My VSD3S needs replacing

Merlin5

Merlin5

Merlin5

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Bah. Well my non detachable VSD3S lasted me a year and 3 months but unfortunately the left earbud has lost connection so I'll have to replace. :(

Btw, I've been using some earbud tips that Cookeh kindly sent me a while back, and they're very nice. :)

I believe the new VSD3S has a more forward sound which might be interesting, bu I'm not keen on the updated 90 degree angled jack. Mine has the original straight jack which connects to my phone without having to remove the case.

Before I go ahead and order another pair of vsonics, I'd like to consider other IEMs for a similar price between £20 and £40, with a straight jack. What is recommended that sound as good? Xiaomi Pistons? And if so, which one as there seems to be several versions. Soundmagic E10? Anything else?
 
The E10 has a terrible soundstage, muddy sound with poor clarity. Piston 3s are your best bet from the Xiaomi range. Personally I would buy the DUNU DN-12 "Tridents" at ~£20, or stretch the budget a little bit and look at the Fidue A63s.

Can have a browse through *[/COLOR]*******s-guide/]here if you like.

EDIT: Seriously?! Starring out buyers?! Great job OcUK, great job... Google theheadphonelist buyers guide...
 
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Thanks guys.

poole, nice link, and some very interesting reviews of many asian brand I've not heard of. The Tingker TK200 seems very good, but 20 to 40 days delivery from ali express might be a bit too long for me.

Cookeh, I'll avoid the E10s then. Using the VSD3S as my benchmark (I like everything about the sound, bass and soundstage) would you be able to say if
one or t'other of the Dunu D-12 or Fidue A63 matches or even surpasses it?

Regarding the Piston 3, according to pooley's link, https://audiobudget.com/product.php?brand=Xiaomi&id=Hybrid

The Hybrid is better than the Piston 3, at least, in the bass department.
 
I swear I replied to this last night... Meh. I would not say that either the DN-12 or the A63 surpass the VSD3, the A63 perhaps matches it but is a slightly different sound signature - being slightly more neutral and with a touch more clarity.

I would also not say the Pistons are similar to the VSD3s - "similar" is a dangerous word. Some say that the Piston 1 was similar to the GR07, which people say is similar to the Dunu Titans, which some would say are similar to the Aurisonic Rockets - and then you're at a place where a $20 IEM is "similar" to the $230 IEM.

It is also worth noting that on several large review sites, the DN-12 replaced the Piston 2's as the sub-$50 "warm" IEMs. The Piston 3 is also not a direct replacement for Piston 2, as it has a different sound signature (slightly different also the VSD3s) - with a slightly tighter bass and more clarity. From what I've read the Pistons have slightly less soundstage, less bass and midrange than the VSD3s, giving them a lighter sound overall.

With all East Asian headphone manufacturers, be sure to only buy direct from the company or from any official resellers - it is the only way to ensure that you aren't getting fakes and your warranty is honoured.

The Piston's are sublime throwaway headphones - headphone that you don't care if they get damaged or don't mind replacing frequently (great say for mtbing, skiing, running etc) but they don't have the best build quality, and whilst the ergonomics have been improved with each iteration they are still a bit hit and miss (great for some, awful for others) and due to their design wearing them over-ear can be tricky depending on how your ear is shaped and its size.

Personally, I'd go for either the VSD3's again, or the A63s if I wanted to retain a similar sound and performance.
 
Cookeh said:
I swear I replied to this last night... Meh. I would not say that either the DN-12 or the A63 surpass the VSD3, the A63 perhaps matches it but is a slightly different sound signature - being slightly more neutral and with a touch more clarity.

I would also not say the Pistons are similar to the VSD3s - "similar" is a dangerous word. Some say that the Piston 1 was similar to the GR07, which people say is similar to the Dunu Titans, which some would say are similar to the Aurisonic Rockets - and then you're at a place where a $20 IEM is "similar" to the $230 IEM.

It is also worth noting that on several large review sites, the DN-12 replaced the Piston 2's as the sub-$50 "warm" IEMs. The Piston 3 is also not a direct replacement for Piston 2, as it has a different sound signature (slightly different also the VSD3s) - with a slightly tighter bass and more clarity. From what I've read the Pistons have slightly less soundstage, less bass and midrange than the VSD3s, giving them a lighter sound overall.

With all East Asian headphone manufacturers, be sure to only buy direct from the company or from any official resellers - it is the only way to ensure that you aren't getting fakes and your warranty is honoured.

