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Multi-IEM Review - 352 IEMs compared (Pump Audio Earphones added 04/03/16 p. 1106)
Jan 24, 2014 at 2:44 PM Post #12,721 of 16,931
Hi joker, thanks very much for this great resource. I got the VSD1S and VC1000 based on your descriptions and am very happy with them.  The VSD1S is smooth and the VC1000 is very detailed.  I am wondering if something that fits the following description exists though:
 
1. Has the speed and accuracy of VC1000's bass but with stronger impact.  Does something like this exist or does stronger impact always means slower bass?
2. Wearing straight down as over-the-ear is not practical for my glasses.
 
I also EQ the sound to my liking, are there any drawbacks to this approach vs trying multiple phones to get the desired sound signature?  Am I right in thinking that one cannot EQ the missing details but the balance of high/low etc can be EQed without much negative effect (assuming preamp is used to prevent digital clipping)?
 
Thanks very much.
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 5:43 PM Post #12,722 of 16,931
Just going to go with the quick fire questions, two of em for ya joker.
 
What should I go to for a less fatiguing slightly "thicker" sounding R-50 in terms of universals, keeping price/performance in mind? Also, price no matter what's your favorite custom for such a taste?
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 10:09 PM Post #12,723 of 16,931
Hi joker, thanks for your reviews. Can you advise on which IEM that can retain the full sound signature of the Phonak PFE232 with the mid quality of the ETY ER4S and all this in one package with slightly smoother top end around a narrow 10khz bandwidth but retain anything above that frequency so that the airiness is not lost.
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 10:24 PM Post #12,724 of 16,931
obsydion said:
  Hi Joker!
I’ve been lurking in this incredible thread for awhile now trying to learn the world of IEMs from scratch so I could ask for a recommendation without sounding like too much of an idiot.
 
I currently own Audeo PFE 122 perfect fit (black filters) and use silicon tips over comply because the latter gets gummed up and I live in a cold environment that makes the foam tough as hell to mould. Also probably prefer shallow to mid insertion depth. I absolutely love them as my very first upgrade from stock Apple earphones. (I won’t go into the 2 x UE Super Fi 5vis that broke within a few months of getting them. Shoddy wiring and quality). I only run them off iPhones and iPods in the past and I don’t see myself going down the amplifier route in the near future so low impedance is key.
 
Looking for a big upgrade and the natural progression would be Phonak PFE 232 but I’m not confident on warranty issues since they’re folding and I want to increase my horizons and go with another brand.
Decided on CIEMs, budget <$500
 
Music taste: alt-Rock, metal, movie scores, neo classical, ambient, jazz/blues/vocals, IDM. According to your list, a few CIEMs fall under that price range and are rated highly: 1964 V3, Alclair Reference, Clear Tune CT-200, Custom Music One/Two and (though universal) InEar SD-2s.
 
That list runs the gamut of the number of BA drivers used so I guess it’s down to sound signature, value, service.
I am quite intrigued by the silicon shells offered by Custom Art though :wink: There’s a slim chance I may be in Singapore end of March and be able to demo some of the Custom Art stuff but the rest I may never get a chance to try. I would love any advice on the list I provided and most definitely any that aren’t in that list or are universals! Keep up the amazing work!!
Click to expand...

 
Well, assuming you prefer a shallow fit because your ear canals are easily irritated going custom may not be the best option. I suppose you can always as for a “comfort fit” when you’re getting your customs made and have them made a little more shallow.
 
Demoing is always a good idea – as you said they all differ in sound signature, even compared to your Phonaks. The Music One and SD-2 are lighter on treble and have a little more bass body. The Reference is a little more v-shaped and slightly withdrawn in the midrange, while the CT-200 is the opposite with prominent mids but some bass roll-off. The V3 is much bassier than the rest of these. The Music Two seems very promising but of course I haven’t tried it.
 
mechgamer123 said:
  I guess I'm not too surprised. Just in terms of tonality when I compared the GR07 BEs I have here to the ASG-2, UE900, DN-1000 and VSD1Ses, I prefer the GR07 to all of them. It has the forward sounding vocals (both male and female), a nice bass boost (though it could have a bit more midbass for the closet basshead in me), and for whatever reason I don't hear the sibilance on this particular set of GR07 BEs that I remember on my GR07 MK2s I had last year. Maybe my ears are just broken though. Maybe it's also because I've pretty much stuck to the hybrids with foam in them though.
 
