Ambient Dynamics AD-006 Lyndale: Well-executed Smooth Performer

Hello mates, welcome to my another IEM review article and what I have here is a new product from a recently newly established audio company from the United States, Ambient Dynamics. This is actually my first non-Chinese brand IEM (the fact that IEM itself is actually made in China) and this is one of the moments that I'm quite surprise on how such as audio company present their product.

Ambient Dynamics is situated in Minnesota and their current line of business is to produce In Ear Monitors . The story behind the establishment of the company was a group of audio enthusiasts decided to put up their own company to provide a high quality product at a decent price without breaking a bank. And finally, they introduce their first product, The AD-006 Lyndale.

AD-006 Lyndale is a hybrid driver set-up IEM. It has one (1) 10mm polyurethane and titanium-coated composite diaphragm Dynamic Driver and one (1) custom balanced armature driver for E-audio. The composite dynamic driver delivers a faster, better bass depth and less distortion and an E-audio BA handles the mids and highs for smoother, cleaner and well-defined clarity.

The shells of AD-006 Lyndale are of exceptional quality as Ambient Dynamics decided to use a good quality skin-friendly, medical-grade resin on it. It is on the medium-size housing and has this almost CIEM-like fitting in my medium-size lug holes. The aesthetics choice of its shell is more on minimalist and utilitarian approach that it has a jet black colour with an Ambient Dynamics logo in gold tinge on its face plate. It is also noted that Ambient Dynamics decided implemented a more proven and stable 2- pin connector on their first product.

To be honest this is one of the best fitting IEM in under $200 as I said that it has a fitting-like of a CIEM that really snugly and sits well in my ears without any discomfort as I can wear them for a long listening session. Isolation is commendable in my opinion that it almost entire block the external noises from the outside surroundings due to a tight sealing in my lug holes.

One of the amazing features on Lyndale is on how its packaging box and included accessories are presented in appealing manner to make a compelling statement and overall impression of their product in an even more competitive audio market and feels a more premium and pleasant unboxing experience that will put up a smile on its customers if they have it on their hands. The box is a black-colour square one and of medium proportions with a translucent plastic box sleeve.

 Here are the included accessories of AD-006 Lyndale:

• A pair of AD-006 Lyndale IEMs.
• An 8-core OFC litz cable in a copper and black combination in 3.5mm termination plug.
• A large square circled hard canvass zippered IEM carry case.
• An ear tips container with two types of ear tips; 3 pairs of silicone ear tips in different standard sizes and another 3 pairs of memory foam ear tips in the same respective manner.
• A black envelope that contains a single paper work noted with product specifications, basic instruction and warranty specifics.

Another good thing of this set is the scalability and driveability matching with its audio sources. Apparently, these IEM are easy to be powered and amplified well with even decent power sources such as smartphones, tablets and PCs due to low impedance requirement and a good sensitivity rating. And if you want a more cleaner and fuller sounding with good dynamic range, a devices with good Hi-fi DAC/Amp like LG Quad DAC phones and DAPs is highly recommendable on this one as it will truly shows the fullest potential of this IEM.

And as for tonality-wise. It has more emphasis in sub bass with a sufficient mid bass texture, a more linear mids and some elevation upper mids towards brilliance treble which in my classification on sound signatures is leaning towards of being U-shaped sounding.

Here are some of my observations on its sound characteristics on each part of its audio frequency spectrum.

LOWS/BASS:

  This is the major highlight of Lyndale and it was its dynamic bass response as it is more on a tighter, articulate, precise and has ample impact sounding.

Sub bass has a satisfactory rumble and reverberating sound as it decent depth reach on the low end that it has a good extension. Tested on the tracks with synthesizers and drum tracks have an acceptable detail to cite about.

Mid bass has an ample texture to give a sufficient slam and somehow a dense note. Bass guitars and double bass has that somber and weighty sound to adds up some growl and roar. Bass kicks has a more penetrating and a decent thunderous sound and Bass-baritone vocals has an adequate power and depth to have a gruff and huskiness on the voice.

In general, bass of this one scales more on quality rather than quality. A more detailed and well-controlled clean bass response that I can confidently declare that bass bleed is certainly non-existent in this set.

MIDS:

  Midrange seems to be less prominent and a tad recessed within the frequency range spectrum but it has a hint of warmth, more natural presentation with sufficient texture and noticeable resolution capability. Male vocals

Both vocals of opposite genders are equally benefited on the midrange’s sufficient texture and note weight. I perceptively hear the strong and deep vocal characteristic of a male voice very coherently with different some low pitched sound of an alto to a more powerful range of a soprano singer. Female vocals can be describe as articulately sweet, luscious and silvery that despite that they are presented neither forward nor laid back, that they are more on natural, middling position. I wish for a more opened, a bit of energy and more affront female vocals to sound more engaging.

