The ATH-CKM500..The best CKM earphone yet. - Page 86

Yes.

Ok, i'm officially in love with the CKM500. They're so much more comfortable with the Sony Hybrids! And it they sound a little better, even. The soundstage kinda opened up finally and it's the best in-ear I've had. I wish I still had the EX500 so I could make a fair comparison (I LOVED those and the CKM500 does not beat them in live albums/songs). These are really an amazing pair of IEMs for the price.

I think everybody who think the mids of the ckm500 is a little sucked out could try meelec bi wide bore or any wide bore tips. Bring up the mids and reduce midbass level slightly, though I wouldn't quite say night and day, but enough not to annoy me anymore on some songs. I really wonder how these could sound with good custom tips. 

I am bit let down by these things but because of my high expectations. They don't compete with the gr07 except probably on the lower treble area, which is gr07's weakness. They are great for sub $100 and has good and beautiful build quality and may compete with some of the more average sub-$200. However, every time I listen to this I keep thinking that they are wasting the great driver potential down the drain, too much midbass (though it hits hard and not too wooly) and some parts of mids missing. Maybe ATH saves its best tuning for ckm700, ckm1000? The gr07 is an antithesis of that, not too amazing driver potential, but tuned better overall because of the more balanced mids.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelopsaro 

Guys i dont like the gr07 highs because they are pronounced but with not particular crispy micro detailed. So even though they are hot they dont have any nice crispiness benefit.. Is the ckm500 better on this factor? and the bass remains in the same levels?

I agree with you with the highs on the GR07, crisp but not necessarily detailed. To my ears the ckm500 has less glare in that region, and is more detailed there because there are less peaks to obscure other things. Still can't compete with a good BA though in treble accuracy IMO. Midbass level is quite a bit higher. I think extension are not that far apart, though gr07 emphasize sub-bass more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glac1er 

I think everybody who think the mids of the ckm500 is a little sucked out could try meelec bi wide bore or any wide bore tips. Bring up the mids and reduce midbass level slightly, though I wouldn't quite say night and day, but enough not to annoy me anymore on some songs. I really wonder how these could sound with good custom tips. 

 

I am bit let down by these things but because of my high expectations. They don't compete with the gr07 except probably on the lower treble area, which is gr07's weakness. They are great for sub $100 and has good and beautiful build quality and may compete with some of the more average sub-$200. However, every time I listen to this I keep thinking that they are wasting the great driver potential down the drain, too much midbass (though it hits hard and not too wooly) and some parts of mids missing. Maybe ATH saves its best tuning for ckm700, ckm1000? The gr07 is an antithesis of that, not too amazing driver potential, but tuned better overall because of the more balanced mids.

 

Bro, try listen well and compare the standard eartips and the bigger bore tips... to me.. something felt missing with the bigger bore...

the only good way to reduce the midbass is by equalization...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonb 


I was looking for earphone specific cases online and the only thing i was really coming up with is those little 3" round clamshell cases. I didnt want one of those because i really didnt want to have to wind the cord on the CKM500's that tightly because they are stiff and kind of have a bit of memory.
So then i came up with the idea of maybe a camera or a gps case. So i ended up at Best Buy and found this.

Nice. I currently carry them around in the crushproof case that was provided with my TF10, but it's a bit small so I can't really carry extra tips. I don't worry about them wearing out or anything, though.

These, to me, compare favorably with the color of, say, Monster Miles Davis Tributes at a fraction of its cost. ATH-CKM500 satisfies my full and rich sounding requirements. Exceptionally fun sounding.

I use these daily at work still because it sounds so good straight out of the iPhone and the iPhone controls are handy.  I won't ever sell these.  

If you get an opportunity to try an amp with these, take it for a spin. Deliriously happy with these amped. 

my new CKM500 burned in now for about 50 hours, ready to listen!

any suggestions for best music to listen to them with??

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonb 


Im not even going to try it. Then ill end up buying an amp, and then ill always be wanting to buy a better amp, im just going to be strong and enjoy these straight from my iPhone 4.

I said, "If you get an opportunity to try an amp with these, take it for a spin." ......

Okay, fine. Just kidding tho -

If the Jedi Knight can't convince, then the force is with you.