Great review. Thanks for the very detailed comparisons to some other earphones out there on the market. Gives you a good perspective of the P1 landscape.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
View previous replies…
niron
elvis_presley
Excellent review!
zkanda
Hi Chris, what would be better purchase, the Pinnale P1 or Pai Audio MR3? I'm having trouble deciding which one to buy.
foreverzer0
Lear AE1d or AE1b?
Patronus
@HiFiChris Have you tried the IE80 with the tape mod? how would you compare them with the pinnacles in that regard? also, if you had to pick one or the other, IE80 or Pinnacles for a similar price point, what would you pick?
HiFiChris
@Patronus
Haven't done the tape mod (not doing any modding when comparing headphones anyway).
Out of the two, I'd personally probably pick the P1 as the better allrounder for commuting and because of the superior build and comfort and the IE 80 if I was only listening to acoustic recordings.
Haven't done the tape mod (not doing any modding when comparing headphones anyway).
Out of the two, I'd personally probably pick the P1 as the better allrounder for commuting and because of the superior build and comfort and the IE 80 if I was only listening to acoustic recordings.
Cmahesh
Is it suitable for classical music?
Cmahesh
Can iPhone 6S plus drive it good enough directly? If an amp is necessory, is Fiio A3 (E11K) good enough?
yangian
Chris, bass close of IE80 will shrink the soundstage also. What do you think IE80 and P1 for orchestra work? Thanks
yangian
I can understand, imaging ability of IE80 is not very good compared to comtemporary products. I saw your review on ADV M4. Feel like even M4 has a little bit better imaging than IE80.
yangian
Chris, did you sense the soundstage height? Though 80 can be easily bested by many cheaper products at this age, few can have its huge soundstage and very natural sound, at least at its price range. MOREOVER, 80 has a great soundstage height, which almost none of budgeted/mid fi products can do it well, except M4 (though I didn't experience many).
Could you please compare soundstage height of 80 and P1? You can use Holst's planet symphony, at the beginning of the first movement, when the treble goes up, you can easily test the soundstage height.
Thanks!
Could you please compare soundstage height of 80 and P1? You can use Holst's planet symphony, at the beginning of the first movement, when the treble goes up, you can easily test the soundstage height.
Thanks!
yangian
Chris, did you sense the soundstage height? Though 80 can be easily bested by many cheaper products at this age, few can have its huge soundstage and very natural sound, at least at its price range. MOREOVER, 80 has a great soundstage height, which almost none of budgeted\/mid fi products can do it well, except M4 (though I didn't experience many).
Could you please compare soundstage height of 80 and P1? You can use Holst's planet symphony, at the beginning of the first movement, when the treble goes up, you can easily test the soundstage height.
Could you please compare soundstage height of 80 and P1? You can use Holst's planet symphony, at the beginning of the first movement, when the treble goes up, you can easily test the soundstage height.
HiFiChris
@yangian
I often find soundstage height to be rather difficult to perceive on its own unless it is particularly outstanding (Fidue A91 for example, an in-ear that gives me a really good sense of height straight from putting it into my ears without even having to compare it to average spatial performers).
Anyway, listening to the Sennheiser and MEE, if the P1's height was about 5 feet (not literally, just assumingly and as an example), the IE 80's would be ca. 6.5 feet. The P1's spatial presentation is somewhat cleaner and better separated though in comparison.
Yeah, I agree, while the IE 80's technical performance probably doesn't justify its price point (imo), its soundstage is spacious and delivers an easy-going character that you can relax to. Its soundstage's size is also why don't completely feel like I particularly wasted money when I bought it (for totally casual, relaxed listening, films, very seldom gaming and slow acoustic recordings, it still gets some play time as its flaws don't really matter then), especially as I knew what I was buying back then and just got the Sennheiser for the collection as a dynamic driver in-ear with a (really) large soundstage (it definitely was one of the few dynamic driver in-ears I had back then as I have always been more of a Balanced Armature guy).
Anyway, for my tonal tastes at least, both the P1 and IE 80 are too coloured for Classical/Orchestral music. Personally, I like the IE 80 best for Acoustic stuff with few instruments and the P1 for Pop. But that's just me.
I often find soundstage height to be rather difficult to perceive on its own unless it is particularly outstanding (Fidue A91 for example, an in-ear that gives me a really good sense of height straight from putting it into my ears without even having to compare it to average spatial performers).
Anyway, listening to the Sennheiser and MEE, if the P1's height was about 5 feet (not literally, just assumingly and as an example), the IE 80's would be ca. 6.5 feet. The P1's spatial presentation is somewhat cleaner and better separated though in comparison.
Yeah, I agree, while the IE 80's technical performance probably doesn't justify its price point (imo), its soundstage is spacious and delivers an easy-going character that you can relax to. Its soundstage's size is also why don't completely feel like I particularly wasted money when I bought it (for totally casual, relaxed listening, films, very seldom gaming and slow acoustic recordings, it still gets some play time as its flaws don't really matter then), especially as I knew what I was buying back then and just got the Sennheiser for the collection as a dynamic driver in-ear with a (really) large soundstage (it definitely was one of the few dynamic driver in-ears I had back then as I have always been more of a Balanced Armature guy).
Anyway, for my tonal tastes at least, both the P1 and IE 80 are too coloured for Classical/Orchestral music. Personally, I like the IE 80 best for Acoustic stuff with few instruments and the P1 for Pop. But that's just me.
yangian
Thanks. That's very good of P1. I'm a dynamic guy. I cannot appreciate the sound of BAs, pure BAs seems ok, hybrids sound strange to my ears (though I had only listened to LZ A2 and **** 4in1). Anyway, which IEMs do you think to be best for orchestra works?