[spook76]

I waited in line for the iPhone last night/today (first time ever doing that) wanting to get the Plus, but after playing with it in my local Verizon store this morning, I was not able to use it with one hand at all really.  I felt like even with a case on it, that it would be prone to being dropped.  It truly is a HUGE (read: long) phone - especially by iPhone's past standards.  So I wound up getting the 128GB 6 in Space Gray (Black) and my fiancé got the 64GB 6 in Gold.

So real quick impressions regarding the iPhone 6 paired with the SE846.

Listened to tracks via Spotify - Extreme Setting (320 kbs) and Neutron Media Player.

Compared to the iPhone 5, the iPhone 6 is even more sensitive than the iPhone 5, meaning every bit of the sound is articulated that much more.  The iPhone 6 needs to be turned down 2-3 volume clicks down to match the iPhone 5's volume output.

The 6 is very crystal clear in its delivery, at least with my setup (modded blacks, SCS, HL Silver Litz) and acts more like there is a more powerful DAC/amp inside compared to the iPhone 5 by a significant margin (I'm not exaggerating).

The 6's soundstage has broadened, more in an authoritative way.  The bass is even more pronounced now, and has slightly more decay/reverberation, but hits hard.  The imaging is ridiculous.  Listening to it now, the 6 is...amazing, especially for it being only a smartphone.

I do not yet know what Apple did regarding their DAC/amp/whatever internal iOS 8 software tweaking they used, but the music that is delivered is enhanced with incredible imagery, take-no-prisoners approach to delivering the music to your noggin, and never ceasing bringing the smile off of my face.

Of course, your mileage may vary, but it is a pretty big, oh heck -- big step up from the 5.

Moe my friend,

I feel very similarly about the sound quality from my iPod Touch 5th when I downloaded iOS 8. The bass got tighter, the detail increased as well as the soundstage. I would say a material improvement but I thought it might be placebo so I am glad someone else hears a difference.

Also, thanks for your size impressions on the iPhone 6 vs. 6 plus. I think I will stick with my iPhone 5s for now. I too like a phone I can get my hand across to reach all the apps with one hand.

 

[Sound Eq]

You'd rather keep something g that doesn't sound that good and sell something you love? Just so you don't have a financial loss? keeping the audeze, if you don't like it, makes it fairly useless, which in turn makes it worthless enjoyment wise. Not trying to tell you what to do, I apologize if I am coming off that way. I'd rather sell something and lose money than keep it and watch it collect dust. Just my 2 cents.

yeah ur right the audeze i bought was very expensive and it has its use with certain genres and to lose so much money is a no no no
 
while the shure 846 i am getting tempting offers and the loss is acceptable , what a dam and situation , i had very high hopes for audeze but got slammed in the face as its not the sound sig i like a lot
 
the shure is really amazing and makes me wonder how this tiny thing can sound so great

 

[SomeGuyDude]

  yeah ur right the audeze i bought was very expensive and it has its use with certain genres and to lose so much money is a no no no
 
while the shure 846 i am getting tempting offers and the loss is acceptable , what a dam and situation , i had very high hopes for audeze but got slammed in the face as its not the sound sig i like a lot
 
the shure is really amazing and makes me wonder how this tiny thing can sound so great

 
This is called the "sunken cost fallacy". You might want to reconsider. 

 

[moedawg140]

Moe my friend,

I feel very similar about the sound quality from my iPod Touch 5th when I downloaded iOS 8. The bass got tighter, the detail increased as well as the soundstage. I would say a material improvement, I thought it might be placebo so I am glad someone else hears a difference.

Also, thanks for your size impressions on the iPhone 6 vs. 6 plus. I think I will stick with my iPhone 5s for now. I too like a phone I can get my hand across to reach all the apps with one hand.

 
Hey Spook, nice to hear/read from you!
 
Okay, I'm glad it is not me either regarding the iOS update.  I'm not sure if the iPod Touch 5th gen and iPhone 6/6 Plus are using the same DAC, but in my opinion it doesn't matter all too much.  It looks/sounds like yours was a marked improvement, and mine was as well for sure!  Did you tell a difference regarding volume, like having to increase or lower it after the iOS 8 update to reach previous results?
 
Regarding placebo....no...this update/iPhone 5 to 6 upgrade is nowhere near placebo.  Just as much of a difference of going from sizes-fit-all tips to the SCS, or in some cases and for some people, could have an even greater effect.
 
As for the size between the 6 and the 6 plus:  if you have very large hands (mine are average sized) and have a pretty strong grip, you'll still have issues regarding using it with one hand.  If you do not have or use a case, you will drop it.  Simple as that.  While I was in line, a guy showed me a picture and story of a person who just purchased his iPhone 6 (Plus I believe) and it fell face-first on the ground.  The screen didn't crack though, so I guess that was a consolation prize in itself.
 
If you don't desire the larger screen, better camera, slightly faster speed and graphics, slightly better battery (6) or a lot better battery (6 Plus), and thinner body, you more than likely won't miss much.  With that said, I have not demoed the 5S enough to come to a conclusion regarding its sound signature, but if you can demo a 5 and a 5S and can't discern a difference between the two, then upgrading to the 6 will certainly, in my honest opinion, elevate the quality of sound to your auditory cortex.

