james444
Headphoneus Supremus
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- Aug 25, 2004
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The Ortofon e-Q7 are expensive and only available from Japan. Are they worth the effort?
A few weeks ago I stumbled upon this thread and was instantly hooked by the elegant and straightforward design of these IEMs. I kept waiting for a full review to appear until I realized at last that I had to do it myself.
I shot some pictures (below) that don't really do these beauties justice, if you want to see better ones look here and here.
Manufacturer specs:
Single balanced armature driver
Impedance: 31Ω
Sensitivity: 117dB (forget about driving them from the AMP3!
)
Frequency: 10-20,000Hz
Max. Input: 20mW
Cord length: 1.2m
Weight: 11.5g
Price paid:
29800 Yen = $335 = €225 (including shipping) via PriceJapan.com
In the Box:
The e-Q7 comes in a nicely designed cardboard box with the usual three pairs of soft silicon tips, one large-sized pair of foamies and a cleaning tool. You also get a good looking zip-case and that's about it. There’s no shirt clip included. Not much for the price, but ok with me.
Design and build quality:
According to the manufacturer the housing is made of anodised solid aluminium with the earphone handle/strain relief made of elastomer. The angled handle means these can be easily worn both straight down or over the ear. Everything feels very sturdy and of high quality. Regretfully the plug is straight - I would have preferred a right angle plug.
The cable also has a high quality feel and is slightly stiff to prevent tangling. This purpose is sadly defeated by the angled earphone handles, meaning if you want to carry these in your pocket you'll have to tediously disentangle the cables after getting them out - so it's advisable to use a case.
Microphonics is average when worn straight down (w/o shirt clip) and nonexistent when worn over the ears.
If you want to use alternate tips, the usual UE or Sony tips will fit. I tried Sony Hybrid Silicons and settled for UE silicon tips.
Fit:
Very easy to fit regardless of wearing them downward or over the ears. I've no problems whatsoever with seal, just stick them in and they're ok. But considering their short nozzle one might have problems with very narrow ear canals, in case the main corpus won't fit in.
Edit: WARNING, fit issues have been reported from at least three fellow head-fiers with smaller ears. Please read this carefully before you buy the e-Q7!
Fit depends largely on the size of your ear canal. Just look at the picture of the e-Q7 without tips:
You can see the stem is very short. The diameter of the corpus is about 9mm at the front. IMO the crucial point is how deep the corpus will fit into your ear.
Quote:
This picture is very helpful, because it demonstrates the fit when your ear canal opening is >9mm in diameter. In this case a good part of the corpus slides into the opening. But if your ear canal is too narrow for that, you'll most likely have poor fit with the e-Q7. So, IMO it's highly recommended you check this with some cylindrical object of 9mm diameter (pen, etc.) before you buy the Ortofons!
@Richard-iu: thanks for the picture, glad you like your e-Q7!
Isolation:
These are closed phones and isolation-wise roughly on par with the Klipsch X10 and Audio Technica CK100. A bit below the Shure SE530, but sufficient for traffic noise, bus commuting and subway rides.
Sound quality:
Disclaimer/words of caution: I don't hear much above 16kHz so take my comments about highs with a grain of salt. I also have some reservations about balanced armature IEMs and classical music that AFAIK most fellow members do not share. In particular I think that most BA phones cannot render the lower frequency vibrations of strings accurately, so here again my mileage might be widely off yours. Other than that I've tried to be as objective as possible.
I’ve had the Ortofon e-Q7 for two weeks now and spent a considerable amount of time comparing them to my other top IEMs like the Sennheiser IE8, Audio Technica CK100, Shure SE530, JVC/Victor FX500 and Klipsch Image/X10. All music was auditioned unequalized straight out of my Sansa Fuze. Here are some of the songs I picked and the listening notes I made:
Al Stewart – News from Spain (Folk / Rock):
<off topic rave>
Although this track dates back from 1972 and may not be up to modern recording standards, I decided to include it, because Al is an all time favourite of mine. Widely known only for his single soft-rock hit “Year of the Cat” he is IMO one of the best songwriters of our time. Every time I hear his lyrics like
“Now the winter winds possess the southern reaches,
And the sea folds like a mantle on the beaches”
it’s goose bump time for me. And on top of that Rick Wakeman’s piano solo in this song is truly something to behold.
