Quote:
Originally Posted by HONEYBOY /img/forum/go_quote.gif
For some reason I just believe the IE8s are not designed to have all that prominent bass. I recall initially using the large foamies to which I then moved to the small foamies for a few days ( I had initially disregarded these because I had no seal with them) because of ear pressure problems. After trying to move back to the large foamies I started to realize the clarity and transparency I was missing out on when I had a seal. 99.9% of my post oh head fi are now about this scenario haha
Even though I normally use medium tips with my other IEMs I have been tending towards using small tips with my IE8. It's not so much about getting a seal but more so about finding that perfect position/placement for the best sound reproduction. Larger tips give me a seal and tend to emphasize the prominent upper bass of the IE8s and makes them sound veiled and congested. The only tip that I can use and seal in my IE8s and not dislike the sound too much is the UE single flange tips. isolation isn't good when you do this though.
My experience has led me to conclude that the IE8 sound changes more with the depth of insertion than with the tips used. Try experimenting with a sealed in IE8 then keep moving them back until you are at the very entrance of the ear canal and see how much it takes away from the notoriously mentioned overpowering bass and among other things takes the clarity for the better. Transparency, sound-stage and treble resolution improves as well. This way it sounds more 400ish to me. I Am an IE8 fan boy though
I could be quite biased but as I said I can't listen to them sealed, which judging from the majority of comments about them is perhaps the way most folks here wear them. The difference between an unsealed and sealed IE8 isn't subtle to my ears. A few others have testified to this so I know am not all that crazy haha. The sound signature is just to my liking but having said all that the FX500 and C710 still puts it to shame and compare favorably in the areas it was most raved about for: Bass and Sound stage/Imaging. Those phones would remind you that most of the top tier IEMs aren't quite worth there price.
|
Thanks for the info. I guess at some point in the near future I will have to try them unsealed!
I did a 30 minute A/B with the W3 via my Fuze -> LOD -> Hornet, and I thought the IE8 was close in clarity/resolution/transparency (with the W3 winning), but the IE8 had a more laid back presentation and much wider stage making it more entertaining and preferable for more of my random tracks. I did not feel there was a large difference though (except in soundstage).
Then I tried the decay mod (where did decay go?), and it added detail, transparency, resolution, and stage width while actually bringing the presentation up a little. Very enjoyable.
Then I got the C710 and thought the IE8 (with the decay tips) sounded like mud. I went back to my old foam under silicon and the sound degraded back to what it was. I did try most of the tips again, but was trying to get a seal, and still, nothing compared.
So, here I am, with an IE8 I don't think was once the absolute best sounding universal (IE8 fan boy also!), and while I don't think the C710 is perfect, I like what it does better than the IE8 more! Actually, I prefer the Mingo WM2 paired with the AMP3 to the C710 for a lot of music as I think the biggest weakness of the C710 is the mids sound a little disconnected from the treble. And compared to the new BA IEM I just got, the C710 has too much bass for some genres, such as country, which the other IEM excels at (although I rarely listen to country).
I would sell all my IEMs if there was one I
knew would be the best for my preferences, say the AT CK100.
