pianoplayer88key
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...the left side audio channel and the cables of my Phonak Audeo PFEs.
I had only had them 3 months
and had expected them to last 15 years.
Quick review / rating, IMO:
overall sound quality - quite good compared to cheaper ones I've used. (I haven't listened for any length of time with any headphones > $150, so I can't make high-end comparisons.)
bass - anemic, especially below 40 Hz. I listen to a lot of piano and organ music that goes down to 16 Hz and below, and I expected much better bass response.
isolation - ok, IF the tips would stay in!
I use the large silicon tips (my foams got ear-waxed badly) and they keep breaking seal and falling out every 20-30 seconds.
durability - I was expecting these to last at least 10-15 years (I have a few other electronics items that have lasted that long), and I barely got 3 months out of them.
sensitivity - these are a bit weaker than I was hoping even driving them at full volume with my computer (which itself is a bit weak too), or near full volume on my mp4/etc player...
Ok... the left side has lost sound - looks like the cable has cracked all the way through, and the inside wires are barely hanging on by a thread.
I understand (from the other thread I was referred to, and which I've been participating in some) that they're working on some new material for these. Thing is, I kinda need something NOW - as in within the next 8-12 hours or so.
I'm going on a trip out of town (leaving at like 7-8am PDT) for the weekend and hopefully can pick up a serviceable ECH for $5 or so at Walmart or equivalent to hold me over till I can get the PFEs repaired or replaced. (I do have a pair of earbuds that came with my new cell phone I just bought, but those are extremely uncomfortable, almost to the point where I feel like I'm going to draw blood when I insert/remove/exercise with them.)
If for some reason I was wrong in getting the Phonaks... what should I look for instead? (Budget would be about the same.)
Criteria:
good sound quality, although this is subjective so I'll really need to listen to them in the physical brick-and-mortar store in San Diego, CA, before I buy them. Music I will most often be listening to is vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, often organ music, classical, etc. (Not much rock/hip hop/etc though.) I do want good low bass - for example good enough to accurately reproduce what would be a good recording of the 18-foot piano in this youtube video, or this 64-foot organ stop or simulated 128-foot organ stop.
comfort, fit, isolation are also quite important. For the price, I don't think the Phonaks quite measured up. They went into my ear just fine, but kept falling out.
Also the cables never would stay in the ear guides so I eventually quit using them.
I think, though, that one of the most important things would have to be durability. I really want this to be the last pair I buy for the next 15 years. I actually want to have a reasonable chance that I will replace something because I found something better that was within my budget at the time, NOT BECAUSE THE ******* PIECE OF **** BROKE!!
So, besides the fact that I'm going to have to get something at Wal-Mart to tide me over, should I send my Phonaks in for repair/replacement, or look for something else?
Quick review / rating, IMO:
overall sound quality - quite good compared to cheaper ones I've used. (I haven't listened for any length of time with any headphones > $150, so I can't make high-end comparisons.)
bass - anemic, especially below 40 Hz. I listen to a lot of piano and organ music that goes down to 16 Hz and below, and I expected much better bass response.
isolation - ok, IF the tips would stay in!
durability - I was expecting these to last at least 10-15 years (I have a few other electronics items that have lasted that long), and I barely got 3 months out of them.
sensitivity - these are a bit weaker than I was hoping even driving them at full volume with my computer (which itself is a bit weak too), or near full volume on my mp4/etc player...
Ok... the left side has lost sound - looks like the cable has cracked all the way through, and the inside wires are barely hanging on by a thread.
I understand (from the other thread I was referred to, and which I've been participating in some) that they're working on some new material for these. Thing is, I kinda need something NOW - as in within the next 8-12 hours or so.
If for some reason I was wrong in getting the Phonaks... what should I look for instead? (Budget would be about the same.)
Criteria:
good sound quality, although this is subjective so I'll really need to listen to them in the physical brick-and-mortar store in San Diego, CA, before I buy them. Music I will most often be listening to is vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, often organ music, classical, etc. (Not much rock/hip hop/etc though.) I do want good low bass - for example good enough to accurately reproduce what would be a good recording of the 18-foot piano in this youtube video, or this 64-foot organ stop or simulated 128-foot organ stop.
comfort, fit, isolation are also quite important. For the price, I don't think the Phonaks quite measured up. They went into my ear just fine, but kept falling out.
I think, though, that one of the most important things would have to be durability. I really want this to be the last pair I buy for the next 15 years. I actually want to have a reasonable chance that I will replace something because I found something better that was within my budget at the time, NOT BECAUSE THE ******* PIECE OF **** BROKE!!
So, besides the fact that I'm going to have to get something at Wal-Mart to tide me over, should I send my Phonaks in for repair/replacement, or look for something else?