Here is what MMag05 told me when comparing UP vs Volt on a few songs on HiFiGuides:*
"From the the beginning of the song the female vocal seem off on the Volt. As if it’s to thick. Xenn keeps it warm but, seems more natural and has slight more forward presence and air. The low drone subbass in the beginning at around 0:40 has more presence on Volt but, almost seems to linger to long between the slight bass frequency transitions. At 1:45 right after the lyric, “So Breathe in The Moment” when the big drop occurs is quite different on the two. The higher frequencies come through more energetic on the Volt. Just seemed like the drivers struggled more to differentiate layers. Volts bass seemed to have more punch but, lacked speed and depth when the track got busy. Up seems to handle the longer drops with more speed, depth, control and low end rumble. Up also seemed more in control of the drivers with better seperation. If pass punch and treble energy are all that your after Volt would be the winner. If better seperation of non bass parts, when the track is busy, and tighter bass with more low end rumble the UP. For this track between what I feel is more low end rumble, better control of the busier bass drops and closer to natural vocals my vote is for the UP."
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Grabbitz - Male vocal seems thinner on the UP in the lower register of it. Volt gives it more weight but, neither seem unnatural. Slightly more forward on the UP. The beginning of the song has a constant hihat, or whatever it is, that’s almost equally noticable on both for the first 3ish seconds. I think it is more crisp on the UP though. When the bass starts its harder to hear on Volt. I think this is a matter of the Volt graphing lower here or the UP has less lower to midbass therefore the hihat comes through more. UP seems to be more balance. Both sets are technical enough to handle the the slower longer decaying bass on this song equally.
At lower volumes though Volt has more bass presence. Here the hihat still is able to pull through. I’d go Volt for low to mid volume. When its more higher volumes Volt sort of looses the hihat. Up seems to need a little more volume to shine. Here it up opens up more with bass and the berryllium really slams more in line with Volt while keeping the hihat audible. I’m going to give this song a tie as it’s totally dependant on the volume you listen at."
"On to your last track. It’s a quicker summary. Volt has some thick slapping midbass on the bass guitar. To the point that it amost lacks any texture. It almost sounds more like an electronic bass drop than a guitar pull. UP my not have as thick bass but, it sounds more natural and with good texture and harmonics. Electric guitars are more prominent on Volt in their upper energy and have a good bite to them. UP has them recessed a bit and they lack the bit of energy that some may except. I’ll cover the vocals in my next reply to, your question 5, as it kind of sums it up for both sets. For this set I’m going either way. I’m biased to the UP because I like less guitar energy and a good controlled textured bass guitar. However, if you prefer it the other way around I could see leaning that way."
Which set would you say has the edge when it comes to head-enveloping soundstage and imaging?"Hard call because neither really excel at either. I’d say Volt has a wider soundstage but, it seems more oval. UPs stage is smaller but, seems to more circle. Imaging depends on the song I’d say. Slight edge would go to the Volt if it’s not a bass heavy song. On bass heavy songs though it seems that imaging isn’t great as it harder to make out over the bass. The lower more controlled bass of the UP seems to allow better pinpointing probably because the other frequencies are more aubile in the mix."
If there’s any special sauce in any of the sets, what would that be? For example, the MEST MK2 has otherworldly imaging and separation as its party trick."The UP. It’s like if a basshead just wanted the hardest liquor to drown in. Then refined their taste to fine wine. It’s just got a beautiful texture and fast response for bass guitars. While still maintaining a good amount of slam and depth for electronic bass drops. It’s the only IEM set I have that does so I’m inclined to believe it’s the berryllium."
Which set has more of a “solid” tone where you can feel the voice have actual tangible substance?
Going to go with VOLT even though it’s not my flavor. Seems to make female vocals seem off for me. I’ll take slightly thinner male vocals vs overally warm female vocals. UP seems to provide a better balance between male and female vocals but wouldn’t have the solid tone. I think this part of Penons house sound as even the serial gave me somewhat of the same vibe.
The Volt does have stronger EST presence on songs that allow them to shine. I biased here but, I think the UP overall tuning is more coherent with the EST implementation. This is mainly my idea of how I’ve come to expect an EST to sound not simply because I prefer the UP overall.
Funny you mention Volt only being two BA and UP four. I went in this blind, forgetting about that, and didn’t look at any stats. Seems to reinforce above when I mentioned on busier parts Volt seemed like the drivers struggled more to differentiate layers.