Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › 7 best earbuds rated. The winners are: Yuin PK1, Audio-Technica ATH-CM700, Yuin PK2
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7 best earbuds rated. The winners are: Yuin PK1, Audio-Technica ATH-CM700, Yuin PK2 - Page 3

post #31 of 116
6/20/07 at 3:54pm
Nice summary and welcome to the forum!!

I completely agree with you on the PK1. Its a great earbud. My only complaint is that its deep-bass doesn't extend quite as deep as the full sized cans in its price range. Although its deep-bass abilities completely destroy any other earbud I am aware of.

readers should note that you can significantly alter the sound of the PK1/2 with the different earpad foams. I bounce back and forth between the two pads all the time, depending on my mood and what I'm plugging them into.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Yuin Pk1 Earphones
$154 at
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post #32 of 116
6/21/07 at 5:09pm
Thread Starter 
This is the answer to PM:

Quote:
Originally Posted by antonyfirst
Hi Kostalex. I find your earphones review very interesting. I'd like to know some things more the ATH CM700. At first, do they need to be amped, like the Pk1?
I'd like to know how good they become with equalizer. I have a player very good at equalizing (its "Rock" preset brought LIFE to the thinny sounding Etymotic ER4S), and I'm curious to know if they can sound as good, or betterm, than the Yuin Pk1. I've seen also that you compared the CM700 to the Etymotic ER6i, but then... if I already have the ER4P, would the CM700 be a step back? Also, can you compare the Pk1 to properly amped (or equalized) ER4S?
Finally: how good do the Pk2 become with the 75 Ohm adapter? How do they would sound compared to the Pk1 and CM700?

Thanks for answering this huge list of questions
Cheers,

Tony
CM700 doesn't need to be amped, plays loud from iPod, while it benefits with amping. Using EQ, you may make it much warmer or correct its sounds otherwise. CM700 is quite versatile, nevertheless, there is no chance it will sound same to PK1:
- PK1 is warmer, CM700 bass is deeper.
- PK1 is smoother, CM700 is overdetailed to me.
- CM700 soundstage is wider
- PK1 mids are more natural
- I prefer PK1, my gf CM700

CM700 is couple of steps back from ER4P in terms of overall SQ, especially accuracy, smoothess and proper details. CM700 is couple of steps ahead in terms of soundstage and comfort.

RE: PK1 to ER4S. I've read your comparison of E500 to ER4P/S and I agree with it completely! I also prefer equalized (warmed-up) ER4P to E500. So, there are good news for you - PK1 exactly holds this sweet point between E500's warmth and lushness and ER4P's accuracy and clarity.

PK2 with 75 Ohm adapter benefits a little bit, but sounds too quiet. It is much better to add amp also. In this combo PK2 plays very good, like low-fi big can, reminds me SR80 with comfies. Nevertheless, PK1 or CM700 sounds even better with amp. Also note that PK2+75Ohm+amp < PK1 or CM700 unamped.

Thank you for interesting questions, Tony! I had a good time finding the answers
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post #33 of 116
6/21/07 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kramer5150 View Post
My only complaint is that its deep-bass doesn't extend quite as deep as the full sized cans in its price range. Although its deep-bass abilities completely destroy any other earbud I am aware of.
I think the bass almost goes as low as RS-1's (not that those are a deep bass benchmark), therefore I have no complaints with the pk1's bass considering their form factor. I could live with them as my only can.

They actually remind me a lot of RS-1's all around....

To the OP....welcome to Head-fi.
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post #34 of 116
7/1/07 at 7:48am
Quote:
CM700 strongest point is incredible soundstage. It is out-of-the-head, very wide, almost endless.
Are you exaggerating? I would most definately buy these over the YK1's if they have soundstage that's comparable to full sized cans.

Really.

And I see they have a same tonal balance similar to the AD700's, the EXACT phone I'm considering. Portable AD700's?? Even better!
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post #35 of 116
7/2/07 at 2:14am
If i like the sound of ES-7 can i say that i like PK2 as well?
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post #36 of 116
7/3/07 at 3:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dissembled View Post
Are you exaggerating? I would most definately buy these over the YK1's if they have soundstage that's comparable to full sized cans.

Really.

And I see they have a same tonal balance similar to the AD700's, the EXACT phone I'm considering. Portable AD700's?? Even better!
Yes, I'm exaggerating a bit - CM700 soundstage is not "almost endless". AD700 soundstage is almost endless, and CM700 has almost "AD700 soundstage" Anyway, CM700 soundstage is on par or even better than many full-size cans. Really.

