison to the Legend R, the Legend Omega elevates the entire frequency spectrum, especially within the sub bass and mid bass region.  Bass has more authority, more punch, more extension, more compliance, and as a result, contains and produces my favorite bass out of any IEM that I have ever listened to.  Mids are smoother, and the highs are still as non-fatiguing and glorious as ever.  The treble on both the Legend Omega and Legend R sounds great to me, however if you listen and want a little more sparkling treble, put a silver cable on it, and you’ll be equipped for your own version of true bliss...
 
Simply put, the Legend Omega and Legend R are worth its weight in whatever currency is used to purchase them, and then some!
 
Take care, and Happy Listening!

My main review is here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/752588/review-earwerkz-supra-the-universal-custom-in-ear-monitor.
 
This will house the TL;DR version:
 
From the comfort, custom-like fit, music that is utterly engaging, and stellar customer service, EarWerkz literally knocks it out of the ballpark with their Supra IEM.  The Supra can also be created as a full custom version, so customers will be able to have the option to experience the custom version of an awesome sounding IEM, many for the first time.  It is definitely worth it to go custom, or universal like I did so I can allow everyone to experience the light-as-a-feather feeling and simply awesome sounding Supra.  That is, if I can get the Supra away from my fiancé's ears! 
 
The EarWerkz Supra is definitely worth the price, and then some.
 
Take care, and Happy Listening!

Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold Plated Silver - With Comparison
 

 
 
A thank you is in order – to Head-Fi member, warrior1975 for loaning me his Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold Plated Silver Cable for review.  Ever since I purchased a universal IEM that allowed 3^rd party earphone cables to be interchanged, I was interested in researching more about earphone cables, and what types of elemental materials would possibly alter the sound signatures compared to the respective IEM’s stock cables.  I am also a minimalist regarding wanting the smallest auditory footprint that I can muster.  This means no add-on DAC/Amps, or even luxury DAPs such as the AK240, since I would have to carry the AK240 with my smartphone.  I want one component for each link of the chain to be as competent as can be.  Precisely why I care so much about the cable portion of the chain, as this is one part of the chain that can be tested, demoed and replaced until I find the cable that suits my wants and needs for the particular IEM I choose to use it for.  Let’s take an in-depth look of the Whiplash Audio TWau Cable.
 
Here are some quick specs regarding the TWau Cable:
 
-Whiplash Audio’s Flagship Reference Level Cable
-Gold Plated Silver UPOCC High Strand Count
-60 inch Eclipse “Translucent Black” OM (overmold) with no Memory Wire
-Viablue 3.5mm Plug
-MMCX Connector (black denotes left, red denotes right)
-Modular System: Base Section and Y Split to Earphone MMCX
-Additional Option: 8 Conductor OM
 
 
Prices
 
Here are the prices of audio equipment used in the review:
Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold Plated Silver Cable:  $1,025 ([$525] base price + [$400] 8 Conductor OM + [$100] 60 inch Eclipse)
Headphone Lounge FBI Reference Silver Litz Cable:  $220 (or less/10% discount for repeat customers)
 
Shure SE846:  $1,000 (or lower if you search online)
Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves:  $150 (not including impression and upgraded color fees)
 
iPhone 6 (Space Gray, 128GB):  $849.99 or $399.99 with a 2-Year Contract
 
 
Software Applications Used
 
Spotify Premium – Extreme Setting and Neutron Music Player - both for the iPhone
 
 
A Sight to Behold
 
The Whiplash TWau Cable may be called “translucent black”, but it looks like a dark gold or bronze color to me – and it is simply gorgeous.  I like the bronze color of my Shure SE530, the gold G-Shock series (my gold Gs are in my signature), and gold medals.  The gold/bronze color of the TWau Cable has a subtle look when first looking at it, but draws you in, almost hypnotically, persuading you to gaze into the twists and braids of the cable.  The TWau Cable looks great with any skin tone, as the 8 conductors truly look like they could be a part of your own body (at least as an added braided hair accessory).  The flat, circular wooden Y-connect is soft to the touch, and does not weigh much at all, a couple of grams at the most – which is great because it does not impede usage and is not microphonic.  Out of all of the custom cables I have laid my eyes on, the TWau Cable is one of the most handsome/pretty cables that I have seen.  I can wrap the TWau Cable around, and it will not have a mind of its own.  The Headphone Lounge Reference Silver Litz Cable in comparison can wrap around easily as well, but the TWau Cable has slight gaps between each conductor, which enables the cable to never retain a wrapped or folded shape when straightening the cable.
 
