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Sennheiser IE8 Appreciation Thread - Page 42

post #616 of 7909
12/3/08 at 8:33pm
cn11
Which gives you the better isolation?
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post #617 of 7909
12/3/08 at 9:09pm
YES!!! Nice to finally see your comparison, cn11.

Finally quenched my curiosity about the IE8 vs the 3s. I was quite fascinated about them when Volron mentioned his observations about the decay of the 3s.

The Sonys are one of the best DAPs available today in terms of clean headphone output with a good and functioning EQ. Could be that the bass the others rave about be source dependent (power?). I could only think line-out + amp if you want to climb outside the Sony. The 3's could be responding to the source. Else, perfect fit via good tips?
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post #618 of 7909
12/3/08 at 10:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusL View Post
The Sonys are one of the best DAPs available today in terms of clean headphone output with a good and functioning EQ.

I have to disagree with you there. I bought a826 a couple of weeks ago and i seriously wanted to trow it away. It sounded horrible and when you pass the 15/30 volume level (with clear bass on) every time that bass strikes volume decrease. Luckily i've discovered that when you turn all enhancements off you got one of the best sounding DAPs avaible (slightly better than my meizu m6). But really, the worst EQ and enhancments that i've ever heard because when you use EQ it doesn't add freqency, it cuts everithyng ellse(same as "clear" bass). Anyway as i said before, very good buy and clean sounding when all turned off.
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post #619 of 7909
12/3/08 at 10:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn11 View Post
The part I struggle with is the bass. I find it lacking somewhat.
My personal opinion:

In terms of bass QUANTITY, i would rank in order of preference: Klipsch X10 > Westone 3 > Sennheiser IE 8 (best)

In terms of bass QUALITY: Klipsch X10 > Sennheiser IE8 > Westone 3 (best)

In summary, i really like W3 bass - fast , accurate, detailed and definitely not lacking. In fact, i had listened to various bassy material (disco, dance, electronica etc.) and it just amazes me. After listening to an hr, i'm getting quite a dizzy spin from all that bass impact!!

My source is a 16GB iphone 3g, EQ set to 'OFF'
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post #620 of 7909
12/3/08 at 11:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn11 View Post
I thought I'd put up some quick early impressions about the W3 vs. IE8 here as well, since the W3 threads are moving along so quickly these days. There's no doubt when listening to both that the W3 is much more detailed. That's the first thing that jumps out. The IE8 by contrast sounds a bit muted and veiled. Sound stage goes to the W3 too. The IE8's may be a little wider overall, but the W3 just stomps it in instrument placement. They're truly unbelievable in that regard. You can hear where a singer is standing in relation to the rest of the backing vocalists. You can hear the subtlest bongo drums in the background, and visualize where the player was standing. They resolve a guitarist's fingertips sliding on the ridges of the strings. There are layers, and there's atmosphere to the recording venues that's conveyed. Amazing stuff.

The part I struggle with is the bass. I find it lacking somewhat. Others in the W3 threads have just heaped praise after praise on them for the bass, but I don't quite hear it. Thankfully the W3's take EQ'ing well, and a couple ticks up on my Sony's clearbass helps rectify this. Now I'll admit I'm a bass-head, so I find the Sennheisers to have a bit more soul in the lows. The bass they present might be a little more tubby, but I'll take that, when it adds that toe-tapping factor. Overall I was very underwhelmed by the W3 at first. But the more I listen, the more I realize that they don't do much wrong (minus the bass, if you prefer to listen with flat EQ). They strike me as a little bit 'lean', and I normally prefer a big, fun, and laid-back sound. I’ve been wondering if this 'leanness' is due to a synergy issue with the Sony, which is currently my only DAP (and which I’ve happened to love with any other earphone/IEM I’ve had). That's about the only thing I can come up with to explain the disparity with what other reviews are saying about the bass and fullness.

