Friday: Spent the evening at j-center mall with my classmates. Eat all you can at Mang Inasal! Missed the fireworks, but that’s alright. Insider tip, don’t buy the liempo unlimited rice meal. The liempo was kind of dry and tasteless. Maybe the chef was having a bad night.

Saturday: Went to the venue at around 3. Blogged about it in more detail over at ZeroThreeTwo.com! You guys should check it out soon. Here are some pictures. 20 action packed bands! It dragged on a bit. Fanboy mode for a bit when I got pictures with An Honest Mistake and Typecast. More music!

Sunday: Just chilled. Instead of joining the crowd in the city, spent my evening in J-center mall with a friend, just chilling and talking. Pretty relaxing. No crowd whatsoever. Afterwards, went to Koa Tree House to watch Franco! Good long 8 song set. Wanted to go into fanboy mode and get a picture with JanJan, but he was gone in an instant! Maybe next time.

Well, that’s my weekend in a nutshell. Monday was a rest day. Lots of stuff to do. Might be a while before I update with another post. But let’s see. Time management. Cheers!

I’m too tired to post details, but here are a flurry of pictures! Lots of promos and discounts if you get your shirts at the event, so do get them! Lots of goodies in store! Let’s go!

Strawberry will be releasing the “Terry” this week-end. This cut-and-sew piece retails at PHP 850. Get them quick, only 2 pieces per size! Go!

Scars has their release as well! Shirts are at PHP 400 and the raglan is at PHP 500. Button packs of 4 are at PHP 200.

Product of Uranus! Both shirts are at PHP 400!

Monster Ink has its release as well. Prices stated above!

Killapinas! Check above for the discounts and prices. Good stuff!

Massive release from Nick Automatic! Take your pick. Prices above. Some reprints and some new designs.

Well, those are all the shirt previews I’ve gathered so far. Other brands will be there as well. Check the post below for information. It’s going to be a sick night with good music and merch. Personally, I want the movies shirt from Killapinas. It’s got that old horror movie vibe that I love. We’ll see though! That regional brand, PeterSaysDenim, also has some simple but impactful shirts! TeeDee is also on my list. Well, it’s all in the grand scale of things. So many shirts, so little time! I haven’t been this excited about a release for a while now.

Hope to catch you guys this Saturday, will be blogging about the blast-off on 032cebu, so I hope you guys can read up on the article soon. Some small perks of being an article writer include free passes. Pressure on me to write though. Anyway, less ranting and rambling, more rock and debauchery. Can’t wait to check out the new threads on THREAD!Fest 2012. Awesome stuff and hats off to all the organizers and sponsors. Let’s take a lot of pictures and enjoy the night!

Until next time, Cheers!

Franco, Kelevra and General Luna! Awesome bands! Let’s do this!

Really, really stoked for this one. Attended this last year and it was a definite blast. Check out pictures and articles somewhere around the blog. You’re big enough to use the search button. Go! Anyway, we’ve also got this year’s official shirt, designed by Doyle See of Killapinas. Check it!

Looking good! Personally stoked for Typecast and Urbandub. Also looking forward to PETERSAYSDENIM! They’ve got some cool threads. Great bands. Great threads and merchandise. A night not to forget. Get your tickets now! The shirt comes with the VIP tickets, so you guys can get in on that. Just check out the links above. See you at the THREAD!Fest and show proper. Don’t be afraid to say hi, as well. Cheers!

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS55

A pair of IEM’s (In-ear Monitors) that are for the music lover who expects a defined bass sound while not sacrificing over-all sound quality. I got these pair of earphones just recently. Initially, I wanted headphones. But then I was looking at the perks that earphones had. They’re portable. They don’t attract too much attention while still maintaining good sound quality. I felt that, as a student, earphones were the way to go. I commute to and from school everyday, so I guess these were the better choice. Might look into getting headphones soon, as people swear that the increased sound quality is worth it. We’ll see!

It was actually an early Christmas present, paid for by each of my 3 sisters. I got these babies from SM’s Soundroom. Funny enough, it’s hard to find good headphones/earphones in Cebu, as the amount of dealers stocking the items are limited.

