Help: The best value IEM !?

[fredman22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordgibbness /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is true up to a certain price point. If a phone is slightly better and costs a LOT more then I would say that is not good value for money. It all comes down to the law of deminishing returns and the price/performance curve. As an aside, I am slightly leaning towards the ER-4P at the moment as from what I have read they offer very good, detailed sound and the best isolation. The E4c's also sound quite good, offering a slightly less detailed, but perhaps a warmer sound. I think the better the isolation the better really.

Just to bait the argument a bit, even if an IEM cost a LOT more and was only a little better, given the choice it would probably be the one most used, providing more value than an unused or rarely used IEM, no? Also,I think isolation in an IEM is heavily determined by tip-type and ear canal size and shape, and both the ER-4P and the E4c can provide the same amount of isolation - depending on which tips you use and find comfortable. IMO, only when the design of the IEM (as in the case [for me] of superFi products) prevent an equal degree of insertion can it affect isolation... and that brings up the 4th important factor after sound, price, and isolation - comfort! Cheers.

 

[lordgibbness]

fredman22, I notice you have both the E4c and the ER4P and was wondering how you would compare the two - good and bad points - and the overall winner?

Also does anyone else have both - what do you think?

True that the IEM could well end up being the most used - esp. if you commute to work so one could look to spend more. But the thing is everyone says that it'll never match the sound of a full-sized can (like the HD600).

Also, after doing some research the prices in the US are much better at about half the cost - so even with import duty it'd be much cheaper!

Lastly, is the much of a diff between the ER6i and ER4P SQ-wise?

--rob.

 

[fredman22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordgibbness /img/forum/go_quote.gif fredman22, I notice you have both the E4c and the ER4P and was wondering how you would compare the two - good and bad points - and the overall winner? Also does anyone else have both - what do you think? True that the IEM could well end up being the most used - esp. if you commute to work so one could look to spend more. But the thing is everyone says that it'll never match the sound of a full-sized can (like the HD600). Also, after doing some research the prices in the US are much better at about half the cost - so even with import duty it'd be much cheaper! Lastly, is the much of a diff between the ER6i and ER4P SQ-wise? --rob.

Sorry Rob, I cannot fairly compare the two as I had the Etys for about 4-6 mos. before getting UM2s (which have been my mainstay IEM for about 13 mos.) and only received the E4cs in 'trade' much later after letting go some E3cs. After the clarity of the Etys, I went into 'sound sig shock' with the UM2s until I acclimated to them (about 10 days realtime), and then never looked back - meaning getting the E4cs after UM2s they never really get any/enough air time for a fair eval and quite frankly I only keep them around as backups (they'll come in handy some day). For quite a while for me it's been the UM2s with an occasional excursion back to the Etys (their clarity is refreshing). But I have stopped looking after acquiring these two. Because of its warm sound (and I use it in Sony gear which is a bit bassier) I find the UM2s about as can-like as you're likely to find in a universal, but since they sit in your ear and I prefer an over-the-ear closed can, the soundstage alone cannot compete. Still, for v. high fidelity in a portable package, IEMs can't be beat. Lastly, I have not exp. w/ ER6s but am convinced that you can't go wrong with ER-4P/S. Cheers.

 

[lordgibbness]

Another question - out of the headphones listed above, which are the largest/smallest. I hear that the superfi's and shures are quite large compared to the etys?

Also if I was to order the ER4P would I end up with a red/blue pair or a black pair? I really don't like the colourful ones!

 

[LFC_SL]

Pic thread. ER4P pic here. The E4Cs are anything but big. Whoever gave you that idea I don't know... and also for a start Ety's and UEs stick out the most, so that may be another consideration. God knows that's why I got rid of my old 5.Pro's

UM1s and UM2s sit flush to the ear. You can sleep on them. Best fit and cable design ever. See here and here for testimonies

 

[lordgibbness]

Thank you all for your help.

After reading many reviews and many posts I have decided to go for the Westone UM1 IEMs. I have found them for around $109 (£55) which looks like a good deal and should be a good all-purpose canal-phone.

I would have preferred the UM2's but cannot justify the $299 (£150) price tag. I always seem to end up getting one model down from the top of the range model. (e.g. I got HD600s instead of HD650s, MS-1s instead of SR-225s, and now getting UM1s instead of UM2's!) But I think it's the sane thing to do as I have hundreds more things that I need to spend my money on!

In summary, I think most IEMs either stick out of the ear too far or look too gawky. The exception appears to be the ER-6i's and the UM1/2.

Although the Ety's appear to offer the best isolation and detail they are too bass-thin to consider. Cablesound also appears to be a problem. And the ER-6's appear to be a little fragile.

I regularly use my EX70s to sleep and need an IEM that sits flush to the ear, which the UM1 seems to offer. Ety's, Shure's and UE's do not seem to be so good in this respect.

Also from everything I have read the UM1/2 appear to have the best tonality and I think that is what I am looking for.

Thanks again.

--rob.