[RogueTrader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewislink /img/forum/go_quote.gif I also have different size ear canals but never experienced any great or minor audio differences with the sleeves I've used. However, since discovering the goodness of foams, I doubt I would ever have the issue. The foams easily compensate for any ear size differences and they are very stable, reliable and comfortable. As soon as I receive the ones I have ordered for my UE3s, I'll be using them much more so.

Thanks for the reply LL, I heard foams take away from the hi's. Do you find that to be the case?

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewislink /img/forum/go_quote.gif What, exactly, does modding do? What takes place, new circuits, transducer, etc?

They remove the "pod" (616s don't have one), and replace it with resistors (47 ohm seems to be the consensus sweet spot). The heatsink it back together. The pod is a pain, a sphere in the middle of the cable, with a crappy clip. It has a "bass" and "HD" switch, but neither is very good. Also has a volume control. Search im716 mod on here, or de-pod. There is a huge thread on it. Some prefer the 716s over the ER4Ps, feel the modded version is warmer, but still full of great detail. Again, I think they need an amp, for more pronounced bass.

 

[lewislink]

Altec Lansing InMotion iM-616 canalphones continued...

I've been switching back and forth between the UE3s and these and am hard pressed to discern any significant difference other than the 616s seem to have a clearer and more defined midrange. The presence (soundstage) of the UE3s seems to be closer and more defined. I'm using, as always, the same source for these reviewings. I switched the Aurvana large silicones out for the OEM UE foams, which don't provide the same secure fit as the foams that came with the 616s.

If winning were a factor of all other things beyond sound quality, the 616s would win hands down. They are the more comfortable of the two and are more convenient with their less cumbersome cord system.

I think I'm going to call it for the UE3s. Despite their lesser comfort, they seem to be slightly more pleasing to listen too, not that the 616s are not pleasing, they are extremely pleasing to listen to and I could listen to them non-stop for days on end, but the UE3's sound is slightly more involving. Hearing particular instruments in the background and noting how clear and defined they sound, is what I'm finding with these UE3s. Detection of the rattle of keys or the rubbing of strings and such things as that is more present...not that it is highly discernible, just that the UE3s lead to, or build a, discernment more so than the 616s. The bass is a little stronger with the UE3s, as well.

All in all, I'm ecstatic to have both sets, the UE3s and the 616s. Both are outstanding choices and a person can't go wrong with either.

 

[RogueTrader]

Lewis, I noticed that your future list contains SE530 but not UE Triple.fi's. How did you decide on SE530 vs UE?

 

[lewislink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogueTrader /img/forum/go_quote.gif Lewis, I noticed that your future list contains SE530 but not UE Triple.fi's. How did you decide on SE530 vs UE?

It's a short list. the UE Triples will come but, the fit of the Shures looks to be more comfortable than the UEs, based on my UE3s. And the 530s seem to get more recommendations that the Triples. I'm not even certain I'll be getting the 530s because of their cost. The same goes for the Triples. They would be 6th on the list. But the list is ultimately a wish list.

Right now, I was seriously thinking about updating the list to replace the 530s with the Q Jays. But I read somewhere saying their SQ is basically Ety4s with more bass. I don't find the SQ of my ER6is to be as pleasant as the UE3s and these Altec 616s. In fact, the 616s do a much better job than the Ety6is...even though the 616s are made by Ety.

 

[RogueTrader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewislink /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's a short list. the UE Triples will come but, the fit of the Shures looks to be more comfortable than the UEs, based on my UE3s. And the 530s seem to get more recommendations that the Triples. I'm not even certain I'll be getting the 530s because of their cost. The same goes for the Triples. They would be 6th on the list. But the list is ultimately a wish list. Right now, I was seriously thinking about updating the list to replace the 530s with the Q Jays. But I read somewhere saying their SQ is basically Ety4s with more bass. I don't find the SQ of my ER6is to be as pleasant as the UE3s and these Altec 616s. In fact, the 616s do a much better job than the Ety6is...even though the 616s are made by Ety.

Yeah, I hear you on the cost. Maybe if you like one or the other (SE or triple), it may be the last pair you will need. I know how we are though, always looking for better.

 

[lewislink]

Klipsch Custom 1 canalphones continued...

I had a bit of a discomfort issue with these phones using the OEM sleeves and couldn't find a solution so I shelved them. I finally got around to using a couple of the olives I received on these Custom 1s and it certainly made a difference. I can now go indefinitely listening with them and no discomfort pops up. I believe it also helps the sound quality, as well. They certainly have a very luxurious sound to them. A sound that would be easy to listen with all day. Their bass output is above average, in my estimation.

I do all of my analyzing using the same, un-adjusted sources. I have a few of my favorite players I rotate through and get the best sound from.

I'll have more to say about the Custom 1s when I put them back in. Right now I've discovered the goodness of olives on my Ety6is and they feel great and sound great.

 

[lewislink]

Ultimate Ears Super fi-3 canalphones continued...

I finally received the Comply foams I put on order specifically for these phones and have just now installed them and am listening as I type. Sticky little buggers, aren't they?

They were easy to install and seem to be fitting well. They take a little longer to set up in the ear that the OEM foams I have.

