Audio Technica ATH-IM02 balanced amature inner earphone

I'm not going to review this,so just put honest comment here.
 
 
Comfort is decent, Isolation is so that I can't hear my mother yell, Light bass but punchy and tight ... I don't care about bass so just put it as that ,
Detail and soundstage is decent for a price (I except a big upgrade from SHE3590 and RE400 but for IEM I guess it can't be as Dramatically as Speaker or Headphone),
Natural sound treble wise, not so Analytical as monitor headphone thought.
 
 
But what stand out the most is Vocal, especially Female Vocal! Female vocal tonality is so beautiful so that I take a big smile when I'm listening to my JPop Singer track,
I dare you to say which IEM can do vocal as beautiful as this, it even put RE400 to shame!
Oh and male vocal are quiet handsome too (but more gay-lish thought)
 
Just beware that treble can sound harsh with high impedance output thought.
 
Out of Ipod Classic is sound queit good
Out of AK100ii is sound Excellent Good
Out of Dpx1 Balanced out is sound I hope that I know it! (someday)
 
 
You can find many IEM that has better SQ than this, But for female vocal This is the Unbeatable Queen!

Disclaimer : Im no professional audiophile or a audio critic. I consider myself an enthusiasts that is trying out new equipment and also demanding of my audio products. Please go easy on me. 
 
Songs i listen to : Mainly Pop, acoustic versions or just vocal-centric.. Muscials, sometimes classical music for studying.. EDM sometimes on good days 
 
 
Introduction : 
So i was looking for a new earphone, an upgrade from my Klipsch R6, saw some SE215 LE's and was about to purchase them, i was worried about the fit, so as we all say 'Try before you buy'. I went to the local store to try it out. The shop representatives also passed me some Westone UM10 PRO's to have a go at it. Verdict, I found the signature on the 215s similar to my R6, nothing much to shout about, a fun sounding earpiece. The Westone's was lacking in bass but was very clear. So the representative took out these IM-02's and got me to try. PHEW was i blown away. However, i found the price a tad hefty and had to leave for my appointment anyway. Man.. was i impressed by these Earphones.
 
So i found a second hand pair from a fellow headfier and proceeded to purchase one promptly. Process was smooth
 
So on these IM-02's 
 

 
 
Build Quality - Solid. Feels solid in your fingers. Cables have a good feeling to them and they have these memory segment where it loops over the ear. Some people dont like it, But i personally dig it. They allow me to forgot that these were in my ears after awhile. Taking the weight off these beasts. 
 
Cable Security - They never once disconnected and never felt loose in anyway 
 
Sound Quality - Here goes. The Clarity would hit you right off, making Sam Smith's voice sound so clear, even on songs from musicals such as Phantom, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, voices from the cast are just so distinct. Since i'm listening to some musical songs, soundstage is wide and imaging was good, having that theatre feel all over again. I found that after since acquiring these, i felt the need to listen to more vocal and acoustic songs, just to take advantage of the clarity. The Mids are very forward sounding, and have lots of detail. Highs are clear, does not have any sibilance effect too. 
 
About the Low ends, thats where these might lack. Don't get me wrong. These beasts do pack a punch, just that it doesn't have all that rumble that some of those EXTRA BASS earphones have. Bass doesnt really cross over to the mids, getting clean, punchy bass that performs even on some EDM track. I like to listen to hip hop songs sometimes such as 50 Cents' 'Candy Shop' and they still give me a very sweet sounding bass response. Not overwhelming and still enjoyable. 
 
Accessories - They come with the standard 3 sizes of stock tips, plus a pair of COMPLY ISOLATION T-500 tips. There was a case too. 
Verdict : stock tips were fine. nothing much to shout about. Not a real fan of foam tips and the stock tips gave me enough comfort and isolation to not want to change to the foam ones. The Case was a disappointment though. As these tips have a 'memory' cable, i don't want to squeeze them into the case and then remodel them to the contours of my ears again. I bought a Pelican 1010 to resolve this issue.
 
Verdict - These pair may not be for everyone, but i sincerely vocal and acoustic lovers to give them a shot. Try to find one off the bay or from your local marketplace with the right price for you and these might work out just fine. 
 
 
Purchased some Spinfit's off the bay' and was curious about how they sounded. 
 

 

These were how they looked like
 
So i was quite excited about these tips, hoping they improved my listening experience, but they dont seem to stay in the ear as well as the stock tips! Sometimes they slide out after awhile and doesnt have the isolation of the stock tips. 
 
Will update when i try the JVC Spiral Tips! 
 
