[ljokerl]

Quote:

 
 
Thanks for the replies.  So many choices...gah!  I certainly don't dislike the SF3s, but I've had them for probably a good 5 years and didn't do extensive research when I purchased them.  I'd say they sound balanced, but lean towards hollow.  They aren't warm, and certainly don't have a lot of bass.
 
Two other's I'd throw in to the mix after researching are the Brainwavz B2 and the TDK BA-200.
 
Ideal - full spectrum, clear separation between treble, mids and bass, with good noise isolation.

 
The B2 is not something I would recommend if you want at least as much warmth as the SF3. The BA-200 I'm not familiar with. If you do want a warmer, fuller, bassier sound compared to the SF3, I would go for the SE215 or GR07/GR07 Bass Edition out of your original choices. The SE215 isolates better but the GR07 is clearer and has quite a bit more treble energy.
 
Quote:

Hi Joker!
 
Do you know if there's a difference in sound between the Westone 4 and westone 4R?? I'm just curious.
 
Thank you!

 
According to Westone there is not (at least not intentionally). The W4 does not appear on Westone's site anymore so it seems like the W4R is the only extant -4 model. 
 
Quote:

Actually had the chance to listen to the B&O H3s today. I liked the sound. I think it may have been a bit heavy on the bass, but it sounded full. Definitely could tell it had a broader frequency than my SF 3s. Given name I think they are overpriced by 50-100$. I am curious to hear where others think the G07, AS215, B B2, Hickman 400, and DBA-02 MkII compare sound for dollar.

I haven't heard any B&O headphones. 

 

[ljokerl]

Logitech Ultimate Ears 600 review below
 
 
(2C58) Ultimate Ears 600 / 600vi / Logitech UE 600
 

Added July 2013
 
Details: Long-running staple of the UE lineup previously known as the Super.Fi 5
Current Price: $60 from amazon.com (MSRP: $119.99); $120 for 600vi w/mic & 3-button remote
Specs: Driver: BA | Imp: 13Ω | Sens: 115 dB | Freq: 20-20k Hz | Cable: 4' I-plug
Nozzle Size: 4.5mm | Preferred tips: Stock Comply, generic bi-flange
Wear Style: Over-the-ear or straight down
 
Accessories (4/5) - Single-flange silicone tips (3 sizes), Comply foam tips (2 sets), and hard plastic carrying case
Build Quality (3.5/5) - All-plastic construction, color-coded nozzles, and chromed housings are all reminiscent of the lower-end UE earphones. The cable is identical to the one used by the UE 700 - soft and flexible, but plasticky and not very well-relieved
Isolation (3.5/5) - Nozzles are long and lend themselves to deep insertion fairly well. Isolation is good but still lags behind many pricier BA-based earphones
Microphonics (4.5/5) - Quite low in the soft and flexible cable, and can be eliminated completely with over-the-ear wear
Comfort (4.5/5) - The curved shells and long nozzles of the SF5 allow them to be worn either cord-up or cord-down quite easily, though the position of the mic suggests over-the-ear wear. The housings are very light and rarely come in contact with the ear, much like those of the Phonak PFE and Future Sonics Atrio earphones
 
Sound (8.6/10) - Originally known as the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5, the single-armature UE 600 took its spot in the UE lineup over from the dual-armature Super.Fi 5 Pro model. Sonically, it differs greatly from its predecessor, taking on a more balanced and accurate sound. At the low end, the UE 600 sounds like a typical single-armature earphone, lacking the enhanced bass of UE’s dynamic-driver models. The bass is very level and controlled, with impact that is on-par with the Etymotic Research HF5 and lags slightly behind the MEElec A161P.
 
The midrange, on the other hand, is more prominent. The UE 600 places the mids front and center. It is still more neutral than the vast majority of entry-level earphones but for me sounds slightly mid-centric, albeit very clear and refined. This could be due to an impedance interaction with my sources, but it is consistent across all of the ones I’ve tried. Tonally, the UE 600 is a touch warmer than the UE 700 and other TWFK-based sets, as well as the Etymotic HF5, but detail and overall transparency are still very good.
 
The top end of the UE 600 is clean and smooth, if not particularly sparkly. The UE can’t quite match the delicacy and detail of the HiFiMan RE-400 but still impresses with the slightly relaxed nature of its treble. There is absolutely no grain and the earphone tends to avoid harshness and sibilance. It is also not overly critical of lower-bitrate files. I would say this was done on purpose due to its low price point, but the flagship UE 900 model has similar tendencies. Admittedly, the UE 900 does have better treble presence, energy, and extension, sounding more natural overall, but there is also a huge price gap in play there.
 
The UE 600 possesses an impressively wide soundstage but doesn’t keep up too well with higher-end earphones. I found it lacking overall dynamics and the separation of higher-end sets such as the quad-driver UE 900 model. As a result, the soundstage has comparatively poor depth and layering and the overall sonic image is a bit flat, much like that of the similarly-priced Creative Aurvana In-Ear 3.
 
