Torn between picking Soundmagic E10 or Xiaomi Piston II

I am about to return my Sennheiser CX 300 II due to the the lack of mids and highs, or should I say it just didn't feel alive. I could get a good seal but I had to adjust the headphones perfectly to get that good sound. It just didn't have that alive feel to the music for me. 
 
Another problem I have is that I have hearing loss, born that way. I will be using these on a Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 with the volume full blast. I would like for them to be loud and louder for me is better. This is a big factor for me.
 
Now I am looking at the Soundmagic E10:
http://www.amazon.com/SoundMAGIC-Isolating-In-Ear-Earphones-BlackGunmetal/dp/B005HP3OB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394459022&sr=8-1&keywords=Soundmagic+E10
 
and the Xiaomi Piston II:
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Xiaomi-Earphone-Headphone-Smartphone/dp/B00HUNUOJW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394458713&sr=8-1&keywords=xiaomi+piston+2
 
 
I've read a lot about both and it seems as maybe the Xiaomi might be the better buy? The Soundmagic I can have at my door in 2 days and the Xiaomi from what I've been hearing can take about 3 weeks? Is it worth the wait?
 
I like the following type of music:
 
The Black Keys
The Wood Brothers
Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath
Acoustic music
80's hair bands
70's rock
Ballads
Country
Bluegrass
 
I pretty much listen to all kinds of music but the above is what I listen to almost daily. Sometimes I will listen to Jazz and classical. 
 
I am really torn between the reviews and would love to hear some advice and information from you! Even throw in something different if you think it might be better.
 
I am pretty stuck on the 2 I listed. 
 
Thank you in advance. 

I would also really appreciate if someone could post a review comparing them.

jcarlm said:

  I am about to return my Sennheiser CX 300 II due to the the lack of mids and highs, or should I say it just didn't feel alive. I could get a good seal but I had to adjust the headphones perfectly to get that good sound. It just didn't have that alive feel to the music for me. 
 
Another problem I have is that I have hearing loss, born that way. I will be using these on a Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 with the volume full blast. I would like for them to be loud and louder for me is better. This is a big factor for me.
 
Now I am looking at the Soundmagic E10:
http://www.amazon.com/SoundMAGIC-Isolating-In-Ear-Earphones-BlackGunmetal/dp/B005HP3OB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394459022&sr=8-1&keywords=Soundmagic+E10
 
and the Xiaomi Piston II:
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Xiaomi-Earphone-Headphone-Smartphone/dp/B00HUNUOJW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394458713&sr=8-1&keywords=xiaomi+piston+2
 
 
I've read a lot about both and it seems as maybe the Xiaomi might be the better buy? The Soundmagic I can have at my door in 2 days and the Xiaomi from what I've been hearing can take about 3 weeks? Is it worth the wait?
 
I like the following type of music:
 
The Black Keys
The Wood Brothers
Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath
Acoustic music
80's hair bands
70's rock
Ballads
Country
Bluegrass
 
I pretty much listen to all kinds of music but the above is what I listen to almost daily. Sometimes I will listen to Jazz and classical. 
 
I am really torn between the reviews and would love to hear some advice and information from you! Even throw in something different if you think it might be better.
 
I am pretty stuck on the 2 I listed. 
 
Thank you in advance. 

Click to expand...

I would go for Pistons 2.0 which is better in all areas for rock music. I have sold my E10 several months ago. From memory, Pistons are much capable of bringing details and speed vs E10. Hope this helps.

jcarlm said:

  I am about to return my Sennheiser CX 300 II due to the the lack of mids and highs, or should I say it just didn't feel alive. I could get a good seal but I had to adjust the headphones perfectly to get that good sound. It just didn't have that alive feel to the music for me. 
 
Another problem I have is that I have hearing loss, born that way. I will be using these on a Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 with the volume full blast. I would like for them to be loud and louder for me is better. This is a big factor for me.
 
Now I am looking at the Soundmagic E10:
http://www.amazon.com/SoundMAGIC-Isolating-In-Ear-Earphones-BlackGunmetal/dp/B005HP3OB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394459022&sr=8-1&keywords=Soundmagic+E10
 
and the Xiaomi Piston II:
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Xiaomi-Earphone-Headphone-Smartphone/dp/B00HUNUOJW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394458713&sr=8-1&keywords=xiaomi+piston+2
 
 
I've read a lot about both and it seems as maybe the Xiaomi might be the better buy? The Soundmagic I can have at my door in 2 days and the Xiaomi from what I've been hearing can take about 3 weeks? Is it worth the wait?
 
I like the following type of music:
 
The Black Keys
The Wood Brothers
Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath
Acoustic music
80's hair bands
70's rock
Ballads
Country
Bluegrass
 
I pretty much listen to all kinds of music but the above is what I listen to almost daily. Sometimes I will listen to Jazz and classical.
 
