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[Review] Impressions of the Sony EX1000 versus the FX700, GR10 and e-Q5 - Page 29

post #421 of 2948
6/12/11 at 11:44pm
Thread Starter 

^ I can only comment on the last part of your question. My EX1000 are loaned to fellow HeadFiers, but I'm currently evaluating the EX600. As it stands, they exceed my expectations by far and (without the chance to do a direct A/B) I'd say you get about 90% of the EX1000 for less than 50% of the dough. Btw there's an ongoing discussion about the EX600 in this thread if you're interested, in which the OP concluded very eloquently:

Quote:
Originally Posted by cliffroyroycole View Post

Anyway, I encourage anyone looking for the Sony EX1000 sound without the Sony EX1000 bucks to consider the 600s.

 

... and I wholeheartedly agree. smile_phones.gif

 

Now what has all this to do with the A846? Well, I've been auditioning the EX600 during the last few days using my Sony A845, Samsung R0 and Cowon i9. Thing is, for some odd reason their bass sounds pretty boomy with the Sony and noticably tighter (and a bit leaner) with the R0 and i9. To make things worse, you can't effectively EQ down the bass on the A845, since the lowest band is centered at 400Hz and ClearBASS only allows you to add more bass. So bottom line, IME the EX600 have rather bad synergy with the Sony A8xx. Of course I don't claim that it will be the same for the EX1000, but considering how close these two IEMs are, it's very likely.

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post #422 of 2948
6/14/11 at 3:44am

Very nice review and I hope ljokerl will have the chance to audition the EX600 or EX1000 soon so they get some spotlight over there.

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post #423 of 2948
6/14/11 at 3:53am

     Quote:

Originally Posted by High_Q View Post

Got my 1964-T today.  Too bad I don't have my EX-1000 to compare with, but from what I remember, I think EX-1000 beats the customs in terms of SQ and sound stage.  I don't know how it is amazing

 

james444 is saying the EX600 is very close in SQ to the EX1000, and you are saying the EX1000 is superior in SQ to the 1964-T.

 

Without much deep analysis, it sounds like "EX600 > 1964-T".

 

 


Edited by kiteki - 6/14/11 at 3:54am
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post #424 of 2948
6/14/11 at 6:18am

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Inks View Post

Ok, first off the build looks really nice but the "made in china" makes it seem like a lesser product

 

Since when is the ex1k made in china?

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post #425 of 2948
6/14/11 at 8:08am

When I heard the trips for the first time, I thought it was neutral, and high mids, lower highs sounded muffled when volume was turned.  To me that the echoing effect or reverb type of sound ruined the experience.  When I did a careful listen, and I've noticed that it was very accurate just like the ER-4P(which I found out later on) on frequencies other than that were causing the reverb.  I did not have ex-1000 at the time so I could not conduct a direct comparison, so take my comparason with a grain of salt.  I did enjoy the sound from the ex-1000 when I had them, compared to the IEMs I had at the time, it had the best clarity and sound stage. Now I think about it, it's more of an enjoyable sound like TF10 provides, but it's a league above the TF10.  Although, it does not isolate much, it does provide good amount of clarity with the airy sound for wider sound stage.   I almost got rid of my HD650 because I was shocked at how it provides wide spacing sound of a open can like HD650. 
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by kiteki View Post

     Quote:

 

james444 is saying the EX600 is very close in SQ to the EX1000, and you are saying the EX1000 is superior in SQ to the 1964-T.

 

Without much deep analysis, it sounds like "EX600 > 1964-T".

 

 



 


Edited by High_Q - 6/14/11 at 8:09am
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post #426 of 2948
6/14/11 at 8:36am

It provides wide space like the HD650? Are you serious? Jeez I'm feeling more and more my EX700 sounds nothing like the EX1k.

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post #427 of 2948
6/14/11 at 9:02am

I would have just ordered the HD650.

 

 

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post #428 of 2948
6/14/11 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiteki View Post

It provides wide space like the HD650? Are you serious? Jeez I'm feeling more and more my EX700 sounds nothing like the EX1k.

 

Space is one of the EX1000's most impressive strenghts. I A/Bed them with dfkt's full-sized Ultrasone HFI-780 and the Sonys made them sound like they were IEMs and the EX1000 full-sized. To be fair, the Ultrasones are closed, but the EX1000 hold their own quite well even against my full-sized Sony F1, which are completely open.

 

Having said that, (going from memory without direct A/B) the EX600 seem to be a bit more mid-forward than the EX1000, which comes at the cost of some soundstage depth. Yet width is still very impressive and overall they too have that big spacious sound.

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post #429 of 2948
6/14/11 at 11:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiteki View Post

Since when is the ex1k made in china?


