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Originally Posted by bloodydoorknob /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I own all three earphones you mentioned, in fact, I've owned or still own pretty much every worthwhile IEM in the market today. You'll definately see a marked improvement in sound over the cx300's (I found them to be a bit too bright and un-natural sounding), whether you go with the e500's or the etymotics. However, the base is severly lacking in the er-4ps...Don't get me wrong, it's there, but you have to listen for it. This is ok for classical music and acoustic pieces, but if you're a fan of rock, electronic, or hip-hop, these are not the phones for you. The shure's on the other hand deliver a beautifully detailed and deep low range. The high end is not as good as the er4p's because of a slight roll-off in the highest frequencies, but its darn close. In the end, I recommend the e500's, but if you're on a budget (you mentioned you were a poor student), the er4p's can be had for half the price of the e500's. I bought my er4's new for $155.00 at Erwin Computers, the shure's will cost you around $350.
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i have heard all three and owned the cx300 for months before i upgraded. bar none, with a good seal, i have never heard so much bass before. it was not bad either. they also were more responsive in the treble area than i expected from such a phone. then, when i tried the um2/e500 i was most disappointed by the lack of treble, where high hats and other treble would just cut off out of nowhere.
that said, the bass overpowered everything else too much for the cx300 and it has more of a closed/plasticy sound where you can tell that there is no dampening material inbetween the driver and the enclosure. it was shrill, but not bad and for the price, i think a bargain.
then, i tried the er4s which is supposed to have less bass than the er4p. the poster above states they lack bass, which i think is compeletely wrong. with an improper seal, there is no bass to be had, at all. but the same is true for the e500 and the um2 which are supposed to prodigiously be full of it. they are easier to maintain and get a good seal however.
if you get a good seal with the er4 series, there is bass aplenty, but they are less comfortable at the same bass level, so i think that many people do not work hard enough to get that amazing seal. the bass is low, deep and fast. i cannot say that the um2 or e500 produce as fast of bass, so for electronic/trance, they were more disappointing. for jazz and classical, where i want to relax however, i found the warmer sound of both um2/e500 to be more pleasing. the er4 series is not for the timid. i think owning the dt880 for so long, the er4 is much like the sound i am accustomed to.
however, i cannot understand even at all how anyone can say bass is lacking. with the best seal with the um2 (bass-aplenty iem), there is only a little more bass than the er4. the e500? i just remember thinking... meh. er4 is my choice overall, though it does not as easily fit into any genre as the e500 and um2. i am not a rock fan, so i cannot report on it. but it will liven up your armin van buuren, faithless, the streets, depeche mode and bring out detailed bass (not detailed like full headphones but damn good) from the music that needs the details and quick response,,, vote er4!
