dragonlong
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2003
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I know this is kind of like comparing apple to oranges, but I am so impressed with the KSC-35 that I just had to compare them to the E888.
Why compare these two? Well, I'm very big on clarity and detail, and so far, I find that the E888 are the best at that (except for the ER-4P which is probably better, although not as fun to listen to)... that is, until now!
The KSC-35 are very good at clarity and detail too, and many times, it makes the E888 sound "muddy" for some reason.
Because I had some spare time today (and also since I finished burning in my KSC-35 today too), I decided to compare them head on.
First of all, this is all prompted from the fact that one time, I started hearing many things that I haven't heard before... or at least I thought that I haven't. It's a little bit hard to explain, but I think the main thing with the KSC-35 is that it's good at bring forward the little "accompaniment" sounds. What I mean is that in terms of sound stage, it likes to bring stuff closer to the front. The amazing thing is that bringing all those little things to the front does not muddy everything else at the front.
When I try to pick out those sounds that I thought I haven't heard before, this time using the E888, I was indeed able to hear them. However, they didn't seem as clear or detailed, but they are definitely there.
With just that to go on, it does feel like the KSC-35 beat out the E888 easily, however, that's not necessarily the case. The KSC-35's ability to bring stuff forward in itself is a weakness... a double-edged sword so to speak. Since most things are closer to the front, it does appear like the soundstage is much smaller. You no longer have the same degree of "layer separation" that you can get from the E888. I believe that music is supposed to have central focal points, where one instrument (often the voice) is the main thing that you listen to while the rest are accompanying as bonus to further enhance the sound experience. The KSC-35, while it does not necessary remove the focal points or make them become accompaniment, does lose this distinction a little.
Anothing I noticed is that voices on the KSC-35 do have a little extra reverb/echoe to them on certain songs. Perhaps those voices were meant to have that effect and the KSC-35 succeeded on showing that faithfully, but I can't really tell for sure. Maybe when I have more time, I'll try listening to the same songs closely using my other headphones and get a better idea.
As for the bass, when I first listened to the KSC-35, I was amazed with the bass. It was much better than the EX71 in my opinion. However, when comparing it head on with the E888's bass, I still prefer the E888's better. Why? The E888's bass seem to have a "circular" shape whereas the KSC-35's are more "oval". What I mean is that the E888's bass is tighter and more concentrated, whereas the KSC-35's are a bit looser and more spread out. Also, the KSC-35's bass can eventually lead to some headache, whereas the E888's can go a longer time without leading to a headache, and by this time, it's probably just listening to music in general and not necessarily the bass that's causing the headache.
The amount of time leading to headache leads to the main conclusion of this comparison:
KSC-35 = Sprint (short distance)
E888 = Marathon (long distance)
The distance analogy applies easily to the amount of time you can use these headphones "before you get a headache". However, it also applies in the sense of the "wow factor", meaning how easily you'll be impressed with the headphones at first listen. The KSC-35 definitely wins at first impressions. However, once you've listened to it for a while and are more experienced with it, you will easily find that it's not as good at certain things that at first you didn't think was important, but then realize later that they are. The E888 is definitely the marathon winner in this sense. Once you become more experienced, you will start appreciating the finer quirks about the E888 that you didn't before.
With that said, it doesn't mean that the E888 are hands down better than KSC-35. Actually, maybe it does! However, that depends on the situation. The KSC-35 will win in terms of outdoor use. This is for the fact that it brings all the small/tinny accompaniment sounds forward to the front of the sound stage where it's easier to listen to and notice when there's a lot of (traffic/engine) noise outside. The E888 is good at showing subtlety, but what's the use if the noise outside will render te subtleties unhearable? Thus the KSC-35 successfully compromises sound stage for an easier listen. The headacheyness of the KSC-35 are also not as bad outdoors if you're just using them to commute to work since most people don't take more than 2 hours to arrive to their destination and also, outside noise helps to "pad" the headacheyness.
Conversely, the E888 are thereby the winner in terms of indoor use, or at least in a "controlled" environment. This is where you can hear all the subtleties without being disturbed.