Audio-Technica as a brand is well known and has been branded as the most trusted headphones brand in Japan. I have several friends who tell me their stuff really is bang for the buck. They were not wrong! Let’s check out some specifications and the contents before we go to the review proper.

–

ATH-CKS55

Drivers – 12.5mm

Frequency Response – 5~24,000 Hz

Output Sound Pressure Level – 105 dB

Maximum Input Power – 100 mW

Impedance – 16 ohms

Cord Length – 1.2 m

Weight – 6 g

Accessories – Soft pouch, earpieces (S, M, L, XL)

–

So, we’ve got the specifics covered. Just so I don’t bore you with walls of text, here are some pictures of the said earphones with the respective content.

This is the new incarnation of the older model ATH-CKS50 and it’s the younger brother of the ATH-CKS70 and ATH-CKS77. It comes in 2 colors, black/red and white/grey. I wanted it in white and grey, but then I realized that the black and red combination would be better in the long run! White tends to soil and discolor as time passes. The black and red combination is also sort of reminiscent of Beats, so it’s a bit on the cool factor as well. Partly also because this was the last pair in black and red, so I had to get it!

Like I mentioned earlier, this was a Christmas present from my 3 sisters. It wasn’t cheap! Soundroom at SM Cebu has some good headphones and earphones for anyone who would like to check them out! The SRP in the Philippines for this one was P 2,799.00. So for those who would like to get the hi-fi earphones and headphones, start saving up!

Right out of the box! The straightforward presentation of the earphones and all the details in the back were a welcome sight. In white. Just very sleek. Professional looking and a good job by Audio-Technica. Once I opened it, there was a soft carrying pouch that is somewhat useful, but I would have liked if it was hard and had a magnet enclosure like Sennheiser carrying pouches. There are 4 plastic eartips that come in S, M, L, XL. No foam tips, but these plastic tips will do just fine. No flanged ones either. Just straight up regular tips.

We go to the presentation of the ATH-CKS55 itself! Like I said earlier, the black and red combination reminds me a bit of the colors used in Beats by Dr. Dre, so it was sort of an added bad-ass bonus!  Although the white ones were pretty sleek too, and reminded me of the original iPod earphones. The jack is 3.5 mm, so it’s built for most MP3 players and iPods. It’s gold colored and in the L shape. It’s also much smaller than the usual bulky and thick L-shaped jacks we see, which is really good! The cord is red and it seems to be thick enough to take some damage. A simple black Y-splitter that is durable, so that is good too. The actual earphones don’t look conventional, as based by the description, it has another air chamber and acoustic reactor, which is responsible for the overwhelming and booming bass sound. It takes some time to get used to, as it is definitely larger and quirkier than your usual IEM’s.  The angle on it actually seems weird at first, but it actually makes noise isolation much better. It’s a good combination of black and red. Once you actually get to wearing it though, the sleek looking and feeling Audio-Technica logo on the outside definitely wins points in style.

I’ll be borrowing the review format of one of Head-fi.org‘s IEM reviewers, who goes by the moniker of ljokerl. He’s reviewed over 200 earphones, all in different price ranges, so hats off to him! Check it out here. But since I’m not as much of an audiophile as he is, I’ll be using my own ears and experience for this review. Will be rating it from 1 to 10 and we’ll see how it goes. No flaming!

Accessories: How useful and complete the bundled set of tips & accessories is. This depends not only on the quantity and quality of the accessories but also on how well they are suited for that particular IEM.

- Well, the ATH-CKS55 comes with a soft pouch and 4 eartips that come in S, M, L and XL. It seems a bit lacking, as a sound clip and a cleaning tool could have been nice as additional accessories. More eartips (particularly foam and flange) could have also been a nice addition. But hey, these earphones aren’t really considered as top-tier, so it’s alright. I’m giving this one a 7.5/10.

Build Quality: How good the initial assembly of the IEM is. Depends choice of materials, structural design, and overall feel. Also includes any common observations on the longevity of the earphones.

