QCY QY11: A VERSATILE IEM

SPECS:

http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Cancelling-Sweatproof-Headphones-Hands-free/dp/B019TTSYOG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1455685619&sr=8-4&keywords=vafee

Bluetooth Version:                    V4.1+ EDR
Chip:                                           CSR8645
Operation range:                       10m
Wrap around cable length:      60.0cm
Weight:                                       0.65oz
Battery capacity:                       90mAh
Charging time:                           1-2 hours
Talking time:                              7-8 hours
Standby time:                             180 hours
Mic:                                             Yes

WHERE TO BUY / COST:

http://www.amazon.com/headphones-Cancelling-Sweatproof-Headphones-Hands-free/dp/B019TTSYOG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1456715581&sr=8-3&keywords=qy11

$99.00 new ( Often found below $50 USD )

OVERVIEW

Laura Jia from Vafee reached out to me to see if I wanted to conduct a review of the QCY QY11 Bluetooth IEM. I have a ton of experience with IEMs and the QY11 intrigued me because of the behind the ear ear-hooks and overall design aesthetics. My primary focus is always on acoustics, but I do compare it to other IEMs in this review. The QY11 aims at “sounding balanced in pitch from bass, alto, to treble.” They also deliver a “premium sound to propel you through a vigorous workout.” How does the QY11 meet these goals?

AESTHETICS

 

The QY11 is an exercise friendly IEM that comes with everything needed to get listening. The 8 different sized tips make finding the best seal easy and they are soft so no major discomfort should occur. I had to use two different sizes due to the soundstage shifting to the left if I left the default tips on. This was mainly due to the larger eartips bunching up in my ear canal and blocking the seal. Be sure to experiment with all of the eartips and find the best seal and look for a middle of the head soundstage.

Also provided is a very short USB to mico USB charging cable and a cleverly designed cable cinch. In-line is a 3-button remote and mic that allows for easy connecting to a Bluetooth device like an iPod or Andoid phone. For a Bluetooth IEM the QY11 is surprisingly comfortable and light. Other IEMs, like Brainwavz’s BLU-200 are difficult to fit and have larger driver nozzles adding to ear discomfort.

As you can see the nozzles are angled and have a small diameter. The driver body is round so no sharp edges push against the ear. Due to the angled nozzles and tip selection the QY11 is one of the best sealing IEMs I have tested. I ran my vacuum just to see if it could handle that level of noise and it blocked out 90% of it! If you want something to seal beyond reason the QY11 is the way to go.

At first glance the ear-hooks look large, but I found them very comfortable they tucked behind my ears easily. Comparing them to the ear-hooks of the BLU-200 from Brainwavz, which go inside the ear, reveals how secure and comfortable an external hook can be. They secured the QY11 so well that I could not find a sane way to knock them out of my ears. Quite simply the most secure fit you can find in an IEM without going custom. The external ear-hooks are wonderfully comfortable, the angled nozzles make the seal aggressive, and the light weight design allows them to be used for exercise without getting in the way of the workout.

One caveat is that after an hour or more the inside of my Tragus started to hurt because the body, although round, protrudes directly into it.

 ACOUSTICS

This is a Bluetooth only IEM so no amped testing was conducted. I used my iPod touch for the acoustic testing as it is my travel companion and exercise music source. I start with some standard hi-fi tracks to test the initial fidelity and then place it on random and start working out, moving around, and getting to know the sound.

 

I find compromises in the sound signature of every mid-level IEM I test. Usually they are much too bassy which is sad because a neutral IEM can be a delight and really shift the listener’s tastes to better recorded music. The QY11 is not super bassy nor is it going to be sibilant. I found it very polite and laid back meaning even at louder than normal listening levels all tracks I tested were easy to listen to and never became fatiguing, boomy, or bright.

