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It's Like UNIVERSAL IEM Deja vu!!! Journey into universal IEMs when I thought I was done... - Page 2

post #16 of 155
11/26/11 at 6:57am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poimandres View Post

Hey Eric I too took the plunge again and mine too will arrive on Monday.  I have been thinking about getting them re shelled by UM and adding the the mid range driver.  I am wondering how those would sound compared to the quad, price wise I am sure that it will be cheaper plus have the better um build.  Any thoughts?



Hello Poimandres. I really have no idea about cost and performance when it comes to reshelling. I know Rip N' Burn had that Klipsch Custom 3 reshelled and stated that was better. Someone here (I think rawster, but not 100 percent sure) did have the TF10 reshelled and added a driver. I don't know how that worked out for him. But if it was rawster, I would ask him as I'm sure he'll give you a fair and objective result as he possibly can. I may talk to the guys and girls at 1964 EARS and see if they're up to the challenge (since they already have my impressions). That is something to think about. But first, for me, is a thorough reevaluation of what I liked and didn't like about the TF10. And to see if my amps will help me overcome my dislikes of this IEM. If not, I think that reshelling may be an option for me as well.

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post #17 of 155
11/26/11 at 7:16am
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See, you understand my pain, imackler!!....lol. Although, I can honestly say this is the first time I re-bought an IEM that I got rid of>>>> the TF10. Usually if I sell one of my IEMs I don't look back. And oddly enough, the TF10 is the only IEM I've ever sold where there was something I didn't like about it (Oops! I have to take that statement back slightly: I loved the sound overall of the IE8, but I didn't like that it sounded as if it had a veil over the speakers to my ears). The other universals I've sold I pretty much liked, but it just seemed that there was something on the market that was better, and that would come closer to meeting my preferred sound signature (which is almost but not quite bassheads' bass, a neutral to forward midrange, and an extended but not too forward highs - in general. A wide soundstage is nice but not necessary). But, for example, I absolutely loved the sound of the e-Q7, but I'm 98 percent positive I would never buy it back (or the Custom 3 that I loved also). So why the TF10 (besides the great deal)? I think I'm more curious about what I did like about the TF10 than what I didn't like about it (clearly I wasn't fascinated with the mids). There was something about the treble and bass, however, that I vaguely recall enjoying while listening to instrumental jazz. I want to explore that again, and it seems more feasible to do at $95.

Quote:
Originally Posted by imackler View Post

Let me get this out of the way: I love universals.

 

It's been three years (probably pretty close to the day) since my entry into universals. I've tried to get out many times. I love it and hate it.

 

I've tried UM3X, ER6i, GR07, GR10, EX600, EX1000, HF5 once but here is the kicker the Triple.fis 3x's, W2 3x's, SE535 3x's, W4 2x's, IE8 2x's, ER4P 2x's, IE7 2x's. Now that is where the weird hits! Buying the same iem multiple times, hoping that whatever you didn't like the first time, the straw that eventually broke the camel's back, was somehow different the second or even third time! Until recently I've mostly only bought companies w/ two year warranties so that explains a bit of the pinballing. But ultimately almost all have been turned because the sound signature was missing something...a little too much of this, a little too much of that.

 

I am getting tired though. I was really hoping the GR10 would do it for me, but now I'm not so sure... And sadly, because they just fit too well; they're tough for my fingers to get out of my weirdly shaped ears! Maybe the X10...Nahh...not a chance really.

 

I'm glad that headfi has a healthy resale market or I'd be out of a ton of money.



 

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post #18 of 155
11/26/11 at 7:49am

I definitely did not reshell a TF10. I did buy a TF10 a few years ago with the intention of doing that but I did not like the sound of the TF10 enough to warrant that .I did do a reshell with added drivers for a Livewire Trips but I sold those since I was tired of a less than perfect fit and didn't want to spend more money on it sending it back to China. It sounded great but the fit was a bit off where it was annoying and I no longer wanted to deal with it.