Left - TWau Cable, Right - Silver Litz Cable:

 
 
Weight
 
The TWau Cable weighs a little more than the Silver Litz Cable, mainly because there are more conductors than the Silver Litz Cable (8 versus 4), which makes it thicker as well.  Even though the TWau weighs more (about twice as much as the Silver Litz), it still feels substantial and smooth to the touch.
 
 
Comfort
 
There is OM (overmolding) past the connectors, and no memory wire, and as a result comfort is truly epic.  The memory wire of the Silver Litz allows you to form the cable around your ears easier, but comfort is slightly less than the TWau’s memory wire-less cable.  
 
TWau Cable, with SE846 + SCS:

 

 
 
Modular Cable System
 
One feature that may be overlooked from other cable companies is the offering and implementation of a modular cable system.  Whiplash Audio has a great modular cable system where both sections of the cable, in this case, the Base Section and Y Split to Earphone MMCX are divided by a modular system plug and jack.  The modular cable system allows the user to easily interchange the cable without purchasing a completely new cable.
 
TWau Cable Modular Cable System - Base Section: 

 
TWau Cable Modular Cable System - Y Split: 

 
TWau Cable Modular Cable System - Connected: 

 
 
Connectors and Plugs
 
The TWau Cable’s black and red OM/sheaths/heat wrap over the MMCX connectors move slightly when I pull the connectors from the Shure SE846 housings.  I do not want to pull too hard and have the heat wrap come off of the MMCX connectors they are covering.  The Silver Litz does not have heat wrap at the MMCX connector, as the memory wire (which is very secure) starts at the base of the Tri-Metal MMCX connector and ends a few inches down the cable.  The TWau Cable’s MMCX connectors are smaller than the Silver Litz Tri-Metal MMCX connectors, and are not as tightly connected as the Silver Litz connectors.  I have not experienced sound dropouts or loose connections regarding either cable.  The Viablue plug of the TWau Cable disconnects when I attempt to put my iPhone 6 in the Verizon Holster. 
 
TWau Cable - Viablue Plug Connected to iPhone 6:

 
TWau Cable - Viablue Plug Disconnected from iPhone 6:

 

 
The mini carbon fiber-wrapped plug of the Silver Litz does not have the disconnecting issue, as shown here:  
 
Silver Litz Cable - Mini Carbon Fiber-Wrapped Plug Connected to iPhone 6: 

 

 

 
Left - TWau Cable's Viablue Plug, Right - Silver Litz Mini Carbon Fiber-Wrapped Plug:

 
Another connector plug can be used instead of the Viablue for the TWau Cable if you can foresee possible issues with connections.
 
 
Impressions
 
I have a theory of why I believe the sound of the TWau Cable is the way it is, especially when compared to the Silver Litz, but again, this is only a theory.  Since gold has a lower electrical conductivity than silver (and copper), the gold plated of the silver TWau Cable is what is causing the more warm sound signature and slightly veiled sound across the entire frequency response spectrum compared to the Silver Litz Cable.  My Silver Litz review for reference, is here.
 
 
Is This Cable For You?
 
The TWau Cable is very expensive, but so are diamonds.  If you prefer a warmer sound signature than the more open, spacious and coherent Silver Litz Cable and favor the gold/bronze color, then the TWau Cable may be for you.  Personally, I believe that over a thousand dollars is really pushing it for a 3^rd party replacement cable, especially when I have come to the conclusion that the Silver Litz Cable sounds more coherent and resolving to me than the TWau, at quite literally a fraction of the price. 
 
 
The finale:  If you desire a cable that has a non-fatiguing warm sound and has the looks to make you perform a double-take, the Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold Plated Silver Cable fits the bill – for a price.  Happy listening, everyone!

Tralucent Audio Reference 1 – With Comparisons

 

 

I would first like to give a huge thanks to Head-Fi member, warrior1975 for loaning me his Ref. 1 and TWau cable for review.  I was interested in hearing what the hub-bub was all about regarding the Ref. 1.  I was interested further because most people who have heard it either love the musicality of the Ref. 1, or they do not like the musicality - there never seems to be any middle ground.  After listening to the Ref. 1, I now understand both sides of the opinions.
 