Firing up Buddy and Julie Miller’s One Part, Two Part from their Written In Chalk album I started my soundstage test. This track has great instrument separation, a deep and spacious soundstage, along with being well recording. The QY11 rendered it nicely although simplifying the sense of space too much to be called hi-fi. To me this is more a matter of lack of treble extension and physical design more than just being bad in regards to soundstage. The music takes place in the middle of the sound field and remains a few rows back from the stage. This adds to the laid back sound. It reminds me of the Sennheiser HD600 at low volume levels in that it is so it can sound too polite at low volumes, but once the volume increases the dynamics come through much clearer.

I do feel that the treble extension could be better and with more energy at the top end of the spectrum the QY11 will approach a critical listening IEM, but let’s face it this is an exercise IEM. The treble clarity issue is easily discerned on Klaus-Peter Hahn’s Suite for Violoncello Solo No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue on the Bach: the Complete Cello Suites album. The lack of air and reverb heard from the strings and the instrument resonators yield subdued instrument synergy and fail to bring out the essential overtones hidden in this track. I still enjoyed this track with the QY11, it just made me realize that this track is not what it should using an exercise IEM like the QY11.

I know a lot of you are concerned about the bass response and I want to cover it in detail. Most IEMS in the $50-$100 price range have silly amounts of bass making it boomy, bloated, and very sloppy on the low end. The QY11 is more neutral than IEMs known for their heavy bass, but they do can sound bassy at times. Take The Gorillaz’s Kids With Guns track. The bass line is thick and vibrant and due to the excellent seal the QY11 can deliver fun bass. Rest assured the QY11 has the bass covered, but is not going to render your eardrums numb.

The range of the Bluetooth signal stretches to 10 meters, but does run into issues going through doors and thick walls. I put it just below the BLU-200 from Brainwavz in regards to range and would not fault it for not having the best range as it is excellent, but not quite as good as some other Bluetooth gear I have tested.

The QY11 comes with an in-line mic so I tested it making a few calls on my Android phone. Clarity is excellent and the mic’s location is close enough to the mouth to not sound distant or muddled. Voices sound up-front, clear, and articulate. The mic is well above average for an IEM in this price point.

COMPARISON

I pit the QY11 against the Brainwavz BLU-200 because they are in the same price point, are both Bluetooth IEMs, and sound clear and fun. Both are designed with exercise in mind, but I find the QY11 trumps the BLU-200 in stability due to the external ear-hooks. The BLU-200 has the edge for comfort because it has a much smaller driver body. The BLU-200 is very up-front sounding while the QY11 is more laid back especially at lower volumes. Listening to Arne Domnetrus’ Limehouse Blues from the Jazz at the Pawnshop reveals the BLU-200 too bassy leading to a blurred midrange and unpleasant amount of oomph on the low end. Oddly the QY11 sounds more up-front with this track, but the bass is much more in check. They both sound too bassy to be considered hi-fi, but I found myself preferring the QY11 with this track because it has a more even sound signature. The BLU-200 sounds tinny in comparison with a strange dip in the frequency response appearing in the upper midrange. The QY11 is more efficient and is louder at the same volume level which will provide you with more headroom. The cable on the QY11 is quieter while exercising.

For general listening, where you never know what track is coming up next, I easily give the edge to the QY11 because of its laid back nature. The bass although abundant with the BLU-200 is richer and more airy so if it is bass you are after stick with the BLU-200. Both IEMs are great and have their strengths, but it comes down to comfort and sound signature preference. The BLU-200 is much more comfortable because its driver body is smaller. The QY11 has less prominent bass and lends itself to a much more even sound signature.

CONCLUSION

If you are looking for a good-sounding IEM that will seals ridiculously well and refuse to move during exercise the QY11 is for you! The sound signature is laid back making it easy to listen to at higher volumes. Some users may find the driver bodies uncomfortable after an hour or two, but with a little adjusting my ears would were free from the discomfort. The Bluetooth range is good enough to not tie you down to your player and the lack of cable noise makes the QY11 get out of the way of a workout.

Headphone Impedance and Sensitivity

I answer a ton of posts regarding headphone sensitivity and impedance. I usually see questions like “What ohms do I need?” or “Will a 250 Ohm Beyerdynamic DT990 work on my phone?” These questions reveal how little the general public understands about specs and how to interpret them.