With regards to tonal balance they have simillar proportions of different parts of sound spectrum - highs to mid and mid to low ratios. AD700 is overall warmer indeed. Both cans lacks of low end impact, while both are deep enough.

Is CM700 portable AD700? No. CM700 sounds sometimes dry in mids, and almost harsh in highs, but reveals better details than AD700. AD700 is smoother, more relaxed and polite. I consider CM700 to be kinda cross of AD700 and ER6i.
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post #37 of 116
7/3/07 at 3:38am
Thanks for the great review. I'm sure it will help a ton of people here.
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post #38 of 116
7/3/07 at 12:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraEvo View Post
If i like the sound of ES-7 can i say that i like PK2 as well?
I do not know ES-7 but I consider PK2 to have exact KSC-75 sound. So check KSC-75 yourself, or search forum for ES-7 to KSC-75 comparison. This may help.
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post #39 of 116
7/3/07 at 6:36pm
I find that with an amp and a P to S adapter, the KSC75 improve GREATLY. Am I the only one to think it? They even sound better than unamped Shure E500.
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post #40 of 116
7/3/07 at 11:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by antonyfirst View Post
I find that with an amp and a P to S adapter, the KSC75 improve GREATLY. Am I the only one to think it? They even sound better than unamped Shure E500.
You are not alone, KSC75 improve GREATLY with 75 Ohm resistors (P->S cable), indeed. Resistor mod one of the most popular mods of KSC75 as well as kramer mod (hole in the foam + drilled grill) and recabling.
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post #41 of 116
7/3/07 at 11:57pm
Interesting. I'd like to hear it. But that's one pricey damn earbud!
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post #42 of 116
7/4/07 at 5:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
You are not alone, KSC75 improve GREATLY with 75 Ohm resistors (P->S cable), indeed. Resistor mod one of the most popular mods of KSC75 as well as kramer mod (hole in the foam + drilled grill) and recabling.
kostalex, perhaps you can tell me your impressions of both KSC75 and ER4P while using P->S adapter & amp??

I'm thinking of getting IM716 (rebranded ER4P), but it'd be a waste of $85 to me if KSC75 sound better than the ER4P...
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post #43 of 116
7/4/07 at 6:04pm
I can answer to you. I'm using a Supermacro with P/S converter switched on.
The ER4S sound better with it, REALLY detailed. They are heaven. Bass boost gives them tons of bass, they stay detailed. They aren't analytical by no means.
The KSC75 sound great. The difference with or without amp is night and they. Man, they are power hungry, for those cheapos!
Bass is a bit boomy (typical KSC signature), but the overall sound is very good. While unamped ksc75 sound tinny (plus, high and low end are detached), when they are amped they have much more body to the sound.
The ER4s have more details and better balance throughout the spectrum, plus they are isolated.
The KSC75 sound by no means better than the ER4, but they sound better than unamped E500 (this, obviously, using a great amp like the Supermacro).
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post #44 of 116
7/6/07 at 1:21am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by grndslm View Post
kostalex, perhaps you can tell me your impressions of both KSC75 and ER4P while using P->S adapter & amp??

I'm thinking of getting IM716 (rebranded ER4P), but it'd be a waste of $85 to me if KSC75 sound better than the ER4P...
ER4P is superior to KSC75 and for $85 it is a steal, even rebranded. Yes, KSC75 grows much with amps, resistors and mods but it never enter into the reference league where ER4P/S is placed.

There are too many impessions on sounds of these cans made by very experienced head-fiers, that I see no sense to add my own. Search forum and headphonereviews.org (recommended) for detailed sound reviews.

BTW, where may you purchase im716 for $85? I think to get one also.
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post #45 of 116
7/6/07 at 3:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
ER4P is superior to KSC75 and for $85 it is a steal, even rebranded. Yes, KSC75 grows much with amps, resistors and mods but it never enter into the reference league where ER4P/S is placed.
Very nice to hear!

Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
BTW, where may you purchase im716 for $85? I think to get one also.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...6466&Tpk=im716
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Yuin Pk1 Earphones
$154 at
See it »
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › 7 best earbuds rated. The winners are: Yuin PK1, Audio-Technica ATH-CM700, Yuin PK2