Intro:

The word Vivid can be described as delineated or perceived as distinct, and I think this perfectly describes the sound from this opamp. Hi, this is SoundDouble and welcome to my review of the well regarded Burson V6 Vivid opamp. Hope you enjoy.

I want to thank John from Burson Audio for sending this out to me in exchange for this review. All comments and opinions here are my own and I haven’t been asked to lie or deceit in anyway. No reason for me to, because spoiler alert *It’s really good*

Story:

After initial communication with John I requested one Dual channel opamp. Originally I thought more devices of mine were using dual channel opamps, but I was surprised to be wrong. So I will only be able to give impressions using this one guy below. Little Class-A single ended tube hybrid headphone/preamp I got on Amazon. I’ll put the link in the bottom in case anyone is interested. Good thing about this amp is simplicity. Basically 2 x 6j1 tubes, an opamp, a volume pot, connectors and components for power. Any changes done to it show up fairly easily.



On the bright side I have Beyer dt1990, Denon AHD5200, and Drop AKG K7XX to test. Not to mention a slew of iems and a handful of other opamps to compare. Sources included Rotel cd14 and Samsung tablet streaming apple lossless, both thru the Topping E30 dac, and my humble modified turntable being fed thru a Schiit Mani.

Process:

First thing was some measurements, and no not with a headphone rig. Would be cool if I had one though. Afterwards I swapped in the V6 Vivid and checked the power draw using my kill-a-watt. It was showing a .2w increase with the V6 Vivid as compared to the stock NE5532 that was included in the amp. Well within range of my 10w linear power supply.





Now that we’re all warmed up. That is the tubes, the opamp, and myself of course. April in South Florida isn’t known for cold winds. We can finally do some listening. BTW fitment was a little tight pushing the nearby cap to an angle and I had to leave the top plexiglass off.



Sound and Pairing:

I started off with the DT1990s, being my recent go to headphones, and I noticed 2 things immediately. #1 blacker background. Considering this is a tube hybrid I know there’s some harmonics and noise going on there, but this was obviously cleaner. Then there was #2 - time slowed down. Don’t leave yet, let me explain. Crescendos seemed to last longer and there seemed to be more notes on guitars and violins than I remember. What I realized was that each note or tone is more distinct. I can isolate sounds better, instruments better, and vocalist better. What was happening during the crescendos is that I can hear the progression of chords better. It makes it seem like there is more going on and it’s lasting longer. After this I ended up adding some more movie sound tracks to my library. J



Next step was the matching. I am a firm believer in synergy between equipment. While my DT1990 sounded best on my vintage Technics receiver, the K7XX sounded best with the V6 opamp/tube amp combo. How do I know? When the right songs play the feet tap, the head bobs, the shivers on the back of my neck and finally for a select few songs – tears. Going from Black Eyed Peas to Hans Zimmer to Lily Allen all displayed the same detail and clarity presented by the V6 Vivid.

In regards to the different octaves and sound descriptors. Bass is more on the tight and clean side. This is my only slight gripe as I felt it was missing just a touch of sub bass. Mids are clear and neutral. Not warm or full bodied, but more balanced. Vocals are well appointed and clear. I can visualize the mic and singer’s mouth, and how far away they are in the soundstage. Soundstage is circular and not really any abnormalities with this relating to the Vivid. It is fairly large and open using the headphones I have. Changing to my Jamo 707s being fed by the XTZ edge A2-300 power amp shows nice depth and accuracy within the speakers but not really extending outward to the sides. I have gotten more width using different combos in the past, but this is more than acceptable. What is really nice with this matching was the treble. I heard an increase in detail and location coming from the soft dome tweeters that I haven’t heard before. Still within the confines of my speaker placement but nice non-fatiguing and appreciated.

Edit:
I recently got some new tubes, 5654W matched pair, and the sound signature mutated. There is still clear and detail, but not as much as before. In exchange there is more bass. Sometimes too much. What this tells me about the V6 vivid, is that it doesn't inhibit change. doesn't force its own way but works with what else is connected. Perfect for tuning the sound of your system.

