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| Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors Discussion of portable headphones, earphones and in-ear monitors (IEMs). |

07-04-2009, 02:05 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kitchener, Ontario
Posts: 1,583
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Wow.. I've had a complete opposite experience.. I was floored by the detail, the speed, the soundstage, the bass impact... highs are a little high indeed, but not painful or anything.. just more detail retrieval
This was out of an ipod 5.5g HP out alone..
Quote:
Originally Posted by strangelove
Well I just got my 10x3 Pros delivered today. Initial impression: hugely, hugely disappointed. I really hope these things need to break in because right now I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach because I just wasted $700 on a pair of custom IEM that I don't want to listen to and can't sell off.
Briefly, first I listened out of my Zune without any amp. They sound very muddy. There's a very wide, open soundstage but they don't handle any type of complex sound (eg, music) well. They quickly get muddy and things become indiscrete. This is especially true with the bass which is not only of low impact to my liking but very, very muddy. The highs are a bit bright, but bearable. What is bad is how harsh and almost sibilant the highs were. Now part of this I hoped was the 10x3s just bringing out the limitations of the Zune so I tried them on my home rig which I will get to next. But first I went back and tried my old portable phones the Ety 6is. While the 10x3s definitely have way more detail and wider sound stage than the Etys, the Etys are much more effortless and don't sound congested/muddy. There is also more bass with the 10x3s than the Etys but I consider the Ety's to basically have no bass. Plus the bass on the 10x3s just sounds bad and there really isn't too much more of it. I'd rather it be missing frankly.
Next I tried them on my home rig out of my Graham Slee Solo + PSU and Denon 3930CI. Now the Solo isn't known to sound that great with low impedence cans but they sound really good with my AT phones (approx 40-50 ohms) and even my Etys (16ohm I think); for reference the 10x3s are listed as 28ohms on the JH Audio web page. Out of my home rig the first thing I noticed was how unbearably bright and harsh the treble was on the 10x3s. Grating is the only word I can think of. While there was better detail and soundstage on the home rig than the Zune, there was still a lot of muddiness. The bass was a little more impactful but again very poor quality. Frankly, I would rate the 10x3s much worse quality than my old Senn 650s on my home rig, probably worse than my old Senn 595s as well. They are definitely worse than all my current home phones.
So there it is. I'm going to continue to do some listening on these and pray for a miracle. I guess maybe I should have gotten the JH13 Pros. I heard the universal fit versions of both at CanJam and decided on the 10x3s because out of my Zune they sounded better to me than the JH13s which sounded flatter.
Also a note on build quality. So both IEM have some irregularities in the acrylic. Maybe it's from the original molds but I would have thought that would have been fixed for the actual product. The cord had some sort of glue on part of it that I'm having a hard time getting off without damaging the cord. The case provided is huge, pictures don't put into words just how unnecessarily huge this thing is. Also it came with several scuffs on it.
Lastly, after about 20min of use the left side started feeling rather uncomfortable in my ear. This came as a surprise to me because I've had custom molded earplugs for years that I can wear for hours without any discomfort and have pretty open ear canals so I wasn't expecting any discomfort.
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__________________
My Feedback
---JH|13 Pro--- | ESW10JPN | Essence STX | Audioengine A5
\m./ d-_-b \.m/
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07-04-2009, 02:16 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 1,940
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8
My JH13's underwhelmed me at first, as I posted in the other thread. I even tried some prototype earbuds that sound good but shouldn't be in the same class and in some areas they were better! After some time the 13's cleared up and got better and better. I think it was my ear canals and the IEM's burning in. Oh and the bass really sucked for a while and the mids were nothing special but that has all changed a great deal, to a dramatic degree.
On the case I mentioned this to Jerry and they are making two new sizes that are appropriate for the IEM's. He pushed to get these out and didn't feel the case was an overriding factor on holding up production of the IEM's.
I hope they clear for you.
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making two new sizes of what?
