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ljokerl said:

 
I doubt you'll find an IEM that benefits significantly from that amp unless the Colorfly is a poor source to start with. Your post doesn't mention the type of sound you're looking for so I'll just say that I think the FX700 is generally better than the MG7 if you don't need isolation. Haven't tried the H-200. 

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Thanks for the answer. Unfortunately FXZ700 has that lack of isolation that some mention and also a slightly short cable, which could be a problem for me as I'm quite tall. Still, I didn't cut them from my list
 
I don't know how to define the type of sound I prefer, but I think it's something warm, slightly v shaped. At home I have Beyerdynamic DT990 (which are known for bass+treble and details) and I enjoy them a lot! Of course, they are open headphones and don't have that punch. JVC FXZ700 seem to be quite similar to those (which is good).
I'm not really sure about Atrio MG7 as they are already a few years old and I'm thinking new IEMs should have better technologies and should be improved. Of course, this might be just a gimmick or my snob logic . But I would rather buy an IEM which was recently launched vs an old one.

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peter123 said:

 
Sounds good. I just ordered the S2 yesterday so it will arrive during next week, I'm really looking forward to try it out. Thank you for your help.

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Make sure to play around with the fit - I think the S1/S2 are a little harder to get right than most, at least for me. Enjoy!
 
Quote:

pablobaluba said:

Thanks for the answer. Unfortunately FXZ700 has that lack of isolation that some mention and also a slightly short cable, which could be a problem for me as I'm quite tall. Still, I didn't cut them from my list
 
I don't know how to define the type of sound I prefer, but I think it's something warm, slightly v shaped. At home I have Beyerdynamic DT990 (which are known for bass+treble and details) and I enjoy them a lot! Of course, they are open headphones and don't have that punch. JVC FXZ700 seem to be quite similar to those (which is good).
I'm not really sure about Atrio MG7 as they are already a few years old and I'm thinking new IEMs should have better technologies and should be improved. Of course, this might be just a gimmick or my snob logic . But I would rather buy an IEM which was recently launched vs an old one.

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In that case you could save a bunch and just get the JVC FXT90. Slightly v-shaped signature with plenty of mid-bass for a warmer sound and it's newer than the MG7 and FX700. Better yet, you can grab them on ebay for $120-125 or maybe even less. 

http://www.amazon.com/electronics/dp/B004VHAJJU
 
They average $80-90 from different sellers on Amazon.com
I would jump on that deal if I wasn't so short on $ right now
It sucks to be a student sometimes =(

Hello

I am considering buying a pfe 232. But I need an information about the volume level. I had w4 before, sometimes I had to turn the volume max in order to reach to my listening level (i have a hearing disability) If I get an pfe, will I have difficulty about volume level? Btw I have hm601 Sansa clip and iPod 5.5.. Thank you for your consideration.

Hi, I'm pretty new and was wondering what you would usually recommend for IEMs in the 70-120 price range? Ideally, I would want something in the 70 area but if the upgrade is worth it, I can extend my price range to 120. What do you guys recommend? I read reviews of some of the IEMs based on the graph but it's hard to judge what I would like when my experience with IEM's are limited to apple earphones and brainwavs m1.
 
I listen to mostly hiphop/rap, rock, instrumentals, etc. (Muse, Explosions in the Sky, Hans Zimmer, 2Pac, Nas, Blue Scholars, Blu & Exile, etc.)

Sony MH1C review below. Since I can't edit tier 3A on the front page of this thread due to a technical glitch, I have posted it off-site for the time being. 
 
Also, an abridged Buyer's Guide featuring 26 of my favorite sets, grouped by price and sound signature, can now be found here.
 
 
(3A80) Sony MH1C
 

Added Jun 2013
 
Details: Sony headset designed for the Xperia line of smartphones 
Current Price: $35 from ebay.com (bulk packaging) (MSRP: $79.99)
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 15Ω | Sens: 115 dB/V | Freq: 1-20k Hz | Cable: 3.9' L-plug J-cord
Nozzle Size: 3mm | Preferred tips: stock single-flanges
Wear Style: Straight down
 
Accessories (1.5/5) - Single-flange silicone tips (4 sizes) and shirt clip
Build Quality (3.5/5) – The MH1C is rather well-made, with a metal housing, flexible strain reliefs, and a sturdy flat cable. However, it is this rubbery, j-style (asymmetric) cable that can also make the earphones very to use. The 4-button remote is designed for Sony Xperia phones but offers partial functionality with many other devices
Isolation (3.5/5) – Isolation is quite good
Microphonics (3/5) – J-corded IEMs typically manage to avoid microphonics but the rubbery flat cable in the MH1C still carries a lot of noise 
Comfort (4/5) – The skinny housings and flexible tips of the MH1C provide a comfortable fit but the j-cord makes it difficult to wear the earphones cable-up
 
