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Multi-IEM Review - 281 IEMs compared (VSonic GR07 BE and R02 Silver Added 05/15/13 p.688) - Page 603

post #9031 of 10415
12/12/12 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AznInvasion138 View Post

 

Sorry to keep bothering you joker but I just found out that my brother (the guy im buying these IEMs for) doesn't really care for an extra emphasize of bass, so that basically screwed up my selection of headphones lol. The important aspects to him would probably be isolation and comfort since he will be using them on transits everyday. He listens to mostly alternative stuff like Lana Del Ray and Ed Sheeran with a mix of hip hop like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean so what would be a best all-rounder I guess. The GR07 looks good at this point but don't know anymore haha. Thanks again for the help!


get the er4p .

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #9032 of 10415
12/12/12 at 9:20pm

Joker,

I just read your entire review catalogue and i must say that i am just absolutely applauding what a job you have done.
Words to not express my gratitude nor do they do justice to the time and effort that you have obviously put in to what you have compiled.

I am at the semi-beginner stage of wanting to really understand and appreciate quality sound and devices that deliver it so apologies for my inability to convey what it is that im after with much clarity.

 

18 months ago i purchased some Triple Fi 10s on here from a user by the name of mvw2. I really enjoyed them but wasnt really ready to dive properly into the world of IEM's and head-fi. After a while i didnt really look after them and i simply used them with my laptop, iPhone and iPod, never buying any specific gear to really reap the rewards of having some quality IEM's.

Recently i noticed that the sound in the left side was diminished so i tried to clean them out and i think i damaged both of them unfortunately. They still work, just do not have the punch they did and have lost about 40% volume. As such, i have decided to really stop trying to take the easy way out and dedicate myself to learning as much as i can and making smart decisions to really try and appreciate what i want from my FI gear.

 

My plan is to purchase some IEM's around christmas time and then purchase a proper audio player some time after that and really take care of my gear and get involved. As i mentioned, i have just read all of your review and im trying to narrow down what is best for me to get going.

Its a lot of information to take in over a short time so your table at the bottom really helped remind me of what id read and what i liked and what i thought could be an option for me.

 

I dont really have a specific genre that i listen to. I love my stoner rock, metal, acoustic quiet stuff, some electronic stuff as well like The Prodigy. From reading a lot of your reviews i believe that i would really enjoy a pretty even bass/midrange/treble set that is fun and not to analytical. i like my music to sound big and fun, but not to the point of reducing its clarity or accuracy. I like the idea of a large but obviously not over the top soundstage and liked what you had to say about the soundstage of the SM3 and how it helped you determine what is the perfect size stage for an IEM. Those things i think are important to me. the immersion and 3d qualities without obviously going overboard. Something that is rich and cohesive but you can still identify the individual frequencies if you look for them.

 

If you do get a chance to reply to my post, i hope that helps define the kind of sound i am looking for.

 

I guess moving along to your table i see quite an interesting trend. The top 6 are all custom IEMs, which makes sense, but the next 4 are universal and actually more expensive than 3 of the custom ones ahead of them on the list. I am wooed by the review of the 1964EARS V3, and also the price, yet i want to make sure im ready for a custom IEM like that. Like i said, i dont currently own a premium player for high quality audio so until i made that commitment as well (of which i have not begun to look at possible answers), any of the top rated IEM's would obviously be under-utilised.

 

Before i read your thread i was leaning towards the UM3x, Earsonic SM3 or RE272. But now after diving in, my decision seems harder. The price of the Alclair and the V3 Ears is really not that much more than those i was initially looking at, and reading the reviews, it appears as though they are clearly highly rated.

 

I guess what im after from yourself or anyone who would like to reply (appreciate it so much if possible), is some direction on where to go from here, How to make my decision, how i should go about building a kit up for myself, and generally a guide for myself to get from tonnes of data to using it to make an informed decision and purchases.

As it stands, i am now tempted by the V3 Ears, the Alclair, CK10, CK100 as well as a bunch of others and also still holding a nice soft spot for the UM3x and SM3.

