ER6i/Super.fi 3/AT ATH-CK7 ??

[a-dogg]

I've spent a long while surfing these boards reading up on these three earbuds... problem is I've read so long that I've seen so many points and counterpoints to the place where I'm completely lost...

I'm looking for a decent set of sub-$100 earbuds and am kind of lost on which way to go. CNET recommends the Super.fi 3's, but people on these forums seem to side with the ER6i's. And I've seen mention of the ATH-CK7's, which seem to have more detailed bass than the other 2, without losing clarity.

I also know that getting the Shure Olives (whatever they're called) are supposed to really bump things up a notch with whatever buds I buy.

Also, what is microphonics and do they all suffer from it? From what I can tell, it's static from when the cords brush against your body/clothes/etc.?

Just curious if anyone had any final words of wisdom on which of these 3 earbuds they'd recommend... I don't listen to metal, and very little techno. Mostly rock, reggae, acoustic, motown, jazz...

Thank you! This place is a wealth of knowledge. Almost too much knowledge.

 

[fraseyboy]

For those genre's I think you would really enjoy the ER6i's.

I like them better than pretty much all my more expensive headphones. They just sound so right.

If you like lots of bass they won't be for you (the bass is a bit like the K701's, if the recording has good bass you will hear it). They're very detailed and separate instruments better than any other pair of headphones I've heard. With them you can really focus on the music. IMO they have the perfect sound.

Without shure olives they're not as good though. Make 'shure' you get them

They improve the soundstage to be quite remarkable and also partly solve the bass problem. They make the sound less 'thin' too.

Microphonics are the rustling noises you hear when the cable brushes against your clothes or whatever. Pretty much all IEM's suffer from it but some are worse than others. ER6i's are quite bad, but they have a little clip so you can clip the wire onto your shirt which does help. You can also put them in upside down so the wire goes around your ear.

I haven't heard the other 2 but IMO I don't see how they can be better

Of course if you prefer a more fun warm sound maybe the Ety's aren't for you. It depends on what your values are.

 

[pedxing]

You probably read about this. The ER-6i has a tendency to get very analytical and the bass is shy (but there). The CK7 have a very sweet mid-range and gets some good tight bass. The CK7 feels more like ear buds that go deep while the ER-6i are like ear plugs. Obviously, the ER-6i has far superior isolation. Both products are not warm in the normal sense with full sized headphones. If you want boom in your bass look elsewhere. There are not very many good alternatives in your price range.

 

[dakkar]

I've only used the Super.fi 3, (now moved on to customs )

Anyway, I liked the sound, if you can get a proper seal. As well, the part sticking out is quite big and it can fall out pretty easily.

 

[a-dogg]

Thanks for the responses.

pedxing -- do you know if you can use the Shure olives with the CK7's? Also, while I know things are tight in my price range, noise reduction vs. warm/lush sound (again, I know that sub-$100 'buds don't really do "lush"), do you have any recommendation between the CK7 and ER6i's?

I'd originally read that the Super.fi 3's were the best sub-$100, but on these boards, people tended to dig the ER-61's. And then -- just to confuse me even more! -- people threw in that the CK7's had a "fuller" sound.

 

[synaesthetic]

ER-6i are definitely far better with Shure olives than with stock tips.

 

[a-dogg]

just to further complicate things, I've been reading so much about the awful microphonics of the ER6i's. Ugh.

And have also been reading about the positives of the UM1's...

 

[pedxing]

I never tried shure olive with the ck7. I read somewhere certain comply tips may work ck7 too.

 

[chinesekiwi]

How about the Head-Direct RE2's?
If ya in the US, it's silly cheap atm ($79).
For around the $100, you can get Denon c751's as well.
The US has it too good when it comes to prices

 

[a-dogg]

Head-Direct RE2's? Denon c571's? Never heard of them!! How do they stack up against the others I mentioned?

While the ER6i's have great isolation, I'm getting a little scared at all the reports of super-bad microphonics...

Too many choices.

Isolation is key, since I'll be using them outside mostly. Bass is nice, but I don't listen to a crazy amount of rap/hip-hop. What's important is warm, clean sound. Which may be damn hard to come by at my price range.

 

[chinesekiwi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by a-dogg /img/forum/go_quote.gif Head-Direct RE2's? Denon c571's? Never heard of them!! How do they stack up against the others I mentioned?

Out of all of them, the Denon c751's are the best sound quality wise. However if you want pure pure isolation, I'd get an IEM like the Westone UM1's. They however sound worse than the Head-Direct RE2's and C751's. The Head-Direct RE2's have been described by a few as a more refined ER6i. i.e. better sound quality wise. The Head-Direct RE2's default large tips will isolate ok, but you'll still hear a bit of stuff. Microphonics wise, both the RE2's and C751's have very little. However the RE2's (as well as the ER6i) have little bass.
The c751's have both great highs and great bass, more focused on the highs though IMO.
Also the default tips that come with the c751's = BAD! (both fit and islation).

However with something like some foam tips such as Comply T400's, it's significantly better.

 

[a-dogg]

interesting. the reviews for both the denons and the head-directs i've seen have been pretty special. i'm guessing i can get comply's or something to help with the isolation on the denons?

 

[chinesekiwi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by a-dogg /img/forum/go_quote.gif ii'm guessing i can get comply's or something to help with the isolation on the denons?

Oh definately.
Also remember that the Denon c700 and the Denon c751 are the same thing. The only difference is that the 751's has a case and other accessories whilst the C700's only have spare tips (that'll you'll throw away anyway cuz they're so crap).

 

[a-dogg]

i thought the C751K's were the same buds as the C700K's, except they had a carrying case, etc. Not true?

How bizarre is it that Amazon has the 751's for only $97 and the 700's for $199??

 

[chinesekiwi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by a-dogg /img/forum/go_quote.gif i thought the C751K's were the same buds as the C700K's, except they had a carrying case, etc. Not true?

It's true.

Quote:

How bizarre is it that Amazon has the 751's for only $97 and the 700's for $199??

Get the 751's then. It's a no brainer.