Value (9.5/10) - The UE 600 is a little plasticky in build but remains lightweight, comfortable, and fairly well-isolating courtesy of the included Comply eartips. The sound is neutral to somewhat mid-centric, with very good clarity, decent bass presence, and smooth, forgiving treble. It sounds great with music and is especially well-suited for audiobooks and phone calls with its forward, highly intelligible vocal presentation. Simply put, it’s a great fit for anyone in search of a comfortable earphone with excellent mids.
 
Pros: Comfortable form factor; very low cable noise; smooth, yet accurate sound
Cons: Plasticky build quality and typical UE cable; prone to impedance interactions with high-OI sources

 

[jarrett]

Definitely the highest sound quality to lowest price ratio I've seen. Amazon is selling them for $50 now (50% off)

 

[GForceXIII]

Hi joker

Do you have any recommendations for something similar to the RE-0 but with more sub-bass? Not a lot, I'm not a basshead, I just want slightly more bass.
Thanks!

 

[Grayson73]

Quote:

Logitech Ultimate Ears 600 review below
 
 
(2C58) Ultimate Ears 600 / 600vi / Logitech UE 600
 

Added July 2013
 
Details: Long-running staple of the UE lineup previously known as the Super.Fi 5
Current Price: $60 from amazon.com (MSRP: $119.99); $120 for 600vi w/mic & 3-button remote
Specs: Driver: BA | Imp: 13Ω | Sens: 115 dB | Freq: 20-20k Hz | Cable: 4' I-plug
Nozzle Size: 4.5mm | Preferred tips: Stock Comply, generic bi-flange
Wear Style: Over-the-ear or straight down
 
Accessories (4/5) - Single-flange silicone tips (3 sizes), Comply foam tips (2 sets), and hard plastic carrying case
Build Quality (3.5/5) - All-plastic construction, color-coded nozzles, and chromed housings are all reminiscent of the lower-end UE earphones. The cable is identical to the one used by the UE 700 - soft and flexible, but plasticky and not very well-relieved
Isolation (3.5/5) - Nozzles are long and lend themselves to deep insertion fairly well. Isolation is good but still lags behind many pricier BA-based earphones
Microphonics (4.5/5) - Quite low in the soft and flexible cable, and can be eliminated completely with over-the-ear wear
Comfort (4.5/5) - The curved shells and long nozzles of the SF5 allow them to be worn either cord-up or cord-down quite easily, though the position of the mic suggests over-the-ear wear. The housings are very light and rarely come in contact with the ear, much like those of the Phonak PFE and Future Sonics Atrio earphones
 
Sound (8.6/10) - Originally known as the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5, the single-armature UE 600 took its spot in the UE lineup over from the dual-armature Super.Fi 5 Pro model. Sonically, it differs greatly from its predecessor, taking on a more balanced and accurate sound. At the low end, the UE 600 sounds like a typical single-armature earphone, lacking the enhanced bass of UE’s dynamic-driver models. The bass is very level and controlled, with impact that is on-par with the Etymotic Research HF5 and lags slightly behind the MEElec A161P.
 
The midrange, on the other hand, is more prominent. The UE 600 places the mids front and center. It is still more neutral than the vast majority of entry-level earphones but for me sounds slightly mid-centric, albeit very clear and refined. This could be due to an impedance interaction with my sources, but it is consistent across all of the ones I’ve tried. Tonally, the UE 600 is a touch warmer than the UE 700 and other TWFK-based sets, as well as the Etymotic HF5, but detail and overall transparency are still very good.
 
The top end of the UE 600 is clean and smooth, if not particularly sparkly. The UE can’t quite match the delicacy and detail of the HiFiMan RE-400 but still impresses with the slightly relaxed nature of its treble. There is absolutely no grain and the earphone tends to avoid harshness and sibilance. It is also not overly critical of lower-bitrate files. I would say this was done on purpose due to its low price point, but the flagship UE 900 model has similar tendencies. Admittedly, the UE 900 does have better treble presence, energy, and extension, sounding more natural overall, but there is also a huge price gap in play there.
 
The UE 600 possesses an impressively wide soundstage but doesn’t keep up too well with higher-end earphones. I found it lacking overall dynamics and the separation of higher-end sets such as the quad-driver UE 900 model. As a result, the soundstage has comparatively poor depth and layering and the overall sonic image is a bit flat, much like that of the similarly-priced Creative Aurvana In-Ear 3.
 
Value (9.5/10) - The UE 600 is a little plasticky in build but remains lightweight, comfortable, and fairly well-isolating courtesy of the included Comply eartips. The sound is neutral to somewhat mid-centric, with very good clarity, decent bass presence, and smooth, forgiving treble. It sounds great with music and is especially well-suited for audiobooks and phone calls with its forward, highly intelligible vocal presentation. Simply put, it’s a great fit for anyone in search of a comfortable earphone with excellent mids.
 
