They both sound good. 500LM sounds more technical. 500LM has tuning filters as well, easier to customize. I might get the P1Max ll when it goes on sale after hearing this comparison. Thanks Glenn Gane Audio.
To me Nova seems a clear winner. Let me explain why..... SM4 is great by the way, has lots of air and lots of details in the vocals and upper treble. This is great but for long listening hours this isn't great!! This would fatigue. SM4 is not for all music genres go to IEM its catered to specific listener and the type of music/tracks. On the other hand Nova is tamed well and behaves well. If SM 4 is a tiger with rough coat. Then Nova is a bear with slightly smooth coat. I am not losing anything with Nova good bass balanced with good to decent treble details. Marriage made in heaven basically. 😄 Edit: If you guys listen to the "Middle Eastern" track, this is a great example. SM4 produces excellent details but its sharp it peaks so badly and also there is no enough bass thump or kick to compensate the peak or harshness. Where the Nova maintain the details decently well with clean bass to compensate.
Origin is pretty safe irl. It's a good set, but a bit overpriced....it should be $200-220. I prefer the dunu falcon ultra to it, but the origin is slightly more resolving.
Wow, major bass bleed into the lower mids on the Klanar but then the mids are almot non-existent. Too murky and bloated to my ears! Easy win for the Max II.
The lower mid punch on the Hype 2 is nice and the slightly brighter upper mids on the Da Vinci have them trading tilted blows. I'd pick the Da Vinci by a hair and I mean a hair. Both are solid however the slight dip on the Hype 2's smear the detail just a bit for me. Thanks again for another great comp.
That upper mid scoop and highs in the Quintet will allow louder listening and thump but the details just go bye bye. I need more detail for work and play. Thanks for the comp.
I have generally liked the Supermix when compared to most IEMs here but it really is ouclassed by the Max II. The Max is richer, more detailed, and warmer than the Supermix without losing its technicalities - at least on most of the demos here. But then we are comparing a planar to a non-planar hybrid so that could be a factor. My only complaint with the Max II, as I’ve stated before, is that 8k peak that really emphasizes sibilance.
I think the Prestige LTD is a bit bright compared to the Mammoth in this recording cause the second one it a bit to flat and to balanced. I think a Monarch II would be a better comparison with a Mammoth cause it is more balanced than the Prestige LTD. I listen to both the Monarch and Prestige LTD and must say that bot IEMs are amazing in its way and modulation. Love both in different music selection... jazz/blues vs classical. In this case i still prefer the Prestige LTD by far.