I found CypherLab’s Duet to deliver the deepest sound on the ProPhile 8. The Duet is dead silent, detailed, musical and precise. The spaciousness is just right and this simply is a stunning amp that makes the PP8 sounds its best. IT actually is my favorite pairing. Straight out of my good old Samsung S4 the ProPhile 8 sounds a little darker with some added bass. On the S4 the mids for some reason are more recessed and you mostly get a v shaped kind of sound which isn’t how the PP8 sounds. I’m not a fan of this pairing. From my wife’s Iphone 6S you also get a more bloomy and airy sound where bass isn’t the tightest. The mids are better than on the S4 but all-in-all I wouldn’t recommend either for the PP8.
Comparisons
First of all the bad news: I have a lot more custom inears than I have universals and I don’t own any of the so called reference universals such as the Andromeda, Oriolus, Zeus and Katana. I do however own a couple of custom 8-drivers such as the 8.2, Legend R and Jomo Samba. And then there’s the SD4.
The Earwerkz Legend R, now Empire Ears, was the first eight-driver in my collection and it has a bigger body in bass and mids. It doesn’t have the detail level and the clarity/cleanness and speed of the ProPhile 8. The Legend R sounds more concentrated with a bigger/bolder sound. Treble isn’t as extended and overall the PP8 is a lot faster and tighter. The “old” Legend R isn’t bad at all, it’s just slower, less detailed and more intimate. It’s a fun sounding monitor that is excellent for metal and dance music, but it can hardly be called a reference neutral tuned monitor like InEar ProPhile 8.
In regards to the recently reviewed CustomArt 8.2, the PP8 is a lot clearer and less intimate. The bass and mid body of the 8.2 is bigger and it isn’t as fast and clean sounding as the PP8. It’s not that the 8.2 is bad, it’s just that the PP8 is ultra-clear and precise. The 8.2 sounds richer (especially the mids) and the layering and depth are a few levels up compared to the PP8.
The ProPhile8 is, just like the Jomo Samba is very detailed, clean and precise. They both have good speed, clarity and detail. With the gain turned off the PP8 has an even flatter tuning than the Samba. With the gain turned on, both monitors are closer to each other but I find Samba’s bass to reach lower and tighter with more rumble. Same goes for the treble section which is further extended and more detailed/energetic in the Samba. Depth and layering just like with the 8.2, are better in the Samba, compared to the PP8. The PP8 is a great monitor though and it offers a flatter, neutral sound, which is faster and tighter than the Samba.
Even though the PP8 isn’t part of the StageDiver series, you immediately recognize the InEar house sound. The StageDiver SD4 has looser bass, is more intimate and less airy and detailed. It has bigger bodied bass and mids and treble is less extended. The PP8 sounds flatter, clearer, faster and more energetic, precise. The SD4 is still a nice universal but compared to the PP8 it is a few miles behind. At the same time is does show better layering and it has more rumble down low. The PP8 has a more coherent and neutral sound compared to the more fun sounding SD4. Once you’re used to the PP8, going back to the SD4 will be tough, it was like that for me anyway.
Conclusion
The InEar ProPhile 8 is a great sounding monitor. With its flat, neutral tuning it manages to show you all the details in the music without boosting anything at all. Clarity, precision and speed are key. While the sound stage width is good, it could have been a little deeper with better layering. With its neutral and coherent tuning from bass to treble, the ProPhile 8 doesn’t sound dry or boring and it even – with the switched turned off –sounds musical and engaging.
If you’re looking for a big bodied and thick warmer sounding monitor you should stay away from the ProPhile 8. If you want a neutral tuned universal IEM that almost is a custom and which sounds musical on top of that, you better start saving up for the ProPhile 8. I think Inear has managed to check off a lot of boxes with their latest creation and I am sure the sales numbers will prove it. It certainly has Headfonia’s approval and it together with the oBravo EAMT-1A is the best universal IEM of the year for me, it’s that simple.
Of course there is a dedicated thread on Head-Fi with lots more information on the ProPhile 8, you can find that it here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/820797/new-inear-prophile-8 .
The InEar Prohile 8 is priced ad at ± €1300 and that isn’t cheap but you get a well-made IEM with great comfort, eight drivers, two switches and one of the most musical neutral sound signatures I’ve heard in return.
If there is interest and I find the time I will try several of my aftermarket cables, both SE as balanced with the ProPhile 8 and write a dedicated article about it.
Michael
Can you elaborate on your comment regarding cables? I understand that InEar recommends users keep the stock cable but I would like a higher end cable to go with mine. I feel dynamics can always be improved and in this case the actual look and feel of this cable needs attention as well. By stating that “a group of people might be disappointed” are you suggesting it’s best to stick with the stock cable? If not, recommendations would be appreciated. I’m pleased with the tone but always look for improved dynamics.