Just thought of another notion... hey Bangra, when you tested these phones in portable settings, did you test them with uncompressed files?

Hi Lindrone


Yes I did test with one uncompressed source... the iMP-550. Not exactly a definitive uncompressed test, is it? What I did in addition though is try both phones with two compressed audio players which support bitrates higher than CD, with high-resolution audio tracks. The data is a sort of compressed SACD/DVD-A. More of the same of what was in my review really... The Etys pull away in non-portable situations, and the Shures are better to listen to in high-noise (i.e. plane) situations. I was using both of these high-res players on the plane on my way here and I did have the E3c in my ear most of the time. Once in the villa room though, I prefer the Etys.


2004 will be a very interesting year for portable audio. There's at least one handy new format capable of supporting uncompressed audio at CD bitrates and compressed at higher-than-CD sound quality (although recorded material in this format may not yet be available this year).


It's very good to know that with Shure, Ety (who will hopefully raise the bar yet again) and UE, we have a fairly good choice of 'front ends' to pair with these new players. There is also at least one other manufacturer which is discussing the possibility of a flagship high-resolution portable earphone.


I think that there's actually been a little bit of a stagnation on things to spend money on in 2003... It's mainly been iPod, iPod and iPod. This and next year, at least for portable use, is set to be truly the years of 'Sorry About Your Wallet'

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Intersting. Now we just need the 20TB portable players

Scott

Exciting things to come indeed

At least one new audio format eh?.. Hmmm....

The joy of re-encoding that music all over again! Yay!

Scott

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That's the most rediculous over-exaggeration I've read on here in quite a while...

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Damnit! your making me regret my ER6 purchase .. I was very surprised on how much I liked them so the first thought that sprung to mind was that I should have gotten the ER4P's.

Probably would have gone for the E3c's though.. If I would have seen this thread before I got my ER6's.

Thanks a great review bangraman, very informative.

Hi Bangraman - thanks for your review

Couple questions -

I didn't really like how you defined the E3c was a better portable earphone. If I'm walking around and not paying much attention to music, my iPod earbuds sound good. It's only when I bring them home and compare it side by side with other headphones that I realize its weaknesses.

Is the E3c a very comparable headphone to the ER-4P's during critical listening? Is the sound quality comparable on both?

The E3c's sound like the perfect headphone for me (I use my iPod strictly for portable), but I've read a couple bad reviews about the E2c so I'm hesitant. Since I've never heard the Ety's, how would you rate the E3c's sound quality with other phones? (I'm pretty familiar with the Sennheiser/Grado line)

Thanks again!

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That's a very good point. Many people (me included) don't listen THAT attentively while portable... in the sense of say being in the subway. However, on aircraft and long train journeys, etc you do have the time for critical portable listening. It may seem like an oxymoron but for critical portable listening E3c are noticeably better than the ER-4P. But as I said, if you're going to put these to possibly their most inappropriate use (i.e. sitting at home connected to mid-to-high-buck gear) the Etys are the best since absolutely speaking, the Etys have better all-round technical capability.


At home, the ER-4P is to me indisputably the winner in terms of sound quality. When listening attentively in a portable situation though, the E3c raises it's game in a subjective sense. The difference between any comparison of for example the iPod earphones is that both of these phones (Etys and Shures) are well isolated. Therefore you do notice sonic deficiencies much more than an open phone like the iPod articles.


I put in my subsequent posts when you should consider which phone. It's really a matter of making up your mind whether you want a home phone which slightly compromises in portable use, or a mainly portable phone which slightly compromises in home use.


For this class of phone, and also bearing in mind the kind of gear that they use it with (i.e. the iPod) I really think that people should be picking with portable use in mind.


But (as I said) if you consider yourself a hardcore audiophile, you should look at the Etys since they offer a higher level of technical capability as outlined. Staging is better, resolution is roughly the same... but yes, superior. Extension is better up top, same down low and the texture of the sound is more apparent. As for whether you can hear all this when you are in a portable element... the honest answer has to be "No". But if you choose the Etys over the Shures, the portable listening issues are somewhat EQ-able to sound like the Shures, if you have a parametric equaliser on your portable... although not on the iPod. A boost in the mid-bass, a boost in the upper midrange and a slight rolling off of the trebles will simulate the Shure sound on the Etys. But if I'm going to do this, I would rather have the Shures... since their ergonomics are superior.


Does that help? Tell me if it doesn't... I'll be happy to talk more.

Sort of on the topic, bangraman, how do you feel about the Shure E5c for home use?

Scott

hi, thanks for a great review bangraman.

perhaps someone could post up a really detailed comparison of the e2 with the e3. i think that is what all of us e2 owners (of which there are many) really really want.

I posted a review of the E3's vs. my E2's and other cans I owned. It is not detailed by any means....

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=55903

However, if you are looking for justification that the E3's are significantly better....I'll tell you that they own the E2's. It's not even a fair comparison. If you can come up with the money, they are a worthy upgrade.

The real comparison is with the high end Ety's....as Bangraman is describing.

wolfen68,

thanks for the link! sorry, i must've missed that thread..

heh Bangraman, thanks for your reply

Sorry if I was rambling a bit, it was a bit hard for me to put what I was thinking into words.

I think I'm going to try out the E3c's. As much as I would like to have the Ety's for their famed sound, I use my iPod strictly when I'm on the run (walking around campus, gym, studying at library).

Basically, I didn't want to be disappointed in the E3c's sound, as it'd be the most expensive headphone I've ever bought. The first few headphones I've purchased (HD580, KSC35, SR60) and kept, I've kept with no regrets.

I probably won't be making this purchase for at least a month, so I should have plenty of time to figure this all out. Just looking for preliminary opinions.

bangraman
HI: How are you? I know the E3c will be great with my minidisc and super mini amp V6.2D but for home use with mediocre stuff will they be ok. I mean a minidisc deck and a Meta42 amp. I know you said with good to high end stuff the etys are better for home listening but how about lesser stuff at home. Will the E3c sound great with my home stuff? I am using the minidisc deck with the Meta42 and senn. 590s with equinox and am wondering if the E3c will give that setup a run for the money. LOL. Thank you.