DefBringer
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2008
- Posts
- 42
- Likes
- 10
I've had my UE 900 for about a year, they were purchased (blindly) from an Apple store. Since the purchase, I have had a hate-hate relationship: I hate the cord, I hate the cheap build quality, I despise the lack of true, powerful low-end bass extension.
Recently have heard really good things here about RHA's IEM's and decided to take the plunge on some T10i's that recently surfaced at a local store.
After 3 days of listening to a variety of music, I decided the RHA's were a real bargain - the build quality is EXCEPTIONAL. The cabling is a true joy to deal with, no microphonics, and they do not snag to every single thing in the universe like the fishing-lure-like UE 900's. The sound is lovely, nice and warm with true bass presence that reminds me why I like electronic music and hip hop so much.
I boxed up my UE 900's and was prepared to put them on eBay (for how much??) but decided to give them one last listen.
Hmm...hold on.
Immediately it was apparent that the T10i's suffer from a very obvious veil that obfuscates vocals - treble is suppressed, and this was with the T10i's "Treble Tuning Filter" on. The piercing Korg lead synths on some remastered Gary Numan songs were much more searing and powerful in their attack on the UE 900's. The T10i is just generally more muddy, less expansive in breadth of soundstage, a lot "heavier".
It's a good IEM bargain at $200 and for a guy like me who won't buy headphones online (been burned too many times on returns) there are few better options. But for me, they're going back to the store. Meanwhile, the hunt continues for a UE 900 replacement...I'm thinking Sennheiser this time as I have never had a bad headphone from those guys in all my years.
Recently have heard really good things here about RHA's IEM's and decided to take the plunge on some T10i's that recently surfaced at a local store.
After 3 days of listening to a variety of music, I decided the RHA's were a real bargain - the build quality is EXCEPTIONAL. The cabling is a true joy to deal with, no microphonics, and they do not snag to every single thing in the universe like the fishing-lure-like UE 900's. The sound is lovely, nice and warm with true bass presence that reminds me why I like electronic music and hip hop so much.
I boxed up my UE 900's and was prepared to put them on eBay (for how much??) but decided to give them one last listen.
Hmm...hold on.
Immediately it was apparent that the T10i's suffer from a very obvious veil that obfuscates vocals - treble is suppressed, and this was with the T10i's "Treble Tuning Filter" on. The piercing Korg lead synths on some remastered Gary Numan songs were much more searing and powerful in their attack on the UE 900's. The T10i is just generally more muddy, less expansive in breadth of soundstage, a lot "heavier".
It's a good IEM bargain at $200 and for a guy like me who won't buy headphones online (been burned too many times on returns) there are few better options. But for me, they're going back to the store. Meanwhile, the hunt continues for a UE 900 replacement...I'm thinking Sennheiser this time as I have never had a bad headphone from those guys in all my years.