Sound (8.1/10) – Designed for smartphone users in search of great audio quality, the MH1C provides a warm, clear, and smooth sound only made more impressive by the reasonable price of the headset. The bass is deep and full, with an emphasis on sub-bass rather than mid-bass. Generally speaking, the MH1C has rather good bass quality with less mid-bass bloat than the Audio-Technica CKM500, for example. Considering the bass quantity, control is rather good although it’s still not as tight as the bass of the VSonic VC02 or the pricier Philips Fidelio S1.
 
The mids of the MH1C are not as prominent as the low end, but they are pleasantly warm and smooth. The treble, likewise, is very inoffensive without sacrificing overall refinement. I did sometimes wish for better overall balance as the bass emphasis of the MH1C results in occasional veiling, but the clarity is generally very good.
 
Better still is the high volume performance of the MH1C – the earphone remains very composed when played loud and its silky-smooth signature is conducive toward high-volume listening. Compared to the Brainwavz M5, for instance, the MH1C has less prominent mids and highs but is also smoother and more natural. Whereas the M5 can begin to distort slightly at high volumes, the MH1C produces no audible distortion.
 
The soundstage of the MH1C is a little narrower compared to the half in-ear ATH-CKM500 and the pricier Philips Fidelio S1 but the overall presentation is very good, providing a moderately airy and open sound despite the warm tone with good sounstage width and depth.
 
Select comparisons:
 
LG Quadbeat HSS-F420 ($32)
 
Not unlike the MH1C, the Quadbeat is a stock headset included with many LG smartphones. The sound signature of the Quadbeat is on the v-shaped side compared to the MH1C and its bass, especially subbass, is lower in quantity. The low end of the Quadbeat is a little tighter but the difference isn’t drastic. The LGs also sacrifice some of the warmth and fullness of the Sonys, giving up the excellent note thickness of the MH1C for a bit of added clarity, aided also by the extra treble energy of the Quadbeat. Next to the warm and smooth MH1C, the treble of the Quadbeat sounds brighter and harsher overall.
 
I ended up preferring the sound of the MH1C, which overall sounded more natural and convincing despite the extra bass. On a user-friendliness note, while I found the cable of the Quadbeat to be a lot more tolerable than that of the MH1C, its extra-soft stock eartips did not work for me and had to be replaced with a set of standard bi-flanges of the MEElectronics variety. The Quadbeat was also more sensitive, reaching loud volumes very easily.
 
VSonic VC02 ($49)
 
The VC02 is one of clearest and most balanced sub-$100 earphones I’ve ever heard, with a tiny 3mm dynamic driver providing a uniquely delicate, yet punchy sound. Unsurprisingly, the MH1C has a lot more bass and much warmer overall tone than the VC02. Its mids and treble are recessed in comparison to its bass whereas the VSonic set is rather well-balanced. The VC02 sounds brighter and thinner overall than the MH1C. It is clearer and more accurate, but the treble is harsher in comparison. The bass of the VC02 is surprisingly punchy considering its commitment to an accurate sound but remains tighter than that of the Sony.
 
In terms of overall usabilit, both sets can be a little frustrating – the VC02 sounds best with a rather deep fit and has detachable cables that are not connected to the housings as securely as I’d like. It really is an enthusiast’s IEM, requiring some care in use and storage. The MH1C is easier to fit and has a built-in remote and mic but also utilizes a cable that is rubbery and microphonic in comparison to the soft and flexible cord of the VC02.
 
VSonic VSD1 ($43)
 
The VSD1 was released as a budget version of VSonic’s popular GR07 model, providing a less analytical sound than the VC02 but retaining its technical performance. In comparison to the MH1C, the VSD1 is less bassy, boasting better overall balance and more neutral tone. Bass quality is similar between the two but the VSD1 is a touch clearer overall and boasts more treble presence. As with the pricier GR07, its treble does have a slight predisposition towards sibilance in comparison to the buttery-smooth MH1C. The soundstage is a touch wider with the VSD1 and again the VSonic is noticeably more sensitive than the Sony.
 
Value (10/10) – Despite my issues with its j-style cable, microphonics, and proprietary remote, the MH1C offers fantastic sound quality for the asking price, and beyond. The bass is deep and full, and the overall sound is smooth and inviting. As long as its skew towards bass is not an issue, this is a fantastic mid-range earphone for beginners and veterans alike, and one that offers as much audio quality per dollar as anything else I’ve come across.
 
