Yep recabled em myself. There was quite a bit of improvement, more detail, clarity, the bass was less muddy. I love the sound
 
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nuckinfutz said:

Did you perform the recable on your D2000's?  Did you notice much of an improvement?
 
Thanks in advance.
 
 

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D2000. No question. Its just a great can at any price range. But the CKM50s have better isolation.


Quote:

worx said:

Which one has better bass and soundstage?
 
 

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 I think I use them more cuz i just got them, or cuz they're easy to use and convenient. I think I'll switch back to my D2000 for home use and CKM50 for portable use or Soundmagic E30 if I end up selling the CKM50s. As far as SQ goes, its a close one, I'm fairly inexperienced with IEMs so I don't really know. I'm going to go ahead and say the D2000 is still a good bit better. But the Quality of the CKM50 is really good for $30
 
 

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dsnuts said:

Nope. Love my CKm50s. It is funny that Omark12 is saying he uses these CKM50s more than the D2000. Similar sound signature. Coincidence?

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I think it's both. The ckm50 are a more expensive phone @ retail, implying more expensive parts, and their house sound is typically biased toward trebble.

Sent from my LG-VM670 using Tapatalk

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captouch said:

Dsnuts, I don't know when you started your best-value threads, but I first stumbled upon your HTF600 thread shortly after you started that one.  Since then, I bought the Panny HTF600, Philips SHE3580, two pairs of Thermaltake Isurus, Jlabs bi-flange trips, and ATH-CKM50's all based on your recommendations.  
 
The HTF600's don't really compare to my HD650's or DT880's, so I don't listen to them much - but they'd be great for tossing in a bag on a roadtrip, leaving in the office all the time or giving to a friend - no regrets on buying those even though I don't really need them myself.  Haven't listened to the SHE3580's yet (they got shipped to another location), but I'm sure they'll be nice and looking forward to checking those out.  And the Jlabs tips didn't work out for my ear shape, but no big deal.
 
But love the Isarus and CKM50's, so much so that I just sold my used UE Triplefi 10vi's because I enjoyed listening to both of your finds better.
 
Funny thing is. . .that whole laundry list made up of your recommendations (4 IEM's, 1 full size set of cans, and one set of replacement tips) was $25 less than I just sold my 10vi's for.  Now that's value! 
 
Nice job Dsnuts, keep up the good work. 

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You just made my morning. Lol!. Ya so this is what I am about. When I joined this community there was a few decent budget suggestions but no one was gonna figure out the new kids on the block. This was the challenge to me. I don't know if there is just that much more value in these finds or the fact that these are accessible to everyone. Probably both. Not everyone can throw around a thousand dollars on headphones and someone had to figure out what was gonna be some good alternatives..
 
I have to agree with you that you get so much more from these earphones and headphones..I find myself using my CKM50s and HTF600s just as much or more than my more expensive stuff.
 

 
Quote:

thegame21x said:

So, Dsnuts, I don't know if you've answered this question or not but, of all the IEMs and headphones you've recommended thus far, which is the best value overall? I'd say "price be damned" but I imagine the GR07 will automatically shoot into the lead.
 
So, excluding the GR07, which set really screams fantastic value?
 

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That's a great question.. Obviously all of them are great values as all of em are cheap. The most expensive being the CKm77 next to the Gr07s. I think the best value comes down to a particular sound one likes more than the price. 
 
I think maybe the MP8320 is a craziest value out of all of them but these are kinda not fer everyone as they won't fit everyones ears. As you know the drivers are the biggest out of all of them at 14.2mm. Which is the only real draw back about these. If the design on them was a better it would gladly pay more to get a easier fitting housing design.
 
I know there are guys that prefer the sound signature of the isurus, more analytical sound, over the CKM50s so for them the isursus obviously. But CKM50s are more about a fun sound signature with warm bass smooth mids and nicely detailed highs.. So I like the fact that there are different sounding earphones on all the finds.. I think the SHE3580 also is a solid value but at double the cost you get a CKM50 which is indeed a superior earphone for the same type of sound signature.
 