Burson V6 Vivid vs:

Here I will do a quick list of the main differences between each opamp I have. I actually ended up replacing my dip socket in the process of this review since my 2072 was sitting loose in it. Both sockets were the same, purchased from Burson Audio a year ago. No other changes to the system were made during the comparisons, and none of these have the black background I hear on the V6.

JRC 4556AD – I would say this guy has more bass and body, but not near the detail, air, clarity as the V6. This is what I was using with the dt1990 and A-pads.

TI NE5532P – V6 has a larger soundstage, and again more detail and separation. The 5532 came with the tube amp.

JRC 2068DD – I feel this two are my most similar. V6 still has more detail and is a step up, but the stage I think is about the same size and similar balance.

*update*
TL072CN – So I stayed using the burson for few weeks without swapping. Now I put in my TL072 and vocals are a little more forward but the depth is less. Maybe the analogy of sitting closer to theater screen. Everything is closer, seems bigger, and seems wider but actually the same size. The imaging is a softer around the edges, not as well defined. So everything sounds slightly softer and more intimate. Both have good dynamics and bass impact with the 5654 tubes.

TLE2072i – TBD



Conclusion:

At the time of writing this the V6 is selling for $85 on Burson’s website. Some may look at it as a lot of money for a small thing, but I look at it as a value. The improvement I got from this one change is definitely worth the cost. If you already have an audio device that uses opamps I would look into the change. Just make sure you choose the correct one, single or dual channel, and as always Enjoy the music.

Let me start off by saying this is not a high end turntable. It doesn't sound as good as a totl turntable with the head and stylus replaced or a tube preamp. What it is, is a budget turntable that hits above it's cost point.

All opinions in the review are honest and my own. I am not affiliated with target, any audio company for that matter. I purchased this product with my hard earned cash, specifically because I broke my audio-technica lp60 trying to mod it.



Packaging:
As expected with a budget/consumer product, the packaging was good enough to keep it from getting damaged in shipping. A couple layers of formed cardboard. Plastic bags and twist ties holding the cables and other vitals.



Build:
I do like the color scheme but would rather a clear cover than the smoked it comes with but that's my preference. Despite being mainly plastic, it does have some weight to it. Especially in the cover.

The arm and knobs feel sturdy and the cables are not built in like my previous turntable. This is good because the rca cable included is fairly thin and should probably be upgraded later.

The feet on it are actually spring loaded and conical, so it sits pretty stable. If someone was to bump the table by accident I feel it protect the record pretty good. *** Did not. I bumped it by accident when moving something nearby and my heart stopped. Luckily the record was already in bad shape.



The mat is standard felt type. Immediately replaced with my leather deer hide mat.

My first and possibly only downside. After setting it up I immediately placed a timing sheet on it and pulled out my lamp. It definitely runs fast. I haven't tried adjusting the motor speed yet.

Update: It's been maybe 6months now and it gives a little motor noise when starting up.

Connectivity:
Unfortunately I do not have a phono preamp so I can not test the phono out of the turntable.

So far using it with the built in preamp, and straight from the start you can tell it is better than other similarly priced. Line out voltage is almost double, and despite having the same AT white stylus as others there looks to be more detail. I recorded from line out to my desktop via sound blaster ZX at 24B/96k and zooming in shows a little more detail. It also caused some clipping because of peak voltages.

Bluetooth has good range. Pretty much the same as my HTC 10. The turntable is located at one end of my house which is fairly rectangular and 1800sq ft. I can connect my Vmoda cfw2 and walk anywhere in my house. Only one spot gives some cut out due to the electrical panel being in between. Sound is ok. You still hear the static and pops from bad records. Also the stage isn't as wide compared to line out to a headphone amp. I can't tell which codec it's using though.