</off topic rave>
e-Q7:
One word: beautiful! Well done bassline without being obtrusive, drums have good definition and impact. Guitar and Al’s slightly nasal voice are perfectly reproduced (I know how he sounds live). One thing that stands out is impeccable instrument separation, resulting in a very transparent sound. Rick Wakeman’s piano is breathtaking. Very nice soundstage, almost up to the IE8.
IE8 (bass at minimum):
Guitar and voice are very good, the mids maybe a tad warmer than the e-Q7. Sadly the bassline walks all over it as upper bass is much too bloated. Piano is almost as good as on the e-Q7 but half-drowned by bass. Famous IE8 soundstage.
CK100:
First thing that comes to mind: the voice is somehow off. Overly nasal and slightly coldish, this is not how Al sounds in real life. The mids are clearly a weakness of this IEM. Other than that bass is nice and unobtrusive, but not up to the e-Q7. Great and very detailed highs. Very nice soundstage, equal to the e-Q7. Piano is good but not amongst the best.
SE530:
Nice, impactful bass, but a bit lacking in definition. Voice slightly too warm, otherwise beautiful. Rolled off highs are noticeable in guitar and piano, but nothing dramatic. Nice soundstage, a tad smaller than the best.
FX500:
Fantastic drums and bass impact, only a little bit too bloated. IE8 could learn from that. Voice is slightly laid back but accurate and natural. Highs are good, guitar and piano again very natural. Soundstage on par with e-Q7. Overall amongst the best.
X10:
Bass has depth and right quantity but definition is not up to the e-Q7. The voice sounds great but a bit warmish due to recessed highs. Highs also missing a bit from otherwise nice piano. Soundstage only so-so. Overall a nice, non fatiguing, laid back sound.
Stacey Kent - Ice Hotel (Female Vocal Jazz):
e-Q7:
Excellent airy sound with just the right amount of bass. The voice is gorgeous and spot-on. Highs are sparkly with great cymbals and only a very slight hint of sibilance here and there. Very relaxed representation with awesome transparency. If I had to find one fault, IE8 has slightly better soundstage.
IE8 (bass at minimum):
Very prominent and soft upper bass. Mids are more forward and a bit warmer than with the e-Q7. Highs, detail and sibilance are on par with the e-Q7, but transparency is slightly less. Very wide soundstage.
CK100:
Again, one can’t help but instantly notice the cold mids. Poor Stacey sounds as if the life blood had been sucked out of her. Now I’ve learned that driving the CK100 from the XIN supermicro makes a big difference, but here we’re talking Fuze headphone out and they just don’t sound right. Bass, highs, detail and soundstage can keep up with the best, but these mids ruin the song for me.
SE530:
Very smooth with nice bass, warm and forward mids and slightly rolled off but sufficient highs. Even a bit sparkly but also a some minor sibilance. Detail and soundstage not quite up to the best, but overall a very pleasing presentation of this song.
FX500:
A tad too much bass, very soft and somehow boomy. Mids are warm and slightly recessed, which makes for a relaxed and laid-back sound. Highs are extended and sparkly, but also prone to sibilance. Good soundstage. Silky and musical, but nowhere near as transparent as the e-Q7.
X10:
Very similar impression to the first song: Bass just about right but not as clearly defined as with the e-Q7. Good, warmish voice is great. Highs are paradoxically recessed but at the same time a bit sparkly (cymbals). Intimate Soundstage. Non fatiguing, laid back sound.
Vladimir Ashkenazy - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2, last movement (Classical Orchestra)
e-Q7:
Most impressive speed and accuracy in piano rendering. Seemingly effortless handling of orchestra dynamics. Very flat, detailed and transparent. Great instrument separation and nice soundstaging. Strings are very nice, which comes as a big surprise, as normally I don’t like strings with balanced armature phones so much. These are the first BA IEMs that I wholeheartedly enjoy with classical music.
IE8 (bass at minimum):
Very natural and airy, but piano maybe a bit too sugarcoated. Fantastic in rendering orchestra dynamics. Compared to the e-Q7 they feel a bit more dramatic while the former stay more relaxed and controlled. Very nice strings. Larger than life soundstage is very impressive with classical. Did I mention they have too much upper bass?
CK100:
Quite likely the most detailed of my IEMs. Very extended highs, but piano sounds a bit too shrill, almost “metallic”. Impressive speed, dynamics and soundstage. Overall a good performance, but the IE8 and e-Q7 do an even better job.
SE530:
First thing that comes to mind, orchestra dynamics is awesome, from delicate silent passages to full slam (that almost makes one jump). Lush presentation with nice but slightly mushy bass and forward mids. Highs are ok but rolled off compared to the e-Q7. Limited detail and soundstage. Overall not bad, but the IE8 and e-Q7 both handle classical better.
FX500:
Musical and smooth with prominent soft bass. Strings are warm and very natural. Extended highs, piano is very nice, albeit a bit shrill in loud passages - but less so than the CK100. Detailed and airy with ample soundstage. Overall very good for classical with more bass than the e-Q7 (might be too much for some)
X10:
Overall very similar to the e-Q7 (which is a good thing), but with slightly less highs, detail and smaller soundstage. Maybe it’s the single BA construction that both phones have in common, but the e-Q7 sounds like a hypothetical Klipsch X15.
Markus Schulz - Mainstage / I am (Trance, kudos to shigzeo!)
e-Q7:
Now, this is a surprise! Never heard such nice low bass rumble from a BA phone before, it almost sounds like a dynamic driver IEM (must be the large size of the armature). Overall bass is very controlled with good punch, but there are harder hitting phones out there. Very relaxed sound with excellent imaging and spacey feeling. e-Q7 is a master in sounding effortlessly.
IE8:
Nice low bass rumble, but upper bass walks all over it. Obtrusive soft upper bass pounding on „I am“ that I don’t like at all. Female vocals are very relaxed. Spacey with vast soundstage and excellent 3D feel. Shame about that bass hump, these are nice trance phones if your source has a good EQ.
CK100:
Not more than a slight hint of low bass rumble. Good bass punch and control on “I am”. Mids are a bit recessed and coldish, but not as damaging to the sound as with other musical genres. Amazingly detailed highs and very good 3D imaging. Overall these are very nice trance phones.
SE530:
A bit more low bass rumble than the CK100 but less than the e-Q7. Bass on “I am” is impactful but a bit undefined. Together with forward mids, rolled off highs and limited soundstage this is not an ideal trance phone.
FX500:
Strongest low bass rumble of all contenders. Massive pounding bass on ‘I am’ partly drowning out the midrange. Vocals feel recessed in comparison. Very good and detailed highs. Nice airy and spacey 3D feel. Good trance phones.
X10:
Bass rumble on par with the SE530, less than the e-Q7. Controlled and punchy bass on “I am”. Again the overall similarity to the e-Q7 is apparent, minus some high extension, detail and soundstage. Still a very engaging trance phone.
TV on the Radio - Golden Age / Family Tree (Indie, Electro, Post Punk)
e-Q7:
I can’t help but growing fond of these phones. Everything I throw at them is handled with relaxed composure and reproduced excellently. Bass, speed, vocals and highs are all spot-on. Ample detail, great imaging and separation. Soundstage is only second to the IE8 but not by much.