One more relatively less important thing: the KSC-35 don't seem as efficient as the E888. The E888 don't take much volume to be enjoyed whereas the KSC-35 do take a little more. If we used the volume needed for the KSC-35 and use it for the E888, the E888 will definitely show everything better than the KSC-35 in terms of clarity and detail, but then it's a bit loud, so if you're into listening to music loudly, then the E888 will win hands down in all categories compared to the KSC-35. Personally, I'm trying hard not to lose anymore of my hearing that I have left, so I'm sticking to listening at a "just right" level.
Also, another conclusion is that noobs or the general public would most likely be better off purchasing the KSC-35 since its price and sound qualities are more easily appreciated and it's ROI (return on investment) can be achieved faster and easier. The E888 is for the audiophile, or at least those who are more serious than casually listening to music. You will find more "specific" things in the E888 than the KSC-35, but you will have to listen more carefully to do that.
As a sidenote, I've recently come up with nicknames for most of my headphones and I'm just wondering what you guys think of them.
D66: The Diplomat (it's good at compromising everything to achieve an "all round" goodness)
EX71: The person (you don't want to be its dad anymore after you are disappointed with it)
E888: The Specialist (it specializes in sound quality and nothing else, but it does its specialty well!)
KSC-35: The Prodigy (this little guy is so good that it's able to compete with other headphones at a higher class)
I've already come up with nicknames for the D66 and EX71 since I'm still planning on doing a more comprehensive comparison of all 4 of these headphones if I have the time in the near future and I already have some understanding of how they compare to each other.
I do realize that my opinions are purely subjective and many of you will probably disagree with some/all of what I said, so I'll just say for the record that my opinions are solely my own and does not necessarily reflect those of other audiophiles officially or unofficially.
Feel free to comment on anything that I've said, but please keep it civil and constructive as I really don't intend to start a flame war or argue with anyone (although I can't really stop you if you want to, but you'll just be wasting your time
).
And as always, if there's some other criterion that you want compared between the KSC-35 and the E888, I'll be glad to accommodate if I can find the time for it. Comparing apples to oranges may not be fair, but it can be fun and helpful to appreciate their differences better.
Why compare these two? Well, I'm very big on clarity and detail, and so far, I find that the E888 are the best at that (except for the ER-4P which is probably better, although not as fun to listen to)... that is, until now!
The KSC-35 are very good at clarity and detail too, and many times, it makes the E888 sound "muddy" for some reason.
Because I had some spare time today (and also since I finished burning in my KSC-35 today too), I decided to compare them head on.
First of all, this is all prompted from the fact that one time, I started hearing many things that I haven't heard before... or at least I thought that I haven't. It's a little bit hard to explain, but I think the main thing with the KSC-35 is that it's good at bring forward the little "accompaniment" sounds. What I mean is that in terms of sound stage, it likes to bring stuff closer to the front. The amazing thing is that bringing all those little things to the front does not muddy everything else at the front.
When I try to pick out those sounds that I thought I haven't heard before, this time using the E888, I was indeed able to hear them. However, they didn't seem as clear or detailed, but they are definitely there.
With just that to go on, it does feel like the KSC-35 beat out the E888 easily, however, that's not necessarily the case. The KSC-35's ability to bring stuff forward in itself is a weakness... a double-edged sword so to speak. Since most things are closer to the front, it does appear like the soundstage is much smaller. You no longer have the same degree of "layer separation" that you can get from the E888. I believe that music is supposed to have central focal points, where one instrument (often the voice) is the main thing that you listen to while the rest are accompanying as bonus to further enhance the sound experience. The KSC-35, while it does not necessary remove the focal points or make them become accompaniment, does lose this distinction a little.
Anothing I noticed is that voices on the KSC-35 do have a little extra reverb/echoe to them on certain songs. Perhaps those voices were meant to have that effect and the KSC-35 succeeded on showing that faithfully, but I can't really tell for sure. Maybe when I have more time, I'll try listening to the same songs closely using my other headphones and get a better idea.