I sort of figured out how to boost the mediocre isolation of the GR07s, I cut the stems off some old Klipsch tips and put them around the nozzle, then put some Meelectronics tri-flange tips cut down to bi-flange for more comfort on top of those. 
 
Dang it, that's exactly what I wanted to hear in terms of tonality for the V3. I'm still arguing inside on whether or not to get CIEMs, considering the resale value would be terrible if I ever sold them and I'd have to reshell them to the tune of $250 from 1964ears every ~24 months (even less since I seem to be losing weight a bit right now)... 
frown.gif
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I would maybe suggest waiting until you’re at a more stable weight before getting customs, or getting a universal V3 now (does 1964 allow this?) and having it re-shelled later.
 
lempelig said:
  Hi joker.
 
I'm wondering if you can help me find a new IEM. I bought the AT CK10 after reading your review, and absolutely loved them, unfortunately I lost them and haven't found a replacement yet. The only thing I found missing in them were a bit more bass presence, but I wouldn't sacrifice the precision and speed for it though. Since I'm looking for something new, it might as well be an upgrade. Do you perhaps have a couple of recommendations, or a general path to look at? At this stage I'm looking at both universals and customs.
 
Regards
 
Edit: I mainly listen to metal, rock, classic rock, blues, singer songwriter and a bit of folk and country.
Click to expand...

 
Have you tried anything else in your search of a CK10 replacement?
 
I haven’t found a direct CK10 replacement yet except for the ~$1200 Hidition NT 6 but the ones I would look at in the lower price ranges are the VSonic VC1000 for a cheaper CK10 replacement and the 1964EARS V6-Stage as a sub-$1000 upgrade.
 
pastapipo said:
  Hello Joker,
 
Thank you again for the great reviews!
I ordered the vsd1s on your recommendation and I absolutely love them, especially the clarity, non-siblant highs and the smooth forward mids (guitars).
Now I'm looking for another upgrade.
 
What I'm searching for is:  the vsd1s with:
1.) sub-bass instead of mid-bass.
2.) a more spacious sound.
3.) Better instrument separation.
 
I listen mainly to Indie/rock music.
What do you think comes the closes to my wishes with a budget of <100$. Maybe 150$ if its worth the "bang for buck", but lower is always better for a student :wink: .
Thank you!
Click to expand...

 
In my opinion the VSD1S is very hard to upgrade from under $100. The MOE-SS01 is a similarly-priced alternative but it has too much upper midrange in my opinion compared to the VSD1S. It does have good subbass and separation though. Another option is the Philips Fidelio S1 - it doesn't have the midbass of the VSonics so the deep bass appears more prominent, and overall it sounds almost as good as the GR07 IMO.
 
 
soundblast75 said:
 
Hey , it would have been great if you'd reviewed the SE846 on page 846, haha
biggrin.gif
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Yes, I wish :p
 
aleksanderp said:
  Hi joker, thanks very much for this great resource. I got the VSD1S and VC1000 based on your descriptions and am very happy with them.  The VSD1S is smooth and the VC1000 is very detailed.  I am wondering if something that fits the following description exists though:
 
1. Has the speed and accuracy of VC1000's bass but with stronger impact.  Does something like this exist or does stronger impact always means slower bass?
2. Wearing straight down as over-the-ear is not practical for my glasses.
 
I also EQ the sound to my liking, are there any drawbacks to this approach vs trying multiple phones to get the desired sound signature?  Am I right in thinking that one cannot EQ the missing details but the balance of high/low etc can be EQed without much negative effect (assuming preamp is used to prevent digital clipping)?
 
Thanks very much.
Click to expand...

 
In a way you will always be giving up a bit of bass speed for impact but an earphone can have more impact than the VC1000 without sounding slow or bloated - I don't think the Sony EX600 sounds bloated, for example, nor the UE900. 
 
I don't see any drawbacks to EQing as long as you're not introducing clipping or distortion. You can actually get very good results with a 10-band EQ and an entry-level earphone with capable drivers and good end-to-end extension (e.g. Sony MH1C)
 
mdraluck23 said:
  Just going to go with the quick fire questions, two of em for ya joker.
 
