Kinda stupid question maybe, but is the cable of the UM2 replacable like on UE SF ?

Nope, non-replaceable cable.

Just a performance update. If you come from Etymotic HF2, ER4 or ER6 to the UM2, Harman Kardon EP730 and probably the 72 and 710s, you will find the UM2 to be very low on treble, very dark sounding. This happened to me, I put my HF2s in and listened for an hour or so and when I first put them in, Sheesh! they sounded so bright! They don't lack of treble at all. Nevertheless, I knew my ears, brain, whatever would adjust so I kept listening and they got better sounding but still lacked bass.

I decided to listen to my iPhone through the OEM dock and wanted to hear its quality through some excellent phones, so I broke out the UM2 again and, Good Grief! they lacked for treble. They were very dark sounding like they had no highs.

I knew they were outstanding phones, though, because of the week or so of using them, being utterly impressed with the detail, bright, sharp, crisp sound quality and that's what they do have. The way overly bright Etys caused the perfectly bright UM2 to sound very dull to my ears because my ears had run for cover when I turned the Etys on.

The moral of the story? If you check out a set of UM2 after extensively using some Etymotic, Harman Kardon or possibly Altec Lansing canalphones, allow your ears to adjust to them. It may take a while, too.

I just got my UM2's. Only tested them with my SmartQ T5-II and my Micro clip so far. I used them with bi-flange and Shure clear flex tips.

I find the SF 5 with the same tips have a bigger soundstage and better bass and mids(for tightness, clarity, and separation). Unless I find some tip that works wonders on them, I will probably put the UM2's up for sale.

They are comfy and the shortness after the Y is just the right length for me. I don't even have to use the cord draw.

I think that both my last two earphones, the SE420 and SF 5 are better sounding phones to my ears. Not night and day but I find the 5's crisper and a bit more lively and fun. A bit bigger and more headphone-like presentation. I also agree with earphone solutions(not sure if it was Flavio himself) that said the SE420 is a more refined UM2.

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Try different tips. Foams sound different from plastic tips.

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You won't find tips that 'work wonders on them.' But you will find a pair to fit though when you realize that UM2s have a shallower insertion than most IEMs and so a larger tip that seals closer to the opening is needed. You'll also hear the sound you've heard us talk about if you give them more than a day of 'burn-in' or acclimation - 3 or 4 days is normal after listening to other IEMs for the brain to decipher their output into something quite impressive in balance, sound stage, and clarity. UNLESS. You're a treblehead - then you should have never bought them. Good luck.

lewis: Have you ever owned the um1? I currently have them and i'm very interested in the um2...reading so many positive comments about them. How would you compare the um2 to the um1? Similar sound signature but more clarity and soundstage?....worth the extra 200 bucks?

thanks!

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I asked that same question here once because before I came up with the mula for the UM2 I had enough for the UM1. I didn't know how they sounded so I asked in a thread and was told the UM1 are nowhere close to the sound of the UM2.

Here's the link:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/w...mpared-360569/

anyone using UM2 and has shure volume control module? does it screw up or improve the SQ?

i'm using D2, famous for its bass rolloff. i'm thinking of adding Shure volume control since it will add impedance and oso proper volume control when player is locked.

You can have volume control when the player is locked. Just set it

Menu > General > User Defined Button > Set Hold State > Select use upper buttons (volume control)

When it comes to adding resistance to the UM2, I believe the less is more theory.

I added 90ohms and it took away from the bass and highs, leaving a recessed and dark midrange. I will be experimenting with adding 20 ohms in the future (just barely enough to take away the hiss, and that's it).

The shure attenuator might work for you, just don't use it to create too much resistance.

i reserved that + and - buttons for tracks FF/RW, so no volume control.

from what u experienced, it seem like all cons, no pros. except no hissing...

Right, but adding resistance changes frequency response, that we know. For each phone it will be different. Adding a smaller value resistor will probably sound different (hopefully an improvement on the 90ohm).

i guess will take the chances and gamble usd18 for shure VC. thanks Punnisher

I have had two Shure volume controls with E4G and SE420 and both hurt SQ. I use the Ety S-adapter and felt the UM could benefit from a bit more impedance than 75ohm. It tightens up the sound nicely top and bottom but could use a little more. The midrange with 75ohm was still right out in from more than any IEM and still clean and clear. I think the volume control might be the culprit. But then I am not using a D2 as the source either. The S-adapter worked great with a U5 though but that Cowon did not seem to suffer from bass roll-off.

does that confirm Shure VC work differently from Ety PtoS adapter? iirc, Shure VC has 4 resistors, 2 on each channel. normal impedance is one resistance at each channel.