[koven]

stop thinking and do it. it will be the best $99 you have ever spent on earphones.


received mine a few days ago and did a few hours of listening so far.. i believe burn-in is around 20hours right now.. ive heard it gets even better after 50-60


source: fuze -> lod-> d2 boa -> re0 (using medium oem tips, will try hybrids/complys soon)


simply put, seriously the best IEM's ive heard so far. i know, that's not saying much since ive only heard the IE7, PK1 & 3, PFE, and ADDIEM, so take it for what it's worth.. on top of that, i didnt have the d2 boa when i had the pfe/ie7/pk1 so that might be a factor as well


also, i often hear people asking about PK3's in IEM form... well, if anything, these are it.. i sold my ie7, pfe, and pk1 because i didnt think they sounded as good as the pk3, or if they did, i didnt think they justified the extra $

the sound signature is very similar to the pk3 imo, except it does everything better.

bass: not have as much impact as the ie7, but still more than the PFE w/ black filter.. i like the bass, it's tight and accurate.. definitely not overpowering/muddy nor is it thin/lacking

highs: perfection. cannot notice any sibilance, great extension. female vocals sound incredible, everything is so crystal clear/sparkling

soundstage: not HUGE but nothing to complain about either.. instrument separation is amazing, much better than the ie7(seemed congested).. about the same as the PFE from what i can remember

overall: very well balanced/amazing sound, very comfortable to wear, good isolation, good build/seems durable.. the only flaw i notice is the cable noise/microphonics.. it's not bad, especially if u wear it over the ear.. but just thought i'd point that out..... regardless, if i bought it at MSRP i would have been satisfied but for $99 these are seriously a steal and a half.

i think my search for IEM's have almost come to an end... i plan on trying either the se530 or w3 soon.. but if they don't wow me, ill be using w/ the re0's for a very long time.

 

[zeromacro]

Just made my order last night along with E5 (Although I heard it's not very necessary). These type of threads makes me more and more impatient!

 

[tstarn06]

I'd say comparing the RE0s amped to the phones you listed unamped is apples to oranges, though I have no doubt the RE0s are an excellent value at $99.

 

[rebski]

The Thread heading is ‘Quick Impressions’ and that is just what this is. Mine were delivered this afternoon and, after selecting the tips that fitted best, I spent a short while on comparing.

My references points are Shure E2c which cost £100 a few years ago when they first came out and Sennheiser IE8s with 1,200 hours of burn in. My source is a Sansa Clip (unamped) and a H140/D10 combo. I was surprised that the RE0s take a bit of driving, the volume on the US spec Clip needed to go to max, for example.

The RE0’s blow the E2cs into irrelevance (how did I ever think they were quite good?). However I am really glad that I didn’t act on the ‘contender for best IEM’ Thread and spend $200 on them. My Senns cost $260 and that brief comparison with the RE0s serve to demonstrate just how awesome the IE8s are.

It is very interesting that the OP - koven - prefers the RE0s to the IE7s though.


I shall embark now on a few hundred hours of burn-in and order a set of Sony Hybrid tips and then come back to the RE0s again.

I had hoped that the RE0s would be my rough and tumble IEMs for use when exercising or carrying loose in my pocket along with the Clip. The extent of the microphonics in the cable down to the Y connector surprised me and I hope this is not going to be a nuisance factor.

Still it is early days yet and the overriding impression is that they are a bargain at $99.

 

[jant71]

I would concur amped or unamped that they are better than all those phones except the PK1 which I haven't heard(only up to the PK2).

I think Frederik S agrees also giving the IE7 a 9.2 and the RE0 a 9.8 on Techpowerup. I agree with his statement..."the IE7s still lack a bit in order to be able to put up a serious fight with the Westone 3s and Head-Direct RE0s of this world".

 

[Graphicism]

I'm play the devils advocate here.

"bass: not have as much impact as the ie7"
"soundstage: not HUGE but nothing to complain about either"
"flaw i notice is the cable noise/microphonics"

So what exactly are they good for? Sat still at a desk listening to Opera or Enya?