Conclusion:
This turntable is a good base to upgrade from without spending much money to start. Nothing is outstanding, but pretty much every can be swapped.

Edit: I lowered the rating half a point because after opening it up I realized most the weight comes from the cover and 7 little wood blocks that hold things together. The actual housing is thin, cheap particle board.



I might cut out a new bottom from plywood and put some isoacoustics underneath.

Message me if you got any questions.

This is really just to give a quick opinion. I'm not very experienced in record players to give a detailed review. I am also not associated with any companies. I purchased the LP60 non-usb model really to replace my wife's detrola "vintage" looking player.

I have heard the detrolas have a very heavy arm and put extra wear on the records. So in comparison, just buying and using this should prolong you albums. Also since the LP60 is fully automatic there's no dropping the needle or dragging it on the record.



Build is good for the price. I paid $99, but you might find it cheaper somewhere else. It has a nice aluminum platter, belt driven so that reduces noise from what I read. Slightly warped records are not a problem. The arm is light and the stylus is a decent fair. It has rubber under the feet to absorb some vibrations and decent weight to keep it planted.

It does not have counter weight or anti skate adjustments. You are limited to a specific stylus from what I see. Also you can't change the head. That's all fine for a basic setup.

What I also like about it is the phono/line switch. This allowed me to plug them directly into some bose companion speakers, to get things started, while I look for a phono amp and better speakers.

With just this set up it already sounds much more detailed than the Detrola. I have a feeling this will scale well with a nice amp, looking at Schiit, and some better speakers.

Downside - some of the damaged records produce loud pops and cracks because of the scratches. On the Detrola they weren't as bad. On the other hand some of the damage was probably caused by the fact that ...dun dun dun my wife had the detrola 10 yrs and never changed the stylus or cleaned a record. Scary

**Edit: Didn't realize at first but these lp60, including mine, commonly come with bent platters. Lowered my rating a little.

Disclamer: These headphones were a Christmas gift and I'm doing this review a little on the fly. Lack of free time lately. I am not associated with any company for that matter, including any links in the review. This review is my personal unbiased opinion and keep in mind that these headphones have over 50hrs burn in. I want to thank Head-Fi, for giving the forum to learn and express. Enjoy.

P.S. I will add another comparison to this review once my Bose qc35 get delivered.



Introduction:

So around the holidays, Nov. and Dec., my close family stops buying things for ourselves (only essentials) and create our Christmas wish list. I had been using some Plantronic Backbeat SE for the past 2 yrs and was in the market for a new bluetooth headset. I decided to go with these without being sure if they were going to fit my specific use or my sound preferences but I am very happy with the choice. My bluetooth music listening is done with my HTC 10 ( aptX ), and wired was done mainly with Cayin N5ii. Most of the phone communications were done with an Iphone 7 via bluetooth, which is why I needed AAC, and the V-Moda Crossfade2 Codex checks all those marks.

Most of the full sized headphones I have used/owned were bluetooth with wired functionality just in case the battery died. The Codex, to me, are wired headphones with the addition of bluetooth functionality. (This was later verified on the interview between Jude and Val Kolton) Not that the BT is subpar in any way, but the first focus was to make good speakers and headphones. Some other brands focus first on bluetooth connectivity and skimp on the actual speakers. In that case the sound quality is made by adjustments in the built-in amp.

Packaging and Accessories:

The unboxing is quite nice. Outside is a six sided box, keeping the same shape as the headphones themselves. There is plenty of information on the sides as you can see from the photos. Forgive me for the quality, as I mentioned it's been a busy month.

There is ample carved form to protect the headset. Included is the warrenty card, instructions, little advertisement about the replaceable shields, the carrying case and 3.5mm SE cable with mic. The case is very sturdy and with a nice smooth feel. Looking at it reminds me of Batman's costume. I feel like it could take a couple small caliber bullets. Don't try it though.

