Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Lightning4X
7
Jan 16, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
Damn good for the price
These are hard to beat even at full price. For drop's price it's definitely worth it. The pros: The P1s sport a very unique sound signature, especially for an IEM. It's a similar sort of uniqueness that reminds me of the Audioquest Nighthawk, in that it is very different and unconventional in a multitude of ways. At first it's a bit hard to understand what exactly it is that you are hearing, and it may even be displeasureable, but further listening begins to reveal the nuances of the sound, and the true value in what they are trying to present. The two things that stand out the most are the sheer amount of detail in the highs and the unique midrange. These are one of the most, if not the most clear and detailed audio devices for under $200. They are really hard to beat for pure quality of sound in that regard. Mids and bass are no exceptions to that as well, and though bass volume isn't the focal point of these IEMs, the quality is nothing to scoff at. In short, it's very apparent that a planar is the source of what's being heard, as the characteristic bass and highs that planars are known for are definitely present here. The imaging is accurate, and it's easy to place instruments in space. This is largely a result of the tight Soundstage, which was purposely intertwined with the mids in a way that produces their unique signature. They are aggressive, but not so much in a Sennheiser 6 series sort of way. Intimacy isn't the right word here. They are just very present. It's elevated but not shoved in your face, and I've never found it to be overwhelming. I lack the words to truly describe what these are doing, but suffice it to say that it is certainly enjoyable. The cons: For starters, the included cable is horrendous. Its a copper weaved cable, and though the connectors are of high quality, Tin decided to use a use a very loose weave on 2/3 of the cable in order to save a few bucks. It looks messy, feels bad, doesn't move properly, and is decidedly amateur. Most could do a better job building a DIY cable themselves, let alone the quality of a professionally produced product. Fitment is also an issue for me with these on the included tips, though your milage may varry. The other massive issue these have are their difficulty to drive. They are incredibly difficult to power properly and require a lot to get them to sound right. They are right up there in inefficiency with things like the Sennheiser 6xx, or 1More Tripple Overears, and may even be a bit more difficult. This is quite the paradoxical point with these IEMs as their whole attraction has always been their portability. It would be very difficult to really get their full potential out of them with a portable setup, and is in my opinion that is their greatest problem.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
AlanDixon
48
Jul 6, 2021
Lightning4X> This is quite the paradoxical point with these IEMs as their whole attraction has always been their portability. It would be very difficult to really get their full potential out of them with a portable setup, and is in my opinion that is their greatest problem. Agree 100%. The do defeat the purpose of IEMs.
mathnerd
28
Dec 5, 2021
Lightning4XI own these IEMs and any decent portable amp should be fine. I have run these through the following amps * iPhone dongle (weak) * Sony NW-A45 (weak) * Dragonfly Red (enough power) * Schiit Lyr2 (more than enough power) * Astell&Kern SR25 MKII (sounds fantastic with balanced cable) https://drop.com/buy/tripowin-altea-iem-cable -- this cable is what I ended up with and it's perfectly portable with amazing sound. I walk the dog every day with this setup and have zero complaints about the audio quality or portability.
(Edited)
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile