TuNeCedeMalis
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2011
- Posts
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[size=10.0pt]My RE-ZEROs came in earlier today. Here are my initial impressions after a few hours of usage. I doubt any of this will be educational to experienced IEM users. As my first pair of IEMs, I figure my initial impressions may matter to others who are considering these as their first pair as well! [/size]
[size=10.0pt]To start off, when they first came in I almost didn't know where to start. I promptly (and with some difficulty starting out) started switching back and forth between tips, trying to find the perfect ones. The black stock tips that come with them have nothing unique or distinctive about them. The bi-flanges really surprised me however. I always thought they looked lame in pictures, but for some odd reason they were really desirable to me seeing them in person. Unfortunately, neither of the stock sizes gave me a good fit. I found my best fit with the medium sized sony hybrids, which are available almost anywhere! On to the ZEROs themselves.[/size]
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[size=10.0pt]My first problem is with a portion of its design.[/size]
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[size=10.0pt]http://i.imgur.com/Bufgx.jpg[/size]
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[size=10.0pt]Why they decided it would be a good idea to put a ring of rough edges around a product that is going to go into somebody's ear is beyond me! That being said, this only hurts/scrapes me when i'm wiggling them around by putting them in or taking them out...only then does it scratch the inside of my ear. Once I get them in, they are REALLY comfortable. I still have a bit of trouble getting them just right while putting them in, but it IS getting easier. Right now they are in and I couldn't be more comfortable.[/size]
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[size=10.0pt]Edit: These edges really haven't been a problem to me for quite some time. It was only while I was unfamiliar with how to put them in properly. Still, it may affect someone else's decision to get them. [/size]
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[size=10.0pt]After I found the fit I was looking for, I decided to throw on some jams. My initial thought was, "Okay, that does sound good" but nothing much more than that. I also felt that the bass was lacking, but I told myself to allow burn in. That's when I plugged in my Fiio E5. The Fiio's bass boost feature is very interesting in that it doesn't really add all that much…but the little bit it does add IS noticeable and just perfect in combination with these zeros. Analytical is definitely the proper term for these phones. Bass only dominates when intended to by the artist, but at any time I can single out the bass with relative ease. [/size]
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[size=10.0pt]It was at this point that I realized how piercing the highs were becoming, and the tinny sound I had heard reported was definitely present. I decided to put my mp3 player at about medium volume and cranked the E5 up to 11 so to speak. This added more punch to the highs without really coloring them in any noticeable way. They were just as clear and sound quality wasn't compromised here, everything just managed to even out. With the bass how I wanted it and the highs no longer piercing, I was finally able to really get into these IEMs.[/size]
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[size=10.0pt]My favorite aspect of these headphones is the separation. I threw on some music from a band called Opeth. They worked really well to analyze these headphones…songs are long enough that you can take your time observing different aspects of the headphones, zone out and listen, and then come right back to analyzing. Opeth is also very diverse, from ballads to some of the most brutal stuff I’ve heard. It was definitely a good exercise for me to get acquainted with my zeros. For a large amount of the time, their music is very layered and this is where the separation really helped. I listened to albums that I had heard hundreds, if not thousands, of times and I actually heard things I hadn’t before at least once per song, some things being more significant than others. With each song, my enjoyment of these headphones has grown! Each album I listen to somehow ends up becoming my new favorite album by that band
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[size=10.0pt]Next off, the drums! Boy oh boy do IEMs really help with the drums (I’m mostly talking metal, here). The separation does its part but these phones are also detailed and clear enough that I’m able to pick out the different types of cymbals being hit…my experience with cymbals before was very rhythmic, but now the cymbals almost carry a whole melody of their own! [/size]
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[size=10.0pt]Microphonics are almost non-existent when worn with the cable over your ears, but it's a little hard for me to keep them that way so far, as they are still bent here and there from being wound up inside the box. As said before, I still have to allow burn in. Currently I've listened to around five hours worth of material, so if these things do "burn in" I will be very surprised...they sound good already.[/size]
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[size=10.0pt]The RE-ZEROs come with a balanced plug that isn’t compatible with your traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. I think this was an attempt and future proofing it, but there’s just nothing on the market for a balanced plug right now. It comes with two adapters for a traditional jack, a hard adapter and a soft one. I use the soft one and pretty much forget about it, it really isn’t obtrusive at all. [/size]
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[size=10.0pt]So what’s my conclusion so far? Should someone get these headphones as an introductory pair to good IEMs? I’d definitely have to say yes. Even just now my headphones impressed me which really highlights the beauty of these. These are very enjoyable to just listen to, but they do a splendid job of showing me what I’ve been missing. I will definitely get a second pair of IEMs very soon, because now I just feel greedy.[/size]
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[size=10.0pt]Verdict: These headphones are easily the best headphones I’ve ever had, and anyone considering them as their first pair of “good” headphones should definitely try them out. It took some time and a few adjustments to get the sound I wanted out of it, but now I couldn't be happier. The only flaw remaining is that rough texture, but please don’t let it deter you. A half second of discomfort is definitely worth the journey in my ears right now! I will never buy headphones under $100 dollars again and in the end that's what I really wanted to feel. I definitely recommend the E5 with it (at least...I know there are better amps out there but for $20 dollars it's doing its job). [/size]
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Please feel free to comment/ask questions/give advice. I hope these first impressions will be helpful to someone out there.
Edit:
After burn in, it turns out that I like these headphones a whole lot better without an amp (or at least without the Fiio E5 Amp). They don't make the Zeros sound worse or anything. Without the amp, however, everything sounds a whole lot more "live". I don't regret a thing about these headphones.