The driver and main body are made in Japan, the cable in China.

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post #430 of 2948
6/14/11 at 12:38pm

Today I received a CD I'd been eagerly awaiting for over two months, a live recording from 1974 - no "loudness wars" going on here, you get plenty of dynamics and not just a hammering of loud noise. With the EX1000s this double-CD sounds just incredible. I've said already that bass on these phones is simply stunning, and the words that keep springing to mind when I hear the whole sound presentation are coherence and effortlessness. Simply superb.

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post #431 of 2948
6/14/11 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 

I have the Mainz recording from that year in 320kbps mp3. Listening to "Starless" right now, a tiny bit of hiss, but apart from that: amazing. I had almost forgotten that live recordings from that era can sound that good, thanks for reminding me. smile_phones.gif

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post #432 of 2948
6/14/11 at 4:22pm

^ Yeah, that Mainz performance is excellent. It's a shame it's not the full gig (it's missing the last piece) and unfortunately the recording is abruptly interrupted.


Edited by music_4321 - 6/15/11 at 5:43am
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post #433 of 2948
6/14/11 at 4:54pm

I'm a hunt them EX600 and will try to give them a listen :) Thanks for the impressions!
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by james444 View Post

 

Space is one of the EX1000's most impressive strenghts. I A/Bed them with dfkt's full-sized Ultrasone HFI-780 and the Sonys made them sound like they were IEMs and the EX1000 full-sized. To be fair, the Ultrasones are closed, but the EX1000 hold their own quite well even against my full-sized Sony F1, which are completely open.

 

Having said that, (going from memory without direct A/B) the EX600 seem to be a bit more mid-forward than the EX1000, which comes at the cost of some soundstage depth. Yet width is still very impressive and overall they too have that big spacious sound.



 

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post #434 of 2948
6/15/11 at 9:47am

^ 1+

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post #435 of 2948
6/16/11 at 1:01am

Okay, I've been having a listen to these for the past few days.  Not too much different from my initial impressions in January.  It's the best dynamic IEM I've heard next to the FX700 for sure and they both take different approaches.  I definitely have a solid seal and fit after much tip play.  Using some UE silicone single flanges pushed in as deep as possible w/ a nice solid, comfy seal.  The best fit I've gotten from a 'Discus' IEM I've gotten yet.  As great as it sounds my two main complaints still remain.

 

1-The bass is not as thin as I heard in January but it is a smidge under accurate quantity to my ears.  It is not bass light at all, it's very good.  Well extended, textured, present, detailed, impactful.  Needs just a hair more body IMO.  Really only a fraction.  Nit picking here.  If you listen to mostly acoustic you would prob never notice.  Electronic and synth pop do better at revealing this.

 

2-Likewise the slight glare around 6-7khz.  Using both my DACPort and 602 I can't get rid of the upper mid/lower treble splashiness.  Snares, High hats, sometimes female vocals are just too much.  The 602 does better as it does w/ the GR07 but it's still there.  Once you notice it you can't really let go and it's all too apparent afterward.  I'm beginning to think that both the GR07 and EX1000 were voiced w/ Asian languages in mind as this seems to be quite common wrt this target market.

 

For the original $600 I stand by my claim that I would not consider them.  They would need to smooth out the upper freqs for my taste.  The bass is more than adequate and rewarding.  At $300-$400 they are definitely worthy of consideration.  They easily compete w/ the likes of the FX700, 530, SM3 and surpass each in their own respective ways.  

 

Are they as good as my IERM or ES5?  Not in my opinion.  Both are better balanced and more neutral.  The IERM is much more oriented toward micro detail and clarity, recording accuracy and monitoring.  The ES5 is more dynamic w/ more realistic life-like timbre and precise 3D imaging where instruments just appear in front of you.  The mids are also more lush and everything is just more natural sounding.  ES5 vocals and strings are to die for.  The EX1000 does come close to the strings of the ES5 though.  The EX1000 does beat the IERM in bass presentation by offering a more complete, coherent and extended sound but the IERM does come close to the EX1000 by offering a comparable full bodied low end presence that actually sounds a bit fuller but more mid bassy.  The ES5's low end sounds thicker than both but less mid bassy with better impact than both but still loses to the EX1000 on extension and low end balance.  Both the IERM and ES5 are more resolving except where the EX1000 can put it's 16mm driver to use.  For example, on both it's much easier for me to tell if a song was mastered from analog tapes originally.  From about 50hz on up they both beat the EX1000 in almost every way.  

 

I'll be giving the EX1000 more ear time this week before they move on to their next destination.


Edited by Anaxilus - 6/16/11 at 1:08am
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