[Starsky5000]

I am looking for an accurate iem. Something that will represent my recordings the way it was meant to heard.
 
My budget is $200. Accuracy!
 
I am currently looking at the Etymotic MC5 and the Etymotic H5F.
 
Please any input would be appreciated. Please feel free to suggest any earphones I haven't mentioned.
 
I am returning the Panasonic RP-HJE900 Zirconia Earphones I just ordered. Just too many faults with that one.  Should've been much wiser before pulling the trigger on that one. Now i gotta pay return shipping charges.

 

[Photofan1986]

200$? Hifiman RE-252, RE-0, RE-Zero, Etymotics might do the trick, too.

 

[rawrster]

How can an earphone have too many faults when you have yet to hear them?

 

[jant71]

Wait for the CKM77 or CKM99(if you want to go a bit over $200). You seem to have been happy with AT in the past so why not their latest and greatest dynamics. They won't be out for about a month though.

 

[Starsky5000]

Yes I've extremely please with Audio Technica in the past. In fact I have 2 Audio Technica CK7s. I love 'em like crazy. Great analytical canalphones with the right amount of bass when needed.
 
Also it's true that i'm going to return the Panasonics without trying them out. I wish the CK7s had removable cables that would be one of my ultimate dream phones.

 

[LostOne.TR]

Quote:

How can an earphone have too many faults when you have yet to hear them?

 
^  would like to know too.

 

[LostOne.TR]

You might like the CK10s.  I had the ck7's for a short while, and enjoy the CK10s vastly more. The ck7's at times seemed hot/too trebly, also gave off a weird tinny/metallic sound to the music. The ck10s, I find doesn't suffer from this as much.

 

[germanturkey]

too bad the ck10 doesn't fall in the sub 200 category any more.  try out the ZERO or 0

 

[luvs2squizz]

Westone 3 can be had for $200 if you're good at haggling (like me

)

 

[aamefford]

Amazon has the Etymotic ER4P and ER4S for roughly $170 - a stone bargain.  They have the HF5 at around $120 as well.  I was about to pull the trigger last night, and low lo and behold, ran across an older blue/red pair of ER4P's with the P/S cable for $120.  I can't actually recommend them yet, but that Amazon deal looks pretty good.

 

[luvs2squizz]

Quote:

Amazon has the Etymotic ER4P and ER4S for roughly $170 - a stone bargain.  They have the HF5 at around $120 as well.  I was about to pull the trigger last night, and low and behold, ran across an older blue/red pair of ER4P's with the P/S cable for $120.  I can't actually recommend them yet, but that Amazon deal looks pretty good.

It's "lo and behold"

 

 

[Pianist]

I recommend RE252 or RE-ZERO if you are on a budget.

 

[mvw2]

RE252 vote here.  At $200, there isn't better.
 
I'd lean you more towards the Custom 3 than the RE-ZERO at the $100 price point.

 

[Inks]

The RE line isn't accurate at all in the lower regions imo. Sure it might be neutral as far as frequency response, but the bass lacks the realism that is needed. This lack makes the reverb subpar and makes it sound overall thin. I usually use piano reference tracks and all of the REs make the piano sound thin and a bit edgy. The bass is there but it's thin even if the quantity is there. Due to their nature, IEMs need to have a nice hump to in lower regions to have realism imo

 

[kboe]

When I had them, I thought the shure se4cs were amazingly natural and neutral. Nothing stuck out, it simply made music. I kinda feel the same way about my DT990s now.