 

I cant even ask my questions right because i just dont know where to go from here!
Any help from anyone would be appreciated and thanks again for the remarkable job with your reviews.

Cheers,
Mink.


Edited by Portable Mink - 12/12/12 at 9:21pm
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post #9033 of 10415
12/13/12 at 1:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post

You're probably better off getting the vPulses, spending some time with them, and seeing where you want to go from there. Doesn't seem like you know what type of sound you are after at this point and there's a number of options available to you. It might take trying the vPulse and a few other sets in order to get your sound signature bearings. I would definitely advise against getting both the Tributes and Coppers - they sound different, but probably not enough to warrant owning both. 

Thanks, I will be ordering the vPulses today (will be nice every days with my iPhone). You are right about getting my bearings because the only nice headphones I have atm are a pair of Astro A50's. Also thanks for advising against getting both the Tributes and Coppers. I believe post Christmas I will get the Tributes (since their rarity is going up) and then after spending some time with them coming back here if I need anymore help. Is there a cheap pair of analytical IEMs you would recommend to help get my bearings ?
Edited by DPCyric - 12/13/12 at 9:18am
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post #9034 of 10415
12/13/12 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Portable Mink View Post

I guess moving along to your table i see quite an interesting trend. The top 6 are all custom IEMs, which makes sense, but the next 4 are universal and actually more expensive than 3 of the custom ones ahead of them on the list. I am wooed by the review of the 1964EARS V3, and also the price, yet i want to make sure im ready for a custom IEM like that. Like i said, i dont currently own a premium player for high quality audio so until i made that commitment as well (of which i have not begun to look at possible answers), any of the top rated IEM's would obviously be under-utilised.

 

Before i read your thread i was leaning towards the UM3x, Earsonic SM3 or RE272. But now after diving in, my decision seems harder. The price of the Alclair and the V3 Ears is really not that much more than those i was initially looking at, and reading the reviews, it appears as though they are clearly highly rated.

 

I guess what im after from yourself or anyone who would like to reply (appreciate it so much if possible), is some direction on where to go from here, How to make my decision, how i should go about building a kit up for myself, and generally a guide for myself to get from tonnes of data to using it to make an informed decision and purchases.

As it stands, i am now tempted by the V3 Ears, the Alclair, CK10, CK100 as well as a bunch of others and also still holding a nice soft spot for the UM3x and SM3.

 

I cant even ask my questions right because i just dont know where to go from here!
Any help from anyone would be appreciated and thanks again for the remarkable job with your reviews.

Cheers,
Mink.

I got the V3 yesterday, they sound really really good. I have posted my impressions in the V3-review thread if you want to take a look.
 

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post #9035 of 10415
12/13/12 at 1:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DPCyric View Post

Thanks, I will be ordering the vPulses today (will be nice every days with my iPhone). You are right about getting my bearings because the only nice headphones I have atm are a pair of Astro A50's. Also thanks for advising against getting both the Tributes and Coppers. I believe post Christmas I will get the Tributes (since their rarity is going up) and then after spending some time with them coming back here if I need anymore help. Is there a cheap pair of analytical IEMs you would recommend to help get my bearings ?

Should've asked yesterday when Amazon had the MEElec A151 for like $30! MEElec's been running a lot of excellent deals on their website and on Amazon this holiday season tho, might be worth signing up for their newsletter and keeping an eye out.
Edited by Impulse - 12/13/12 at 1:05pm
Reply
post #9036 of 10415
12/13/12 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AznInvasion138 View Post

 

Sorry to keep bothering you joker but I just found out that my brother (the guy im buying these IEMs for) doesn't really care for an extra emphasize of bass, so that basically screwed up my selection of headphones lol. The important aspects to him would probably be isolation and comfort since he will be using them on transits everyday. He listens to mostly alternative stuff like Lana Del Ray and Ed Sheeran with a mix of hip hop like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean so what would be a best all-rounder I guess. The GR07 looks good at this point but don't know anymore haha. Thanks again for the help!

