Is there an IEM that doesn't require a seal?

[mutabor]

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In my experience, I cannot feel the seal with the ex600s because of the vent (you don't get that under the water feeling), this might be just me though. When music is not playing through them, isolation is pretty poor, and I can hear everything around me. This is just my personal impression of the ex600s and it might be different for you.

The same impression with my half-in-ear Brainwavz Beta. Definitely a noticeable difference from proper sealing IEMs. 
 

 

[vhobhstr]

I couldn't wait any longer.  I bought the MDR-EX600.  It should arrive early next week at the latest.  

 

[Sweden]

I tried a Bose IE2 which is more designed to sit in the ear then go deep in the earcanal like a normal IEM. I actually was a bit surpried how good it sounded. Natural, pleasent open sound with very average consumer toned balanced. For 100 USD I think it's a good deal. Mind you I came from listening to a LCD-3 with a Leben CS300 and it still managed to sound pretty good...

 

[Jeremypsp]

Quote:

I tried a Bose IE2 which is more designed to sit in the ear then go deep in the earcanal like a normal IEM. I actually was a bit surpried how good it sounded. Natural, pleasent open sound with very average consumer toned balanced. For 100 USD I think it's a good deal. Mind you I came from listening to a LCD-3 with a Leben CS300 and it still managed to sound pretty good...

Though in my opinion the Bose has somewhat bloated and muddy bass to my ears. Though I find their mids to be quite good. 

 

[Sweden]

 
Quote:

Though in my opinion the Bose has somewhat bloated and muddy bass to my ears. Though I find their mids to be quite good. 

 If I inserted it to much like a normal in-ear i had the same experience, but I found the bass to be very full and very balanced in regards to the other frequencies when i found perfect fit.

 

[Jeremypsp]

Quote:

 


 If I inserted it to much like a normal in-ear i had the same experience, but I found the bass to be very full and very balanced in regards to the other frequencies when i found perfect fit.

I see, though I personally do not like so much bass. 

 

[vhobhstr]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll listen to the IE2 the next time I'm at the Bose store.  In the meantime I've been burning in the EX600 which has arrived.  With the right EQ, they sound very good indeed, but they're not the revelation I was hoping for.  However, when there isn't music playing I can hear myself fine and I can hear people talking to me, so at least that part of my search was successful.  I'm still not sure if I'll keep them.

 

[Jeremypsp]

Quote:

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll listen to the IE2 the next time I'm at the Bose store.  In the meantime I've been burning in the EX600 which has arrived.  With the right EQ, they sound very good indeed, but they're not the revelation I was hoping for.  However, when there isn't music playing I can hear myself fine and I can hear people talking to me, so at least that part of my search was successful.  I'm still not sure if I'll keep them.

What did you find lacking about the EX-600s? 

 

[vhobhstr]

They don't sound as open and airy as my MX880 earbuds and there's also not quite as much micro detail.  When I listened to the full spectrum Naturespace demo on the MX880, I could feel droplets of water from the recording on my face (note that you have to position them properly), it sounded that real; I don't get that with the EX600.  However, going back to the MX880 after listening to the EX600 for a while makes the MX880 sound lacking in the mids and bass.  There also seems to be some distortion in the EX600 when it gets loud somewhere between 2 kHz and 8 kHz (this could be my fault, though, because I could've messed something up in Audio Hijack Pro; I'll listen to the recordings dry and see if the distortion is still there).

 

[Jeremypsp]

Quote:

They don't sound as open and airy as my MX880 earbuds and there's also not quite as much micro detail.  When I listened to the full spectrum Naturespace demo on the MX880, I could feel droplets of water from the recording on my face (note that you have to position them properly), it sounded that real; I don't get that with the EX600.  However, going back to the MX880 after listening to the EX600 for a while makes the MX880 sound lacking in the mids and bass.  There also seems to be some distortion in the EX600 when it gets loud somewhere between 2 kHz and 8 kHz.

Well, that's how the Sony's EX signature sounds like. Smooth sounding but not so detailed, though the soundstage is fairly wide. Detail is often obtained with a good seal, so you shouldn't expect too much. But if the EX-600s make those earbuds lack in bass, then you probably won't like the Bose IE2. 

 

[Glow Fish]

I tried a Bose IE2 which is more designed to sit in the ear then go deep in the earcanal like a normal IEM. I actually was a bit surpried how good it sounded. Natural, pleasent open sound with very average consumer toned balanced. For 100 USD I think it's a good deal. Mind you I came from listening to a LCD-3 with a Leben CS300 and it still managed to sound pretty good...

I am fond of the Bose IE2 as well. I have the iPhone version and find it to be great as a headset too as you can still hear your own voice. And the sound quality for the price is quite good. I have better earphones, but the IE2 is my all-rounder and it cost a fraction of my favorites, the Westone UM3X.

 

[Jeremypsp]

Quote:

I am fond of the Bose IE2 as well. I have the iPhone version and find it to be great as a headset too as you can still hear your own voice. And the sound quality for the price is quite good. I have better earphones, but the IE2 is my all-rounder and it cost a fraction of my favorites, the Westone UM3X.

Difference is that the IE2 is extremely colored as compared to the UM3x. 
And the GR-07 does a better job than the IE2 and is on par with the UM3x.