Multi-IEM Review - 352 IEMs compared (Pump Audio Earphones added 04/03/16 p. 1106) | Page 857 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

ozkan · Feb 5, 2014 at 8:25 PM

lamboman said:
Thanks for these responses guys. Just a little more insight, to my ears the MH1C's mids are too recessed, and the top-end is lacking a bit. What I don't want his to go completely in the opposite direction and end up with a sibilant top-end. Bass quantity with the MH1Cs is OK, could do with being a little quicker.

@ljokerl, if you see this how would you compare these the MA750 and EPH-100 in terms of sound signature? I've read several of your comments as well as others on various sites and am now rather confused. Some have said that the MA750 has more recessed mids, less bass, is brighter sounding than the EPH-100. I know you don't like making comparisons of equipment when you don't have them on hand, however how would you compare them to each other, as well as the MH1C (mainly in terms of signature here)? Many thanks

If you want your MH1Cs to be more quick and the treble more prominent, I recommend you to take the filters off and cut half of the sponge which is glued to the filters. It is safe as you can put the filters back on your MH1Cs. This is the cheapest way I guess to ugrade your MH1Cs

abhijollyguy · Feb 5, 2014 at 11:08 PM

lamboman said:
From what I've read both of those will be too bass-light for my liking, and possibly too analytical. I'm looking for something a bit more "musical", so to speak. Thanks for the suggestions anyway, shame as the B2 would appear to be an excellent choice if I had slightly different preferences!

Analytical: B2
Warm+smooth: RE-400 (though it doesn't lack any treble extension)

RE-400 has very slightly more than neutral bass.

ljokerl · Feb 6, 2014 at 12:28 AM

elbdogs said:
Hi Joker. I want to thank you for a great thread and blog. A couple of posts ago you mentioned an in line impedance adaptor. What is this, what does it do for you, and does it affect your ability to use smartphones as a source?

It’s an inline resistor with a 3.5mm form factor. Typically between 50 and 100 Ohms. Mine is 64. On a very basic level it affects the impedance of your earphones and thus the way they respond to electrical current, more so for some models than others. With certain balanced armature earphones that have non-linear impedance (i.e. impedance that is different at different frequencies) it can change the sound quite noticeably, sometimes for the better. It’s not a panacea by any means, but I've noticed good results with certain IEMs with this one small addition.

Here's some on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Etymotic-Headphones-Earphones-ER4P-ER4S-75-Ohm-Convertor-Cable-/271193304830?pt=US_MP3_Player_Cables_Adapters&hash=item3f24616efe
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Etymotic-ER4P-to-ER4S-3-5MM-plug-resistor-adaptor-/271363212964?pt=US_MP3_Player_Cables_Adapters&hash=item3f2e8206a4

If you have a headset these particular impedance adapters will stop you from using the mic/remote. It is certainly possible to make one with a pass-through channel for the mic/remote but I’ve never seen one like that.

lolhart said:
First of all I wanted to say that this is a great thread and I’m sure a lot of people appreciate Joker’s work. I was hoping I could get a recommendation for a new IEM. For the last several years I have been using Etymotic’s ER-6s, which finally died a while ago. I initially bought Etymotic’s ER-4PTs to replace them, but I found the bass lacking and the overall sound rather sterile. I’m looking for an IEM with an energetic and lively sound. I listen to a wide range of music, but especially pop, commercial dance and R&B. The IEMs would mostly be for commuting and so isolation is very important, especially as I listen at low volumes. I also want to use them directly from my phone without an amp. I have tried the Shure SE415s, Westone 4Rs and Klipsch x10s. I didn’t like the fit of the Shures and wasn’t blown away by the sound, found the Westone’s too smooth (like there was a veil) and there was something about the bass with the x10s I didn’t like. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Many thanks

Unfortunately the ER6 was before my time, though I’ve heard many great things about it.

You might like a TWFK-based set like the VSonic VC1000. Doesn’t have a whole lot of bass but it’s a very energetic and clear earphone. I don’t find it to be boring or sterile, personally, but it might be a little less exciting than what you're after. You may also like the VSonic GR07, which has more bass and again good treble presence, albeit with some unevenness. Coming from a set of Etys the mids may not be quite forward enough on the VSonics but otherwise they're a good halfway point between an analytical earphone and one that's so colored that it sounds "off". Isolation is not the greatest but decent.