Here are some quick specs regarding the Tralucent Ref. 1:
 
Driver used: Isobaric/dynamic
(two dynamic drivers sealed moving in tandem in the same direction)
- TWFK BA drivers
- Filter less system
- Proprietary silver/gold internal wiring especially developed for the Ref. 1
- Smaller Shell
- JH/2 pin connectors
- 26.8 Ohm Impedance
 
 
Prices
 
Here are the prices of audio equipment used in the review:
 
Tralucent Audio Reference 1 With Stock Silver/Gold Cable:  $1,698 (purchased for $1,650)
Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold V3 (Silver) Balanced Cable:  $525 (purchased for $500)
Whiplash Audio TWau Balanced to SE Adapter:  Free with TWau Balanced Cable
Link to New Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold Plated Silver:  $525 (not used in review)
MEElectronics Eartips Combo Set:  ~$10
 
Shure SE846:  $1,000 (or lower if you search online)
Headphone Lounge FBI Reference Silver Litz Cable:  $220 (or less/10% discount for repeat customers)
Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves:  $150 (not including impression and upgraded color fees)
Westone TRUE-FIT and STAR Combo Premium Audiophile Eartips:  $14.99
 
iPhone 6 (Space Gray, 128GB):  $849.99 or $399.99 with a 2-Year Contract
 
 
Software Applications Used
 
Spotify Premium – Extreme Setting and Neutron Music Player - both for the iPhone
 
 
Tweak Mentioned in the Review
 
The Shure SE846 modded black filters.  The SE846 comes with black filters, and the stock black filter (warm) sounds too warm to my ears compared to the stock blue (neutral) and white (bright) filters.  Removing the foam damper from inside of the black filters results in the sound retaining the lushness of the black filters, but adds the benefit of the foam damper-less white filters.
 
 
Packaging and Accessories
 
The Ref. 1 comes with a Tralucent box, another Tralucent felt-like box, pouch, tips, a cleaning brush and a mini (3.5mm) stereo jack to ¼-Inch stereo jack adapter.  Thanks to warrior1975 for sending me the four pictures of the box and tips in the boxes, shown below:
 

 

 

 

 
Here are pictures of the boxes with tips and various cables.
 
The Tralucent box inside of a Pelican 1050 Micro Dry Case:

 

 

 

 

 
 
Aesthetics
 
The gold-lined carbon fiber with black surround housing of the Ref. 1 looks amazing in person.  Depending on which angle you look at it in the light, gives off a sort of three-dimensional sheen.  The look is very lovely.  The Ref. 1's gold-lined carbon fiber goes very well with the dark gold copper-colored TWau cable that was provided as well.  The cable is just gorgeous regarding its presentation - subtle, yet undeniably beautiful once you take a second look. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Impressions
 
The Ref. 1's soundstage is wide.  I believe this partly has to do with the earphone housing and how the fit is deep, but does not go as deep or isolate as well as my Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves for the SE846, which have the look and feel of a silicone CIEM in comparison. 
 
The use of custom sleeves if the Ref. 1 ever partnered up with a 3rd party company would yield a more closed-in soundstage, more than likely.
 
From my first listen, the Ref. 1 sounds very colored, the mids and highs are just kind of blending in together and separating away from each other, pretty mixed regarding its presentation.  Reminds me of a rainbow, and a roller coaster - a U shaped presentation, with the highs and lows being accentuated the most.
 
The Ref. 1 sounds pretty clear, but colored clear.  However, there are clearer, more coherent sounding IEMs, which will be discussed in more detail later in the review.
 
From my very first listen, the Ref. 1 sounds artificial and does not sound in the slightest neutral.  Listening to it for a while, it sounds less artificial, but reveals its artificialness more if you have listened to more neutral IEMs such as the UERM.  However, if you like that type of colored sound, you may love it.
 
How I can best describe the sound of the Ref. 1 is that it sounds most like EQed 3D Surround Sound, and has a slight hollow sound, straight from the headphones – no source software EQ necessary for the effect.  
 
I feel that the Ref. 1 sound is the type of sound that can possibly grow on you.  At first it sounds very colored, definitely not neutral in its presentation.  Once you listen to it for a while, I can see why some people will absolutely adore its sound, and others will absolutely despise its sound.  What it does, it does very well.  It's kind of like with cars: you are probably aware that the Koenigsegg Agera R and the Bugatti Veyron are two of the fastest sports cars out there, but if you are more of a Rolls Royce type of person, you'll probably never like or prefer the Agera R or Bugatti Veyron, even though they are very capable in their own right.
 
