Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › Creative zen aurvana - good or bad
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Creative zen aurvana - good or bad

post #1 of 18
7/21/08 at 5:44pm
Thread Starter 
I'm thinking of buying these phones and was wondering y the reviews on the net express such different opinions on them some say they are good and the others claim they are dissappointing. I'd like to have some user opinion on these.

Thank You
Reply
post #2 of 18
7/21/08 at 6:26pm
If you are talking about the canalphones, save your money and get something in the same price range as recommended on Head-Fi.
Reply
post #3 of 18
7/21/08 at 6:26pm
They are good phones and the best fitting, most comfortable fitting ones to date, for me, but they don't have the qiuality of sound the price would elude to. In a review, I described their sound as similar to the visual effect of the American market automobile's passenger side mirror. "Objects in this mirror are larger than they appear", is what the mirror reads and looking at things in the mirror makes them seem distorted and far away. The sound of the Aurvanas is the auditory equivalent of that mirror. The sound seems distant rather than right at the ear.

Otherwise, I'd say they are great. The best I've found at under $100, sound quality wise and for a bit cheaper cost, are the UE Super fi-3s. They take a little adjusting to because of the need to experiment with different fitting solutions but they are excellent.
Reply
post #4 of 18
7/21/08 at 9:39pm
va1912

my friend has one and its in the trash right now its not really durable, specially the cables and worst creative doesnt replace or have the option to replace the cables... nahhhh.. its not durable, no good SQ; why bother...LOL...
Reply
post #5 of 18
7/21/08 at 9:57pm
Agree with lewislink above. Money is much better spent on Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 3 Studio for the same price on amazon.com (or even Costco). Depending on the sound/isolation you want, other worthy candidates are

Westone UM1 (more expensive, but very comfortable and low profile)

Etymotic ER6(i) (great isolation and clarity, but bass may be too lean for some and flanges may be uncomfortable for some)

Jays j-Jays (have not heard these personally, but some love these)

Yuin OK2 or PK3 (ear buds with great sound, but no isolation)
Reply
post #6 of 18
7/21/08 at 10:50pm
I have a new brand and model to recommend, Altec Lansing iM616. They are so good that they are my new #1s in my list. They are better than Ety 6s, they are that good. I haven't yet determined if they are better than the UE3s but I'll get there and make the determination, eventually. I can say, they certainly are incredibly close, if they aren't at least as good as the UE3s. And they are $49.99.
Reply
post #7 of 18
7/21/08 at 11:41pm
X2 on the IM616s. For the price, they crush the Aurvanas, and are true IEMs. I had two pair, gave one away and sold one, only because I moved to the 716s (which were on sale for $20 one day on Newegg). I had the 716s modded, and they also sound great, but still need an amp (the 616s don't). Good choice. Just remember, like the Etys, the ALs require filter changes that cost $$$. Also, I managed to force the Shure olives onto the 716s, and they are very, very comfy that way.
Reply
post #8 of 18
7/22/08 at 4:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tstarn06 View Post
X2 on the IM616s. For the price, they crush the Aurvanas, and are true IEMs. I had two pair, gave one away and sold one, only because I moved to the 716s (which were on sale for $20 one day on Newegg). I had the 716s modded, and they also sound great, but still need an amp (the 616s don't). Good choice. Just remember, like the Etys, the ALs require filter changes that cost $$$. Also, I managed to force the Shure olives onto the 716s, and they are very, very comfy that way.
How much better is the sound quality of the 716s versus the 616s? Why would they need an amp? Do they just not play loud enough or is the sensitivity too low that a stand alone player can't drive them?

The reason for this info is I have the opportunity to acquire a set of 716s for a low price and, if these 616s sound this good, maybe the 716s will sound stellar. However, the only physical difference I see between the models is a volume control on the 716s. If the 716s are simply the 616s with a volume control, naturally it wouldn't make sense b uying them because there would be no improvement in sound quality.
Reply
post #9 of 18
7/22/08 at 9:39am
Thread Starter 
Oh man this is bad news, its the only decent headphones i can buy in india. I'll have to keep searching i guess
Reply
post #10 of 18
7/22/08 at 11:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by va1912 View Post
Oh man this is bad news, its the only decent headphones i can buy in india. I'll have to keep searching i guess
You can't buy from online retailers?
Reply
post #11 of 18
7/22/08 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
No i can't buy from online retailers cuz if they ship it to india it'll get confiscated by the postal authorities for no real reason unless its a gift and under 115 USD . And about the durability issues can't you do a cable mod on them or somethin?
Reply
post #12 of 18
7/22/08 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by va1912 View Post
No i can't buy from online retailers cuz if they ship it to india it'll get confiscated by the postal authorities for no real reason unless its a gift and under 115 USD . And about the durability issues can't you do a cable mod on them or somethin?
Refresh my memory, please, on the durability issues we have discussed. I can't remember the context.

The canalphones I'm referring to are well below $115 USD. They are $50 USD, or $80 USD for the 716s. And it's possible the seller would ship labeled as a gift.
Reply
post #13 of 18
7/22/08 at 1:16pm
Thread Starter 
by durability issues i meant the cable getting stiff and breaking on the zen aurvana. And well i guess i can buy the headphone from the sale forum here. And i must say i'll be using a 1gen ipod nano as the source so will the studiofi 3 work well. I dont wanna buy the etymotic or any of its derivatives simply because of the filter replacement things. Oh and are the creative zen's dual driver like the review on trustedreviews.com says
Reply
post #14 of 18
7/22/08 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by va1912 View Post
by durability issues i meant the cable getting stiff and breaking on the zen aurvana. And well i guess i can buy the headphone from the sale forum here. And i must say i'll be using a 1gen ipod nano as the source so will the studiofi 3 work well. I dont wanna buy the etymotic or any of its derivatives simply because of the filter replacement things.
I know nothing of any cord stiffening issues with the Zen Aurvanas. The cord and phones seem to be of superior quality and very pliable...the cord, that is. The only cord issues I've ever had with stiffening and such are with the set of Mylarone Crossroads which are being replaced because the left phone's conductors broke after the cord shrunk away, exposing them.

It's too bad the Aurvanas don't have a better sound quality because they are high quality construction and fit very comfortably.

If you go with he UE Super fi-3s, here's a link to the least expensive ones I've found...I bought mine here...and can help you get them as gifts, if you want.

Oooops...looks like the cost went up about $10. They were $59 USD. But they still have free shipping...unless you need me to help you get them.

Ultimate Ears super.fi 3 Studio-Live - Noise Isolation Design Earphones - Red - IP-P3SSR0005-02 - Buy.com
Reply
post #15 of 18
7/22/08 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 
thanks lewislink, I'll jus look around my local market for a lil longer and if nothing works out i'll be needing your help. Thank you everyone
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › Creative zen aurvana - good or bad