Pros: Comfortable form factor; very low cable noise; smooth, yet accurate sound
Cons: Plasticky build quality and typical UE cable; prone to impedance interactions with high-OI sources

 
Have you heard the Vsonic VSD1?  If so, what sound rating would you give it?  Curious whether the Ultimate Ears is now the best sound at $50.

 

[Live with Sound]

That price is a discounted one Grayson; if you want to get it at that price, better order fast. Also, I'm praying that the Zero Audio Basso's kick the VSD1's ass, as I've ordered those. If you haven't yet, I suggest you look into those IEMs also 

 (anyone owning those two? I'd love to hear your opinion on that!)

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

Definitely the highest sound quality to lowest price ratio I've seen. Amazon is selling them for $50 now (50% off)

 
Good price although that's a 3rd party seller. Looks like amazon is out of stock. 
 
Quote:

Hi joker

Do you have any recommendations for something similar to the RE-0 but with more sub-bass? Not a lot, I'm not a basshead, I just want slightly more bass.
Thanks!

 
Philips Fidelio S1 or VSonic GR07. They have more treble presence than the RE0 as well, but if you don't mind that both have good bass reach and presence but are still balanced-sounding overall.
 
Quote:

 
Have you heard the Vsonic VSD1?  If so, what sound rating would you give it?  Curious whether the Ultimate Ears is now the best sound at $50.

I haven't had the VSD1 long enough to have a score in mind yet but I do think it'll score higher than the VC02 and Sony MH1C. The UEs have a very different sound than the VSD1s - a lot more mid-oriented, with less bass and treble. 

 

[GForceXIII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljokerl /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Philips Fidelio S1 or VSonic GR07. They have more treble presence than the RE0 as well, but if you don't mind that both have good bass reach and presence but are still balanced-sounding overall.

I can't find the original GR07 anywhere over here, is the mk2 any different?

 

[Deviltooth]

Of all the universal IEMs I've tried the UE600 is tied with Phonak's models for the most comfortable.  I have small ears so what works for me might not work for others, but they're very easy to put in place and unlike many others require much less fiddling to stay there.  Also, kudos to the design ethic making the right side red and the left black, there's no eye strained searching for tiny L and R markers.
 
Joker nailed the sonic characteristics dead on.

 

[gadiletta]

Hello, is it better sony MH1C for 44 euro or sony MH1 for 28 euro, or any others for this price?

 

[Froststep]

Quote:

I haven't had the VSD1 long enough to have a score in mind yet but I do think it'll score higher than the VC02 and Sony MH1C. The UEs have a very different sound than the VSD1s - a lot more mid-oriented, with less bass and treble. 

Have been trying to decide between vsonic gr06 and the vsd1, looking forward to see how you rate them.

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

I can't find the original GR07 anywhere over here, is the mk2 any different?

 
Yeah it's supposed to be a little smoother in the treble, like the GR07 BE. I haven't heard it, though. 
 
Quote:

Of all the universal IEMs I've tried the UE600 is tied with Phonak's models for the most comfortable.  I have small ears so what works for me might not work for others, but they're very easy to put in place and unlike many others require much less fiddling to stay there.  Also, kudos to the design ethic making the right side red and the left black, there's no eye strained searching for tiny L and R markers.
 
Joker nailed the sonic characteristics dead on.

 
I agree, the fit of the UE600 is very easy-going. It does remind me of the Phonaks as well 

 
Quote:

Hello, is it better sony MH1C for 44 euro or sony MH1 for 28 euro, or any others for this price?

 
You might want to double-check in the long MH1C thread but I think the MH1 uses an alternate pinout and only works if you have one of the older Nokia or Sony smartphones. It will need an adapter to work with newer ones. Not sure how it interacts with a simple stereo jack (one without headset functionality).
 
Quote:

Have been trying to decide between vsonic gr06 and the vsd1, looking forward to see how you rate them.

 
Unless you want the more forward mids and/or the adjustable-nozzle housings of the GR06 I would go for the VSD1.

 

[jant71]

Quote:

 
Unless you want the more forward mids and/or the adjustable-nozzle housings of the GR06 I would go for the VSD1.

The VSD1 have the articulating nozzles
 
Any more time with the VC1000? The F.R. looks quite nice down low. Similar looking to the S1 down low. Any chance to compare those two? Dynamic vs. armature but the tuning seem similar.

 

[Amitl]

Hello everyone!
I'm looking for a dynamic custom in-ear which is 200$ maximum.
is there such a thing besides inearcustom.com?
i know this might not be the *right* place to ask, but this is my
favorite thread in head-fi to please understand
thank you
 

 

[Ivabign]

I don't think you are going to find anything cheaper than the SE215 reshell from inearcustom - If you are looking to get it in your hands quickly, you are in for a disappointment - but if you are okay with middle/end of September - you might like what you get.