Maximo iM-490 review? vs iM-390 ?

[nowyoucanlaugh]

So, just got home to find them on my doorstep, and I can say that my impressions nearly the same as Michael_B's. I recently bought the Altec Lansing im716s and the super.fi 3s, and have been doing a 1-2-3 comparison. Keep in mind that the iM-490s haven't burned in, whereas the other two have gotten 100+ hours. I'm driving them off of my cowon D2 with 256+ mp3/ogg, and have to say the sound is amazing.

I'm using the medium tips, and the fit is really nice with my ears...I've found that the best thing about the 490s is the clarity of the sound. It is almost comparable to the detail I get from the im716s; I would argue that there is actually a greater degree of separation of instruments (and vox, etc.), and the sound is not quite as analytical. The bass is loose in comparison to the mids and highs, but still impressive for a shallow in-ear phone.

Overall, the signature is somewhat similar to that of the super.fi 3s, though the super.fis have a slightly warmer (but muddier) sound. However, there is a surprising amount of microphonics (far less than im716), and the phones are HUGELY seal dependent; just playing around with the fit a little completely changes the sound for me. Virtually no sibilance, but they definitely do not handle high volumes well as noted by Michael. They get distorted pretty quickly; and with the lack of isolation it is very unlikely that I will use them for commute (bus) or at school. I'd have to push the volume too high for my good, and that in combination with the distortion = no for me.

Though I don't have something like the e4cs to compare to, I'd have to say that overall the im-490s are a good compromise between the im716 and sufi 3 for the budget range. It takes some of the best and worst qualities of each in terms of sound quality, and the build quality seems phenomenal. I may play around with foamies to see what kind of isolation I can get, and if it is halfway decent, there is a good chance that these may be my portables for the time being. Definitely as good as the mylarone x3s I had been using for 6 months (they eventually broke like the x3s seem to tend to do, so that impression may just be me being so glad about buying the iM-490s, I can't exactly remember the sound :P).

[Cal3257]

yea, i'm using the large tips which i think is weird cuz my ears rn't very big. still playing around w/ the seal. does anyone know where i can get better tips for better isolation that fit these?

[Michael_B]

nowyoucanlaugh -
did you route the cables up and over the ears, or straight down? With the cables up and over, I get almost no microphonics at all. I find it easier to get proper placement with the exit down however. The foamies I had didn't fit I'm hoping Andrew is still reading this thread and maybe has a solution.
Agree with you 100% that they are hugely sensitive to seal (and orientation). Hard to be consistant.

[shigzeo]

they look very much like the kenwood c711. those were the best sounding canalphones i have heard - not a hard bone in the body.

[nowyoucanlaugh]

Originally Posted by Michael_B

nowyoucanlaugh -
did you route the cables up and over the ears, or straight down? With the cables up and over, I get almost no microphonics at all. I find it easier to get proper placement with the exit down however. The foamies I had didn't fit I'm hoping Andrew is still reading this thread and maybe has a solution.
Agree with you 100% that they are hugely sensitive to seal (and orientation). Hard to be consistant.

Same deal here; doing an over-the-ear greatly reduced the sonic quality for me...I can't get the same fit with the pole thingy restricting placement.

I tried UE foamies, but the driver stud isn't long enough to support them...I may play around with modifying that though, or just make some custom foamies.

[Cal3257]

same here, over the ear definitely reduced the microphonics, which would prevent me from hearing intrusive sounds when i'm walking/moving. but...just didn't sound as good. difficult for me to keep the cable behind me ear for some reason, i guess the metal sleeve that comes out and protects the cable contributes to that, not so sure why i can't get it to fit the same with over the ear. sounds better w/ the wires coming straight down

[kite7]

I seems like the more I listen to the 490 the less I am impressed with it. The vocals are overpowered by the boomy bass. I burned them in for over 40 hours pink noise and nothing seems to have changed

[Cal3257]

can anyone tell me where i can obtain better fitting/comfortable, better isolating, better sounding tips that will fit these maximo 490's? cuz i think that may improve these and improve the isolation so i can use it outside/subway, thanks

[kite7]

Ultimate Ear universal fit kit works, can be found on ebay

[Michael_B]

Originally Posted by kite7

Ultimate Ear universal fit kit works, can be found on ebay

Interesting.. Nowyoucanlaugh indicated that UE foamies didn't work, which was also my experience. Which UE tips did you find that worked?

I've burned them in with about 70 hrs or so now and found the bass has tightened up a bit, and the mid's have flattened out a bit, so overall I'd say the balance has improved. Still, the hardest thing is getting these positioned just right.. just too touchy with the supplied tips to just casually put them in my ears without playing with them.

[Michael_B]

Finally.. photos attached

[kite7]

I see the Maximo has more of a mirror finish compared to the A4tech I have. Maybe I will try removing the filter on mine and see what improvements I get

[BuddTX]

I have several pairs of these, and for 12.99 these are the best bang for your buck that I have ever found!

Would like to find a foam tip (like the sure olives) that would fit these . . .

My EDC IEM is my WestOne 3, so I have a good reference point, and the more I listen to my WestOne3, the more amazed I am on the sound quality of these headsets.

For 12.99, I cannot imagine a better deal!