Audio Technica ATH-CK10 - Page 6

Your wife is, of course, right. Guess that's why we had one (in college now), so I could get my CK10s. Is joke!

Sibilance will come out with any silicon tip. To get rid of sibilance: you need to use foam or not cover the nozzle in any way with extended tip.

Is that because foam tips have a tendency to suppress the higher frequencies?

Just get RE0 for $79. They blow HD25 out of the water.

Pianist, are you tempted to procure a pair of CK10's?

Hate to disagree, but the Shure tri-flanges (silicone) and the CK10s exhibit absolutely no sibilance, none. Or is that what you mean by not covering the nozzle with an extended tip (tri-flange)?

I am thrilled with mp3's suggestion and I recommend the tri-flanges to anyone if they hear sibilance or have comfort/fit issues with the CK10. Excellent solution.

I know the RE0 is great sounding but I love my HD25 and I plan on using them for many years. Long after all the RE0's have worn out. It would take a higher end headphone than the RE0 for me to trade my HD25s.

I think it's quite probable that other IEMs do too. Either that, or multiple people here have the same oddly shaped ear canals.

Glad you enjoy HD25 so much. Yes, I agree that HD25 is a very nice headphone and if you really like that kind of sound presentation, I can see how you would have a hard time finding something better. They are also very convenient to use, especially for those people who do not like the feeling of IEMs in their ears. In regards to sound quality, RE0 is much better than HD25 though - much more faithful to the original recording IMO.

Okay, spent the better part of the day listening to the CK10s, W2s and Custom TF10s. Without going into a lot of depth, I found myself favoring the CK10s across all genres of my collection. I listened only with the Sony X, and with the Clear Bass on +1 for all three IEMs.

No matter whether I threw Bob Marley or Bonnie Raitt at them, Bela Fleck or Beastie Boys (sorry no trance or other electronic music in my collection), the CK10s sounded best.

That determination was made based on clarity, soundstage and detail, and the CK10s never had any hint of sibilance, thinness or bass deprivation.

There are other mitigating issues, of course. For example, both the W2s with custom sleeves and the Custom TF10s were more comfortable, but with the Shure tri-flanges, the CK10s were not uncomfortable. All three have excellent cables (Westone on the W2 and TF10). I only wish I could have the CK10s as customs. I am not going to send them away for reshelling, but I will say it's tempting.

If I were to list them in order best first based on SQ

1. CK10
2. TF10
3. W2

Doesn't mean I am going to sell the W2s, because I do like their sound and comfort combo, but the W2 sound the most congested, if that's even the right word, than the other two phones. I also don't hear recessed mids with the Trips, but that could be a function of the new tips and ES cable, not sure.

Anyway, I am happy to have all three. I understand the RE0 is an excellent IEM, but I have a very hard time believing that it can outperform the CK10s unamped, and the price difference is worth it. I have no external amps save the Amp3, and I didn't even try it with these phones.

Certainly, the RE0 can't compete with the CK10 on build quality, cable, isolation, etc. But even so, the CK10 delivers a powerful, addictive detailed performance. I am very glad I put out the $199 for it. I do know that a few HFers had both the RE0 and the CK10, and sold their RE0. That says something to me, and I doubt they paid the $199 price for the CK10.

Again, fit can be an issue. But the Shure flanges solved that issue for me, and I am sure there are many ways to skin that cat.

I am in accordance with AudioDwebe and Shigzeo, the CK10 is the best universal I have ever heard/owned, and my list is extensive (IE7/8, ER4P/S, W3, UM3X and a ton of other lesser models).

I think RE0 has excellent build quality too. I mean perhaps CK10 could probably last 50 years longer, but RE0 can still easily last 5-10 if not abused IMO and I think that's enough. How's the the soundstage depth on CK10 compared to W2 and Triple.fi?

BTW, I suspect that the main reason why CK10 is being preferred over RE0 is because RE0 is harder to fit properly and also requires more burn in time. Plus, few people know that moving the foam away from the driver improves the bass response.

I am not a good enough "ear" for depth, but the width is excellent. Also, I should have noted that the CK10, after all, is a $400 IEM and the W2 is a $249 IEM, with the TF10s a little below $400 (until the Amazon/Logitech sale).

I didn't mean to impugn the RE0 build quality, but my experience with RE2s were they were not the hardiest IEMs I've ever owned. Glad to see Head-Direct has got that squared away. Cable-wise, the CK10s have the best stock cable I've ever seen, and I have owned 3 dozen or more IEMs in the past 4 years.

Yeah, RE0 body is metal instead of plasticy RE2 and RE1.

For anyone who is interested, I'm getting the CK10 remolded with an extra LF driver. Will be ready in a month I suspect.

Quite exciting!

Wow, interesting indeed. Looking forward to hearing impressions on this mutant. Hope the don't put a lower quality driver in there though.