 

Of course I did get a JH5 as well on impulse at a head-fi meet but it's not too expensive :)

 

 

Also with the subject of this thread I think I'm fairly good with universals having done a trade for the GR07 just to try it out since I traded it with a headphone that was a spare since I had another set as well so no big loss there. I'll probably sell it down the line when I get my customs but my money is going more towards full sized headphones which unfortunately tend to be more expensive when you consider all the units needed.

 

 


Edited by rawrster - 11/26/11 at 7:51am
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post #19 of 155
11/26/11 at 10:17am

@ Ericp , Buddy i never thought i would see the day when you re-bought the tf10,i always thought the tf10s sound was an complete enigma to you. you must have had a funny five minutes or something there lol, so is it more to your liking this time around ?.

 

Well i can honestly say you are never going to see a post from me saying i have re-bought the SE420 even if they go on sell for £5 brand new , popcorn.gif

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post #20 of 155
11/26/11 at 10:34am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lucozade View Post

@ Ericp , Buddy i never thought i would see the day when you re-bought the tf10,i always thought the tf10s sound was an complete enigma to you. you must have had a funny five minutes or something there lol, so is it more to your liking this time around ?.

 

Well i can honestly say you are never going to see a post from me saying i have re-bought the SE420 even if they go on sell for £5 brand new , popcorn.gif


LOL @  luco.....Well, I don't know how the TF10 sounds to me  the second time around because I won't have it until Monday... But I will let you know..... I will never ever buy the IE8 again, ever!! Again, there were some things I liked about the TF10...I keep telling myself....lol

 

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post #21 of 155
11/26/11 at 10:49am

Very very few iems would I not rebuy if they were cheap enough. I have no interest in the ER6i! And honestly, not a huge fan of the Sony EX series. Besides, that I've really enjoyed something about all the rest! If there were $50-100 a piece, I'd love to have several. Part of my rebuying is trying to find that one jack of all trades... Not sure it exists, though the GR10 is close!
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericp10 View Post


LOL @  luco.....Well, I don't know how the TF10 sounds to me  the second time around because I won't have it until Monday... But I will let you know..... I will never ever buy the IE8 again, ever!! Again, there were some things I liked about the TF10...I keep telling myself....lol

 



 

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post #22 of 155
11/26/11 at 11:55am

Mr. Eric, I believe you are on to something:)! My theory is that the TF 10 is earphone that was purposefully built with it's weaknesses. It can sound better but that would be too good compared to the custom version. I have always thought they didn't do as well with the crossover and tuning as they could have. A phone that was built not to be better than XX% of the UE 10Pro performance. They could certainly have gotten the mids to be flat/not recessed and gotten more detail out of the three armatures. For $95 the potential is still there but you have to bring it out. The right cable is important. The TF is very picky with tips. The sub-optimal crossover is a hurdle as well.  There are much more options for amp, cables, and tips than for my first TF 10, the LE #112(IIRC). The Soundstage size and bottom to top extension are there and a good base to start with.

 

I, myself, would not buy again and leave it as is out of the package. I sold my first for the ER4P and also deemed them too small an upgrade over the 5 Pro( a bigger price difference back then). The EX600, with foams removed, was a better sounding phone that also didn't isolate very well but was easier to fit/doesn't stick out as much. If I was going to leave it as is, I could have just kept the Sony but I believe the TF has potential to outclass the likes of the SM3 and modded EX600. 

 

I think you do see some potential in them but I think you will probably sell them, give them away, or whatever if you don't build on those strengths. Them being $95 allows you to work on that.

 

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post #23 of 155
11/26/11 at 3:16pm
It's audio OCD!

BTW, have you heard anything about 1964 EARS' 6-driver custom?
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post #24 of 155
11/26/11 at 4:18pm
Thread Starter 


Great observations @ jant71, and I will probably explore all those options you mentioned. I won't, however, explore reshelling them - the more I think about it. I like my customs built from the ground up..

