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$200-$300 IEMs?

post #1 of 26
6/30/12 at 10:25am
Thread Starter 

Hi, I just got my paycheck (yay!) and am on the market for some new IEMs, since my SA6s just aren't cutting it anymore. I listen to a lot of baroque pop (think Belle & Sebastian, Beach Boys, Beatles, etc.) and a fair amount of classical, along with hip-hop on occasion. So I'd prefer something that really brings orchestras to life! I've been looking at the Westone 2/3's and the ER-4S. Do you think these would suit my needs? Or have any other recommendations? I'd also be open to springing for higher priced phones. 

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post #2 of 26
6/30/12 at 12:34pm

I think you would be most pleased with the Etymotic ER-4 series.

 

You may want to consider the P model, and then also get the S converter cable as well.

 

Hope you enjoy your new headphones, no matter what you get.

 

Jim

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post #3 of 26
6/30/12 at 2:26pm
Get the sony ex1000 in the sale trade forum best iem ive hear by far and i own shure 535 um3x and sm3 and ive listened to all of them for long periods of time each one ,with normal tips and with custom acs tips and tried different sources also .the sonys match perfect with those genres but they rock too
Edited by Kurdt-bada - 6/30/12 at 2:34pm
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post #4 of 26
6/30/12 at 3:27pm

The Ety soundstage can't really do justice to orchestras. I also suggest looking into the EX1000. If not, the W4 would also be right up your alley.

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post #5 of 26
6/30/12 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eke2k6 View Post

The Ety soundstage can't really do justice to orchestras.

Really? Whys that?

 

Thanks, Jim

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post #6 of 26
6/30/12 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Obstinate View Post

Hi, I just got my paycheck (yay!) and am on the market for some new IEMs, since my SA6s just aren't cutting it anymore. I listen to a lot of baroque pop (think Belle & Sebastian, Beach Boys, Beatles, etc.) and a fair amount of classical, along with hip-hop on occasion. So I'd prefer something that really brings orchestras to life! I've been looking at the Westone 2/3's and the ER-4S. Do you think these would suit my needs? Or have any other recommendations? I'd also be open to springing for higher priced phones. 

Be careful of the Bass Heads around here...

 

Here is a good read:

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/506087/review-etymotic-er4p-er4s-the-living-legends

 

Hope it helps, Jim

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post #7 of 26
6/30/12 at 5:42pm
Ex1000 for bassheads? I didnt heard the w4 or the er4 but compared to my balanced iems the soundstage of the ex1000 with all the detail clarity the timbre and the quality of the bass and echo is something to be heard
Edited by Kurdt-bada - 6/30/12 at 6:00pm
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post #8 of 26
6/30/12 at 6:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AstroTurf View Post

Really? Whys that?

 

Thanks, Jim

 Because it is a very narrow closed in sound.  Not necessarily claustrophobic but no space...sort of wired directly to your brain.  There are tons of other choices that create a much more expansive, spacial sound similar to headphones. Outside of monitoring or treble detail, Etys are grossly out of date.

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post #9 of 26
6/30/12 at 6:34pm

Even though they're under $200 the R-50 would be more fun to listen to then the ER-4's.  They have all the detail of the Ety's but with a larger soundstage and just a more musical sound, the ER-4 has that cold Ety sound that imo gets old after awhile.  They also sound better than the W2 (which I also have) and as good or maybe a little better than the W3 but the W3 has more bass impact than the R-50.

 

Just my take on the IEM's your looking at and for $119.99 shipped with the sound quality of IEM's costing twice as much or more the R-50 should be one to consider.

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post #10 of 26
6/30/12 at 6:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spyro View Post

 Because it is a very narrow closed in sound.  Not necessarily claustrophobic but no space...sort of wired directly to your brain.  There are tons of other choices that create a much more expansive, spacial sound similar to headphones. Outside of monitoring or treble detail, Etys are grossly out of date.

A professional grade iem (Etymotic ER-4) will never be out of style...

Now the bell bottom jeans that I am wearing, well that's another story!

LOLz, Jim
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post #11 of 26
6/30/12 at 7:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AstroTurf View Post


A professional grade iem (Etymotic ER-4) will never be out of style...
Now the bell bottom jeans that I am wearing, well that's another story!
LOLz, Jim

Depends what he is looking for. IEM technology has come a long way to create large soundstages and if he is looking for a big, expansive realistic type sound, Ety would be near the bottom of my list.  A lot has progressed since 1984.

 

For what it's worth the $400 Grado GR10 is exactly what a major upgraded ER4 would sound like.  At $400 it's pricey but really has no competitors.  It's a gem, even at $400.

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post #12 of 26
6/30/12 at 7:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AstroTurf View Post

A professional grade iem (Etymotic ER-4) will never be out of style...
Now the bell bottom jeans that I am wearing, well that's another story!
LOLz, Jim

It's been a while since I've seen an etymotic fanboy.
I mean that in the best possible sense.
As for the OP, the er4p/s really will not cut it for the genres of music you listen to.
This isn't trance or electronica, you need musicality and life-like timbre to reproduce the essence of classical and baroque pop. The er4 is many things, and it's a great iem. However, there really are so much more selections out there that are able to capture the lush harmony of instruments without sounding overly "dry".
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post #13 of 26
6/30/12 at 10:40pm
Im Going to vote either the Westone 2's on this one; the ER4P/S would give you amazing accuracy, but iMO the music doesn't carry as much weight as other phones bring, and as a result the music isn't as emotional or captivating.

The Etys are great phones though, and if you do go that route I highly suggest getting the Ps and then purchasing a P/S converter off of eBay or something.
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post #14 of 26
7/1/12 at 3:22am

is W4 really inside the 200 - 300?
Personal recommend V-Sonic GR07 or Phonak Audeo PFE112

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post #15 of 26
7/1/12 at 9:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sil3nce View Post


It's been a while since I've seen an etymotic fanboy.
I mean that in the best possible sense.
As for the OP, the er4p/s really will not cut it for the genres of music you listen to.
This isn't trance or electronica, you need musicality and life-like timbre to reproduce the essence of classical and baroque pop. The er4 is many things, and it's a great iem. However, there really are so much more selections out there that are able to capture the lush harmony of instruments without sounding overly "dry".


I'm afraid this sort of thing is usually said by people who actually don't have much experience of what a live classical orchestra or chamber group sounds like. I have an HF5, not an ER4, but the sound that comes out of them when fed a good recording is exceptionally realistic to my ears and in particular is incredibly accurate at reproducing convincing instrumental timbres. What people call "dryness" is actually what real instruments in a real hall sound like. Equipment that adds "lushness" to the sound only detracts from that kind of realism. All IMHO of course; these things are a matter of taste.


Edited by supersleuth - 7/1/12 at 9:30am
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