Tom22
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2012
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Yeah, I'll do the VE Duke but not the earbuds.
You don't even need to spend a lot, really. I would get the opposite of the Havi B3 (as far as balanced-sounding IEMs go) - the HiFiMan RE-400. It's still very neutral but just mid-focused enough to sound fluid and musical rather than dry and analytical. The RE600 is also within your budget and actually fits your description a little better than the RE-400, but the difference is so marginal that I wouldn't bother.
Hi there,
Besides the obligatory new members post, this is my first real post here.
I apologize in advance for the length.
I don't know if any of you are familiar with "The Piano Guys," but their song titled "Cello Song" is a beautiful bit 'o music. As the name implies there's a plethora of cellos, and other stringed instruments that build and soar throughout the piece.
Why did I bother mentioning this?
Through my HD 598s there's a fullness and warmth present in every brush of bow on string (here's my man card), and a sweet sort of clarity that manages to be heard even through the Sen Veil. Owing to their open back design there's a great amount of airiness / separation and treble that just sort of "sings." Oh and the sound stage, wow.
I'm looking for an IEM (price: sub $200*) that can deliver a similar sound signature.
I own a set of Havi B3 Pro 1s (I run them amped through a NX 1) and while I am blown away by what they manage in terms of sound stage and quality they just "feel" too. . .dry? Almost too clean and analytical maybe? They lack that BIG lush and liquid fullness that I'd like to have. THIN! There we go, the note presentation is on the lean and thin side. Again, great IEMs, and not even just "for the price." They just aren't doing it for me.
I know there are some compromises to be made between a set of full over the ear cans and a pair of iems. I'm willing to make them - just not at the expense of the over all desired sound sig.
If it helps these are some of the genres I listen to (with a few examples to boot!):
Acapella - (Straight No Chasers "The Nutcracker," Pentatonix "Mary Did You Know?")
Contemporary instrumental and classical
Acoustic
Female vocals - (example: Sarah Mclachlans' cover of "Blackbird," Mama Cass "Dream a Little Dream, etc. . .")
Crooners - (Sinatra, Martin, Crosby, Como. . .)
Some Rock and Alt - (From Floyd to The Cure, from Cheap Trick to C.C.R, from Weezer to Imagine Dragons. . .)
Soft Rock - Neil Diamond,* America, The Grassroots. . .
As for the asterisks (ahem) in order:
1.) The dollar amount I'm willing to spend can be adjusted a bit as necessitated
2.) Yes, Neil Diamond. Don't judge. You listen to him too.
The End
- Nate
PS: If this post was all over the place. . .I'm a new father. Translation: WHAT IS THIS SLEEP THING YOU SPEAK OF!?!?
I would agree with @ljokerl maybe another alternative is the brainwavz r3? I would put them right up there with the re400 (its certainly much more reliable (construction wise) with the thicker cables (almost rope-like) and the robust metal housing.
sound signature wise I would say its slightly bassier > re400. with a slight warmer tilt as a result.
it has a wider soundstage, then the somewhat smaller presentation on the re400
but the biggest issue may come from fit (it has a rather odd design), with thick and long nozzles, so they may not fit everyone comfortably
also the heavy and long cables may detract some users as well.