You beat me to the isolation issue. I haven't studied the earpiece enough to say it's vented, but other owners all say it's vented, so I'll take their word for it. With that said, it gives more isolation than the FX700. I can't hear anyone talking with the earphones in my ears. I can hear a loud door slam, but that's about it. but if anyone is asking me a question I wouldn't know unless they tapped me. If I pause the sound I can hear the person talking (whereas I can hear someone talking throught the FX700 with sound on, but the speech sounds blurred). I asked a coworker if she hear's sound leakeage, and once again - like the FX700 - she said no.
the weight of these are on the tip and stem, so with them in my ears there's never a fear that they will fall out. The body lays flat against the inner earlope (I guess that's what you call that part of your ear?). It's a little loose, but jiggling my head around it doesn't move. The IEMs are quite comfortable to me. No discomfort at all. These are definitely not designed to be worn over the ear (whereas some say the FX700 is not designed to be worn over the ear either, but that's how I wear mine just fine). My hybrid Monster tips seems to give the earphones extra stability. I can see, however, if you have extra small ears, the DDMs may give you some problems. But basically the ear tips and stem will hold them in place. I had very little fuss getting them in and out of my ear canal. You have to go in at the right angle. Each owner will figure that out relatively easy I believe. For some strange reason I have an easier time with fitting the left ear than the right. The right is wee bit more of a fiddle. Geez, violins are just sounding so damn good to me with these IEMs. Incredible!! Can't wait for them to burn in.
Soundstage seems to very at this stage. Sometimes, depending on the recording, it sound wide. Other times it sounds more intimate, but never tiny or small. I was getting smooth mixed up with warm. I wouldn't call these warm or cold. Somewhere in the middle, which reminds me a lot of the FX700's sound sig. Treble is definitely here. I hear lots of treble. I can't imagine an earphone having more treble than this. If it did I don't think I would care for it much. Piano has nice weight and depth. Not as heavy as the Miles Davis, but not lagging far behind either. Definitely more clarity than my beloved MD. The details are here on another level. I can't quite put it into words yet, but I will. The FX700 is like an high-end stereo system with heavy bass (kind of like the B&Ws in some regard) to me. These are like an high-end stereo system with just the right amount bass, but not as deep - yet anyway - as the FX700. Someone mentioned that these phones have a sound similar to that of the Magneplanar speakers. I would concur. That's a great comparison, but with a bit more bass. Those ribbon-based speakers always did a wonderful job with mids, especially strings instruments. Such is true with these IEMs.
