YUIN PK2 .... Earbud KILLER !!!! (mini review)

[m8o]

forgive me if I'm repeating this -- I started skimming after reading so many posts bashing these because of their looks w/o hearing them, some even going so far as saying they'd refuse to own or even listen to them (came close to starting to click my 'ignore' link) -- but the PK1 is made by hand like some of those more notable better looking candidates many here are citing.

On $$$ ... They are also the price they are, outside of China, because:

a) Yuin has not been successful in distribution -- I don't know if they even tried; I've been told by a (4 decades long) seasoned business developer / incubator who does some work in China there is a 'bad' phoilosophy pervading China of "let them come to me". Yuin does not have a distribution chain stretching into many 1000's of hi volume retailers.

b) they are sold at low volume outside China by regional distributors. As those people don't move many units, shipping and handling mandates they mark-up the price 100% to making a living wage selling them.

"Listen to me now and believe me later" <grin -- that's Hanz&Franz from SNL for our non-USA readers> these 'could' be say 1/3 the price if they were higher volume and purchased from your local retailer. I'm happy paying what I did @ the mark-up based on the performance out of these little things. With that said, I don't believe anyone that hears these wouldn't be astonished if they were priced as if they were sold @ high volume. Those in the know (who've heard them) however will realize even @ these prices, they're worth it.

And finally, the acid test to me is I gave them to my wife Christmas to replace the stock iPod buds, AND SHE NOTICES THE DIFFERENCE AND REALY LIKES THEM! This is a woman who :
a) is extremely fashionable -- was directory of design and marketing of a men's wear company. She could care less of the looks of them. If she doesn't care, I'm pretty surprised @ the guys here who are so hung-up on that and base everything on it.
b) doesn't give a rat's arse about the things I'm fanatical about; that being all aspects of audio reproduction performance and quality. If I can impress her by the sound of these things, I think I have something special!

[chesebert]

Originally Posted by PeterDLai

If any of you are wondering how the PK2 compare to the AKG K 81 DJ and the Koss KSC75, here is a brief comparison by Jahn:

So the question is why am I spending $70 on a ear bud with no foreseeable warranty when I can spend $15 on Koss and have lifetime warranty since they are similar in SQ?

[m8o]

Originally Posted by chesebert

So the question is why am I spending $70 on a ear bud with no foreseeable warranty when I can spend $15 on Koss and have lifetime warranty since they are similar in SQ?

?Who said? I don't have a lifetime warranty on my Yuin's, but I do have a 1 year warantee which includes the wire.

[jdimitri]

Because.. it's in an earbud? duh

The warranty's real, i got a replacement pair

[DJGeorgeT]

Some of you should just quit bashing a headphone maker from just preconceived notions with no hard facts. I am serious. This kind of stuff kills businesses and in a forum as large as Head-fi, it makes all the difference.

[kramer5150]

I'm on vacation and haven't had a chance to read through all of this thread.

But here are my PK2 impressions.

Sony RCD-W500C CD Recorder

Ive had a PK1 for a couple weeks, not long enough to post detailed impressions, but so far they are a step up from the PK2 in every way EXCEPT sensitivity. the PK1 has better bass extension/impact, treble extension/clarity, and detail resolution across all frequencies. The ~315Hz resonance I noted with the PK2 does not exist with the PK1. Overall the PK1 is more dry and accurate than the PK2.

Dont let the looks fool you, these both are very good sounding earbuds, and quite frankly the only buds I would spend a dime on. I for one DO NOT like earbuds. Every pair I have tried, even the $$$ ones always lack bass impact, warmth and enough "fun factor" to capture my interest. These however are different.... in a GOOD way.

I for one wouldn't call the PK2 the earbud killer. IMHO the speed/detail fanatics and anti-bassheads would probably enjoy the e888.

The PK1.... however.... NOW thats a different story all together.... To be Continued....

[kramer5150]

Originally Posted by DJGeorgeT

Some of you should just quit bashing a headphone maker from just preconceived notions with no hard facts. I am serious. This kind of stuff kills businesses and in a forum as large as Head-fi, it makes all the difference.

Forum readers need to pay close attention to many of the subjective comments and weigh their personal preferences carefully, before spending their hard earned $$$. It is all subjective, HOWEVER some subjective oppinions are made from personal first-hand experiences with various gear, while others are purely speculative regurgitation.

[m8o]

Originally Posted by DJGeorgeT

Some of you should just quit bashing a headphone maker from just preconceived notions with no hard facts. I am serious. This kind of stuff kills businesses and in a forum as large as Head-fi, it makes all the difference.

not to mention the "basher's" own credibility ... which quickly becomes "...or lack there of..." on a forum mostly filled with intelligent well tempered people who realize they'd better take a measured approach to what they post as it will be read by many many thousands of people around the world; who all form an opinion based on those postings and the context under which it is said...

[Nenso]

Ok you want some facts? The only reason I'm so paranoid is because I once bought this harddrive from a Chinese manufacturer.

Guess what, within 2 weeks... my 320gb worth of anime and music files all wiped clean.

After this, I decided to not ONLY to think twice.. but think 5 times before approaching something that may be promising like this.

[jdimitri]

What? Which hd isn't made in china?
Ipods, monitors, speakers.. majority of the non highend of everything is made in china

Things break.. thats just bad luck

[DJGeorgeT]

Originally Posted by Nenso

Ok you want some facts? The only reason I'm so paranoid is because I once bought this harddrive from a Chinese manufacturer.

Guess what, within 2 weeks... my 320gb worth of anime and music files all wiped clean.

After this, I decided to not ONLY to think twice.. but think 5 times before approaching something that may be promising like this.

I doubt you will be able to buy a HD made in Japan or USA. Maybe Thailand. Everything is made in China. And there is good chinese and bad chinese products.

Those little balanced armature receivers in the Ultimate Ears, Etymotic, Shure IEMs are made in China. So much for made in the USA!

[wlai]

Oh man, give it up Nenso.

[brn80]

Originally Posted by chesebert

So the question is why am I spending $70 on a ear bud with no foreseeable warranty when I can spend $15 on Koss and have lifetime warranty since they are similar in SQ?

Earbud != Clip-on

[Filburt]

As far as build quality goes, I haven't found anything alarming about the PK2. I find it to feel sturdier than the E888, and I'm probably less worried about it breaking than I was with the CM7, and I think it sounds better than either of them.

I'd also take these over the KSC35s, personally, but I know people's preferences vary on that matter. I don't like IEMs, so earbuds are pretty much what I look at when it comes to portable use.

*sigh*...looks like I'm not getting my camera until some time next week at best

[Elephas]

Originally Posted by Nenso

Guess what, within 2 weeks... my 320gb worth of anime and music files all wiped clean.

Somehow I can't help but to see this as a good thing. Maybe read some literature instead of watching anime, and re-rip those music files.

Originally Posted by kramer5150

The PK1.... however.... NOW thats a different story all together.... To be Continued....

Uh oh, this sounds ominous.