Let’s start with sensitivity because I feel it is the most important spec to look at in determining if a headphone will sound loud enough with  a piece of gear be it a phone or amp. The sensitivity is a measure of how much power or voltage is require to get the headphone to a specific loudness ( sound pressure level).

Here are a few examples:

Sennheiser’s HD650 Headphones ( from headphone.com )

• Sensitivity: 102 dB SPL/V

HiFiMAN HE-400i from their site

• Sensitivity: 93dB

Noontec’s ZORO II HD Spec from their site

• Sensitivity at 1 KHz 1mW 108dB

Do you see any issues here? How about there are three different ways companies represent sensitivity. Sennheiser does not actually list a sensitivity for their headphones on their site. I went to headphone.com and looked up what they measured. See how it is 102 dB SPL/V? Now see how HiFiMAN lists 93 dB with no SPL/V? Finally, see how Noontec records their sensitivity at 1KHz 1mW 108 dB? What the heck does all of this mean and why are there so many variations. The answer is that those providing the specs do not realize that the need to include more information than just the dB number. Noontec’s is the most thorough because it gives us the complete picture. They measured their sensitivity with a 1 kHz test tone and achieve 108 dB of loudness ( crazy loud ) at 1mW of power.

It is clear that the sensitivity for the HD650 found at headphone.com is of a different nature. We don’t know what frequency the sensitivity was measured at, but we do have a 102 dB SPL/V value. Assuming this was measured using a 1 kHz test done then the HD650 achieves 102 dB SPL ( sound pressure level ) at 1 V. Did you notice how one spec is per mW and the other is per V? Confused yet?

Without getting into the technical conversions between the two it is best to understand that the sensitivity of a headphone determines how difficult it is drive more than the impedance. So be sure to check that spec first. Almost all headphones that are 100 dB / mW or 100 dB / V will be easy to drive including with a portable player. Some phones struggle when driving headphones below 100 dB / mW / V so be sure to double check this value if you are purchasing a new headphone.

Here are a few useful tools for determining if a piece of gear can drive your headphones.

http://www.apexhifi.com/specs.html

The above link, provided by Apex audio gives a downloadable Excel spreadsheet for calculating amp powers . Enter the loudness you want ( SPL ) which is typically 100 dB along with the headphone impedance and sensitivity. The calculator will do the rest. There are two sections for doing these calculations. One is if the sensitivity is /mW and the other is if the sensitivity is /V.

http://www.digizoid.com/headphones-power.html

The link above from digizoid is a simplified version of the Apex calculators. In both cases I pay more attention to the voltage required as this is usually the limit for a device, but in some cases the current will be the limit and both can be double checked against the amp’s spec to ensure proper amping will be given to the headphone.

If you are looking at new headphones try to stay with a pair that has a sensitivity above 100 dB be it /mW or /V. Also try to stick with headphones that have an impedance between 20 Ohms and 120 Ohms as these will be easier to control and drive with an amplifier.

Headphones like the HiFiMAN HE-6, Sennheiser HD600/650/700/800/800s, and anything else that has a sensitivity below 100 dB with an impedance above 250 Ohms is going to be difficult to control and may not get loud enough with your gear. Anything else will be just fine.

HE-400i vs ATH-R70x

SPECS:

	HiFiMAN HE-400i	Audio Technica ATH-R70x
	400i Measurements	R70x Measurements
Driver Type	Single-Sided Planar	Dynamic
Driver Diameter	55mm	45mm
Freq. Response	20-35,000 Hz	5-40,000 Hz
Sensitivity	93 dB / mW @ 1kHz	99 dB / mW @ 1kHz
Impedance	35 Ohms	470 Ohms
Weight	370g	210g
Cable Length	1.5m	3m

OVERVIEW

After receiving requests to compare the HE-400i to the ATH-R70x I decided to write this article. Not only because of the requests, but because I too was curious how the two open headphones would compare as they share several features such as being very open, comfortable, both having large drivers, and both are tricky to drive. Let’s see what similarities they have and what ultimately sets them apart.

