IEMs for indie/rock? or..

[arevalo]

IEM's or would some cans be more ideal?

I'd def like to use IEM's since I listen to my music mostly when I'm out and about but have looked up this topic and most people have recommended cans ... ie. Grado's/Alessandro's.

Was just wondering if buying some cans would be my best option for good quality. My budget is about $200, source -> 1G shuffle and ipodtouch(still on it's way). I'm considering MS-1's -- and experimenting with different pads but if there's an IEM that's just as good for this kind of music, I'm on it.

I'm not asking for the best sound quality I can get, just something that'll cover this genre more better than my SFP5EB's. Don't get me wrong, I love my sfp5B's but I'm sure I can get more out of this kind of music using something with better mids.



ie. the beatles, jens lekman, interpol, animal collective, deathcab, explosions in the sky, lcd soundsystem

Cheers,
Rob

 

[kpeezy]

I'm going to give the thumbs down for the MS-1's for anything but home use. They leak sooo bad; everyone within 10 feet could easily hear your music. So, unless you don't care at all about that, I would go for some IEM's / closed cans. I purchased some closed cans for this same situation (same genre even) but decided it was too weird walking around with full sized headphones on. I just sold them and have some er6i's coming in tomorrow.

Edit: Not bashing MS-1's AT ALL! I love my MS-1's and use them whenever possible, but for portable or anything where you can't disturb everyone around you, you couldn't use them.

 

[mtucker]

i bought some cans for this reason as well, and ya toting around ful sized cans gets old, i would stick with iems.

 

[arevalo]

Thanks folks!! That definitely rules out cans.

However, after searching I haven't found any IEM's recommended specifically for this genre.

I'm fairly new so I'm guessing ER4p's might be the best bet from what I've read? Also, what made you settle for ER6i's?



Turning this into a best IEM <$200 for INDIE/ROCK. unamped.

 

[feh1325]

the er6i have more bass
more of a casual, on the go phone because of their "stylish" color and small size
they're probably 85% of the er4p, which are more refined and detailed, especially in the bass department

both phones have sparkling, wonderful, and detailed highs

 

[kpeezy]

I really just picked the er6i's for the price ($80 shipped new). I had seriously thought about getting some Atrio M5/M8's, but they are hard to find used (< $130). I also decided that I would rather have the great mids / highs vs. the great bass of the Atrios.

 

[arevalo]

Word.

I am def looking for good mids/high's as I've got the bass department covered.

Would the price difference between the er6i's and er4p's justify the extra $90? Mind you I'll be comparing bass with the sfp5EB's which just seem too 'dark'(??) for this kind of music,

 

[facelvega]

I think dynamic IEMs would be fundamentally better for this kind of music than armature IEMs, and if you'll accept that, then the Atrios are the only option at your price point. Within armatures, though, I'd say Shure over most other comers, especially etymotic. And I say this as a person who has much of the music mentioned and uses ety IEMs.

 

[Dutchess of York]

I have UE SF5pros that sound great unamped, and can be found for well under 200$. I have only heard them and sure e3s and i perfer the UEs. I listen to alot of indie/folk/acoustic and they sound great. Also they sound much better with just alittle power, for just over the 200$ mark, you could find SF5pros and get one of the cheap DIY amps on the for sale forum. Great value, and they will make any IEM sing. Also, from what ive read, the EBs are not suited for the indie/acoustic genre, and theres a big jump in sq from to the 5pros.

 

[physh]

In my experience (not very much) Shure's do not sound very good with this type of music.
I have tried the e2c's, se 110's and se210's and they make the music sound muddy. For example, the instrumentals in some of the interpol songs are difficult to hear or sound muffled with the shures.

I have the super.fi 3 live's and I think they sound excellent. They sound detailed to me (I have no experience with the ety's though) and I can pick out the individual instruments playing.

You can get them locally at radioshack, and return them if you don't like it. The super.fi 5pro's are more expensive, and I wonder if the sound signature is different, or if they are just beter overall.

 

[jinp6301]

I say ety er6i or er4p. The er4p is imo much much better then the er6i but er6i is much better for portable use. That said, I got the im716, which have a sound similar to the er4p but slightly worse in every way. Better then the er6i but worse then the er4p/s imo.

the new jens lekman is great, no?

 

[BassheadJazz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutchess of York /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have UE SF5pros that sound great unamped, and can be found for well under 200$. I have only heard them and sure e3s and i perfer the UEs. I listen to alot of indie/folk/acoustic and they sound great. Also they sound much better with just alittle power, for just over the 200$ mark, you could find SF5pros and get one of the cheap DIY amps on the for sale forum. Great value, and they will make any IEM sing. Also, from what ive read, the EBs are not suited for the indie/acoustic genre, and theres a big jump in sq from to the 5pros.

x2, I think the UE SF5pros would be your best bet for the kind of music you listen to. I have the EBs, which are good, but the pros are better suited for rock.

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinp6301 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I say ety er6i or er4p. The er4p is imo much much better then the er6i but er6i is much better for portable use. That said, I got the im716, which have a sound similar to the er4p but slightly worse in every way. Better then the er6i but worse then the er4p/s imo. the new jens lekman is great, no?

jinp, I'm surprised to hear you say this, as I think from previous threads that we listen to a lot of the same music, and I see we're both using im716. Though I really appreciate what the im716 can do, I've found it alarmingly weak for precisely this kind of music, too neutral in a way, but not musical like a good ortho or electrostat driver-- which are at least as detailed and flat. With some music the ety outsourced driver (mind that ety-- unlike shure, ue, and jays-- uses drivers designed by an outside supplier) sounds really fine, but not with this stuff in my opinion, where even a technically inferior dynamic driver will do a better job. Maybe once I get more used to my altecs I'll change my tune, but now while they are still fresh for me, I can't imagine recommending them for this music. But please, tell me if you disagree, and characterize why, because I'd like to try to listen differently if I can and try to see what you see in them.

 

[onvn]

In the future, get the MS-1 for home use..

I just aquired a pair of MS-2i and I can say with confidence they are nothing short of amazing for alternative rock.. I also auditioned the MS-1 and I can hear similar signature on the MS-1 (what people call the Grado sound) even though I find the MS-1 not as refined as the MS-2..

 

[arevalo]

I am def gonna probably get MS-1's in the future. Or some sort of Grado/Alessandro.


As far as my IEM decision, I have a pair of 5EB's and am happy with 'em, if it ain't broke don't fix it right? So it should make sense to get the SF5Pro's since they fall into this genre better than the EB's but I just want to try something new, different.

I am going to continue to research er4p's vs. atrio m5's.


Thanks again.


I will continue doing my research on e4p's and Atrio's.




Ps. Jens Lekman is just great, period.

Also, I need to get away from this site ... you guys weren't kidding about my wallet.