The CKM77s, even though these are clearly way more in cost. I will also throw these in at a great value. Because they easily hang and does some things better than a GR07 and a EX600. The others costing $40 to a $60 more. The CKM77s are easily at that same level of dynamic earphones. For guys that want higher end dynamic. I would seriously consider a CKM77..If you guys can only hear what these sound like. Lol!

I'm putting my CKM50s and Monoprices in the For Sale forum later tonight. I love the sound signature but the cable won't do it for me on the go.
 
If anybody wants them BOTH for around $36 shipped in the US, PM me!

I've had to do some interesting things to make the ckm50 enjoyable to me. I swapped to the smallest soundmagic tips, removed the filters, and boosted the mids on poweramp.

These sound much better with an improper seal.

Sent from my SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

I just got my CKM50 and have been listening for about 2 hours. I paid about $34 for them on Amazon.
 
Source: Cowon iAudio 10.
 
Comments:
 
Comfort: Great fit and comfort. No issues with stock tips. Much more comfortable than my TF10s. At least on par with my PFEs.
Cable: No major microphonic issues so far. Cable length is indeed weird. I cannot put it in my pocket with the standard cable.
Isolation: Standard, no complaints but have not yet tested outside in the real world. Will update.
 
Sound:
 
Hmmmmmmmm
 
Bass: About perfect. I like it a lot. About right where it should be IMO. It hits with a two-fisted punch. I would NOT say it's necessarily overpowering.
Mids/Highs: Undecided. I think the problem here is that they are simply recessed, especially the mids. By comparison, they are hitting with a weak, one-handed slap. They are there, but just beyond the horizon.
 
I will update later once I have compared with my TF10s and Sennheiser CX200.
 
Tentative Conclusion:
 
Still looking for perfection BUT the ATH-CKM50 offer a FABULOUS value at $34. You can't really go wrong with them.
 
Will update again later.
 

Quote:

schneller said:

I just got my CKM50 and have been listening for about 2 hours. I paid about $34 for them on Amazon.
 
Source: Cowon iAudio 10.
 
Comments:
 
Comfort: Great fit and comfort. No issues with stock tips. Much more comfortable than my TF10s. At least on par with my PFEs.
Cable: No major microphonic issues so far. Cable length is indeed weird. I cannot put it in my pocket with the standard cable.
Isolation: Standard, no complaints but have not yet tested outside in the real world. Will update.
 
Sound:
 
Hmmmmmmmm
 
Bass: About perfect. I like it a lot. About right where it should be IMO. It hits with a two-fisted punch. I would NOT say it's necessarily overpowering.
Mids/Highs: Undecided. I think the problem here is that they are simply recessed, especially the mids. By comparison, they are hitting with a weak, one-handed slap. They are there, but just beyond the horizon.
 
I will update later once I have compared with my TF10s and Sennheiser CX200.
 
Tentative Conclusion:
 
Still looking for perfection BUT the ATH-CKM50 offer a FABULOUS value at $34. You can't really go wrong with them.
 
Will update again later.
 

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I still find the highs and especially the mids recessed when listening to the CKM55s. Dsnuts I know that you've said that the bass isn't as overwhelming and the highs have more extension, but I think the mids just aren't going to cut it. I have a feeling that the TF10s are exactly what I'm looking for but sadly they're way out of my budget.

Don't you have the CKM50s getting to you soon? I would wait to hear the CKM50s..You will see why this thread is about the CKM50s and not the CKM55s.. I am telling you they sound so much better in every way compared to the CKM55s. Look at it as the actually improved version.. I know because they are in the same numbered line and are supposed to be the update of the CKM50s. It would be easy to assume the older is not better,  But in this case. Wait till you hear them. You will understand.
 
You are judging your experience based on the CKM55s. The CKM50s are completely different.. It will be like you just washed out your ears for the first time. Seriously. You will have clarity and detail instead of that thick heavy veil of a sound that is on the CKM55s. I have no idea how anyone at Audio Technica thought that was an improved sound vs the older CKM50s.. Don't give up on the CKM50s just because it is an older version..Let me put it this way. How many guys so far are loving their cheapo CKM50 purchase. I would say most. You honestly think if the sounds of the CKM50s was remotely like them CKM55s this would be possible.  I would get cursed at man.! Damn them nuts! Is what I would hear. Not anything like.. What guys are writing to me encouraging me in what I do.. 
 
