So I've spent some more time with the Pioneer SE-CX9 and compared them directly to HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2 and Audio Technica ATH-CKS1000.
The Bass Exciter is real life. It provides the most visceral impact of any IEM I've experienced.
That said, the Balanced Armature units provide very clear audio. Very little mud between the bass and mids.
The reason, it seems, is that the BA driver can't exactly do what a Dynamic driver can do. It doesn't reach into your chest and make you almost short of breath.
Without EQ, the SE-CX9 has virtually no bass hit at all. It's not exactly polite, as it's still colored toward bass a bit, but you have EQ up your music to get to the point that the Bass Exciter kicks in to feel anything.
If the Bass Exciter did not exist, these would be nowhere close to a Basshead headphone. This earphone has actually made me far more curious about the Pioneer SE-CX8, because it uses Dynamic Drivers and might provide the deep-reaching bass rumble AND impact in one package.
The Wooduo 2 and ATH-CKS1000 both have more of a deep, throaty breathtaking quality to them than the SE-CX9. Neither have the visceral canal-shaking impact of the Pioneer.
If you want clear mids and highs presented by good Balanced Armature IEMs
and the skull-rattling physical shaking sensation, these are probably exactly what you're after. If you want your chest to feel almost compressed, lean toward the Wooduo 2.
The Pioneer SE-CX9 is an absolutely unique earphone. It pairs crystal clarity with visceral bass impact, which is what many people are after. I'm surprised these aren't far more popular.
That said, I'm willing to accept a little muddiness to make it feel like I'm having a little trouble breathing, so I'll ultimately exchange these IEMs for the SE-CX8 to see if those have what I'm looking for.
Note that you
must use EQ to engage the Bass Exciter (otherwise you'd have to turn the volume up too high). Without it, these are not basshead earphones, but they still sound pretty good. If you don't have EQ and seek bass impact, Wooduo 2 are the best I've heard.
I'm still updating the Top 3 list for basshead IEMs, with caveats listed:
Top 3 Basshead IEMs (that Luckbad has heard)
- Pioneer SE-CX9 - Very good full range clarity coupled with visceral bass impact. BA drivers sound good, but you don't feel the bass in your chest. However, if you want clear music with the most significant ear canal shaking you can obtain in an IEM, these are for you. Requires ample EQ--the Bass Excited does nothing until you feed it enough bass. You'll know when you hit the right amount of bass EQ, because it's like turning a switch on that says "I want my ear canals to be in an earthquake please." These are pretty bulky and heavy, so if that's a concern for you, you might want to skip them.
- HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2 - Small, wooden, surprising. These have quite a bit of bass out of the box and respond well to EQ. The overall sound signature is not as clear as the Pioneer or Audio Technica, but they do the best job of taking your breath away when reaching down into the deepest reaches of bass. If all you're after is bass impact and depth, these offer the best combination that I've heard. Driver flex appears to be common with these--I have to pull the left earphone slightly out after insertion or the driver stays flexed.
- Audio Technica ATH-CKS1000 - Dual Chamber bass gimmick. But, it works. These can get down deep into the sub-bass region with ample EQ and provide a fair amount of hit as well. More overall clarity and versatility than the Wooduo 2 with a bit less feeling in the chest. They're about at the halfway point between the Wooduo 2 and SE-CX9. Bulky, but lighter than the Pioneer.
See my
earlier post in this thread for more info on bass-heavy IEMs I've tested thoroughly.