Pros: Great deep bass & outstanding overall sound quality; comfortable form factor; good noise isolation
Cons: Rubbery, flat, j-style cable can be aggravating
 
Big thanks to scootsit for the MH1C unit!
 
Quote:

liveartonline said:

http://www.amazon.com/electronics/dp/B004VHAJJU
 
They average $80-90 from different sellers on Amazon.com
I would jump on that deal if I wasn't so short on $ right now
It sucks to be a student sometimes =(

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Good price.

Hello

I am considering buying a pfe 232. But I need an information about the volume level. I had w4 before, sometimes I had to turn the volume max in order to reach to my listening level (i have a hearing disability) If I get an pfe, will I have difficulty about volume level? Btw I have hm601 Sansa clip and iPod 5.5.. Thank you for your consideration.

Quote:

mikeportnoy said:

Hello

I am considering buying a pfe 232. But I need an information about the volume level. I had w4 before, sometimes I had to turn the volume max in order to reach to my listening level (i have a hearing disability) If I get an pfe, will I have difficulty about volume level? Btw I have hm601 Sansa clip and iPod 5.5.. Thank you for your consideration.

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I think the PFE has been discontinued. It is also less sensitive than the W4 so it probably is not ideal for you.
 
Quote:

tonedeafnoob said:

Hi, I'm pretty new and was wondering what you would usually recommend for IEMs in the 70-120 price range? Ideally, I would want something in the 70 area but if the upgrade is worth it, I can extend my price range to 120. What do you guys recommend? I read reviews of some of the IEMs based on the graph but it's hard to judge what I would like when my experience with IEM's are limited to apple earphones and brainwavs m1.
 
I listen to mostly hiphop/rap, rock, instrumentals, etc. (Muse, Explosions in the Sky, Hans Zimmer, 2Pac, Nas, Blue Scholars, Blu & Exile, etc.)

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Well, it's hard to recommend something without knowing what type of sound you are after. What you like/dislike about the M1 would be a good place to start. 

Thank you very much for the response.

Joker you should really consider writing a book based on your first few posts, its very detailed and easy to follow. I would totally buy it.   

Joker, have you had the Chance to hear the vc1000? If so how does it compare with the gr01?

How does the sub and mid bass quantity of the soundmagic e10 compare with the she3580. 

Quote:

ljokerl said:

 
 
Well, it's hard to recommend something without knowing what type of sound you are after. What you like/dislike about the M1 would be a good place to start. 

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Hmm.. well overall I was very satisfied with the M1's. The only reason I'm buying a new one is that a few months ago the right one broke. So I don't actually remember too much of what it sounded like with both earphones on (I think that makes a difference since sound is distributed differently). From what I can remember and what I'm hearing now, I'm satisfied with the bass and low end but more "impact" or more of a "punch" would be nice. Not too much, but a little more would be nice. Also, I think my biggest disappointment in the sound of the M1's was the high's, it was all right but I definitely wanted more... "detail"? I think a bigger soundstage would have also been nice. I've also tried Sony MDR-ZX700 (the headphones, brand new ones my friend got so out of the box) and remember it sounded too "warm"/slightly boring for me. Sorry for my bad audio vocabulary haha, it's hard for me to describe what I want :/. Hope this helps in describing what I'm looking for.
 
Last note, I felt my biggest gripe with the M1's were the comfort of it, even with the smallest tips that the IEM came with I would have to take it off within an hour or so. So hopefully, a comfortable IEM would be ideal. So I guess if I were ranking what is important to me according to your graph it would be Sound = Comfort > Build = Isolation > Accessories > Microphone.

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mikeportnoy said:

Thank you very much for the response.

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Sure!
 
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liveartonline said:

Joker you should really consider writing a book based on your first few posts, its very detailed and easy to follow. I would totally buy it. 

 

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Let's see how this one does first 
 
Quote:

insidedrive said:

Joker, have you had the Chance to hear the vc1000? If so how does it compare with the gr01?

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Sorry, haven't had a chance to really give them a thorough listen yet. Been bogged down with the latest bunch of great budget sets. 
 
Quote:

lilboozy said:

How does the sub and mid bass quantity of the soundmagic e10 compare with the she3580. 

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Mid-bass is pretty similar but subbass is stronger on the Philips.

Quote:

ljokerl said:

Let's see how this one does first 

 

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Oh man I am so gonna get a copy of this