Think it's safe to say someone from another "epoch" wouldn't have internet access

Yeah not a lot of fun factor in the Hexa.

If it helps I have both the Hexa and Aria and can compare if you know what Arias sound like. Hexas are much leaner, this can either mean cleaner or thinner depending on your tastes. (For me it is a bit thin) More coherent than the Arias but have very little bass, though what it does have is well controlled. I would put them slightly ahead in terms of resolution but I find the Arias have a much fuller and more exciting sound with a satisfying bass slam that works well with all genres. The midrange can sound wonky but only if you switch back and forth between pairs a lot. Also the Hexa's nozzles are massive and a lot of 3rd party tips just wont fit lol. The tips they have are fine though.

Personally I would take the Aria, they just have more fun factor which is what I think should be the main priority at that price range. Hexas are actually a lot better for online gaming though particularly shooters because a lot of bass with gunfire makes it hard to hear anything else.

I missed this but thank you, very insightful.

That could be it. My experience comes from having quite a few ~$100 iems that I've listened to for a while and just getting the IE600. Makes sense that the perception of detail would be a side effect of other things.

I've considered that and I think it definitely does happen, but I have also found myself not paying attention to music on new gear and doing something else then suddenly I'll prick up at things very distinct that are new to me. On songs I've heard 100 times.

I feel a similar way when people describe drinks as having "body" lol. I'm sure it's a real thing but I don't know if everyone is describing the same thing

Thanks for the, ahem, detailed answers

Yeah that's what I've heard particularly in the upper frequencies. Thanks

That's seems like a sensible way to think of it actually. I definitely have had instances with my new iems where I'm not paying attention to the music but I'll suddenly prick up at something I'd never heard before. And they are just way clearer than my old ones which goes a long way.

Do you think that means you can just buy one really good pair and EQ it to the FR of other headphones and it will sound exactly the same?

Thanks, added question, what other things should I be listening for other than FR (assuming a decent enough set can just be EQ'ed to your liking)?

Fair enough, it is a term I hear reviewers like Crin and Resolve use often so I do wonder what they're referring to

It's his sound signature