New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Atrio M5 vs Sleek Audio SA6

post #1 of 28
7/7/08 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 
Hi All,

I bought a pair of Atrio M5's a year back. Thanks to all on this forum for the help and pointing me towards this great pair of earphones.

Unfortunately, I left the phones in my trouser pocket while doing laundry and now one side doesn't work.

So, looks like I'm in the market for a new set of IEM's. I would've chosen another pair of Atrios's hands down had I not heard so much about the SA-6 and read the reviews on this site.

Now on to what I am looking for:

1) I like a lot of bass. Not the kind which muddies the music but loud and deep enough to be able to feel it.
2) I listen mostly to rock (metallica) but also like to listen to bhangra (mostly HUGE beats but party kind of music)

Which one would be better? I do not think I would care to adjust the SA6 for different kinds of music. WOuld probably set it at one setting and leave it there for an extended period of time. Maybe when I want a little lower bass, I would adjust it and again leave it there.

What's the real advantage of the extended bass? If I have a player which allows me to configure the bass separately, would this even be needed.

Thanks
Reply
post #2 of 28
7/7/08 at 10:29pm
stick with the m5's.
Reply
post #3 of 28
7/7/08 at 10:35pm
I've owned both, and to me, the SA6s are a better choice, though your bass needs may not be met. Overall, the Sleeks are more balanced, and they outperform the M5s in my view on all other fronts. I also prefer the removable cable, and also, the Sleeks will be wireless soon. In fact, I sold the M5s soon after getting the SA6s.

But hey, if bass is that important, and you liked the Atrios, why change? It will also cost you $100 more to move up to the Sleeks.
Reply
post #4 of 28
7/7/08 at 10:43pm
I've owned both of these and the SA6 as an overall phone completely outclasses the Atrio (which is a very very good phone itselft).

But with what you are looking for in an IEM and the music you listen to (I have heard a lot of bhangra, but don't listen to it much), I think you are a perfect match for the Atrio.

I think there's a lot to be said for finding the perfect match for your ear and the music you listen to, even if there are supposed better alternatives out there. I think you have a perfect mate in the Atrio. Buy another one and save yourself some cash.
Reply
post #5 of 28
7/7/08 at 11:14pm
Having tried both, i'd say to stick with the M5s if you like bass and love the details as well. The SA6 has somewhat the same amount of details but the bass is miniscule compared to the M5. Just my 2 cents worth.
Reply
post #6 of 28
7/7/08 at 11:29pm
Thread Starter 
To Everyone:

Thanks a lot for the responses! Very quick and very much appreciated.

Just on the off-chance : are there any other earphones you guys would recommend given my taste and what I was listening to?

If I don't hear from anyone by tomorrow, I'll probably buy the Atrio's anyway.

Thanks again!
Reply
post #7 of 28
7/8/08 at 3:03am
If you already have an amp, the RE1 would be a VERY good choice for $170 and even cheaper from the FS section.

There are many choices given the $250 range, you can go custom and try livewires or freq.
Reply
post #8 of 28
7/8/08 at 6:54am
Crazily enough, I have a pair of each arriving tomorrow and listen to Metallica and other rock/metal almost exclusively so I will be able to give you a first hand account of which I feel to be best suited for the job.

I have owned countless other headphones but the most expensive IEM I've owned was the UM2 which I did not enjoy (more than likely because of my poor source and lack of an amp) so this will be a good experience having come from my ER6is and past iM716s (which I loved).
Reply
post #9 of 28
7/8/08 at 9:10am
you might even find that you like denon c700, kenwood c711, victor fx500 or sony ex91 or their high end canal much. if you like the natural dynammic sound of the atrio, those will likely not shock you as much as the armature based phones.

out of those, the denon and victor have most bass but the denon are more boomy whereas the victor smoother andmore detailed in the bass. i owned first the um2, then er4s, then e500, then went down in price but up in enjoyment to atrio m5, then to denon c700, then to my current phone, the victor fx500. the kenwood are good as well but have lower cable quality than the denon or victor.
Reply
post #10 of 28
7/9/08 at 4:20pm
Thread Starter 
Looks like the price of the Atrio's has gone up.

I didn't pull the trigger yet.

Titan,

How do the sleek's and the m5's stack up?

thanks
Reply
post #11 of 28
7/9/08 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
shigzeo and all,

Which is better? Atrio or the Victor?

Im getting confused.. this is exactly what happened last time.. i thought id just do a quick post and get recommendations and buy the phones.. but im stuck just like last time .. lol

Thanks
Reply
post #12 of 28
7/9/08 at 5:26pm
Well to be honest they both have their perks. If you want bass, get the Atrios no doubt (which I now have and can offer at the price they had been listed if you'd like rather than return them).

I listed to some metallica and songs like My Friend of Misery were quite enjoyable with both, I simply enjoyed the slight increase in detail and smoother midrange of the SA6's, but thats to be expected considering the higher pricetag.

PM me if you'd like my Atrios. If i could afford it i'd truly keep both but I simply wanted one pair to suit my needs for now.
Reply
post #13 of 28
7/9/08 at 8:07pm
Thread Starter 
How about the victor fx500? Anyone know whthe its better than atrio m5?
Reply
post #14 of 28
7/9/08 at 10:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vii_haven View Post
Having tried both, i'd say to stick with the M5s if you like bass and love the details as well. The SA6 has somewhat the same amount of details but the bass is miniscule compared to the M5. Just my 2 cents worth.
Not accurate at all. The SA6 bass is miniscule compared to the Atrios? That's really not the case. Does the Atrio have more bass? Yes. Somewhat. But the SA6 bass is adjustable, and pretty nice, with plenty of thump, but no muddiness. As for detail, the Atrios aren't even in the same league as the SA6s, and the mid/high of the Sleeks is light years better than the Atrios. I was a major Atrio fan, mainly because they were non-fatiguing and delivered a warm sound. Sold them for the Sleeks and never looked back. And now, with the Atrio price increase, they are closer in cost. Plus, the Sleeks will soon offer a wireless option. Not gonna get that with the Atrios.
Reply
post #15 of 28
7/9/08 at 11:08pm
Thread Starter 
tstarn06,

so are the sleek's fatiguing? What about the victor fx-500 vs the atrio's and the sleeks?

Would I notice a big drop in the bass between the atrio and the sleeks?

Like i said earlier, i probably wouldnt change the settings of the bass and treble on the phones so is it any use to me?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home