spleisher
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2008
- Posts
- 157
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- 11
I just made a comment in another thread that might, if the masses deem it worthwhile, be worthy of some further discussion/analysis.
We were discussing the Westone 3 sibilance "issue" (don't know that it's really a big issue, but that's beside the point) and it was mentioned that it is not the job of an IEM to color the sound. Basically, the point was that the term "monitor" suggests that the job of the IEM is to present sound exactly how it is, without any color one way or the other to make it more pleasing, in the expert opinion of the company/developers of the IEM to listen to.
Put simply, since we are talking about "monitors", the one that produces the sound of the recording most "accurately" is basically the best.
I won't argue with that, but I will say this, and pardon me if this seems like I am focusing too much on semantics. I really don't think I am:
Are most of the "In-Ear" earphones we're talking about really "monitors" at all, or is that a term that WE on head-fi are using, perhaps OVER-USING to describe them? Normally, it wouldn't matter, it would just be a term. But when we start using the word "monitor" to make the argument as to how they should sound, I think it matters.
I checked out Shure's website, and they describe the SE530 as "Sound Isolating Earphones". Klipsch describes the Image X-10 as an "in-ear earphone". Even Westone uses the term "True-fit Earphones" under the "Universal Fit Earphone" section of their site.
If you go to the "Musicians" section on Westone's site, THERE you will find them describing their products as "monitors".
That's all the research I've bothered to do at the moment, but I think everyone gets my point. I think it would be smart to be a little more careful about our terminology, especially if we're using that terminology to make an argument for what the proper sound should be. Because, while it may not be good for a "monitor" to color sound in some way that a manufacturer thinks would be pleasing to their target consumer, I would argue that it would be perfectly appropriate to do so with an "In-Ear Earphone" or "Sound Isolating Earphone".
We were discussing the Westone 3 sibilance "issue" (don't know that it's really a big issue, but that's beside the point) and it was mentioned that it is not the job of an IEM to color the sound. Basically, the point was that the term "monitor" suggests that the job of the IEM is to present sound exactly how it is, without any color one way or the other to make it more pleasing, in the expert opinion of the company/developers of the IEM to listen to.
Put simply, since we are talking about "monitors", the one that produces the sound of the recording most "accurately" is basically the best.
I won't argue with that, but I will say this, and pardon me if this seems like I am focusing too much on semantics. I really don't think I am:
Are most of the "In-Ear" earphones we're talking about really "monitors" at all, or is that a term that WE on head-fi are using, perhaps OVER-USING to describe them? Normally, it wouldn't matter, it would just be a term. But when we start using the word "monitor" to make the argument as to how they should sound, I think it matters.
I checked out Shure's website, and they describe the SE530 as "Sound Isolating Earphones". Klipsch describes the Image X-10 as an "in-ear earphone". Even Westone uses the term "True-fit Earphones" under the "Universal Fit Earphone" section of their site.
If you go to the "Musicians" section on Westone's site, THERE you will find them describing their products as "monitors".
That's all the research I've bothered to do at the moment, but I think everyone gets my point. I think it would be smart to be a little more careful about our terminology, especially if we're using that terminology to make an argument for what the proper sound should be. Because, while it may not be good for a "monitor" to color sound in some way that a manufacturer thinks would be pleasing to their target consumer, I would argue that it would be perfectly appropriate to do so with an "In-Ear Earphone" or "Sound Isolating Earphone".