IEM (Inner Ear Monitor) VS BOSE QC2

[leonardz]

I am looking to purchase a set of mobile headphones to be powere by a laptop or CD player. This is for office use and train travel.

I tried and quite liked the BOSE QC2. But after reading threads here I would like to try an IEM. The problem is no one allows testing of them. So I would like to hear from people who have tried

Etymotic ER4 or UE Super.fi 5Pro vs theBOSE QC2 and try to understand which would be better.

My music tastes tend towards:

30% Chamber music
30% Symphonic
20% Opera
20% Rock

A second question has to do with the etymotics:

I can easily get the ER4P + a cable for the ER4P>ER4S conversion. If I go with the ER4P+cable, is there a difference with the ER4S? I really prefer the ER4S based on Reviews I have seen here.

Final question: How important is a headphone amp, given the above choices, and what are reasonable amps (ie high quality, not high priced) one sto look for?

 

[The Monkey]

Given your tastes, I would not recommend the super.fi 5 pro as it is more suited to rock, IMO, and not to other genres.

I have no experience with the Ety's.

But I do suggest that you include the Shure E4 on your list. As for amping, I've found that the super.fi 5 pro does not improve to my ears and the E4 does, but not by a whole lot.

 

[JeffS]

First, the Bose thing. Don't do it. I won't start a Bose flame war but
the fact that it's active noise cancelling by itself is enough reason
to avoid those headphones. It will affect the sound in negative ways.
There are a few people in my office that have the qc2. They don't
really get into high performance headphones, they just like the noise
cancelling effect.

As for the etys, There is no difference between the er-4s and the er-4p with
the additional conversion cable. I don't recall seeing any posts in here where
anybody has been able to hear a difference in them at all. I'm sure if I'm
wrong, I'll be quickly corrected.

The er-4s defnitely is going to require a headphone amp. The higher
impedence will make it difficult for most portable electronics to drive. Also
It's been mentioned on here more than a few times, that the amp can really
bring out the full sound of the er-4s. With the 4p (no conversion cable) you
will still benefit from an amp, but it will be easier driven, and less to deal with
for the train commute. I commute via train daily, and opted for the er-6i
unamped out of a Karma. It's been a good combo for me.

As for your sources, does your pcdp have a line out, or is it only headphone?
Line out is much better for amping, as you don't have the built in amp to color
the sound. Your laptop may or may not sound good with good headphones.
In my experience, detailed headphones like etys will allow you to hear how
poor the onboard sound can be. You may want to consider an external sound
processor for your laptop. I know a few companies make usb "sound cards" that are also portable headhone amps.
Off the top of my head, they only one I can recall is the BitHead. Though I'm
fairly certain there others. Some thing like that would probably get you the
best sound combo for your setup.

Good luck and happy listening.
-Jeff

 

[azncookiecutter]

What Bose flame war? Everyone here hates Bose. It's a universally accepted fact.

 

[chrisfromalbany]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonardz I am looking to purchase a set of mobile headphones to be powere by a laptop or CD player. This is for office use and train travel. I tried and quite liked the BOSE QC2. But after reading threads here I would like to try an IEM. The problem is no one allows testing of them. So I would like to hear from people who have tried Etymotic ER4 or UE Super.fi 5Pro vs theBOSE QC2 and try to understand which would be better. My music tastes tend towards: 30% Chamber music 30% Symphonic 20% Opera 20% Rock A second question has to do with the etymotics: I can easily get the ER4P + a cable for the ER4P>ER4S conversion. If I go with the ER4P+cable, is there a difference with the ER4S? I really prefer the ER4S based on Reviews I have seen here. Final question: How important is a headphone amp, given the above choices, and what are reasonable amps (ie high quality, not high priced) one sto look for?

Generally wouldn't say this.. But for this case I actually think the shure e4s are the headphones for you. They the best for details and going to give you alittle more bass then the er4p. Actually they may give you more detail then the er4p because the er4p need an amp more then the shure 4cs.

I am not going into the BOSE issue and just commenting to go with a IEM. Bose along with the sound quality issues don't give you as much sound isolation as the IEMs and use a battery to give you the isolation. Other sealed headphones are an option as well. Depends on how much sound isolation you want. Full sealed phones besides the Bose are going to sound better then this level of canal heaphones. But sealed headphones don't give you as much isolation and generally aren't use on the go; at the gym.

 

[Roblin]

Not that it's a fair comparison, but my sr125s blow away my friends bose triports and my mother's qc2s SQ on every genre of music.

Back on topic, I have found that almost every closed can I've tried has had enough of a barrier to outside noise. I have the same belief of canal phones. I haven't heard them myself, but I have read over 20 great reviews of shure's line of canal phones.

I'm personally turned off of the whole noise cancelling thing, unless you do a lot of flying..

 

[Ref]

Shure, UE, Etymotic BLOW the Bose AWAY

 

[ScubaSteve87]

Quote:

Originally Posted by azncookiecutter What Bose flame war? Everyone here hates Bose. It's a universally accepted fact.

ohh you beat me too it, yes this is true, a Bose flame war doesn not exist. Everyone knows Bose sucks.