AESTHETICS

R70x ( left ) , HE-400i ( Right )

I always test aesthetics first. If a headphone does not look and feel well-made, remain comfortable for hours, or feels super cheap and poorly designed I set it aside because design aesthetics are important. Both headphones are clean-looking and well-designed with no major flaws. The HE-400i does have a short cable ( 1.5m ) which terminates into a 90 degree jack plug making it unruly at times. The R70x has an extremely long cable ( 3m ) which is great if you need the extra length, but at my desktop rig neither headphone has the ideal 2.0m cable length. The sheath on the 400i’s cable is stiff which causes it to bind and bundle. Both cables could use some improvements.

R70x ( Left ) , 400i ( RIght )

They share wonderfully comfortable earcups and both combine leatherette material with velour. The R70x has a 1cm thick velour earcup lined with leatherette while the 400i is mostly leatherette with a 1mm thick velour lining for sound filtering. The earcups on the 400i are deeper making it friendlier to larger ears. I would like to see the earcups on the R70x match the depth of the 400i for that reason. The stitching on both headphones is nicely executed, but both could use some reinforcement as the seams are so thin that I worry about the thread pulling over time. If you are in the market for either of these headphones it would be wise to pick up an extra set of earpads.

Both headphones with fully swiveled earcups

The metal gimbals and earcups feel sturdy although compared to the OPPO PM-1 both feel light weight and of cheap material. The amount of swivel on the 400i is far greater than the R70x because the 400i can swivel 90 degrees in either direction while the R70x is locked at 15 degrees in either direction. The lack of swivel on the R70x is in no way a hindrance during listening and both types of earcups contour nicely.

Showing the grills

The grills on the HE-400i are coated with a more robust coating. The R70x’s coating tends to scratch easily. The 400i’s earcups protrude passed the grills protecting them when they are lying around while the R70x will rest on the grills. The extreme open back of the R70x makes me worry that debris will build up in the driver area compared to the more protected HE-400i driver

Headbands

The clamping force on either headband is never too tight and both feel light and supply adequate support. There are no ridges to worry about on either headband so no pressure points will develop like the headbands on some AKG and Sennheiser models. Expect extreme comfort with both headbands and lighter pressure and clamping with the 400i.

R70x ( Left ) , 400i ( Right )

It’s hard to tell whether the metal headband support on the R70x is high quality material or cheaply made because it is so light, roughly coated, and cut to alleviate any extra weight. The spring force and coating on the 400i headband is stronger and tends not to scratch compared to the R70x headband. The 400i is almost completely devoid of plastic while the R70x has plastic at the hinges and wings of the headband. Both headphones should be placed on a stand when not in use due their delicate nature, but neither will disappoint in general build quality.

ACOUSTICS

These headphones are desktop headphones. They are both reference quality and should be driven by a proper amp. I conducted my listening test using the following gear.

Amp: HeadRoom BUDA in single-ended mode

This has been my reference amp for years as it is very neutral, can drive anything I have, and can be used for balanced headphones. HeadRoom’s gear is designed with sonics and performance in mind and all of their stuff measures very well.

DAC: Schiit Bifrost ( 4490 )

I have had a few DACs and the Bifrost 4490 offered by Schiit Audio is one that competes with the best of them. It has a relatively small footprint and competes very well against my Grace Design m903 that I typically use as a DAC.

Tracks

Finding the right test tracks is key to identifying problems with a headphone. If the track does not have airy bass, vocals, multiple instruments, and lacks treble then it is likely   going to mask issues that a headphone will have. These tracks cover a range of frequencies, genres, and include a variety of instrumentation.

Santa Fe by Beirut from the The Rip Tide album

An up-front sounding track that covers everything from crossover issues, vocals, drums, and overall music synergy. I use it to see if the midrange and treble is recessed on a headphone.

Limehouse Blues by Arne Domnérus from the Jazz at the Pawnshop album

Considered to be the best jazz recording of the 20^th century this track delivers excellent sonics by capturing every detail of the jazz environment. Be it bass, snare, clarinet or sax this gem has it all.