IE8:
Softer bass but with good control. Upper bass hump is not so bad with these songs. Vocals are very relaxed, breathy, beautiful. Last not least the „famous IE8 soundstage“ makes it a very good phone for these songs.
CK100:
Well defined, quick and punchy bass. Amazingly detailed highs, cymbals are wonderful. Sadly the Vocals lack all warmth and sound thinnish. Whoever designed those mids, I hope they fired him! Soundstage and imaging are up to the best, but can’t save the phone with these songs.
SE530:
Good punchy bass. Vocals are the exact opposite of the CK100, very warm and forward, simply beautiful! Highs and soundstage are a bit lacking, but overall this is still a very good phone for the songs.
FX500:
Almost too prominent bass, even softer than the IE8’s, but still very good. Vocals are a bit laid back, but still very beautiful. Extended and detailed highs (cymbals!). wide soundstage. Also a good phone for the songs.
X10:
Good quantity and quality bass. Vocals are nice and warm. Again, most characteristics are similar to the e-Q7, but X10 falls short in highs, detail and soundstage.
Final thoughts / conclusion:
The Ortofon e-Q7 belong without a doubt among the best universal IEMs I have heard. In the true sense of the word "universal" they might in fact be the best. Be it Pop, Rock, Classical, Jazz,... everything I threw at them was handled with the same relaxed composure and reproduced excellently. Un-equalized flat out of my Fuze everything just sounded spot-on and wonderful. It's true that for instance the IE8 still does some things even better, like phenomenal soundstaging or dramatic dynamics with classical orchestra, but I have to EQ down the upper bass to really enjoy them.
Comparing all these high level IEMs one won't find severe weaknesses (not counting the CK100s touchy mids; edit: see post #2), differences are subtle and personal preference might easily tip the scale towards one or the other. Ortofon really impress me by taking the single armature design of the X10 a step further with better highs, detail and soundstage and producing a tiny phone that is both visually attractive and exceptionally pleasing to the ears.
The Ortofon e-Q7 are expensive and only available from Japan. Are they worth the effort?
A few weeks ago I stumbled upon this thread and was instantly hooked by the elegant and straightforward design of these IEMs. I kept waiting for a full review to appear until I realized at last that I had to do it myself.
I shot some pictures (below) that don't really do these beauties justice, if you want to see better ones look here and here.
Manufacturer specs:
Single balanced armature driver
Impedance: 31Ω
Sensitivity: 117dB (forget about driving them from the AMP3!
Frequency: 10-20,000Hz
Max. Input: 20mW
Cord length: 1.2m
Weight: 11.5g
Price paid:
29800 Yen = $335 = €225 (including shipping) via PriceJapan.com
In the Box:
The e-Q7 comes in a nicely designed cardboard box with the usual three pairs of soft silicon tips, one large-sized pair of foamies and a cleaning tool. You also get a good looking zip-case and that's about it. There’s no shirt clip included. Not much for the price, but ok with me.
Design and build quality:
According to the manufacturer the housing is made of anodised solid aluminium with the earphone handle/strain relief made of elastomer. The angled handle means these can be easily worn both straight down or over the ear. Everything feels very sturdy and of high quality. Regretfully the plug is straight - I would have preferred a right angle plug.
The cable also has a high quality feel and is slightly stiff to prevent tangling. This purpose is sadly defeated by the angled earphone handles, meaning if you want to carry these in your pocket you'll have to tediously disentangle the cables after getting them out - so it's advisable to use a case.
Microphonics is average when worn straight down (w/o shirt clip) and nonexistent when worn over the ears.
If you want to use alternate tips, the usual UE or Sony tips will fit. I tried Sony Hybrid Silicons and settled for UE silicon tips.
Fit:
Very easy to fit regardless of wearing them downward or over the ears. I've no problems whatsoever with seal, just stick them in and they're ok. But considering their short nozzle one might have problems with very narrow ear canals, in case the main corpus won't fit in.
Edit: WARNING, fit issues have been reported from at least three fellow head-fiers with smaller ears. Please read this carefully before you buy the e-Q7!
Fit depends largely on the size of your ear canal. Just look at the picture of the e-Q7 without tips:
You can see the stem is very short. The diameter of the corpus is about 9mm at the front. IMO the crucial point is how deep the corpus will fit into your ear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard-iu /img/forum/go_quote.gif 
|
This picture is very helpful, because it demonstrates the fit when your ear canal opening is >9mm in diameter. In this case a good part of the corpus slides into the opening. But if your ear canal is too narrow for that, you'll most likely have poor fit with the e-Q7. So, IMO it's highly recommended you check this with some cylindrical object of 9mm diameter (pen, etc.) before you buy the Ortofons!
@Richard-iu: thanks for the picture, glad you like your e-Q7!
Isolation:
These are closed phones and isolation-wise roughly on par with the Klipsch X10 and Audio Technica CK100. A bit below the Shure SE530, but sufficient for traffic noise, bus commuting and subway rides.
Sound quality:
Disclaimer/words of caution: I don't hear much above 16kHz so take my comments about highs with a grain of salt. I also have some reservations about balanced armature IEMs and classical music that AFAIK most fellow members do not share. In particular I think that most BA phones cannot render the lower frequency vibrations of strings accurately, so here again my mileage might be widely off yours. Other than that I've tried to be as objective as possible.
I’ve had the Ortofon e-Q7 for two weeks now and spent a considerable amount of time comparing them to my other top IEMs like the Sennheiser IE8, Audio Technica CK100, Shure SE530, JVC/Victor FX500 and Klipsch Image/X10. All music was auditioned unequalized straight out of my Sansa Fuze. Here are some of the songs I picked and the listening notes I made:
Al Stewart – News from Spain (Folk / Rock):
<off topic rave>
Although this track dates back from 1972 and may not be up to modern recording standards, I decided to include it, because Al is an all time favourite of mine. Widely known only for his single soft-rock hit “Year of the Cat” he is IMO one of the best songwriters of our time. Every time I hear his lyrics like
“Now the winter winds possess the southern reaches,
And the sea folds like a mantle on the beaches”
it’s goose bump time for me. And on top of that Rick Wakeman’s piano solo in this song is truly something to behold.
</off topic rave>
e-Q7:
One word: beautiful! Well done bassline without being obtrusive, drums have good definition and impact. Guitar and Al’s slightly nasal voice are perfectly reproduced (I know how he sounds live). One thing that stands out is impeccable instrument separation, resulting in a very transparent sound. Rick Wakeman’s piano is breathtaking. Very nice soundstage, almost up to the IE8.
IE8 (bass at minimum):
Guitar and voice are very good, the mids maybe a tad warmer than the e-Q7. Sadly the bassline walks all over it as upper bass is much too bloated. Piano is almost as good as on the e-Q7 but half-drowned by bass. Famous IE8 soundstage.
CK100:
First thing that comes to mind: the voice is somehow off. Overly nasal and slightly coldish, this is not how Al sounds in real life. The mids are clearly a weakness of this IEM. Other than that bass is nice and unobtrusive, but not up to the e-Q7. Great and very detailed highs. Very nice soundstage, equal to the e-Q7. Piano is good but not amongst the best.
SE530:
Nice, impactful bass, but a bit lacking in definition. Voice slightly too warm, otherwise beautiful. Rolled off highs are noticeable in guitar and piano, but nothing dramatic. Nice soundstage, a tad smaller than the best.
FX500:
Fantastic drums and bass impact, only a little bit too bloated. IE8 could learn from that. Voice is slightly laid back but accurate and natural. Highs are good, guitar and piano again very natural. Soundstage on par with e-Q7. Overall amongst the best.