IMO when a headphone is lacking bass impact it's lacking the very heart and rhythm of music, without the bass impact your left with a flat analytical sound which takes a back seat with any music that has a beat. Cable micro phonics are a huge downfall, there is absolutely no excuse for this these days, the only reason the manufacture wraps a perfectly good cable in nylon or the likes is purely for aesthetics.

 

[koven]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphicism /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm play the devils advocate here. "bass: not have as much impact as the ie7" "soundstage: not HUGE but nothing to complain about either" "flaw i notice is the cable noise/microphonics" So what exactly are they good for? Sat still at a desk listening to Opera or Enya? IMO when a headphone is lacking bass impact it's lacking the very heart and rhythm of music, without the bass impact your left with a flat analytical sound which takes a back seat with any music that has a beat. Cable micro phonics are a huge downfall, there is absolutely no excuse for this these days, the only reason the manufacture wraps a perfectly good cable in nylon or the likes is purely for aesthetics.

i guess this is where the YMMV concept comes into play..

first of all, just because it doesn't have as much impact as the IE7... doesn't mean it's flat either.. bass presence is not either black or white.. there's a lot of middle ground which some people prefer over deep/overwhelming bass

second, i could care less about soundstage, the difference between a huge soundstange and a big soundstage is negligible to me.. on top of that, some music sounds better to me when the soundstage is smaller

and finally, microphonics is, again, not an issue for me..plus, if you wear them over the ear w/ the shirt clip.. the cable noise dramatically lessens

 

[koven]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebski /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is very interesting that the OP - koven - prefers the RE0s to the IE7s though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jant71 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would concur amped or unamped that they are better than all those phones except the PK1 which I haven't heard(only up to the PK2). I think Frederik S agrees also giving the IE7 a 9.2 and the RE0 a 9.8 on Techpowerup. I agree with his statement..."the IE7s still lack a bit in order to be able to put up a serious fight with the Westone 3s and Head-Direct RE0s of this world".

Never heard of techpowerup but I just looked up their reviews on both and I completely agree.

while the ie7 has superior microphonics/bass impact, the re0's overall presentation and balance far outweighs the ie7's pros.. factor in the $99 sale price and it's a no brainer

the ie7's sounded dark, the bass often got mixed into/overpowered other frequencies... mids were recessed and highs were veiled.. none of that is a problem with the re0

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by koven /img/forum/go_quote.gif the ie7's sounded dark, the bass often got mixed into/overpowered other frequencies... mids were recessed and highs were veiled.. none of that is a problem with the re0

Interesting...I could have sworn that in one review of the RE0 I read around here, he said that the mids were slightly recessed, and that was what immediately turned me off from these.

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

Originally Posted by koven /img/forum/go_quote.gif i guess this is where the YMMV concept comes into play..

YMMV? ~ something to do with difference of opinion I'm guessing?

I've never heard anyone describe the IE7 as having over whelming bass, this I would think could be said for fx500, turbines etc. I would think as you mentioned the bass lacking compared to another phone it isn't perfect, otherwise you would of said so? Would you say it has more or less than the PK3? both in levels and impact.

And I'm guessing the same could be said for the cable, you would prefer if it were silent right? The issue can be somewhat overcome by the methods you suggested, but really, bit of a hassle isn't it?

I appreciate your input either way, I'm just trying to talk myself out of buying them. Last question; what music would you say really shines on these?

 

[tstarn06]

@Graphicism ... Reverse devil's advocate here. Did you really read Koven's mini-review? No need to be snarky.

He didn't say it lacks bass impact, he said the IE7 has better bass impact. That isn't the same thing. He even says it's not thin at all, etc.

Soundstage not being huge is pretty much true of most IEMs, save the IE8, W3 and a few others (which both still cost $260+ today and will never go down to $99).

Cable/noise microphonics is also fairly common. I have the X10s, which have a $349 MSRP and rank among the worst on this front, but with a shirt clip and pulling the slider, it's almost gone. So what's the big deal? And you can wear these over your ear, which reduces it almost completely.

