TECHNICAL COMMENTS and SOURCES
The InEarz Nirvana is not your razor sharp, reference tuned, open sounding monitor. When I evaluate it in that perspective, I find it very coherent and consistent. The integrity and the naturalness in its sound provides you a very realistic presentation. Overall resolution is very good but the mids are not super resolving, and that is a choice they made I suppose.
The separation and stereo imaging is very strong but the parts of the spectrum are not extremely separated from each other. And that, I think, is the very thing that generates an integrated, cohesive sound. Sound stage on the other hand is also very good in terms of depth. It’s not very wide but since the mids are not much in your face, it doesn’t give you a congested staging. Actually the staging also feels like the Spiral SE-5 Ref.
Source-wise I recommend bright or neutral sources to match with the InEarz Nirvana, as you maybe have guessed up to this point. I actually got the best presentation with the Cayin N5II, as it’s a little bright in tone and has a neutral trait. Yet it isn’t the best DAP I have, the Sony WM1A supplies a good sound stage, controlled bass response and overall neutral tuning with a hint of warmth. The HiBy Music R6 wasn’t the best match with it’s warm, bassy character and less treble definition. It’s also quite enjoyable with the Sony ZX2 as well, with a great sound stage and good treble, but the N5II and the WM1A match better.
InEarz Nirvana
CABLES
I tried some aftermarket cables with the InEarz Nirvana, but to my surprise, the best and the most integrated sound is with the stock cable. All the other cables add something to the sound but take away another as a result.
Silver cables (PlusSound and one manufacturer that I can’t say) are not the best, despite adding more openness and sparkle to the treble. That way the mids sound even more distant and that’s not a balanced sound. Copper cables on the other hand (PW No.5 and EA Ares II), give even more body but that feels overdone in the end. So I’m sticking to the stock cable for now but I assume some SPC aftermarket cables would be a good match.
CONCLUSION
The priority for me in this hobby has always been tonality and musicality combined and for that reason I absolutely love the InEarz Nirvana. It has a great bass response for a BA monitor, good tonality and smoothness and good extending treble with a nice holographic sound stage. With a good source match, it can really shine and you can have great listening sessions with it.
It sounds like the original Noble K10, JH Angie and Spiral SE-5. Those IEMs are also exceptional in terms of naturalness and smooth presentation. They’re all realistic in tuning and they all have good imaging capabilities, together with great timbre.
My only small complaint are the slightly laid back mids here (vocals especially) but overall the Nirvana gives you a very realistic and natural sound, which is not easy to find everywhere. And of course you can use the EQ feature of many DAPs to make those mids just a little more elevated. It makes the overall sound of Nirvana even better to me.
This may be my first CIEM experience, but I can easily say the InEarz family is truly great for making custom monitors. Not to mention their fast & good communication and helpful attitude.
Excellent.
