iPod->sik ram din->pocketamp->?

[ls1powah]

Hey.

I've decided to pick up a Pocketamp/sik ram din for my iPod. I'm considering the Ety ER-6i.

I listen to Jazz, and Classical. A refined mid and high would be my biggest priority. I absolutely adore female vocals. I want bass to be punchy and accurate, but not overwhelming or boomy. Some say you don't need it for classical, but haven't you heard Bach?

I currently have a pair of KSC-35s. Should I.... forgo the pocketamp/sik ram din and just get the Etys? Or should I just get the pocketamp/sik ram din and forgo the Etys? Or both?

The biggest concern (besides money, there's no way I'm spending over ~$120 on this) is isolation. I've never wore IEMs before, so I don't know how they isolate. These will be my portable phones, I'll be walking, running, biking, on the bus, etc etc. I don't want to be so cut off from the outside world that I will not hear somebody shouting into my ear, or a car honking about to run me over.

I can see myself using these while studying in the library, and this is good because I hate hearing everything... my mind doesn't focus and starts to decode EVERYTHING, so I lose concentration and can't even enjoy the music.

Cliff Notes:
Ety ER-6i good buy for delicate vocals and punchy bass?
TOO much isolation? don't want to get run over by car unknowingly..

 

[joelongwood]

I have the combo you're considering (PocketampV2/Sik Ram/ER6i).
I would say the ER6i are excellent for the mids and highs, but there is no "punchy" bass. The bass is there, but I don't think it could be described as "punchy." The PocketampV2 does help the bass a bit, and it's almost "punchy," but not there yet, to my ears of course.
As far as isolation goes, the 6i isolates quite a lot with the tri-flange tips. Don't know about the foamies, as I don't use them. The 6i are my lawn mowing 'phones because of their ability to cut out just about all surrounding noise.
Why don't you just get the PocketampV2 and the Sik Ram Din and use your KSC-35 with them and see how you like the sound? You can always get different 'phones later on. Maybe the Sharp MD-33S @ $49 shipped from Audiocubes? They have excellent sound for the money and don't isolate nearly as much as the 6i, so they would most likely be a safer bet than the Etys for walking the streets and traveling in public......I find them to provide a punchier bass than the 6i as well. Just a suggestion.

 

[toucam]

Believe me, I'm sure after browsing around Head-fi for a few days more. You would say "besides money, there's way I'm spending much more over ~$120 on this).

 

[ls1powah]

I'd prefer accurate mids and highs, and articulate voices than punchy bass. I think I'll get the amp for now, then leave the headphones for later.

MD33s react at all to the amp? I might just get the Ety's down the road. But then again, they may isolate way too much for my liking hehe.