Hey guys,

I'm just currently considering picking up a pair of closed back portables for my breaks at university since its starting soon and while I do have my super.fi 3's I'm finding IEM's becoming increasingly more uncomfortable the longer I wear them which used to not be the case....

Anyways I've done my research and I've looked at the M Audio Q40's, AT ES-7's, and the Denon D1001s.

In terms of music, I listen to most anything although mostly rock/soft rock (although as I said, the more versatile, the better since I listen to everything).

Now from what I can tell these are my general impressions from what I've read on the phones:
Q40s: Detachable one sided cable, folds up nicely. May have just a hint too much bass for me.
ES7s: Upfront, most expensive of the 3 (and fakes on ebay a concern, I've only found them at one brick and mortar and they're $167.00 CAD!), possibly too forward, possibly too much emphasis on bass and treble.
1001s: Most neutral, sound great. Can't fold closed or flat which will be a pain to transport.

Can anyone help at all? If there are any other suggestions in that price range I'm open to them as well. Unfortunately Grado SR-60's and Alessandro MS-1's won't work as they're open and thats not good in my situation.

You have done your research...gosh. I can only vouch for the 1001s, so here goes:

They don't isolate. At all. This is either a bug or a feature, depending on your usage and preference. You're using them outdoors, I gather? If so, and if you want to be able to hear traffic, the 1001s are great. Problem is, it might be hard to hear the music unless you turn it up. And you forgot one feature of the 1001s: Very, very comfy.

Not necessarily outdoors. Like I said it will be for on my breaks at University so most likely indoors, just areas with alot of traffic. Also its unfortunate that the D1001 don't isolate very well as it sounds like they have the sound I like and I can pick them up locally for a decent price new. while limited isolation isn't a deal breaker I'd still need some as I'd like to use them to play drums too and my A700's are just way too bulky.

I figure I should list some more specific examples of what I listen to as well to see if anyone can help me.
In no particular order:
The Police (Stewart Copeland's ride cymbal work is unparalleled)
Haste the Day
Killswitch Engage
John Mayer
John Legend
Mutemath
Wintersleep
Aerosmith
Celtic Woman


Only a small sampling, but that kind of gives you an idea of just how varied my tastes are.

Drumming, eh? I don't think the D1001s will help you there. Maybe some IEMs instead? (Actually...would IEMs be worse because of bone conduction?)

I listen to some of that stuff too, and the D1001s do those well. The only complaint I have is on classical, really. Let's see what others have to say...

Drumming... That sounds like a job for the Beyers. You'd need some serious isolating cans for that.

I was just thinking that the Beyerdynamic DT770 might be right up your alley; they're closed and are highly recommended for rock music. I personally have not heard them, but I researched them pretty heavily and they were (and still are) toward the front of the pack for the next pair of full size cans I purchase. I prefer open cans, however, so the Grado SR-225, and either DT880 or 990 are actually ahead of the 770.

I haven't personally heard these, either; but the Sennheiser PMX 200 might be a great option. They're closed, portable, and certainly won't break your budget. Amazon.com: Sennheiser PMX 200 Neckband High Performance Closed Headphone: Electronics

Also, I've heard that UE SF3 can be a bit uncomfortable. Are there any other IEMs that you've tried? Westone UM1/UM2 are regarded as being rather comfy, as are the Sleek SA6 (which I can attest are incredible in both comfort and SQ, btw).

The great thing about the SA6 is that you can custom tailor the sound with interchangeable bass ports and treble tubes, plus a wide range of eartips fit them, so you could put the Shure black olives on (as I have done) for some really impressive comfort and isolation.

Sounds like you don't want to spend the kind of money I'm suggesting though. I can certainly sympathize, since I'm just newly finished with being a poor college student.

Good luck with your search!

While I can't speak from personal experience about the others, I've found the Q40's to be exceptional.

They're very articulate for details and have good isolation. I wear them at work in an electronics manufacturing facility where we have some loud equipment (college job, at least it's not a call center) and they do a good job of reducing the external noise by a very appreciable amount so I can enjoy my tunes.

Foldability is very nice for traveling and sound leakage is minimal (if any) at normal listening volumes (I prefer the sound just loud enough to discern fine details). I know some have voiced concerns about comfort but I've found mine to be quite comfortable for long-term wear (6+ hours). The replaceable cable certainly is nice, though the one that comes with them is far too long for portable use. I leave the stock cable hooked up at home, I made a 1 meter cable for portable use.

You mentioned that you may have issues with the bass; while I enjoy a nice low end (as long as it's clean), I don't think the bass on the Q40s is overwhelming by any means. If it IS a bit too pronounced for your taste, you can always dial it down on your EQ, if your source has that feature.

For reference, I listen to a wide variety of musical styles, from Mozart, Grieg & Tchaikovsky to Rammstein, Two-Mix, Lunatic Calm & Juno Reactor.

I normally do use my SF3's for drumming as they are my best isolating choice but unfortunately its just bass shy enough that I can't hear everything as I'm playing so I can get off track on occasion. I have been considering considering an IEM upgrade but felt a pair of headphones would be easier to take on and off at school and the drumming isn't really the main purpose, it'd just be a nice added bonus.

As for the Beyers, I've tried my friend's DT770's both brand new and after a significant burn in period and they just don't' suit my fancy. Great cans for the price for sure. But the bass is just too overwhelming for me. Also the lack of portability would be a factor for me.

I'll have to look into the Q40's a little bit further, I think there might be a store nearby with them, hopefully I can audition them before buying.

As for the PX200/PMX200, I hear the fit is a bit tricky but otherwise haven't heard much about the sound signature. Are they anything like the PX100/PMX100's?

I'd avoid both the PX and PMX 200s. They sound nothing as good as their open (i.e., 100) siblings. Sennheisers are just about the only cans we can try out here in Dunedin, NZ... Those and Shures at the Apple store.