IEMs 100-200$ close to HD580 in sound?

[Kn0x]

Well I guess everything is on the title... Would I have to get a set of se530PTH to get something close to my senns or would 200$ be enough?

Thanks a lot!

 

[xtreme4099]

yeah their called ety4p/s -- back me up ety lovers!

 

[Kn0x]

So the Etymotic ER4-P should do it? I'm really in need of something that sounds good for when i'm on the move but I didn't want to spend more on those than on my senns with I paid about 200$ brand new...

 

[catscratch]

The ER-4P sounds nothing like the Sennheisers. It's much brighter, more forward, and more aggressive. The Senns have a much more laid-back sound signature that's much fuller but doesn't shove the details in your face, which the Etys always do.

I'd suggest the UM2, though my knowledge of mid-priced IEMs is about a year out of date, so there may very well be something on the market that's better for less. But, you probably do want to go dual-driver, and go for something with a smooth, full, but articulate sound signature. That's hard to do in the IEM world and the UM2 doesn't really do it but it comes close. I don't think you'll find anything that will match a well-driven HD580 in the IEM world until you hit customs.

The E500/SE530 is also rather Sennheiser-like. It's not as full though or nearly as textured, but it does have an expansive and somewhat laid-back sound, and is probably even more detailed. The instrument separation and imaging are top notch, but that's common to all balanced-armature designs that don't suck.

 

[tottiflames]

I don't think any earphone can produce the fullness like HD580..

the closest maybe is the UM2??..maybe..

 

[kpeezy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by catscratch /img/forum/go_quote.gif The ER-4P sounds nothing like the Sennheisers. It's much brighter, more forward, and more aggressive. The Senns have a much more laid-back sound signature that's much fuller but doesn't shove the details in your face, which the Etys always do. I'd suggest the UM2, though my knowledge of mid-priced IEMs is about a year out of date, so there may very well be something on the market that's better for less. But, you probably do want to go dual-driver, and go for something with a smooth, full, but articulate sound signature. That's hard to do in the IEM world and the UM2 doesn't really do it but it comes close. I don't think you'll find anything that will match a well-driven HD580 in the IEM world until you hit customs. The E500/SE530 is also rather Sennheiser-like. It's not as full though or nearly as textured, but it does have an expansive and somewhat laid-back sound, and is probably even more detailed. The instrument separation and imaging are top notch, but that's common to all balanced-armature designs that don't suck.

x2 x2 x2 - Definitely don't get the Ety's. I thought my UM1's were very similar in style to my HD580's. Laid back, good bass, good highs.

 

[Kn0x]

Well, that helps a lot! Thanks you guys!

Now, how much should I be prepared to pay for those? I've seen them at 300$ on eBay, that's more then what I was prepared to pay but... Hey, it's head-fi, that hurts your wallet anyways

. I've seen the Shure e500 at 205$ on ebay, so, i'm a little confused on wich to choose now lol.

Any idea?

 

[sebb]

259$ at Road Dog Online

 

[ph0rk]

super.fi 5 pro might be another option, though they're probably bassier.

 

[shigzeo]

all of those options however use microarmatures - which sound quite different from dynamic drivers in the sennheisers. i gave up on armatures (um2, er4p and e500) as choice over a year ago.

i had owned the er4s for a little while and the um2 for a year or just less. while i loved them, they were the 'relaxing' type that killed my ears in just under 30 minutes. the ety did it much quicker - in less than 15 minutes.

they have a strange sound compared to dynamics - good but strange. i switched to the atrio m5 about april or may of this year and found them to be dark and laid back - almost painfully so - as i listen to trance and it is hard to get them be quick like er4s.

i love them - no harshness that every other iem (as they are armature based) exhibits. they extend further in treble but are not sparkly - they may even be veiled like the senns. for strings, acoustics etc, they are heaven and now, even for trance, i find myself able to enjoy them.

the other one (not iem but) canalphone that is finally a great option is the denon c700 and kenwood c711. they have a greater soundstage than all the other iems including the atrio and have slightly more energetic trebles and a faster bass.

however, the prodigious bass of the senns is only present in detail, clarity and non-boom in the atrio. like i said, i have had experience iwth many iems and now canalphones. naturally, we should realise that everone expresses their opinions but, honestly, after many many iems and experiences, the atrios i feel are the closest to hd600 (i have not heard the hd580 but i imagine from what everyone says, it is similar to hd600).

my gf owns the hd600 and it is an excellent phone that is hifi and dry - the atrios are most similar.

EDIT: sorry, they are about 130-170$ usd

 

[japomono]

I think the ety's are reasonably relaxing and reasonably close to the senns, provided they are paired with a non-agressive amp like the Meier's.

At least for the music I tested the senn's with.

 

[ozz]

sfi5pro came the closest to my 580 's to me but then again it would be
difficult to match the open design of the senn with an iem.

 

[Kn0x]

Well this is getting really intersting, but the choice is harder to do now

.

So Westone, UE or atrio...

hmmmmmmmm

 

[blessingx]

I love the Etys, but they or the Super.fi don't sound like the Senns. I might encourage you to consider switching away from your goal (I once tried to do the opposite - find a $200 full-sized that the had a similar sonic signature to the Etys and failed). The Etys are something (a few years ago they were sometimes called "the poor mans STAX").

But if you want a similar sound to the Senn in this price range I can't think of a better candidate - and great in their own right - than the LiveWire T1s. They are the nearest I've found. Plus you get customs and dual drivers. They will put you back $250 though.