frazzledglispa
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2008
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Hi all, I am looking for a recommendation for an iPhone headset. Currently I am using some Sennheiser CX300s for audio only. They are the only IEMs I have ever used, and I think they are alright, a little overpowering in the bass, and they love to slip out of my ears (especially in the morning after a shower unless I Q-tip my ears to death to get all of the water out.)
I had thought about the mm50 IP, but decided against them because of the way the CX-300s tend to distort and overemphasize the low end.
I also thought about the Shure SE 210s with the separate microphone cable, but really would rather not have two cables and have read really mixed reviews on the 210s
I believe I have narrowed it down to either the UE 4vi or the 5vi but am trying to decide if it is worth the extra money to upgrade from the 4 to the 5. The $190 or so for the 5vi is really the most I would want to spend - a little more actually.
I will primarily be using these on the train to and from work. I listen to primarily female vocalists, but a wide range of genres - acoustic singer/songwriter, alt-country, "alternative" (ridiculously wide category, I know) art-rock, some dance, a bit of classical. Some artist examples would be Fiona Apple, Nico Case, Laurie Anderson, Sam Phillips, Kate Bush (Hounds of Love and The Dreaming must sound good) Tanita Tikaram, Basia Bulat, Sinead O'Connor, etc...
Another thing to take into account is the fact that I have some scar tissue and thickening on my ear-drums from surgery and tube implants as a child, so my ears are not the most sensitive, especially on the very low end and the very high. I can tell that the CX300's are too bassy, and I listened to a friends Vibe Duos and they sounded horrible to me - most of the high end was completely lost on me and everything sounded like a rumbly bassy mess - like someone turned the treble knob on a cheap stereo all the way down and the bass knob all the way up. Or like when someone drives by on the street listening to hip-hop and all you can really hear is the bass.
I like to hear the bass, even to feel it, but not at the expense of the rest of the music.
I rip all of my music to 190kpbs AAC, but to be honest I cannot tell the difference between 128 and 256 and a CD, except on a very few songs - and even then the difference is very negligable - to my ears anyway. I can hear more distortion at the end of Troy by Sinead O'Connor at 128 than I can at 190 for example.
I mention this, because obviously, if the details will be lost on me there isn't a lot of point in paying the extra money.
I also like the shape of the 5vi better than the 4vi, they look like they would be more comfortable and could be worn up or down.
Anyway, sorry this was so long, just wanted to give as much detail as possible. I would really appreciate any suggestions anyone has to give. I have never shelled out this much money for a pair of earphones before, and am a bit anxious about doing so without having much experience.
Peace!
Brent
I had thought about the mm50 IP, but decided against them because of the way the CX-300s tend to distort and overemphasize the low end.
I also thought about the Shure SE 210s with the separate microphone cable, but really would rather not have two cables and have read really mixed reviews on the 210s
I believe I have narrowed it down to either the UE 4vi or the 5vi but am trying to decide if it is worth the extra money to upgrade from the 4 to the 5. The $190 or so for the 5vi is really the most I would want to spend - a little more actually.
I will primarily be using these on the train to and from work. I listen to primarily female vocalists, but a wide range of genres - acoustic singer/songwriter, alt-country, "alternative" (ridiculously wide category, I know) art-rock, some dance, a bit of classical. Some artist examples would be Fiona Apple, Nico Case, Laurie Anderson, Sam Phillips, Kate Bush (Hounds of Love and The Dreaming must sound good) Tanita Tikaram, Basia Bulat, Sinead O'Connor, etc...
Another thing to take into account is the fact that I have some scar tissue and thickening on my ear-drums from surgery and tube implants as a child, so my ears are not the most sensitive, especially on the very low end and the very high. I can tell that the CX300's are too bassy, and I listened to a friends Vibe Duos and they sounded horrible to me - most of the high end was completely lost on me and everything sounded like a rumbly bassy mess - like someone turned the treble knob on a cheap stereo all the way down and the bass knob all the way up. Or like when someone drives by on the street listening to hip-hop and all you can really hear is the bass.
I like to hear the bass, even to feel it, but not at the expense of the rest of the music.
I rip all of my music to 190kpbs AAC, but to be honest I cannot tell the difference between 128 and 256 and a CD, except on a very few songs - and even then the difference is very negligable - to my ears anyway. I can hear more distortion at the end of Troy by Sinead O'Connor at 128 than I can at 190 for example.
I mention this, because obviously, if the details will be lost on me there isn't a lot of point in paying the extra money.
I also like the shape of the 5vi better than the 4vi, they look like they would be more comfortable and could be worn up or down.
Anyway, sorry this was so long, just wanted to give as much detail as possible. I would really appreciate any suggestions anyone has to give. I have never shelled out this much money for a pair of earphones before, and am a bit anxious about doing so without having much experience.
Peace!
Brent