Impressions of the Ortofon e-Q7 versus the IE8, CK100, SE530, FX500 and X10 (plus CK10... - Page 6

Hi james444... guess what I just bought

I am not james444 but I am pleased. Eyeing these and the CK10 off at the moment. Looking forward to seeing what you think of them.

Hi ipondy

I ordered the silver ones because they are the shiniest of all, and everyone knows that the shinier they are, the better they sound

Actually I think the red ones look best.

Yes, I think I would order the shiniest option too. We all need a chance to shine.

The red ones are racey aren't they? I like red. It's bold. Sometimes we should be bold.

Actually, it's a pretty shiny type of red. I think they would look perfect on women. On guys - not so much. I think I get some weird looks when I wear them outside.

Are you sure it's the earphones?

You've suddenly come around to these haven't you? What happened? I know you've been very impressed with the REO's, so how do the e-Q7's compare? Are they suitable for use unamped?

Yeah, I still like RE0 a lot, but e-Q7 sounds much better unamped with most music. It has much tighter bass, richer mids, and a lot more micro-detail. It just sounds more realistic than RE0, much more alive. When RE0 is amped, it still puts up a good fight, but amping just can't help with micro-detail - RE0 just has less of it no matter what. It simplifies instruments somewhat, while Ortofon doesn't simplify anything.

Pianist, how do you find the highs, imaging and soundstage?

I know!! I deduced (with the aid of my enviably scientific mind...) that the black ones sound the darkest (veiled) - the red ones sound the hottest (sibilant) - and the silver ones sound the coolest (neutral)

That's good to hear. I tried Mark's RE0's amped and unamped with the Shadow, and if the Ortos sounds more alive with richer mids, I think I'd like them. I'm hoping that the vocals aren't quite as forward as the UM3X though, although if they are (but have a bigger soundstage) they could be right up my alley... so to speak


ipondy - are you tempted yet? And if so, are you hot, cool or sibilant??

Tempted soozieq and coolly aloof.

But being aloof just makes you a foola backwards