Marshmallows, C551 or...? [bought the ER-6i]

[OCCASVS]

Hello.
I'm looking for a low-budget IEM. I'll use them at home, but I definitely need noise isolation, because my relatives are too noisy. -_-

I'll use them to listen speech recordings in foreign languages, so the voice should be very clear and some rock (new wave) and "synth" (synth-pop, Kraftwerk, etc.) music. I may use them for a FPS (video game), too.

I live in Italy, and I prefer to get the IEM mailed.
Searching reviews on this forum, I think I'll choose either:
JVC Marshmallow (~30$ shipped) or
Denon C551 (~110$ shipped)

There's quite a big difference in price. Are the Marshmallows enough for me? What I really need is decent (not perfect) isolation and clear voices.

Thank you.

P.S. I may consider other IEM, too.

 

[natural_nut]

I definitely would recommend the C551s. But as you mentioned there's quite a huge gap in price. I doubt you'll be disappointed by them, though I have yet to hear them.
I own the C700s, the isolation of these things lose to even the Creative EP630s, which would be another choice for you.

 

[MDDrew]

denons are like 57 shipped

 

[OCCASVS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDDrew /img/forum/go_quote.gif denons are like 57 shipped

Where?

Anyway, I think I won't buy the Denons at 110$. That's too much compared to US prices.

 

[OCCASVS]

Found the Etymotic ER-6i at ~87$ shipped.
Maybe I'll buy these.
Is it a decent price?

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by natural_nut /img/forum/go_quote.gif I definitely would recommend the C551s. But as you mentioned there's quite a huge gap in price. I doubt you'll be disappointed by them, though I have yet to hear them. I own the C700s, the isolation of these things lose to even the Creative EP630s, which would be another choice for you.

The C700s offer less isolation than the EP630? Don't see how, since both are canal phones (and use the same silicone tips). But if you use Comply T400 foamies on the Denons, they deliver excellent isolation, on the IEM level.

 

[OCCASVS]

I finally decided to buy the Etymōtic ER-6i.

I've been listening to them from two hours, and I'm very very satisfied with them. I paid about 85$.

I thought my listening skills in English were very poor. Well, now the voices are much clearer than before!

 

[Aimless1]

Congratulations. The ER-6i will give you wonderful detail and very good isolation. If you find you need more bass try the foamies.

 

[OCCASVS]

I'm little disappointed on the difficulty to get a proper seal.
I've been experimenting with different tips, but I haven't found any which consistently fits well.

It's very difficult to get an excellent seal, thus to get a lot of detail.

 

[woopididi]

don't worry. it takes about a week to ten days to get used to IEMs and finding a good fit. don't give up on them, you'll get it eventually and it will be like a second nature to you!

 

[Aimless1]

I found when I first had my ER-6is that I thought I had them pushed deep in my ear canal. Actually, through trial and error I discovered that they were not deep enough for a good seal.

Good tips to experiment with are the foamies. When you get the seal right then you can experiement with other tips. All I know is that they had to go alot deeper than I thought they would.

 

[OCCASVS]

I'm wearing the ER-6i with the foamies now. I've got a proper seal again.

How long are they usable, before they get damaged by wax? And the filters?
It would be very annoying to change them often

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCCASVS /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm little disappointed on the difficulty to get a proper seal. I've been experimenting with different tips, but I haven't found any which consistently fits well. It's very difficult to get an excellent seal, thus to get a lot of detail.

Try Comply T400 tips if you can find them. They are foamies, and are a great match with canalphones that have the thicker sound tube.