 

[Loquah]

  i realized besides the audeze i need a full closed audiophile headphone and i leaning towards th900 which r expensive i am sure i ll miss the 846
 
the digizoid will arrive sunday, but the weak link in my set that suits my sound sig is the audeze, if only someone can buy it from me thats great so i can keep the 846, but i put an add on audeze and it seems my price is too high and if i sell less than the price i put then it will be a big financial loss

 
In my experience there is no closed headphone that can match the SE846. Why not use them in place of a closed headphone? I believe you'll be disappointed in the TH-900 if you're coming from the 8s

 

[SomeGuyDude]

   
In my experience there is no closed headphone that can match the SE846. Why not use them in place of a closed headphone? I believe you'll be disappointed in the TH-900 if you're coming from the 8s

 
I'm not sure I'm on board with this. The inherent sound difference between an IEM and a full-size would be an improvement for a lot of people. It's like listening to a set of room speakers that might not have the fidelity of your headphones, having that big sound can in and of itself constitute an improvement. 

 

[Dopaminer]

   
In my experience there is no closed headphone that can match the SE846. Why not use them in place of a closed headphone? I believe you'll be disappointed in the TH-900 if you're coming from the 8s

 

   
I'm not sure I'm on board with this. The inherent sound difference between an IEM and a full-size would be an improvement for a lot of people. It's like listening to a set of room speakers that might not have the fidelity of your headphones, having that big sound can in and of itself constitute an improvement. 

 
I agree with SomeGuyDude : and there is no better compare/contrast with the 846 than with Shure`s own 1540 closed cans.  They are both fantastic, but the listening experiences for me are apples and oranges, not really comparable, and I couldn`t live without either ! 

 

[koiloco]

   
 
I agree with SomeGuyDude : and there is no better compare/contrast with the 846 than with Shure`s own 1540 closed cans.  They are both fantastic, but the listening experiences for me are apples and oranges, not really comparable, and I couldn`t live without either ! 

+1

 

[joey99]

can't wait till I get my hands on the iphone6! I'm waiting till 60 days before going overseas so I can get tax back. I'm still on the iphone 4 and can't even upgrade to ios8.
 
regarding full size headphones .. it's different strokes for different folks. I was into full-size for a long time but I can't have them on for long periods (1-2hrs max) of time like I can with iems (all day). going through DT880, M50, SRH940, DJ100, PSB M4u1... for me they didn't even compare to the $15 sony MH1 which got me started into iems. They were so enjoyable for quite a long time and found how iems can be so good ... that's when all full size were sold. then went through UE900, IM70, H3. The Ie800 and 846 are simply the best I have found and compliment each other so well but still nothing beats the IM70 for going outside. so now I have a iem for everything. 
 
Now I miss having a full-size headphone .. just ordered a Audio technica ATH-A900X as it was 15% off ebay and can be had for $160 .. couldn't resist to try them out. From what's been described on the forum, it has a big sound stage which I love on the IE800 with combination of forwards mids which I love on the 846. hoping I won't be disappointed. 
 
can someone describe what the modded black filter mod is ? I can't seem to find it anywhere. is it just removing the wolly stuff from the top?

 

[Loquah]

   
I'm not sure I'm on board with this. The inherent sound difference between an IEM and a full-size would be an improvement for a lot of people. It's like listening to a set of room speakers that might not have the fidelity of your headphones, having that big sound can in and of itself constitute an improvement. 

 
I agree and I use full size headphones for that very reason (see sig), but the OP is saying that they prefer the sound of the SE846 to the LCD 2s and I don't know that the TH-900s will fare any better. I also made the assumption (which might be wrong) that the need for closed earphones is about isolation and therefore IEMs may actually offer additional benefits

 

[SomeGuyDude]

   
I agree and I use full size headphones for that very reason (see sig), but the OP is saying that they prefer the sound of the SE846 to the LCD 2s and I don't know that the TH-900s will fare any better. I also made the assumption (which might be wrong) that the need for closed earphones is about isolation and therefore IEMs may actually offer additional benefits

 
I'm actually kinda interested in all this because someone is offering me some LCD2s in a trade+cash for my Final Audio Pandoras. XD

 

[Black Label]

Well, isn't this interesting...

When listening to "When Death Comes Knocking" by Primal Fear, the introductory drums pan from right to left, not the other way around as they had done before... This after my unit was returned a couple of weeks ago (I was suspiciou of this as well). Obviously the earpieces have been switched. I am unsure as to what is the correct configuration.

My brother made mention of which channel Tool mixed in their cymbals, but cannot remember what he'd said of it.

On the topic of iOS8, it is difficult to comment on any discernable change in overall sound, given that I have switched back to the white filters,

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Well, isn't this interesting...

When listening to "When Death Comes Knocking" by Primal Fear, the introductory drums pan from right to left, not the other way around as they had done before... This after my unit was returned a couple of weeks ago (I was suspiciou of this as well). Obviously the earpieces have been switched. I am unsure as to what is the correct configuration.

My brother made mention of which channel Tool mixed in their cymbals, but cannot remember what he'd said of it.

On the topic of iOS8, it is difficult to comment on any discernable change in overall sound, given that I have switched back to the white filters,

 
Um... switch the cable around? Make sure it's red to red?

 

[Black Label]

Too fine a detail for my poor eyesight to make out.

However, I am at Jaben's now, and the connection appears correct. Obviously I have received a new cable and the previous configuration was incorrect all along.

Anyhoo, the blue filters are in for a test drive. The close-range crack of thunder in 10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2) sounded distorted to my ears, but everything else has a different richness about it. This applies also to the other acid test tracks I usually line up for this sort of road test.

 

[OICWUTUDIDTHAR]

could anyone recommend an amp that is sensitive enough for the se846? I want to listen to my se846s off my main rig, but my main amp is too powerful for these sensitive iems.