To describe your review as comprehensive seems like an understatement. If there was an educational course relating to earphones on offer, this would have to be on the syllabus as required reading. Very impressive joker.

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Yep, the thread definitely got bigger, and will get bigger still (until I run out of room with the picture/character caps). Trying all of the top-tier IEMs would be interesting indeed, but I'm having quite a bit of fun with the budget stock without massacring my wallet [/I]too badly. I've been hunting for C710s and C751s for a while but haven't really been anxious to take the full-price plunge. If I get a chance at a pair in a trade I will try them without hesitating (same goes for the IE8 and Um3x), but there is quite a bit of exciting new stuff coming out as well

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Originally Posted by Orange1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thank you for such a great spreadsheet. A most thorough review as always. The CK10's are getting a lot of interest lately. And your review might bring that to frenzy level. LOL I wonder how my Panasonic 900's compare to the CK10's?

Thanks. I know I'm not helping matters but that's the way these crazes often happen here. As for the HJE900, I guess we'll find out eventually

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Originally Posted by kshelton /img/forum/go_quote.gif There is like 4 WTB CK10 right now in the for sale/trade area

Funny thing is, that's about how many CK10 owners there were across all of head-fi prior to this burst of interest.

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Originally Posted by kostalex /img/forum/go_quote.gif Great review! Thank you for this hard and amazing work, ljokerl.

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Originally Posted by iponderous /img/forum/go_quote.gif To describe your review as comprehensive seems like an understatement. If there was an educational course relating to earphones on offer, this would have to be on the syllabus as required reading. Very impressive joker.

Much appreciated. Comments like these keep me going

youve still not heard the IE7 yet either have you, id suggest add it to your "want to hear list"

btw i hate you you know, every time i see this tread it makes me feel so inadequate in my own writing up of things

I just did a quick demo of a few high-mid to top tier universal iems today, and would like to share my findings/conclusions.

I tested the Westone 2, Sennheiser IE8, AT CK10 and AT CK100 together with my trusty Westone UM3X. I have also owned the Phonak PFEs (1st gen, the easy-to-break ones) and Westone 3 previously. All IEMs are tested with the iBasso B4 amp (modded to be warmer), and with 3-4 tracks.

Westone UM3X
Well this is my benchmark 'cos this is the one I've been listening to daily. Excellent separation, very rich/warm mids, nice tight and impactful lows. My main complaint is that the treble is lacking somewhat, and the soundstage is quite congested.

Westone 2
My first impressions (abt 2 mths back) weren't good at all. Found the sound too thin and bass lacking. But that was without an amp!
With an amp now, it actually sounds very nice, I must say. Mids are slightly below the UM3X, still very rich, and the treble exceeds that of UM3X. Definitely sounds more crisp. Soundstage was also better. Separation is slightly below UM3X, and the most stark difference is the bass. Doesn't hit hard enough, but generally acceptable. Definitely a pair of phones I will consider "downgrading" to

AT CK10
The mids are quite airy, but I feel they are a little thin. Highs are way too siblant for my liking. When I listen to "I'm Yours" (Jason Mraz) there is a lot of siblance; and this is even worse with a Chinese track "tong hua (fairytale)" (Guang Liang). I think even the Westone 3 had less piercing siblance, and the Westone 3 was generally better than the CK10 is most aspects. Wasn't impressed.

AT CK100
This is certainly a very nice pair of phones. The mids and high had a very lush feel, and the treble was certainly very crisp. A little more siblant than Westone 2. Mids were very comparable to the UM3X.. in fact I think in the longer run I may prefer the AT CK100's. Soundstage was better too. But the bass was quite lacking. Very little impact, though speed was there. I cannot decide if I like this or the Westone 2.

IE8
This is a very interesting pair of phones. It sounds no where near all the other ones tested, or even the Westone 3 that I used to own. The mids and highs sounded very soothing and warm. I think the separation isn't as good as UM3X and most of the other phones above, and the bass is too overpowering. But the soundstage was fantastic. Best I've ever heard in a pair of IEMs. But needs to get used to the sound, which I'm not.

Summary
Treble: CK100>Westone2>=IE8>UM3X>CK10 (largely cos CK10 is too siblant)
Mid: CK100>=UM3X>Westone2=IE8=CK10
Lows: UM3X>IE8 (more quantity but wayyyy too much) >Westone 2>CK100>=CK10
Separation: UM3X>CK100>Westone 2>CK10>=IE8
Soundstage: IE8>Westone2>CK100>=CK10>=UM3X


All in all, I think my UM3X is here to stay. I would consider the AT CK100 if it were cheaper (but its about US$350 where I am), and would seriously consider getting a pair of Westone 2 if I want to downgrade.

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Lol. But my reviews are so dry compared to yours. I could read your RE252 write-up as a bedtime story

Thanks joker for all your time and effort! This is a work of epic proportions, rivalled only by ClieOS' achievements. IMO his and your shootout threads would deserve to be "sticky" right up on top for everyone to see.

Can't imagine what Head-fi would be like without |Joker| and others like him.

Very well said James!

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LOL, even i couldnt make sense of my 252 review. it is a very strange beast.

but lol i see you totally skirted my question, so when the IE7 review comming?

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Quick comment on the CK10s. If you get them seated properly, the sibilance issue disappears (at least 99 percent of it). But that's the key, fit. They are very, very deep IEMs, and feel weird at first when you get them planted (feels like the entire IEM is in your ear canal). Very unorthodox insertion scenario, at least compared to other IEMs I have owned, and that is going on three dozen now. Weirdest thing is the CKS70 are so easy to insert, certainly AT has no one way to design an IEM.

This is sort of like the W3s with short tips issue for me, there is a solution but it's not easy to find.

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I could not too.

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Yeah the interest level is going up greatly lately, myself included. I would really like to pick up a set one day but I am still having fun with my new HD25s and I need to buy an amp for them before I spend money on a IEM.

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i'll try that next time i visit the store. keen to try the CK10, CK100 and W2 again. Based on price-vs-sound, I thought W2 was the better buy yest. Not sure if the insertion-of-iem will change my mind.

I just wanted to say that this review thread is simply fantastic, and is a wonderful resource for the community. Kudos, Joker, and thank you.

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++ great review. All IEMs have been evaluated very fairly IMO.

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Thanks, everyone

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IE7 doesn't seem to be too popular in the US. It's on my list, for sure, but my wallet begs me not to. I'll probably end up getting a set anyway...