[Usama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by geremy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Would it be possible for someone to PM me the place for the least expensive IE8s? I searched this thread but came up empty. Thanks.

From EU, NA, or AU?

 

[cn11]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif Seriously...and I thought Westone3 was bad (until I found the right tips)--this is 10 times worse! -Ed

Do you enjoy other dynamic driver earphones much?

 

[soozieq]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ihatepopupads /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Ultrasone demo cd blows my mind with these. The positioning of every instrument is so precise.

Track 6. Incredibly lifelike, I think a bird crapped on my head

Amazing CD, really atmspheric with the IE8. Ooh, next track, now I'm in church!

 

[Edward Ng]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you enjoy other dynamic driver earphones much?

The only other dynamic driver IEMs I have are the bottom of the line Sennheiser pieces, re-badged by Creative Labs, which isn't even worthy of comparison. All my other IEMs have all been balanced armature.

As I said, the pair of much-farther-burnt-in IE8s I listened to sounded far better.

-Ed

 

[cn11]

Ahhhh, then patience... patience....

You already know how they'll sound in some time.

 

[obentou]

Just came back to the IE8's after a long trade period with another headfier... I have definitely been spoiled by the sound the Westone 3's give out.

I think the IE8's are not for me after listening to the Westone's... they are on totally different leagues in terms of isolation and sound signature (that I want). I'll probably put them up for trade on the BST.

Edit: Also remembered I had the chance to try out some UE tips on the IE8. Pretty awful sound... stock tips work the best for me!

 

[toughnut]

When i first listen to it, totally speechless and heartbroken. I only start to accept it after 60 hours. After 160 hours, i'm feeling it

Currently 183+ hours. Once it hit 250+ hours, i will stop counting and do have high hope it will sound like what i expect.

 

[obentou]

Haha that's good to hear! What tips are you using with them? Just curious...

 

[Edward Ng]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ahhhh, then patience... patience.... You already know how they'll sound in some time.

Yes, and my hope is that after even more time than the ones I already listened to, they will get better still, so that I can make a final decision on which one I prefer for what types of music that I tend to listen to (between the Westone 3 and the Sennheiser IE8).

Quote:

Originally Posted by obentou /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just came back to the IE8's after a long trade period with another headfier... I have definitely been spoiled by the sound the Westone 3's give out. I think the IE8's are not for me after listening to the Westone's... they are on totally different leagues in terms of isolation and sound signature (that I want). I'll probably put them up for trade on the BST.

So far, I have to say that for me, fitment, seal and comfort clearly goes to Westone 3 (that is not something that improves with burn-in). No matter what tip I try, the IE8 feels like it is halfway between the Westone 3 and Triple.fi 10 Pros as far as secure fit and seal for me (Westone 3 being excellent, Triple.fi 10 Pro being unable to stay properly sealed for more than maybe 20 minutes). Some tips are completely unusable for getting it to stay in, and other tips are okay, but it still doesn't feel nearly as secure as the Westone 3.

I'm reserving final judgement on sound signature until they are properly burned it, because I would prefer a slightly less bright sound than the Westone 3, as well as more forward mids and better top end extension and air if possible, even at the cost of some bottom-end extension. I feel the IE8 might have a chance at giving me this, but not if I give up too much general texture for it. I have a sense the Westone 3 will always provide better separation and bass extension, but as I said, I will wait until at least 250 hours burn-in before making a final decision. As far as headstaging, the IE 8 is definitely better, but in all honesty, when I listen to IEMs, soundstaging is the lowest on my list of priorities.

-Ed

 

[toughnut]

I'm using medium sized dual flange by Senn. Actually that's the only pairs of tips that fit my ears and it fit very well. Easy to put on and good seal. Isolation still very poor though, even with Shure Olives.

 

[Edward Ng]

I actually have settled on the same tips as you for now, the medium dual-flange (not the squeegee type). It does appear to brighten up the sound compared to the T400s.

-Ed

 

[average_joe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif Seriously...and I thought Westone3 was bad (until I found the right tips)--this is 10 times worse! -Ed

Yea, they get better. So much better I can't even make a comparison. Well, I guess I will try.

It started as a 1974 Pinto, went into the burn in shop and came out McLaren F1!

->

 

[Edward Ng]

Quote:

Originally Posted by average_joe /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yea, they get better. So much better I can't even make a comparison. Well, I guess I will try. It started as a 1974 Pinto, went into the burn in shop and came out McLaren F1! ->

Ironic you should use that example; previously, the most severe cases of improvement through burn-in that I personally experienced were all in automotive sound systems, and I always attributed that to the fact that car speakers need to be durable enough to deal with extreme shock and temperatures, so they also needed more beating on to burn-in.

Well, the IE8s are considered portable/mobile equipment too, so maybe this same logic applies.

Certainly, in all my years of home audio and stereo high-end, I didn't experience such a dramatic improvement through burn-in as car speakers or these IE8s.

-Ed

 

[Anouk]

I have owned these iems for 2 weeks, they have made me really interested in the future of (multiple driver) versions of this iem. I had severe fit issues though and one disturbing thing is that i always onted to turn the volume up to get th emost out of the sound of this iem. But its still the best sounding iem i have heard, although i got no seal with it so had to sell, also the highs might have been a bit more extended for my taste. But at the current selling price in europe they sre certainly a great deal, ifyou can get them to seal that is.
Greetings, Anouk,

 

[Edward Ng]

Having sampled what these dynamic driver IEMs can do, it makes me wonder how good the results can be if multiple technologies were combined; balanced armature for the highs, dynamic driver for the mids and lows, in a divided nozzle design (a la Triple.fi 10 Pro) with a 2-way crossover. That would not be too unlike some loudspeaker designs that use a ribbon tweeter and dynamic subs.

-Ed