[bl1ndmanonac1d]

For some reason ALL over-ear headphones sound "dark" to me unless I use my jaw to "open" my ear canals more, no kidding - so that restricts me to IEMs, where I seem to always get the full sound. I'm gutted, because I love certain technicalities from over-ear, but my unique issue cripples their capabilities, I'm not hearing them how they should be.

Hah, never heard about that before. Is it related to what happens when you yawn? I can pull on some jaw muscles that are the same ones that triggers when I yawn that (I think) equalizes the pressure in the ear or something, it causes some light popping in both ears.

Have you tried Beyerdynamics over ears? They're known to have a slight peak in the highs that put some people off but some people love it.

So far in IEMs I've got:
Tin T2 (with comply tips): great clarity + detail, not very comfortable, bad isolation, good imaging + soundstage, analytical not so much fun. I like them for classical music mostly.
Shure SE215: Slightly veiled, Amazing(!) isolation, I wish all IEMs had this isolation, very comfortable, ok imaging + small soundstage. I can listen to all kinds of music on these.
SoundMAGIC E10: Fun sounding, great for EDM. Ok detail. I put them in my pockets and don't worry if I loose them. I still need to find some tips that make a good fit for my ears.

The isolation of the Shures is something I really love so I might save up for one of their more expensive models like the SE535 to get more detail and clarity. It's also that the SE215s don't sound very exiting to me, like they don't engage me that much. The E10s actually to that, specifically with EDM, they're fun and I crank them up loud and rock out. The Tin T2s are not fun AT ALL to me, very neutral, I guess the SE 215s are in the middle there somewhere. IDK if I can have it all in one pair - exciting fun, clarity, detail, soundstage and top isolation... I'm hearing some good things about the IBASSO IT00 and also some more expensive ones like Mangird Tea and Audiosense T800. I never tried the Etymotic deep insertion plugs but it doesn't sound too comfy.

Would love to hear the impressions from someone who's only using IEMs

 

[steve9019]

Hi guys, my name is Thierry (from France).
My equipement: Fiio M11/Hifiman Sundara/Tin HIfi P1/Earmen sparrow.
Thanks to accept me :0)

Hi Thierry, good to have another M11 user. I use Fiio FD1s iems plus Status Audio over ears and BT on ears. Welcome

 

[Adnen Ayed]

New also.
Still a heavy Sony fan.
R10 for special moments.
Old BT50 for wireless listening.
SP700 for the go

 

[Adnen Ayed]

Welcome! I'm an IEM-only person, I've tried quite a few (nothing over $150) so maybe I could help on certain comparisons. For some reason ALL over-ear headphones sound "dark" to me unless I use my jaw to "open" my ear canals more, no kidding - so that restricts me to IEMs, where I seem to always get the full sound. I'm gutted, because I love certain technicalities from over-ear, but my unique issue cripples their capabilities, I'm not hearing them how they should be.

First time to hear that.
Indeed, there are some technicalities only larger drivers can give you.
Do you know the cause that makes you unable to properly hear overears?

 

[rattlingblanketwoman]

First time to hear that.
Indeed, there are some technicalities only larger drivers can give you.
Do you know the cause that makes you unable to properly hear overears?

Hi, I raised the question on Reddit a while back to see if there were any suggestions - most suggested pressure, but it doesn't feel pressure related (like ears popping, holding nose and blowing, etc.)
As long as the opening to my canal is stretched open just a little using my jaw, I can hear all the missing treble and airiness. What's weird is I don't seem to be missing much from ambient noise around me, that seems to get in just fine.
There's just a certain small distance from my ear that must be very directionally picky? I think my canals do go fairly steeply upward, from what I can see of removed foam tips.
If I remember correctly, Koss Portapros sounded as they should to me when they had stock pads, but took on the "open-ear-only" treble when I used Yaxis - because it pushed them far enough from my ear the strange effect to come into play.

It made sense of why some headphones I had tried sounded far less impressive to me than had been suggested, or why I thought all they were missing was airiness and sparkle. I thought most headphones had a muddier darker vibe and that was it. I'm sure I could try treble peaking cans like Grados... but IEMs fit more of my needs.

 

[orbitech]

You should probably visit an otolaryngologist (ear specialist) to look into it.. It could be a physical issue with your ear structure, it doesn't hurt to look into it though.
To be honest the first thing that came to my mind when I heard this, was pressure as well, but since you say this doesn't feel like it just take a look at some point..

 

[rattlingblanketwoman]

You should probably visit an otolaryngologist (ear specialist) to look into it.. It could be a physical issue with your ear structure, it doesn't hurt to look into it though.
To be honest the first thing that came to my mind when I heard this, was pressure as well, but since you say this doesn't feel like it just take a look at some point..

Thanks for the reply! I don't really have a pressing need to at the moment (day to day hearing, and music listening through IEMs is fine), so I'll forgo the time and cost for now. At the very least though I've learned a new word from you!

 

[erotimatic]

New Head-Fier from Greece, I prefer to experience audio using headphones!

 

[aaalexx]

Hello, I'm new to Head-Fi.
I'm here to improve my Chi-fi knowledge

 

[DotaDondo]

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker without an account on various headphones websites (headfi.org, superaudiobestfriends, reddit) but now looking to become a more active member in the community. I'm rocking some HD6xx and HD800 SDR modded with a THX 789 amp and Schiit Modius DAC. Looking to expand the collection. Glad to be here and looking forward to discussing and learning more.

 

[shaiful]

Greetings,

I´m new to head-fi and fairly new to good headphones.
Couple months back bought my first proper headphones Sennheiser HD 650 and last Saturday received my pre-order ifi micro iDSD Signature.
I had a pretty decent hifi system for years (Dynaudio Emit M30 + 8 shoe boxes of Cyrus gears + Clearaudio Concept turntable).

Looking forward to learn more from this great community.

Cheers!

 

[mo6020]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Based out of London (pre-pandemic spent a few months a year in Palo Alto, too), and mostly listening via an SU-8+Rupert Neves RNHP and Shure SE-535s.

 

[fabiodrums]

Hi. I'm italian and I follow head-fi for a long time. I'm not an audiophile expert, but my passion for (metal) music leads me to deepen also on the sound quality. Thanks.

 

[CMarty98]

Hey guys, new here! I enjoy music

 

[Just4lol]

How I got here (summary ath the end): I didn't like the earbuds that were coming with my iPod. So one day as a gift I asked for something like Sennheiser CX 300s (around 60cad) at the time. I got a few pairs because the wire always broke.

Then one day... When I started having some money and was paying for my stuff, I was tired of replacing my "cheep" IEMs only because the wire was broken so I did an online search to see if IEMs with replacing wire existed... Shopped and found IE 80 for 160cad on ebay! Checked the serial number and they were legit. One of the monitors had a problem so I sent them to Sennheiser and they sent back a new pair so, double win.

When shopping and reading about good IEMs around 200 I saw the LZ A4 so I got them a year later.

My first good headphones where some kind of on ear Bose for 100cad. Used them with my portable computer until the pads were non existant. When I got my first "gaming" tower, I got audio technica ath-m40x until the pads wore off and the plastic broke on both side. I replaced them with audio technica ath-m50x, they are my daily drivers for almost 3 years.

Now... I was able to get DT 1990 pro, new, for half the price :O
Waiting for them to arrive, I have no dac/amp for them and the prices are scaring me.

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SO timeline would look like -> something like Sennheiser CX 300s x 2 (maybe 3) -> on ears Bose headphones -> Ath-m40x -> IE 80 -> LZ A4 -> Ath-m50x -> Soon Dt 1990