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Suggestions needed for choosing a good pair of IEM budget around $120

post #1 of 7
2/8/12 at 5:24am
Thread Starter 

I've done some research and find that Westone 1, Shure se 215, Etymotic HF5 and Soundmagic pl50 are quite nice, comfortable with nice sound quality, only thing that worries me about the Westone 1 and Etymotic HF5 is their bass. Hows their bass?

 

I don't want bloated bass nor bass thats too weak, and I prefer if the bass can be "felt", without having to sacrifice the mids and highs.

 

Preferably with warm mids and crisp highs

 

Budget around $120.

 

Other suggestions are welcome.=]


Edited by dustdevil - 2/8/12 at 6:59am
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post #2 of 7
2/8/12 at 8:55am

I highly recommend some Brainwavz M2 with Comply T-400 Foam tips.  They are currently my budget IEM of choice and I think you will be quite surprised at how well they sound.

 

Average Price:  $75

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post #3 of 7
2/8/12 at 9:22am

I have both the HF5 and SE215. I also had the Westone UM1 not the Westone 1 but I have auditioned both of the Westone products. First the HF5s are very detailed. They are Treble and Mid happy and recessed bass. I find the bass to be plentiful but compared to the SE215 and UM1s bass, they are barely audible. With that said, the SE215s bass is very strong. Extends very low and hits very hard. I don't feel that the bass is overpowering in any way, but I can't emphasize this enough... They are pretty good bass IEMs. To me, the UM1s are the best all rounders because they have a more Neutral sound signature throughout the frequencies and next has to be the Ety in terms of Neutrality. I found not a lot of people like the Etys because they stick out the ear quite a bit and there isn't enough bass impact. All three are very good IEMs, and all three are very unique indeed. My favourite out of the three has to be the Ety HF5 IMO

 

EDIT: I just read your post about "Warm Mids". The HF5s has an overall cold signature.


Edited by planx - 2/8/12 at 9:23am
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post #4 of 7
2/9/12 at 10:59pm
Thread Starter 

But i thought the bass on the um1 is recessed also, is that true? and how does it compare with the westone 1?

Also can the recessed bass on the hf5 be fix with eq or foam tips?

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post #5 of 7
2/10/12 at 7:22am

I find the bass quantity to be enough for my likings. Actually, the Westone 1 and the UM1 are both very similar in terms of sonic signature. I prefer the UM1 for the overall balance and the clear shell. And EQ might bring forwards the recessed bass, but that's changing the original signature of the HF5.. There is a tiny improvement in bass and a big improvement in comfort with the shure olives. Just opinions like usual

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post #6 of 7
2/10/12 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 

So after eq it affects the hf5's mids and highs also? ? and are the bass good enough for hip hop after eq? and how is the westone 1 unbalance? thanks


Edited by dustdevil - 2/10/12 at 7:01pm
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post #7 of 7
2/11/12 at 10:00am

it could... but i don't like to EQ my HF5s and listening to hip hop on them. What i meant to say was the UM1 sounds a bit more balanced than the Westone 1 IMO. The UM1 is a bit more neutral with a nice Mid emphasis

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