What should I go to for a less fatiguing slightly "thicker" sounding R-50 in terms of universals, keeping price/performance in mind? Also, price no matter what's your favorite custom for such a taste?
Click to expand...

 
In terms of fatigue, I always recommend switching away from the stock R-50 tips and maybe adding an impedance adapter as well. Anyway, as slightly smoother/thicker alternative there’s the ACS T15, VSonic GR01, Custom Art Music One (err.. customs), and Ortofon e-Q5. The UM Miracle would be my pick as far as higher-end customs go for a flat/balanced sound with better note thickness and no fatigue compared to the R-50.
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 2:10 AM Post #12,725 of 16,931
ljokerl said:
 
mechgamer123 said:
  I guess I'm not too surprised. Just in terms of tonality when I compared the GR07 BEs I have here to the ASG-2, UE900, DN-1000 and VSD1Ses, I prefer the GR07 to all of them. It has the forward sounding vocals (both male and female), a nice bass boost (though it could have a bit more midbass for the closet basshead in me), and for whatever reason I don't hear the sibilance on this particular set of GR07 BEs that I remember on my GR07 MK2s I had last year. Maybe my ears are just broken though. Maybe it's also because I've pretty much stuck to the hybrids with foam in them though.
 
I sort of figured out how to boost the mediocre isolation of the GR07s, I cut the stems off some old Klipsch tips and put them around the nozzle, then put some Meelectronics tri-flange tips cut down to bi-flange for more comfort on top of those. 
 
Dang it, that's exactly what I wanted to hear in terms of tonality for the V3. I'm still arguing inside on whether or not to get CIEMs, considering the resale value would be terrible if I ever sold them and I'd have to reshell them to the tune of $250 from 1964ears every ~24 months (even less since I seem to be losing weight a bit right now)... 
frown.gif
Click to expand...

 
I would maybe suggest waiting until you’re at a more stable weight before getting customs, or getting a universal V3 now (does 1964 allow this?) and having it re-shelled later.
Click to expand...

I doubt that will happen soon, lol. Walking around college campus -> Lose weight. At home over the summer driving everywhere -> Gain weight.
I don't believe they sell V3 universals. They do offer universals, but they're only for demoing. And at the tune of a $400 deposit, it wouldn't be worth it since they are only $450.
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 2:20 AM Post #12,726 of 16,931
mechgamer123 said:
 
I doubt that will happen soon, lol. Walking around college campus -> Lose weight. At home over the summer driving everywhere -> Gain weight.
I don't believe they sell V3 universals. They do offer universals, but they're only for demoing. And at the tune of a $400 deposit, it wouldn't be worth it since they are only $450.
Click to expand...

 
Lol. Start walking during the summer as well.
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 4:17 AM Post #12,727 of 16,931
After some deliberation I updated my Earphone Buyer's Guide by Sound Signature with the RHA MA750 as an alternative to the Yamaha EPH-100 in the warm & smooth section. Been a while since I encountered something worth adding. 
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 4:41 AM Post #12,728 of 16,931
moonyeol said:
 
mechgamer123 said:
 
I doubt that will happen soon, lol. Walking around college campus -> Lose weight. At home over the summer driving everywhere -> Gain weight.
I don't believe they sell V3 universals. They do offer universals, but they're only for demoing. And at the tune of a $400 deposit, it wouldn't be worth it since they are only $450.
Click to expand...

 
Lol. Start walking during the summer as well.
Click to expand...

You know, that might just be a good idea!
I don't know though, it's hot outside in the summer, and I'm lazy.
 
On an unrelated note, how is the bass on the FA-4Es? I've heard from some people that is a dynamic driver type of impact as opposed to the weak bass on something like the UE-900. Is this true from your experience as well?
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 7:29 AM Post #12,729 of 16,931
Mechgamer123,

If your budget allows, you might consider the earsonics SM64. Last year I had it, the W4, and 232 at the same time and the SM64 clearly came out on top. Joker gave them a good review. The bass hits deep & hard, quickly decays by about half and then sustains. To my ears it's a great combination of bass speed and fullness/richness. Lovely mids and non-sibilanct highs with some nice sparkle. Also important to me is the good detail and cohesiveness from bottom to top. I find them comfortable, too.

