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

01-09-2007, 08:20 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Reno for now, Hawaii during the summer months.
Posts: 928
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nenso
Lol...... ok.. hows your 2cent income.. you know the kiddies making these...
okok I'm done joking.. if both Krammer and Jahn decide to say they might be worth it... I guess I'll THINK about buying these if I get to demo them sometime later. lol.. still.. it doesn't matter if they sound good if they break right after.. but yea.. I'll acknowledge these once I try them and see.
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My how very critical you are of headphones that you have never tried nor held.
If you're so paranoid, buy them from Todd and if you don't like them return them before the 30 guarantee is up. Having a 1 year warranty (plus the lifetime on the cable) is as much official support as you'd get from Grado's official 1 year warranty. Do all great headphones have to have wood and titanium in their construction? If it sounds great and is plastic who cares? Would you have them metal and costing more?
And don't be so snobbish about things being made in China; these days it would seem that just about everything bought is built in a sweat shop SOMEWHERE. Terrible: yes, sad: yes, restricted to things bought from China: Oh hell no.
EDIT: Oh and great review Munkong. Very good to hear impressions first hand and the enthusiasm from the same man that brought us the duck pad mod  .
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01-09-2007, 08:47 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ประเทศไทย - Thailand
Posts: 441
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nenso
Ok, so what you're saying is that these China made earbuds will be better than my Audio-Technica (Made in Japan) Grados hand assembled (Made in USA) compared to these little plastics?
I'm not saying all Chinese things are bad. I'm just wondering about this specific earbuds lol. And can someone post a picture of the free gift they give you?
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if you have a chance to listen PK2, and attend to compare with ATH-CM7ti
you would surprise ! can't to compare !
I ever own AtHCM7ti, and sell it after listen 1-2 days
__________________
นายมั่นคง
ภาษาอังกฤษผมมันห่วย โปรดเห็นใจนะจ๊ะ
Pardon for my poor english
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01-09-2007, 08:49 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 738
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jant71
Build quality doesn't even matter. Earbuds are mostly for portable listening. And with no isolation they lose more SQ than other portable phones. Even IEMs lose some SQ due to external sounds. That is why you hear about IEM's, canalphones, and small closed cans like the K81dj/HD25 way more than earbuds.
Earbuds are talked about least here because they have two flaws, unadjustable fit and no isolation. I wouldn't buy them. The right one would probably fall once in a while like other buds I've used and any noise would cancel out the increased SQ and reduce them to drawer duty.
In ear phones are the thing now. Everyone's jumping on the bandwagon. JBL, Bose, Harmon, Beyer, AKG, V-moda etc.
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The lack of isolation in earbuds is what makes them so practical: I'm not going shopping in K 701s, and I can't imagine negotiating the tills (US="checkouts") with a pair of IEMs in my ears. Isolation is only really useful in a small range of environments: long journeys where you can sit still.
As for unadjustable fit, many earbuds (such as my B&O) are adjustable now, and can be relied upon not to fall out. They don't "fit" because they are not designed in such a way as to interact with the shape of an individual's ear ... that's a benefit, since it's the specific shape of the listener's ear that results in complex and expensive customisation processes.
The reason that IEMs get so much discussion here is because they're an audiophile product and this is an audiophile forum. Many of us "grew up" on earbuds and just because IEMs are the new craze should not lead us to forget that for flexibility and comfort earbuds remain the most convenient type of headphone.
__________________
iTunes -> USB -> Micro DAC -> ALO Jena Cryo m2m -> Micro Amp -> AKG K 701
iPod Classic -> ALO Jena Cryo LOD -> Micro Amp -> Shure E4c
Recent Obsession: Umphrey's McGee (You have to hear this band if you haven't already!)
Selected Rock: Ben Folds, Sufjan Stevens, Frank Zappa, Grateful Dead, Richard Thompson, Phish, Ani Difranco, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Roy Harper
Selected Classical & Jazz: Shostakovich, Steve Reich, John Adams, Sorabji, Mahler, Arvo Part, Keith Jarrett, John Zorn
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01-09-2007, 11:08 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: 7,601
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Ok, so how do you get ear buds to stay in? I bought some OVC 8+ here in China and these are my first, yes first, ear buds. I never cared to own any but I wanted to try these out. They sound fantastic and are some of what I expect is being heard with the PK series. They are natural, open and good bass but they won't stay in my ear right. I have tried the different foams supplied, one with a hole and the other without and even together so it would be more foam but no real luck.
