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7 best earbuds rated. The winners are: Yuin PK1, Audio-Technica ATH-CM700, Yuin PK2 - Page 5

post #61 of 116
9/19/07 at 4:39am
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post #62 of 116
9/19/07 at 6:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
PK1 powered straight from Shuffle is not better overall than PK2. They are pretty close in this case, though it depends on your genres preferences. With fast rock/metal, PK1<-Shuffle is even worse than PK2<-Shuffle.

With regards to Shuffle -> XIN combo, I wonder if it worth it? Shuffle SQ is so-so and I doubt that it will be much better amped. Please, check and let us know what do you think. It is really interesting to know.

Marshmallow sound very much better kramer modded. I modded mine and use them with Shure E2 tips. Now I like them more than V-Moda Vibes and consider them (based on memories, not direct comparison) very close to UM2.
Thanks! Hmmm, seems I won't be getting PK1 for shuffle...

So, what's in your opinion best phone match for iPod shuffle?

(I've also got Shure's Soft Flex Sleeves on Marshmallow, but I still prefer the openness and clearness of V-Moda over them...)
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post #63 of 116
9/19/07 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrYman View Post
So, what's in your opinion best phone match for iPod shuffle?

(I've also got Shure's Soft Flex Sleeves on Marshmallow, but I still prefer the openness and clearness of V-Moda over them...)
Have you krammer modded them?

Best phone match for Shuffle... It depends a lot on how and where do you listen your music. I found that I use Shuffle in situations where plain SQ is not the first priority.

Look, ATH-CM700 sounds better from Shuffle than PK1, but it does not have enough bass weight to serve well the purpose of background listening at noisy streets. So I switched back to PK1.

Also, I prefer CX300 to Shure E500 in gym and on the transports. Sure, E500 is perfect sounding IEM, but it requires more time to insert and remove, its cord is thick, fit is more complex. It is also quite expensive to use it these hazardous (for headphone) situations.

I did not listen to V-Moda Remix, but I read good things about it. And I doubt that PK1/PK2 is much better than Remix straight out of the Shuffle. But if you plan to use it with some powerful quality sources also (iPod 5G is enough), than I heartidly recommend you to upgrade to PK1. PK2 is very good also, while PK1 is better enough to justify its pricing, so this choice is just the matter of wallet. If you like bass driven sound of Remix, then you unlikely like dry sound of ATH-CM700.

I doubt also that you will like any IEMs, if you are looking for openness. Marshmallow is among the most opened IEMs, close to V-Moda Vibe. I do not know any more opened IEMs to recommend.
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post #64 of 116
9/19/07 at 11:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidw89 View Post
Have we got earbud headphone/canal prices recommendation similiar to the range of Pk3 Yuin?
I did not hear PK3. ClieOS suggested to place PK3 above MX500, on the same row as E888, see graph in original post. So we may consider E888 (espec.modded) and Sennheiser earbuds MX500 and MX75 are in PK3 range. I beleive that similar Senns from other product lines (street, style, see http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite...p?transid=cat5) share the same sound, while offer different housings.

I consider that following canal phones are also in this range or slightly above it:
Shure E2
CX300
D-Jays
Vibe
Modded Marshmallow
UM1
Ultimate Ears 3 studio

while Sony EX-71/51, stock Marshmallow are slightly below.
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post #65 of 116
9/20/07 at 7:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
Have you krammer modded them?
I don't know about the krammer mod... I've searched this forum and didn't find it -- you've got a link so I check it out if it's it?

I simply pulled off both original tips and both pieces of hard plastic under them and put on the Shure soft tips...

Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
Best phone match for Shuffle... It depends a lot on how and where do you listen your music. I found that I use Shuffle in situations where plain SQ is not the first priority.
Most of the time I listen to it in my office which is mostly silent, and next in my car... in both situations IEM are not really suitable, because I need to hear talks and external sounds... Are there any IEMs which don't isolate that much?

Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
Look, ATH-CM700 sounds better from Shuffle than PK1, but it does not have enough bass weight to serve well the purpose of background listening at noisy streets. So I switched back to PK1.
I've just listened/compared shuffle->Remix vs. shuffle->XIN4-> Remix and truly, I hear almost no difference in SQ nor volume levels -- IMO the only advantage of using XIN4 is to switch it to more bass, since shuffle has no EQ... Moreoever, if I put XIN4 for more amplification there is just too much noise with Remix. I'd say that's only good for phones with higher impedance like HD600... and perhaps it would do well with PK1, I wonder...

Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
Also, I prefer CX300 to Shure E500 in gym and on the transports. Sure, E500 is perfect sounding IEM, but it requires more time to insert and remove, its cord is thick, fit is more complex. It is also quite expensive to use it these hazardous (for headphone) situations.
CX300 sounds as an interesting option... so, where would you put them in your chart -- which earbuds are closest to them? Are they better than MX500 and Marshmallow? Close to PK2?

Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
I did not listen to V-Moda Remix, but I read good things about it. And I doubt that PK1/PK2 is much better than Remix straight out of the Shuffle. But if you plan to use it with some powerful quality sources also (iPod 5G is enough), than I heartidly recommend you to upgrade to PK1. PK2 is very good also, while PK1 is better enough to justify its pricing, so this choice is just the matter of wallet. If you like bass driven sound of Remix, then you unlikely like dry sound of ATH-CM700.
I think I’ll stick with shuffle when on move. At home I listen to DT770 and HD600 anyway via HeadFive and USB Transit (planning to “exchange” those two for iBasso D1)… I’d go for something else than shuffle only if it would be a very small MP3 player with line-out to use it with Xin IV and say PK1 – any such out there?

Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
I doubt also that you will like any IEMs, if you are looking for openness. Marshmallow is among the most opened IEMs, close to V-Moda Vibe. I do not know any more opened IEMs to recommend.
OK, thanks! Re IEMs, I think I’ll wait and see how Westone 3 do when out… if ever out! huh
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post #66 of 116
9/20/07 at 11:57pm
Thread Starter 
JVC FX33 Kramer Mod http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=226005

"...Are there any IEMs which don't isolate that much?..." No.

CX300 is much better than stock Marshmallow. If you mod Marshmallow, then difference of SQs is not obvious. I'd better describe it as different signatures:
CX300 - bright (not dry), vivid, fun, aggressive, closed.
JVC - smooth, warm, relaxed, with distant mids, open.
CX300 is better than MX500 and quite close to PK2 in terms of overall SQ, while PK2 is still more balanced, accurate and smooth.

I doubt than Westone 3 is (will be) open as well as any microarmature IEMs. They all need strong isolation.
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post #67 of 116
9/29/07 at 5:01pm
Can someone give me an idea how Kramer-modded KSC75 headphones stack up on this chart? It would be interesting to know how they rate since KSC75s are cheaper than these earphones reviewed here and may very well give some of these products a run for their money.
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post #68 of 116
9/30/07 at 1:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jyt View Post
Can someone give me an idea how Kramer-modded KSC75 headphones stack up on this chart? It would be interesting to know how they rate since KSC75s are cheaper than these earphones reviewed here and may very well give some of these products a run for their money.
May post #24 help?
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post #69 of 116
9/30/07 at 1:28pm
Sorry, didn't see that, thx.
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post #70 of 116
10/25/07 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kostalex View Post
EDIT oct 5, 07: Abandoned CM700 and returned to ingenius PK1
...and what's the reason? Stopped using iPod shuffle??? Or do you think shuffle is good/powerful enuff to drive em?!
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post #71 of 116
10/25/07 at 7:43pm
Thanks for all the great information here!

My question concerns the output of the shuffle vs the nano. I have the nano would like to use it with the PK1. How does the output compare? Any comments would help a lot!
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post #72 of 116
11/5/07 at 2:28pm
What's impedance of Yuin PK1 and what of PK2? I couldn't find this info on Yuin website or elsewhere...

BTW, it would be nice to see where q-JAYS "fall" into your chart...
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post #73 of 116
11/5/07 at 3:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrYman View Post
What's impedance of Yuin PK1 and what of PK2? I couldn't find this info on Yuin website or elsewhere...

BTW, it would be nice to see where q-JAYS "fall" into your chart...
The PK1 is 150ohm and PK2 is 16±2.5ohm
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post #74 of 116
11/5/07 at 4:44pm

They can't be that good!

I compared PK1s, PK2s, MX400s, and E888s using my LD MKIV SE tube amp and audiophile classical CDs. The PK1s are the pick of this litter because they sound almost as good as full size phones like MS1s and K501s with K701 pads. But what makes them really special is they combine audiophile SQ and a wide and deep sound stage with the ability to miraculously disappear which makes the PK1 the Holy Grail of earphones or so it seems to me.
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post #75 of 116
11/6/07 at 12:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrYman View Post
What's impedance of Yuin PK1 and what of PK2? I couldn't find this info on Yuin website or elsewhere...

BTW, it would be nice to see where q-JAYS "fall" into your chart...
Are you sure you were in the right Yuin website? There is a Taiwan site which is a different manufacturer. AFAIK, Yuin doesn't have a website of their own.

[EDIT] I just found their address: Yuin.net.cn. I tried the address but can't seem to connect to it.
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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