I feel the treble goes pretty high, but not as high as IEMs such as the K10 and JH13 Pro that I’ve listened to.  The mids, in my opinion are the area that will and should get the most scrutiny.  You will love it, or you may not love it.  Simple as that.  The bass has weight and is lively in its presentation.
 
The Ref. 1 overall is definitely a love it, or dislike it kind of sound.
 
I have never heard an IEM quite like it, and that's a good thing, as a lot of IEMs have similar sound signatures. The Ref. 1 has its own very interesting and unique sound signature. 

 
Fit
 
The fit.  Oh my, the fit.  The fit is not horrible, but is not that great as well.  Thank goodness warrior1975 included a multitude of tips to use from various companies.  I stuck with the clear silicone smallest tips, as those were the tips closest to what I used with my SE846, which was the Westone STAR tip (silicone - small/green).  Since the earphone housing is not very large, it will fit inside more people’s ears easier than say the comparatively large 12-driver Roxanne (Universal IEM version).
 
Shure SE846 with Westone STAR tip on Left and Ref. 1 with Clear Silicone tip on Right:

 

 

 
 
Cable Issues
 
I have read that there were issues with the stock cable of the Ref. 1 coming loose, and that the current “official” workaround is to use glue to 'fix' the issue.  For the price of these IEMs ($1,650), I feel that particular fix is simply unacceptable.
 
The cable issue alone knocked off at least half a star regarding my overall score.
 
The stock cable (right side) is loose - if I so much as look the wrong way, the cable moves inside the housing just enough so there is a loss of sound - not an intermittent loss of sound, but a complete loss of sound. I have to push the cable in and wiggle it around so the sound comes alive again.  The stock cable is not fun to use at all and gives me so many issues with the lack of sound emitting from the right side if I do not stay perfectly still, and have to practically hold the right side of the cable and the earphone housing in a position where I can at least hear sound from the right earphone.  
 
Ref. 1 Stock Silver/Gold Cable:

 

 

 

 
Stock Cable is Very Loose Fitting on Right Side:

 

 
For these reasons, I scrapped the stock cable altogether and only use it when testing sonic differences with the SE846 and Ref. 1’s TWau cable.  As a result of having to scrap the Ref. 1’s stock cable, the Ref. 1 begs to be changed and/or upgraded with a cable that fits a little bit better than the stock cable (but not as solidly as most other manufacturer’s cables). This brings me to my impressions regarding the TWau cable.
 
 
The Ref. 1 with the TWau Cable
 
I feel the colored presentation the Ref. 1 with the Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold V3 (Silver) Balanced Cable (connected to TWau Balanced to SE Adapter) is somewhat tamed - still there, but not as prominent compared to the stock silver/gold cable.  Very similar, yet different sound signature compared to the stock cable.  The TWau cable smooths out the somewhat wild sound signature, accentuates the entire sound spectrum, and gives the Ref. 1 slightly more of an even keel soundstage to work with.  The imaging is more precise and the spaciousness and air of the treble is more apparent.  However, there is still a presence of the 3D Surround Sound effect and even sounds slightly hollow musically as well.  Even though the TWau cable does weigh more and is thicker than the stock cable, it is very comfortable, and the cables have not popped out of the earphone’s sockets yet, however I do get intermittent sound drops in sound as I am trying to re-adjust the earphone housings in my ears.  I also like the soft overmolding/memory cable, which is one of the most comfortable I've felt around my ears.  I am not going to subject the TWau cable to any strenuous tests like working out or running, but for walking around, you should not have any problems with the TWau cable. 
 
Whiplash Audio TWau Reference Gold V3 (Silver) Balanced Cable:

 

 

 
[size=12.7272720336914px][/size]
 

 

 
 
Comparisons
 
I compared the Ref. 1 to the Shure SE846, which should be easily accessible online and at certain airport InMotion Entertainment stores in the U.S., as I feel it is a great IEM to compare with so the most people can have a reference IEM to go by when reading about both sound signatures. The Ref. 1 and SE846 sound signatures are similar in some ways, and dissimilar in other ways. 

 
Power to Drive the Ref 1
 
Compared to the SE846 (which has ~9 Ohm of impedance), the 26.8 Ohm Ref. 1 takes 3-4 higher volume clicks from my iPhone 6 to reach the same volume as the SE846, for reference. 