The mic/cable that is included has a nice thickness and not too weighty. It is covered in a cloth which doesn't work too good with velcro wraps, but it feels nice. I especially like the seperated mic and button on the cable. The mic is located closer to the hp/mouth, and the button is in the bicep area. This makes the call quality good while still being easy to pause/mute/etcetera.







Fitment:
A few notes, one is that these fit over ear for me, but I can see some people wearing these on-ear, because the size, in which case the comfort would be completely different. The cushions are on the soft side and the clamping force is moderate. After a few hours the cushions compress a little and the tips of my ears barely touch the inside of the hp. I will probably opt for the larger pads they offer later on. Even when the cushions compress the hp is still comfy. Not too much heat is generated, headband doesn't put much pressure on your head. Over all the weight is not felt much either.
Lastly, for me, when I tilt my head a certain way there is a little gap that allows outside noise in. This doesn't happen often but I noticed it.

Sound and Build:



Unfortunately I don't have experience with the previous V-Moda models, but the csfw2 have been said to be more evenly tuned. In my opinion the overall sound signature is fairly even with a little warmth and some bass increase around the 69-80hz range. Upper bass and lower mids are nicely detailed and not to forward or recessed. Texture on standing bass being bowed is nice to hear.

Treble extension is very nice. I see no sharpness in the upper mids or treble and a little recessed, but non-fatiguing. Radiohead National Anthem sounds like the drummer is facing away from you. With the drums being a little more forward than the cymbals, but equally detailed. Vocals are nicely staged, a little more forward than the drummer, but not too much. Definitely not in you face vocals.

Sound stage is more forward than rear, and has average width/height for a closed over-ear. The notes/instruments have a nice combination of body and separation. They can fairly easy to distinguish in the soundstage, and not thin or airy. There is virtually no sound leakage. In order hear something on the outside you have to put your ear up to the vented cup.

What I like the most is through out the entire freq range the cfw2 are fairly revealing. Smaller background notes and singers seem to be brought out of the shadow.

Comparison:

VS. Plantronics Backbeat SE (abreviated BBSE)
First off the plantronics are not audiophile hp, but I am putting them hear for 2 reasons. This was my previous go to at work, and for anyone searching to step into the audiophile segment.

Downsides are actually very feature rich, and due to the on-ear/more open design give more rear stage. I couldn't count how many times I turned around from my desk because I hear something behind me. Hint...I am the only one in the room. They have automatic pause when you take them off, and ambient listen. So you can hear your surroundings. BT also has a stronger connection. In a direct line of sight(only glass wall) I measured 8ft more.

Positives are firstly wired connection quality. The wired connection on the BBSE is pretty bad. You lose extension on both bass and treble. Where as the CFW2 is slightly better wired than wireless imo. While we're on the topic, both bt and wired sound is more revealing/detailed with the CFW2. Next the sound isolation on the CFW2 is better. It blocks out more wind noise and rumble despite leaving the vocal range audible. Battery life for both are on par, but the CFW2 supports AAC which the BBSE did not. Lastly is comfort. Being over ear they are much better for longer uses. Even if it warms your ears a little.

VS. Bose QC35 II

Downsides: Mainly ANC. When you put the bose on with anc it's like you were taken out of the room. And this is constant 70-90db background noise. ANC on high does give some pressure on my ears, but low is tolerable for a full day of work.

As for comfort, it may depend on the ear and head shape. For me both cushions cover my ears so there is minimal differences. I feel the Bose have less clamping force, but slightly stiffer cushions and a slightly bigger diameter. I wear the Bose a little higher on my head so the cushions don't land on my jaw. The Bose have a little more ear clearance because of the angled drivers. The Bose weigh a little less but I can't feel the difference in the weight. Despite that I feel the Bose generate more heat and I prefer feel of the CFW2.

