~150$ IEM to Listen to Electronic Dance Music (FXT90s vs. EPH-100s)

Hey guys! After researching and about a hell lot of different options for like 2 months I finally decided to join the community and make a thread. Also never really owned an IEM, though I do listen to some of my friends' ones, and really like how they feel comfort-wise. I also don't mind waiting a month or two if it means that prices will be dropped or a new model will come out.
 
 
So lets go straight to business...
 
I listen maily to EDM (fav genre is house, particualry vocal house, but also electro. Don't care much for hip hop and TOTALLY DESPISE dubstep and to a lesser extent hardcore trance), but also, occasionally, to light rock and reggae. I want the IEM to be maily for the EDM though since I really don't listen to rock and reggae that much.
 
-Powerful punchy bass, mainly for the kick drum. Not too overshadowing.
 
-Detailed clear mids. You know how it is like with house music.
 
-Female vocals should sound as best as they can with my 150$ budget. Love female vocals, but also male vocals. Nearly as important as the bass.
 
-Energetic and forward aggressive signature.
 
-Treble is not really encountered with my music, I also don't care much for sibilance.
 
-Should have a nice, airy soundstage and be clear: I'm sensitive to gray noise.
 
So, I want it to have a pretty warm signature, but for it to be as energetic and not laid-back as it can.
 
 
-About the comfort, I just don't want it to kill my freaking ears. I will listen to them for long periods of time and very frequently, so my ears should at least withstand them.
 
-Isolation is moderately important, though i don't mind going in deep inside my ear-canal to enable better isolation and fit. Though It's very expendable.
 
-Microphonics is something really expendable. Never had an IEM, but I don't think it'll be that annoying to me.
 
-Build quality/looks/style is only important for durability. IEM's are not built to be pretty or vain IMO.
 
 
So... budget-wise, was thinking around 150$, could go over budget if it's worth it.
 
Been thinking about the JVC-HA-FXT90.

Bump! 

beatbox said:

 
-Powerful punchy bass, mainly for the kick drum. Not too overshadowing. Check!
 
-Detailed clear mids. You know how it is like with house music. Check!
 
-Female vocals should sound as best as they can with my 150$ budget. Love female vocals, but also male vocals. Nearly as important as the bass. Check!
 
-Energetic and forward aggressive signature. Not necessarily aggressive, but energetic, yes.
 
-Treble is not really encountered with my music, I also don't care much for sibilance. Check!
 
-Should have a nice, airy soundstage and be clear: I'm sensitive to gray noise. Check!
 
So, I want it to have a pretty warm signature, but for it to be as energetic and not laid-back as it can. Not warm (slightly north of neutral), but, again, energetic, and not the leas bit laid-back.
 
-About the comfort, I just don't want it to kill my freaking ears. I will listen to them for long periods of time and very frequently, so my ears should at least withstand them. Check!
 
-Isolation is moderately important, though i don't mind going in deep inside my ear-canal to enable better isolation and fit. Though It's very expendable. Check!
 
-Microphonics is something really expendable. Never had an IEM, but I don't think it'll be that annoying to me. Check!
 
-Build quality/looks/style is only important for durability. IEM's are not built to be pretty or vain IMO. Check!
 
So... budget-wise, was thinking around 150$, could go over budget if it's worth it. Check!

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EX600. You need not look past it IMHO. 
 
List of prices.

My music requirements were pretty much same as yours before settling on Yamaha EPH-100.
 
Although i haven't heard the EX600, I dropped them from my short list after reading impressions reporting low bass levels relative to big highs. Emphasis on highs fatigues my listening & i really like big punchy bass in my music. Not basshead level. To get the best bass out of ex600 owners are pairing it up with additional ZO bass amp.
 
I also considered FXT90 but import & possible warranty problems put me off it. Also some impressions indicated it as also having unrefined strong highs.
 
