[ericp10]

Well, I took the plunge and purchased the Sennheiser IE7 from Amazon.com. They were on sale for $169. That seems like a good price based on the threads I've been reading all day about them.

I purpose chose these over the IE8s (that every dynamic driver phone user seems to be raving about) for two reasons. First, although I'm a bass lover, I still very much love midrange and some decent highs out of my phones. By all accounts from what I read, it seems that the IE8's bass tends to overpower its mids, whereas the IE7s gives the mids more room to shine. Second, from what I read, it seems that the IE7's soundstage is not that far away from the IE8 at a much lower cost, which is one of the main reasons I am interested in a dynamic IEM.

I do understand the sounds aren't similar between the siblings, and that the IE7 leans more toward the neutral sound that I love so much out of the HF5s (not saying they sound a like).

So, this will be my first dynamic earphone. I hope I'll be impressed. Right now I'm still being blown away by the Ortofon E-Q7. I have never listened to phone for so long. I'm finding myself going to bed much later by just enjoying different styles of music (I listen mainly to jazz, but also enjoy r&b, rock, reggae, gospel, african and brazilian music). I don't expect the IE7s to blow away the E-Q7 (although, in my opinion the E-Q7 gas a wonderful soundstage), but I am hoping it gives me an equally (but different) joyful sound experience. For those of you who have heard both, can you tell me what to expect if I'm one who likes the E-Q7s so much?

Thanks a bunch

EricP

P.S. I'm not too impressed yet by the TF10s. Maybe they need some more burn-in time (I know I know: armature drivers don't need burn-in, but in my mind and ears they do). I hope the IE7s sound nothing like the TF10s.

 

[Modifiedz]

You dont need to worry about the IE 7 being anything like the Triple Fi. 10.
How would you say the Triple fi's sound next to the Ortofon E-Q7?

 

[Young Spade]

Hmm thanks for the post. What does it seem that the IE7s can do that the TF10s can't? I was thinking about getting the 10s but I'm not sure :/

 

[intoflatlines]

I think the IE7 would have more bass impact since it is dynamic driver, but TF10 will do everything else (except for comfort) better..

 

[james444]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif So, this will be my first dynamic earphone. I hope I'll be impressed. Right now I'm still being blown away by the Ortofon E-Q7. I have never listened to phone for so long. I'm finding myself going to bed much later by just enjoying different styles of music (I listen mainly to jazz, but also enjoy r&b, rock, reggae, gospel, african and brazilian music). I don't expect the IE7s to blow away the E-Q7 (although, in my opinion the E-Q7 gas a wonderful soundstage), but I am hoping it gives me an equally (but different) joyful sound experience. For those of you who have heard both, can you tell me what to expect if I'm one who likes the E-Q7s so much?

I don't have the IE7, but provided it is similar to the IE8 minus the bass hump, then you should expect a somewhat larger soundstage (although e-Q7's is already very nice) and more bass impact, but slightly less bass definition (e-Q7 has awesome bass definition!). Overall you should expect a tad more dynamic and "emotional" sound at the cost of some clarity, whereas the e-Q7 has a more relaxed sound and stunning clarity/transparency.

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modifiedz /img/forum/go_quote.gif You dont need to worry about the IE 7 being anything like the Triple Fi. 10. How would you say the Triple fi's sound next to the Ortofon E-Q7?

Hello Modified: The Triplefi sounds muddled next to the Ortofon. The best way to describe it is that the Triplefi sounds to me like you're in a recording studio listening through studio headphone monitors. The bass is nice, the treble is decent, but the midrange sounds very muddy to me and lack detail. You don't hear nuances in vocals as you do with the E-Q7.

As James has said, you hear a nice soundstage with the Ortofon. The bass has a lot of definition (great for listening to jazz and other genres). Listening to drums through the E-Q7 is the best I've heard through any IEM, and many cans. It's very natural and realistic sounding. And strings have definition in the music where I can place many times where the string section might be located on a stage with live music. It's just a very natural sound IEM, and as many others have said who own them, the phone is like a cross between an armature and dynamic driver ( I have to take their word since I haven't heard a dynamic IEM as of yet).

The E-Q7 blows even my E530s out of the water, and the HF5 too (although the Etymotic gives a bit more detail in the vocals than the Ortofon. Ortofon's vocals are detailed, but very smooth and warm). Hope I answered your question. If not, I'll try again and be more specific (smile).

EricP

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young Spade /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmm thanks for the post. What does it seem that the IE7s can do that the TF10s can't? I was thinking about getting the 10s but I'm not sure :/

Hello Young Spade:

I'm mainly interested in the IE7 for the what I hear is a wide soundstage with a good to great midrange. That's what I'm hearing about the IE7s (and the fact that I've never heard a dynamic IEM before). The TF10s have very good bass and highs, but I'm not impress with the mids at all. Now, maybe I haven't burned them in enough. Listening to the TF10s through iTunes on my iMac, I must say that the sound seemed too much like in my face (or ears I should say) with very little (if any) space and separation. Some people may like their music like that, but it's not for me.

