MonkeyCoderI'm not sure - got 3 (some for others), based on reviews. Initial impressions: Sounds etched, grainy, harsh, at all frequencies. Not sure if I'm missing something. I've also owned or heard Focal Clears, HE-4XX, a $50 Sony IEM, etc. These sound very different. I'll give it some more burn-in time, so we'll see I guess.
EpironJust got the new pair and they do sound a bit more harsh than my old one with the same (blue, medium dampening) filters. Will let them play for a day and compare again.
MonkeyCoderLet them run for 2-3 full days: Still sounds more or less unlistenable, especially for the price. Drop said I could send them back, and get new ones.
... I wonder if you are significantly more liable to get a degradation in sound quality with these $175 a pair earphones.
EpironI did some more listening and both eartips and filters play a role. Unfortunately the new set still plays worse than the old one. I found I prefer Spiral Dots over Spiral Dots ++ that are included (better fit/grip and less skin irritation for me). My old filters dampen more than the brand new ones, likely some oil buildup or something. The new set lacks some bass/sub-bass and sounds less coherent overall with sharper highs.
Unfortunately sending them back over the pond is not really worth it for me so I'll have to see how they play over time.
MonkeyCoderI didn't think these were harsh at all just swapped from stock filter with no issues but idk if anything can be harsh when compared to Shuoer Tapes lol