Positives: Firstly, Build. The Bose are mainly plastic which is what makes them weigh less, but at the same time they don't feel sturdy or as high end quality. Next is passive noise isolation. This is a toss up, because i feel the CFW2 blocks more low end frequency, and the Bose blocks more high freq. As far as the connection goes, CFW2 for the win, because it stays connected another 6ft farther. With the Bose I have issues on the opposite side of my work room, where as the CFW2 i can walk the whole room with no problem.

Lastly is again sound quality. The CFW2 sound more like being at a concert or club. Bose sound less amplified, possibly better for acoustic tracks. This is not a bad thing, just different signatures. The CFW2 have a slightly more elevated bass with more texture. The bose have a slightly elevated upper mids. Using Hotel California, P.Y.T. and "Ain't Nobody" from Chaka Khan as some examples. The drums sound fuller and more elevated on the CFW2, you can hear the rasp of snares more and the fading of guitars better. On the Bose the guitar sound sharper with more elevation and quicker drop off. The Bose seems to have a slightly better positioning and more air in between instruments.

Of course styling is different, but that's a matter of taste.

Conclusion:
Since getting these I have been using them 6+hrs a day at work. No sound leakage is good if the boss walks in on you. Decent sound isolation for background noise at my job, good battery life, and very good sound quality. I would like to see more texture on the buttons to make it easier to locate. Also automatic pausing when removed would be greatly appreciated on bt usage. One gripe I have is the volume defaults to a preset when BT is connected. So every time I connect I have to lower the volume before playing anything.

Disclamer: These earbuds were purchased with my own cash while on vacation in Tokyo. I am not associated with any company for that matter, including the links in the review. This review is my personal unbiased opinion and keep in mind that these earbuds have about 50hrs burn in. Most listening was done with my HTC 10, except source comparisons. I want to thank Head-Fi, for giving the forum to learn and express. Enjoy.



Introduction:
I think everyone knows B&O, and although these earbuds are not new models, in fact they came out in 2011. First off I want to apologize for the box being a little beat up. It happened in the luggage and opening. I should’ve taken pictures beforehand. I thought I should do a review since I own them so what the heck. They were purchased 2017 for roughly $180 and I do not believe they are manufactured any more so if you want one it might be a little hard to find now. I could be wrong. The styling and marketing both seem designed towards apple users with the metallic and black contrast. The button was made iphone compatibility also. They are fairly easy to drive measured at ohm and I would gauge above 100db/mW.



Packaging and Accessories:
That being said the hard formed plastic inside the packaging keeps the earbuds nicely in place, but there is no real protection on the top except thin clear plastic. It does work to display the earbuds nicely in a store though and that’s most likely what they were going for. The carrying case has a nice feel to it. Not heavy and should work good in a bag or purse. It is thin, but a little long so pockets might have varying success. One thing though, the earbuds fit in the case, but the cable doesn’t really have any space. I coiled the cable around the flap, but then half of the cable is exposed and could be damaged.

The rest of the accessories are pretty standard. A shirt clip which further stops any possible microphonics and 4 sets of semi-dense foam covers.




Build and Fitment:
These are a unique design in my opinion. I haven’t seen any earbuds with brackets like this, in a good way. The design give you a good range of adjustment in all directions allowing you to get a good/comfortable fit. Also, because of this, every time you put them on it is easy to get the same fitment. Allowing for a consistent sound every use. The earbuds and brackets feel sturdy and slide smooth. The cable on the other hand feels fragile. It has very high bend memory. After coiling them around 4 fingers overnight they will not straighten out by their own weight. Strain reliefs seem good, and Y split is thick. One last thing that bothers me, and maybe just me, but the buttons. It’s not very easy to distinguish them apart. Perhaps after longer use I would get used to it.







