[headwhacker]

Use EQ, PP8 is easy to apply eq with good results as the FR curve is almost a straight line. I have only the treble switch on. I then bump the 4khz and 8khz region by 3dB and the result makes PP8 more energetic yet still not bright. So far QP2R appears to be the best source to pair it with. LPG is just to aggressive. AK240SS bringscout stunning clarity and separation but the overall soubd is still thin even with EQ.

 

[siruspan]

My post isn't sounding very enthusiastic when I'm reading it now, but that's not the case. I havent heard any other iems from their price point so maybe my expectations are to high. Iems that I've owned so far that are worth mentioning are Sony Ex1000, westone 4, vsonics gr07x, triplefi10, flare r2s and I still own both er4xr and er4pt. That said PP8 are great, they are easily the best Iems that I have heard so far but considering that owning at the same time combination of er4xr, er4sr and ex1000 is still cheaper than PP8 alone I'm just not sure what to pick. Maybe they really are worth that much because they are the most complete package without any cons or maybe the etymotics pack great value into their iems. I like a little brighter presentation of etymotics but that's just how they are tuned and they just keep up in some areas and are well outperformed in others.

Advices from me:

- If you think that er4s/SR bass is adequate, the er4xr is a little too much don't even bother with PP8 as they have more bass across the board even on normal setting.
- If you need to take a loan or sell your kidney to but PP8 just buy Er4 and be happy
- If money is no object and you want the best neutral signature buy Prophiles immediately.

 

[goodvibes]

I've been using Prophile8 for a week now with my sony wm1a. I must say that there isn't as much difference between them and my er4xr in terms on pure sound quality that I was hoping for. Sure the resolution is slightly better, the sound is more refined, there is better frequency extension on both ends but that's about it. Er4 are brighter and I would say more analytical but still very smooth and enjoyable. The big difference is that er4 are way more in your face, with mediocre soundstage both in terms of width and almost no depth. When I'm applying PP8 just after er4xr they sound almost like headphones that are open back. Sound is bigger, wider, more spacious, very 3 dimensional, less intimate and less involving but more layered and rich. I must say I'm very impressed how it's sounds overall altough I kinda miss the 4,5khz bump from etymotics but there's plenty more to the sound to enjoy. You can add treble and bass with the switches that's great for more heavy music like metal and bass based electronics so you can enjoy these genres too. I would prefer however to have the switch that brings bass down instead of adding more of it. Also I would like that treble can be added not only from 8khz but also from 4khz.

As for comfort I can agree that they are suprisingly comfortable for their size but they are not the best fitting iems that I've owned. Phonak Audeos takes the cake in that regard. I'm using PP8 for a couple of hours a day and there's never a point that I can forget that I have them in my ears and after 4-5 hours my ears are a little sore. Nothing major but there are statements in reviews that these are the most comfortable iems on the market. and in my opinion that is exaggeration to say the least.

Overall I'm impressed both by PP8 sound quality and by how strongly ER4XR's hold up. They have only 1 driver and are over 3 times cheaper. I'm still on the fence If I should keep PP8 or if I should return them. Yes they are great and if someone wants neutral signature and best sound quality they are probably the best way to go hovewer price to quality ratio is just so so. ER4XR can be more involving and their price is just suberb.

I think they are in completely different leagues even though they have similar tonality. Low bass, delineation, prat and attack/crispness is far better on the the PP8. One problem I had with the ER4XR after owning other top earphones was their lack of involvement. I even think the old version was better in that regard. IMO of course.

 

[goodvibes]

Use EQ, PP8 is easy to apply eq with good results as the FR curve is almost a straight line. I have only the treble switch on. I then bump the 4khz and 8khz region by 3dB and the result makes PP8 more energetic yet still not bright. So far QP2R appears to be the best source to pair it with. LPG is just to aggressive. AK240SS bringscout stunning clarity and separation but the overall soubd is still thin even with EQ.

All flat for me and they seem to work well with all my DAPs. I had an LPG and before I modded it slightly, I felt it sounded as you describe. Great but a bit too etched and analytical. Liked it a lot after the tweak but was ultimately a little too large and heavy for my use.

 

[headwhacker]

All flat for me and they seem to work well with all my DAPs. I had an LPG and before I modded it slightly, I felt it sounded as you describe. Great but a bit too etched and analytical. Liked it a lot after the tweak but was ultimately a little too large and heavy for my use.

Yeah, PP8 seems to work for all sources I have. All of my CIEMs, hiss on QP2R. But so far PP8 seems to sound best with QP2R. I still apply a bit of EQ but the resulting sound is a little more bigger and imaging seems to have more volume and weight. It's a neutral reference indeed.

 

[SilverEars]

Use EQ, PP8 is easy to apply eq with good results as the FR curve is almost a straight line. I have only the treble switch on. I then bump the 4khz and 8khz region by 3dB and the result makes PP8 more energetic yet still not bright. So far QP2R appears to be the best source to pair it with. LPG is just to aggressive. AK240SS bringscout stunning clarity and separation but the overall soubd is still thin even with EQ.

When you say certain iems responds well to EQ, is it based solely on LPG or others as well? pc software, etc.. My understanding is that LPG just has good EQ.

 

[headwhacker]

When you say certain iems responds well to EQ, is it based solely on LPG or others as well? pc software, etc.. My understanding is that LPG just has good EQ.

Yes LPG can make a lot of iem/headphone sound good because it has very capable PEQ with lots of headroom. But some iems simply don't do well even with LPG. While I get good results using LPG with KSE1500, iSine20/10, NT6 and PP8; I can't get the same with my UE18+ and fitear333. The UE18+ still gives a hint of warmness/bloom I want to cut. Unless I cut too much to a point the bottom end totally disappear. Same case with 333 but on the treble.