- Since I don’t have any benchmarks aside from my sort of hi-fi earphones, the Sennheiser CX-500, I’ll just try to compare these two and of the other generic earphones in terms of build quality. It seems pretty durable, as the actual earphones themselves seem like they’ll last. The cord isn’t flimsy either. Over-all, it looks and feels like these earphones will last for a pretty long time with good care and use. Let’s see how long it lasts! But anyway, initial feel makes me give this an 8.5/10.

Isolation: The passive reduction in ambient noise provided by the IEM. All IEMs isolate external noise by virtue of sealed ear coupling, but some are better than others. The better-isolating IEMs are capable of providing is upwards of 30db of attenuation, an 8-fold reduction in ambient noise volume (enough to reduce the volume of an average vacuum cleaner to a whisper).

- Since these earphones are angled, it gives a better seal. Noise isolation is good, and when the music plays at 50-60%, I can’t hear casual chatter. Although other kinds of noises, like that of an airplane or of a karaoke machine would be heard. But that’s alright, I’m kind of glad that these earphones don’t block out noise entirely, but they do a pretty good job. Also, at 50-60% the music is blaring when you’re listening, but the people around you can’t hear a thing. It’s pretty good, so I give it an 8.5/10.

Microphonics: Susceptibility to cable noise, a common malady affecting in-ear earphones. Mitigating factors such as the inclusion of a shirt clip or cable cinch and the ease of wearing the IEMs over-the-ear are taken into account.

- Microphonics. A big word. But it’s actually pretty easy to explain. It’s just the noise you hear when the cable moves around. I’ve got a shirt clip that helps me stop the cable noise, but when it does happen, it happens. It’s common for all IEM’s. It’s not over-the-ear too, but for the most part, cable noise is to a minimum. Giving this a 7.5/10.

Comfort: How easy the earphone is to wear for long stretched of time. Note that this is very tip-dependent, although general trends still apply. The ease of insertion/removal of the IEM is also taken into account.

- The description above is right. This is very tip-dependent. You see, when you wear the right tips, it creates a better air seal, thus making the bass seem boomier and the sound fuller. But in terms of comfort, these earphones are huge! Not the usual in-ear that you find with your friends and family. It takes some getting used to with the angled tip and the huge-ass second chamber, but it’s fine because for the extra size, it also gives out better sound. I give this a 7.5/10.

Sound: Possibly the most subjective of the categories, the sound rating is an evaluation of the relative merits of the sound signature, scaled to the best earphone I have heard.

- This is very subjective. I am no means an audiophile, and I have yet to evaluate the countess earphones, headphones and amplifiers out there. But I do trust my ears, and I will try to give an accurate description. We’ll break it down into bass, mid and treble. For the uninitiated, the bass is the low sound, generally the thumping bass sound that accompanies the mids and treble. The mids are the middle sound, which can cross into a bass or treble sound, depending on how it is focused upon. The treble is the top sound, usually heard with the vocals. The box describes the ATH-CKS55 as having an advanced deep and punchy bass sound. It is correct in all aspects. I’ve been downloading a lot of electronica, rap and hip-hop to see whether the bass can take the lowest frequencies. The ATH-CKS55 does a great job. The bass is deep and punchy, but still refined. Some earphones tend to be messy when the lower frequencies come, but the ATH-CKS55 handles it like a boss! I have yet to hear any song that the ATH-CKS55′s bass can’t handle. Bassheads will be happy with this one! The mids. Let’s see. There is a clarity to it that doesn’t make it sound forward or recessed, but just enough that it complements the bass and the treble nicely. I like to think of the mids as the fullness of the sound, that it doesn’t sound too thin or too harsh. No complaint with the mids. Lastly, the treble. Vocals are sparkling clean and they aren’t too trebly. I tried playing some classical music and simple piano-vocalist arrangements, and the treble is pretty good. But it seemed a tad bit relaxed, trying to maintain smoothness and not trying to sound harsh.