I am really torn between the reviews and would love to hear some advice and information from you! Even throw in something different if you think it might be better.
 
I am pretty stuck on the 2 I listed.
 
Thank you in advance.

Click to expand...

The E10 are has a U shape signature, while the Pistons have a V shape signature.
 
About the E10 signature:
 
-U shape signature
 
1. Treble is good with a little sparkle, if called for. The key for good treble here is the titanium diaphragms.
 
2. Mids are a little more forward, than laid-back. But, can get dull or overwhelming depending on the choice of  music.
 
3. Bass is the main dominant factor here. While it hits hard, even sub-levels, it has a tendancy to creep up and become very noticeable on the high-bass sector and lower mids creating that ever so dull sounding mixture.
 
4. Soundstage is very good most of the time. Depends on what I mentioned on part 3.
 
Rating: I personally rate them a 7.5, overall.
 
About the Pistons signature (2.0, 2.1, and IF version):
 
-V shape signature
 
1. Treble is very good with sparkle, but a little splashy. I tend to believe the treble behaves very well with the midium tips provided inside the piston box under "M". Beryllium diaphragms is the dominent factor here for clear treble.
 
2. Mids are not forward, nor laid-back. Most of the time the mids are clear, unless the music calls for more bass than the mids tends to take a step back. Note: Not so much in the sense of becoming dull, like the E10's.
 
3. Just like the E10, bass tends to be the dominating factor, as well. But, in all true sense it is more tolerable to listen to in the sub-bass region and smoother, overall.
 
4. Soundstage is where the Piston out-shines the E10's. Not by a long shot, but enough to enjoy a better, and more fun sound signature.
 
Rating: I personally rate these 9.5.
 
Conclusion: Both are good buys in their rights. But the better bargain, I would say, has to go to the "Xiaomi Pistons" -for price vs. quality, value, and sound!
 
.....I hope this review helps. Bye now!  

1clearhead said:

  The E10 are has a U shape signature, while the Pistons have a V shape signature.
 
About the E10 signature:
 
-U shape signature
 
1. Treble is good with a little sparkle, if called for. The key for good treble here is the titanium diaphragms.
 
2. Mids are a little more forward, than laid-back. But, can get dull or overwhelming depending on the choice of  music.
 
3. Bass is the main dominant factor here. While it hits hard, even sub-levels, it has a tendancy to creep up and become very noticeable on the high-bass sector and lower mids creating that ever so dull sounding mixture.
 
4. Soundstage is very good most of the time. Depends on what I mentioned on part 3.
 
Rating: I personally rate them a 7.5, overall.
 
About the Pistons signature (2.0, 2.1, and IF version):
 
-V shape signature
 
1. Treble is very good with sparkle, but a little splashy. I tend to believe the treble behaves very well with the midium tips provided inside the piston box under "M". Beryllium diaphragms is the dominent factor here for clear treble.
 
2. Mids are not forward, nor laid-back. Most of the time the mids are clear, unless the music calls for more bass than the mids tends to take a step back. Note: Not so much in the sense of becoming dull, like the E10's.
 
3. Just like the E10, bass tends to be the dominating factor, as well. But, in all true sense it is more tolerable to listen to in the sub-bass region and smoother, overall.
 
4. Soundstage is where the Piston out-shines the E10's. Not by a long shot, but enough to enjoy a better, and more fun sound signature.
 
Rating: I personally rate these 9.5.
 
Conclusion: Both are good buys in their rights. But the better bargain, I would say, has to go to the "Xiaomi Pistons" -for price vs. quality, value, and sound!
 
.....I hope this review helps. Bye now!  

Click to expand...

Couldn't agree anymore!

I have both and their are my IEMS for the go most times, except when doing exercise cause they are too heavy, for that i just use the samsung s3 i9300 inears that are actually decent for the price: free..if you change the s3 inears tips to something more decent like i did by putting a sony tips on them, and they are decent for being free.
But thats enought of offtopic.

I have both and use them with different types of sound. When using electronic like minimal techno i'll chose the e10 but when wanting something with a sound spectrull more fullfiled i'll chose the piston v2.1.
With the piston i can't get a good isolation from the tips that come with it, i had to put a soundmagic tips on them for getting a good bass, but i still need a better tips for the piston cause i still don't get full isolation.

Had the E10 for a long time prefer the Pistons by a wide margin. They are more similar than they are different, pistons sound like a more refined version with cleaner bass and more detailed. You can get the pistons from amazon zhengans shop or something and they arrived in like 5 days I think (here in US)

E10 sounds more clear, while Pistons have more bass and airness to them. They both sound very alive, but I think E10 beat in the terms of overall quality. Piston has this bit of a hiss that makes them sound cheap, but they are refined in a sense, and more bang-for-buck.