RE0 vs Rain vs CK10
Jan 25, 2010 at 2:42 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 36
sk3383

sk3383

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I can buy both the RE0 & Rain for the price of the CK10. Is the CK10 worth the extra money?

I basically want to know if the CK10 sounds that much better than the others. I understand that it has a better cable (microphonics), and it is also incredibly small which allows for good fittment.

Can anyone provide an direct comparison? I am really curious to hear a review of the Rain vs CK10.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 3:03 AM Post #2 of 36
There is an entire thread on a RE0/CK10 comparison. See below. Though why would you need both the Rain and the RE0?

I had the Rain (sold it), and I expect the CK10 to be a much higher level IEM, more on the level of the Westone 2s, which crush the Rain in my opinion. I will find out Tuesday when the CK10s arrive.

For the RE0, read this thread...http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/h...a-ck10-425868/

However, a member who has heard both, Vorlon1, says this about the CK10 v. RE0

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6344357-post155.html

No one can tell you what to buy. My guess, and that's all it is, is that the CK10 is a higher-end IEM than either the RE0 or the Rain, based on ALL factors, not just good detail, etc.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 3:10 AM Post #3 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
There is an entire thread on a RE0/CK10 comparison. See below. Though why would you need both the Rain and the RE0?

I had the Rain (sold it), and I expect the CK10 to be a much higher level IEM, more on the level of the Westone 2s, which crush the Rain in my opinion. I will find out Tuesday when the CK10s arrive.



Any specific reason why you sold the Rain?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
However, a member who has heard both, Vorlon1, says this about the CK10 v. RE0

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6344357-post155.html



Interesting, first time I have heard those comments about the RE0
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 4:13 AM Post #4 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by sk3383 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Interesting, first time I have heard those comments about the RE0


Take those comments with a grain of salt. Personally, I don't think RE0 is lacking air at all. RE0 may be lacking a bit in bass or maybe mids are a bit cold for some, but treble on RE0 is about as perfect as it gets IMO - very neutral, detailed, airy and extended with terrific separation. Also, there's zero harshness or sibilance if the source and recording are up to par, if the fit is good, and if enough burn in time is given (at least 100 hours)
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 5:00 AM Post #5 of 36
sk3383;6344683 said:
Any specific reason why you sold the Rain?

I posted about it in the Rain/Thunder thread. I could not get a good seal with any tips but the T400 foamies, and they caused too much pressure. However,while the Rain is a perfectly fine IEM at its current price ($64 or so), I don't believe it's worth $99, its MSRP.

And believe it or not, the RE0 are not universally loved, though those phones do have some very, very vocal fans, and no doubt deservedly so. There are some RE0 owners, however, who felt they sounded dull, too neutral, bass lite and things like that. No doubt, the RE0 are a fantastic IEM, esp when their price fell from $199 to $99. But there have been criticisms of the RE0.

As for whether they are as airy as the CK10, etc., I have no real idea. But I am looking forward to trying out the CK10s. I had the RE252s, which are purportedly the next step up from the RE0 (at least bv the vendor), and it is a very detailed IEM. But personal preference dictates that some people, myself included, are not after perfect detail, neutrality, etc., and like some "color" in their IEMs. THe Trip Customs and the W2 are those types of phones to me, and I expect the CK10, while more along the lines of a detail/mids/highs-oriented IEM, also might have a distinctive sound sig as well.

I guess I will find out. It's all about impressions/opinion. A couple of other HFers I know who have tried the RE0 did not find them to be what others have found, all I can say.
Click to expand...
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 5:19 AM Post #6 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
But personal preference dictates that some people, myself included, are not after perfect detail, neutrality, etc., and like some "color" in their IEMs. THe Trip Customs and the W2 are those types of phones to me, and I expect the CK10, while more along the lines of a detail/mids/highs-oriented IEM, also might have a distinctive sound sig as well.


I am one of those people who does NOT like colored sound. I am looking for a set of headphones that reproduce music the closest to the original recording.

Can any CK10 owners tell me if the CK10s color the sound? (in their opinion of course)
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 5:25 AM Post #7 of 36
Have you read any of the reviews of the CK10s here? Use the search button and you will find some. Check Shigzeo's view on them. Also, a reviewer named Joker. They are not new IEMs, but have been around for a couple of years. And originally were $400 MSRP. So far, only one person who owns them posted (on that W2 thread) lately, owned both and he says they are a preferred IEM over the RE0, in his opinion, of course.

Here's some stuff...

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/m...h-ck10-441422/

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/accessorie...9299236,00.htm

I know it does mids/highs very well, is not overly bassy, much like the RE0, ER4P, etc.