Overall, the sound profile on this one is pretty balanced with a bit of a tilt when it comes to the bass. I’m liking this offering from Audio-Technica, as it is definitely a fun IEM. It’s not a monitoring earphone, but it is definitely a pleasure to listen to for hours on end! I’m not too well-versed when it comes to soundstage and the other factors, but for me, the ATH-CKS55 definitely has a soundstage. Music sounds full, and it really feels like I’m in the middle of a club or concert ground when I listen to it. It can definitely handle songs that require minute details, and it does a pretty good job. I’m really happy with the sound profile on this one. Hopefully I can give a listen to some Sennheiser’s or some Grado’s and see how they differ. But for now, I’m giving sound a resounding 9/10.

Value: How all of the earphone’s flaws and merits compare to the competition at and above its price point.

- Well, there are a lot of other earphones in this range, but it’s hard to come by locally. I’m guessing that the other competitors would be Soundmagic, Skullcandy, Sennheiser, Monster, Bose and other brands as well. I got this for PHP 2,799.00 from Soundroom SM Cebu, and let me tell you, this offering from Audio-Technica definitely makes me agree that this brand is bang for the buck. It’s by no means cheap, but it is considered relatively cheap when talking about tiers in the US. But for me, as an entry-level IEM, this one is pretty darn good. Balanced sound with a bit of a tilt to the bass, nice colors and presentation, durable, basic accessories, this one is an easy rating of 8.5/10.

Well, there we have it. An amateur review, but this has been insightful for me, and I hope for you as well. I’m looking to enjoy sound and sound devices, and maybe I’ll do more reviews in the future. We keep learning and we get to enjoy our music as well. This 2,000+ word article will really help me be more critical on benchmarks and future reviews. I hope when you buy a pair of earphones or headphones, or any gadget in particular, review your facts and compare it with other brands and offerings, so you come out happy with your purchase. I know I am. Audio-Technica has brought out the audiophile in me. Listening to music has never been such a pleasure, and these earphone will definitely amplify my experience.

Until next time, Cheers!

Venom III just released their drops from the Venom Vault! Get them now. I already posted the first 2 shirts. Here are the other two for a full preview.

Here are some screenshots from the Mermollie Ink Lookbook!

Appetite sated? Happy holidays!

Until next time, cheers!

Sunday came along, and I was stoked to hear that Koa Tree House would have bands that night. Powerspoonz, Bambu Spliff, CDMC and a special guest band. Little did I know that it would be Franco! I was stoked to hear the news and was really grateful for the second chance to watch them!

I took very little pictures and more videos. Brought a car and another friend along (going solo sucks) and we waited for Franco eagerly. Bambu Spliff took the stage and they had some pretty good reggae beats. People were bobbing their head and dancing along to the cool stacatto tunes.

“Ain’t no sunshine when he’s gone.”

Good stuff. I saw the guitars and the pedal boards come out, and I was surprised (in a good way) that Franco came on stage! Seems like some people from Golden Peak were complaining about the noise, so it was a smart move by Koa to move in Franco to the second spot.  I heard that CDMC and Powerspoonz still got to play afterwards anyway, so that was good.

“My friends, we are one again tonight.”

Getting to watch one of your favorite bands live is a real treat. I had been waiting for this for a while, and it really met my expectations. They did an 8 song set, which was pretty awesome. Basically, they did the whole album! Touch The Sky, Seasons, Memorykill, Last Waltz, Next Train Out, This Gathering, Castaway and Song for the Suspect. They added a few touches not heard in the album, so it was even better. They had a really tight set, no clear mistakes to be found. Gabby and Buwi weren’t around, but the stand-ins were just as competent! Poldo, one of the guitarists from Franco’s older bands, stood in for Gabby and did an awesome job. He has great guitar chops and played lead like no tomorrow!

The crowd was a bit sucky though, since they didn’t really get up and move around. But it was fine. Part of it was the venue though. It was a bit more relaxed on a chilly Sunday night. Awesome show nonetheless. Really happy that I was able to watch it. Jollibee and some chilling afterwards, and my day was complete! We got some pictures with Ocho and Franco. I wanted a picture with Janjan but he was with his wife, so it was kind of a no-go.

“Did you see his body? Ripped.” -Andre

With Sir Ocho Toleran. 

