Dekimasu
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2010
- Posts
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Hello. This is my first post on these forums, so I apologize if I make any mistakes in etiquette. I tried to find a similar thread, but wasn't successful, so here goes.
I'm looking to buy my first real set of IEMs, with a special eye to what will do the best job of isolating sound on the train every day. I did some research, put together a list, and found a brick-and-mortar store in my area (Osaka, Japan) that sells most of the models discussed here. What I'm wondering is whether there are any models that are particularly good or bad deals compared to prices where you are.
Here's the list of models I'm considering and the real prices in dollars at the local store (inc. tax); I'd intended my budget to be $150.
Klipsch Image S4, $75
Etymotic ER-6i, $112.50
Etymotic HF5, $125
Klipsch Image X5, $150
Westone UM1, $150
Audio Technica CK10, $167.50
Shure SE210, $167.50
Shure SE420, $167.50
Ortofon e-Q7, $200
Etymotic ER-4P, $210
I'm going to be using these almost exclusively on trains, since I'm on them (and packed like a sardine) about two hours a day. My #1 and #2 concerns are shutting out the train noise and shutting out the train noise. Most of my mp3s have stayed at 128kbps so they would fit in my original touch wheel iPod from eight years ago, so I won't get a wonderful sound experience off the bat. I can reburn the albums I listen to frequently at a higher bit-rate and solve much of the quality issue... if it's worth the time, based on the sound quality in any of these phones. I understand that most people are looking at sound quality first rather than noise isolation when making recommendations.
If it's at all useful, some people and bands I listen to a lot are Pavement, Wilco, My Bloody Valentine, Velvet Underground, Andrew Bird, Spoon, T. Rex.... I have always listened primarily to rock, but recently I find myself more and more attracted to jazz as well.
Any pointers for me? Hoping to get more and more hooked here.
I'm looking to buy my first real set of IEMs, with a special eye to what will do the best job of isolating sound on the train every day. I did some research, put together a list, and found a brick-and-mortar store in my area (Osaka, Japan) that sells most of the models discussed here. What I'm wondering is whether there are any models that are particularly good or bad deals compared to prices where you are.
Here's the list of models I'm considering and the real prices in dollars at the local store (inc. tax); I'd intended my budget to be $150.
Klipsch Image S4, $75
Etymotic ER-6i, $112.50
Etymotic HF5, $125
Klipsch Image X5, $150
Westone UM1, $150
Audio Technica CK10, $167.50
Shure SE210, $167.50
Shure SE420, $167.50
Ortofon e-Q7, $200
Etymotic ER-4P, $210
I'm going to be using these almost exclusively on trains, since I'm on them (and packed like a sardine) about two hours a day. My #1 and #2 concerns are shutting out the train noise and shutting out the train noise. Most of my mp3s have stayed at 128kbps so they would fit in my original touch wheel iPod from eight years ago, so I won't get a wonderful sound experience off the bat. I can reburn the albums I listen to frequently at a higher bit-rate and solve much of the quality issue... if it's worth the time, based on the sound quality in any of these phones. I understand that most people are looking at sound quality first rather than noise isolation when making recommendations.
If it's at all useful, some people and bands I listen to a lot are Pavement, Wilco, My Bloody Valentine, Velvet Underground, Andrew Bird, Spoon, T. Rex.... I have always listened primarily to rock, but recently I find myself more and more attracted to jazz as well.
Any pointers for me? Hoping to get more and more hooked here.
