To start off here's pic comparing the Sony plug (top) to the EarThumps plug (bottom):
Next:
I listened to them for a few hours while studying and I have learned a few things:
First, the headphone out of my (vintage) Marantz Model 2240B reciever is VERY powerful and VERY bassy.
Second, these headphones aren't half bad (but not great).
Third, my recabled, modded EX71's do sound much different than stock.
Lastly, I really do hate the EX71's (more than I thought).
(I should note that all thoughts expressed in this post are from listening through my 5G iPod not my Marantz reciever)
The first time I put these headphones in was a few seconds after I had been listening to my Super.fi 5EB's. This probably wasn't a good idea. I thought they sounded very strange. Muffled with a wierd hollow-ness to the mids. It was immediately noticeable that they were bass heavy, but not shrill like the EX71's.
I think I should have started with physical characteristics, but it's not too late, so I'll do them now. I love the design of these things. Small, portable, but (they seem) much more durable than the EX71's. The cord is similar in diameter to the Sony's (thicker than the Super.fi's) but it is much 'tougher' (a little stiffer, but feels much stronger).The earbuds themselves are about the same size as the Sony's but made of hard, shiny plastic (not silver with rubbery stuff around it). I like how they look/feel, but I think some may find it to be a 'cheap' look (plastic).Also they seem to have a metal mesh filter (similar to the MD33) at the bottom of the stem. They also have a small hole in the back of the earpiece (like the EX71's 3 holes) to increase bass (I assume).
The eartips are much thicker, firmer than the Sony's, but not as thick/firm as the clear Shure's. They provide a very good seal, but are a little less comfortable (than the Sony's or Super.fi's). They are a little bit larger than the Sony's, so this may be why I find them less comfy (mediums are a little too big, smalls are too small).Before I started studying (listening) I decided to try out the Sony/Super.fi tips on them. I was very disappointed to find that they dont' fit quite right. It is hard to explain, but the rubber of the eartips ends up pushing into the body of the earpiece when the eartip is all the way on. They do work like this, but I decided to just stick with the stock tips.
After a few hours of listening I became accustomed to their sound and rather like it. I like good bass and I think these are decent. It is just as plentiful as the Sony's but noticeably tighter/less flabby. But it's no where near as good as the Super.fi's. The highs are non-fatigueing (I hate harsh highs), and the mids are a little hollow sounding/not super clear, but not terrible (especially compared to the Sony's also lacking mids).
When I decided to take a break from doing homework I went and got my girlfriend's EX71's to do some A/B testing. After about 30 seconds I took them off and was amazed how horrible they sounded. The highs were just killing me and the mids were worse than I remember (but they sounded quite a bit more clear, probably due to the emphasised).Then I tried my recabled/modded EX71's and they sounded MUCH better than the stock ones (I didn't even realize my mods made that much of a difference sonically), but they were still brighter (harsher) than the EarThumps. With the Treble Reducer EQ on my iPod I actually like my EX71's a bit more than the EarThumps, but compared to stock EX71's with no EQ, I prefer the sound signature of the EarThumps.
Overall thoughts: At first these come off a bit muffled/muddy with strong bass and non-fatigueing highs. After a bit of use, I don't think the hollow/muffled mids are that bad, but not something most audiophiles would be content with. I think they are a VERY good alternative to the EX71's (especially if you hate harsh highs). They are also a one-piece, Y-shaped cable and cost half as much.
I did not spend much time comparing these to the Super.fi's because there is just no point, the 5EB's are much better in every way (except they are a lot bigger). I wouldn't even compare these (sonically) with the KSC75's because they're not in the same league. If you're just looking to get rid of your iBuds these may be great for you. I think they are a good alternative to other low end earphones if you; hate harsh highs, don't like two-piece or y-shaped cables, or want something really cheap.
Lastly, I can't say it enough how much I love the physical design of these earbuds. They are pretty much what I believed the EX71's should be (one-piece, normal length, durable, Y-shaped cable, small size, durable earpieces). You can see how similar they are to my recabled EX71's:
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=151377
I think these are a great headphone for people who aren't into headphones.
They design is great, and the price is super low, but they leave something to be desired (sound-wise) to the discerning user.
Hope everyone enjoyed that! Let me know if you have other questions.