The Piston's are sublime throwaway headphones - headphone that you don't care if they get damaged or don't mind replacing frequently (great say for mtbing, skiing, running etc) but they don't have the best build quality, and whilst the ergonomics have been improved with each iteration they are still a bit hit and miss (great for some, awful for others) and due to their design wearing them over-ear can be tricky depending on how your ear is shaped and its size.

Personally, I'd go for either the VSD3's again, or the A63s if I wanted to retain a similar sound and performance.
Click to expand...

Awesome reply as always mate, thanks. :) Yeah, it does sound like the VSD3S is still the one I need. I just wish they hadn't changed to a right angle connector but I guess I can live with it.

I can't see where to buy the Fidue A63 anyway. LMUE doesn't seem to have that particular model. But I noticed they have the Fidue A65. I'll do some research on it to see what reviews are like.

Edit: well.the frequency range is nowhere as good as the vsonic. The A65 is 16hz to 22000hz but the VS3DS is 5 to 31500hz. That settles it then. I'll order the blue & red VSD3S from LMUE.
 
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except you won't be able to hear anything outside of 20Hz - 20kHz, even with perfect hearing, so anything else is advertising blurb.

The A63 has been discontinued and replaced by the better A65, which is very highly regarded in the sub £50 price range and is available from the rain forest mob for a penny under fifty squids.
 
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Yeah rids, I saw that on the rainforest earlier. But is it likely to be genuine? If so, it would certainly mean receiving them quicker than buying from singapore.

But the VSD3S works out cheaper at £35.

Also Cookeh says the A63 probably matches the VSD3S and from what I've read, the A65 only has cosmetic differences. I don't know if it's sonically any better.
 
It's the jungle site themselves selling them, not another seller, but if you did want to consider them and are worried about the possibility of fakes, HifiHeadphones also have the A65 for £50.
 
The A65s are genuine Fidue, you mostly get copies when buying from Ali Express and the like, though there are some, notably the Pistons, that even managed to have fakes selling on the rain forest.

They altered the housing from the A63 and removed the sharp edges, which were causing pain in some people's ears.

The A65 is a somewhat warm sounding IEM with forward mids, so vocals are rich and smooth. It's a shame you can't move up a division and get the Fidue A73, they are rather stunning for £99.
 
Thanks rids. Well the thing is, I prefer to buy cheaper for two reasons. The sound on the £35 VSD3S is as good as I need and better than I ever expected from any IEM under £100.

The other thing is, I imagine that even on a £99 pair of IEMs, the jack, or the left and right ear connectors can fail as easily as mine did. So spending £35 on a pair doesn't feel like much of a big deal if I have to throw them a year or so later.
 
Cookeh said:
I swear I replied to this last night... Meh. I would not say that either the DN-12 or the A63 surpass the VSD3, the A63 perhaps matches it but is a slightly different sound signature - being slightly more neutral and with a touch more clarity.

I would also not say the Pistons are similar to the VSD3s - "similar" is a dangerous word. Some say that the Piston 1 was similar to the GR07, which people say is similar to the Dunu Titans, which some would say are similar to the Aurisonic Rockets - and then you're at a place where a $20 IEM is "similar" to the $230 IEM.

It is also worth noting that on several large review sites, the DN-12 replaced the Piston 2's as the sub-$50 "warm" IEMs. The Piston 3 is also not a direct replacement for Piston 2, as it has a different sound signature (slightly different also the VSD3s) - with a slightly tighter bass and more clarity. From what I've read the Pistons have slightly less soundstage, less bass and midrange than the VSD3s, giving them a lighter sound overall.

With all East Asian headphone manufacturers, be sure to only buy direct from the company or from any official resellers - it is the only way to ensure that you aren't getting fakes and your warranty is honoured.

The Piston's are sublime throwaway headphones - headphone that you don't care if they get damaged or don't mind replacing frequently (great say for mtbing, skiing, running etc) but they don't have the best build quality, and whilst the ergonomics have been improved with each iteration they are still a bit hit and miss (great for some, awful for others) and due to their design wearing them over-ear can be tricky depending on how your ear is shaped and its size.

Personally, I'd go for either the VSD3's again, or the A63s if I wanted to retain a similar sound and performance.
Click to expand...

yes similar is fun :D

AKG K612 is similar to the HD800 :D
 
I ordered the VSD3S with a 5% discount code listed on the LMUE site for $64 SD, then was reminded about Black Friday so managed to get a refund from LMUE before it was shipped. I'll order again on Friday. I wonder how much it'll come down to. Or perhaps it's an item they may or may not reduce.
 
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