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07-04-2009, 02:19 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 1,940
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strangelove
Well I just got my 10x3 Pros delivered today. Initial impression: hugely, hugely disappointed. I really hope these things need to break in because right now I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach because I just wasted $700 on a pair of custom IEM that I don't want to listen to and can't sell off.
Briefly, first I listened out of my Zune without any amp. They sound very muddy. There's a very wide, open soundstage but they don't handle any type of complex sound (eg, music) well. They quickly get muddy and things become indiscrete. This is especially true with the bass which is not only of low impact to my liking but very, very muddy. The highs are a bit bright, but bearable. What is bad is how harsh and almost sibilant the highs were. Now part of this I hoped was the 10x3s just bringing out the limitations of the Zune so I tried them on my home rig which I will get to next. But first I went back and tried my old portable phones the Ety 6is. While the 10x3s definitely have way more detail and wider sound stage than the Etys, the Etys are much more effortless and don't sound congested/muddy. There is also more bass with the 10x3s than the Etys but I consider the Ety's to basically have no bass. Plus the bass on the 10x3s just sounds bad and there really isn't too much more of it. I'd rather it be missing frankly.
Next I tried them on my home rig out of my Graham Slee Solo + PSU and Denon 3930CI. Now the Solo isn't known to sound that great with low impedence cans but they sound really good with my AT phones (approx 40-50 ohms) and even my Etys (16ohm I think); for reference the 10x3s are listed as 28ohms on the JH Audio web page. Out of my home rig the first thing I noticed was how unbearably bright and harsh the treble was on the 10x3s. Grating is the only word I can think of. While there was better detail and soundstage on the home rig than the Zune, there was still a lot of muddiness. The bass was a little more impactful but again very poor quality. Frankly, I would rate the 10x3s much worse quality than my old Senn 650s on my home rig, probably worse than my old Senn 595s as well. They are definitely worse than all my current home phones.
So there it is. I'm going to continue to do some listening on these and pray for a miracle. I guess maybe I should have gotten the JH13 Pros. I heard the universal fit versions of both at CanJam and decided on the 10x3s because out of my Zune they sounded better to me than the JH13s which sounded flatter.
Also a note on build quality. So both IEM have some irregularities in the acrylic. Maybe it's from the original molds but I would have thought that would have been fixed for the actual product. The cord had some sort of glue on part of it that I'm having a hard time getting off without damaging the cord. The case provided is huge, pictures don't put into words just how unnecessarily huge this thing is. Also it came with several scuffs on it.
Lastly, after about 20min of use the left side started feeling rather uncomfortable in my ear. This came as a surprise to me because I've had custom molded earplugs for years that I can wear for hours without any discomfort and have pretty open ear canals so I wasn't expecting any discomfort.
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That sounds sort of strange to me as you praised the 10X3 Pro on the Proto Types at Can Jam. Maybe give it awhile, you might not be used to them yet.
Even thinking about this doesn't make sense, Jerry Harvey wouldn't pass a monitor and release it if it truely sounded the way you are describing it in post. I'm not saying you're saying it's wrong as sound can be based on personal opinion, but it's hard to think that a custom that gets such strict QC by Jerry is able to sound like that to you.
This is my opinion however, and i respect your opinion too. Just seems a bit strange to me.
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07-04-2009, 02:23 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus ∙ 1/2 hamster, 1/2 Turkish ∙ Blueteething
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Cage
Posts: 19,877
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaoDi
making two new sizes of what?
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Carryings cases.
There is an awesome pocketable carrying case in the works being designed.
-Ed
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07-04-2009, 02:26 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Santa Rosa, CA --image Katmandu, Nepal Summer 2006 *We are but a cosmic blink or was that wink?*
Posts: 7,553
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Yes, the cases will also be carbon fiber but really nice for IEM's. It will be a nice addition.
__________________
John aka Jam and Jama
Photo gallery at: www.pbase.com/jamato8 Recent publication: Ethnobotany Research & Applications, Vol 7 (2009) Kam Guilzhouh nyim Guangxxih di Benxtux Wenchual nyim Zihyuanc dih Gonxliix: Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/
The one constant in life is change, so will that change?
