Starting with the in-house RIE-1000 from Ranko, in Korean pop music like "IVE-LOVE DIVE," the REA-680 showcases strong and impactful low frequencies with a sense of depth and richness. Its structure prevents blending into other frequency ranges, providing a black, deep background that enhances a forward flow of sound. This performance style, enhancing transient articulation, creates appealing ripples in orchestral tracks. The musical notes envelop within a spherical soundstage, offering delicate and dynamically vivid sound, with fluid transitions and richly detailed midrange tones. This differs significantly from the soft and velvety style of Beam 3+.

For Mandarin pop music like "I Miss You" by Oaeen, if you seek relaxation in vocals with fuller breath and closer positioning in the soundstage, the Beam 3+ is preferable. It excels in breathy vocals and intimate details, while the REA-680 creates a sense of vacuum in the center, where the vocals pass through like twinkling stars, presenting slightly thicker vocals with an echo slightly further back, producing distinct vocal harmonics. The choice between these options depends on personal preferences and headphone compatibility.

Pairing the warm and intimate BD Earphone 8 Unit with the REA-680 using a 4.4mm port enhances the fullness and proximity of vocals, differing slightly from the Beam 3+, which may feel too close. Opening up the soundstage adds more air to the mix, promoting warmth and solidity, making the sound more warm and rich. The dynamic nature of sound interaction can produce vastly different results when paired with headphones of varying tonalities.

Transitioning to the Acoustune HS1697 Ti, the original cable included with this brand is often criticized for its harsh vocals and sibilance. After trying many different cables that couldn't solve the problem, it was quite surprising that pairing it with the "REA-680" improved the listening experience significantly, reducing the harshness (Ado-Usseewa & Taeyeon-Weekend). Further listening to classical music "Interesting" & "Wang Ziyu - The Waking of Insects" suggests that it complements the sound signature, eliminating the thinness, and directly addressing the previous shortcomings. Although I used to say that changing cables for HS1697 Ti is a quick fix, I didn't realize that I just hadn't found the right cable. It may be necessary to redefine the stock cable. Apart from vocals, it brings out more of the HS1697 Ti's bass, making it more solid and powerful "Interesting" & "Zhao Fangjing - Hanlu", improving the smoothness and extension of the treble, and creating a wider soundstage (Vitas-Dedication).

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