Yuin PK1 and PK2 Turmoil

[flamerid]

I remember when the Yuin pk2 came out, and I had been lucky enough to have these awesome earphones ordered when they were on discount. I was amazed by the sound and everything was just so nice. I could turn it up all the way without the sound hurting my ears, much like the custom alpine stereo system in my car.

Well, tear played its role and the cord near the top of the earphones snapped. Feeling too lazy to have it reapaired/resodered, I ordered a pair of pk1s. Now, I was expecting extremely heavenly music like my pk2s except better. I got the pk1s though (ipod unamped), and..there's just some things I can't finger on. The earphones are really really clear and the sound is very crisp and surround like, but unlike my pk2s, the sound hurts my ears. I thought I would get used to it, but I'm not. I like to turn it up real high to hear the all parts of the song loudly, but the highs feel like their just screeching in my ear. This is most true for distortion guitar. After a while, I just can't stand it, and my cheap 03 computer turns back on while my yuins are tossed aside. Also, I notice static in some songs where I didn't notice it before. I'm not sure if its the earphones, the song recording, or the fact I never paid attention before. I don't know, but the sound is more like a rampaging truck shredding at 100 miles an hour like nails on a chalkboard screaming in my ears.

With my pk1s, I've also ordered an external amp (still waiting to get). I've never used an amp before, so I don't know what it sounds like. I'm hoping it'll improve the sound of the pk1s. However, this extremely crisp and screeching sound is just too much for me to handle though. I like my music soft and easy to listen to, but I like to clear.

Am I just not used to high fidelity earphones or something? What is this exactly? Yuin pK1s are supposed to be #1. Is this normal and will an amp fix this?

[mrarroyo]

I have listened to both and I prefer the PK1. However what matters is what you like! Just because the PK1 is more expensive and some prefer it is irrelevant.

IMO you will hear an improvement w/ an amp since the PK1 is a bit power hungry.

[jessica_fae]

Originally Posted by flamerid

The earphones are really really clear and the sound is very crisp and surround like, but unlike my pk2s, the sound hurts my ears. I thought I would get used to it, but I'm not.
...but the highs feel like their just screeching in my ear.
...but the sound is more like a rampaging truck shredding at 100 miles an hour like nails on a chalkboard screaming in my ears.
...Is this normal and will an amp fix this?

What you are describing here is classic "clipping" of an amplifier. The PK1 is more power hungry and your iPod is probably not enough to feed it. Others have commented that the iPod shuffle clips with the PK1, but the iPod classic(HDD) is fine. I am guessing you have one of the flash based iPods. Yes an amp will fix this problem.