 

The GR07 is a safe option because it doesn't have an intrusive bass presentation but still has more punch and bass depth compared to something like an RE262 or Ety. Not the greatest isolation but should be good for commuting. 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Portable Mink View Post

Joker,

I just read your entire review catalogue and i must say that i am just absolutely applauding what a job you have done.
Words to not express my gratitude nor do they do justice to the time and effort that you have obviously put in to what you have compiled.

I am at the semi-beginner stage of wanting to really understand and appreciate quality sound and devices that deliver it so apologies for my inability to convey what it is that im after with much clarity.

 

18 months ago i purchased some Triple Fi 10s on here from a user by the name of mvw2. I really enjoyed them but wasnt really ready to dive properly into the world of IEM's and head-fi. After a while i didnt really look after them and i simply used them with my laptop, iPhone and iPod, never buying any specific gear to really reap the rewards of having some quality IEM's.

Recently i noticed that the sound in the left side was diminished so i tried to clean them out and i think i damaged both of them unfortunately. They still work, just do not have the punch they did and have lost about 40% volume. As such, i have decided to really stop trying to take the easy way out and dedicate myself to learning as much as i can and making smart decisions to really try and appreciate what i want from my FI gear.

 

My plan is to purchase some IEM's around christmas time and then purchase a proper audio player some time after that and really take care of my gear and get involved. As i mentioned, i have just read all of your review and im trying to narrow down what is best for me to get going.

Its a lot of information to take in over a short time so your table at the bottom really helped remind me of what id read and what i liked and what i thought could be an option for me.

 

I dont really have a specific genre that i listen to. I love my stoner rock, metal, acoustic quiet stuff, some electronic stuff as well like The Prodigy. From reading a lot of your reviews i believe that i would really enjoy a pretty even bass/midrange/treble set that is fun and not to analytical. i like my music to sound big and fun, but not to the point of reducing its clarity or accuracy. I like the idea of a large but obviously not over the top soundstage and liked what you had to say about the soundstage of the SM3 and how it helped you determine what is the perfect size stage for an IEM. Those things i think are important to me. the immersion and 3d qualities without obviously going overboard. Something that is rich and cohesive but you can still identify the individual frequencies if you look for them.

 

If you do get a chance to reply to my post, i hope that helps define the kind of sound i am looking for.

 

I guess moving along to your table i see quite an interesting trend. The top 6 are all custom IEMs, which makes sense, but the next 4 are universal and actually more expensive than 3 of the custom ones ahead of them on the list. I am wooed by the review of the 1964EARS V3, and also the price, yet i want to make sure im ready for a custom IEM like that. Like i said, i dont currently own a premium player for high quality audio so until i made that commitment as well (of which i have not begun to look at possible answers), any of the top rated IEM's would obviously be under-utilised.

 

Before i read your thread i was leaning towards the UM3x, Earsonic SM3 or RE272. But now after diving in, my decision seems harder. The price of the Alclair and the V3 Ears is really not that much more than those i was initially looking at, and reading the reviews, it appears as though they are clearly highly rated.

 

I guess what im after from yourself or anyone who would like to reply (appreciate it so much if possible), is some direction on where to go from here, How to make my decision, how i should go about building a kit up for myself, and generally a guide for myself to get from tonnes of data to using it to make an informed decision and purchases.

As it stands, i am now tempted by the V3 Ears, the Alclair, CK10, CK100 as well as a bunch of others and also still holding a nice soft spot for the UM3x and SM3.

 

I cant even ask my questions right because i just dont know where to go from here!
Any help from anyone would be appreciated and thanks again for the remarkable job with your reviews.

Cheers,
Mink.