Then with DAPs like AK240SS, QP2R which have limited range or limited number of bands for GEQ only my NT6 and PP8 gives me good results. PP8 having better scalability in terms of EQ. It sound the best so far out of QP2R if I want the ultimate musicality. But it gives me the absolute best clarity and resolution out of AK240SS in exchange of making the overall presentation a but thinner and brighter.

So, my comment about iems with EQ well is not just with LPG but with the rest of the DAPs I have/tried. There are of course limitations or factors to be considered. PP8 is the easiest to EQ because I only need to touch a small part of the FR curve and the boost/cut does not need to exceed +/- 3dB. While the iSine needs at least a +/-6 dB cut or boost touching a wider range in the curve.

 

[siruspan]

I've tried some EQuing the PP8 but that didn't render a positive result for me. When I'm trying to boost frequencies around 4,5khz to match the er4 response I end up with sound that is a little bit fatiguing on the long run. That of course can be fault of the wm1a equalizer but I havent yet came across equalizer that would give a satisfactonary effects for me. I always listen on all flat without any DSP or equalizers as they always add something artificial to the music for me.

Prophiles on flat are smoother than etymotics but at the same time they feel a little bit detached. Yes, you can hear more, but on er4 you feel more of the music. When I'm listening to the prophiles I do enjoy them but I listen to them with the serious face and they don't give me goosebumps like er4. I wouldn't go that far to say that pp8 are boring but I would say they are not as exciting altough technically they are exquisite and fatigue free.

 

[SilverEars]

Yes LPG can make a lot of iem/headphone sound good because it has very capable PEQ with lots of headroom. But some iems simply don't do well even with LPG. While I get good results using LPG with KSE1500, iSine20/10, NT6 and PP8; I can't get the same with my UE18+ and fitear333. The UE18+ still gives a hint of warmness/bloom I want to cut. Unless I cut too much to a point the bottom end totally disappear. Same case with 333 but on the treble.

Then with DAPs like AK240SS, QP2R which have limited range or limited number of bands for GEQ only my NT6 and PP8 gives me good results. PP8 having better scalability in terms of EQ. It sound the best so far out of QP2R if I want the ultimate musicality. But it gives me the absolute best clarity and resolution out of AK240SS in exchange of making the overall presentation a but thinner and brighter.

So, my comment about iems with EQ well is not just with LPG but with the rest of the DAPs I have/tried. There are of course limitations or factors to be considered. PP8 is the easiest to EQ because I only need to touch a small part of the FR curve and the boost/cut does not need to exceed +/- 3dB. While the iSine needs at least a +/-6 dB cut or boost touching a wider range in the curve.

Do you also find that certain bands generally react better to EQ? Like for example, certain iems are already warm or boosted in the lower frequencies already taxed in it's ability to EQ. Perhaps a more neutral areas or not boosted responds better.

 

[headwhacker]

Do you also find that certain bands generally react better to EQ? Like for example, certain iems are already warm or boosted in the lower frequencies already taxed in it's ability to EQ. Perhaps a more neutral areas or not boosted responds better.

Usually anything above 10Khz, I don't hear much difference unless I boost/cut by a huge amount like 10dB or more. I think in general the most sensitive for me is from 1Khz all the way down to around 60hz where a 1dB difference make a very noticeable difference.

 

[siruspan]

If anyone is interested I've returned the prophile8. They are great but not that great to justify the price for me. I'm sticking with er4s and er4xr combo and I've ordered also Sony ex800st.

I think the packaging deserveres to be mentioned here. One thing is that it already looked kinda tired upon arrival because the cardboard is so slim and filmsy and I bought them new with both seals untouched. I wouldn't care because headphones itself are in pelican case BUT the case is open inside the cardboard box. The plastic window basically touches the headphones shells. This is really horrible packaging because it does not even provide the slightest protection to the headphones themselfes. It's literally THE WORST packaging that I've ever seen. 10$ with shipping included headphones from alieexpress have better and more secure boxes.

 

[HqSeO]

Does anybody knows any CIEM that's sounds like the prophile8? I'm waiting for the custom version of the prophile 8 but still curious to find something else.
I'm looking for this particular flat sound signature which I like the best.
Any recommandations? Price is not an issue.

 

[Silvialite]

Based on my limited experience trying various ciem demos, none of them sound like the PP8

 

[John Culter]

Does anybody knows any CIEM that's sounds like the prophile8? I'm waiting for the custom version of the prophile 8 but still curious to find something else.
I'm looking for this particular flat sound signature which I like the best.
Any recommandations? Price is not an issue.

Maybe try to ask AAW to do the reshell of PP8? They do specialise for some unusual remakes of universal earphones to CIEMs. Not sure if In Ear will offer the custom version at all.
Closest signature to the PP8 is to my ears currently 64 Audio U18 / A18. PP8 with bass switch up sounds somehow similar to U18 with foam comply tips + m15 Apex module.

 

[noplsestar]

Does anybody knows any CIEM that's sounds like the prophile8? I'm waiting for the custom version of the prophile 8 but still curious to find something else.
I'm looking for this particular flat sound signature which I like the best.
Any recommandations? Price is not an issue.

Maybe try to ask AAW to do the reshell of PP8? They do specialise for some unusual remakes of universal earphones to CIEMs. Not sure if In Ear will offer the custom version at all.
Closest signature to the PP8 is to my ears currently 64 Audio U18 / A18. PP8 with bass switch up sounds somehow similar to U18 with foam comply tips + m15 Apex module.

You might also want to read this post from the 64audio thread: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...ia-technologies.826606/page-112#post-13874049

He also says what John says, that they both are very similar. Someone from InEar told me that they will release the CIEM version of the PP8 next year, so you could also wait until then.