I suppose I'd say that I prefer them overall to the IE8, because I can tune the bass with the Sony to a level I like, and then I have all that detail and resolution to enjoy in addition.
What tips have you tried with the Westone 3, and how did each one affect the sound for you?
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post #621 of 7909
12/3/08 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by epithetless View Post
Thanks for posting your impressions here, cn11. An interesting read. I know you've gotten rid of your Images, but can you possibly say how the Westone 3's bass compares to the X10's?
The X10's bass was fuller, and more fleshed out. The W3's bass tighter, and faster, but not there in quantity. Once you start to apply a good EQ though, it begins to catch up, without becoming muddy.
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post #622 of 7909
12/3/08 at 11:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaushama View Post
cn11
Which gives you the better isolation?
I haven't used the W3 in really noisy enviornments yet, but it seems as though they will isolate better than the IE8. The background seems quieter/'blacker' when the W3's are in your ears with no music playing. By contrast, much more background noise seems to leak in with the IE8's.
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post #623 of 7909
12/3/08 at 11:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
What tips have you tried with the Westone 3, and how did each one affect the sound for you?
I am using the large grey silicon tips. I find they give a great seal. None of the clear sleeves would stay in my ears at all, neither would the triple flanges. And I tried the Comply's but don't want to mess with something I have to compress/let expand with an over-the-ear phone. So far the grey silicon tip seems the best. I can literally be eating, and not have the seal be disrupted by the chewing motion.
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post #624 of 7909
12/3/08 at 11:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn11 View Post
The X10's bass was fuller, and more fleshed out. The W3's bass tighter, and faster, but not there in quantity. Once you start to apply a good EQ though, it begins to catch up, without becoming muddy.
Hm. Not what I wanted to read. Guess all I can do now is wait for mine to arrive and hear for myself.

Thank you, though.
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post #625 of 7909
12/4/08 at 12:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by epithetless View Post
Hm. Not what I wanted to read. Guess all I can do now is wait for mine to arrive and hear for myself.

Thank you, though.
You're welcome. I think something's amiss in how I'm hearing the bass, because from all the reviews I've read it should be very very impactful. It is when I add in a bit of clearbass on the Sony- then it gets very nice. Also keep in mind it's been a couple weeks since I've heard the Image at all, so it's just my memory that I'm pulling from. I know you'll just love the imaging/soundstaging/separation.... really is like nothing I've ever heard.
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post #626 of 7909
12/4/08 at 12:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn11 View Post
The X10's bass was fuller, and more fleshed out. The W3's bass tighter, and faster, but not there in quantity. Once you start to apply a good EQ though, it begins to catch up, without becoming muddy.
That just doesn't sound right - my X10 had great bass that was full and powerful like my SE530, but my Westone 3 bass makes the X10 sound thin and lacking. You are hearing the opposite of my observations. I did have the Image side by side with the Westone 3, and within 6 hours of having the W3 I put the Image up for sale because they couldn't match the W3.
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post #627 of 7909
12/4/08 at 12:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
That just doesn't sound right - my X10 had great bass that was full and powerful like my SE530, but my Westone 3 bass makes the X10 sound thin and lacking. You are hearing the opposite of my observations.
I know! I'm really kind of troubled by this. I've actually been wondering if I possibly have a defective pair or something. Think I should request a replacement?
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post #628 of 7909
12/4/08 at 1:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn11 View Post
Think I should request a replacement?
I do!
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post #629 of 7909
12/4/08 at 2:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn11 View Post
I know! I'm really kind of troubled by this. I've actually been wondering if I possibly have a defective pair or something. Think I should request a replacement?
If you are sure you have a good seal then yes, I would report the problem and ask for a replacement, since you just got them.
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post #630 of 7909
12/4/08 at 11:25am
Just a small thing on the bass. I went right to the Comply mediums (not the thin or T100 smalls) and found the bass to be excellent, as HPA said, made the X10s sound kind of thin. I also stuck on a pair of olives, same result. Didn't try the silicone or other tips. And now the 3s are back in the box, until Xmas. But the bass is still on my mind, just a wonderful sound. I owned Atrios v1, but not IE8 or any other top shelf (in terms of cost) universal, apart form the SA6s and X10s.

Chris, it's a real mystery. I have to believe it's the tip. Just try the foamies, for science's sake.
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