The discovery thread!
Mar 2, 2014 at 2:27 AM Post #22,666 of 97,386
Listened to EE-P and The Quiett on YouTube,heavy beats, pretty cool, like them..

^ ahaha FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT CHECK OUT THE QUIETT'S MORE RECENT STUFF!!! ESP. WHEN DOK2 is featured. LMAO
 
When you see the name Dok2 run the hell away!!! Guy is an amazing producer just like Kanye but content is even more schiit than Kanye smh. Stupid "Dirty South" music whatever that is. LMAO
 
The Quietts old stuff is freaken timeless. A complete hip hop artist that can rap amazingly as well as produce.
 
El-P stuff is crazy, just recently getting into him as well. haha
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  So my sister's birthday is coming up soon and she wants a new pair of IEMs. What are the recommendations for the best around $100 or less? Right now I'm considering the RE-400, Monster Gratitude, ATH-IM70/50, and FAD Heaven II. I'm tentatively thinking about getting her the Fostex TE-05 but that's a bit more expensive. Thanks!

^ HOW 'BOUT DEM TEAC ZE-1000.
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The ATH IM70s is probably the best for gifting tbh, but the TE-05 would be amazing no doubt if you can stretch your budget.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 2:32 AM Post #22,667 of 97,386
The more I listen to the MDREX100 the more I am enjoying them. I actually like them more than some of the slightly higher end Sony's I have tried. They lack some of the detail of the 323 but their smooth lush sound is very enjoyable and a bit less fatiguing. Listening to Heart as I write and am enjoying them quite a bit. I picked these up on sale at Future Shop for $20 and feel they are a solid buy at that price.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 2:37 AM Post #22,668 of 97,386
Have the AT's and Gratitudes, like both, won't go wrong, I'd lean toward the Gratitudes, big fan of them...if you give the TE-05, you're the best sister EVER!!!! (got them on order so can't comment on sound yet).
OK, gotta crash...listen to sweet tunes thru w3 tonight, night night...
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 3:31 AM Post #22,669 of 97,386
how would the 323 compare to other budget phones?... say the pistons?


I gave some burned pistons away as gifts and from the quick A/B before packing I liked the 323 more. It has sharper, more refined treble. With the Moshi Hybrids it has a nice deep bass that isn't to boomy, but doesn't lack body. Keep in mind that I am selling a $150 dual-driver because I find myself using the K323 more than it. Check my signature for some other comparisons.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 4:47 AM Post #22,670 of 97,386
These AKGs are looking might interesting
Quote:
Have the AT's and Gratitudes, like both, won't go wrong, I'd lean toward the Gratitudes, big fan of them...if you give the TE-05, you're the best sister EVER!!!! (got them on order so can't comment on sound yet).
OK, gotta crash...listen to sweet tunes thru w3 tonight, night night...

im liking the gratitudes more and more, solid phones on the go.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 5:34 AM Post #22,671 of 97,386
  So my sister's birthday is coming up soon and she wants a new pair of IEMs. What are the recommendations for the best around $100 or less? Right now I'm considering the RE-400, Monster Gratitude, ATH-IM70/50, and FAD Heaven II. I'm tentatively thinking about getting her the Fostex TE-05 but that's a bit more expensive. Thanks!

 
You should factor in the different fits with those. The Hifiman are very small and comfortable, can be worn down as well as up, the Gratitudes are quite big and long (the reason I sold mine), the ATs are quite big and bulky and have memory wire, and the FAD are comfortable and worn down, but with quite long barrels that may necessitate deeper insertion than she would like. All that should be taken into account as well as the sonic aspects.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 6:28 AM Post #22,672 of 97,386
  Nope no channel swapping needed. They fit perfect over the ears and the housing sit flush against the outter ear. part of the housing sits inside the ear actually so the housing leans into the ears so they don't stick out like when you have them straight down.  It was clearly made to be worn this way.. Over ears instead of straight down. Otherwise these might be a bit too bulky and heavy for some guys to be worn straight down. .
 
Isolation is fantastic on these by the way...