Feel with your own heart, see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears.
JH13's > Why stay home when you can go to the concert?
Listening with: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2 #469
Digital conversion: the all new MB-1 optical dual Wolfson portable dac
Amps I am currently listening with: RSA P-51 Mustang, SR 71A, iBasso D10, Lisa III, OEM BLack Gate, Non Black Gate, iBasso P3+, iBasso T3 (new version), RSA Shadow, iBasso D4
Favorite monitors: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2, Ultrasone Ed. 9 #1010, ATH-ESW10JPN
Portable monitor ratings: 1. JH 13 Pro 2. ESW10 JPN 3. PortaPros, KSC35 (modified-a great value) *4. UM2
Source: iRiver H130,140, D303 optical out, D-EJ955, D-EJ1000, D-EJ2000, 25s, 25, D-303, D-777 and others (optical out if available)
Digital Conversion: MB-1 optical Dac, Altoid tin Monica Dac I, Altoid tin Monica II Asynchronous Reclocking Dac, iBasso D10
Headphone Amplifiers:RSA: Shadow, Predator, P-51 Mustang, SR71A, Xin: IV Micro, IV Mini, Reference, SM3B, SuperMacro V LE, SM3 V6 (IV all switches), XRTA X-1, C&C Box, iBasso: P1, P2, P3, P3+, T1, T2, T3, T4 D1, D2, D3, D4, D10 Woo 3 Modified-Siemens 6922 driver, 7236 power tube, Woo 6 with the original Pseudo dual PS -
Ear Monitors: JH13 Pro, Ultra Ed. 9, Grado HF-2/F1 #469, HD650, ATH-ESW10 JPN, Ultrasone 750, HFI780, PortaPro modified, KSC35, Equation RP-21, Westone UM2
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07-04-2009, 02:29 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus ∙ 1/2 hamster, 1/2 Turkish ∙ Blueteething
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Cage
Posts: 19,877
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strangelove
Lastly, after about 20min of use the left side started feeling rather uncomfortable in my ear. This came as a surprise to me because I've had custom molded earplugs for years that I can wear for hours without any discomfort and have pretty open ear canals so I wasn't expecting any discomfort.
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Please double check that you have them fuly seated. Full ear impressions are different than only molding the ear canal area.
Here's a common mistake for wearing customs.
As you can see, not tucking that top part into inside fold of the concha of the outer ear will not allow the Custom ear piece to seat fully, and the ear piece is then at an angle and not straight in.
-Ed
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07-04-2009, 02:35 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 163
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oh no
Quote:
Originally Posted by strangelove
Well I just got my 10x3 Pros delivered today. Initial impression: hugely, hugely disappointed. I really hope these things need to break in because right now I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach because I just wasted $700 on a pair of custom IEM that I don't want to listen to and can't sell off.
Briefly, first I listened out of my Zune without any amp. They sound very muddy. There's a very wide, open soundstage but they don't handle any type of complex sound (eg, music) well. They quickly get muddy and things become indiscrete. This is especially true with the bass which is not only of low impact to my liking but very, very muddy. The highs are a bit bright, but bearable. What is bad is how harsh and almost sibilant the highs were. Now part of this I hoped was the 10x3s just bringing out the limitations of the Zune so I tried them on my home rig which I will get to next. But first I went back and tried my old portable phones the Ety 6is. While the 10x3s definitely have way more detail and wider sound stage than the Etys, the Etys are much more effortless and don't sound congested/muddy. There is also more bass with the 10x3s than the Etys but I consider the Ety's to basically have no bass. Plus the bass on the 10x3s just sounds bad and there really isn't too much more of it. I'd rather it be missing frankly.