Now the Sound:
In this case it sounds very plateau like, mid centric. There is a drop off on the bass side and the extended treble, but more so in the bass. It is slightly analytic and detailed. Not very warm due to the lower bass quantity, but I feel this also gives nice air in between instruments since the notes don’t have as much weight. I wouldn’t consider it thin though, just not full bodied. If you’re a tea drinker I would compare the boldness to a green tea maybe. Not as thin as a BA white tea, but not full bodied like a black or oolong. I don’t feel it excels in either positioning or layering. The width is nice but not huge, I think the problem if any lies more in the center sounds. Listening to “In the Distance” from Yosi Horikawa, there is a gap in the center as the footsteps go from side to side. It does sound like it has nice dynamic range if you’re in a quiet room. Listening to Carmen Suite No1 from Bizet gives a nice transition from quiet horns to loud cymbal crashes.

Lows:
The bass is slightly lacking quantity compared to a neutral sound. IMO bass guitars are harder to pick out, and some bass drums sound a little hollow. This might be due completely to the tuning, but also because the lack of isolation. If you place one finger underneath each earbud, covering the little gap left in the ear, bass quantity increases a lot. A possible mod might be some moldable silicon/clay placed in that crevice.

Mids:
The mids are definitely where the tuning went into on this earbud. Upper mids seem a bit accentuated, but in a good way. Details show up nicely, and voices are fairly forward, not overly, whether its MJ, Nhora Jones, or Axl Rose. Clearly understandable, audible, and the breath or vocal vibrating sound natural.

Treble:
In this range there is plenty of splash and energy. I don’t hear any harshness, but enough quantity to show up on the stage. I feel it flows cleanly from the mids into the treble area and give a nice balance in this area.

Comparisons:
One of the quick and simple things I do to compare quantity between my different headphones or iems is to use the HTC PAP in frequency mode. I don’t keep the settings, just write them down for the record. I do this after listening to music, so I don’t subconsciously change my opinion. For the 3i I got measurements of 7,6,1,1,3, so from lows to highs that is the amount of increase I needed to hear the tone.

vs VE Monk+ The monks although being earbuds, are much much cheaper as I think everyone knows, so build quality of the earbud itself doesn’t compare. B&O with smooth metal build is where part of the money goes and that gives more comfort, support, and consistent fit. That being said the cable is another deal though. The expresso cable that comes with the Monk+ are more supple, less memory prone, and imo looks better than the regular black 3i affair. The case that comes with the monk, although not smooth leather, holds the earbud and cable safer. You can also put a lanyard on the zipper handle allowing for easier carrying.

When it gets to sound. The monks got 5,5,2,1,4 on HTC pap and it shows in the music. Bass quantity is higher than the B&O, the sound is warmer, but on the other end not as much energy in the highs. I would say the B&O are wider staged perhaps artificial, but the VE have better center stage and transition from side to side. The B&O have more detail in the mids and treble also.

vs Radius TWF31 This are in the same price range and both are not new releases which is why I am comparing them. Other than that they are different designs of course, the twf31 being iem with dd and piezo, and the 3i being an earbud dd. The fitment of the 3i is not as comfortable as a shallow inserted iem, but more sturdy because of the bracket. Also the cable is thinner than the Radius, but with the shirt clip gives no microphonics, which is the downside of the twf31’s cloth covered cable.

With the TWF31 the isolation is better as expected, and bass quantity is higher partly due to that. The width sounds similar to me between them but the Radius doesn’t have an issue with transitioning. The Radius also has better depth when it comes to sound stage but also sounds darker and seems L sounding in comparison. The treble energy is still there but not as prominent. The B&O does have slightly more accentuated upper-mids. Django’s scraping of the strings sound a little rougher, but at the same time details seem to show up a little better in that region.

Conclusion:
Overall the B&O 3i are a nice looking, and sturdy earbud that gives average sound and above average detail. If you are very much against iem and full sized headphones I would look into it. On the other hand if you don’t mind even shallow fit iem I think you can get more for the money in that realm. Unfortunately I don’t have high end sources so I can’t tell if it scales better with say an opus 1s, or an AK SP1000. I do think they fit well with some jazz, classical, and/or rock. Preferably not too busy though so the layering doesn’t get overpowered. A smaller ensemble or normal band size should sound good.


