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Done with Apple's terrible earbuds. Need a pair of IEMs

post #1 of 12
11/21/09 at 2:02pm
Thread Starter 
Hey guys,

After four pairs of the stock apple earbuds breaking in one way or another I realized that it's time to step it up to some nice iems, something that will last and sound good too. My price range is <$150 and they are going to be used with my iPhone 3G. Sound isolation doesn't have to be amazing but it does need to be there. They're going to be primarily used to walk across campus and at my desk with my laptop. I generally listen to alternative rockish music. (Brand New, Manchester Orchestra, The mountain goats) and dabble in electronicaish (MGMT, Passion Pit) so I don't need/want a bass heavy iem, instead I'm looking for clarity. I was looking at the the Etymotic HF5's which right now are about $115 on amazon. While searching these forums I have heard nothing but good things about them, but when I search my price range, nothing seems to be said about them. Would these make a good choice? If not, what would?

Thanks a lot,
Nik
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post #2 of 12
11/21/09 at 5:09pm
have u consider the Audeo PFE ? its $139
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post #3 of 12
11/21/09 at 5:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alastiar View Post
have u consider the Audeo PFE ? its $139
I haven't heard much of anything about them. Care to comment on them?
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post #4 of 12
11/21/09 at 6:28pm
PFEs are excellent but I still have reservations about the build, at least until the new version comes out (supposed to be soon). I'd go for the RE0 if I were you. Not going to beat that clarity for under $150.
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post #5 of 12
11/21/09 at 6:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post
PFEs are excellent but I still have reservations about the build, at least until the new version comes out (supposed to be soon). I'd go for the RE0 if I were you. Not going to beat that clarity for under $150.
I plan on going unamped, does that change your recommendation at all? It seems from reading multiple threads that because of how many ohms they are (i forget how many they actually are) they benefit more with an amp compared to a 16ohm iem. Is that correct? (I'm new to this whole iem shenanigans, so excuse things I say that aren't true)

Edit- it seems the RE0s are 64ohms while the HF5s are 16 ohms
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post #6 of 12
11/21/09 at 7:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThaLastShot View Post
I plan on going unamped, does that change your recommendation at all? It seems from reading multiple threads that because of how many ohms they are (i forget how many they actually are) they benefit more with an amp compared to a 16ohm iem. Is that correct? (I'm new to this whole iem shenanigans, so excuse things I say that aren't true)

Edit- it seems the RE0s are 64ohms while the HF5s are 16 ohms
You're exactly right - the RE0's benefit more from an amp than most other phones. Their scaling ability is uncanny, actually. But even unamped they still offer the best clarity I have heard in the price range, so my recommendation stands.
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post #7 of 12
11/21/09 at 7:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post
You're exactly right - the RE0's benefit more from an amp than most other phones. Their scaling ability is uncanny, actually. But even unamped they still offer the best clarity I have heard in the price range, so my recommendation stands.
I'm actually surprised I'm right haha (I guess a day of reading/devouring these forums paid off). I'm def going to have to look more into them, especially for the price they are at now.
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post #8 of 12
11/21/09 at 7:15pm
Im dying to hear more about the Sleek SA1 that just released. The SA6 is an amazing phone IMO and Im hoping they will offer a great bang for the buck at $80. It might be worth the wait but thats up to you of course.
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post #9 of 12
11/21/09 at 7:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post
PFEs are excellent but I still have reservations about the build, at least until the new version comes out (supposed to be soon). I'd go for the RE0 if I were you. Not going to beat that clarity for under $150.
Damn it, off by $15...
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post #10 of 12
11/21/09 at 7:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post
PFEs are excellent but I still have reservations about the build, at least until the new version comes out (supposed to be soon).
well the new version is out now, from the official website its not backorder anymore. I even got a letter from Bill said the same thing. PFE is 32ohm so it will work great unamp ... rite?
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post #11 of 12
11/21/09 at 7:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alastiar View Post
well the new version is out now, from the official website its not backorder anymore. I even got a letter from Bill said the same thing. PFE is 32ohm so it will work great unamp ... rite?
No, PFE is an exception to the impedance rule-of-thumb. IMO it benefits from amping at least as much as the RE0 does.
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post #12 of 12
11/21/09 at 7:59pm
New version?
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