[Libertad]

[size=medium]First off i would like to say that you guys/gals here at head-fi are awesome and invaluable in the knowledge you people provide me with over the last few months and I'd just like to thank you guys/gals for what you all have accomplished as a community kudos to all on head-fi!

now for the story

I took interest in my audio about three years ago when my really annoying cousin came over from Puerto Rico to visit and i needed an escape and seeing as listened to music alot i thought that I'd head over to Walmart and get some headphones and i bought some Philip's in ear noise canceling headphones

those worked wonders as i smiled listening to her voice disappear then reality hit hard when i completely smashed the left bud with my back pack loaded with text books.

so then i headed back and got sony MDR-J10's and i liked them alot but something happen to those....My dog

so then as i was shopping with my parents at Walgreen i found some weird shavers bundled with an IEM.

so i took those and modded them by opening them and putting alot of back padding against the driver and and i bored out the shape filter and they had bass

sadly they went like flies (destroyed two sets before i realized i need better phones and that i had enough shavers lol)

Then came the HA-FX33 and my life changed. It was like euphoria as i really got a glimpse into the word of truly good audio. I loved the punchy bass and warm sound and i loved the isolation. Then along comes my dad and he tries them at max and blows the drivers big time. But i liked these so much that i bought another

Then something happen to those too ( i don't remember what but it ended up destroying them

) so i bought some koss KEB24/g and i loved them until the left channel died the next day!

So out of frustration i researched here at head-fi for some good iems at a good price and heard alot about the im716. so i bought those and was immediately blown away at how good they sounded. the bass was very punchy and the mids have so much detail and the highs were articulate but not harsh. At last i thought i found my true headphone then i read overhear that Altec Lansing has cut support for them making them useless when i need to change the filters as they no longer sell them. So when i need to change my filters I'm basically screwed.

So out of frustration realizing that i just wasted $80 on some unsupported iem's I bought the sony MDREX51 and i tell you i don't like those way to muddy and not the really isolating at all. Seeing a dire crisis emerging i decided id get some cans in the mean time so today as i right this review i bought some Philip's SHP2500 and i love them! Really cool bass

with a "relaxed" sound signature and they are very comfy I am listening to them as I type and at $20 buck it was a great deal

. I am very happy with these for the time being, in fact i like these so much that i plan on exploring my music with some other cans....But i really want an iem again. Those headphones are were i really jump started into audio so i want one to do my audio soul some justice and I'd love your guys input so...

Heres my criteria i need an iem that
Isolates very well
has good clear sound with a punchy yet articulate low end
is supported by the manufacturer
can play well unamped and
wont burn my wallet (no more then $80 S&H included)
and they must be able to take epic amounts of abuse for obvious reasons

And again I thank you all at head-fi

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[cyrian]

v-moda vibes? amazon.com has them for like... 70ish, with free super saver shipping, or its like $5 for standard.

oh ya, and welcome to head-fi. sorry about your wallet

actually, the vibes arent the greatest for isolating... but they do a good enough job i think.

 

[Libertad]

thanks for the suggestion and yeah i'm sorry for my wallet to

 

[skellington]

We're all sorry about all of our wallets.

 

[feh1325]

etymotic er6i?

if you're worried about durability, store em in an altoids can or something

 

[Nuwidol]

Yeah the er-6i. Very similiar to the im716 apparently. So you should like them.
good isolation too.

They actualluy come in a nice little carry case. its not a hard case but its quite padded so should do the trick nicely.

I could hardly read the other replies after that big bold text. My eyes are screwed :/

 

[rwest1389]

There have been some rumors that other filters fit the im716, so don't trash those just yet. Do a little research and you might find some that are the same size.

 

[TheVinylRipper]

JBL Reference 220 canal phones are going for under $30 on ebay.

They seem to be well liked here.

 

[Sovkiller]

If you are worried about durability, get Koss, lifetime warranty, you broke them, you send them along with $6.00 and you get a new one...

 

[tbonner1]

Look at the new HK 730 line of IEM's. It looks like ETY stopped licensing to Altec Lansing and now goes through Harman Kardon, one of the biggest audio companies in the US. They will sell filters so do not abandon hope on your IM716's which are hard to beat for the money when you power them properly.

 

[Gatticus]

Talking about annoying. Why are you posting in a big bold font? My eye sight is not the best but it is not that bad.

 

[Libertad]

Thanks guys/gals for the input the JBL's are interesting me and i now have new hope for my im716 yea!