In the end I went for Yamaha EPH-100. Absolutely stunning for vocal trance/elctro etc  because of its excellent separation & 3d like sound stage albeit average sized. It has light emphasis on mid & bass making it slightly warm sounding with just enough highs to maintain clarity & sparkle. Bass is powerful & punchy. In UK it's a bargain at £80 delivered. The EPH-100 might not be brilliant in all genre of music but it definitely shines with EDM. Many report it as being fatigue free with its great fitting & non too shrilled highs.
 
Check out the Yamaha EPH-100 thread if you want more info.
 
 

There's a few sets of Monster Pro Turbine Coppers floating around on the For Sale forum for under $150.
They fall pretty comfortably into your specifications.

I'm going to recommend the Vsonic GR07's or the Audio Technica CK90Pro from personal experience. I listen to a lot of IDM (not quite the same but hey) but what I can say is what you want most of all is speed and clean transients for electronic music.  Both of these earphones are fast (the CK90Pro is lightning fast in particular and has better isolation, but the GR07 is a little more natural sounding in timbre for other genres) and close to 150. If you are super sensitive to sibilance I would probably suggest the CK90Pro more, though the GR07 really does have a nice energy to the sound and I hate sibilance myself. 
 
The CK90Pro (or the newer version the CK90Pro MK2 if you can find it at a good price) is also very comfortable with a nice insertion depth. Unfortunately its a little over your budget, but I've never come across something more fun for electronic. http://www.accessoryjack.com/audio-technica-ath-ck90pro-dual-balanced-armature-in-ear-monitor-headphones-black.html
 
Have a look at joker's IEM review thread also, that should give you some pointers.http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-214-iems-compared-jvc-ha-fxt90-and-ha-fx500-added-1-8-12

I would say the GR07 beats the EX600s on bass quantity and impact.

I'm not sure... either the EX600, the EPH-100, or the CK90... though I only found them for over 200$...
 
 
Anyone has a cheaper place for them?
 
 
PS. Thanks guys for your opinions!

EX600
 
CK90
 
EPH-100
 

 
EPH-100 from UK is £74 delivered to US, which is about $115
 

archy121 said:

EPH-100 from UK is £74 delivered to US, which is about $115

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 I wish I knew of more online stores like this one, that offer international shipping. That's a great price!

 
I think this ones a one off. You guys generally get better deals in US  -apart from Sennheiser's
 
Do you have to pay custom tax on goods from EU ?

I'm still not so sure what the differences are between them...
It's a giant purchase for me as I'm paying for half of that, as a highschooler, from my ****ty 7$ an hour job (that's the pay here for us minors). So I'm really thinking hard about what I'm deciding to buy.
 
I'm from Israel in the middle east if that matters about the shipping price...
 
 
And what are you guys saying about the FXT-90? I'll be careful and don't really care about shipping issues...

Quote:

beatbox said:

I'm still not so sure what the differences are between them...
It's a giant purchase for me as I'm paying for half of that, as a highschooler, from my ****ty 7$ an hour job (that's the pay here for us minors). So I'm really thinking hard about what I'm deciding to buy.
 
I'm from Israel in the middle east if that matters about the shipping price...
 
 
And what are you guys saying about the FXT-90? I'll be careful and don't really care about shipping issues...

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In my opinion, the FXT90 perfectly matches your requirements. I listen to a lot of what you refer to as EDM, as well a extreme metal, jazz and ambient... it handles all very well. As someone else has said, the GR-07 would also be an excellent choice. It lacks the forwardness and fun factor of the FXT90s, but more than makes up for this in terms of balance, versatility and detail retrieval.
 
Yet another very good choice would be the EPH-100, which is reportedly just as good as the above two IEMs, with more forward mids and a bigger bottom end. I'm actually awaiting the arrival of these, so cannot personally recommend them yet.... However, I purchased them after reading reviews from trusted sources, so am confident that they will meet my expectations.

Well... I've narrowed it down to 2 competitors:
 
 
JVC FXT90s
 
Yamaha EPH-100
 
 
The CK90 was, unfortunately, dropped for its price...
 
 
How do they compare, from someone who heard them both? Maybe a link to a comparison? Care about energy, speed and fun. Also about female vocals, bass punchiness, and mids for the house music.
 
 
***BTW, thanks a lot guys you're sooo helpful!