 
Does the good isolation mean that it is not an open design like the HA-FX700 was, or do you mean that the isolation is good for an open design?
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 6:46 AM Post #22,673 of 97,386

 
 
no need to listen to non-English stuff to know true hip-hop :) talent is buried deeply under the ground, but it is there.\
 
these guys for example:
 

 
or this:
 

 
or my favorites:



 
another thing by them:



or some that are not so under the ground, but still have lot's of talent:
 

 
this one too:
 



Kanye  wishes he had a fraction of talent these guys have...
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 9:51 AM Post #22,674 of 97,386
Dontbknow bout that, SF, certainly no Hip Hop expert, but the things he throws together, to my ears, are just incredible (if that's just being producer, OK, but I think that is where the music is at...). Having grown up with pop CLASSICS like "Yummy YummyYummy, I Got Love In My Tummy", "Surfing' Bird" (one of the best songs ever written...ask Family Guy), "Blue Suede Shoes" (I could go on for hours), I can dig great music even if the lyric is lame (to a point...). Have a harder time if that's reversed...great lyrics with boring music. Usually can't get a handle on it without something good happening in the music.


I agree with you. Kanye is genius within his genre. I'm no huge hip hop fan by any stretch of the imagination, but as a music journalist I study most styles of popular music. Kanye is off the chain! Now, is he a social idiot with his rants? Yes he is. But the dude is brilliant. His mother was a college professor (and I believe his father was an educator too). The dude has a high IQ. He's produced more hits for artists in that genre than many realize.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 10:12 AM Post #22,675 of 97,386
My take as well, the Raps/Rants just serve to hold it together as far as I'm concerned, nothing at all lyrically but nastiness, not even clever nastiness (tend not to even follow them closely). On the other hand, his MUSICAL mind is amazing, things he throws together into a fascinating whole are a whole different thing. Unlike others (and, again, I'm no expert, gonna listen to the above music videos after the dog walk), who may rap better over electronic beats and pieces of old recording background tracks looped (and I do like figuring out what was sampled, and it can make for great music), the MUSIC of Kanye's work is original, his creations. Of course, his public persona and nastiness is bound to turn many people off.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 10:14 AM Post #22,676 of 97,386
 
So my sister's birthday is coming up soon and she wants a new pair of IEMs. What are the recommendations for the best around $100 or less? Right now I'm considering the RE-400, Monster Gratitude, ATH-IM70/50, and FAD Heaven II. I'm tentatively thinking about getting her the Fostex TE-05 but that's a bit more expensive. Thanks!


You should factor in the different fits with those. The Hifiman are very small and comfortable, can be worn down as well as up, the Gratitudes are quite big and long (the reason I sold mine), the ATs are quite big and bulky and have memory wire, and the FAD are comfortable and worn down, but with quite long barrels that may necessitate deeper insertion than she would like. All that should be taken into account as well as the sonic aspects.


True, the Gratitudes are long, stick out a bit. I don't find it much of a problem, can get a good fit and seal better than many other iems. Hard to know how these things will work for others, though, but I haven't seen too many posts of people hating and getting rid of them for that reason.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 2:51 PM Post #22,677 of 97,386
 
^ HOW 'BOUT DEM TEAC ZE-1000.
normal_smile%20.gif

 
The ATH IM70s is probably the best for gifting tbh, but the TE-05 would be amazing no doubt if you can stretch your budget.

 
+
 
Have the AT's and Gratitudes, like both, won't go wrong, I'd lean toward the Gratitudes, big fan of them...if you give the TE-05, you're the best sister EVER!!!! (got them on order so can't comment on sound yet).
OK, gotta crash...listen to sweet tunes thru w3 tonight, night night...

 
She doesn't like the look of the ATs and Gratitudes that much so I think we're deciding between the TE-05 and RE-400. But just curious, could you give me a quick comparison between the IM70 and Gratitudes? I'm actually a guy but that's okay hahaha.
 
   
You should factor in the different fits with those. The Hifiman are very small and comfortable, can be worn down as well as up, the Gratitudes are quite big and long (the reason I sold mine), the ATs are quite big and bulky and have memory wire, and the FAD are comfortable and worn down, but with quite long barrels that may necessitate deeper insertion than she would like. All that should be taken into account as well as the sonic aspects.

 
Yeah comfort is really important so the RE-400 is high up on the list. She doesn't like the vacuum effect that my Heaven V has so the FAD is out.
 
True, the Gratitudes are long, stick out a bit. I don't find it much of a problem, can get a good fit and seal better than many other iems. Hard to know how these things will work for others, though, but I haven't seen too many posts of people hating and getting rid of them for that reason.

 
Yeah I didn't like how the Gratitudes fit so I'm probably gonna rule those out.
 
 
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback! Looks like we're choosing between the RE-400 and TE-05 at this point. Can anyone give me a detailed comparison between the two covering highs, mids, lows, soundstage, imaging, clarity, detail, build quality, accessories, etc.? Trying to see if it's worth spending the extra $60-70 on the TE-05.
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 3:48 PM Post #22,678 of 97,386
   
 
no need to listen to non-English stuff to know true hip-hop :) talent is buried deeply under the ground, but it is there.\
 
these guys for example:
 
...........