Pink Noise by Ayre Acoustics on the Irrational, But Efficacious album

 One of my favorite tracks used to test the general frequency response of a headphone. This track reveals the peaks and dips in the sound spectrum because it has equal energy at all audible frequencies. If something is out of place it will sound emphasized like extra bass, peaks in the treble, or if the headphone sounds biased to one side of the spectrum.

Reviews of the R70x and HE-400i can be consumed for their general sound signature and I will focus on the differences more than what they have in common. The immediate difference is how the R70x provides more air and sense of space to music. Instrument separation is more defined and the soundstage is less flat compared to the HE-400i. The 400i has a great soundstage, but due to some roll-off in the treble and slight lack of openness for the driver it sounds congested in comparison. I find the midrange of the R70x more up-front and the treble to be more spacious. This made me realize that it becomes fatiguing at average listening levels because the midrange is so up-front and the added treble extension over the 400i. If you’re sensitive to treble or hearing fatigue lean towards the 400i.

Santa Fe by Beirut from the The Rip Tide album reveals more treble detail with the R70x and there is more clarity in the vocals too. The 400i presents this track in a smoother and easier to listen to manor by reducing some of the midrange energy and trimming the bright nature of the R70x. Both headphones perform very well with this track and when the R70x is controlled on high gain on my amp sounds it sounds wonderfully detailed and bassier than expected.

Moving onto the Limehouse Blues by Arne Domnérus from the Jazz at the Pawnshop album and using the 400i it is clear I am missing some of the air that the R70x delivers. This track sounds overly neutral and lean without the R70x’s openness and added detail. The R70x introduces some tinniness to the upper midrange not heard with the 400i. I cannot help to find the R70x shies away from neutral here, but the instrument separation is superb. If you want a smoother sound the 400i is the way to go, but if you want to extract every detail in every tone the R70x is going to be the better choice.

Finally listening to Pink Noise by Ayre Acoustics on the Irrational, But Efficacious album shows the neutral sound signature of the 400i. Perhaps a touch of emphasis is heard in the lower midrange, but that is most likely an artifact of the linear and well-extended bass. I do find it strange how even the R70x sounds with this track be it a different nature than the 400i. While the 400i is linear the R70x is trebly and peaked in the midrange. The 400i produces more of a static sound and the R70x sounds like a rushing waterfall. It appears there is some bass emphasis to the R70x which does show up in the measurements as a broad peak from 30Hz – 100Hz.

CONCLUSION

Both the R70x from Audio Technica and HE-400i from HiFiMAN are competent headphones. They provide a fun sound signature without terrible bias in the bass or treble. The R70x delivers a clearer sense of space while the 400i remains smooth and easy on the ears. For how open the R70x is the bass is visceral and thumpy at times. The 400i relaxes the low end allowing for more attention to be made to the midrange and treble during bassy playback. The R70x would be my recommendation if it were less fatiguing and was less picky about amplification. Due to its 470 Ohm impedance a high gain amp is ideal and will add some oomph to the low end. On low gain my BUDA amp could not drive the R70x loud enough so getting the amplification right is key! On some tracks the bass of the R70x was distracting while the 400i made general listening easier due to its very linear frequency response.

If you are looking for a detail monster the R70x has you covered. If you are sensitive to treble and very up-front sounding headphones the 400i is going to be much easier on the ears and the  lack of detail is not going to be huge. The R70x just adds in some air and crispness that the 400i struggles with. Both are surprisingly great headphones and I would not hesitate to recommend either with the understanding of how to amp the R70x and the linearity of the 400i’s bass.

Brainwavz BLU-200 Bluetooth IEM

 SPECS:

http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/blu-200-bluetooth-4-0-aptx-earphones

Driver Type                         9.2mm Dynamic
Wireless Range                 10 meters
Cord Length                       N/A
Frequency Response       20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance                         16 Ohms
Sensitivity                          96dB / mW @ 1kHz

WHERE TO BUY / COST:

http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/blu-200-bluetooth-4-0-aptx-earphones

$54.50 new

OVERVIEW

After reviewing the Brainwavz BLU-100 I thought it natural to review the BLU-200 and do a direct comparison. Both utilize a dynamic driver, have a 10 meter wireless range, and come with a slew of tips for added comfort and for obtaining the best seal. “The BLU-200 is designed for mobility, tangle free listening, taking listening to an all new exciting level.”