 
Bass
 
How low can you go?  I do like the bass that emits from the Ref. 1 is nice and weighty.  It does not hit as hard or as low as the SE846, but is full-bodied, which is also nice as well.  I love bass, and the bass is definitely great on the Ref. 1.  It does not feel too loose, and is not tight/taut like the SE846's bass can be, especially with the HL Silver Litz cable.  Both the Ref. 1 and SE846 have great lows, as the SE846's bass goes lower, is slightly tighter and is very versatile with various bass notes, while the Ref. 1's bass is weighty, goes pretty low, and hits with more fullness and heft.  There is no winner in this regard, as both have their own sub-bass note signatures - the 'better' bass regarding both IEMs really comes down to your individual preference.  

 
Mids
 
The mids, overall I feel are better executed on the SE846, as it is not as colored, and is coherent regarding its presentation.  The Ref. 1's mids on the other hand are all over the place in my opinion. Some songs, the mids sounds pretty good, and others, not so much. 
 
 
Highs
 
Regarding the highs, the SE846 and Ref. 1. are very similar, as both extend well (as I am using modded blacks with my SE846, but the white filters act in a similar way, elevating the frequency response (FR) +2.5 dB 1kHz to 8kHz from the blue filters and +5 dB 1kHz to 8kHz from the stock black filters).  With the SE846, I can change my FR to what sounds great to me, so I can say that with the stock black filters, I would like the Ref. 1 more regarding the upper mids and highs, but when I listen to it with the modded black filters, the SE846 sounds better.
 
Shure SE846 Blue and White Filters (foam damper inside blue filter is shown):

 
 
Sound Signatures
 
If you are searching for a more coherent and changeable FR sound, the SE846 is right for you, in my honest opinion.
 
If you are searching for a more colored and possibly lively unique sound because of the colorness, the Ref. 1 may be right for you, if you make sure to demo the Ref. 1 and other top of the line IEMs first – before purchasing.

 
My Fiancée’s “Crude Assessment”™
 
An important comparison was performed as well.  My fiancée, who is not an audiophile, listened to the Ref. 1 with TWau cable and small clear tips, as well as my SE846 with HL Silver Litz cable and the Westone STAR (small/green) tips.  She spent a few minutes with each, and said, “I like yours better.”  I asked her, “Why, how come?” She replied, “Well, yours sounds more crisp.”  Afterwards, she called her comparative listening and findings a “crude assessment”, whereas I believe it is an honest assessment especially since she has never listened to any top of the line IEMs before (other than my SE846 with the stock SPC cable one other time briefly.)
 
 
Is the Ref. 1 Right for you?
 
If you are not a basshead, the Ref. 1 is not for you.  Another earphone for you may suffice, like the UERM, K10 (universal version) or the JH13 Pro - all C/IEMs that are not as bassy as the Ref. 1.
 
If you try out the Ref. 1 and love it, then that is great.  If you don't love it, that is okay as well.  I feel that for the price, the Ref. 1 is only worth it if you have listened to various C/IEMs and have come to the conclusion that the Ref. 1's sound signature is truly for you, no matter what. 
 
With that said, I feel that the better buy is the SE846, for several reasons.
 
1.  You can purchase the SE846 for less than 1K nowadays, just check online and make sure to either purchase from an authorized seller and/or you have the original receipt - the Ref. 1 was purchased for $1,650.
 
2.  You can change the sound signature (FR) +/- 2.5 dB 1kHz to 8kHz using the various filters - with the Ref. 1, you cannot.
 
3.  The fit can be cumbersome with the Ref. 1, from finding the correct sizes-fit-all tips for you, and currently not having any way to shell the Ref. 1 in a CIEM body or a custom sleeve.  I read that there was a user who purchased a Westone UM56 Custom Adapter for his Ref. 1, but he said the earphone housing juts out too much, and after looking at his pictures, they do jut out of the ears.  The Ref. 1 with UM56 Custom Adapter looks kind of like Frankenstein's neck screws, and may not look the most aesthetically pleasing to be of good use out in public.  The SE846 has a better fit.  Even with the sizes-fit-all tips, I wasn't able to get the most optimal fit and seal with the SE846, so upgrading to the Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves allowed me to have the most optimal fit, seal and deep isolation that every IEM owner should experience.  To have that option available for the SE846, and knowing that the Ref. 1 does not have any viable and close-to-CIEM options for creating the best fit and seal makes the SE846 the 'winner' regarding fit by a mile, and then some.
 
