[Shoewreck]

It's going to be a birthday or Christmas gift.

Her current setup is:
Creative Zen V with stock headphones (or K240Monitor directly out of PC at home). She used Porta Pros until they got broken.
The player is likely to be upgraded to some Sony-Ericsson Walkman phone. I can't bias her choice to any other brand.

Currently I'm choosing between Etymotic ER-6 and ER-6i. I'm familiar wth ER-6 (the headphones I use for portable), and find 'em adequate, but she may probably find bass lacking, so less bright ER-6i may be a better choice, but I'm not sure the player would drive 'em properly without losing bass extension and adding some distortions.
Regretfully, ER-4P is not an option - they're just too expensive.
So what would you recommend?

 

[Shoewreck]

Any suggestions? Should I buy a random ER6? Another manufacturer maybe? The budget is around 100USD.
I'd love to get close to K240M, becase I know that my wife likes 'em.

 

[scytheavatar]

What type of music does she listen to? ER-6i is generally a bad choice as many people will not be happy with its bass quantity. If unsure the UM1 and Superfi 3 are safer choices.

 

[Shoewreck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scytheavatar /img/forum/go_quote.gif What type of music does she listen to? ER-6i is generally a bad choice as many people will not be happy with its bass quantity. If unsure the UM1 and Superfi 3 are safer choices.

Modern british rock, Tory Amos, dark wave, some industrial.

 

[Xena]

If she's an average-size woman, stay away from UEs. I'm retiring my SuperFi.3's because they're just too dam big for my ears. Have Shure ES530s on the way.

 

[_PsiFire_]

Here's an online store selling K240M's for $95.

Not sure how reputable they are - just did a quick search.

 

[LeonWho]

Altec Lansing im716 with a Fiio Amp would be great.

And if she loves bass. The Denon AH-C551 for $50 at amazon.com would be perfect.

 

[synaesthetic]

If you get the Denons, get UE tips for them, because the included ones are absolutely terrible.

 

[Shoewreck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by _PsiFire_ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here's an online store selling K240M's for $95.

Thanks, we already have a pair and don't need another one.
Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonWho /img/forum/go_quote.gif Altec Lansing im716 with a Fiio Amp would be great.

I already took these into conideration. Thanks.

 

[jonathanjong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by synaesthetic /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you get the Denons, get UE tips for them, because the included ones are absolutely terrible.

UE tips? I've heard of replacing them with Sony or Comply ones, but not these? They better?

 

[Shoewreck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xena /img/forum/go_quote.gif If she's an average-size woman, stay away from UEs. I'm retiring my SuperFi.3's because they're just too dam big for my ears. Have Shure ES530s on the way.

Did you mean that average woman ear canal is smaller?
I probably should find a way to make my wife test ER6. ER20 trick didn't work - the package still lies unopened.

 

[dadozen]

I gave my Audio Technica CK7 to my girlfriend and she loves them!

 

[pdupiano]

tried to give my gf a pair of se530's.... she said yuk and made me buy her something worth 500 bucks (yeah did a search for the msrp, never bothered to look at actual price X-| ). Id suggest the yuin OK3 or OK2 and maybe the PK2.

 

[Xena]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoewreck /img/forum/go_quote.gif Did you mean that average woman ear canal is smaller? I probably should find a way to make my wife test ER6. ER20 trick didn't work - the package still lies unopened.

Well, around these parts just about everything on a woman is smaller (no smart comments about mouths please

) Okay, except breasts.

 

[Xena]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdupiano /img/forum/go_quote.gif tried to give my gf a pair of se530's.... she said yuk and made me buy her something worth 500 bucks (yeah did a search for the msrp, never bothered to look at actual price X-| ). Id suggest the yuin OK3 or OK2 and maybe the PK2.

Yuk is somewhat non-specific. Did she have a particular complaint?