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Another Yuin PK-1 Review! - Page 2

post #16 of 30
7/1/07 at 3:33pm
how does treble emphasis compare between the pk1 and pk2?
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Yuin Pk1 Earphones
AKG K701 Studio Headphones
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post #17 of 30
7/1/07 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kramer5150 View Post
My oppinions...

I dont think the PK1 compares favorably to the K701. The K701 has so much detail and resolution as notes/sounds decay. While I would say note attack is very similar. Its the "descent" of notes that JUST FLOORS me with the K701. FWIW, the 701 also outshines the RS1 (my favorite can) in this regard. IMHO the 701 soundstage is much bigger than the PK1 too. Note that it takes some seriously revealing sources, and synnergetic amps to expose these differences

No knock against the PK1... come on... we're comparing a $125 earbud to a K701. I think the PK1 deserves some praise to even be mentioned in this light.

I also tend to prefer the PK1 unamped over the PK2 I demo'd. The PK2 doesn't quite have the bass extension of the PK1. You all should note that unamped for me means a vintage PCDP. So... IMHO its all relative to the capabilities of your unamped source.
As I stated in one of my previous posts, the imaging and detail is better in the 701 than the PK-1, but frequency response, tonal balance, and smoothness are quite similar. Bass is as tight and solid as the 701, IMHO. Sweeping both with an audio generator sounds virtually identical to me, although that is with only a single tone, rather than complex musical passages.

The PK-1 is considerably more efficient than the 701...comparable volumes are about the 10:00 position of the volume knob with the PK-1 vs about 2:30 position with the 701 when using my SM-IV LE. The PK-1 sound beautiful when driven my my Xin Micro.

Still, a very remarkable phone overall, even more so for an earbud!
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post #18 of 30
8/6/07 at 6:13pm
How do the pk1s compare to Shure e500s?
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post #19 of 30
8/16/07 at 2:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shiezan View Post
How do the pk1s compare to Shure e500s?
IMO...they're better.
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post #20 of 30
8/16/07 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfen68 View Post
IMO...they're better.
x2.. no contest. I can't think of a single sonic element the e500 beats the PK1 at, so long as the PK1 is amped properly. Well... isolation of course, but thats a given.
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post #21 of 30
8/16/07 at 3:52pm
Quote:
That plus its lack of isolation does not make it ideal in outside settings, does it not?

This applies to the PK2's as well. They don't isolate that well so really...I don't see the point of ever using them outside. Don't you guys find you have to turn the volume way up on your portables just to hear the music?
I walk around crossing busy city streets and I absolutely don't want isolation to the point that I won't hear a honking taxicab, etc. One of the reasons I haven't gotten IEMs.
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post #22 of 30
8/16/07 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kramer5150 View Post
x2.. no contest. I can't think of a single sonic element the e500 beats the PK1 at, so long as the PK1 is amped properly. Well... isolation of course, but thats a given.

I would bet money that on straight sound quality alone, the pk-1 would ultimately prove better than even the new UE-11.

High-end IEM's have a great wow factor in a small package, but I haven't heard one yet that really can compete with a full size headphone such as a RS-1 or K701. The pk-1 can run with that crowd with some self-respect.

...and yes I have heard a UE custom...I own one....and so far the pk-1 tromps that $600 investment.
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post #23 of 30
8/16/07 at 10:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfen68 View Post
I would bet money that on straight sound quality alone, the pk-1 would ultimately prove better than even the new UE-11.

High-end IEM's have a great wow factor in a small package, but I haven't heard one yet that really can compete with a full size headphone such as a RS-1 or K701. The pk-1 can run with that crowd with some self-respect.

...and yes I have heard a UE custom...I own one....and so far the pk-1 tromps that $600 investment.
Sometimes I look for forum posts to justify a purchase especially a purchase that goes against the grain; Your post on the PK-1's did that and coming from someone that always feels like he's been missing out on the sound experience of Canal / IEM phones ( due to various reasons with my ears ), it's nice to be reassured that the PK-1's are as close as I'm going to get to competing with IEM's for sound and portability, while also being mentioned in the same company as some well respected full size phones. Amazing earbuds!!
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post #24 of 30
8/18/07 at 2:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfen68 View Post
I would bet money that on straight sound quality alone, the pk-1 would ultimately prove better than even the new UE-11.
I believe that would be taking it too far. Although it would be awesome if it were so saving us a thousand clams.

Recalling from one of kramer's post, he found the PK1s a bit lacking in the sub bass department while the UE11s have layers of detailed lows so my guess is these would be the major differences. The PK1s would be no slouch on other areas though.

People that have the UE11s can easily afford the PK1s. I hope we'll see a detailed comparison on these great portables.
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post #25 of 30
8/18/07 at 3:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dissembled View Post
Read many reports here stating that the PK1's perform the best when amped. That plus its lack of isolation does not make it ideal in outside settings, does it not?