To be far, I did listen for about 30-40 minutes of jazz music from my cable company t.v. music station using the TF10s. I listened to the TF10s though an Onkyo P-304 connected to a P504 amplifier feeding power to my B&W Nautilus 804 speakers. The sound coming out the TF10s through this hookup was quite nice and gave the music a bit more detail and definition. At the same time, however, as I stated before, the music sounded as if I was in the studio listening through some really good studio headphone monitors.

So I would never say that the TF10s aren't worth an investment of money and time. I think it just all depends on your individual taste in how you like to hear music. I don't hate the TF10s, just not my cup of tea.

EricP

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by intoflatlines /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think the IE7 would have more bass impact since it is dynamic driver, but TF10 will do everything else (except for comfort) better..

Wow @ intoflatlines. I hope you're wrong. Not too crazy about the TF10.

EricP

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by james444 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't have the IE7, but provided it is similar to the IE8 minus the bass hump, then you should expect a somewhat larger soundstage (although e-Q7's is already very nice) and more bass impact, but slightly less bass definition (e-Q7 has awesome bass definition!). Overall you should expect a tad more dynamic and "emotional" sound at the cost of some clarity, whereas the e-Q7 has a more relaxed sound and stunning clarity/transparency.

That's what I'm hoping to find @ Jame444, that soundstage that you so eloquently described many times regarding the IE8. I'm hoping it has good mid impact too over time with burn in.

You are absolutely right about the E-Q7's soundstage and bass definition. Never heard bass definition like that in any IEM. It covers the whole spectrum of the bass in a clear and transparent manner.

Really, you and I describing the Ortofons do it no justice. Head-fi listeners just have to hear it to understand. And I would say they suck and aren't worth the money if they really weren't as good as I and others have said.


================================================

Owns: Ortofon E-Q7, Etymotic HF5, U.E. TF 10 Pro, Shure E530 (and soon) Sennheiser IE7.

 

[ksu06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Triplefi sounds muddled next to the Ortofon. The best way to describe it is that the Triplefi sounds to me like you're in a recording studio listening through studio headphone monitors. The bass is nice, the treble is decent, but the midrange sounds very muddy to me and lack detail. You don't hear nuances in vocals as you do with the E-Q7.

My impressions of the TF10 definitely mirror yours, they do have good bass detail and decent highs, but for me there was just something so wrong with the mids. Regardless of whether it is detailed/accurate or not, what really bothered me was the timbre ... I remember thinking, voices definitely do not sound like that in real life.

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksu06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif My impressions of the TF10 definitely mirror yours, they do have good bass detail and decent highs, but for me there was just something so wrong with the mids. Regardless of whether it is detailed/accurate or not, what really bothered me was the timbre ... I remember thinking, voices definitely do not sound like that in real life.

Exactly @ ksu06! I wish I was able to state that as succinctly as you just did. Thanks.

EricP

 

[intoflatlines]

Quote:

Wow @ intoflatlines. I hope you're wrong. Not too crazy about the TF10. EricP

Well everyone has their own opinions, so you might really enjoy the IE7 or another IEM over the TF10. I know a lot of people do, just not me personally.

 

[james444]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Really, you and I describing the Ortofons do it no justice. Head-fi listeners just have to hear it to understand. And I would say they suck and aren't worth the money if they really weren't as good as I and others have said.

I'm right there with you man, but the point is everyone's perception of great SQ is different. It's not like we need to enlighten our fellow head-fiers about the unsurpassed qualities of the e-Q7, LOL

. Look at ClieOS' and shigzeo's comments about the Ortofons, two very experienced head-fiers who were not so enthusiastic. Anyone's claim that the TF10, IE8, SE530 or whatever IEMs are the best of the bunch is as justified as our praise of the e-Q7. That's what makes it so hard to gain useful insight from reviews.

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by james444 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm right there with you man, but the point is everyone's perception of great SQ is different. It's not like we need to enlighten our fellow head-fiers about the unsurpassed qualities of the e-Q7, LOL . Look at ClieOS' and shigzeo's comments about the Ortofons, two very experienced head-fiers who were not so enthusiastic. Anyone's claim that the TF10, IE8, SE530 or whatever IEMs are the best of the bunch is as justified as our praise of the e-Q7. That's what makes it so hard to gain useful insight from reviews.

I get and understand your point @ James444. I think we all want to share a good thing in this forum when we think we have found it. I actually thought, however, that ClieOS and Shigzeo liked the e-Q7 quite a bit. I guess I have to recheck their views. I know cn11 - whom I bought the e-Q7s from - wasn't too high on it. Oh well, it's still a beautiful hobby to have. Helps to relax my mind in this troubling economy...

 

[koven]

I hated the IE7... it had very nice bass but the highs/mids sounded veiled/lifeless to me.