I don't know how everyone else feels about foams, but I'm sold on them and will use them above anything else. I recently decided to put some olives on my Klipsch Custom 1s and they solved the discomfort issue I was having with those phones. I ordered the large olives and they are quite a bit larger, in diameter, than these Comply foams. I also ordered the largest Comply foams available.

Closer and closer I come to audio nirvana, thanks to this wonderful forum.

 

[lewislink]

Klipsch Custom 1 canalphones continued...

What a wonderful difference these Shure olives make with these canalphones! I've been wearing them for more than an hour now, doing some CD ripping and tagging, and they are almost invisible or unnoticeable. They are perfectly comfortable and their sound quality, although not quite up to the UE3s or AL 616s, is closer to the Ety6is, and is very pleasing. The soundstage isn't as lively or vibrant or detailed as the UE3s or AL 616s but seems to be closer to the Ety6is. Actually, they sound more like an highly refined JVC HA-FX66. No kidding, the sound is very reminiscent of those phones but is much more refined and powerful, upfront and more detailed with tighter control throughout the audio spectrum. The bass is a little heavier. These do sound lovely.

I'm just fascinated at the amount of difference these olives make in the long term comfort level. I will zero trouble wearing these all day. I believe I now have a very valuable purchase with the Klipsch Custom-1s.

 

[lewislink]

Head Direct RE2 canalphones

I just received these today and haven't put them in yet but I, so far, have mainly appraised their appearance and from all appearances, they are a rebranded Foster. I'm not saying they are, just that they appear to be because they are so similar to the Sennheiser CX500s. Put an aluminum band around these RE2s and you would swear they are Sennheisers, which are rebranded Fosters. The cord is certainly different, it looks to be custom made and with high quality. It's straight, and JVC is the only other earphone supplier I'm aware of that uses straight cords that are made of a particular rubber compound that allows them to be straight. I love that about the JVCs, their highly ordered appearance.

EDIT
I went ahead and put them in using a couple Comply foams and right now they have slightly colored sound but I know these use dynamic drivers and that type of driver needs a break-in period. So, I'll let them work for a couple days, maybe a week, after which time, I'll have more to say about them.

RE-EDIT
I'm kind of nervous about these RE2 phones, I certainly hope they improve because what I'm hearing isn't lovely. Nor anywhere near defined or detailed.

I have them connected to my D2, hanging on a wall breaking-in. I had to take them out and put my ALs back in. I couldn't take the sound through the day. My D2 will last about 30 to 40 hours on a charge and that should do a decent break-in.

 

[lewislink]

Head Direct RE2 canalphones continued...

I've now had a chance to let these break-in and am listening to them right now. I do believe the break-in helped but I still hear colored sound especially the area where an acoustic guitar inhabits, as an example...I suppose the upper midrange. This particular range is a musically dominant range and therefore, critical.

However, I'm just now listening to them so I will hold off on further comments until I've had a minimum of several hours of usage with them.

More to come.

EDIT
I can say, the left phone seems to be defective. The soundstage is off center to the right. I put my UEs back in to test what I was hearing, restarted the song and, sure enough, the soundstage is perfectly centered with the UEs.

Looks like, before I carry on with my review, I'm going to need replacement. How I do that will be an adventure.

 

[lewislink]

I was having fitment trouble using the Comply foams with my UE3s. Since Comply doesn't make a larger diameter foam for these, I decided to do what ClieOS spoke about doing, modify some Shure olives for use. I already had the center parts which fell out of the OEM foans that came with these UE3s. Now all I needed to do was remove the center part from the olives and glue the UE3 center in.

One difference for me, though. I decided to mount the olives on the center backwards where the flat side of the olive goes into the ear first. It works well and feels comfy.

Thanks ClieOS, for the idea.

 

[babya]

Sony MDR-ED12LP

Top of line model in the current "MDR-E" series-packaged in a plastic tube that can be used to store them away.

Styled like EX-with the same metal colored behind part, but not as fancy as the EX's-ED12's got a plastic feel to it.

Bass boost design ensures good sound reproduction.

13.5MM driver- nice bass-and good sound across all ranges.

Paid AUD$34.95 for these-well done and very EX like in build.



Sony MDR-AS20J
Part of Sony's 2008 "active sports" series-which also has several EX based models in it.

AS20J is a waterproof ear-hugger style-bit like MDR-J11 but with a ear-shaped hangar.

Also there's a cl;ip to attach to the cord.

Sound-wise-nice all-rounder,couldn't notice any weaknesses.

Paid AUD$39 for the AS20J, will go well with my NW-S203F.

 

[lewislink]

I decided to do a mod of two olives for the AL 616s I have. The olive's core is too tight fiting for the AL nozzle. I took the rubbery cores from a set of foams that came with the ALs and glued the olives, backwards, onto the rubbery cores and I am now able to safely use olives with my ALs and it makes a world of difference in fit and comfort. I use the large olives and they are very large.

 

[babya]

Philips SHE3601
A lot like Sony's MDR-NE1/3/5 or Sennheiser MXL51, as all are lanyard style.
Comfortable buds fit nicely.
Sound-exceptionally clear and booming bass.

RCA HP275

$7 ear-clip headphones.

Nice design but SQ is a majlor let-down-lacking in bass, other aspects good, some a bit bad.

Wouldn't recommend these.