Next I tried them on my home rig out of my Graham Slee Solo + PSU and Denon 3930CI. Now the Solo isn't known to sound that great with low impedence cans but they sound really good with my AT phones (approx 40-50 ohms) and even my Etys (16ohm I think); for reference the 10x3s are listed as 28ohms on the JH Audio web page. Out of my home rig the first thing I noticed was how unbearably bright and harsh the treble was on the 10x3s. Grating is the only word I can think of. While there was better detail and soundstage on the home rig than the Zune, there was still a lot of muddiness. The bass was a little more impactful but again very poor quality. Frankly, I would rate the 10x3s much worse quality than my old Senn 650s on my home rig, probably worse than my old Senn 595s as well. They are definitely worse than all my current home phones.
So there it is. I'm going to continue to do some listening on these and pray for a miracle. I guess maybe I should have gotten the JH13 Pros. I heard the universal fit versions of both at CanJam and decided on the 10x3s because out of my Zune they sounded better to me than the JH13s which sounded flatter.
Also a note on build quality. So both IEM have some irregularities in the acrylic. Maybe it's from the original molds but I would have thought that would have been fixed for the actual product. The cord had some sort of glue on part of it that I'm having a hard time getting off without damaging the cord. The case provided is huge, pictures don't put into words just how unnecessarily huge this thing is. Also it came with several scuffs on it.
Lastly, after about 20min of use the left side started feeling rather uncomfortable in my ear. This came as a surprise to me because I've had custom molded earplugs for years that I can wear for hours without any discomfort and have pretty open ear canals so I wasn't expecting any discomfort.
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what you're describing is my ue11pro. i sure hope that jh13pro doesn't have this problem. the bass being over powering like a subwoofer that is turned on too high...the bass has no control or tightness, its just muddy and boomy.
you really got me worried about the jh13pro.
__________________
happiness is celebrating an object of ultimate worth
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07-04-2009, 02:47 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Santa Rosa, CA --image Katmandu, Nepal Summer 2006 *We are but a cosmic blink or was that wink?*
Posts: 7,553
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The 13's have a very, very well controlled bass that for me, does not get in the way of the music and is part of it, as it is supposed to be. It goes down very low but never becomes boomy.
__________________
John aka Jam and Jama
Photo gallery at: www.pbase.com/jamato8 Recent publication: Ethnobotany Research & Applications, Vol 7 (2009) Kam Guilzhouh nyim Guangxxih di Benxtux Wenchual nyim Zihyuanc dih Gonxliix: Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/
The one constant in life is change, so will that change?
Feel with your own heart, see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears.
JH13's > Why stay home when you can go to the concert?
Listening with: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2 #469
Digital conversion: the all new MB-1 optical dual Wolfson portable dac
Amps I am currently listening with: RSA P-51 Mustang, SR 71A, iBasso D10, Lisa III, OEM BLack Gate, Non Black Gate, iBasso P3+, iBasso T3 (new version), RSA Shadow, iBasso D4
Favorite monitors: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2, Ultrasone Ed. 9 #1010, ATH-ESW10JPN
Portable monitor ratings: 1. JH 13 Pro 2. ESW10 JPN 3. PortaPros, KSC35 (modified-a great value) *4. UM2
Source: iRiver H130,140, D303 optical out, D-EJ955, D-EJ1000, D-EJ2000, 25s, 25, D-303, D-777 and others (optical out if available)
Digital Conversion: MB-1 optical Dac, Altoid tin Monica Dac I, Altoid tin Monica II Asynchronous Reclocking Dac, iBasso D10
Headphone Amplifiers:RSA: Shadow, Predator, P-51 Mustang, SR71A, Xin: IV Micro, IV Mini, Reference, SM3B, SuperMacro V LE, SM3 V6 (IV all switches), XRTA X-1, C&C Box, iBasso: P1, P2, P3, P3+, T1, T2, T3, T4 D1, D2, D3, D4, D10 Woo 3 Modified-Siemens 6922 driver, 7236 power tube, Woo 6 with the original Pseudo dual PS -
Ear Monitors: JH13 Pro, Ultra Ed. 9, Grado HF-2/F1 #469, HD650, ATH-ESW10 JPN, Ultrasone 750, HFI780, PortaPro modified, KSC35, Equation RP-21, Westone UM2
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07-04-2009, 02:56 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 163
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thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8
The 13's have a very, very well controlled bass that for me, does not get in the way of the music and is part of it, as it is supposed to be. It goes down very low but never becomes boomy.
