[onthefence]

Needs (must-haves):

- Volume, pause, and track skip controls
- Very good isolation
- Low microphonics/cable noise

Wants (not must-haves, just preferences):

- Very big soundstage.. looking for that epic feeling when you feel completely surrounded by the music    
  which seems to be 'dancing' around you
- Sounds NOT flat, distant, hollow, or muffled
- Very clear with good detail
- Sound signature that compliments alternative music (think My Morning Jacket, The Shins) and/or rock 
  music (think Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots)
- Can be worn cable-down instead of over-ear


I've tried Monster Turbine Coppers but they had too much microphonics and the soundstage and clarity weren't as good as I would've liked. I realize that what I'm asking for might be an impossibility since I'm restricting myself by needing volume/track controls, so if you can't recommend anything with controls then feel free to recommend something without.

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

Needs (must-haves):

- Volume, pause, and track skip controls
- Very good isolation
- Low microphonics/cable noise

Wants (not must-haves, just preferences):

- Very big soundstage.. looking for that epic feeling when you feel completely surrounded by the music    
  which seems to be 'dancing' around you
- Sounds NOT flat, distant, hollow, or muffled
- Very clear with good detail
- Sound signature that compliments alternative music (think My Morning Jacket, The Shins) and/or rock 
  music (think Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots)
- Can be worn cable-down instead of over-ear


I've tried Monster Turbine Coppers but they had too much microphonics and the soundstage and clarity weren't as good as I would've liked. I realize that what I'm asking for might be an impossibility since I'm restricting myself by needing volume/track controls, so if you can't recommend anything with controls then feel free to recommend something without.

IE8/80s should have that huge soundstage that you're looking for. Keep in mind that "soundstage" on IEMs is pretty much a moot point. Decent positioning, imaging, etc are probably what you should be looking at. A solid mic IEM with fantastic usability would be the PFE132s. Soundstage won't be as large as you want though.

 

[macbug]

Recently saw someone mention the Denon C300, it looks pretty interesting (apparently it's huge though), has some innovative smartphone related controls, might satisfy the Dr Dre "I bought this pair for the looks" crowd.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AH-C300-RaverTM-In-Ear-Headphones/dp/B00858I4M0
 
Buy it and let us know how it sounds

 

[onthefence]

Quote:

IE8/80s should have that huge soundstage that you're looking for. Keep in mind that "soundstage" on IEMs is pretty much a moot point. Decent positioning, imaging, etc are probably what you should be looking at. A solid mic IEM with fantastic usability would be the PFE132s. Soundstage won't be as large as you want though.

Good isolation is a must for me, so I can't go with the IE8. Also why are you saying I should be looking at positioning and imagine instead of a big soundstage?

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

Good isolation is a must for me, so I can't go with the IE8. Also why are you saying I should be looking at positioning and imagine instead of a big soundstage?

Because the soundstage you're looking for often can't happen with IEMs. The IE8s gave something closest to a headphone sized soundstage that I've heard. So it might be best to look more in terms of a enveloping presentation rather than literal size. This would stem from positioning and imaging, as mentioned.
 
If you had meant something else when you said large soundstage though, I apologize for the misunderstanding, and ask for more clarification in the future.