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$200 to Spend on an IEM, Need Help/Suggestions Please!

post #1 of 15
1/27/12 at 10:41pm
Thread Starter 

 

Hey everyone,
 
I have been using a pair of Sennheiser CX500s and they have been fairly good compared to many other cheaper headphones I have used. Unfortunately, the left earbud died. Now I am in need of another pair of IEMs. My budget is $200 or under but I would prefer to spend as little as possible. I am lost because there are so many IEMs out on the market coupled with untrustworthy and contradictory reviews. For example, one audiophile may indicate that a certain earphone is amazing but the same earphone receives much ridicule by others, mainly the average consumer. This is disconcerting. You would think that the average consumer would be less critical and thus more willing to give it a higher review than an actual audiophile. So, I look to you guys for assistance and hope that I can get some educated answers. 
 
My main priority is a smooth and warm low-end--I want a full-bodied sound with a good amount of quality bass. I do not want it to be overpowering, though, where it impedes on the sub-bass and treble. I mostly listen to hip-hop, rock, and pop music and might use the IEMs while working out. Thus, I would prefer an IEM that has a good build quality and a good warranty. I made a list of earphones that seem appealing ranging from around $30 to $230. I do not need something incredibly accurate, just something that sounds fun and great.
 
Xears Bullet XB120PRO 
MEElec SP51
Fischer Audio Consonance
Beyerdynamic DTX 101 iE
Xears TD-III v2
Brainwavz M2
Brainwavz M3
VSonic R02Pro II 
Monster Turbine
Monster Turbine Pro Gold
Monster Turbine Pro Copper
 
The only reason why I am considering the Turbine Pro Gold and Copper is because they are priced at a discounted $180 and $230 respectively. Feel free to suggest something that is not on the list.
 
Thanks everyone!

 


Edited by bartlett - 1/27/12 at 10:45pm
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post #2 of 15
1/28/12 at 1:06am

You might be looking for an aggressive and intimate presentation. JVC FXT90 may fit your bill, can only say that from the reviews here (will be getting them by monday). Xears TD-III v2 is another option with good quantity and quality (much liked by my friends) but fit is not that great, wouldn't recommend them for heavy gym use.

 

I think it's better to get a dedicated IEM made for gym usage like MEElec Sport Fi S6.

 

Never listened to other IEMs in the list but MTPC is said to be more refined albeit with lesser bass compared to MTPG. No idea about fit.

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post #3 of 15
1/28/12 at 2:44am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the response. I may just get $10 IEMs for the gym then. Why is the MTPG w/ Control Talk so cheap compared to the one without?

 

http://www.jr.com/monster-cable/pe/MC_129430/#productTabDetails w/ Control Talk

http://www.jr.com/monster-cable/pe/MC_129393/

 

Also, on Amazon the reviews of the MTPG with Control Talk are pretty bad. With the regular MTPG the reviews are great. Anything I should be worried about?

 

And it seems like the JVC FXT90 is only available in Japan?

 

Thanks for the response, hopefully I get more from others..

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post #4 of 15
1/28/12 at 6:10am

Yamaha EPH-100

 

I use mine in the gym all the time and they're great.

 

They have an all alloy body so nice and tough, good isolation to block out anyone grunting and they sound fantastic.

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post #5 of 15
1/28/12 at 7:28am

Just had to say, mine CX500 left side has also died reacently, and i ordered fxt90 from Ebay (haven't heared them yet).

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post #6 of 15
1/28/12 at 7:30am

i think you should go with MTPG n u can get it a lot cheaper at moon audio,just for around 150 bucks.these r the pairs you want if u r looking for deep n tight bass.

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post #7 of 15
1/28/12 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by siddharth View Post

i think you should go with MTPG n u can get it a lot cheaper at moon audio,just for around 150 bucks.these r the pairs you want if u r looking for deep n tight bass.


I couldn't find them on moon audio?

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Huxley View Post

Yamaha EPH-100

 

I use mine in the gym all the time and they're great.

 

They have an all alloy body so nice and tough, good isolation to block out anyone grunting and they sound fantastic.



Those look pretty good. I'll do some more research on them, thanks. 



Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMG View Post

Just had to say, mine CX500 left side has also died reacently, and i ordered fxt90 from Ebay (haven't heared them yet).


Ah you too huh. I look forward to hearing more about this IEM, seems like a popular one for being new. 

 

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post #8 of 15
1/28/12 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 

Bump. Still looking for an IEM that has warm and sweet sound. 

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post #9 of 15
1/28/12 at 10:06pm

+1 on MTPG's

 

def a warm and sweet sound

 

picked mine up for 175 a while back

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by bartlett View Post

Bump. Still looking for an IEM that has warm and sweet sound. 



 

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post #10 of 15
1/29/12 at 12:26am

Don't use anything very expensive when working out, as gear used when working out tends to get trashed soon enough. How about something like the Meelectronics M21($25), or Soundmagic E10($40) . I suggest that you use a good cheap player like the Sandisk Clip+($35) while working out. So many have been very unhappy after trashing an expensive player while working out.

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post #11 of 15
1/29/12 at 6:32pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will be sure to get separate headphones for working out. 

 

Can anyone else chime in? I'm surprised this thread hasn't been that much of a discussion. 

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post #12 of 15
1/30/12 at 1:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bartlett View Post
And it seems like the JVC FXT90 is only available in Japan?

 

Thanks for the response, hopefully I get more from others..


Just got mine along with Ortofon EQ-5 from Dimitri Trush  (Musicacoustics Japan).

http://www.musicaacoustics.com/Store.html

 

 

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post #13 of 15
1/31/12 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 

This thread is pretty much dead. Plenty of views but nobody willing to help. I'll take my questions elsewhere. 

 

Thanks everyone

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post #14 of 15
2/1/12 at 6:35am

Taken a look at this yet? 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-218-iems-compared-fischer-audio-paradigm-v-3-fa-977-jazz-added-1-29-12

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post #15 of 15
2/1/12 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bartlett View Post

This thread is pretty much dead. Plenty of views but nobody willing to help. I'll take my questions elsewhere. 

 

Thanks everyone



There's plenty of information here if you are willing to search for it.

No one's going to spoon-feed you with answers that you want.

For people who've been here for a while, it gets tiring to answer the same questions over and over and over and over again so some questions don't get answered because of this.

I am aware that I am not being helpful to you regarding your question because I don't know much about IEMs and I am researching them myself.

I see that randomosity found an awesome thread that will answer just about all IEM-related questions, if you are willing spend time and read it.


Edited by Dougeefresh - 2/1/12 at 7:34am
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