Kanye  wishes he had a fraction of talent these guys have...

^ Those other guys wishes they had a fraction of Kanyes fame/money.
 
 
 
 
I agree with you. Kanye is genius within his genre. I'm no huge hip hop fan by any stretch of the imagination, but as a music journalist I study most styles of popular music. Kanye is off the chain! Now, is he a social idiot with his rants? Yes he is. But the dude is brilliant. His mother was a college professor (and I believe his father was an educator too). The dude has a high IQ. He's produced more hits for artists in that genre than many realize.

^ Talented no doubt but genius is a bit too far. It's just like the mainstream portrays Jay-Z as the the best rapper alive or something while the stuff he puts out is not even relevant these days. He best has way past and there are tons of better talent out there. "Genius" according to mainstream "pop" standards maybe, but is not really grounded in reality. Jay-Z and Kanye both are talented no doubt but both are wayyyyy over hyped for what they do. Peps just loves to jump on the hipster bandwagon and most music "critics" sadly are easy victims of this as well, ie: those hipsters at pitchfork.
 
i dunno, Kanye stuff just doesn't sound like it has much soul to me, it leaves me with a empty feeling even though it might sound "unique" and "interesting" for the sake of being controversial. Can't really connect with it on an emotional/ personal level...... but to each his/her own though so......
 
 
My take as well, the Raps/Rants just serve to hold it together as far as I'm concerned, nothing at all lyrically but nastiness, not even clever nastiness (tend not to even follow them closely). On the other hand, his MUSICAL mind is amazing, things he throws together into a fascinating whole are a whole different thing. Unlike others (and, again, I'm no expert, gonna listen to the above music videos after the dog walk), who may rap better over electronic beats and pieces of old recording background tracks looped (and I do like figuring out what was sampled, and it can make for great music), the MUSIC of Kanye's work is original, his creations. Of course, his public persona and nastiness is bound to turn many people off.

^ A mile wide but a inch deep???
tongue_smile.gif

 
 
   
+
 
 
She doesn't like the look of the ATs and Gratitudes that much so I think we're deciding between the TE-05 and RE-400. But just curious, could you give me a quick comparison between the IM70 and Gratitudes? I'm actually a guy but that's okay hahaha.
 
 
Yeah comfort is really important so the RE-400 is high up on the list. She doesn't like the vacuum effect that my Heaven V has so the FAD is out.
 
 
Yeah I didn't like how the Gratitudes fit so I'm probably gonna rule those out.
 
 
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback! Looks like we're choosing between the RE-400 and TE-05 at this point. Can anyone give me a detailed comparison between the two covering highs, mids, lows, soundstage, imaging, clarity, detail, build quality, accessories, etc.? Trying to see if it's worth spending the extra $60-70 on the TE-05.

 
^ ehhh i wouldn't get those RE-400s if i were you, cuz those Chinaman iems are infamous for their lackluster built and many have reported them falling apart within a year of normal use. They have yet to learn to address such basic QC mistakes even though they are fully aware of them is inexcusable for me. Even their new flagship $400 RE-600s have the same schitty built is laughable tbh.
 
So if you can stretch your budget a bit, those TE-05s makes for a MUCH MUCH better gifting item imo.
 
Oh you mean to tell me you are not BOA???!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO the deception!!!
tongue.gif
 
 
Mar 2, 2014 at 4:16 PM Post #22,680 of 97,386
 
^ ehhh i wouldn't get those RE-400s if i were you, cuz those Chinaman iems are infamous for their lackluster built and many have reported them falling apart within a year of normal use. They have yet to learn to address such basic QC mistakes even though they are fully aware of them is inexcusable for me. Even their new flagship $400 RE-600s have the same schitty built is laughable tbh.
 
So if you can stretch your budget a bit, those TE-05s makes for a MUCH MUCH better gifting item imo.
 
Oh you mean to tell me you are not BOA???!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO the deception!!!
tongue.gif
 

 
Yeah I've read about some issues with the build quality of the RE-400... but I also heard that their customer service was great at replacing them if anything happened. The TE-05 definitely looks more solidly built though, might just be smarter to pay the extra money so I don't have to deal with helping her calling HiFiMAN for a replacement later.
 
LOL sorry to disappoint ya hahaha. Just a huge fan of hers 
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