Just bought IE80's... not impressed. Looking for better

May 15, 2018 at 10:39 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 2

JakeBassHead

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So I picked up a pair of Sennheiser IE80's to get my loud audio fix while I'm at the gym. I don't use a lot of headphones other than the ATH-M50's on flights. My main audio solution is a pair of Adam A7X's I listen to and produce with that are hooked up through a JBL LSR310S sub in a treated home studio.

My ATH-M50's obviously aren't coming close to the A7X's in terms of sound quality, but they were all I needed at home while vacuuming or on an airplane. At the gym, though, I've been stomaching some $30 cheapo SoundPeats, which actually have more sub bass and volume than the Jaybird X3s. I haven't been able to find a loud pair of bluetooth headphones that doesn't reek of sibilance or distorted bass that cuts off around the 60Hz mark. Even though I'm not that headphone/earphone savvy, I'm an engineer--I knew the sound coming out of my ATH-M50's was significantly better than the Jaybirds, and I assumed I wasn't going to find a decent pair of bluetooth headphones for the gym even investing $150-200.

So I picked up the IE80s, since they're apparently all the rage.

The IE80's are super plasticky--they feel cheaper than the $30 bluetooth headphones I just picked up. They are loud, I'll give them that--but they need EQ, and an amp. The soundstage is noticeably wider with my amp. So I'm going to drop $100 on a bluetooth amp, but I hate the cable that came with these--the finicky over ear plastics that don't stay in--so I have to drop another $60 for a better cable that will also have a 2.5mm jack that's compatible with the amp.

Now I'm wondering if this expense is worth it, or if there's comparable, deep sub bass I can find for around $200 in a bluetooth pair, or a higher quality wired pair. Maybe a wired pair that already comes with a 2.5mm jack? I've invested about $215 into the IE80's, and I will be investing another $160. I'm not against returning them and spending $400 to get the best pair of headphones in the $300-400 price bracket. I mean, these things just feel cheap for $200. Any thoughts?

I listen to a lot of bass heavy music--like Jai Paul, Clams Casino, and Vince Staples. A few examples of the sound I listen to would be "Marijuana" by Chrome Sparks, "Like a Hunger" by Wilma Archer, "Level 1 (Instrumental)" by Clams Casino, and "OKRA" by Tyler, The Creator.
 
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May 16, 2018 at 9:27 AM Post #2 of 2

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