Do comment on how i can improve on my review! 

Color! Because I feel in the mood for it. No, not really, this is just for the comparison.
So, Red, & Green?
Red - Not For Me.
Green - Solid, & something I personally like.
 
Comparison is going to be the first part of this review.
IM50 vs IM02
 
IM50
- Comfort of tips, Thick Mids(Sometimes so thick sounding it they become congestive), Shell can be hard to fit in some ears
- Great Upper Bass response, Highs are light(You get the required ting, without piercing through other layers), Great Vocal Iteration 
 
Opinion?:
I feel these are a SOLID choice to anyone who's into spending $50 and being surprised. Some layers aren't as exposed as others which makes this hard to recommend to just anyone.
They feel solid, look solid, and are quite durable. Replacement cables can be found, and I'd highly recommend some if you wanted to color your sound a bit.
They go OK with an Amp. Personally at 10 Ohms I feel like they're being pushed enough.
If you wanted to use an Amp, I'd suggest the Mayflower Electronics CMOY Portable Amp, it'll increase the camber of the Mids and slightly helps redefine the Soundstage.
Great piece.
I recommend getting them as a "stay at home", or "bed bound" experience as the warm sound satisfies just that. 
 
IM02
- Comfort, A Bit Open, Bright at times, Flattened Low End Bass
- Acoustic lovers dream piece, Poppy Highs, Fantastic HiFi Mid Range
 
Opinion?:
SOLID, possibly the only way to give pure definition.
If I were asked by someone if they should buy the IM50, or the IM02, I'd have trouble though...
The Low End Bass may not be enough to cure what Bassheads like and isn't well rounded enough in general to be a Warmer Earphone like its younger brother, the IM50.
If I were approached in need of reason to chose them over the IM50, I'd go along with this.
 
The IM50 is Dark, Smooth, similar to the likes of the SE215 with a bouncy, robust, almost dark chocolate like warmth, it's bombastic, and shares the kind likes of a "fun" Earphone. Vocals are sharp! A killer Mid Range sound is complimented with almost fuzzier genres, leaving Hip-Hop out of the question, it can work, but it's not the IM50s' forte. 
Highs are there, but are drastically flooded out in genres that need that extra boost in the Low End Bass to preform. It's a risk if you want HiFi, but a steal if you like warmth.
 
Now the IM02, what's different?
It's an upgrade for an IM50 user, though nearing Mid Bright Sounding.
Highs are pitched for this piece. Why?
Highs come off beautifully, and I'd argue this heads into the HiFi level of things. Almost Monitor Earphones. Tings, shambling, riding, and withering Highs make this come of extremely dry.
 
As the IM50 is compared to warm, and east to melt dark chocolate.
The IM02 is just like Peach Mango, a tasteful Earphone, fulfilling enough for some Warm Sound lovers, juicy, almost mouthwatering quality to anyone trying to enter High End Earphones with a $100 puch.
As I said, Highs are pitched, they enter Mid Range HiFi Standards of this new era of Audio Standards.
They aren't as bombing or competitive with specific genres. 
I wouldn't argue this is full sounding, as the Mids are covering most of the ground for these with Bass Guitar lines mainly filling up the space. Classical works moderate for these and is a certain expression point for good trial music to test their Acoustic Surroundings.
Soundstage is something I could argue as accurate for this Earphone, not accurate to where band members would be standing, but accurate in coordination points to other listening devices with Open Range Soundstage.
Lows are BUMPY, and really that's the only way a friend, & I could describe them.
They aren't Bass Fulfillment Earphones, but give a thunderous Bass that's more like a rumbling than anything else.
 
Who would I recommend these to? I'd argue that someone who wants a Clean Monitor Sound might enjoy these.
 
 
Up next, Burn In:
 
Now I'm not gonna layer it into your skull if you don't believe, but read this otherwise.
 
Only Burn In with your Music Library!
I believe some people get too much placebo effect from trying to commit to a Burn In, using Pink Noise, then expecting better outcomes.
 
These Earphones will need a Quality Burn In nearing 100+ Hours Burn In for whatever you choose to buy.
 
IM50 Burn In Expectations:
Just expect a thump to the Bass. 
Relaxed High Pitch Frequencies that don't slam into your Eardrums.
Thicker Bass, a bit more surrounding, but a more rapid pace.
 
IM02 Burn In Expectations:
Highs become more mellowed out.
Brighter Mids, detailed almost Bright Sounding Guitar Play.
Crash Rides gain a bit of detail.
Drums become Highlight Points.