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$200 Budget - What do I get?

post #1 of 16
10/15/09 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Hello everyone, I've been lurking for the past week, doing my research on the best IEM for me.

I am a current user of the Grado SR60's, and I love them, but I am starting to wear the ear covers down, and they are not as portable as I would like them to be.

Before I had those, I had the Sennheiser PX100, my first high quality (well relative to what I had experencied in my life before) pair of headphones, and the ones that made me into a high quality music lover, as much as my small budget allows me.

Basically, I am willing to spend up to $200 and that has to include the shipping and the tax, not a penny more.

My main priority is SQ, but secondarily I need portability and high quality materials, I don't want my cords and etc. falling apart on me. It would be a big bonus if they included a small case for easier transportation.

I am unexperienced in describing what kind of sound I like, so bear with me.
I want clarity primarily. I want to hear every instrument, every sound. Bass is semi-important, I don't expect bass to sound like my Energy loudspeakers, but I don't want it to sound like I turned the bass gain all the way down either. I want it to be there, but I don't need my head rattled. Hey, if there is a pair that fits all the qualifications, and has great bass, thats awesome, but if the pair meets everything else and just has decent bass, I'm fine with that.

From what research I have done, a couple have interested me, though I am sure I have missed a lot of good ones.

In particular:
Shure SE310 - $165
Shure SE210 - $99
Entymonic ER-4p -$168
Entymonic HF5 - $115
Head Direct RE0 - $99
*Amazon prices

Is their any value to the SE310 and ER4P compared to their cheaper variants? By that, I mean, are they worth spending the extra $65?
Also, the RE0 seem to have good reviews on this forum, but they also seem to have a very cheap build quality, and not many extras inlcuded such as a carrying case. I am worried that even at $99 they are not worth it compared to available alternatives.

Again, I am willing to spend up to $200, though I prefer bang for the buck, so if there are any really good IEM's I've missed, please recommend.

Thank you all for your time, and I apologize for this wall of text.

Austin Hicks

Edit: I also wanted to say, these will be used primarily on Iphone 3GS, and not with an amp ever. Amp is not a consideration.
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post #2 of 16
10/15/09 at 6:10pm
So for $200 and clarity I would suggest HF5 or RE0. Own both, and think they are both wonderul. The ER4P is very much like the HF5 (judging buy freq. graphs. I have not heard it), and the S is different, many say better. If you can get the er4 series, do it over the hf5 as you can change a cable and have the different things.

One other phone to consider is the PFE, which I have also not heard, but have read that it would fit your criteria nicely.

-Nkk

EDIT: please do not judge the RE0 by their extras. My build quaity has been fine (even with some unintentional abuse such as stepping on them). They are a deal at $160, and they are even better at $99.

Plus, have you considered getting two earphones, like the RE0 and hf or just a bit more than budget? It would give you two phones that I think are very good, some sound signature variety, and a backup if build quality is ever an issue for either one.
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post #3 of 16
10/15/09 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm, no I hadn't considered getting two, I don't care that much about having a headphone really good at one specific thing, I prefer the jack of all trades, or at least most trades. Which one do you like more, the HF5 or RE0? My main use is usually reading and doing HW while I listen to my Iphone.
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post #4 of 16
10/15/09 at 7:26pm
For not focusing on the music, I would get the RE0. The hf5 is brighter (look at headroom's frequency response graphs), and to me that makes the music more prominent in the domain of what I am focusing on, thus making it harder to concentrate on other things.

Note that the RE0 sound great out of an hp out, but only get better with an amp.

-Nkk
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post #5 of 16
10/15/09 at 7:29pm
what genres do you listen to?
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post #6 of 16
10/15/09 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
Ahh, so tough to decide!
HF5 vs RE0, idk now. I'm leaning towards HF5 for the SQ and intricate detail, if I really need to not be distracted I usually just turn the volume down anyways, but when I am in the zone for music, I want it to be perfect.

I usually listen to Alternative and Rock.
Muse
The Beatles
Pink Floyd
The Police
Steve Miller Band

Stuff like that.
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post #7 of 16
10/15/09 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 
Coldplay how could I forget Coldplay! One of my favorite bands of all time
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post #8 of 16
10/15/09 at 8:08pm
All of the above sound very good on RE0, I didn't hear HF5 though.
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post #9 of 16
10/15/09 at 9:51pm
If you go with the RE0's, you'll get great bass quality but probably not the quantity you'd expect. A slight bass boost helps that out alot. Pink Floyd's song Echoes (when the "groove section" kicks in around 7:00) has plenty of bass if that gives you an idea.
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post #10 of 16
10/16/09 at 1:45pm
At $200, any reason why the IE7 is out of contention?
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post #11 of 16
10/16/09 at 1:56pm
Go with ER4p if not HF5 then Phonank PFE. If Shure then 210 over 310 but I wouldn't bother either. RE0 would be my last choice.

Your best off with Ety. Also consider the Ety HF2 which is iPhone compatible.
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post #12 of 16
10/16/09 at 6:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hentai11 View Post
At $200, any reason why the IE7 is out of contention?
this, ie7's man, trust. i bought them and love them still.
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post #13 of 16
10/16/09 at 11:23pm
IF you want airy, warm detailed sound then IE7(rich warm mids), Custom 3 (rich warm detailed mids) are great choice. The detailed, neutral sound is better on RE0, SE420 and HF5
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post #14 of 16
10/16/09 at 11:26pm
I would suggest the IE7 as well for a warm sound and large soundstage.
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post #15 of 16
10/16/09 at 11:55pm
I owned both the IE7 and the Custom 3s, and save yourself some money and just try a pair of Klipsch S4s, for $79. Give them proper burn-in and enjoy. I have also owned the ER4P, but not the RE0.

I know I have been posting about the S4 a lot lately, but over the past 3 weeks they have really come alive, and sound great for the money. I didn't care for the IE7 fit, but the sound was fine.
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