Favorite "out of head" IEM?
Jul 4, 2009 at 5:26 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 14
marcusicp

marcusicp

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I am in the market for some new IEM's and I was hoping to find something with a wide sound stage with an out of head sound to them. I also am also a foam tip only user and prefer good isolation. Is it possible to find an IEM with a wide sound stage and still have good isolation?

I currently use NuForce NE-7M's and really like the sound but I find myself wishing for a better "out of head" experience. My budget is open but I can't see spending over $500.00. I am also not interested in customs as I tend to change IEM's very often and the added cost along with the lack of resale kills customs for me. Any advise or help you could give would be appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: I forgot to add, size is also a concern of mine. I would like to have a small IEM if possible because some of the larger IEM's feel very odd in my ears. Thanks again!
 
Jul 4, 2009 at 6:00 PM Post #4 of 14
Not giong for custom, requiring good ISO, and nice size is equal none of IEM I could think of

Seriously, you should give up at least one of your criteria...............

Same as 3X0, your choice are narrowed down to 10 pro or IE8 if you dont want to go for custom.

Consider full size headphone ?
 
Jul 4, 2009 at 6:19 PM Post #5 of 14
Go custom!
 
Jul 4, 2009 at 7:02 PM Post #6 of 14
I have had several sets of full size cans and I find them difficult for portable use so that's out. Also, I won't go custom. As I said in my first post I change IEM's a lot. I just get tired of having the same ones for a long time. It would just be silly to go custom and ditch them in 3 months...
 
Jul 4, 2009 at 7:26 PM Post #7 of 14
From the universal IEMs I have heard, the IE8 has the most out of head experience. And using this tip mod increases the out of head experience.

I have only heard customs with universal tips, so I can't really comment, but the UE11 was pretty close to the IE8 before the above mentioned tip mod.
 
Jul 4, 2009 at 9:01 PM Post #8 of 14
I only have IE8.
I do hear sounds coming out of my head on a second-by-second basis.
I dislike foam for diminished SQ, I love them for comfort and isolation.
I wish you good luck on finding a IEM that meets your criteria, but do wish to express doubt on that foam tips can produce the full headstage a IEM is capable of.
 
Jul 5, 2009 at 12:00 AM Post #9 of 14
My ranking is, of the IEMs I've heard:
Sealed IEM: Triple Fi > W3 - not ranking Victor 500 yet as I'm giving W3 all my time...
Partial seal IEM: IE8 (have yet to do the renowned tip mod)


Put the IE8 on full seal &, in my opinion soundstage dies as quickly a dog in a sealed car in the desert. Not nice.

Overall winner, in terms of soundstage & isolation: Triple Fi thus far. Sound quality? Aha...Jury's out for few days!

Edit\ Hmmm...W3 s/s is pretty damn impressive. Great iso too.
 
Jul 5, 2009 at 2:00 AM Post #10 of 14
I have a great seal with my IE8 and I have an out of head experience a good amount greater than the W3 I spent 30 minutes auditioning and A/Bing. And this was with my old tips before the decay inspired tips that extend the soundstage even more while increasing the transparency and instrument separation.

And my IE8 fared quite well vs. the universal fit UE11.
 
Jul 5, 2009 at 5:03 AM Post #11 of 14
Quote:

Originally Posted by steviebee /img/forum/go_quote.gif
My ranking is, of the IEMs I've heard:
Sealed IEM: Triple Fi > W3 - not ranking Victor 500 yet as I'm giving W3 all my time...
Partial seal IEM: IE8 (have yet to do the renowned tip mod)


Put the IE8 on full seal &, in my opinion soundstage dies as quickly a dog in a sealed car in the desert. Not nice.

Overall winner, in terms of soundstage & isolation: Triple Fi thus far. Sound quality? Aha...Jury's out for few days!

Edit\ Hmmm...W3 s/s is pretty damn impressive. Great iso too.


Sorry for asking some unrelated question.

I know you are hardcore TF10 pro lover, just wonder why do think W3 is so impressive? Thx
 
Jul 5, 2009 at 2:10 PM Post #12 of 14
the best separation you'll get is with a decent amp--Mustang or Pico--paired with decent IEM like X10, Ety4p or s. Look at the portable amp forum, check out Jamato8's review of the Mustang/Shadow comparison and you'll see lots of "out of head" experience, but brought on by the amp, not the headphone
 
Jul 5, 2009 at 2:30 PM Post #13 of 14
i will have to again throw out the ck10 - it is tiny (houses two drivers) and apart from customs, is the best isolating iem that has a brilliant soundstage.

it trumps er4s for smoothness, opens up further than any other isolating iem, but is not very strong in bass unless you use modded foams - in which case, its bass is outta this world. it is so tiny in fact, that you barely see it from the side of the head and when riding a bicycle, is the only iem i have used that does not generate wind noise at all.
 
Jul 5, 2009 at 10:46 PM Post #14 of 14
Quote:

Originally Posted by gameboy115 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Sorry for asking some unrelated question.

I know you are hardcore TF10 pro lover, just wonder why do think W3 is so impressive? Thx


I was carried away a little! Soundstage is quite, nay, pretty good on W3 to my ears, but not equal to or surpassing Triple Fi... I was pleased to find W3 seems to have more SS than UM3X did.

I am impressed with W3's overall 'muscularity'...seems a solid little item, in terms of build & SQ. In terms of the latter, I'm not A/Bing with Triples yet as I want to fully acclimatise to W3 (tho treble is definitely brighter/more forward on TF10), so have been listening to nought else. I'm guessing going back to Triples will either be A, a relief or B, a disappointment. Which, I could not possibly say at this time
biggrin.gif
Of course, there's always C, Neither of the above!
 
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