[pinoyman]

the pics first:
 
 

 
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[pinoyman]

 

[pinoyman]

 

the pk2

and the mx980

 
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[pinoyman]

 

 

[pinoyman]

 

[pinoyman]

INTRODUCTION:

this review aims to determine the differences between the two...
the mx980 from sennheiser, german brand.
the pk2 from yuin, china brand.

they can be bought to mr.dinkoy here, the pk2.
the mx980, online only, mine was previously owned by 2rooi.

before the iems, comes the reign of power of the earbuds in audio world.
this are round in ears, that would sometimes make your ears bleed in pain in long use, but due to time, more and more earbuds are created to be sumptuously more comfortable than ever before.

earbuds is known to be weak in isolation, open build, and a lot of air played the part in making the sound more fuller, more dynamic, and intricacy of the design.

earbud brands includes the ever mass earphone-philips, sony, sennheiser mx series, yuins ok and pk series, the blox, the a8 from bang and olufsen and a lot of others...

they are still in the market, because not all, is quiet comfortable in silicon tips, full isolation of the iems, including me.
i still value the greatness of the earbuds...


as you all know, the PK2 has introduce me to the NEW world of the earbuds.
it is the beginning of my journey to tackle the differences of earbuds...
while others love the iems, i choose a different path, the earbuds.

i look at it like, it is a unique in its own way.
call it, returning back to basic.

 

[pinoyman]

BUILD:
well, what do we expect from an earbud?


the pk2:
-standard 3.5mm jack, GOLD plated
-hard plastic build in phone
-double wiring, rubber wire

...nothing more




however, being a pricey earbud, the mx980, given the price, should be more than unique, and should prove to be more worthy than the ordinary.

-the housing is made of hard plastic.
-the rubber ring at the tip of the phones.
-a sliding volume control, stainless
-an angled arm of the phone that holds the phone's cord
-an angled/straight plug of the jack, that can easily be twisted according to your preferrence
-a silver 3.5mm jack
-single wiring, rubber
-diamond metal shirt clip



comparing both in the build department, somehow makes the mx980 stand out from ordinary pk2.
however, i will much prefer the wire build in the pk2, it seems a bit more stronger, having the double wiring for the LEFT AND RIGHT channel.
i like the jack plug of the mx980, you could choose your own preference, angled or straight.
a useless sliding volume control of the mx980 is not needed.
the additional shirt clips is useful in the mx980.
the angled arm of the mx980 is a plus!



for me, i would still much prefer the mx980s additional accessories, than the pk2.
but given the price, it is included in the money you paid for.

somehow the mx980, gave me something...
the feeling of being unique, the feeling of absolutely being different from the crowd.
i love being unique...in a sense-ful way.

still if youre not that picky, the pk2 is already a good to go earbud in the BUILD department, no bling-blings, and you only paid here for the ordinary quality of the buds with a good sound.

here, i will state that it depends on the user's taste.

 

[pinoyman]

UPDATES STILL IN PROGRESS...

 

[pinoyman]

bass = yuin PK2 vs. Senn MX980?
mids = yuin PK2 vs. Senn MX980?
highs = yuin PK2 vs. Senn MX980?
soundstage = yuin PK2 vs. Senn MX980?
details and clarity = yuin PK2 vs. Senn MX980?
overall SQ = yuin PK2 vs. Senn MX980?

 

[pinoyman]

testing track:

CD encoded to WAV format, WHY, by m2m.
no foams on both earbuds.
so that transparency on the sound can be describe well.


source:  apple ipod shuffle 4g only.
 
 
IN TRANSPARENCY, DETAILS, CLARITY, the mx980 wins by a small margin.
but needed more volume/more push to the drivers to hear it well.
amp is surely needed to make it sing.
but clearly, the mx980 wins here.
the mx980 is more finely defined in super micro details, making it more accurate.
the clarity is mx980's strenght.
transparency, worlds apart, the mx980 wins.
some details seemed like a bit veiled in the pk2.
compared to the details that the mx980 can give.

 
 
[size=0.85em] my shuffle is low batt now..so same tracks now using the macbook pro.

 
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[pinoyman]

MIDS: the pk2.
it has a fun mids, warm and welcome to the ears.
more easy to like sound.
but comparing the MIDS in mx980, the mx980 has a NEUTRAL tone.
the yuin pk2 is veiled in details, the highs tend to be sibilant by a pinch but...nothing to notice in easy listening, only in critical ones.


SOUNDSTAGE: mx980
confirmed.
due to the space it creates, more far than the yuin.
 