AESTHETICS

Following the design of the BLU-100 the updated 200 alters both the sound signature and physical design. There is now a chamfered driver body and flange-style ear hooks. Also included are an in-line mic and 3-button remote, USB to USB mini charging cable, and carrying case. Everything you need to get listening.

One of my favorite things about the tips are the green inner cores. The added color sets it apart from other IEMs on the market. Brainwavz includes a set of Comply foam tips which I found to be absolutely necessary as the other tips did not supply an adequate seal. The tips are very easy to swap out and the ear hooks add extra support for on-the-move listeners. Three tip sizes should cover just about all listeners so be sure to try a few out to optimize the fit and seal as both will drastically alter the sound quality. You should hear the background noise go to almost complete silence if you have the proper seal.

The ear hooks made the fit more robust when I went running or lifting, but I did find the BLU-200 to stay put without them. Taking a closer look at the driver body you can see the new chamfer which adds comfort over the BLU-100 which has a cylindrical body.

200 on the top, 100 on bottom

The 200’s body  is also longer making it protrude outside the ear more than the 100. They look a little like the neck bolts of Frankenstein’s monster, but the extra space houses the batteries and Bluetooth electronics. I found the 10 meter range of the Bluetooth to be accurate and roamed around all rooms of my house with the player in the office and never lost connection. This makes the BLU-200 a great IEM for work because it strips away the cords and provides enough range to actually move around and work.

General 200 fit

ACOUSTICS

The BLU-200 keeps the slightly bassy, up-front midrange, and rolled off treble of most of their IEMs. It adds a more laid back sound compared to the sometimes bright BLU-100. For long listening sessions I found the BLU-200 easier on the ears and more even from bass to treble. The BLU-100 has more detail in the midrange so if you enjoy the upper frequencies more than bass go with those instead of the 200.

The sound signature of the 200 is fun and dynamic and kept me in beat while working out. The tinny nature of the 100 is gone and there is plenty of bass rumble in the 200 to weak up a basshead or two.

Tracks like Lindsay Stirling’s Elements ( Orchestral Version ) were fun, but due to the lack of detail in the treble made me want a brighter IEM for critical listening. Other tracks like Michael Jackson’s The Girl Is Mine from The Essential Michael Jackson album were punchy on the low end, soft throughout as to not cause fatigue or sibilance, and up-front enough to be able to really groove to the vocals and guitar. The laid back sound of the BLU-200 makes it very listenable and I think if there are listeners out there sensitive to treble this IEM is an excellent choice.

The soundstage is excellent for lacking some treble. Neal Davis’ track next to You from the Rendezvous album reveals excellent instrument separation and space. Sure the 200 is not going to move all music outside of your head, but if the track adds space the 200 will provide an adequate soundstage and not drown out the special details with bass.

As with all IEMs that come with an in-line mic I ran the 200 through the paces. For this I moved the cables to the front rather than behind my back. This moves the mic much closer to the mouth for added clarity. The mic is clear and up-front sounding without being harsh or too distant and muddy. It is one of the best mics I have tested in any IEM perhaps only bested by the Telos Acoustics Fujisan which is $250. If you need a mic the BLU-200 has you covered!

CONCLUSION

Finding a great exercise IEM is difficult because of the needs of an extra secure fit, awesome seal, and dynamic enough sound signature to get you moving. The BLU-200 by Brainwavz brings excellence into this market without sacrificing build quality or sound clarity. With its ease to connect via Bluetooth, its 10 meter wireless range, and up-front sound signature the 200 is one of the most listener friendly wireless IEMs I have reviewed. I do think that achieving an excellent seal is critical in making the BLU-200 sounds its best so extra time should be taken finding the correct tips. The soft-natured sound signature makes it easy on the ears for hours on end and due to its lack of sibilance and brightness there are no worries about treble fatigue.

The Ultimate Test Track

So there are a ton of tracks out there that were very well mastered. Here is a brief list.

