Impressions of the Ortofon e-Q7 versus the IE8, CK100, SE530, FX500 and X10 (plus CK10 discussion from post #120)

[earthpeople]

These seem really interesting, I really want to try them. If I hadn't bought my IE8s a few weeks ago, I would've strongly considered these instead. Hope to try them out someday...

 

[Rip N' Burn]

Very tempted to get them. Hard to resist.......

 

[Benjamin-Edwards]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iponderous /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wicked Digital are overpriced in my opinion.

I don't know what you are basing that on, but in my opinion the price on the e-Q7's is pretty damn fair. Compare the price of any other brand of headphones in Australia to the USA and the Ortofon's pricing is as good as it gets. Plus they were great to deal with and had a huge amount of stock of the Ortofon's, so I can't recommend them enough.

 

[iponderous]

^ I'm referring to their pricing in general. I have found that they are uncompetitive when compared to other on-line retailers. That's why I have never bought from them. If they are offering a good price for the Ortofon's then that's surprisingly good news.

 

[Benjamin-Edwards]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iponderous /img/forum/go_quote.gif ^ I'm referring to their pricing in general. I have found that they are uncompetitive when compared to other on-line retailers. That's why I have never bought from them. If they are offering a good price for the Ortofon's then that's surprisingly good news.

I still do not get it, they sell ATC speakers for HALF the price they were when sold elsewhere, and from what I can tell they are the cheapest place in the world to buy ATC. Bel Canto prices have tumbled since the Oz dollar has strengthened, who else has done that? I know about these two brand in particular because I took advantage of their great pricing on those two brands, but from what I see on other gear as well, they are very competitive....

But hey, let's not change the this thread into an argument about something else...It just always amazes me when people make claims such as yours on a forum, I always feel there is a hidden agenda, like YOU might be a competitive dealer?

 

[cn11]

Quote:

Originally Posted by squid+ /img/forum/go_quote.gif These seem really interesting, I really want to try them. If I hadn't bought my IE8s a few weeks ago, I would've strongly considered these instead. Hope to try them out someday...

I'll post my observations of the Orto's against the IE8's. I look forward to that one!

 

[Benjamin-Edwards]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll post my observations of the Orto's against the IE8's. I look forward to that one!

That would be good, I have never bothered to try and get a listen to the IE8's so I would be keen to hear what you think of them in comparison to the Ortofon's.....

 

[iponderous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin-Edwards /img/forum/go_quote.gif I still do not get it, they sell ATC speakers for HALF the price they were when sold elsewhere, and from what I can tell they are the cheapest place in the world to buy ATC. Bel Canto prices have tumbled since the Oz dollar has strengthened, who else has done that? I know about these two brand in particular because I took advantage of their great pricing on those two brands, but from what I see on other gear as well, they are very competitive.... But hey, let's not change the this thread into an argument about something else...It just always amazes me when people make claims such as yours on a forum, I always feel there is a hidden agenda, like YOU might be a competitive dealer?

Your response sounds a tad hysterical if you don't mind me saying. I have no hidden agenda and I'm not a competitive dealer, but you sound unnervingly like a conspiracy theorist.

I don't know how I can convince you of my truthfulness but if you want me to be more specific, I can PM the details to you. Suffice to say, and for the purpose of this post, I purchased the SE530, IE8 and Triple.Fi 10 Pro, which are all carried by Wicked Digital and two other Australian on-line dealers who carried them for considerably less. I also found one other on-line dealer that was consistently cheaper than Wicked Digital, but not quite as cheap as the two that I used.

Do you think Obama really is a socialist?

 

[earthpeople]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll post my observations of the Orto's against the IE8's. I look forward to that one!

I'm looking forward to it as well!

 

[soozieq]

Wonderful review james444.

You've made me very curious, especially as we seem to have heard a lot of the same phones

Chris... looking forward as usual to your impressions

 

[ucrags84]

I noticed your impressions of the X10, I felt the same way. You should try the X5's the highs are considerably extended, and X5s just seem to have more balance overall.

 

[james444]

Update: did a re-evaluation with the Cowon i9, similar results except for CK100 (details post #2).

 

[james444]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucrags84 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I noticed your impressions of the X10, I felt the same way. You should try the X5's the highs are considerably extended, and X5s just seem to have more balance overall.

Interesting, so the X5 would be better than the X10 then? Anyway, my main gripe with the Klipsch is you can't really wear them over-ears. A lot of my listening is on the move and their microphonics (even with shirt clip) drive me crazy.

 

[james444]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soozieq /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wonderful review james444. You've made me very curious, especially as we seem to have heard a lot of the same phones

Wow, thanks for the kind words! We seem to have heard a lot of the same phones because your wonderful reviews much too often have made me curious. This is just a blunt attempt to retaliate

 

[james444]

Interesting find: Here's someone who thinks the Grado GR8 and Ortofon e-Q7 are using the same driver (Google translation from Japanese).