Klipsch X10's giving out, need to find upgrade in $300 range. Help?

[thatdarnguy]

Well, I'm pretty sure my X10's are giving out, as off and on I will notice extreme buzzing and interference that seems to be affected by how I turn the 3.5mm connector. Also on the connector, I notice a silver (not gold, as it should be) coloration around the black rings, so I'm assuming this is part of the problem. Oh, for some odd reason, there's also an indented ring around the connector, midway through. Regardless of the X10's, what I really need help with is finding a suitable replacement. I generally like the sound of the X10's, but I tend to find them a little closed in, and not very transparent. Whenever I listen to them, I very much am aware that I am listening to headphones. I also think that they're a bit bass heavy for my tastes, though it can be enjoyable. I use them with a Fiio e17 with the L7 LOD out of my iPhone, using, for the most part, FLAC. If you want to know what my preferences for sound are, I am currently in love with my Hifiman HE-400's, with an HRT MSii feeding into a Schiit Asgard 2, and I heavily enjoy my Sennheiser Amperiors out of the e17 on the go. As far as genres go, I listen to many variations of rock, from nu-metal to acid rock, to orchestral recordings, to some pop, definitely jazz, maybe even some folk, to a bit of electronic music, and basically anything else that strikes my fancy. So, what I'm looking for is a (durable) approx. $300 IEM that is transparent, detailed, can handle a variety of genres, with good separation and spacing, and no glaring flaws. No bloating in the bass, suckout in the mids, and no peaky treble. Basically I want an allrounder IEM that does nothing particularly wrong, but a few things quite well. Price range is around $300, but I may be able to go to 350, or would be happy with paying less if it accomplishes my needs. Also, I am quite the noob, so feel free to enlighten me on anything that I might have done wrong with this post. Also, feel free to recommend a better amp with the iem's. I plan on eventually upgrading from the e17 anyway.

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

Well, I'm pretty sure my X10's are giving out, as off and on I will notice extreme buzzing and interference that seems to be affected by how I turn the 3.5mm connector. Also on the connector, I notice a silver (not gold, as it should be) coloration around the black rings, so I'm assuming this is part of the problem. Oh, for some odd reason, there's also an indented ring around the connector, midway through. Regardless of the X10's, what I really need help with is finding a suitable replacement. I generally like the sound of the X10's, but I tend to find them a little closed in, and not very transparent. Whenever I listen to them, I very much am aware that I am listening to headphones. I also think that they're a bit bass heavy for my tastes, though it can be enjoyable. I use them with a Fiio e17 with the L7 LOD out of my iPhone, using, for the most part, FLAC. If you want to know what my preferences for sound are, I am currently in love with my Hifiman HE-400's, with an HRT MSii feeding into a Schiit Asgard 2, and I heavily enjoy my Sennheiser Amperiors out of the e17 on the go. As far as genres go, I listen to many variations of rock, from nu-metal to acid rock, to orchestral recordings, to some pop, definitely jazz, maybe even some folk, to a bit of electronic music, and basically anything else that strikes my fancy. So, what I'm looking for is a (durable) approx. $300 IEM that is transparent, detailed, can handle a variety of genres, with good separation and spacing, and no glaring flaws. No bloating in the bass, suckout in the mids, and no peaky treble. Basically I want an allrounder IEM that does nothing particularly wrong, but a few things quite well. Price range is around $300, but I may be able to go to 350, or would be happy with paying less if it accomplishes my needs. Also, I am quite the noob, so feel free to enlighten me on anything that I might have done wrong with this post. Also, feel free to recommend a better amp with the iem's. I plan on eventually upgrading from the e17 anyway.

<$300, transparent, detailed, all-rounder, spacing and separation, balance - while they won't be as lean of note as with the HE-400s, the eQ-5 or the GR01 might be at least worth a look. Nice balance, can't really offend, slots VERY nicely under budget. Not as aggressive as either the Senns (basing my opinions of the Amperiors off the apparently quite similar HD-25, so take with a grain of salt) or the HiFiMANs so if you're looking for that extra edge in note presentation, the UE900s (slightly over budget) might do - similar tonality/FR as with the HE-400s, not as tactile but just as punchy, upper-mids are similarly recessed (difference between a shelf and a suckout though).
 