 
 
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the mx980 has more power to give you.
more music to offer.
more than what the pk2 can give.

the notes is just so smooth in the highs.

tanga na lang ang di mainlove sa smooth ng highs nito.

hehehe.
that.. is seriously speaking.

BASS:
to check this, will have to change the track to a more bassy one.
how about the U GOT IT BAD by USHER?
 
 
BASS seems to be the same when amount is the word.

but i feel like the bass on the mx980 is more defined a bit, the bass on the pk2 is uncontrolled, sounding thin bass compared to the mx980.

a thin bass. 

and when a track like this with a demanding energy, the mx980 is more clean.
the bass in the yuin pk2 has a bite at the end, making the highs sparkling to a BIT SIBILANT to my ears.
 
OVERALL:

pk2:
more fun sounding.
warm.
muddy compared to the mx980.
thin bass on demanding tracks.
with a bite at the end.
the highs becomes more sibilant at full of energy tracks.
still enjoyable.
easy to love.
nothing to like about, or hate about.
airy in nature, making the sound veiled, some details cannot be heard clearly.
lacking a bit in details.




MX980:
for a real serious listener only.
listeners with a taste.
with a kick in your face HIGHS.
the smoothest highs i heard.
with greater details and soundstage.
winner in clarity.
winner in highs.
no muddiness.
more energetic, more muscle than the pk2.
needs more power than the pk2.
a great treasure/gear to keep, being an absolutely great find for an earbud.
but NEUTRAL in nature, not fun to listen to, but is very good for the long run...
because not all the time, the fun sounding of the pk2 will give you the..

..ACCURACY AND HONESTY in sound.
only the mx980 can give you that.
that is the advantage of being neutral.
it is not colored in any way.
not warm. not too bright.
it just stays in between.

it wont make you thump your hands on the desk...
its just FINELY TUNED MUSIC, FINELY DETAILED, FINELY done.
nothing artificially overly done here.
contrast to the fun sounding pk2.

well, some audiophiles, people, preferred this kind of sig,
because all they hear is the HONESTY.
nothing is added, no spices or whatsoever.

plain and simple sound, fine details, definitely the BEST HIGHS EVER with gorgeous looks - mx980.

something worth keeping.
something that will give you honesty.
honesty into the tracks youre playing.
to the source.
and to the music.


however, the pk2 is not that bad at all.
for the price, i can consider it a real bang for the buck iem,
a fun headphone sounding in a form of an earbud.

well, if you are after the fun go with the pk2.


but, tapping the potential of the mx980, 
eq'ing with a neutral earbud will benefit you more.
you hear honesty into your eq base on your tuning.

neutral + eq = neutral eq
fun + eq = a bit distorted eq

distorted because the fun sound of the pk2 is already tuned to be enjoyed be the listeners from a flat eq.
using the eq and the fun sounding will not give you that honesty to the tuning you did in your equalizers.

just a thought.

mx980 is more honest in eq because it is neutral in his nature.
you hear the difference in the sound in an instant you change a level in your equalizers.
that way, you hear the truth in your eq.
because mx980 is not colored at all.
you have the power to give it a coloration to the sound.

so its another plus compared to the fun sounding pk2.



hope i did share my part here.
gonna make some more comparisons if there is any changes in mental burn in, or if i can prove it wrong, im gonna still state it here and change the first one i mentioned.
 

 

[pinoyman]

FINAL CONCLUSION:
 
 
if you are into honesty, go with the mx980.
in the long run, you will benefit the most, coz you will not get easily bored by the sound signature it gives.
it is flat, neutral in nature.

so, using this, over time, will make you hear the sound, the music..
AND NOT THE SOUND SIG OF YOUR EARBUD, PK2 IM TALKING TO YOU!

the pk2 is something that you will love at first listen, 
but in the long run, you will get bored in time, due to the "I ALREADY KNOW ITS SOUND SIGNATURE"
and when you listen to it, your not only listening to the music but also TO THE SOUND SIGNATURE OF THE EARBUD...which is kinda bad, in the HONESTY WAY.

so...
i think the MX980 should be considered.
and should be given a thought.
include this to your gears, and you will have something worth owning in the long run.

 
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[CEE TEE]

WARNING:  Thread contains graphic images not suitable for young children.
 
That out of the way...I prefer the PK3 and PK1 to the PK2.  Had all three.
 
I do look forward to hearing the MX980's someday!
 
P.S.  That being said, you do get a lot of information from your comparison shots!

 

[pinoyman]

listening to the mx980, the track YEAH by USHER, wow its great, the sound is simply irresistibly good!
the whistles the bells in the song.. its like its surrounding me.
wow...
 
 
what a sound!
that is music to my ears!

 

[JosephKim]

lolololol