And a couple more unusual recommendations, though I suggest you read up on these a bit more - the Ortofon e-Q5 and FAD Heaven C. They're balanced-sounding earphones but not quite neutral, with excellent clarity to boot.

starfly said:
So in what way do the RE-400 and EPH-100 differ exactly? I haven't read a direct comparison so far.

Either way, thanks for your help so far!

I doubt you'll find a direct comparison of such different IEMs - people tend to compare like with like. The EPH-100 is way bassier than the RE-400, warmer, less emphasized in the mirdrange, and less smooth and refined up top, IMO.

lamboman said:
Hi all,

Currently have a pair of Sony MH1Cs, they're cheap and cheerful (and sound extremely good for the price). However, there's a problem with the cable somewhere, and they keep cutting out (in addition to being a pain to wear due to the J-split).

They sound OK but I'm finding that the bass dominates the overall presentation a little too much. Looking at something that has a similar warmth, but with slightly better balance and detail across the board. Mainly for hip-hop, rap, R&B, with the occasional bit of rock, pop, and acoustic.

Budget: anything up to around £150.
Must be durable, extremely comfortable, worn down (not over the ear) and preferably have controls for iOS devices. The MH1Cs also manage to sound quite natural, so I don't want anything that has an artificial veil to them (like some of the poorer models in the Sennheiser range). Also hate the mid-bass hump in IEMs like the Audio Technica CKS70.

Was considering the Klipsch Image X10i at £99, however durability is a huge problem, and there are bound to be better choices out there now they're 6+ years old. Similar comfort would be great, though I know it'll be difficult to find. Many recommendations in this thread for the Yamaha EPH-100, but comfort doesn't seem to be quite as good.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

The Flux recommendation above makes sense - I compared it to the MH1C here: http://theheadphonelist.com/headphone_review/steelseries-flux-in-ear/ . There's a 1-button remote on it as well, and it's worn cable-down. Might need some aftermarket tips but it can be very comfortable. Not sure about long-term durability but they're cheap enough to replace.

The EPH-100 is pretty comfy when you get used to it but of course no iOS controls. The MA750i from RHA is worn over-the-ear.

reihead said:
Hello Joker,

Two quick questions, both related to the V-Sonic GR07 BE

1. I lost one of the Earguides for my GR07 BE. I have search for earguides online and just a few site offer but on all of them are sold out.
Any trick or recommendation to "emulate" the Earguides?
Any cheap earphones (less than 20$) that comes with earguides I could use with my GR07?

2. I love the sound of these earphones, definitely a good amount of bass for me. Now, what would be an upgrade without breaking the bank? I would like the same amount of bass and a little bit more of soundstage wouldn't hurt. It can be universal or custom, but I would prefer universal.

Thank you, not only for this help but for all your effort on this valuable thread.

I can't seem to find any on ebay. Weird.

If I were you I'd post a classified here on head-fi - plenty of IEMs come with cable guides and I'm sure lots of people have spares.

You can also get the ThinkSound: http://store.thinksound.com/product/active-ear-hook or V-Moda: http://v-moda.com/sport-earhooks/ guides. I prefer the fit of the Thinksound ones for comfort but I don't have them anymore to try with the VSonic cable. The V-Moda ones are more conventional in design and should fit pretty much any cable without issue.

As for an upgrade, earphones I found to be in same vein as the GR07 BE would be the Alclair Reference (though its bass is GR07 and not GR07BE level), Phonak PFE 232, and Ultrasone IQ with impedance adapter.

coolsax said:
I'm sure its been answered but I didn't see if the first couple of pages of the reviews. I assuming that when you bold either worn down or over the ear in your reviews, the "bolded" option is the way you prefer or think works best for that particular iem, am i correct?

Yep, that's right! I boldface the configuration I end up using.

nick n · Feb 6, 2014 at 1:47 AM

I think Vmoda has some great looking earguides on their site still

marcrom · Feb 6, 2014 at 7:44 AM

Can I use my relatively expensive IEM when I workoout without damaging it badly?