X10:
Bass has depth and right quantity but definition is not up to the e-Q7. The voice sounds great but a bit warmish due to recessed highs. Highs also missing a bit from otherwise nice piano. Soundstage only so-so. Overall a nice, non fatiguing, laid back sound.
Stacey Kent - Ice Hotel (Female Vocal Jazz):
e-Q7:
Excellent airy sound with just the right amount of bass. The voice is gorgeous and spot-on. Highs are sparkly with great cymbals and only a very slight hint of sibilance here and there. Very relaxed representation with awesome transparency. If I had to find one fault, IE8 has slightly better soundstage.
IE8 (bass at minimum):
Very prominent and soft upper bass. Mids are more forward and a bit warmer than with the e-Q7. Highs, detail and sibilance are on par with the e-Q7, but transparency is slightly less. Very wide soundstage.
CK100:
Again, one can’t help but instantly notice the cold mids. Poor Stacey sounds as if the life blood had been sucked out of her. Now I’ve learned that driving the CK100 from the XIN supermicro makes a big difference, but here we’re talking Fuze headphone out and they just don’t sound right. Bass, highs, detail and soundstage can keep up with the best, but these mids ruin the song for me.
SE530:
Very smooth with nice bass, warm and forward mids and slightly rolled off but sufficient highs. Even a bit sparkly but also a some minor sibilance. Detail and soundstage not quite up to the best, but overall a very pleasing presentation of this song.
FX500:
A tad too much bass, very soft and somehow boomy. Mids are warm and slightly recessed, which makes for a relaxed and laid-back sound. Highs are extended and sparkly, but also prone to sibilance. Good soundstage. Silky and musical, but nowhere near as transparent as the e-Q7.
X10:
Very similar impression to the first song: Bass just about right but not as clearly defined as with the e-Q7. Good, warmish voice is great. Highs are paradoxically recessed but at the same time a bit sparkly (cymbals). Intimate Soundstage. Non fatiguing, laid back sound.
Vladimir Ashkenazy - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2, last movement (Classical Orchestra)
e-Q7:
Most impressive speed and accuracy in piano rendering. Seemingly effortless handling of orchestra dynamics. Very flat, detailed and transparent. Great instrument separation and nice soundstaging. Strings are very nice, which comes as a big surprise, as normally I don’t like strings with balanced armature phones so much. These are the first BA IEMs that I wholeheartedly enjoy with classical music.
IE8 (bass at minimum):
Very natural and airy, but piano maybe a bit too sugarcoated. Fantastic in rendering orchestra dynamics. Compared to the e-Q7 they feel a bit more dramatic while the former stay more relaxed and controlled. Very nice strings. Larger than life soundstage is very impressive with classical. Did I mention they have too much upper bass?
CK100:
Quite likely the most detailed of my IEMs. Very extended highs, but piano sounds a bit too shrill, almost “metallic”. Impressive speed, dynamics and soundstage. Overall a good performance, but the IE8 and e-Q7 do an even better job.
SE530:
First thing that comes to mind, orchestra dynamics is awesome, from delicate silent passages to full slam (that almost makes one jump). Lush presentation with nice but slightly mushy bass and forward mids. Highs are ok but rolled off compared to the e-Q7. Limited detail and soundstage. Overall not bad, but the IE8 and e-Q7 both handle classical better.
FX500:
Musical and smooth with prominent soft bass. Strings are warm and very natural. Extended highs, piano is very nice, albeit a bit shrill in loud passages - but less so than the CK100. Detailed and airy with ample soundstage. Overall very good for classical with more bass than the e-Q7 (might be too much for some)
X10:
Overall very similar to the e-Q7 (which is a good thing), but with slightly less highs, detail and smaller soundstage. Maybe it’s the single BA construction that both phones have in common, but the e-Q7 sounds like a hypothetical Klipsch X15.
