Clash of the Titans: Atrio M5 vs q-JAYS vs Denon C700 vs Shure SE310

[denizg]

Yes, there are a lot of topics like this one, but still haven't been able to make a choice based on those current topics.
I've spend quite some hours on this and other forums reading and doing research on my next new phone. I'll try to be a bit more specific concerning my music taste so that I might get some better advice on which one to buy eventually.

Music:
Jazz, Soundtracks (mainly instrumental OST's, think of LotR Soundtrack for example) and Techno and Electro

Hardware:
iAudio

Contenders (randomly):
a) Future Sonics Atrio M5 (current only cons:not really stylish)
b) q-JAYS
c) Denon C700
d) Shure SE310

Price:
All around the 150-170 dollars.

Demands:
Needs to match my music. Tough there is a big difference between jazz and electro, a good bass sound is a pretty high priority.

And there is no way I can test these 4 out and make a decision. So i have to go on your advice and comments. I just really can't decide!

 

[Trager]

I have a pair of Q-Jays that should be here by Friday, expect a full review by sometime next week. I've done fairly extensive reviews of the Atrios, SE310, and Triple.fi 10 pros.

 

[jinx20001]

Q-jays should be the best as expected but all those earphones put out good distortion free sound, it comes down to music preference but technically the Q-jays are the better

 

[navmau]

I am a fan of the FS sound! Its just so musical & fun with great, controlled bass!

 

[PeterDLai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trager /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a pair of Q-Jays that should be here by Friday, expect a full review by sometime next week. I've done fairly extensive reviews of the Atrios, SE310, and Triple.fi 10 pros.

Ooh, I can't wait to hear your impressions. Also compare them to the LiveWires, if that is possible (though I remember you had a lot of problems with them).

 

[denizg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trager /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a pair of Q-Jays that should be here by Friday, expect a full review by sometime next week. I've done fairly extensive reviews of the Atrios, SE310, and Triple.fi 10 pros.

Your review will be greatly appreciated, even so more since you've also reviewed the Atrios and the SE310. I hope you'll be able to point to a direction or at least if I can remove a few out of the list!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx20001 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Q-jays should be the best as expected but all those earphones put out good distortion free sound, it comes down to music preference but technically the Q-jays are the better

Based on the music preference stated in my first post, you would advice q-Jays on this one?

---

I Think the Shure SE310 is slowly getting off my list. I hear no one any more giving the Shure plus points. Also based on what I've read on this forum, the others are just better. Think Shure just has a good name..

 

[4ki]

The Denons have some good pointers on being both bass-rich without losing high details (unlike the atrio m5s that have a warmer signature), and could offer the best of both worlds (more bass than the Q jays, better highs than the atrio). Not sure about the Shures, though your price range seems a bit smaller than what these phones retail for ($170-200).

If isolation is another big priority (in environments with loud, low-frequency sound), then your aim is either with the SE310s or the Atrios since they're the only real isolating IEMs here.

 

[Trager]

Sorry for the delay, the Q-Jays just came in yesterday, and I was driving all day, so I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet. I'm on my second hour of testing with 'em right now, and I just switched to Shure olive foamies for better isolation. The stock tips were okay, but I'm not a big fan of the no-flange rubber tips.

Initial impressions are that they have Ety kind of clarity with better bass. I'm not sure whether I like them better than my Atrios or not, I think I'll have to listen to them for a while to give a real chance. The bass definitely doesn't have the impact that the Atrio bass does, but I thought the M5s were almost a little too strong at times in the early testing with those. It might be that my ears need to come down from being accustomed to that before I can really evaluate the Q-Jays.

 

[neoufo51]

I'm pretty sure the Atrios are the best sounding of the bunch.

I do admit that the Denons are the most stylish and have the more rugged construction.

EDIT: Looking at the comparisons between the Denons and the Atrio's, I'm seeing a gradual shift towards the Denons. I might have to look into this.

