I mainly listen to blues, rock, rap and some classical - run on an iPhone 4 and don't mind buying an amp/dac
if necessary.
It isn't.
Ive
been using atrio m5's and klipsch x10's and are
looking for a more rich, full natural sound (I'm a noob so don't really know all the terms).
Coming from the M5 and X10, it sounds to me like the FX700/IE80 are your best bets. The e-Q7, comparatively speaking, won't offer as powerful bass as you're used to already with the M5 or X10. On the other hand, if you're willing to sacrifice a bit of bass impact, the e-Q7 is as great an option as any. Between the FX700 and IE80, where a more rich, full and natural sound is concerned, you won't find better than the FX700, though they're both great contenders. I'd first and foremost recommend the FX700 however, with the IE80's being a very close second, followed by the e-Q7 for a very natural sound, albeit not nearly as bass heavy as any of the aforementioned. If, for instance, you're particularly concerned with the midrange, you may find the FX700 lacking midrange presence, in which case the e-Q7 would also be worth considering. However, the FX700 is impossibly crisp, full and natural sounding, and in your shoes, I wouldn't look back, my friend.
Is an amp/dac
necessary for these iem's?
Necessary? Absolutely not. Would it offer an improvement? To variable degrees, yes. But in the end, only you can truly justify whether or not said improvement are worth the cost. My advice? Listen to them directly through your iPhone 4 first, which is regarded as a good source I might add. Then, go from there.
P.S. Love the username.