The PK ear buds interest me and I have a friend in Shanghai that compares them to his HD600's and loves the PK1's.
__________________
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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01-09-2007, 11:40 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,431
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I heard that the look of the PK2 belies its surprising resilience. I believe one user had the cables tugged several times with amazing force and yet the buds held fast. This was said of the PK1 (IIRC), but I cannot imagine the PK2 being much different in this regard.
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01-09-2007, 12:46 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: On the other side of your monitor ^_^
Posts: 333
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YOU'RE the one who brought us the duck mod? ok, I officially respect you because those mods are awsome
If you say PK2s are good, then I'll somewhat believe it.
I still dunno where can I buy those duck foams lol
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01-09-2007, 11:09 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 2,411
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8
Ok, so how do you get ear buds to stay in? I bought some OVC 8+ here in China and these are my first, yes first, ear buds. I never cared to own any but I wanted to try these out. They sound fantastic and are some of what I expect is being heard with the PK series. They are natural, open and good bass but they won't stay in my ear right. I have tried the different foams supplied, one with a hole and the other without and even together so it would be more foam but no real luck.
The PK ear buds interest me and I have a friend in Shanghai that compares them to his HD600's and loves the PK1's.
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Unfortunately not all earbuds will work for everyone 
Try twisting it around a bit though.. If it still doesn't work you can get one of those DIY custom mold kit for not that much
Btw, i got a replacement pair sent straight from china.. as soon as nankai received my brokenish one. My old one's bass used to bottom out on lower bass frequencies
I asked nankai if this is expected and he said to send it back
Pretty happy really
And right now, i prefer them to my K501.. its just a great fun sounding phone
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01-10-2007, 07:23 AM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Diego/Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,492
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule
IIRC, TTVJ is selling both models of the said earbud right now.
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I think TTVJ only carries the PK1 model so far.
EDIT: But now I've just read that Head-Direct has models in stock ready to ship via USPS:
"OUR SHIPPING POLICY CHANGED!
Now we have YUIN earphones in stock and we will do USPS priority mail directly to USA and Canada Customers."
It says so on their front page...
__________________
Sources: Enpower ENP611 Laptop (Realtek HD Audio ALC260) | iBasso D10 | iRiver iHP-120 | Apple iPod touch 2G | SanDisk Sansa Clip | Samsung YP-Z5 | Sony VAIO Pocket
Headphones: Westone UM3X | Koss KSC35/75/50
Gone/Unused: STAX SR-Λ/SR-404/SR-Λ Pro | Denon AH-D2000 APureSound | Westone 3 | Sennheiser IE8 | M-AUDIO IE-40 | Sennheiser HD 25 | AKG K 81 DJ | Sleek Audio SA6 | Klipsch Custom-3 | Klipsch Image X5 | JAYS q-JAYS | Shure E500PTH | YUIN PK2 | Future Sonics Atrio m5 (x2) | SoundMAGIC PL30 | V-MODA Vibe | Sennheiser CX300 | JBL Reference 220 | Ultrasone HFI-650 | Audio-Technica ATH-FC7 | JVC HA-FX33
Feedback: Head-Fi | eBay
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01-10-2007, 07:28 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus Prolificus: Head-Fi's most prolific poster.
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Feelin' the る in NYC
Posts: 21,513
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i think i posted this somewhere else, but the PK2 definitely sounds better WITHOUT an additional amp. just plug it right into your ipod (well, that's what i use anyhow) and it seems to playback happiest that way - sounding pretty good too.
the PK1 as said before NEED an additional amp. no way that thing's getting to outside levels with a normal headphone out (unless it's a sony D25, hehe!) but as said before, it's on an order of magnitude better than the PK2/KSC75/K81DJ.
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01-10-2007, 07:53 AM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Diego/Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,492
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahn
i think i posted this somewhere else, but the PK2 definitely sounds better WITHOUT an additional amp. just plug it right into your ipod (well, that's what i use anyhow) and it seems to playback happiest that way - sounding pretty good too.
the PK1 as said before NEED an additional amp. no way that thing's getting to outside levels with a normal headphone out (unless it's a sony D25, hehe!) but as said before, it's on an order of magnitude better than the PK2/KSC75/K81DJ.
