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Looking for neutral iems ~$150

post #1 of 16
2/16/13 at 11:24am
Thread Starter 
Hello everyone, this is my first post in the iem forum. I am more of a full sized headphone guy, but am now looking for an iem for travel/isolation. I am looking for a neutrual iem, along the lines of the brainwavs hm5/fa-003/lindy headphones: flat, balanced, just the right amount of bass (not over powering, but not anemic), but I want more detail. I cannot really find any full sized hp that sounds better than the brainwavs hm5 that has the same sound sig that is closed/isolating. So I thought maybe iems could be the way to go.

I've had the triple fi 10's before, but they were uncomfortable and didn't seal well, and I want more mid range. I sold them and got a sennheiser hd 598. Fantastic stuff, but certainly not portable. I tried the westone um1's and I really liked the sig, comfort and isolation they provided, but again, I want more detail. my budget is ~150$. I've been looking at the etymotic hf 5's, but is there another iem that might work better for what I am looking for in my budget? Thanks.
Edited by TTNK - 2/17/13 at 1:11pm
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post #2 of 16
2/16/13 at 11:30am

You might want to check the new HiFiMan RE-400, which seems to fit all of your requirements. Check out the dedicated thread for some more info: http://www.head-fi.org/t/632802/upcoming-hifiman-iems-re-400-and-re-600 There are already some reviews of it posted here on Head-Fi, use the search function to find them.

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post #3 of 16
2/16/13 at 11:35am

The RE272 are amazing sounding IEMs for the price and they sound very detailed in midrange without being forward highly recomended. Other IEMs like REO+ AMPs(like E11), HF5, ER4P and EX7550 are also recommended.

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post #4 of 16
2/16/13 at 11:55am

Etymotic research HF5 are remotely flat, you can find frequency graphs for most headphones by just looking it up on google images.

 

HF5s have a reduced bass though.

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post #5 of 16
2/16/13 at 2:06pm

HiFiMan RE-400, Etymotic HF5, Phonak Audeo PFE1xx.  All three of these should suit your needs.

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post #6 of 16
2/16/13 at 8:28pm

TDK BA200 or Rock-It R-50. I haven't heard the TDK's but have read that they are stellar. The R-50s are quite neutral with exquisite micro-detail.

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post #7 of 16
2/17/13 at 12:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinyman392 View Post

HiFiMan RE-400, Etymotic HF5, Phonak Audeo PFE1xx.  All three of these should suit your needs.

x2

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post #8 of 16
2/17/13 at 12:22am

If you are willing to spend a little more you can get a pair of Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10. They have a nice neutral sound and great isolation.  

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post #9 of 16
2/17/13 at 12:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arise View Post

If you are willing to spend a little more you can get a pair of Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10. They have a nice neutral sound and great isolation.  

 

TF10's sound is definitely not neutral, it's balanced with a V-shaped FR

 

A161P is one of the best neutral IEM around $100

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post #10 of 16
2/17/13 at 12:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arise View Post

If you are willing to spend a little more you can get a pair of Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10. They have a nice neutral sound and great isolation.  

Didn't the OP mentioned that he already had TF10 before and was not happy with it?

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post #11 of 16
2/17/13 at 2:13am

Hmm, Westone UM1? I've had mine for close to 5 years and they never disappoint! I wouldn't go so far to call them neutral, but they do have nice mids and non-overwhelming bass or highs. Isolation and confort is good too. 

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post #12 of 16
2/17/13 at 5:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HFAUDIOPHILE View Post

The RE272 are amazing sounding IEMs for the price and they sound very detailed in midrange without being forward highly recomended. Other IEMs like REO+ AMPs(like E11), HF5, ER4P and EX7550 are also recommended.

The Etys are the poster boys for poor IEM bass: they don't just have a neutral signature, however much you EQ up bass it's never really what it should be - they don't have the attack/clarity/whatever needed for eg rock percussion and bass guitar. There's more to an all-rounder IEM than just a flattish frequency response...

 

The only IEMs I've heard that do bass well are microdriver units. If good - not huge but GOOD - bass matters, I'd look at the latest Sony and ATH CNK50/70 microdriver IEMs or consider getting portable on-ear phones like HD25s. And I'd avoid the HF5's at all costs - I still have mine and they are great in every way except for bass.


Edited by scuttle - 2/17/13 at 5:57am
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post #13 of 16
2/17/13 at 8:04am

vsonic GR07 is pretty neutral, but u need good source for that

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post #14 of 16
2/17/13 at 3:55pm
Thread Starter 
Hey, thanks guys for all of your input. This has really given me an awesome starting point. I have been researching and am going back and forth between the re 400 and the meelectronics a161p .I understand that the a161p is a little warmer and the re 400 is more analytical. Correct? I don't know which one I want, or would be better for me...I'll be listening to classical and jazz and soundtracks and the like mostly, but I'll also be listening to most other generas (rock, alternative, ect.). One way or another, I'll probably just pick one and see how it goes. If I like it, awesome. If not, I'll send it back and try something else.

And yes for the record I've owned the triple fi 10's and while they were good, they didn't fit/isolate well, and I missed having midrange. I've edited my first post to make that more clear.
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post #15 of 16
2/17/13 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
Also, I an a bit concerned about not having enough bass. Yes I want netrual, but if I were to err to more or less netrual I would want to err on somewhat more. If that helps narrow things down a bit.
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