High quality IEM vs open back over ear

[JacKallen]

So I am considering getting an open back headphone, but I am wondering how good quality In ear headphones compete with these. I am usually using in ear headphones since I am on the go a lot, but I am considering getting something just for home use, and I am wondering if the quality in general improves with open back headphones contra in ear. I am not only talking soundstage but also bass tightness, micro details, clarity etc. 
I like relatively bassy headphones, but not to the extreme. I have the Beyerdynamic T90 in my scope, along with a few others. 
Any help would be appreciated. 
@Brooko 

 

[Brooko]

What are your favourite in-ears J?  That'll give us something to work on.

 

[JacKallen]

In terms of sound signature my favorite so far has been Altone 200.
My question is not so much on signature though, but in overall quality. Does IEMs edge open back over ear in some areas? 

 

[Brooko]

All of the below is opinion - and based on testing and comparisons over a number of years.
 
Really tough question - and very dependent on preferences.  I've always been a fan of open headphones for overall presentation and tonality. The HD600 would probably be my gold standard for a very natural sounding headphone.  For something a bit more detail skewed, more vivid if you like - I'd use the Beyer T1.
 
In my experience no IEM can come close to the headstage a good open headphone can project - just like no headphone can approach a really good speaker set-up.
 
But IEMs have other strengths:

1. They can isolate really well - which can make listening a lot more vivid and intimate
2. Because you're pumping that music straight into your ears, you can get a heightened sense of intensity - whether that be bass, or detail (lower treble)
3. Size
4. Portability

 
They have their cons though too.

1. Narrower headstage
2. Less natural sounding because you are listening with closed canals so you can have occlusion effects
3. *Theory* - IEMs trigger the acoustic reflex early (our inbuilt protection mechanism to dampen loud noises).  This has a side effect of tightening the air drum and giving us less fidelity.  For more info on that, look up Asius and the Adel technology.

 
As to your Altone 200 (I have it also), I'd suggest starting to look at DT990, T90 or T1 as definite possibilities.  And look at the HD600 as a little different sounding possibility, and maybe also the HD650.  Neither aare as V shaped at the Altone - but I think you might quite enjoy their mid-range.
 
Not sure if that helps a little?

 

[JacKallen]

Thanks a lot, that did help.
You write that an IEM can give a heightened sense of intensity, including detail. does that mean that a good IEM can be better at detailing than a good open back headphone?

Also, when you write "neither are as V shaped as the Altone", I guess you are only talking about the HD600 and 650? I have heard that especially the DT990 are very v-shaped, but I do not know how V-shaped compared to something like the Altone.
Also heard that the T1 can be very bright and fatiguing, how do you feel about that?

Again, thanks for the help.

 

[Brooko]

Thanks a lot, that did help.
You write that an IEM can give a heightened sense of intensity, including detail. does that mean that a good IEM can be better at detailing than a good open back headphone?

 
You'd need to talk specifics. If you were talking HD800, I don't think there is an IEM I've heard that could touch it's resolution.  Some will be more detailed than open headphones definitely - eg DN2000J vs an HD650 for example (2000J very bright and very clinical).
 

Also, when you write "neither are as V shaped as the Altone", I guess you are only talking about the HD600 and 650? I have heard that especially the DT990 are very v-shaped, but I do not know how V-shaped compared to something like the Altone.
Also heard that the T1 can be very bright and fatiguing, how do you feel about that?

 
Yeah - sorry - I mentioned the DT990 and T90 because they are more V shaped.  Altone200 is also pretty bright, so I was trying to get something that might be closer to their overall sig. And some may find the T1 a bit bright - I don't. And if you like the Altone200 - you'd be pretty safe with them.  Very revealing, very vivid, great bass, nice balance - spacious, fantastic imaging.  At their current price point the original T1 has to be one of the bargains in the audio world at the moment. An affordable flagship 

 

[JacKallen]

   
You'd need to talk specifics. If you were talking HD800, I don't think there is an IEM I've heard that could touch it's resolution.  Some will be more detailed than open headphones definitely - eg DN2000J vs an HD650 for example (2000J very bright and very clinical).
 
 
Yeah - sorry - I mentioned the DT990 and T90 because they are more V shaped.  Altone200 is also pretty bright, so I was trying to get something that might be closer to their overall sig. And some may find the T1 a bit bright - I don't. And if you like the Altone200 - you'd be pretty safe with them.  Very revealing, very vivid, great bass, nice balance - spacious, fantastic imaging.  At their current price point the original T1 has to be one of the bargains in the audio world at the moment. An affordable flagship 

T1 is a bit out of my budget, so I am more looking at the T90. I don't know if you have heard those, but how are their sound signature compared to the Altones? 

 

[Brooko]

Sorry mate - only heard the T1 and DT880

 

[JacKallen]

Ok, thanks for the help. (y)