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Phonak Audeo (PFE) VS UE tri fi 10 Pro VS IE 8 - Page 2

post #16 of 33
3/9/09 at 12:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tstarn06 View Post
I tried the UE single flange tips too (had a few sitting around), with no foam inside, and they made the IE8s way too bright to me (if you can believe it). Fit-wise, they were great, but really messed up the Senn sound. So I guess I got lucky with those old biflanges. I just need to find some more, since I only have the one pair.

Was listening to the PFEs last night with the T4 and the Touch LOD, and man, they sounded soooo nice.
Whats your ranking of preference between the ie8, w3 and pfe's?
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post #17 of 33
3/9/09 at 1:04pm
I can only be as honest as I can be here. At this point, I'd say I prefer the PFEs and IE8s equally (IE8s at about 120 hours of burn-in). To be clear (and to repeat what I have said many times), I believe the PFEs are at their strongest with an amp (T4)/LOD and the Touch. And I don't think the T4 really does much for the IE8s, so I listen to them ampless. Strictly using HP out, I prefer the IE8s over the PFEs, and also favor the W3s using HP out over the PFEs. It's just my preference.

Call me crazy (I am not alone here), but to my ears the PFEs really do hold their own against the IE8s and the W3s when amped. Whether the IE8s continue to improve with more burn-in remains to be seen.

So you know I am not alone, one Head-Fier, Chi2, favors the PFEs over the W3s and the IE8s, based on a post he recently made regarding usage. He is having fit problems with the IIE8s however.

Using HP out, no amp, I prefer the IE8s at this point over the W3s, but it's pretty close. I just find the dynamic driver less fatiguing for longer term listening, and that matters to me. I also found a great set of sleeves to use with the IE8s (an old pair of biflanges), because I also was having fit problems with them, even with the large number of tips Senn provides (and I am not alone there either). I just got lucky, I suppose. Comfort-wise, the IE8s now are also more comfy than the W3s (I use the modded bi-flanges or inverted olives with the W3s).

Regarding the IE8s, I haven't seen anyone say they prefer the PFEs over the Senns, and I am not saying that either. I just love the sound both deliver enough to call it a draw at this point (under the conditions I outlined above). That could change.

Hope this helps.
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post #18 of 33
3/10/09 at 6:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gameboy115 View Post
Basically, my budget could let me buy ue tri fi 10 pro /IE8,but since I read “headphoneaddict” rating which PTE is far better than 10 Pro, it make me so confused what I should get for my next iem. Technically, 10 pro is 3 drivers IEM which seems to be ahead of PTE/ IE 8.

I like crisp, a bit warm vocal( which can touch my heart instead of ice cold sound), quality bass and good instrument separation and performance is must.

Now I am using UE 5 pro, a little muddy for me. Before that, I have been used im 716 for very little short period, cos I bought it from a headfierm, broke after a few days later. IM 716 was quite bright, I did not really like how it perfromed low, but it was detail for sure

Using Sony A728 most of time

Anyone have two of them, can make a brief comparison for me.

Thx
My IE8 vs PFE impressions: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/s...ml#post5504427
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post #19 of 33
3/10/09 at 6:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chi2 View Post
I like the PFEs (with black filters; the grey ones are just too bright for me - but others love them) and the IE8s (bass attenuator at minimal level) about the same. The PFEs to me are slightly more neutral sounding with great extension at both ends of the frequency spectrum. The Senns sound a bit fuller and lusher due to a slightly more pronounced midbass. The simple reason why the PFEs get more listening time is fit. I had to modify the IE8's double flange tips (by placing de-cored and cut-in-half Ety foamies under the first flange) in order to get a reasonable fit at all. I tried so many other tips, but either I didn't get any seal at all resulting in a lack of bass or I got overwhelming bass (like the one shown in the frequency diagram of headphone.com ). With the modded tips the IE8s sound very good but when walking or moving my head they don't stay firmly enough in my ears and isolation is mediocre at best. (Disclamer: I've got very wide ear canals so the fit problems described may affect only very few people). The TF10P were my favorites replacing the ER4S as the first choice but since I got the PFEs they tend to collect dust. I still reach for the ER4S when isolation is critical like in a plane.
Agreed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tstarn06 View Post
Hey Chi2. Your comparo of the IE8s and the PFEs is close to how I feel right now. When I can get the IE8s in properly, they sound very nice. But fit-wise, they are all over the map. I've started to like the W3s more (and good iso), but when I have the PFEs amped and with the black filters (after some back and forth), they sound so fine.