4.  Here is a human outer ear diagram (from healthfavo.com) to help with the names of parts of the ear:
 

 
Since I feel you cannot workout with the Ref.1 and the stock cable, let alone walk around without hearing sound drops, using the $525 upgrade cable (or at least a better fitting cable) is a must.  I am not sure how you will feel about running or doing any strenuous workouts with an over $2,200 pair of earphone + TWau cable combination, and knowing the overall seal around the tragus, insicura and/or cavum will introduce sweat in the ears, possibly into your ear canal because the Ref. 1 is not custom-fitted to your ears.  Comparatively, the Shure's SCS had the best fit, seal and isolation out of all of the earphone silicon/comply tips that I have ever used, period.  After running for 4 miles, no sweat went past the crus helix, tragus, incisura and/or cavum areas of the ear.  Meaning, no sweat made it into the ear canal.  As a result the SCS is a gym rat/fitness aficionado's dream come true.
 
Shure SE846 with SCS on Left and Ref. 1 with Clear Silicone tip on Right:

 

 
Shure SE846 with SCS - Universal to Custom fit:

 
 
Summary
 
Given the very wide price disparity of the two, I would definitely want to demo the Ref. 1 and the SE846, or any other bassy IEM such as the Roxanne (when the screw is turned +10 dB) before dropping that kind of money.  I would have no issues recommending the SE846 because it does cost a lot less, has a sound signature that is not too far off regarding the Ref. 1, as the Ref. 1 is very unique in its presentation, but the SE846 is ultimately more coherent, controlled and euphoric in its presentation.
 
If you appreciate bass and long for the visceral weightiness of the sub-bass, the Ref. 1 may be a viable option, but for the price, there are just as great sounding, or better sounding IEMs on the market such as the SE846 or Roxanne (turned +10 dB).  If you are searching for a more coherently sounding IEM, I would look towards the K10, JH13 Pro, JH16 Pro or even the UE18 Pro, as all of these IEMs admittedly have a better overall sounding presentation in my honest opinion.  Happy listening, everyone!

 
 
 
 
Ray Samuels Audio – The Intruder
 
The Intruder is a fully Balanced input-output headphone/earphone amp as well as a USB DAC by Ray Samuels Audio.  I was able to borrow The Intruder from a friend for a couple of weeks, and as a result would like to give my impressions of the DAC/amp, as well as comparisons of the Balanced and SE outputs.  I am using my Shure SE846 with Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves, HL Silver Litz SE cable and my friend's HL Silver Balanced cable, with the iPhone 5 and PC (Windows 7 Ultimate) as sources.
 
The Intruder (no flash and with flash):
[size=12.8px][/size]     
 
The Intruder (left side and right side):
     
 
Pros: Built like a tank.  Balanced and SE input/output capabilities, with an additional USB DAC.  Wider, taller and deeper soundstage, a little bit harder hitting bass, broadened and an ascent in clarity regarding the SE to Balanced output, as well as separation are the best attributes in my opinion.  You are purchasing an auditory upgrade to most of whatever (portable equipment) you are using now.

Cons: ** Slightly hisses and pops from time to time. Sweeping the pot back and forth did not help with this. ** More difficult to use compared to using only one device such as a smartphone or boutique DAP when working out. Can walk around with it, but with more difficulty than just using one device such as a smartphone or boutique DAP.  No bass-boost option.  Balanced connection is limited in its application (not normally used with most audio equipment) and you need a custom terminated cable for your particular headphone/earphone – which is an added expense to experience the Balanced output.
 
** Increasing the volume helped, but it is working fine with my PC (where I am performing my A/B tests).  When each song ends or there is no music playing I can hear slight hissing/popping, which I do not think is a problem with the cable (as I made sure it was new and not used when I purchased it) when it is connected to the iPhone 5.  When I sit with the iPhone 5, it only hisses/pops at the end of songs or if the volume is really low.  When I walk/move around out and about, the hissing/popping is much more prominent.  Maybe using the silver interconnect or if I purchased the Camera Connection Kit (Apple), USB hub and USB cable would bode better for the hissing/popping, or it could exaggerate/amplify it as well, I'm not sure as I do not have any of these connection cables to test. **  Edit:  There is a workaround for the hissing and popping.  You need to put your smartphone and/or DAP in Airplane Mode equivalent so The Intruder doesn't pick up RFI and Wi-Fi Interference from your Wi-Fi and cell phone wireless connection.  This essentially turns your smartphone into a local-access DAP with no internet connection and no cell phone service.
 
