$500 iem vs $500 headphones? - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidion27 

are the Piano Forte X Less than $500 if so please share the link. I am asking because I believe the topic was $500 IEM vs $500 Headphones. In addition I agree the Stax would blow IEM's out of the water. But really we should be comparing IEM and Headphones that are in the same price range.

 

Do not take my remarks out of context. I was replying to the poster that I quoted (such as this), not the OP. If you want to keep every thread on topic without interactive discussion, you have a long night ahead of you my friend. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundFreaq 

 

 

Do not take my remarks out of context. I was replying to the poster that I quoted (such as this), not the OP. If you want to keep every thread on topic without interactive discussion, you have a long night ahead of you my friend. 

that is true. Was more curious about the guy who raised the 009 comments:) But agree should have quoted him and not you.

It was an interesting comment indeed. Glad we're on the same page 

From what I've listen to my iems compared to my full size headphones out of the same souce (ak100 viard modded) and I would say that there are some compromises with iems even at high prices. I would say I'm certain that there is a loss in soundstage and at times sub bass frequency (very noticable with the congo drums at the begining of hotel california for the iems I've listened to). I've noticed that with different iems if I want to gain something I have to give up something in the sound (bass impact and reach for airiness in many cases). What I percieve is a difference in detail is most likely voicing of the mids and treble. I do not think there is noticable detail loss in my full size but its just that the small details are not so prominant (I can still hear the faint triangle in the song "Home" by Susan Wong and a sound like a slide projector switching in the song "Politik" by Coldplay but you really have to concentrate). As for response and decay, I wholely agree that the iem does better since I fee a tighter control of bass, drum cymbals in most songs(well technically I think it has a smaller diaphram surface to control for dynamics types at least).  Overall I think I prefer iems for portable use, but full sized for home use. I think there is some compromise in sound in the different iems which I have listened to in the 500 USD range and sligthly above that makes them sound great for certain music genres but weak at other genres (reason to own several and keep separate playlist for different iems).  At 500 USD there are quite some really good overall headphones.