Still burning in the IE8s, but the iso for me is pretty bad. When I walk with them, I can hear cars and buses, so for planes and trains, not happening. I will use either the W3s or the Monster Turbines (new phones I obtained).

Edit:

I dug out a pair of biflanges I got with my RE2s, and the IE8 iso and fit is much better, plus, those tips really mesh well SQ-wise as well. Problem, solved, I think.
X2

Quote:
Originally Posted by gameboy115 View Post
I do afraid of PFE being too bright. As I said before, I hate im716 sound sig for being so bright, overemphasizing on high end but not for low end, make the sound unbalance. Using black filters might suit me well

How is instrument performance for them? Cos I enjoy the background music as much as vocal. A good instrument performance for me is really making music alive.
Just use the black filters, and maybe pair them with an iBasso T4 amp or Fiio E5 if you can't afford the T4. I also compared the IM716 to RE2 and combined the review with a mini review of the Fiio E5 vs iBasso T4: REVIEW: Head-Direct RE2 IEM and Fiio E5 amp - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Hope this helps.
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post #20 of 33
3/10/09 at 6:47am
since you mentioned im716, i'm very curious to how would a properly amped im716 compare with pfe?

i know i have used im716 before, but never amped in hd mode, or mod or anything...so i never heard their full potential
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post #21 of 33
3/10/09 at 6:53am
I didn't like the IM716 until I had the stock "pod" removed and replaced with a pod that lets me change the impedance of the IM716. Even properly amped I prefer the Phonak over my modded amped IM716.
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post #22 of 33
3/10/09 at 10:24am
thanks!
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post #23 of 33
3/10/09 at 4:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Agreed.



X2



Just use the black filters, and maybe pair them with an iBasso T4 amp or Fiio E5 if you can't afford the T4. I also compared the IM716 to RE2 and combined the review with a mini review of the Fiio E5 vs iBasso T4: REVIEW: Head-Direct RE2 IEM and Fiio E5 amp - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Hope this helps.

Thx larry.At this point, I think I won't go for T4, I really want to save up some money, in case I have urge to upgrade to W3 soon. E5 seems work fine since the details not losing with it.
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post #24 of 33
3/10/09 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
I went through some old posts if I buy E5, I have to buy Cardas 6 inch Mini to Mini cable which is recommended by "tstarn06" to use instead of stock cable coming with E5.

I wonder could I just trun on Clear bass on Sony A728 to get more bass impact. Since I found PFE is budget wise when I get it alone, not if I buy more accessories to make it shine. I was granted a offer of 167 british dollars(around 231USD) including shipping for IE 8 from ADMP3 long time ago, and still valid now.
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post #25 of 33
3/10/09 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gameboy115 View Post
I went through some old posts if I buy E5, I have to buy Cardas 6 inch Mini to Mini cable which is recommended by "tstarn06" to use instead of stock cable coming with E5.

I wonder could I just trun on Clear bass on Sony A728 to get more bass impact. Since I found PFE is budget wise when I get it alone, not if I buy more accessories to make it shine. I was granted a offer of 167 british dollars(around 231USD) including shipping for IE 8 from ADMP3 long time ago, and still valid now.



Believe me the clear bass will turn these into some major bass thumping phones. Trust me I own the Sony728/820 (One has bluetooth one does not) So I can promise you if bass is what your looking for that mission can be accomplished. Whether via the black filters or the clear bass. Your pick....To be honest a amp is not needed allthough I do want a amp if it brings the sound quality up. Which I've heard about the T4 which....Tstarn has yet stil to explain how this makes it better.....(HE has I just never payed attention but now.....I want more)
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post #26 of 33
3/10/09 at 7:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gameboy115 View Post
I went through some old posts if I buy E5, I have to buy Cardas 6 inch Mini to Mini cable which is recommended by "tstarn06" to use instead of stock cable coming with E5.

I wonder could I just trun on Clear bass on Sony A728 to get more bass impact. Since I found PFE is budget wise when I get it alone, not if I buy more accessories to make it shine. I was granted a offer of 167 british dollars(around 231USD) including shipping for IE 8 from ADMP3 long time ago, and still valid now.
hmm if anyone is offering you anything in british dollars then say no.
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post #27 of 33
3/10/09 at 7:20pm
rofl
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post #28 of 33
3/10/09 at 7:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark2410 View Post
hmm if anyone is offering you anything in british dollars then say no.
What do you mean by that?
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post #29 of 33
3/10/09 at 7:46pm
British dollars doesn't exist...

they're Pounds
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post #30 of 33
3/10/09 at 7:51pm
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