Really good in ears.

The Klipsch S4 are kind of crappy nowadays. There has been an explosion in the $30-60 earbud market in the past 2-3 years, and they've been surpassed by many other makers for quality for the price. It's not too hard to find better. I would consider the MT better but not by much. If you're thinking of spending over $100 on earbuds, the TF10 are great performers but extremely uncomfortable for some, myself included. I would try Sony EX600 or Vsonic GR07. Many people find both of those to perform better than the TF10, and at about $30-50 less.

Triple Fi's are amazing! But they seem to have a lot of fitting problems for some people and breaking within a year from what I've read in forums.

 

Quoted for truth.

 

The TF10s are really uncomfortable and I don't think their sound (although overall "good," but nothing superb) justifies the discomfort you have to go through, and their flimsiness. My UE experiences haven't been good. Mine barely lasted a few months; I am surprised people even get a year or more out of them.

 

If you want an overall great IEM, look at the Earsonics SM3. The SM3s trump the TF10s, in my opinion, and at least when I compared prices, I could find the SM3s for cheaper. The SM3s are just better sonically than the TF10s. The SM3s have a much better soundstage and present a better overall sound.

 

If you are very vocal oriented and want to be floored by mids and natural vocals, I would suggest the Shure SE530/535. If you want incredible articulation and maximum instrument separation, I would go for the Westone UM3Xs.

Edited by Pepper - 9/18/11 at 2:56pm

If you want crisp clear sound with really wide soundstage then i will recommend to try Sennheiser IE8, FX700, EX1000 and UE TF10Pro. But if you want highely detailed neutral soundsignature then RE272, HF5, ER4P/S, CK10, GR10, RE0 are highely reommended

Edited by ZARIM - 9/16/11 at 9:18pm

To each his own. I find the TF10's quite comfortable, and coupled with the right tips, the issue may very well be resolved altogether. I've found that the HiFiMan biflanges, the Comply T-400's, and the sony hybrids all work very well for me, without any modifications needed. YMMV.

 

If you can manage a good fit on the TF10's without discomfort, you need not look past them IMO. The other options suggested are all great alternatives as well, albeit of 30+ in-ears I've owned to date, the TF10's were among the most overlooked, and as of late, have come to be the most musical in-ears I've ever owned to date; even more than the SM3 for my ears. The mids are neutral at best, the treble is simply awesome, without any appreciable harshness/fatigue, and the bass will leave you overwhelmed, considering they're BA's. As for the soundstage? Just as exceptional. All the best my friend!

^^IMO, westone 4s are the best universal iems, but reshelled tripfis are pretty close and more comfortable.

Quote:

 

Refer to my signature my friend; sounds like you've got a good bit of reading ahead of you.  Granted, it'll only help you towards your final decision. I stand behind the TF10, as my first and foremost recommendation. All the best!

Agreed, except for better than SM3.. (SM3 is darker, highs in tf10 a little bit sibilant at time; both have armature kind of clarity over ie8)

For me SM3 > TF10, but that is only when you really nitpick, SQ wise, but are really good actually.

Price-wise, used TF10 can be had for about 1/3 the price of SM3

And they are not painful to wear at all; I don't know who started saying that... funny looking maybe... painful, definitely not.

 

 

Go for TF10 if you are on a budget; they are top tier too

TF10 isn't in the same league as the SM3. TF10 = recessed mids, sibilant treble, fit issues and no where near the 3D imaging, and liquid presentation as the SM3. But yes they can be had for a third of the price of the SM3. JMO

 

When you auditioned or owned the tf10, did you get a good seal or fit? A lack of proper seal means extra air leaks in and gives a sibilant-like sound. Yes, the mids are slightly recessed, but it's up to preference and the extra budget means solutions like silver cables are easily had for, which can correct the problem. The imaging may not be up to the sm3, but the soundstage's pretty good too