As for the bass, when I first listened to the KSC-35, I was amazed with the bass. It was much better than the EX71 in my opinion. However, when comparing it head on with the E888's bass, I still prefer the E888's better. Why? The E888's bass seem to have a "circular" shape whereas the KSC-35's are more "oval". What I mean is that the E888's bass is tighter and more concentrated, whereas the KSC-35's are a bit looser and more spread out. Also, the KSC-35's bass can eventually lead to some headache, whereas the E888's can go a longer time without leading to a headache, and by this time, it's probably just listening to music in general and not necessarily the bass that's causing the headache.
The amount of time leading to headache leads to the main conclusion of this comparison:
KSC-35 = Sprint (short distance)
E888 = Marathon (long distance)
The distance analogy applies easily to the amount of time you can use these headphones "before you get a headache". However, it also applies in the sense of the "wow factor", meaning how easily you'll be impressed with the headphones at first listen. The KSC-35 definitely wins at first impressions. However, once you've listened to it for a while and are more experienced with it, you will easily find that it's not as good at certain things that at first you didn't think was important, but then realize later that they are. The E888 is definitely the marathon winner in this sense. Once you become more experienced, you will start appreciating the finer quirks about the E888 that you didn't before.
With that said, it doesn't mean that the E888 are hands down better than KSC-35. Actually, maybe it does! However, that depends on the situation. The KSC-35 will win in terms of outdoor use. This is for the fact that it brings all the small/tinny accompaniment sounds forward to the front of the sound stage where it's easier to listen to and notice when there's a lot of (traffic/engine) noise outside. The E888 is good at showing subtlety, but what's the use if the noise outside will render te subtleties unhearable? Thus the KSC-35 successfully compromises sound stage for an easier listen. The headacheyness of the KSC-35 are also not as bad outdoors if you're just using them to commute to work since most people don't take more than 2 hours to arrive to their destination and also, outside noise helps to "pad" the headacheyness.
Conversely, the E888 are thereby the winner in terms of indoor use, or at least in a "controlled" environment. This is where you can hear all the subtleties without being disturbed.
One more relatively less important thing: the KSC-35 don't seem as efficient as the E888. The E888 don't take much volume to be enjoyed whereas the KSC-35 do take a little more. If we used the volume needed for the KSC-35 and use it for the E888, the E888 will definitely show everything better than the KSC-35 in terms of clarity and detail, but then it's a bit loud, so if you're into listening to music loudly, then the E888 will win hands down in all categories compared to the KSC-35. Personally, I'm trying hard not to lose anymore of my hearing that I have left, so I'm sticking to listening at a "just right" level.
Also, another conclusion is that noobs or the general public would most likely be better off purchasing the KSC-35 since its price and sound qualities are more easily appreciated and it's ROI (return on investment) can be achieved faster and easier. The E888 is for the audiophile, or at least those who are more serious than casually listening to music. You will find more "specific" things in the E888 than the KSC-35, but you will have to listen more carefully to do that.
As a sidenote, I've recently come up with nicknames for most of my headphones and I'm just wondering what you guys think of them.
D66: The Diplomat (it's good at compromising everything to achieve an "all round" goodness)
EX71: The person (you don't want to be its dad anymore after you are disappointed with it)
E888: The Specialist (it specializes in sound quality and nothing else, but it does its specialty well!)
KSC-35: The Prodigy (this little guy is so good that it's able to compete with other headphones at a higher class)
I've already come up with nicknames for the D66 and EX71 since I'm still planning on doing a more comprehensive comparison of all 4 of these headphones if I have the time in the near future and I already have some understanding of how they compare to each other.
I do realize that my opinions are purely subjective and many of you will probably disagree with some/all of what I said, so I'll just say for the record that my opinions are solely my own and does not necessarily reflect those of other audiophiles officially or unofficially.
Feel free to comment on anything that I've said, but please keep it civil and constructive as I really don't intend to start a flame war or argue with anyone (although I can't really stop you if you want to, but you'll just be wasting your time
And as always, if there's some other criterion that you want compared between the KSC-35 and the E888, I'll be glad to accommodate if I can find the time for it. Comparing apples to oranges may not be fair, but it can be fun and helpful to appreciate their differences better.