 

[Luisa]

Ddfinitely Atrios. I have them 2 days and WAAAW!
They have PLENTY of details and highs are even a little bit too strong after burn in, in my opinion. Highs are very crisp and sharp. I dont understand why some people consider highs as recessed

I could not decide between Denons and Atrios , and I am very happy i went for Atrio. Bass after couple of hours with pink noise are veery nice present and it is definitely not boomy or too strong... just deep, soft, impactfull, enjoyable bass...
Denons for me are huge, stick out much more then Atrios, have 16 ohm(too low i think, atrio has 32 and no hiss at all)
Some review says denons are agressive in highs, i can imagine that...
Thats why I went for atrio

 

[Aevum]

if you´re from europe, the 40% price markup should be a clear indication that the JAYS are not an option,

 

[shigzeo]

hello luisa, i understand we have now had conversation in two threads. my dear friend and now atrio colleague. i originally bought them after about a year of dilly dallying around with various inferiors: um2, er4s and a brief affair with the e500.

as i say inferior, what i mean is in fact, headphones that sound too much like i am listening for artifacts and not for music. when i got the atrio, i lost piercing highs that gave sibilance in trade off for excellent isolation.

my um2 were considered by many to be one of the most musical of the bunch yet somewhat sloppy - they were not sloppy but as a balanced armature, they gave me flared up tinnitus.

the jays are said by some to be similar to er4s but with a better bass presence. that alone should prove that they are good. however if you are not used to (to the op) micro armatures, get prepared for fatigue quickly if you are weak to high piercing sounds. no matter that no armature based iem reaches above 18khz realiably they all exhibit some sort of bad sibilance if you are sensitive.

the atrio is a very natural (like a headphone) and thus more speaker like. as for the laid back treble, i can say that it is more laid back but still extends high. i tested an 18khz wave that the um2, and er4s could not relay and the atrio did it well, but despite their extension they are relaxing.

however, their bass is intense. it is not boomy, but very detailed and quick, though not as quick or light of foot as the er4s. i listen to trance often (only) and need a fast or somewhat fast headphone to keep up with the club. if my phones do not keep up, then trance is not fun.

the atrio are especially good for strings etc and originally i had trouble liking them with trance. at the time, i was using the cowon d2 - it is good and has very little hiss (even less than ipod) but is bloomy without eq in the mid bass or low mids. the atrio were not controlled by it well at all and neither are my dt770.

however, my ipod works wonders with the atrio as it has a more detailed bass that does not smear. however, there is a little more hiss and the mids are not as sweet.

the denon are good but they are boomy in comparison to the atrio! soozieq mentioned in her review that the se310 are similar in most ways but the denon bested them overall. i have not heard the shure and only have experience with the denon and atrio, but for me, armature are my lease favourite headphone sound and some other people do not like armatures either. but honestly, we are in the minority i think.

my favs are the atrio, but i do see some benefits to the denon - they have a slightly larger soundstage and are easier to remove and re-insert as well as they are much cheaper. however, better than the denon (to me at least) are the kenwood c711 which are priced at around 100-150$ usd but are much harder to find. they have a shorter barrel and less boomy bass. their soundstage is not as big but is more believable as the denon seem to extend to no limits out from your head, but not to the front or behind.

the kenwood extend in both directions to the same degree so they just seem that much more natural. accompanied with a less boomy and more refined bass, they seem hifi though they are cheaper.

my hat is tipped toward atrio but... after that, i would recommend the kenwood and then the denon and after that they jays.

 

[JonnyIce]

As one of the last-known-to-man Shure SE310 owners, I guess I should add my .02

. I like them a lot...they have excellent sound isolation, but without an amp (I dont have one yet), I'm not sure they will have enough bass presence for your preferred music.

 

[Luisa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo /img/forum/go_quote.gif hello luisa, i understand we have now had conversation in two threads. my favs are the atrio, but i do see some benefits to the denon - they have a slightly larger soundstage and are easier to remove and re-insert as well as they are much cheaper. however, better than the denon (to me at least) are the kenwood c711 which are priced at around 100-150$ usd but are much harder to find. my hat is tipped toward atrio but... after that, i would recommend the kenwood and then the denon and after that they jays.

Here in UK denon's are definitely more expensive, and not 'much more' cheaper, as you wrote....
I dunno, i had no much time so far, i have not tried foams. Original double flange is perfectly working for me, and i can easily and quickly re-insert them as well on my Atrios (a little bit harder as mdr-ex71, but not much)
Anyway, my Atrios ROCK!

 

[1012007]

Do you reckon you could add the Er4P to this thread, and how would it rate against these others??