Markus Schulz - Mainstage / I am (Trance, kudos to shigzeo!)
e-Q7:
Now, this is a surprise! Never heard such nice low bass rumble from a BA phone before, it almost sounds like a dynamic driver IEM (must be the large size of the armature). Overall bass is very controlled with good punch, but there are harder hitting phones out there. Very relaxed sound with excellent imaging and spacey feeling. e-Q7 is a master in sounding effortlessly.
IE8:
Nice low bass rumble, but upper bass walks all over it. Obtrusive soft upper bass pounding on „I am“ that I don’t like at all. Female vocals are very relaxed. Spacey with vast soundstage and excellent 3D feel. Shame about that bass hump, these are nice trance phones if your source has a good EQ.
CK100:
Not more than a slight hint of low bass rumble. Good bass punch and control on “I am”. Mids are a bit recessed and coldish, but not as damaging to the sound as with other musical genres. Amazingly detailed highs and very good 3D imaging. Overall these are very nice trance phones.
SE530:
A bit more low bass rumble than the CK100 but less than the e-Q7. Bass on “I am” is impactful but a bit undefined. Together with forward mids, rolled off highs and limited soundstage this is not an ideal trance phone.
FX500:
Strongest low bass rumble of all contenders. Massive pounding bass on ‘I am’ partly drowning out the midrange. Vocals feel recessed in comparison. Very good and detailed highs. Nice airy and spacey 3D feel. Good trance phones.
X10:
Bass rumble on par with the SE530, less than the e-Q7. Controlled and punchy bass on “I am”. Again the overall similarity to the e-Q7 is apparent, minus some high extension, detail and soundstage. Still a very engaging trance phone.
TV on the Radio - Golden Age / Family Tree (Indie, Electro, Post Punk)
e-Q7:
I can’t help but growing fond of these phones. Everything I throw at them is handled with relaxed composure and reproduced excellently. Bass, speed, vocals and highs are all spot-on. Ample detail, great imaging and separation. Soundstage is only second to the IE8 but not by much.
IE8:
Softer bass but with good control. Upper bass hump is not so bad with these songs. Vocals are very relaxed, breathy, beautiful. Last not least the „famous IE8 soundstage“ makes it a very good phone for these songs.
CK100:
Well defined, quick and punchy bass. Amazingly detailed highs, cymbals are wonderful. Sadly the Vocals lack all warmth and sound thinnish. Whoever designed those mids, I hope they fired him! Soundstage and imaging are up to the best, but can’t save the phone with these songs.
SE530:
Good punchy bass. Vocals are the exact opposite of the CK100, very warm and forward, simply beautiful! Highs and soundstage are a bit lacking, but overall this is still a very good phone for the songs.
FX500:
Almost too prominent bass, even softer than the IE8’s, but still very good. Vocals are a bit laid back, but still very beautiful. Extended and detailed highs (cymbals!). wide soundstage. Also a good phone for the songs.
X10:
Good quantity and quality bass. Vocals are nice and warm. Again, most characteristics are similar to the e-Q7, but X10 falls short in highs, detail and soundstage.
Final thoughts / conclusion:
The Ortofon e-Q7 belong without a doubt among the best universal IEMs I have heard. In the true sense of the word "universal" they might in fact be the best. Be it Pop, Rock, Classical, Jazz,... everything I threw at them was handled with the same relaxed composure and reproduced excellently. Un-equalized flat out of my Fuze everything just sounded spot-on and wonderful. It's true that for instance the IE8 still does some things even better, like phenomenal soundstaging or dramatic dynamics with classical orchestra, but I have to EQ down the upper bass to really enjoy them.
Comparing all these high level IEMs one won't find severe weaknesses (not counting the CK100s touchy mids; edit: see post #2), differences are subtle and personal preference might easily tip the scale towards one or the other. Ortofon really impress me by taking the single armature design of the X10 a step further with better highs, detail and soundstage and producing a tiny phone that is both visually attractive and exceptionally pleasing to the ears.