EPICFAILXD · Feb 6, 2014 at 7:52 AM

Which sounds better- Dunu DN-1000 or Fischer DBA-02 MKII??

lamboman · Feb 6, 2014 at 7:52 AM

ljokerl said:
The Flux recommendation above makes sense - I compared it to the MH1C here: http://theheadphonelist.com/headphone_review/steelseries-flux-in-ear/ . There's a 1-button remote on it as well, and it's worn cable-down. Might need some aftermarket tips but it can be very comfortable. Not sure about long-term durability but they're cheap enough to replace.
The EPH-100 is pretty comfy when you get used to it but of course no iOS controls. The MA750i from RHA is worn over-the-ear.

Thanks for the reply. Read a few reviews and it seems that durability in the long run with the Flux isn't great, and I'd want to spend a little more on a quality item that lasts.

You've said in your previously that the EPH-100 is closer to the MH1C than the MA750. Is the MA750's mid-range slightly more forward than the EPH-100 and MH1C?

Thanks!

suman134 · Feb 6, 2014 at 8:03 AM

marcrom said:
Can I use my relatively expensive IEM when I workoout without damaging it badly?

why take the risk ? get a cheaper sports phone cheapest is meelec m6 or a headphone like from philips sho series .

or you can take the risk , just put the earphone cable under your clothes , can save it from some mishaps .

Shawn71 · Feb 6, 2014 at 8:25 AM

epicfailxd said:
Which sounds better- Dunu DN-1000 or Fischer DBA-02 MKII??

DN1K sounds very good for its price against its contenders t-peos,akg' flagship....and its a triple hybrid compared to FA dba02's TWFK dual armature but built stronger than mkI. And DN1k's dynamic driver completes its fullness along with dual BA driver.

EPICFAILXD · Feb 6, 2014 at 8:29 AM

shawn71 said:
DN1K sounds very good for its price against its contenders t-peos,akg' flagship....and its a triple hybrid compared to FA dba02's TWFK dual armature but built stronger than mkI. And DN1k's dynamic driver completes its fullness along with dual BA driver.

So the Dunu is better?

Shawn71 · Feb 6, 2014 at 8:41 AM

marcrom said:
Can I use my relatively expensive IEM when I workoout without damaging it badly?

Rule of thumb: be very cautious . I would suggest you get cheapo over the ear IEM instead regular ones as it is less microphonics to nill and stay comfortably. Kevlar re-inforced cables are ok,but costs bit high. So best candidate is meelectronics M6, and you get more accessories too besides its sound and build.

brunk · Feb 6, 2014 at 8:48 AM

I use my Ety ER-4S when working out and it works pretty good, especially the isolation. Cable microphonics is an issue, but there are ways to alleviate it.

Shawn71 · Feb 6, 2014 at 9:34 AM

epicfailxd said:
So the Dunu is better?

Well i would say yes. Because it has an additional dynamic driver to take care of the bass department and different housing(metal) + the price is little over dba02 if you buy from mp4 with discount and coupon code. But at the same time dba02 is not a bad sounding dual ba iem either. It is one among first three of dual BA iems for excellent SQ, thats why FA gave the facelift to it with mkII (better bq than transparent plastic mkI). The o ther dual ba iem brands are UE,brainwavz, rockitsound, vsonic and astrotec. Finally, the same dual armature is tuned differently among these.

Telltale · Feb 6, 2014 at 11:50 AM

Hi Joker,

Firstly a huge thank you for everything you do. The thread is my go to resource and always open whenever I'm looking at IEMs. Also you're dedication with replying to people here and giving your advice is phenomenal so props to you.

I've got some money going spare and I'm looking to get a new pair of earphones. I started with the GR06's which I adored. it may be that I conditioned myself to their sound signature but I loved the liquid smooth and forward mids they had and the overall balance. Unfortunately they were stolen and so I looked into getting a new pair of earphones: the VSD1S. They took a bit of getting used to compared to the GR06 but I've adjusted to them now.

Compared to the GR06 the VSD1S wins out on a few things: the detail and extra kick in the bass is awesome, increased detail in the mids and highs, the more airy soundstage. They're certainly a much better IEM for when I'm listening to EDM/rap/dance music. However I find the analytical V-shaped sound signature quite fatiguing and I really miss the luscious forward mids of the GR06. Vocals come across as very recessed with the VSD which has turned out to be a pet peeve of mine. I would easily lose myself in the sound of the GR06 whereas the VSD1 often feels a bit distant.