You didn't really make any valid points. Not even sure what you were trying to say about nylon and such regarding the cable.

If you are going to try to be witty, then it's a good idea to have something behind that wit. Guess you talked yourself out of buying them.

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif @Graphicism ... Reverse devil's advocate here. Did you really read Koven's mini-review? No need to be snarky.

The majority of reviews I have read regarding the RE0 mention poor bass and recessed mids, if someone can't raise this question without a fanboy stepping in then he may as well be preaching to the choir.

Cable microphonics, common or not isn't exactly an ideal listening enviroment, it's like listening to speakers while sat on a squeeky chair. The $349 MSRP X10s that share this problem is what turns most people away, that and the shoddy build. Listen to what you're saying, When I walk, move or touch the wire the screeching boom is ALMOST gone so long as I wear a buttoned up shirt, attach the cable, pull the slider and sit still.

My question being what are these good for, what kind of music?

 

[koven]

@Graphicism

"poor bass", i can see how some people would think that.. but like i said, it's enough for me.. i prefer balance

"recessed mids" i disagree.. the ie7's mids are what i would call recessed, not the re0.. but it could be the fact that the other reviewers have a much bigger pallet than me.. (i.e. people who have heard the top 4/customs/etc)... i can easily how someone who has heard, for example, the W3 and can say the re0's mids recessed.. etc

"microphonics" i dont see why ur so stuck on this issue, it's like you're trying to convince me not to like them... no further comments.. for the last time, it's not an issue AT ALL for me.

as for what music these are good with.. i only listen to alternative/rock/hiphop/rap/trance/pop.... and IMO, none of them sound bad w/ the re0, as for the best.. i would say alternative/rock sounds the best

and lastly, for bass compared with pk3, the extension/decay is noticeable better with the re0, the impact, maybe just a little better. overall, definitely better bass than the pk3 (which already has decent bass imo)

 

[jant71]

The RE0 need burn-in and they do need the right tips to get the most bass and low extension. I actually thought they sounded their best with the Maximo IM-590 tips on them. I can see the poor/lack bass comments. The RE0 try to have great reach/extension both ways with canalphone isolation which is tough. The bass can roll early which is different than say a W3 or IE which exhibit the roll on the high end. Same issue but on the low end it is looked at as more of a "crime". Tough to get enough isolation but if you do nothing out there has more frequency range and it is high quality throughout just really damn flat. Still damn impressive that it is a dynamic driver doing it.

I always thought that amping or EQ fixed them and gave much more large headphone-like bass than the armature phones they sound like can give.

Of course subjectively, they are still more for the neutral loving people. Many people can prefer the Sennheisers sound and may like the IE7 better.

Don't buy 'em if you really want an IE8. $99 is a great deal but you'll have to work them(foamies/amping/bass boost) to get the signature you want. Worth a try maybe but a bit risky.

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphicism /img/forum/go_quote.gif The majority of reviews I have read regarding the RE0 mention poor bass and recessed mids, if someone can't raise this question without a fanboy stepping in then he may as well be preaching to the choir. Cable microphonics, common or not isn't exactly an ideal listening enviroment, it's like listening to speakers while sat on a squeeky chair. The $349 MSRP X10s that share this problem is what turns most people away, that and the shoddy build. Listen to what you're saying, When I walk, move or touch the wire the screeching boom is ALMOST gone so long as I wear a buttoned up shirt, attach the cable, pull the slider and sit still. My question being what are these good for, what kind of music?

No fanboy here, just someone who expects critics to read something before they critique. Koven was pretty clear, yet you chose to exaggerate his observations (just as you did mine. A shirt clip is no big deal, and sliding the wire up the same). Again, with the over the top characterization. As Jant71 notes, sometimes it takes work to get the best sound from an IEM.

Also, the X10s are well-regarded by some pretty smart HFers as excellent IEMs, so your flip comments sort of strengthen my point.