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thank you jamato. i hope it has the both the punchy tight bass that you hear when the kick drum hits and snaps and the extended lows that you hear from bass guitar.
__________________
happiness is celebrating an object of ultimate worth
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07-04-2009, 04:48 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 322
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Pretty sure I have a good seal. I triple checked because that was my first thought. Right now I have them playing 24/7 through my Zune. I'm going to give them a couple of days before listening again to see if they're any better. I'm very surprise because I was blown away by these at CanJam out of my same Zune with the universal fits. Now the UE10s were a different story. They sounded incredibly muddy to me at CanJam which is why I went with the JH10x3s (which I listented to 3 times at CanJam).
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07-04-2009, 05:03 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 1,940
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strangelove
Pretty sure I have a good seal. I triple checked because that was my first thought. Right now I have them playing 24/7 through my Zune. I'm going to give them a couple of days before listening again to see if they're any better. I'm very surprise because I was blown away by these at CanJam out of my same Zune with the universal fits. Now the UE10s were a different story. They sounded incredibly muddy to me at CanJam which is why I went with the JH10x3s (which I listented to 3 times at CanJam).
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Hope things work out for you,
Cheers!
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07-04-2009, 05:04 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 322
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Update: I just gave them a quick listen again after around 4-5hrs of continuous playing and they sound somewhat improved. Going to let them burn in for longer. Jury's still out but not all hope lost.
Maybe JH Audio normally burns them in for a bit before sending them out. I know mine were rush shipped out so I can guarantee there was no in-house burn in.
Last edited by strangelove; 07-04-2009 at 05:23 AM.
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07-04-2009, 05:30 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Long Island, N.Y
Posts: 2,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8
Yes, the cases will also be carbon fiber but really nice for IEM's. It will be a nice addition.
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So we will have to buy these or are they just going to ship them to us as if they were included with the purchase?
Brad
__________________
Cheers!
Brad
ultraportable: iphone 32 gig 3gs > jh-13
portable rig: Imod 5.5 80gb>piccolino / singularity carbon lod>alo vcap dock> (piccolino mini-mini on the way) / singularity mini-mini>p-51>JH-13 with crystal piccolino all wrapped in a hippocase
On the way: RSA Shadow
My Feedback: hockeyb213
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07-04-2009, 05:39 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ko Re A (South)
Posts: 6,476
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yeah, would be nice to not have to deal with a massive box then buy the new one...
__________________
TouchMyApps Shigzeo @ Twitter
Inner Earphones: EX71, CX300, EP630, FX500, C711, C700, WM-2, d-Jays, q-Jays, PFE 112+121, CK10, UM2, UM3x, IE8, SE530, SA6, ER4S, RE2, Turbine, Beats Tour, SM2, Z-Buds, Quattro, NE7M, (and at least 10 more which I will find...)
My Extremely Dour FeedbackFor Sale: Nothing right now
WTB: 2005 DT 800 in 250 or 600 ohm PM me if you are looking to sell.
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07-04-2009, 06:06 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Long Island, N.Y
Posts: 2,269
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For some odd reason I am thinking it will be sent out when it is available gratis since the high end ue's included 2 boxes as well.... guessing and hoping for the best
__________________
Cheers!
Brad
ultraportable: iphone 32 gig 3gs > jh-13
portable rig: Imod 5.5 80gb>piccolino / singularity carbon lod>alo vcap dock> (piccolino mini-mini on the way) / singularity mini-mini>p-51>JH-13 with crystal piccolino all wrapped in a hippocase
On the way: RSA Shadow
My Feedback: hockeyb213
Last edited by hockeyb213; 07-04-2009 at 06:23 AM.
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