I've also had some usage with the JVC FXD60 which I found to be quite boring with very little kick to the bass, rolled off highs and a pretty boxed-in soundstage.

As such I'm looking for a new IEM. Something warm, mid-centric and forward that might be considered an upgrade to the GR06 and complement the VSD1. I'm looking for something <£80 hopefully. These are the ones I've considered from reading about:

Vsonic GR07 - Popular and originally what I was considering, however reading up it sounds like it's a bit closer to the VSD1 than the GR06 so the mids probably wouldn't be forward enough.

SE215 - Many people view these as mid-centric and forward while still being solid in the bass department. The build quality and over-ear designs are positives too.

MA750 - You recommend them as great warm sounding IEMs and the overall package is very appealing. I'd be a bit worried they're not quite the right sound signature I'm looking for, especially with the warm and forwardness of the mids.

RE-400 - Again very well recommended and popular but I'd concerned that the fairly balanced sound signature isn't what I'm looking for and might be a bit fatiguing.

Etymotic MC5/Ety Kids - Similar to above you describe them as overall very balanced but slightly mid-centric. They may not have the warm sound I'm looking for but the isolation and design are attractive features.

Vsonic GR06 - Ofcourse if there's nothing that seems like a viable upgrade I'll probably be perfectly happy getting the GR06s again. Much cheaper too.

Sorry for the lengthy post, any help would be greatly appreciated.

suman134 · Feb 6, 2014 at 12:37 PM

telltale said:
Hi Joker,

Firstly a huge thank you for everything you do. The thread is my go to resource and always open whenever I'm looking at IEMs. Also you're dedication with replying to people here and giving your advice is phenomenal so props to you.

I've got some money going spare and I'm looking to get a new pair of earphones. I started with the GR06's which I adored. it may be that I conditioned myself to their sound signature but I loved the liquid smooth and forward mids they had and the overall balance. Unfortunately they were stolen and so I looked into getting a new pair of earphones: the VSD1S. They took a bit of getting used to compared to the GR06 but I've adjusted to them now.

Compared to the GR06 the VSD1S wins out on a few things: the detail and extra kick in the bass is awesome, increased detail in the mids and highs, the more airy soundstage. They're certainly a much better IEM for when I'm listening to EDM/rap/dance music. However I find the analytical V-shaped sound signature quite fatiguing and I really miss the luscious forward mids of the GR06. Vocals come across as very recessed with the VSD which has turned out to be a pet peeve of mine. I would easily lose myself in the sound of the GR06 whereas the VSD1 often feels a bit distant.

I've also had some usage with the JVC FXD60 which I found to be quite boring with very little kick to the bass, rolled off highs and a pretty boxed-in soundstage.

As such I'm looking for a new IEM. Something warm, mid-centric and forward that might be considered an upgrade to the GR06 and complement the VSD1. I'm looking for something <£80 hopefully. These are the ones I've considered from reading about:

Vsonic GR07 - Popular and originally what I was considering, however reading up it sounds like it's a bit closer to the VSD1 than the GR06 so the mids probably wouldn't be forward enough.

SE215 - Many people view these as mid-centric and forward while still being solid in the bass department. The build quality and over-ear designs are positives too.

MA750 - You recommend them as great warm sounding IEMs and the overall package is very appealing. I'd be a bit worried they're not quite the right sound signature I'm looking for, especially with the warm and forwardness of the mids.

RE-400 - Again very well recommended and popular but I'd concerned that the fairly balanced sound signature isn't what I'm looking for and might be a bit fatiguing.

Etymotic MC5/Ety Kids - Similar to above you describe them as overall very balanced but slightly mid-centric. They may not have the warm sound I'm looking for but the isolation and design are attractive features.

Vsonic GR06 - Ofcourse if there's nothing that seems like a viable upgrade I'll probably be perfectly happy getting the GR06s again. Much cheaper too.

Sorry for the lengthy post, any help would be greatly appreciated.

have you thought about eph-100 or image x10 ? they can be satisfying , and no one gets everything not even with orpheus 90 ( it used to cost a pair of kidney and a leg ) , you buy a nice phone closer to your likings and you make truce with its short comings .

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