Sets I've used so far would be the: Tea PRO, Hype 4, Arete, S12 2024, 61T, Supermix 4, Zero:RED, etc.
Eartips used: Final Audio Type E (violet), Penon Liquer Orange and Black
Sources used: FiiO K11 and Topping E1X2 OTG
Track impressions:
Hallelujah - Pentatonix: Great separation of everyone's vocals with a very slight emphasis towards the barry voices. Sibilance can be apparent at high volume.
Dr. Jazz - Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Clarinet tonality came off as a *little* lean but I'm really nitpicking here. I use this song to test since I've played clarinet most of my life. The brass instruments sound great on this track and not hot. **300 mesh helps with that lean to correct it**
**tip** Using a 300 mesh filter from the SIMGOT kit and making sure you place it over all 4 crossovers will help smooth out that 4-5k and 14k region. I recommend doing this if you find sibiliance and high hats to be a bit too much. Helps to scale at higher volumes and mitigate fatigue. Shoutout Jay for the tip.
Night - Ludovico Einaudi: Very immersive experience, I love this track on the TOP more than the Tea PRO and Hype 4. The sonion BAs do their job wonderfully.
All in all I am very impressed with it and I like the faceplate.
I will say I like the premium feeling of the build on the Tea PRO a little more but that's the real only advantage. I'd say the build quality is matched to the Hype 4's (which is good imo).
Is it worth the extra cost? I would say its subjective on how much you like that V-shape tuning. Though I will say its marginally better overall than the Tea PRO and Hype 4 with tonality and technicality.
Depth and Verticality perception in shooters can be argued to be marginally better than the Tea PRO but they are very very close. I would put them on the same tier still.
This is the best set I have owned so far.
Considering pairing it with the: XINHS H14 8-core Jade Green+Black Five Element cable down the road but not sure yet.
Nozzle Lip measured at 6.2mm for my unit.
Edit December 31: Still working fine. Recently got the R2R version of the K11. My new favorite source to pair with the TOP. Helps smooth the treble/sibilance out and adds a little more warmth which is my preference.