tyagi
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2003
- Posts
- 15
- Likes
- 10
In some ways this is a bit of an alien thread for Head-Fi, where the general trend is towards "audiophile" (whatever that actually means) profile equipment and sound replication. I've been on and around head-fi for a few years and have enjoyed good headphones and music for many more. However, a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and was treated with a good, strong, dose of chemotherapy. One side-effect of some chemotherapy drugs which may not be too well known is that it can cause "peripheral neuropathy" - in everyday language, this is damage to fine nerve endings around the body which include the fingers, toes and.... hearing. So on the one hand I'm still standing upright and breathing oxygen, but on the other I now have a mild dose of tinnitus and some harmonic distortion at high-mid frequencies.
My previously satisfying IEMs, Etymotic ER4P, now appear to have a sound signature which doesn't match my new-found far-from-golden ears. I'm actually finding my cheap-o UE Metro.fi plugs to be more pleasing to listen to as they have fuller, rounded, bass, and seem to have a dip in the frequency range that causes me problems.
I understand that I probably have a couple of options. Firstly, I could stick with my ER4P and get an equaliser to knock out problem frequencies and boost up others to fill it out. Alternatively, I could get a new pair of IEMs which have a sound signature that suits. I prefer the latter because a) I like buying new stuff, and b) I don't like carrying more than one box of electronics around in my pocket. The IEMs will currently be driven by a Galaxy S3, but assume any sort of Smartphone in the future. I'd like IEMs because I work in an office and need to minimise noise leakage.
I'd like some recommendations for IEMs that may suit, even better if they're available with an inline microphone that I can use for talking on the phone. Price-wise anything up to ER4P prices is fine, but obviously lower is better.
My previously satisfying IEMs, Etymotic ER4P, now appear to have a sound signature which doesn't match my new-found far-from-golden ears. I'm actually finding my cheap-o UE Metro.fi plugs to be more pleasing to listen to as they have fuller, rounded, bass, and seem to have a dip in the frequency range that causes me problems.
I understand that I probably have a couple of options. Firstly, I could stick with my ER4P and get an equaliser to knock out problem frequencies and boost up others to fill it out. Alternatively, I could get a new pair of IEMs which have a sound signature that suits. I prefer the latter because a) I like buying new stuff, and b) I don't like carrying more than one box of electronics around in my pocket. The IEMs will currently be driven by a Galaxy S3, but assume any sort of Smartphone in the future. I'd like IEMs because I work in an office and need to minimise noise leakage.
I'd like some recommendations for IEMs that may suit, even better if they're available with an inline microphone that I can use for talking on the phone. Price-wise anything up to ER4P prices is fine, but obviously lower is better.