Transparent reference phones or IEMs usually don't provoke long threads. There isn't much color to discuss or overbearing bass or treble to laud|complain about. Everything is more less very balanced frequency-wise, and the music is simply delivered cleanly as it should.   These will be my...

Thanks Zeddan and Malcuso. I already re-evaluated my earlier response based on what Currawong said and agreed the trade-off of short battery life to great power is worth it. I own a couple of dated but great high-powered portable headphone amps, the Phil Larocco Portable Reference II (Mk 2) and...

This is one member who will be awaiting your full review, John. The UERR sounds like it might suit my tastes very well. If I need an external amp, I have two great, if dated, headphone amplifiers in the Phil LaRocco Portable Reference II (Mk 2) and the Triad Audio L3. The DAP I am considering...

That is true. Therefore, I may have to consider one of the external battery options when I seek to purchase mine. I am also considering the relatively new Ultimate Ears Pro Reference Remastered IEM for an ultra portable solution---just awaiting more reviews.

It would be sweet if they employed a more powerful battery in an upgraded version. The low battery life still takes away too much from it as a viable unit.

  Thank you very much for your thoughts, Eke2k6. I have every intention of auditioning the IEMs under consideration before I spend any green.

  The point of me even considering an IEM is for ultra portability with minimal compromise.   I would not be in favor of altering the UERM, especially since there is a customizable alternative in the UEPRM. What I want is a slightly tweaked pro monitor CIEM, which is what the UEPRM can be.  ...

Thanks, Brisley, for your equalizer suggestions. I will check them out to see how portable and flexible they really are. Yes, it was Tumburu's review that made me start rethinking a Layla acquisition.

Thank you very much, Reeltime, for your straightforward reply!   I was wondering whether the UERM's possessed what many call a clinical sound, which is the way that accurate phones/iems designed for professional sound recording are often described. If so, then they are well designed for their...

I really wish Calyx had used a longer lasting battery with the M. I would prefer not to have to buy an external battery pack and make a fatter package.

Has anyone ever performed a direct comparison between the Layla or Angie and the Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors (UERM's)? I was wondering how the UERM's stack up against either of the two JHA Sirens with respect to transparency, macro/micro details, soundstage (or, if you prefer, head-stage)...

If you monitor the prices of computer-based items as I do from time to time, new memory size chips are always sky high whenever they are first introduced---this is completely independent of whatever Astell & Kern is doing with their mobile music technology. The prices will drop eventually to the...

It's brand new technology. You have to wait a while before the pricing gets realistic.

Seems like a nice player, but they need to seriously address the battery issue with the next model.

Auditioning would be mandatory for me in any event for a purchase of that magnitude. However, I don't need to be a studio engineer to appreciate studio monitors. My two most used headphones are both monitors---the discontinued Sennheiser HD250 Linear II and my modified Sennheiser HD25-1, which...