My guess is you won't know until you try both.

Also, by no means are the Westone 2 or the Custom TF10s I have so colored that they ruin original recordings, they are excellent IEMs.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 5:30 AM Post #8 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianist /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Take those comments with a grain of salt. Personally, I don't think RE0 is lacking air at all. RE0 may be lacking a bit in bass or maybe mids are a bit cold for some, but treble on RE0 is about as perfect as it gets IMO - very neutral, detailed, airy and extended with terrific separation. Also, there's zero harshness or sibilance if the source and recording are up to par, if the fit is good, and if enough burn in time is given (at least 100 hours)


We are all entitled to our opinions and judgments about what we hear, so just in the interest of accuracy, I never said the RE0's were sibilant, I said the CK 10s were not sibilant, which was a comment on their qualities, not on the RE0's. As to sources, I use a 4th generation IMOD with ALO SXC mini to mini cable and an SR 71 amp or an AMP 3. As to my comments about the treble being somewhat etched and not as airy as I prefer on the RE0, I stand by them, and they can be taken with as many grains of whatever substance you may enjoy.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 5:35 AM Post #9 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by sk3383 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Can any CK10 owners tell me if the CK10s color the sound? (in their opinion of course)


I think they are one of the most neutral IEMs I have every owned. I have used them with different amps and unamped, and the different sound signatures of the amps are quite easy to hear with them, more so than with other gear I have listened to. To me that is a sign of neutrality.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 5:40 AM Post #10 of 36
There you have it OP, they are neutral. Again, looking forward to hearing them.

And to clarify Vorlon1, you said the CK10s were somewhat airier than the RE0, and the RE0 highs were "etched," right? Not the CK10s. And I am especially glad to hear they play well with the Amp3.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 5:45 AM Post #11 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by vorlon1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I think they are one of the most neutral IEMs I have every owned. I have used them with different amps and unamped, and the different sound signatures of the amps are quite easy to hear with them, more so than with other gear I have listened to. To me that is a sign of neutrality.


I think I have finally found my IEM. Probably going to pull the trigger on the CK10s.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 6:09 AM Post #12 of 36
SQ is a very subjective thing and everyone hears it as they hear it (on a personal level).
If youve got the money the ck10 certainly has some good reviews (id like to try them sometime), however theres no harm in buying the RE0s for $79 trying them, if you dont like them, sell them.
I am delighted with the SQ of mine (on a personal level) and thats what counts to me.
Looking forward to trying "rain", maybe Ill be happy with them too, if not ill sell them.
Value for money the RE0s are great (not too many Head-Fiers will disagree with that).
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 6:22 AM Post #13 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
There you have it OP, they are neutral. Again, looking forward to hearing them.

And to clarify Vorlon1, you said the CK10s were somewhat airier than the RE0, and the RE0 highs were "etched," right? Not the CK10s. And I am especially glad to hear they play well with the Amp3.


Yes, exactly, that's how I hear them, obviously others may differ.
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 6:28 AM Post #14 of 36
Quote:

Originally Posted by vorlon1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
We are all entitled to our opinions and judgments about what we hear, so just in the interest of accuracy, I never said the RE0's were sibilant, I said the CK 10s were not sibilant, which was a comment on their qualities, not on the RE0's. As to sources, I use a 4th generation IMOD with ALO SXC mini to mini cable and an SR 71 amp or an AMP 3. As to my comments about the treble being somewhat etched and not as airy as I prefer on the RE0, I stand by them, and they can be taken with as many grains of whatever substance you may enjoy.


Sorry, I just misunderstood you. Could you please clarify what you mean by "etched", because I don't understand what that word means when it is used to describe sound quality. Does it mean grainy?
 
Jan 25, 2010 at 7:00 AM Post #15 of 36
I use the term etched to describe sound that is very clear and detailed but seems to artificially stand out from the context, or in this case the rest of the music. It is like when something is etched in a lithograph, it stands out from the background very clearly, but maybe in some respect too clearly, so that it sounds slightly artificially distinct in its level of detail from the rest of the music. To my ears the RE0 has a bit of this quality, excellent detail in the highs, but this quality that it is not quite organic with the rest of the music. The CK 10 is very detailed also, but the detail seems more in context to me, more organic (an integrated whole) with the rest of the music, rather than standing out in what seems slightly artificial. That is what I meant, and I'm sure others will hear it differently and reach a different conclusion. There is a very good audio glossary on Head-Fi here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/des...ossary-220770/ ironically, it doesn't define "etched."
 
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