 

Since you've owned the Triple.Fi 10 for so long you should have some idea of what your liked/didn't like about its sound. It's difficult to make a decision with only one data point and you could spend time and money exploring different sound signatures to figure out what you really like. However, it seems like you are ready to take a larger leap and if you're the type of person who will be always be wondering whether there's something better out there after buying an RE262 or UM3X, I would just jump right into it and get a V3. The beauty of the V3 is that it's a pretty forgiving earphone (compared to the Alclair Reference, for example) and also tends towards a more fun sound. It'll more than match the bass of your TF10s while still providing some treble sparkle and pushing the midrange forward. It should allow you to put your system together over time as it will play well with a Sansa Clip or another decent cheap-o device. 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by DPCyric View Post


Thanks, I will be ordering the vPulses today (will be nice every days with my iPhone). You are right about getting my bearings because the only nice headphones I have atm are a pair of Astro A50's. Also thanks for advising against getting both the Tributes and Coppers. I believe post Christmas I will get the Tributes (since their rarity is going up) and then after spending some time with them coming back here if I need anymore help. Is there a cheap pair of analytical IEMs you would recommend to help get my bearings ?


Not really cheap but the Etymotic HF5 at ~$100 is always a great option. If you just want to try a balanced armature the Rock-It R-30 is a good deal at ~$70 as well. It's not as balanced as the Ety but for the price it's very good. 

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post #9037 of 10415
12/13/12 at 10:15pm

hey joker, long time!

 

any chance you could give me a quick comparison between the ATH-CK10 (still rocking these) and the UE900?

 

Thanks!

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post #9038 of 10415
12/14/12 at 1:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by germanturkey View Post

hey joker, long time!

 

any chance you could give me a quick comparison between the ATH-CK10 (still rocking these) and the UE900?

 

Thanks!

 

It's pretty similar to the Rock-It R-50 comparison I included in the review: 


UE900: warmer tone, smoother treble, more impactful bass, better bass depth and power, more forward lower midrange, more natural timbre

CK10: brighter, thinner note presentation, slightly tighter bass, slightly wider soundstage, better imaging, less forward midrange

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post #9039 of 10415
12/14/12 at 5:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post

There are BA-based earphones that sound much thicker/fuller than the DBA-02  (which is a dual armature, by the way), That said, the CTM-200 is not very thick-sounding either, though slightly more so than the DBA-02. The Alclair Reference might be a better option if you can swing the price. If you wanted to try a solid, balanced-sounding dynamic-driver set just to see if you like the note presentation better, you could do so without spending a lot, for example with the HiFiMan RE272 or even Sony EX600 or MDR-7550. 

 

 

Thanks!  I will definitely have a look at these.  beerchug.gif

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post #9040 of 10415
12/14/12 at 9:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post

 

It's pretty similar to the Rock-It R-50 comparison I included in the review: 


UE900: warmer tone, smoother treble, more impactful bass, better bass depth and power, more forward lower midrange, more natural timbre

CK10: brighter, thinner note presentation, slightly tighter bass, slightly wider soundstage, better imaging, less forward midrange

hmm, so the the ue900s have less detail?  interesting.  given that your preference is pretty close to mine, would you recommend one over the other?  also, i've read a bit that the ue900s have a veil on them, do you find this to be true?

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post #9041 of 10415
12/14/12 at 10:59am

I'd appreciate a recommendation based on the following parameters, in order of importance

 

1. Around $50-$60 max

2. earbud

3. noise cancelling

4. Fabric, or tangleless cords.

 

No smart phone integration/remote necessary.

 

They are for my girlfriend, who of course, doesn't want large headphones that will mess her hair. She mainly listens to stuff like Johnny Cash, gillian welch. I would say that about half the use will be no music, just noise cancelling while on the subway since one of her biggest annoyances is the sound leaking from other people's headphones.

 

I'm considering the following:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDREX86LP-BLK-Headphones-Black/dp/B0046ZSWX2

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-ANC23-QuietPoint--ear/dp/B004K09H32/ref=sr_1_17?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1355510159&sr=1-17&keywords=sony+noise+cancelling+in+ear

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post #9042 of 10415
12/14/12 at 11:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vidro3 View Post

I'd appreciate a recommendation based on the following parameters, in order of importance

 

1. Around $50-$60 max

2. earbud

3. noise cancelling

4. Fabric, or tangleless cords.

 

No smart phone integration/remote necessary.

