IEM or headphones... that is the question!

[Reformist2002]

Hi everyone!

I would like to ask for your help in a very important matter, with the 11.11 sale coming up and all that...

I currently own 2 Chi-fi IEMs (Simgot EA500LM and Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite). They are great devices, I've owned them for a while now. The sensation of having IEMs in my ears all day has bothered me for a while now. I would like to upgrade to something closer to my endgame, which is something under USD 500.

Should I go for a more expensive IEM or headphones?

For an IEM I've been looking at the freshly released ZiiGaat Estrella for USD 300. For headphones I've been looking at stuff like the Beyerdynamic dt 990 pro X and the HD600/650.

I listen to a wide variety of music, from more bass-heavy genres like hip-hop to orchestral music. I would be keeping one of my IEMs for commuting.

What do you think?

 

[jmwant]

The hd650 is very comfy and well suited for long time use. But don't expect big soundstage.

 

[earmonger]

Audio-Technica ATH-R70X, around $350, plus an affordable dongle or desktop amp (they need some extra power, as do the HD650). SO comfortable and natural sounding, and very good soundstage, better than Sennheiser.

The Apple dongle is not powerful enough for them, but some of the ~$50 ones from Hiby or FiiO or Moondrop or Tanchjim or Shanling probably are.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1eKvWteIUUp61kpZcjRSxVI6NtllHzVos/edit

Or the VE Megatron, $50, for desktop.

Note: the Drop HD6XX is basically the HD650 in more affordable form, if you want Sennheiser.

 

[Reformist2002]

Audio-Technica ATH-R70X, around $350, plus an affordable dongle or desktop amp (they need some extra power, as do the HD650). SO comfortable and natural sounding, and very good soundstage, better than Sennheiser.

The Apple dongle is not powerful enough for them, but some of the ~$50 ones from Hiby or FiiO or Moondrop or Tanchjim or Shanling probably are.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1eKvWteIUUp61kpZcjRSxVI6NtllHzVos/edit

Or the VE Megatron, $50, for desktop.

Note: the Drop HD6XX is basically the HD650 in more affordable form, if you want Sennheiser.

I live in Europe, so the HD6XX is not really an option. I use a dedicated DAP (Xduoo X2S), that can drive 300 ohm headphones without an AMP. The Audio-Technica ATH-R70X looks to be in my sweet-spot price wise. How is the build quality and the bass?

 

[Lindholdt]

If the issue is that you can't have IEM's in your ears for longer periods, I would definitely look towards headphones, rather than getting more IEM's
And if you are into bass heavy music, the HD600/650 might not be for you, as they don't have much emphasis on the bass. They have bass, it's just not their strong side, and if this is a priority for you, there should be better options out there.

 

[earmonger]

I live in Europe, so the HD6XX is not really an option. I use a dedicated DAP (Xduoo X2S), that can drive 300 ohm headphones without an AMP. The Audio-Technica ATH-R70X looks to be in my sweet-spot price wise. How is the build quality and the bass

They are studio headphones and they do not have pumped-up bass. Their frequency response measurements are similar to Sennheisers. (Go to crinacle.com and you can compare their graphs.) But the deep bass is definitely there -- I use Hans Zimmer's "Why So Serious" at 3:26 to hear pure sub-bass. For me, EDM and hip-hop get all the impact they need without EQ. Meanwhile the specs claim bass down to 5hz -- two octaves below 20Hz -- so if you want to EQ for more "fun" bass there is plenty of room to boom. Again, I haven't felt any need to do that.

I have used mine for hours every day for 2+ years. The build quality is amazing -- especially for something so light and comfortable. They are for studio use so they're made to last.

The slotted top, which might look flimsy, is not plastic. It is some kind of miracle flexible metal that easily expands to be comfortable on your head but completely keeps its shape. I can't twist it. You would have to really work at it -- set it upright and stomp on it with Doc Martens or drive a truck over it -- to do any damage. The only joints are where the cup swivels about 30 degrees, and those aren't showing any wear.

The pads, and the "wings" that actually touch your head, are fabric but they are also very durable-- no replacement needed yet. The pads are some kind of synthetic velvet/suede and what's probably fake leather. The velvet/suede is not showing any wear yet -- don't ask me how. The 10mm thin strip of "leather" inside just one of the pads (not the part that holds them to the headphones, just decorative on the inner ring) is only in the last week beginning to flake off, while the other pad is still intact.

Audio-Technica sells replacement pads and wings. But I doubt I am going to need them this year.

They do have quirks. The cable is 3 meters long and the connector to the headphones is close to proprietary -- a clever plug that provides the correct (L or R) connection no matter which side you connect. There are aftermarket cables, but you have to make sure they are specifically for ATH-R70X. Also the L and R markings are inside so -- oh the difficulty! -- I put a sticker on one side.

I forgot to mention that there's a new version, $299 instead of $349, called the ATH-R70X Refine. Limited edition, at least at the moment.

https://apos.audio/products/apos-x-audio-technica-ath-r70x-refine-headphone?sca_ref=27985.QoQ0mLnRhe

It has gold sides (instead of black) and apparently thicker pads, but the same driver. Also a 2m cable instead of 3m. I haven't heard them to know what difference the other pads make.