List of Songs: All flac 16/44 unless noted.

• Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
• Rage Against the Machine – Bullet in the Head
• Tribe Called Quest – Check the Rhime
• Bob Marley – Turn the Lights Down Low
• Radiohead – The National Anthem
• Eric Clapton – Blues Before Sunrise
• Yusef Lateef - See Line Lady
• Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
• Hans Zimmer – As Good as it Gets
• Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Apple Music)
• Yosi Horikawa – In the Distance (Apple Music)

Spoiler TLDR: A sound that can be used for wide range of music, but not bass head. Slightly warm and natural sounding. Quick and detailed, circular soundstage, but not huge width.

Disclamer: These iem were purchased with my own cash while on vacation in Tokyo. I am not associated with Radius or any company for that matter, including the links in the review. This review is my personal unbiased opinion and keep in mind that these iem are 10 months old. I want to thank Head-Fi, for giving the forum to learn and express. Enjoy.


Introduction: What makes someone wake up early morning while on vacation in order to leave their family in an AirBnB, cross tokyo, and purchase an iem. Even more so, in a Yodobashi electronics store that has rows and rows of iem, why the TWF-31.

The answer is of course Music.

Radius, the developer of these was founded in 1996. Taken from their website they develop "Accessories for Apple devices and other Information technology products, Headohones, and Audio products". They have various iem developed over the years, a lightning dac and even bluetooth products now.

http://www.radius.co.jp/en_product/hp-twf31/

A little about myself. I am a lover of japanese related things in general. From History, style, food, cars, and of course electronics. I got tired of the bloated, no detail, low quality build iems in the local stores and started looking into japanese brands. I came across this little guy below, curtesy of https://clarityfidelity.blogspot.com/?m=1, and had to check them out.




Packaging and Accessories:

The packaging could be described as above standard, but not totl. There is an outer cardboard box with an image of the iem on the front and technical description on the back. Inside another cardboard box where the top slides up to expose the iems and company slogan. The portion directly above the iem has a piece of soft cloth making it even harder for the iem to get damaged in shipping. All lettering is elegant gold on black, same as the iem themselves. Below that is the domed compartment which houses the accessories which would be considered standard fair nowadays. A clamshell case, 4 pairs of custom Radius tips and small booklet.



The clamshell is soft cloth on the inside and a hard outside with a kind of stitched leather. I myself am not a fan of clamshells but this one is large enough to fit the TWF31 without coiling that tight. It also still fits in my pocket. Recently decided to use the hard plastic round case that came with my VE iems to keep the TWF31 inside.



Aside from the thought put into the iem themselves, Radius made some changes to the eartips. As you might be able to tell in the photo. The eartips are larger towards the opening and narrow down into the back. This gives a better seal with shallow insertion compared to regular single flange silicon/rubber tips. Despite trying a variety of tips, comply, symbiot, large and small bore tips, I always go back to the original mediums.


Build and Fitment:

When it comes to fitment, I consider these very comfortable. The iem give 2 depths for the tips to be placed allowing for a shallow, or standard insertion. Even if I was to pull my ear back and insert them deeper with smaller tips the housing doesn’t press on the ears. There are no hot spots, and I can wear them for hours without adjustment. Both the included cable which can be changed (stardard mmcx) are ligh weight, so they do not fall out easily with head movement despite shallow fitment. The iem are intended to be worn down, but if you switch L & R, they can be worn over ear. Which is good because one of my grips with them is the cable.

As mentioned the cable is light weight, but thin and microphonic. It is covered in a cloth with decent quality plastic neck tie. It resist tangle pretty good, and ends in a 45deg 3.5mm SE connector. No microphone but both strain reliefs on the mmcx and 3.5mm side are well done. There are L & R markings on both the housings and both mmcx connectors.


The housings are a combination of smooth plastic, textured plastic and gold (colored?) aluminum. There is a lot of detail put into the texturing on both the housing and the connector.