Ended up really tired the day after. I was almost tempted not to write this post! Oh well. Good thing I got to doing it. Fun stuff for December! Really happy about getting to watch Franco. Finally! I just hope next time they play, it’ll be in a great big stage with ample room for jumping around and headbanging!

Until next time, Cheers!

Scars is giving us one reprint and a new design. Check it!

Good stuff in black. Get them now, only at Nick’s Doodle Store! Contact 19th Tee Shop on Facebook for local shipping inquiries.

Up next, Mermollie Ink!

I’m liking the shroom strips! No release date as of yet, so keep posted!

A brutal release for sure! Grab them at Nick’s Doodle Store on the 10th. Check out Killapinas as they do their own shipping.

Last, but not the least.

The industry giant drops a bombshell! Nick Automatic drops on the 17th.

That’s all the time I’ve got right now. Enjoy all the pictures and savor the moment.

Until next time, cheers!

First thing I see when  I log-in, and I’m pretty happy. Let’s have some previews as a bit of a bonus, shall we?

Some new stuff from NICK AUTOMATIC! You guys try to figure out what it is. Good luck!

Some character holding a pencil?

Some kind of mythic beast?

Oh well. Lots of questions surrounding us. What I DO KNOW is that one of my favorite brands is back! Venom Three! This brand went out around the same time last year, and it’s being revived over at Nick’s Doodle Store! 12.12.11 is the date! Save it! Check out 2 of the 4 designs that are going to be released.

Well, there we have it! Shirt previews to whet your appetite for the holidays. Stay in tune for more to come.

Until next time, cheers!

The headline got your attention, didn’t it? Wow, The Pick Up Shop is turning one year old tomorrow! It’s crazy! I remember last year, as the Pick Up Shop opened, was the first time I got my shirts that were produced by local independent lines. It’s been a crazy journey, with lots of concerts and events, bands and brands, and everything in between!

Lots of brands come and go, but the shirt scene is still running rampant! Lots of good shirts coming out and a bevy of brands coming out, covering all sorts of art concepts, some good and some bad, but it’s all part of the bigger picture. The Pick Up Shop is one of those shops that cater to a lifestyle to kids and kids at heart, who love their music loud and have an appreciation for the arts!

The Pick Up Shop features three main brands in the store, namely: ROBO Muffin, Think Positive Wear and Mermollie Ink!

They’ve got a lot of shirts and surprises in store! Check out the teaser poster!

Come early, it’s going to be a barn burner! I’m betting there’ll be around a few hundred kids waiting outside the shop for the shirts they want. As for me, I’m happy to watch and take coverage of it all. Less shirts for me and more about the scene in general! Anyway, onto the shirts!

Here’s what ROBO Muffin has to offer for us.

Frankee definitely got served! A bit late for the Halloween festivities, but no one’s complaining, right? Cop this one for PHP 400.00!

Trick or Treat with your favorite muffin pastries. PHP 400.00 for this sucker.

On we go to Think Positive Wear.

Be part of the intergalactic confederation with this outer space creation! No price as of yet.

Join the wolf pack with this mono colored piece. Personally loving this one!

Last but not the least, we’ve got the color giant Mermollie Ink!

Dragon on steroids! PHP 400.00 for this crazed beast!

Cookie cutter madness! Still at PHP 400.00 for this cookie!

V-neck in the house! This V-necked vampire can be yours for PHP 400.00!

Partially eaten mushrooms with big-ass forks. This raglan will cost you PHP 445.00!

Well, there we have it. Lots of shirts for you! Celebrating both a late Halloween and the Pick Up Shop’s first year anniversary. Boy, how time flies. If you don’t know where the Pick Up Shop is, then check here. It’ll tell you where to go to get these shirts! If you aren’t in town, you should definitely check out the Pick Up Shop Express for online inquiries and orders.

There we have it! Hope you guys enjoy the anniversary event promo tomorrow! Almost December, the Christmas bonuses and 13th month pays will definitely fill your pockets. Lots of shirts coming our way before 2011 ends, so keep tabs on that. Soon. Will update you guys with the 10,000 hit mark and the latest article for zerothreetwo.com.

Until next time, Cheers!