 

They are for my girlfriend, who of course, doesn't want large headphones that will mess her hair. She mainly listens to stuff like Johnny Cash, gillian welch. I would say that about half the use will be no music, just noise cancelling while on the subway since one of her biggest annoyances is the sound leaking from other people's headphones.

 

I'm considering the following:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDREX86LP-BLK-Headphones-Black/dp/B0046ZSWX2

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-ANC23-QuietPoint--ear/dp/B004K09H32/ref=sr_1_17?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1355510159&sr=1-17&keywords=sony+noise+cancelling+in+ear


 you can consider ue 400/500 , meelec cc51 , cw31 , velodyne vplus and the best one is gr06 . for isolation i think , ue 400/500 and cc51 will do good , you can consider ety mc5 too .

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post #9043 of 10415
12/14/12 at 3:31pm

hey everyone!

i love my id America Spark and thinking to upgrade to

something with less microphonics and more secure (and comfortable) fit.

obviously the sound is the most important factor.

i was wondering :

Shure SE215  -vs-  Vsonic gr06/gr04

thanks:)

Reply
post #9044 of 10415
12/14/12 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by germanturkey View Post

hmm, so the the ue900s have less detail?  interesting.  given that your preference is pretty close to mine, would you recommend one over the other?  also, i've read a bit that the ue900s have a veil on them, do you find this to be true?

 

I wouldn't say one has more detail than the other. I like them for different things, can't really say I prefer one strongly. I did experience the upper midrange veil with the UE900. It's quite noticeable next to something like the RE272.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by vidro3 View Post

I'd appreciate a recommendation based on the following parameters, in order of importance

 

1. Around $50-$60 max

2. earbud

3. noise cancelling

4. Fabric, or tangleless cords.

 

No smart phone integration/remote necessary.

 

They are for my girlfriend, who of course, doesn't want large headphones that will mess her hair. She mainly listens to stuff like Johnny Cash, gillian welch. I would say that about half the use will be no music, just noise cancelling while on the subway since one of her biggest annoyances is the sound leaking from other people's headphones.

 

I'm considering the following:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDREX86LP-BLK-Headphones-Black/dp/B0046ZSWX2

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-ANC23-QuietPoint--ear/dp/B004K09H32/ref=sr_1_17?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1355510159&sr=1-17&keywords=sony+noise+cancelling+in+ear

 

Are you set on that half in-ear form factor like the sets you linked? Those typically don't have the best noise isolation compared to proper in-ears.

 

There are tons of choices in that price range - I agree that the CW31 is a good all-rounder at ~$30 except that it has that half in-ear shape and doesn't isolate all that much. The UE500 is a safe choice, flat cables, decent isolation, and pleasant sound. The MC5 isolates quite a lot more (probably more than anything else in that price range) but the sound is flatter, probably less friendly towards the average non-audiophile listener. Another option would be one of the entry-level BAs (for example Astrotec AM-90, Rock-It R-20, or MEElec A151). These don't have very much bass but they typically have a warmer sound and good-to-great isolation. 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Amitl View Post

hey everyone!

i love my id America Spark and thinking to upgrade to

something with less microphonics and more secure (and comfortable) fit.

obviously the sound is the most important factor.

i was wondering :

Shure SE215  -vs-  Vsonic gr06/gr04

thanks:)

 

I've only heard the SE215 and GR06. Neither of these have as much bass as the Spark and the SE215 has a lot less treble as well. The GR06 is much more forward in the midrange, too. 

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post #9045 of 10415
12/15/12 at 4:55am

Thanks joker. Amazing job!!!

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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › Multi-IEM Review - 281 IEMs compared (VSonic GR07 BE and R02 Silver Added 05/15/13 p.688)