Oh, almost forgot (in case you haven't found this - another place to ask questions) - http://www.head-fi.org/t/596233/buying-portable-or-in-ear-headphones-seeking-guidance-dont-start-a-new-thread-ask-for-advice-here

 

[thatdarnguy]

Ah, thanks for the swift reply. Yeah, I wondered if there was some big recommendations thread that I was missing. Yeah, the GR01 and EQ-5 look very appealing, but will they ever give me a moment where I'm sitting there and just think "Wow, this is heavily enjoyable." I know they will obviously be great, but do they have the enjoyment factor? Or should I look to the UE900's for that? Also, yeah, the Senn's are a bit aggressive, but I hear they aren't as hot as the 25's. To my ears, they don't really do anything wrong, but I do know they're a bit colored. Also, I can't really fault the mid's of the HE-400's, but I do know they have a bit of the fun factor, which I enjoy. I have the velours, so maybe that makes the difference, but I think if anything, as someone's pointed out, it takes off the nasal sound of some singers. Anyway, that's a bit straying from the main point of this, and I am quite the noob here, so thanks. But yes, will the neutral options also give me the enjoyment factor? Note that I don't mean fun factor, but just... enjoyment. I really don't know what I'm asking. Oh, and all of those options will be a significant upgrade from the X10's in basically every way, correct? Would you call the UE900's the HE-400 of the IEM world?

 

[thatdarnguy]

Another question- Does my current gear list make any sense for the qualities that I listed to enjoy in sound, and genres? If that seems like a silly question, I'm just a strangely curious fellow.

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

Ah, thanks for the swift reply. Yeah, I wondered if there was some big recommendations thread that I was missing. Yeah, the GR01 and EQ-5 look very appealing, but will they ever give me a moment where I'm sitting there and just think "Wow, this is heavily enjoyable." I know they will obviously be great, but do they have the enjoyment factor? Or should I look to the UE900's for that? Also, yeah, the Senn's are a bit aggressive, but I hear they aren't as hot as the 25's. To my ears, they don't really do anything wrong, but I do know they're a bit colored. Also, I can't really fault the mid's of the HE-400's, but I do know they have a bit of the fun factor, which I enjoy. I have the velours, so maybe that makes the difference, but I think if anything, as someone's pointed out, it takes off the nasal sound of some singers. Anyway, that's a bit straying from the main point of this, and I am quite the noob here, so thanks. But yes, will the neutral options also give me the enjoyment factor? Note that I don't mean fun factor, but just... enjoyment. I really don't know what I'm asking. Oh, and all of those options will be a significant upgrade from the X10's in basically every way, correct? Would you call the UE900's the HE-400 of the IEM world?

Quote:

Another question- Does my current gear list make any sense for the qualities that I listed to enjoy in sound, and genres? If that seems like a silly question, I'm just a strangely curious fellow.

On the enjoyment front - there's not a piece of gear in the world that can't sound enjoyable to at least one pair of ears. It doesn't mean that they aren't overly euphonic. Heck, it doesn't even mean they sound good, period. Enjoyment is perceived purely on your own part and nothing can dictate otherwise. The UE900s might be slightly sterile to some, it might not. Generally though, a subbass emphasis and slight treble sparkle is usually perceived as being euphonic qualities, the extent of that which is totally subjective.
 
IMO, the tonality is similar between the two. The mids aren't as cohesive and liquid as with the planars, which is why I had brought up the eQ-5 at first, but overall FR is rather similar to these ears.
 
"Significant upgrade", is again, totally what you make of it. There's some obvious areas where they are more proficient - whether or not the price is worth it is up to the listener.
 
In this instance, I don't take much credence in regards to other gear - I'd worry more about the tranducer than the source. There aren't any glaring flaws - i.e. you aren't running them off a HP jack out of of AM/FM radio box.

 

[thatdarnguy]

Yeah, I suppose I should've expected that answer. Sound is entirely subjective, so I guess I'll just have to find out. I think the e-Q5's sound the most appealing to me, currently. Thank you very much for the help, as well as the bit of wisdom.