Peculier
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Posts
- 192
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- 13
A little background on my audio quest. I started out with a pair of Klipsch S4i couple of years ago. Then when I got more interested in audio, I purchased the Radius HP-TWF11R Pro and I liked them, despite the lack of a good seal because of the design of the earphone. Then, they broke. I researched a bit more, and bought myself a pair of TF10s and an aftermarket cable totalling around 300 dollars. I adored the TF10s. I liked how clear they sounded, and I felt that if the mids were just a touch bit more forward, they would have been the perfect earphones. Then, one unfortunate day, I tried to change the Comply tips on them, but the entire housing of the driver separated from the cable segment, and it broke. (Obviously.)
For a few more weeks I searched around, looking for my next pair of IEMs. I decided that the Westone 3, with their similar U or V shaped sound, would suit me best. They arrived, and I was taken aback by how bloated and muddy they sounded (to me). The mids were even more recessed than the TF10s and the mid bass bloat made everything sort of meld together and sound really congested. I didn't like them at all. They also did sound slightly veiled to me. I tried all the different included tips, but couldn't get an improvement. I cannot foresee myself keeping these for very long, and I am still fiddling with EQ settings to try and make them sound decent. I'm not saying the Westones are bad, I just don't like the way they sound. I was rather disappointed, to say the least, after reading so many people wax lyrical about the abilities of these earphones.
I am now looking for yet another pair of earphones, and am considering something neutral and accurate, like the ER-4 from Etymotic. I have tried almost all of the top end multi-BA universals like the SM3v1/v2, the Shure SE535s, the CK100/10, and the thing I didn't like about these IEMs were the mid-centric sound signature. I really want something that will play back my music as neutrally and as accurately as possible, but I value overall clarity and detail the most. I am interested in the Sony EX-1000 and other high end dynamics like the FX-700, but both of those suffer from isolation issues.
All listening done through a MBP with FLAC via Songbird, out via optical to a Yulong D100 DAC/Amp. I listen to a wide variety of music, with the exceptions of Jazz, Blues and really heavy metal. Does anyone have any suggestions to help me along my way? Any EQ tips to save my Westones before I sell them? Any help at all is greatly appreciated.
For a few more weeks I searched around, looking for my next pair of IEMs. I decided that the Westone 3, with their similar U or V shaped sound, would suit me best. They arrived, and I was taken aback by how bloated and muddy they sounded (to me). The mids were even more recessed than the TF10s and the mid bass bloat made everything sort of meld together and sound really congested. I didn't like them at all. They also did sound slightly veiled to me. I tried all the different included tips, but couldn't get an improvement. I cannot foresee myself keeping these for very long, and I am still fiddling with EQ settings to try and make them sound decent. I'm not saying the Westones are bad, I just don't like the way they sound. I was rather disappointed, to say the least, after reading so many people wax lyrical about the abilities of these earphones.
I am now looking for yet another pair of earphones, and am considering something neutral and accurate, like the ER-4 from Etymotic. I have tried almost all of the top end multi-BA universals like the SM3v1/v2, the Shure SE535s, the CK100/10, and the thing I didn't like about these IEMs were the mid-centric sound signature. I really want something that will play back my music as neutrally and as accurately as possible, but I value overall clarity and detail the most. I am interested in the Sony EX-1000 and other high end dynamics like the FX-700, but both of those suffer from isolation issues.
All listening done through a MBP with FLAC via Songbird, out via optical to a Yulong D100 DAC/Amp. I listen to a wide variety of music, with the exceptions of Jazz, Blues and really heavy metal. Does anyone have any suggestions to help me along my way? Any EQ tips to save my Westones before I sell them? Any help at all is greatly appreciated.
Swimsonny will tell you more.