This applies to the PK2's as well. They don't isolate that well so really...I don't see the point of ever using them outside. Don't you guys find you have to turn the volume way up on your portables just to hear the music?

What am I not getting?
Like any bud these work best when you want to walk outside and be aurally aware of your surroundings. I use them for walking the dog. When I see people I know I don't have to take them out of my ears to talk, I just turn down the volume.

One issue with these is that the cord length is very long at around 58 inches from bud to plug. Someone previously suggested using an ER6 clip. This works great to not only shore up the cable length but also take the stress off of the buds in your ears. Without the tug from the cord they tend to stay in place better.
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post #26 of 30
8/18/07 at 2:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusL View Post
I believe that would be taking it too far. Although it would be awesome if it were so saving us a thousand clams.

Recalling from one of kramer's post, he found the PK1s a bit lacking in the sub bass department while the UE11s have layers of detailed lows so my guess is these would be the major differences. The PK1s would be no slouch on other areas though.

People that have the UE11s can easily afford the PK1s. I hope we'll see a detailed comparison on these great portables.

There's no doubt that certain IEM's may have traits better than some of the traits of a pk-1. However, I'll continue to stick by my belief that the pk-1 as a whole still provides a better overall presention than any IEM developed to date. As an extra note, I sold my $550 modified HF-1's because they could not match the pk-1's bass in quality (not quantity).

I'm sure that the UE-11 will be great for an IEM, but I've seen too many IEM's come through here that were stated as the greatest thing ever...and then three months later they fade into the woodwork (for example the E500's that were supposedly the BEST during the first reviews....even over UE-10's and full size headphones). In the long run, that belief did not prevail.
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post #27 of 30
8/18/07 at 2:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Schu View Post
Like any bud these work best when you want to walk outside and be aurally aware of your surroundings. I use them for walking the dog. When I see people I know I don't have to take them out of my ears to talk, I just turn down the volume.

One issue with these is that the cord length is very long at around 58 inches from bud to plug. Someone previously suggested using an ER6 clip. This works great to not only shore up the cable length but also take the stress off of the buds in your ears. Without the tug from the cord they tend to stay in place better.
Funny, but I was walking with the PK1s the other day, and their long cable notwithstanding, it kept getting caught under my shirt-tail. I immediately wished I had a shirt clip for them. Wasn't sure if an Ety clip would attach, but if you are using it, then it must work. So I just ordered 3 ($3 each so might as well stock up since S&H is $6). Thanks.
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post #28 of 30
11/20/08 at 11:22pm

No good

The Yuin PK-1 phones sound like a ball of fuzz.

In the same price range, I compared them with my Sony MDR-EX90LP, which are not buds but semi-IEMs. There's no contest. The Sony have more bass and are sharp and clear.

I also compared with Shure Ec3s. It was like AM vs FM.

Someone asked how the PK-1s compare to Shure e500s. They wouldn't.
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post #29 of 30
11/21/08 at 12:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by apollo1800 View Post
The Yuin PK-1 phones sound like a ball of fuzz.

In the same price range, I compared them with my Sony MDR-EX90LP, which are not buds but semi-IEMs. There's no contest. The Sony have more bass and are sharpER and clearER.

I also compared with Shure Ec3s. It was like AM vs FM.

Someone asked how the PK-1s compare to Shure e500s. They wouldn't.
Well, every person can have their own opinions. But please, don't post comments like that without proper fundamentation, as they can lead to wrong impressions.
Just wondering, did you try them amped?
I tried the PK1's a long time ago; and IMO, when amped, they were as good as my Triple.Fi's, if not better in some areas.
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post #30 of 30
6/28/10 at 9:02am

36646_576542063365_44409147_33208164_6797614_n.jpg

 

That's how I wear these headphones, with the chord going behind my back. I used them for 6+ hours a day at my job, which involved constant and varied movement, and I absolutely love the comfort level that these provide. I also don't have any problems with them falling out. Once I had heard that the PK1 provide the kind of sound signature akin to full-sized headphones I decided to try them out as a replacement for the G1A which, coincidentally, I had bought from Ron. The G1A are terrific, but if I could get good sound out of an earbud, I was willing to try it if it meant superior comfort, portability, and concealability. As it turns out, the PK1 certainly served all 3 roles. I thought the G1A were pretty comfortable with the KSC75 clips, but the PK1 exceeds it. As an earbud, it's definitely more portable and concealable. As far as sound goes, I actually prefer the PK1 over my RE0; I just love the inviting, warm sound. When I listen to the PK1, I just want to do a cannonball into the music. As Ron said, the music is the only thing you notice.

 

 

EDIT: Ron, just curious, what are your thoughts regarding a comparison between the PK1 and the G1A, if you can recall, or even the G1? Honestly ever since I got the PK1 I never reach for the G1A.


Edited by f4phantom2500 - 7/10/10 at 5:34pm
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Yuin Pk1 Earphones
AKG K701 Studio Headphones
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