 
Testing Conditions:
 
I used the SE input/output of The Intruder for the duration of my listening.
 
When I tested using my iPhone 5, I used Neutron Music Player, and Spotify Premium - Extreme setting (320kbs).  When I tested using my PC, I used WMP, VLC and YouTube.
 
I used a combination of FLAC, 320 kbs mp3 and whatever is used with uploaded YouTube clips to listen to variances and nuances between the same and different tracks.
 
The Intruder did not have the latest sent-in RSA update that supposedly elevates the already awesome sound quality.
 
 
Sound Quality:
 
This is only my opinion, so what I’m going to say below regarding SQ should only be taken with a grain of salt.  Okay, maybe two grains.
 
In my setup, I used my PC so I could make as fast cable and amp swaps as I could.  I did not use Bass Boost, Headphone Virtualization, Loudness Equalization or any EQ settings.  Basically, every setting was default to have an as ‘colorless’ interpretation of the sound between all three connections as could be.
 
Using my HL Silver Litz SE cable directly to the PC sounds great.
Using my HL Silver Litz SE cable > The Intruder > PC sounds even better, +~5-15% increase in overall SQ.
Using the HL Silver Balanced cable > The Intruder > PC sounds the best of the 3 connections, +~5-10% increase in overall SQ compared to the SE cable > The Intruder.
 
This means your uses of the three or similar connections should bode a +~10-25% overall increase of SQ based on many, many varying factors.  You can add an extra +~2-10% if you are going from a stock cable to your favorite upgraded cable.
 
With all of this said, if you prefer a possibly blacker background (with a high quality DAC/amp), more natural, organic and possibly more musical sound, you may prefer the SE connection all together.  Based on your individual tastes and preferences, my observations might be spot on, or you may just want to throw whatever observations I stated out of the window, so to speak.
 
 
 
Usability:
 
I feel that The Intruder is great for places where you will be stationary, like sitting at home, the bus, train or airplane.  I did not have a chance to use multiple sources other than the iPhone 5 and PC, but I feel using a device like the iPhone 5 may not be the best to use if you plan on walking around because you won't be able to use the Wi-Fi and cell phone wireless services.  I took the iPhone 5 with The Intruder to the mall and Costco, and it was a small challenge working with two separate devices.  I did not like the rubber band connected to the phone because it made the screen unusable, and I did not want to use sticky tape Velcro on my iPhone 5 with The Intruder, even though there was Velcro on the back of The Intruder, ready to be used so I wouldn’t have to use the rubber band.  With the rubber band off, I was free to use the iPhone 5, but it was difficult because I had to make sure The Intruder did not come out of my pocket.  Also, it took me longer to untangle an additional cable to use The Intruder when I was out and about.  It was much easier to just plug my HL Silver Litz SE cable directly to the iPhone 5 and immediately be on my way.
PC setup (SE846 with Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves) on top:

HL Silver Litz SE on the left, HL Silver Balanced on the right:

 
 
Summary:
 
All and all, The Intruder is a great sounding device, especially when listening through the Balanced output, but having to put my iPhone 5 in Airplane Mode to avoid the hissing/popping makes it not the best portable option (even though The Intruder is very small!). Even though I personally do not feel the amp is worth the price for the gain in sound quality (mainly because I can’t use the iPhone 5 past the local-access properties), I can understand why someone would purchase The Intruder and love the ability to use something that actually elevates sound quality in a portable and miniature package.  I would try to demo The Intruder (or any other DAC/amp) to make sure it can integrate seamlessly with your current equipment prior to purchasing.  If you like to keep your portable options simple and devoid of additional devices, cables and still be able to use the internet and/or cell phone services, using a dedicated smartphone or boutique DAP with your SE connection (or Balanced if you can) will bode almost as good SQ (or possibly better SQ) compared to using The Intruder.  If you value SQ above anything else, you can either purchase The Intruder and use it Balanced, or use other DACs/amps that will have as great quality sound as The Intruder, or better, regarding Balanced as well as SE connections.  That said I will be sad to see The Intruder leave my hands when I send it back to my friend, as it was great to experience an even higher level of auditory bliss - in the palm of my hand.