Inexpensive IEMs that don't look too ugly

[mlau]

While I was in Japan, I saw a niche of earphone/IEMs that's totally missing in the US market: the vanity earphone.

Examples include the Maxell HP-CN11 Crystal Jewelry Earphones and the Elecom EHP-AIN90 Ear Drops. In person they look decent, but the build quality is pretty bad, but not as bad as skullcandy.

While I bought a pair, I was going to try making my own with a couple tweaks:
1. use semi-precious stones to them instead of tacky Swaravsky crystals.
2. use decent IEMs instead of cheap ones (aluminum instead of plastic)
3. use decent sounding IEMs instead of crap (I just bought some RE2's to mod)

Anyways, do you have any suggestions for relatively inexpensive, but non-crappy IEMs that to mod?

Ideally, I'd like them to:
1. have a flat back where I can mount a stone (which, rules out nuForce).
2. not be super expensive (no Westones please!).

I look forward to your suggestions

 

[ljokerl]

The new clear Meelec Ai-M6. I don't think they even need a makeover

.

 

[mark2410]

look at the denons and tell me they are not pretty already

 

[chesterqw]

the grado and alessandro headphones?
make your own cups and "mount" all the bling you want on it

unless you only want earphones...

 

[A_Dying_Wren]

The UE Super.Fi 5 (not pro) is pretty darn elegant, has a flat back and is going on amazon for only $100 now. It also sounds quite good IMO. It's perfect for you if you can stretch your budget.

Really, the thought of adding bling to earphones that are worth more than the earphones would drive quite a few here crazy. Good luck with that anyway and feel free to post pictures

. You might start a new trend.

 

[earthpeople]

Maybe the PL50s?

 

[Hentai11]

Denon AH-C551:

 

[kmhaynes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesterqw /img/forum/go_quote.gif the grado and alessandro headphones? make your own cups and "mount" all the bling you want on it unless you only want earphones...

I can't quite get my MS-1i into my ear canal!

(OP says IEM)

 

[gimmethatbeatfool]

You can probably stain the R1 to whatever color you want, as well

 

[mlau]

It'd be for non-headfi-ish people who think that spending over $20 for headphones is crazy...sigh. The decorations wouldn't be more expensive than the earphones...you'd be surprised at how much of a markup jewelers take.

When I first went onto headfi, I was shocked at the prices of the "budget phones." Then, I plunked down for the nuforce ne-7m's. I've been eying the ESW9's since.

The Denons look nice, but could use a cabochon to finish the touch. To me it looks like a polised metal mounting waiting for a stone: tiger's eye for the men and MOP for the ladies.

Anyways, this may start a trend if it doesn't suck too much.
The only game in town here is Skullcandy, and I'd like to show people that there's better stuff out there, and point them to better phones.

I bought some RE2's that should be coming. I'll keep you posted on how my project turns out...sometime in November.

Before that, I really need to find a job (I just got out of dental school).

ps. The MEE's look really nice (particularly the woodies). Are they any good?

 

[achow]

Looking at these pictures got me thinking....is there any way of replacing the housing for the phones with another housing? like a computer tower.

This is what i am thinking.

Assumption: wood > plastic/metal

So can't you get a pair of phones with great build but bad housing and replace it with a wooden housing of a cheap phone.

would that contribute and boost the overall SQ?

any ideas?

 

[earthpeople]

It's not quite so simple, because the housing is often engineered to work with the driver inside. If you change the housing, it's possible that you can completely change the sound, not necessarily for the better.

 

[mythless]

Well don't the soundmagic PL21 have a flatback?

 

[Redcarmoose]

These may not look super, super great but at $9.90 USD ON SALE REGULAR $22.00. They are my best sounding IEMs. Truly I love these and use them all the time. I did do some MODs though. I took out screens. I super-glued the cords into the tubes going into headphone. I made the ports for sound larger too. I made a larger port on the back. Sorry I do not remember the name of these M IEMs. If I had the name I would buy six more. Nice plug and area where the wires join.

 

[mlau]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'd be plugging the port in the back though...hopefully that doesn't kill the acoustics.

The MEE M11's might be the right thing...although, if I sold them, they'd have to be priced at $100 to be worth my while.

I've been looking at the PL21's for too long. The only supplier seems to be from Singapore though. Is there a US supplier?

For my purposes: Brushed metal > painted metal > Wood > plastic.
Wood limits the gems that I can use due to what would match.
With wood: amber, onyx, antiqued bronze, and not too many other things (maybe I have a limitted imagination, anyone care to chime in?)
With metal: most gemstones that go with silver.
With painted metal: MOP, some other stones (amethest or rose quartz with pink; tigerseye, or agate with black)