I certainly started something with this thread. Sorry to have left it so long before coming back to tell what I decided. After reading everything I could and being impressed with what Average Joe and a few others said about the IE 8 I decided to buy them. I only have about 30 hours or so on them...

hmm don't like the look of that IE8 graph.

Thanks tstarn06 My portable is a Zen V and I might need an amp if I used the Phonak's. At home I use an Xcan v1 (with some mods). I'm floating between the IE8's and the Phonak's at the moment. The isolation would be an issue with the Phonak's perhaps but I could experiment I suppose. With the...

robm321: Thanks for all you have said. Could you possibly elaborate a little on your "darker sound" comment please?

Wow the speed of replies on here is quite something. Thanks guys for responding and thanks to Mors for the heads up regarding Microwarehouse. I'm getting very tempted now.

Thanks bernardo, Yes it was Swisshearingaids.com. Thanks for letting me know about the VAT issue. They do sound good value and robm321 makes a good case for them too. I've been re-reading some of Average_Joe's posts about the IE8' and comparing them to the Phonaks. It would seem that after...

Thanks inukage0029 Actually checking out the Westone UK price.. they are more like £300 here. The only way to buy them for the amount I said is to get them from the States or Hong Kong and run the risk of paying import duty and VAT when they reach this country. It still sounds from what...

Thanks for your reply tstarn06. I've read most of the posts on here from yourself and Average_Joe among many others and I guess that's what is adding to my confusion.. Maybe I should go back and read them all again really. I could actually afford the Westone 3's if wanted to spend pretty...

Having read quite a bit on here about these three 'phones I am getting more confused as to my next move. I have owned a couple of pairs of er4p's. The first pair went wrong in months (one earpiece) and Etymotic replaced them after I paid a fortune sending them back from the UK. These lasted...

Quote: Originally Posted by mrarroyo The evolution went something like X-Can V1 => V2 => V3. If memory serves me right the V1 used OP-Amps while the V2/V3 use transistors. Both the V2 and V3 respond well to mods which if you do yourself the cost is less than $100. The next step is to...

Quote: Originally Posted by etherealbeats It is actually proven that the tri-flanges offer a better frequency response though! Does anyone know where this is "proven" ?

Quote: Originally Posted by Duncan Hmm.. I've moved on a fair way since the HN060... mine died within a month of having them, and I've since moved on to IEMs... ....snipped.... Now that's a shame Duncan. I read this thread through from the beginning and saw that you would...

Quote: Originally Posted by archosman Can't believe it. After 3 years I found a small crack on the left driver. Read a few stories of people having the same issue and figured it wouldn't happen to me. I use them every day so now I'm going to go through the prospect/withdrawal of sending...

Quote: Originally Posted by Father Schu I just sent mine back to get rewired to the less microphonic braided style. Their initial cost estimate was $50 + shipping. It ended up I also had some cracked transducers so the price went up. If your face fits you can get cracked...

Just be prepared to have to send them back more than once

I can't imagine them sounding good with any price earbud due to their construction. I tried them with mx500 and one or two other earbuds I had around at the time. You hear the sound through another piece of plastic extending the distance between you and the driver. It sounds like the music is...

yes I tried them a while back and thought they were awful.

How long have they been on demo would be my first question. Then Id' say check them very carefully visually and sonically and if they are OK buy them. They are definately better than the 80's

Quote: Originally Posted by KenW They'd be well worth the $$ if they could keep the darned tubes from cracking. One thing that turns me off immediately is the perception of "cheap" or "poor quality". Won't even get to the sound if that's an issue. Amen to that. and I agree with...

I am an "unlucky" person whose ER4's went wrong around 3 months after buying them from Headroom. I had to pay to have them shipped back to the USA where Etymotic repaired them free of charge and returned them to me. The shipping cost me over £50 with insurance. Around 18 months later the cable...

They will probably last longer than the ER4's if my experience is anything to go by. Maybe it's time to give it all up and just buy earplugs.

Kuja: You might just need to replace the filters. enzoferrari650: In fairness they honoured the guarantee and when I sent the Ety's back with the first fault they repaired them free of charge and paid the return carriage. They agreed to replace the cable this time for free too and pay the...

Let's face it, as good as these things sound, they are not really built to last. I had a new pair that lasted a few months before one earpiece packed up and had to be shipped back to the States from England (at my expense) for repair. Then less than a year later the cable developed an...

Quote: Originally Posted by Chris T so what are you using to fill the gap between the Ety shaft and the Sony 71 tips? ooops sorry, I see you answered that already "btw, i just cut down the flappy conical flanges, leaving the white centre tube, shortened it a little, and stuck...

so what are you using to fill the gap between the Ety shaft and the Sony 71 tips?