-E
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 8:02 AM Post #12,730 of 16,931
mechgamer123 said:
moonyeol said:
 
mechgamer123 said:
[CONTENTEMBED=/t/478568/multi-iem-review-309-iems-compared-rha-ma750-added-01-20-14-p-846/12720#post_10201118 layout=inline] [/CONTENTEMBED]
I doubt that will happen soon, lol. Walking around college campus -> Lose weight. At home over the summer driving everywhere -> Gain weight.
I don't believe they sell V3 universals. They do offer universals, but they're only for demoing. And at the tune of a $400 deposit, it wouldn't be worth it since they are only $450.
Click to expand...


Lol. Start walking during the summer as well.
Click to expand...

You know, that might just be a good idea!
I don't know though, it's hot outside in the summer, and I'm lazy.

On an unrelated note, how is the bass on the FA-4Es? I've heard from some people that is a dynamic driver type of impact as opposed to the weak bass on something like the UE-900. Is this true from your experience as well?
Click to expand...


More impact. Sliiightly tighter. Deeper. Less bloat. It's more focused.
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 10:10 AM Post #12,731 of 16,931
ericr said:
Mechgamer123,

If your budget allows, you might consider the earsonics SM64. Last year I had it, the W4, and 232 at the same time and the SM64 clearly came out on top. Joker gave them a good review. The bass hits deep & hard, quickly decays by about half and then sustains. To my ears it's a great combination of bass speed and fullness/richness. Lovely mids and non-sibilanct highs with some nice sparkle. Also important to me is the good detail and cohesiveness from bottom to top. I find them comfortable, too.

-E
Click to expand...


Do these have an inline mic?

[COLOR=000000]In my opinion the VSD1S is very hard to upgrade from under $100. The MOE-SS01 is a similarly-priced alternative but it has too much upper midrange in my opinion compared to the VSD1S. It does have good subbass and separation though. Another option is the Philips Fidelio S1 - it doesn't have the midbass of the VSonics so the deep bass appears more prominent, and overall it sounds almost as good as the GR07 IMO.[/color]


If the Phillips S2 are available for around the same price as the S1 ~$10 more, is it worth the upgrade in sound? Is there an upgrade in sound with the S2?
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 10:20 AM Post #12,732 of 16,931
So I've been listening to music all morning with my SS Flux and Klipsch tips - it's a massive improvement over the stock tips. I've yet to test them properly (i.e. walking around outside) but I see no reason why they shouldn't be fine in all environments. It's just a shame that the stock tips seem so rubbish, because otherwise it's a great pair of IEMs for the price.
 
Thanks for the recommendation Joker. I can recommend the same to anyone else having issues with the fit of the original tips.
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 10:46 AM Post #12,735 of 16,931
Originally Posted by ljokerl /img/forum/go_quote.gif

In that price range the Flux is probably your best bet. Personally I don't think it's notably smoother than the MH1C but it definitely has a bit less bass and a more accurate overall sound. The cable on the Flux isn't great but it's symmetric and can be used over-the-ear. It does have a mic though. Staying in the price range there's just not much that can compete with the MH1C, especially considering you like the signature. Moving up into the $100-$150 range there's more options but nothing I can think of that ticks ALL the boxes per your requirements.
Click to expand...

 
I bought the Flux and have been listening to them for a while, I like them more than MH1, Flux seems more balanced, mids and treble are more present but not disturbing. I've been reading a lot about iem and sound signatures, of all the IEMs I owned, I really loved the Brainwavz M1, the Vsonic GR04 Flagship (apart from sibilance), the Sony MH1 and now the Flux. I also listened to Shure SE215 but for 5min, really smooth except for not that present treble, soundstage . I like the full bodied sound, smooth, without anythig in particular to disturb your ears (harsh treble, sibilance, too much bass, too much mids, to much lower treble etc.).
 
I guess that puts me somewhere between warm and smooth and balanced? Now I'm even considering an upgrade to the Flux.
 
I read about the Fiio X3 DAP these days, is it worth 200$ as upgrade to the clip+ ? Would I hear a noticeable difference in SQ with the Steelseries Flux for example or do I have to also buy 100-200$ IEMs to hear something?
 
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