Noted. 

Quote: Hence why I'm working at moving above and away from lower-end IEMs.

Quote: "Haven't really visited" is not the same as "haven't visited". I may have hit a link into here searching for something, but have not actively spent an hour+ sifting through articles.   

Quote: I've gone back and forth about that very topic with various other writers, readers, and just normal people not in the tech world at all. It's a purely subjective argument dependent on a number of factors and I'm determined that one side will never be able to convince the other...

In short: I care what you guys (and gals) have to say.

Quote:   If it's a dig against me for linking, I'm sorry. I fully expected to get burned to some degree here as it isn't the most in depth or complete (in terms of listend to IEMs to compare with). Many a times I've seen similar posts, and even simple head-fi reviews posted just here...

Quote: Unfortunately I don't have any stores with any good IEMs or headphones open to readily try. It's a time consuming process of buying, taking home, and then returning.    Quote: I didn't think it was rude. Blunt. But that's expected and appreciated. As for the W4s, I...

I can see the point about comparisons. But honestly, the only other earphones I've heard that I'd even consider comparing are the Super.fi 5 pros and Klipsch X10s which I did compare a bit. I've had numerous encounters with $50-$120 earphones, though all of those would be a waste of a comparison...

And for the record, I'll admit I'm new to the high (really high) end earphone market like the Audeo's are in. That said, I'm looking to change that and expand my knowledge on the sound characteristics of competing high-end earphones. 

Somehow I haven't seen them before. Terrible. I know. Also, as I said before, until this morning I haven't visited in over a year.

I've been coming here for 4-5 years, though over the last 12-18 months haven't really visited. I didn't really have any care to listen to the lower-end model. I've been in that area for several years and would much rather move up than sidways.   What aspect of design do you think I missed...

Looooooong time lurker, first time poster...   I was fortunate enough to get to stop by Phonak's "booth" (was really a meeting room) at CES and try out their range of earphones. Being that I had never heard of the company before, I was intrigued. Naturally, I took a liking to their flagship...