@Schneller. Thanks for your initial impressions...So you are a bassy music listener. I can tell by your comments about the bass..I suspect these will appeal to guys that listen to bassier music. You know what sounds kinda recessed in the mids try listening to some vocal tracks. Will surprise just how smooth it sounds. Acoustical tracks with strings and bass guitars come at you in layers. I love how musical the presentation is on these earphones..

TF10's have pretty recessed mids from what I've heard. And they go on sale for around $100 once a year off so fwiw.
 
Quote:

mbamg said:

I still find the highs and especially the mids recessed when listening to the CKM55s. Dsnuts I know that you've said that the bass isn't as overwhelming and the highs have more extension, but I think the mids just aren't going to cut it. I have a feeling that the TF10s are exactly what I'm looking for but sadly they're way out of my budget.

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I don't find the TF10's mids all that recessed personally. Maybe just a tad, but certainly less so than the Audio Technica M50 for instance.

the tf10s are in a whole other league when being compare to the CKM50s
the treble extension on the tf10s are much smoother and basically exhibit no sibilance; whereas with the m50s, the treble is shrill shrieky, and just overall of very poor quality. The bass is far more uncontrolled and boomy on the M50s. and the mids are basically MIA on the M50s as well. But.....speed is impressive for a dynamic..... these aren't worth more than $25 tops. the treble on them is just too unbearable. 

i dare anyone who says otherwise to try to listen to this track with your CKM50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgQRRI9goFg

jaqueh said:

i dare anyone who says otherwise to try to listen to this track with your CKM50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgQRRI9goFg

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I got through about eight seconds of that song with my CKM50, which is as much as I'd been able to bear with any IEM/earbud/headphone/open air speaker. In my experience, the more distortion recorded into a song, the less useful it is as test track. YouTube videos are also particularly bad sources for testing examples of treble, since the audio bit rates are so low.

I am sitting here going back and forth from the CKM50, Senn CX200, and TF10s...
 
The CKM50 and CX200 are $30 IEMs whereas you all know the TF10 has been historically around $200 or more.
 
It's true that the treble on the TF10s is unmatched. It's brilliant.
 
But you just can't compare the bass on the TF10s to the dynamics. The dynamics just trump the TF10 pretty badly in this regard. Combine this with the fact that the TF10s are so uncomfortable and all the sudden the two $30 IEMs become more fun IMO.
 
The cable length on the CKM50 is truly a huge complaint.
 
Pinpointing the sonic differences between the CX200 and CKM50 is a more difficult task. The CKM50 have slightly more extended bass. Treble (vocals) might be marginally better on the CX200. Dunno. Very hard to tell. Both have a very "V" shaped sound with mids lacking. The CX200 does give you a better, longer cable.
 
I wish I still had my PFE 112 still around as they were very neutral with strong mids, and while good, they were not as fun as the dynamics.
 
I don't think I'll be returning the CKM50s. I want to give them some time to settle in a bit. I will probably post another update in a week or two.
 
Has anyone ever considered making a hybrid IEM? With a dynamic driver for bass and a balanced armature driver (or two) for mids and treble?
 
 

Quote:

jaywalk3r said:

I got through about eight seconds of that song with my CKM50, which is as much as I'd been able to bear with any IEM/earbud/headphone/open air speaker. In my experience, the more distortion recorded into a song, the less useful it is as test track. YouTube videos are also particularly bad sources for testing examples of treble, since the audio bit rates are so low.

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haha yeah that track is IMO a really good judge of SQ because it was purposefully recorded with the most resonance possible, bass is nearly completely removed. which makes it is just so difficult to pinpoint what instrument voice or drums are playing at all, i think most BAs can handle that song quite well
 
actually i never even checked the SQ of that video because our campus internet is currently flooded, but the bitrate is far too low from the 8sec glimpse i got from it