CrossRoads MylarOne X3 [Pictorial + Short Review] - Page 4

How do these compare to the Alessandro MS-1 and Shure e2c?

Heh.

I've been listening, most of last night and all of today, with pink noise run overnight. I think there's too much mid-bass that seems to spill over a broad frequency range and not enough of everything else to complement it. The sound is a few steps shy of being called boomy, and it's definitely heavily veiled. I think the speed is fairly poor in the lower regions as well.

It seems to have an odd frequency curve. It's hard to tell if the mid-bass is contaminating everything or if the mid to upper-mid is just sucked out. There's definitely an odd sound as cymbals decay and the frequency crosses over this region, it goes from being relatively clear to muted.

It's fine for soft music like some cello pieces, which do sound quite good like the Fantastic Children Voyage (cello version), The Cranberries to Jewel/Michelle Branch to possibly techno, but for aggressive rock, it's not favoring well. Even slower metal like Dark Tranquility, melodic death metal, it seems murky and off-balance. When I hit it with thrash, like Slayer's Angel of Death, the bass seems like a rumble and the overall sound doesn't have much "snap" to it. When I hit it with death metal, Dismember's On Frozen Fields, the cymbal work is almost imperceptible behind the toms. When I hit it with extreme death metal, Hate Eternal's Behold Judas, it's pretty bad is the only way I can phrase it. As I listen to Sepultura's Dead Embryonic Cells, there's a huge gap between the cymbals and anything else. I've never noticed that before, like something is just sucked out.

Of course, I'll spend at least a month or two with them to see how it ends up.

this is highy dissapointing and seems somewhat contrary to what kramer and co have been saying. now i am thinking twice, maybe i shall just buy more tips and use my e4c's more.

Yes, I agree. Something is amiss. I'll analyze some basics tomorrow, like my insertion technique, if it's supposed to be inserted at all or just rest in the cups like an ear bud, etc. I'm not sure I want to play with tips just yet, as I do get a good seal and isolation.

Well this IS just one person's findings. You may have a completely different view of the X3's. Although...if you already have the E4C's, I don't know why you are looking into the X3's :P. The E4C's blow the X3's out of the water. The X3's are just a better value IMO.

the general consensus is that the mylarone x3s easily blow the shure e2cs out of the water, in many aspects. however, you can't even compare a dynamic driver in-ear monitor like the X3 to an open headphone like the alessandro ms-1. you may get an idea of how the soundstage sounds like and how they 'feel', but honestly, a MS-1 and a X3 can't be fairly compared

LOL ya I know they're different classes of headphones but just as a pure sound signature comparison, how do they sound?

The X3 is not the tell all end all, just a great earphone... FOR ITS PRICE. I would not call it a sonic miracle, but just a very well priced headphone

Hmm, there are impressions on how they sound in this thread and others in the forum. I'm not sure what you are looking for. MS1? No way in hell. I never heard the E2C.

As of right now, I wouldn't go that far in calling them great for the price. I would say they are OK for the price, IMO. In other words, they are about what they should be to generate interest and move stock, as you stated at the end.

FWIW, I didn't expect much when I bought them, despite the hype. I got them as an alternate beater for a change of pace, and it will serve that purpose well, if the construction holds up.

Edit: I just want to add that they sound better if I try not to push it into the ear canal but lay it up against the outside of the ear canal, like an ear bud but with the tip touching enough to block some noise. Isolation suffers, but I think that's how it was intended to be used. The sound improved immensely, otherwise I'd say they don't even stack up to $5 ear buds. The pull your ear up, open your mouth, from other posts on the forum made it sound like it should be inserted like an IEM.

Going down to Jaben on monday after school. I think i should call em up first and see if they have stock for the mylar3's ...

I think Hollands description of the X3s are accurate. I happen to like that sound signature. I hate, hate bright phones that are harsh. I like smooth and warm sound with detail. I like mids somewhat recessed to add depth to the sound and to prevent harshness. I also like a nice strong mid bass to really push the kick drum. They are a little on the slow side since the low bass can overrun the upper bass on kick drum. Not good for thrash metal. The highs are rolled off too. Not good for jazz or classical if you need air of the room or music hall that was recorded. Not sure why anyone would listen to IEM for jazz or classical anyway (can't imagine having a orchestra in my head!). What they do excel at is straight up rock. Throw in Live at Leeds and Keith Moon will sound nice and powerful. Throw in Porcupine Tree and the drums will have that umph that i love. Power. If you want speed get some analytical type phone. These are not for you.