There is a seam where the different meet, but over the months I have seen no fatigue or flex. Perhaps if you were to step on them or fall from high up but multiple tip changes, removing cables, accidentally getting caught on something and yanked out posed no issues.

Now the sound:

All songs used were in 16/44.1 flac with a couple listed below. The included medium tips and HTC were used for its lowest output impedance and small bore.

Beethoven Opus 49 No.2 (Lifescapes Album 1996)
Mighty Mighty Bostones – Someday I Suppose
Metallica - blackened
MJ - Bad
MJ - PYT

Soundstage:

I will try to describe the shape of the sound stage and where you sit in the audience. There more space in front and above than below and behind. I have heard sounds circle just outside around my head, but you don’t find yourself looking behind to make sure it’s the music and not a person standing there. There could be a bit more width, but the height and depth make up for it. Layering is good because of that and instrument separation is well done. When listening to band its almost as if you are a couple rows away from the stage with the singer up front but not in your face. The drums a little deeper back and the guitars nicely diagonal. In Bohemian Rhapsody you can easily pick out all the different sounds. In lifescapes Beethoven you can hear the piano keys as if you are sitting there. Every note moving closer and farther from front center to the right for high notes and left for low.

Tip Rolling:

I am an avid tip roller because I believe they can sculpt the sound to you liking, with these though I suggest keeping the included tips. Partly because the shape and partly the small bore. The small bore tips seem to keep the bass a little elevated compared to neutral. I feel this is a good match for the sound signature. YMMV. If you rather comply will work fine also, but I feel it attenuates the sound some. The TS500 fit. Another option I feel is good is a medium bore silicone and use the shorter stem seating. Moving the tip to the shorter seat gives added sub bass, and the medium bore reduces the mid bass while adding a little treble.

Edit: I added some info above because I wanted to rephrase and expand on the tips some.

Lows:

The lows are very even, and speed of the mid and upper bass is very quick in my opinion. This is not a bass head iem, but gives a controlled and just slightly recessed sound. No bloat or bleed into the lower mids. Due to the coming strictly from the dd I feel they are little less spacious, but not claustrophobic feeling. Using a basic youtube freq sweep I hear just below 30hz. Probably given the right song 20-25hz could be felt/heard.

Drums:

Bass kicks are tight and double peddles are clean. Snare hits, wire brush and snare wires are nicely detailed. The attack is a bit strong, but sounds natural to me. Best in my opinion are toms with a nice boom, but not bloat. Again natural and well separated.

Vocals:

Very clear vocals and articulate. I would say a little better for female vocals which give me tingles on the back of my neck. Nhora, Adele, Alicia Keys are all clear and up front. Male vocals, Ed Sheeran, Mos Def, BB King are still good but sometimes get mixed depth wise with the instruments.

Highs:

The highs are detailed and without any harshness. They expand slightly further than the lows and extend well frequency wise. Cymbals have a nice sizzle and songs like MJs Bad give a good volume without being sibilant.

Sources:

The TWF31 are fairly easy to drive. I never use EQ in order to enjoy the signature of the items. Using my HTC 10 I don’t need more than half volume to be at a good listening volume. Normally I leave it at 1/3. Again with the ipod classic 160Gb(6th gen) it takes the same. With the Sound blaster ZX on my desktop it only needs 1/4.

In order to compare between the three, I used Mighty Mighty Bostones. I believe the HTC has the lowest impedence, the ipod is supposed to have in the teens range, and the SB ZX is 30ohm (at least that’s what I read). The SB gives more bass, all three give even mids, but the bass from the SB over powers the mids some. Also the ipod has a sharper high hat, and snares, including less bass guitar.

Conclusions:

If you want something elegant looking, for use while sitting down or over ear while doing stuff in a semi quiet area. Nice natural sound that can go from casual to fairly quick and complicated music then put these on your list.