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Author Topic: FitEar 334  (Read 5225 times)

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Anaxilus.

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FitEar 334
« on: May 28, 2013, 07:28:00 AM »

First Impressions (PC>ODAC>2 different portable amps):

Listening to the Fitear 334 for the first time.  Have to say I'm slightly disappointed.  Apart from the predominant bass response, I'm not really getting a lot of the praise and commentary many have garnered on these.  The mids are a bit dry, not the greatest clarity as I was led to believe by a few.  There is enhanced sibilance and spittiness to vocals.  While bass is more pronounced overall than the IE800, it is more coherent overall rather than spiking in the low bass like the IE800 which can be rather shocking depending on your preferred genres.  I have to say, the treble is pretty damned metallic and unnatural.  Not so much harsh as painful spikes, but completely mechanical.  I hope the treble timbre from the titanium nozzle has that tone as a mere coincidence compared to some of the old german titanium tweeters I've hated in the past a la MB Quart, etc.  The IE800 kills the 334 in mids and treble IMHO, not to mention the UERM and ES5.  It's not a bad IEM compared to some of the garb I've heard in the not too distant past, but this is more of a $350-$500 IEM IMO, not a $1400 sounding IEM rivaling the best customs.  Disappointed.  More to come later, will pass these on to purrin.

So far, I much prefer the UERM and ES5 by a significant amount.  I think these do excel at clarity and note depth of upper bass presentation in percussion and perhaps the lower mids.  Or maybe it's added perception due to a resonance issue in the housing, not sure yet.  I was worried after reading impressions that the mids of the 334 would be more magical than my ES5 forcing me to procure a set.  I no longer have that fear. 
« Last Edit: May 28, 2013, 07:38:13 AM by Analixus »
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munch

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2013, 08:29:04 AM »
weeell this I think confirms what I was worried about here, think I've saved a K on not getting these then...
I was really charmed by people saying these were non-sibilant/spitty and having a smooth midrange. seems like a little bit of exaggeration.
might just go for the new HiFiMAN instead, really like the RE-400 (for $99)

thanks for the impressions!
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Kunlun

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2013, 02:03:15 PM »
Have you heard the Tralucent 1plus2, Anax?

It's another one that fanboys are proclaiming is the greatest thing ever.

It's fairly even sounding with a slightly bloomy midbass and a little lower mid depression to keep the mid bass out of the mids. The treble has a bit of textbook sibilance leading "cables! We'll switch the cables and OMG different!" talk, and cymbals are slightly fake and metallic.

The soundstage is open and nice, bass and treble and upper mids seem to balance nicely. At low volumes, you don't get the sibilance so things are pretty good. It lives up to some of the praise, but not at the price:

 $1,400. Up from under a $1000 originally, then a $1,000 before leaping to $1,400. Whee.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2013, 02:19:18 PM by Kunlun »
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burnspbesq

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2013, 03:52:53 PM »
"Fake and metallic?"

Oddly enough, I was under the impression that since cymbals are made of metal, they are supposed to sound metallic. Apparently I was mistaken.
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MuppetFace

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2013, 05:03:33 PM »
Huh. This is something of a head scratcher for me, to be honest. I don't hear any sibilance at all, and the treble does not sound remotely metallic or mechanical to me. I do agree on the mids though; I've never felt them to be a particular standout, and I actually think the F111 has a more impressive midrange. As for the bass, it doesn't seem bloated to me but it's a little on the sluggish side. Overall I like the balance of the TG!334 and find it really easy to listen to for long periods of time, though it's not what I'd call an exciting or engaging listen.

Compared to full-on customs, I personally think it's situated in the middle of stuff I've heard. I'd go for the JH13Pro or FitEar's own MH334 over it, but I'd take it over the Heir 8.A any day.

As for the 1Plus2, it's like a completely different beast than the TG!334. It sounds a lot less natural to me in the treble region and has a curious "sitting in the back of a room" kind of presentation, though it pretty much trounces the TG!334 in bass response. It's a lot more fatiguing for me in balance, but it has a more immediately playful type of sound.
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wilzc

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2013, 05:29:48 PM »
I concur with MF.

I thought the bass was a little sluggish, but the mids were even handed and the treble sounds very natural. An exquisite sound, and tuned expertly. Definitely Japanese however.

I've actually found my middle ground 'value for money' in the Earsonics SM64 for ~400

They're a poor man's alternative to the TG334 :P
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Anaxilus.

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2013, 06:50:51 PM »
I was surprised by the treble at first, which is why I used another amp to verify whether the 334 wasn't just being transparent than colored.  Sadly, the treble character was present on both amps.  Perhaps if I use constricted bore/tips and/or a more forgiving amp in the top end then perhaps I might not notice the treble.  Fact is, the sound is not present on my ES5 or UERM and this is using two different amps, must be the 334.  Sorry, but it's some of the most unnatural treble I've ever heard though not as offensive or painful as other phones.  If you listen to Hotel California from Hell Freezes Over or Godsmack's Voodoo, the bass is simply too much to be considered accurate.  I don't mind it as much as the IE800 because it sounds more coherent and natural down low throughout the range as a whole.  It is sluggish which is why I was struck by that added sense of reverb lingering.  I think Heir does a better job of presenting a slightly enhanced bass response in a more natural and pleasing way. 


Dude, this is not exquisite sound/expert tuning.  Please.  Maybe the 111 will be just the thing.  I am curious about the new FitEar Hayden Panatiere too.
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planx

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2013, 07:31:40 PM »
Again, thank you for the downright honest impressions. To be honest, I was expecting this kind of review from you, especially with the ToGo334. I never believed in universals priced above $600 and your impressions help reinforce my thoughts on notoriously priced IEMs. I'm sure both you and I are already sensing the 334 owners glare of death, but the truth of the matter is, most of these owners are blinded by their personal preference and bias towards their very expensive purchase. It's almost like a breath of fresh air to read a review that neither supports the 334 or ridicules it; just downright honest as usual Anax.

Although I have not yet tried the 334, I have tried the 1plus2 (both versions) and I was shocked. The first 1plus2 had this v-shape signature with some weird treble and the second version was definitely more tonally balanced, with retaining the bass emphasis. The things that impressed me with the 1+2 was the bass and soundstage, but everything was a total buzzkill... And the moment I discovered that Tralucent bumped the price THAT much, I was again disappointed by Tralucent as a company... Once hype starts, they jack up the price on a IEM that performs up to $600~ IEMs... Sad market out there, is anyone still sane?
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ader

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2013, 09:33:57 PM »
Mine had some sibilance which I tamed for the most part with Complys.
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mkubota1

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Re: FitEar 334
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2013, 11:43:50 PM »
Quote from: MuppetFace on May 28, 2013, 05:03:33 PM
Overall I like the balance of the TG!334 and find it really easy to listen to for long periods of time...

This is almost exactly what I had written down on my listening notes- word for word.  I don't think FitEar was necessarily looking to produce something perfectly neutral or even studio monitor-ish with this.  The 111 probably comes closer to that if that's what you're looking for.  But that might be more by chance than by design.

As for IEM impressions, I'd be super careful about reading (anyone's) impressions.  I think IEM reviews are almost like reviewing running shoes.  Plus, I can't count the number of times I've listened to stuff and got very different experiences from one demo to the next.  And this is with the same set of ears!

I also can't wait to hear the FitEar Hayden Panatiere too!   ;D
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