Quote:
Originally Posted by jant71 View Post

Mr. Eric, I believe you are on to something:)! My theory is that the TF 10 is earphone that was purposefully built with it's weaknesses. It can sound better but that would be too good compared to the custom version. I have always thought they didn't do as well with the crossover and tuning as they could have. A phone that was built not to be better than XX% of the UE 10Pro performance. They could certainly have gotten the mids to be flat/not recessed and gotten more detail out of the three armatures. For $95 the potential is still there but you have to bring it out. The right cable is important. The TF is very picky with tips. The sub-optimal crossover is a hurdle as well.  There are much more options for amp, cables, and tips than for my first TF 10, the LE #112(IIRC). The Soundstage size and bottom to top extension are there and a good base to start with.

 

I, myself, would not buy again and leave it as is out of the package. I sold my first for the ER4P and also deemed them too small an upgrade over the 5 Pro( a bigger price difference back then). The EX600, with foams removed, was a better sounding phone that also didn't isolate very well but was easier to fit/doesn't stick out as much. If I was going to leave it as is, I could have just kept the Sony but I believe the TF has potential to outclass the likes of the SM3 and modded EX600. 

 

I think you do see some potential in them but I think you will probably sell them, give them away, or whatever if you don't build on those strengths. Them being $95 allows you to work on that.

 



 

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post #25 of 155
11/26/11 at 4:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kunlun View Post

It's audio OCD!
BTW, have you heard anything about 1964 EARS' 6-driver custom?


Hello Kunlun. No I haven't. It was made clear to me that this process would take some time. But I will give them a shout early next week to see how things are progressing. Thanks for reminding me.

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post #26 of 155
11/26/11 at 6:51pm

I bought the TF10's again also. I have no idea why as they feel like wine corks driven into my ears. I kinda like the sound, but my ears are done for a day after an hour if listening due to the fit in my ears.  Maybe a reshell, maybe I'll pass them along. Sounds like a bunch of us couldn't resist. 

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post #27 of 155
11/27/11 at 9:42am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericp10 View Post


LOL @  luco.....Well, I don't know how the TF10 sounds to me  the second time around because I won't have it until Monday... But I will let you know..... I will never ever buy the IE8 again, ever!! Again, there were some things I liked about the TF10...I keep telling myself....lol

 



With all this talk about the tf10 i have dug mine out and hooked them up to my headphone station , Graham Slee studio reference 2 amp pre-amped by a Yamaha A2 dsp amp with a ten band per channel graphic equalizer ,by eqing up the sub bass frequencies and a little cut at 500hz and 4hz they sound unbelievably good and every bit as good as my full size cans ,only fall short of there performance in sound stage size. The tf10 make me feel on stage with the musicians where as my full size cans i am a good ten rows back or more 

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post #28 of 155
11/27/11 at 10:55am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lucozade View Post


 



With all this talk about the tf10 i have dug mine out and hooked them up to my headphone station , Graham Slee studio reference 2 amp pre-amped by a Yamaha A2 dsp amp with a ten band per channel graphic equalizer ,by eqing up the sub bass frequencies and a little cut at 500hz and 4hz they sound unbelievably good and every bit as good as my full size cans ,only fall short of there performance in sound stage size. The tf10 make me feel on stage with the musicians where as my full size cans i am a good ten rows back or more 



Thanks for the observations buddy. How are the mids? Vocals?

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post #29 of 155
11/27/11 at 11:27am

Hello my name is Dweaver and I am a head-fi aholic...

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post #30 of 155
11/27/11 at 11:54am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericp10 View Post



Thanks for the observations buddy. How are the mids? Vocals?



The mids in general are a little to flat and sterile as they come for my tastes hence i find cutting the 500hz and 4hz frequencies gives them a more lively dymanic and musical sound , vocals are fine buddy ,listening to some Abba on them at the present ,not to forward or high pitched but not recessed either , electric guitars are highly polished but lack the gutsy raw power of the hje900 .Drums are good but lack timbre of phones like the hje900, gro7 ,eq7.

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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors › It's Like UNIVERSAL IEM Deja vu!!! Journey into universal IEMs when I thought I was done...