Quite an interesting read this thread has been so far. My brief summary, or perhaps understanding so far...
MK2 survives unscathed as potential top of it's tier, the price point, mostly.
MK2 vs MK3 reads more like a library difference, as far as keeping the same name from TheiAudio's perspective.
Besides the MK2 being awesome in most sonic departments, but some questions about it's mid bass being less, and or sub bass too much, the attribute that commonly shared was it's lack of texture, but some have reported it's a scaling issue and that is much improved with mid to higher tier sources.
Those are MY takeaways from the thread.
I've been listening to the MK2 all week, almost every waking hour.
My personal view is that more than being library dependant, the MK2 seems to mirror the tracking/mastering session rather precisely, the MK2 has been very talented in this regard, is this a common trait amongst good IEMs?
I'm using an M1 -> iTunes -> RME Babyface Pro -> MK2 with bit rate switching. I don't know how the RME unit stacks up against audiophile gear, they are know to be transparent, this headphone amp section is a huge step up from it's previous model which was rather under powered.
- Output: 6.3 mm TRS jack, unbalanced
- Output impedance: 10 Ohm
- Output level at 0 dBFS, 1 kOhm load: +13 dBu
- Max power @ 0.1% THD: 50 mW
- Output: 3.5 mm TRS jack, unbalanced
- Output impedance: 2 Ohm
- Output level at 0 dBFS, 1 kOhm load: +7 dBu
- Max power @ 0.1% THD: 70 mW
I don't know how to compare these values to the high end consumer dac/amp, they don't tell us a lot more other than it uses FPGA based DSP but not sure what kind of DAC exactly.
On asking GPT4 to convert those values to what's normal quoted by HiFi manufacturers this is what it had to say:
6.3 mm TRS Jack, Unbalanced:
Output Voltage at Load: Approximately 2.71 Vrms
3.5 mm TRS Jack, Unbalanced:
Output Voltage at Load: Approximately 1.64 Vrms
I'm using the 3.5mm output, so it further added:
With a driver sensitivity of 108 dB/mW and a maximum power handling of 70 mW, the in-ear monitors can reach a maximum sound pressure level of approximately 126.5 dB.
...followed by a brief lecture on hearing safety.
I have little reference knowledge other than my ancient HD800 and an OG Lehmann Black Cube Linear (BCL).
The MK2 on the BCL was less intimate with recessed mids, much less refined on the highs but with some extension, strong but again less refined(tight) in the bass, oddly slightly larger sound stage than the RME amp.
Could be a matter of preference but I suspect, overall the BCL fared rather poorly compared to the preciseness of the RME headphone out. The BCL is connected to the RME's main XLR outs -> RCA. I did listen to it using a green audioquest 3.5 to RCA, the BCL retained it's V shaped character.
I need help over what would be a good portable DAP or DAC/Amp for the MK2. My three price points are $1000, $1500 and $2000. I understand I will have access to a better DAC/Amp vs DAP at any given price point. I like the flexibility of iTunes, I don't have any other hi rez streaming in my country. Personally I'm leaning towards a DAP with iTunes that will switch the sample rates etc accordingly.
Please help me make an informed decision, there are so many ways to do this I'm rather overwhelmed, I understand the mids can be a bit recessed in a large amount of recordings/mixes but it's not always the case, for example in Anne-Sophie-Mutter Recital 2000, violin and piano is just incredible, last three tracks on that album is sublime with the RME, I don't want to lose that balance. I'm ok with listening to the mix and not my preference, though I'm very intrigued by especially Mojo 2 users about their EQ habits? I've been kind of leaning on the mojo 2 from what I understand, which is very little.
I really could use some advice. Thanks.