Quote:
Originally Posted by edho
Thanks for your sharing.
I am now thinking of getting e4c/e3c/super.fi 5 pro
which one is suitable for me?
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To help us to advise you better you should tell what type of music you're listening to most, more about your sound preferences and what's your typical portable usage patterns (working out, commuting, just walking, etc. ). I found that IEMs are flawed beasts, none is possibly ideal in all respects and there's always seems to be some complex balance between technical sonic qualities, sound signature, comfort and usability for particular environments. And, yes, please search this forum - there're were numerous recent threads pitting E4 against 5pors and discussing them separately.
Anyway I have both E4c and 5pros and here's my take. Note that I have iPod mini that doesn't have configurable EQ (only presets) and has some deficiency in bass. The other note is that I use IEMs just for working out at the gym and for commute on a noisy train and I listen mostly to fast rock in these environments.
With all that my personal preference are clearly 5pros despite them being technically (neutrality, balance, detail, clarity) somewhat inferior to E4 but still much better than E3 and ER-6i (both of which I had/auditioned). Sonically 5pro's strong points are much more prominent than E4 soundstage and bass. They have that spacious, dark, big bold sound (as opposed to E4 clean, cold, flat and analytical) that to me seems very musical and engaging despite recessed highs and some veiled detail.
Also having used both at the gym I found 5pros to be much more comfortable than Shures thanks to lighter and shorter replaceable cords with memory feature and, most importantly, because their ear tips are bigger and designed to rest against ear canal opening and not to go deep inside like Etys and Shures. All that without noticeable loss of isolation or at the expense of secure fit. 5pros are also more sensitive than E4 but both can be easily driven by a portable without a need for an amp. On the downside 5pros are bigger than E4, stick more out of the ears (don't even think about going to bed wearing these), cost more and unlike for much more popular Shures and Etys, there're almost no 3rd party online merchants selling replacement foam tips and other stuff.
Both E4 and 5pros are excellent and are very different. Both Shure and UE offer 2 year warranties and, I think, 30 day return policies. No matter what we say here your ears and wallet will be final judges.