Due to some added warmth on midrange, musical instruments has a bit added texture with its tonal colour. The snares and field drums has a more hard, penetrating and a tad bright when I listen to some drum tracks and even some drum lines. Violin has solemn and an ample brilliant , Violas and Cellos has a warm and distinctiveness that at least it doesn’t sound muffled and Pianos has the sensuous and rich characteristic that leaning to be mellow sounding. And lastly, the guitars has a crisp and resonant characteristic in every plucking that I hear.

To a certain degree, all I can say that the mids are naturally place despite on a tad notch in a frequency spectrum that really give an impact to the overall tuning to be more smoother with a rife of sufficient details.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

  As for the treble quality and quantity, its more on smooth delivery and a balanced aspect that it has just an ample amount of brightness just to give a more substantial on resolution capability, clarity and vividness. It has decent amount on airiness on it to have at sufficient harmonics.

I noticed a slight bump in the upper mids to a presence part of treble, good thing that I don’t encounter any sibilance and any discordant sound that will affect the overall tuning.

To describe the characteristics on cymbals strikes it has more lustrous with some decent sizzling. The high/lo-hats are naturally and accurately presented with their distinct chick with muted and shorted soughing sound trait. As for the treble extension, it was just adequate enough to be discerning but not my ideal one as I want more airiness and shimmer if it permits to have it.

Overall, the presentation of treble is really decent that its smoothness will be even recommendable to some treble-sensitives who wants to have a sufficiently well-defined treble quality.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

  To perceived and estimate the dimensions of its soundstage. It has an average to above average on sense of wideness, good depth range and acceptable height reach. In general, it has a balanced and almost equal proportion on spatial sense that it was acceptable enough just like that you place yourself in a small recording studio room.

Imaging capability is more on above average which is worth to be commended despite of just 1 DD and 1 BA driver set-up that was implemented in Lyndale that it will possible impedes in some technical performance. Separation and layering feature is quite decent as it has a decent amount of spacing and positioning of each instruments and singers, with an ample distance of distance that I can certainly discerningly estimated the location and distance of placement of instruments and vocalists, though not the most pinpoint and accurate one due to that I’m still processing in a few seconds on figuring out its proper location on each channel on binaural phase.

Coherency is good for this unit as its drivers matching on both of its mono dynamic driver and a BA driver produces a very consolidating manner and performs harmoniously without any unbalanced, distortion and out of phase. Not the most nimble drivers as I find it more on moderate speed rather than a fast one. Timbre-wise, It has a sprinkle of warmth on its natural tonal colour, well at least it doesn’t sound metallic.

To sum up my conclusion in this review. To be honest, when I first used this IEM out of the box, my initial impression on this one isn’t that impressive and have some qualms on its tuning. After a long listening session by using this IEM for several days It really change my opinion on this one as I find very pleasant and matured sounding that somehow outperform my expectation.

The minor issue that I encountered on this product isn’t about the tuning nor its packaging, It was the decision on its pricing. In my opinion, an IEM which has only two (2) hybrid driver set-up which has a balanced armature driver that isn’t either Knowles or Sonion drivers at over $100/£74 is quite overstated to put such as price tag as we are aware the current state of audio market on how competitive the other audio companies right now as they even release a product in a monthly basis and offer even more affordable options and variety to choose from. But to look on other perspective, the way on how Ambient Dynamics present its products has a merit to have compelling desirability and on how they put up some inclusions of high quality and bespoke value.

If you look for an IEM that matured, warm and relaxed sounding with a more premium touch, then this one is of the recommendation that I can suggest. Thank you for having a time on reading my content and I hope you enjoy it.

AD-006 Lyndale is currently at discounted price of $140/£103 from the previous asking price tag of $200/£148.

 SPECIFICATION:

 MODEL: AMBIENT DYNAMICS AD-006 LYNDALE

IMPEDANCE: 12Ω

SENSITIVITY: 109dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz - 20KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE:  2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm 

DRIVER UNITS: ONE (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER & (1) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER.

PROS:

·         Laudable and well-thought packaging of the product.

·        One of the best fitting IEM in under $200/£148 price segment.

·        Minimalist aesthetics on its shell that will suits a taste of a minimalist.

·        That large, hard canvass IEM container screams quality.

·        Satisfactory warm and smooth, U-shaped sound.

·        Sufficient number of ear tips to choose from.

 

 

CONS:

 ·        Treble aspects needs further improvement.

·         Imaging is a tad mundane, just an average capability.

·        For a non-Knowles or Sonion balanced armature driver on its hybrid driver system. The pricing is a bit overstated for its asking price.

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

 Alison Krauss - When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

Sister of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection **

Eagles - Hotel California (MTV live) ‘*’

 

P.S.

I am not affiliated to AMBIENT DYNAMICS nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to thank Austin Chang for providing this review unit, I truly appreciate on his generosity towards me and other reviewers.

If you are interested on their product, click HERE