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Would you consider an unamped PK2 to sound better than the K 81 DJ?
__________________
Sources: Enpower ENP611 Laptop (Realtek HD Audio ALC260) | iBasso D10 | iRiver iHP-120 | Apple iPod touch 2G | SanDisk Sansa Clip | Samsung YP-Z5 | Sony VAIO Pocket
Headphones: Westone UM3X | Koss KSC35/75/50
Gone/Unused: STAX SR-Λ/SR-404/SR-Λ Pro | Denon AH-D2000 APureSound | Westone 3 | Sennheiser IE8 | M-AUDIO IE-40 | Sennheiser HD 25 | AKG K 81 DJ | Sleek Audio SA6 | Klipsch Custom-3 | Klipsch Image X5 | JAYS q-JAYS | Shure E500PTH | YUIN PK2 | Future Sonics Atrio m5 (x2) | SoundMAGIC PL30 | V-MODA Vibe | Sennheiser CX300 | JBL Reference 220 | Ultrasone HFI-650 | Audio-Technica ATH-FC7 | JVC HA-FX33
Feedback: Head-Fi | eBay
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01-10-2007, 08:21 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 719
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Call me what you want, but I would not pay $70 for $1.50 of material and $0.03 of labor, regardless of how "good" they may sound. $70 isn't chump change, at least to some of us. If they were appropriately priced I would certainly go for a pair of decent earbuds.
But this is what you get, for 70 bucks:
I understand its your money to spend as you wish as I'm only adding my two cents to this discussion, but even in the Koss example the headphones are actually priced appropriately. Honestly, this is a little ridiculous.
__________________
'In it for the tunes!
Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT990, Sony MDR-7506, Westone UM2, Koss KSC-75, Super.fi 3 Live
Sources: Video iPod, Apple PowerBook G4
Amps/DAC: Echo Indigo DJ, hand built CMoy
Past Encounters: Super.fi 5 EB, Shure E4C, Super.fi 5 Pro, Grado SR-60
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01-10-2007, 08:32 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Jose/Sacramento
Posts: 2,856
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Quote:
Originally Posted by creyc
Call me what you want, but I would not pay $70 for $1.50 of material and $0.03 of labor, regardless of how "good" they may sound. $70 isn't chump change, at least to some of us. If they were appropriately priced I would certainly go for a pair of decent earbuds.
But this is what you get, for 70 bucks:
I understand its your money to spend as you wish as I'm only adding my two cents to this discussion, but even in the Koss example the headphones are actually priced appropriately. Honestly, this is a little ridiculous.
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even though at first look they seem "cheap" they might actually tailor more than just $1.50 of materials and $0.03 of labor
how would you rank the PK1, PK2, KSC75, and AKG K81DJ??? maybe even compare them to higher end headphones like HD595 or Grados?
__________________
E-MU 0404 USB
Denon AH-D2000 ///Audioengine A5B /// Sennheiser HD25-1 II /// KOSS KSC-35
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01-10-2007, 08:45 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 719
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kk, maybe $3 of material. But I KNOW there's less than 10 cents in labor.
__________________
'In it for the tunes!
Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT990, Sony MDR-7506, Westone UM2, Koss KSC-75, Super.fi 3 Live
Sources: Video iPod, Apple PowerBook G4
Amps/DAC: Echo Indigo DJ, hand built CMoy
Past Encounters: Super.fi 5 EB, Shure E4C, Super.fi 5 Pro, Grado SR-60
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01-10-2007, 09:10 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: On the other side of your monitor ^_^
Posts: 333
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I'm glad someone sees it my way. But with all the support, they might be good.
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01-10-2007, 09:56 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 719
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nenso
I'm glad someone sees it my way. But with all the support, they might be good.
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Erm...not entirely. I just have a real problem with the price. And I wasn't trying to be snobbish about it being built in china. Everything is built there, thats not the issue here.
__________________
'In it for the tunes!
Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT990, Sony MDR-7506, Westone UM2, Koss KSC-75, Super.fi 3 Live
Sources: Video iPod, Apple PowerBook G4
Amps/DAC: Echo Indigo DJ, hand built CMoy
Past Encounters: Super.fi 5 EB, Shure E4C, Super.fi 5 Pro, Grado SR-60
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