Sade – [Diamond Life CD1 #01] Smooth Operator
Imogen Heap – [Sparks (Deluxe Version) CD1 #28] Propeller Seeds (Instrumental)
The Spanish Guitar Music Colección – [Spanish Guitar Music CD1 #27] Vivaldi Guitar and Lute
Yiruma – [First Love (Yiruma Piano Collection) CD1 #04] River Flows In You
The Beach Boys – [Sounds of Summer – The Very Best of The Beach Boys CD1 #01] California Girls
Bella Sonus – [Enamoured CD1 #06] Rincón de España
Maroon 5 – [It Won’t Be Soon Before Long CD1 #07] Can’t Stop
Jesse Cook – [Frontiers CD1 #06] Havana
Senti Toy – [How Many Stories Do You Read On My Face CD1 #01] How Many Stories Do You Read On My Face?
Salvatore Accardo; Charles Dutoit: London Philharmonic Orchestra – [Paganini: Violin Concertos #1 & 2 [Disc 1] CD1 #03] Paganini: Violin Concerto #1 In D, Op. 6 – 3. Rondo. Allegro Spirituoso
Chet Baker – [The Heather On the Hill CD1 #07] Thank Heaven for Little Girl
Chris Jones – [Moonstruck CD1 #01] Long After You’re Gone
Mahoroba – [Space Fly, Vol. 1 – A Magic Chill Trip (Presented By Frank Borell) CD1 #06] Unearthly
Lindsey Stirling – [Lindsey Stirling CD1 #13] Elements (Orchestral Version)

Each track has its place in my test collection. They are all enjoyable and test for particular things regarding a headphone or a piece of gear like a headphone.

A good friend of mine, whom I often trade gear and tracks with, posed the following question. “If you had to choose only one track what would it be.” I soon replied Ayre Acoustic’s Pink Noise track from the Irrational, But Efficacious album with the caveat that it would be just for testing and not enjoyment. That got me thinking. What one musical piece would I choose? I mean how does one narrow it down from a hand-selected list, gathered over 5 years, of awesome recordings. If the recording does not have the wow factor it does not make it into the list. Well, the answer for now, is Arne Domnérus’ Limehouse Blues from the Jazz at the Pawnshop album.

The reasons I choose this track are because it has enough detail in it to really narrow down the faults of an audio system. If the brush, bass guitar, snare, and other instruments do not sound like they do live then there is something fishy going on with the gear. The song has enough treble to siphon out bright sounding headphones, the clarity is excellent making finding noise or distortion much easier, and the sense of space at louder than normal volumes is outstanding. There are even a few hidden details in it that might be obscured by poorly designed gear. Take the very beginning. You can hear someone say something in German or Swedish. Little hidden details like this are great finds especially considering the rest of the track is so strong.

This recording in particular is consider to be one of the greatest jazz recordings ever!

Got some tech now I need some music

If you have been following my posts you are most likely ready for some music suggestions rather than gear. I feel ya’!

Here are my top 5 songs as of late in no particular order.

1.)  Sade’s ( pronounced Sha-day ) Smooth Operator from the Diamond Life album

This track is probably my favorite test track because it can sound really good with a dynamic and punchy system. It has all the instrumentation I need to get the feel of a headphone and its sound quality

2.)  Chet Bakers’ Thank Heaven for Little Girl from The Heather On The Hill album

This one is slow and relaxing. It covers all of the standard jazz instrumentation from the airing blowing through the sax to the brush strokes on the drums.

3.)  Chris Jones’ Moonstruck from the Long After You’re Gone album

Take one listen and you will know why this track is in my top 5. The clarity of the vocals, bass, and metallic guitar strings hardly get better than this.

4.)  Realize by Karsh Kale from their Longing album

This is classic track that I have had forever. The soundstage is superb and the deep rumble in the bass and the drums really make this track shine.

5.)  Spanish Audiophile Guitar playing Meet You in Heaven from their self-titled album

I love this track. Right away you hear the up-front sound of the guitar and the rest of the instrumentation supports it. This is a great track to relax to.