| Originally Posted by jant71 /img/forum/go_quote.gif My Phonaks' are scheduled for delivery tomorrow, unless the weather has changed that. I plan to use the grays or even no filters and my SF 5 silicone tips. The same tips that darken and veil the 5's might just do the trick on the Phonaks. My hearing might be sensitive and picky but the E3 all together and E5 bass boost mode are both a no-go on the Ultimate Ears. I can hear the clarity loss and refuse to use it. I would expect the Phonak to yield similar results. The bass quality loss is not worth the bass quantity gain to me. I do find I can use the stock FiiO interconnects which sound a bit warmer/darker instead of better ones to give a slightly warmer sound that is enjoyable and less degrading. I also have a couple of the better EQ equipped players and a Sony that is warmer to begin with. |
| Originally Posted by Photofan1986 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why do the Ipod distort when the equalizer is on? Well, the problem comes from the fact the some tracks are recorded "on the edge" of the gain clipping. The edge is (for instance) -0,1 db. Some songs are recorded so that peak never exceeds for instance -6,0 db. In this case, when you activate the equalizer on your ipod, the bass is pushed (for instance 5 db), there is still some room for not to clip (distort). But if the track was recorded close to the edge (like -1,0 db), when you activate your equalizer, that boosts some frequencies with, say 5 db, then the resulting level exceeds the edge, that is -0,1, and you can hear distortion. Sorry for what I'll say 
There is a solution, however. There is a program called "mp3 gain" (freeware), with which you can reduce the gain of your songs, and it works in batch process. For instance, you can select a whole folder, and choose to reduce the gain by 5db, so that the equalizer will not distort. You may want to try several values, as when you select a too high value, you lose the same amount of volume on your player. But that shouldn't be a problem as ipod have no volume limit in the US. Here we go 
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| Originally Posted by moseboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif I recommended my dad get the Sony A728, and when he got it, I spent hours listening to it with my SE530. I never once heard the Sony distort. What it does is when you push the bass too hard, it kind of dips the upper frequencies whenever the bass hits, giving the "illusion" of more bass. This obviously isn't the same as more bass, but at least it doesn't distort. I just shuffled through some random songs on my iPhone 3G with the EQ set to Bass Booster, and 13 out of the 15 songs that otherwise don't distort distorted with the EQ on. EDIT: Also, about the whole not having real-world experience thing because I don't have the PFEs, I understand that. But honestly, if I can hear distortion with my SE530s and the PFEs are more revealing than they are, what would that lead you to believe the results would be if I tried the iPhone 3G + Phonaks combo?
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| Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not sure if the 530 and the PFE is apples to apples in this specific situation. All I know is that when I have the LOD and T4 hooked up to my Touch 2G, and if the EQ is set to bass boost, which isn't always, I only get distorted bass on bass-heavy, more recently mastered tracks. |
| Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif As for the Sony v. Touch, I prefer the SQ from the Touch HP out over the A818, just my preference, as I feel the Touch has a better soundstage with the EQ off, whereas the Sony to me seems flat and uninteresting without messing with the EQ. |
| Originally Posted by dfkt /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Sony isn't flat by default... it's got a loudness curve to make it sound more appealing (can be turned off in the service menu).
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| Originally Posted by moseboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Service menu?
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| Originally Posted by Photofan1986 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why do the Ipod distort when the equalizer is on? Well, the problem comes from the fact the some tracks are recorded "on the edge" of the gain clipping. The edge is (for instance) -0,1 db. Some songs are recorded so that peak never exceeds for instance -6,0 db. In this case, when you activate the equalizer on your ipod, the bass is pushed (for instance 5 db), there is still some room for not to clip (distort). But if the track was recorded close to the edge (like -1,0 db), when you activate your equalizer, that boosts some frequencies with, say 5 db, then the resulting level exceeds the edge, that is -0,1, and you can hear distortion. Sorry for what I'll say
There is a solution, however. There is a program called "mp3 gain" (freeware), with which you can reduce the gain of your songs, and it works in batch process. For instance, you can select a whole folder, and choose to reduce the gain by 5db, so that the equalizer will not distort. You may want to try several values, as when you select a too high value, you lose the same amount of volume on your player. But that shouldn't be a problem as ipod have no volume limit in the US. Here we go
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| Originally Posted by tubafish /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sansa Clip--> FiiO E5 (bass boost on)--> PFE's (grey filters.) Does anyone have any experience with this setup? Comments? Waiting anxiously for the E5 to swim to the states from China. Anyone have any experience with this setup? It seems as if it should be complimentary. |