 

[Reformist2002]

If the issue is that you can't have IEM's in your ears for longer periods, I would definitely look towards headphones, rather than getting more IEM's
And if you are into bass heavy music, the HD600/650 might not be for you, as they don't have much emphasis on the bass. They have bass, it's just not their strong side, and if this is a priority for you, there should be better options out there.

It's not that I don't enjoy IEMs, there's a reason I bought a second one after getting a

They are studio headphones and they do not have pumped-up bass. Their frequency response measurements are similar to Sennheisers. (Go to crinacle.com and you can compare their graphs.) But the deep bass is definitely there -- I use Hans Zimmer's "Why So Serious" at 3:26 to hear pure sub-bass. For me, EDM and hip-hop get all the impact they need without EQ. Meanwhile the specs claim bass down to 5hz -- two octaves below 20Hz -- so if you want to EQ for more "fun" bass there is plenty of room to boom. Again, I haven't felt any need to do that.

I have used mine for hours every day for 2+ years. The build quality is amazing -- especially for something so light and comfortable. They are for studio use so they're made to last.

The slotted top, which might look flimsy, is not plastic. It is some kind of miracle flexible metal that easily expands to be comfortable on your head but completely keeps its shape. I can't twist it. You would have to really work at it -- set it upright and stomp on it with Doc Martens or drive a truck over it -- to do any damage. The only joints are where the cup swivels about 30 degrees, and those aren't showing any wear.

The pads, and the "wings" that actually touch your head, are fabric but they are also very durable-- no replacement needed yet. The pads are some kind of synthetic velvet/suede and what's probably fake leather. The velvet/suede is not showing any wear yet -- don't ask me how. The 10mm thin strip of "leather" inside just one of the pads (not the part that holds them to the headphones, just decorative on the inner ring) is only in the last week beginning to flake off, while the other pad is still intact.

Audio-Technica sells replacement pads and wings. But I doubt I am going to need them this year.

They do have quirks. The cable is 3 meters long and the connector to the headphones is close to proprietary -- a clever plug that provides the correct (L or R) connection no matter which side you connect. There are aftermarket cables, but you have to make sure they are specifically for ATH-R70X. Also the L and R markings are inside so -- oh the difficulty! -- I put a sticker on one side.

I forgot to mention that there's a new version, $299 instead of $349, called the ATH-R70X Refine. Limited edition, at least at the moment.

https://apos.audio/products/apos-x-audio-technica-ath-r70x-refine-headphone?sca_ref=27985.QoQ0mLnRhe

It has gold sides (instead of black) and apparently thicker pads, but the same driver. Also a 2m cable instead of 3m. I haven't heard them to know what difference the other pads make.

Thank you very much for your detailed response! The Refine edition is US and Canada only, but as a European I am used to being left out when it comes to audio stuff...

You have convinced me to take a very serious look at the ATH-R70X and I will probably buy the pair following further research.

 

[earmonger]

I do see some reviews that worry about build quality. I think it's because they are so lightweight -- reviewers aren't longterm users.

Conceivably if you left them upright on the back of a chair and sat down hard on them at just the right (wrong) angle, you might mangle something. But you'd really have to work at it.

Caution: Don't expect to be blown out of your seat with boom-and-sizzle excitement. They are the opposite of show-offy. It's just that the music is there, natural, no exaggeration, utterly clear. To me, everything just sounds right, which makes it a pleasure to listen and discover little things that went unheard before.

Try someplace that has a 30-day return policy and look at an unboxing video to keep the box intact; it's a little eccentric.
But I don't think you're going to want to return them

 

[dunring]

I really like the DT900 Pro X, good all around tuning. For more bass focused we have the AKG K371 and you'll like hip hop more on them, but orchestra music more on the DT900 Pro X. Both are easy peasy to power, an Apple 3.5mm (U.S. version, not EU) will more than do it for them. The AKG can be folded up into it's case, and closed back design for commuting isolation if needed.

 

[MroZZuS]

I really like the DT900 Pro X, good all around tuning. For more bass focused we have the AKG K371 and you'll like hip hop more on them, but orchestra music more on the DT900 Pro X. Both are easy peasy to power, an Apple 3.5mm (U.S. version, not EU) will more than do it for them. The AKG can be folded up into it's case, and closed back design for commuting isolation if needed.

Hi! About Apple's 3.5mm (to USB-C, if I'm not mistaken?) U.S. version - I've read quite some posts and it's mentioned pretty often, especially by You (easy to remember profile pic, nice).

I'm in central EU and I don't know what should I look for if I want to buy U.S. version, or, not pricey, EU equivalent (preferably anything under $10 if possible). I'm a total newbie to the hobby, so could You please pinpoint how can I find the right Apple's dongle in EU, or recommend some good dongles?

Or perhaps could You provide Aliexpress link if possible?

 

[g4ndr1k]

+1 for the Audio Technica ATH-R70X. Sounds great with my equipment.