bhanja_trinanjan
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2006
- Posts
- 530
- Likes
- 14
Introduction:
I have been planning to write this review for a while. However, laziness coupled with a rather busy schedule was hampering my progress. However, I have finally managed to gather myself to write one big review. So let us not waste any further time and get down to business. Today, I am going to have a look at the following components:
IPod 5.5G 80 GB with the latest firmware
Shure E4C IEM
As I share my experience with the above, I shall refer to the following components from time to time:
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 bookshelf speakers
Cambridge Azur 640A version 2.0 integrated amplifier
Onkyo DV-SP502 Universal player (DVD-A/SACD)
Sennheiser PX100 headphones
Sony Ericsson W810i Walkman phone
Nokia N91 8GB
Sony PCDP D-EJ 775
Test Environment:
•All audio tracks were ripped from Audio CDs using the Apple lossless codec in iTunes (latest release)
•Features of iTunes like Sound Check and Sound Enhancer were turned off.
•The EQ of the iPod was switched off.
•DSPs/tone controls/EQs were turned off in all the devices.
•I used the yellow foam sleeves with the E4C.
Test tracks:
•Danube Waves from Favorite Waltzes. (EMI)
•The Skaters from Favorite Waltzes. (EMI)
•Tchaikovsky: Act 3: In the Castle of Prince Siegfried – Spanish Dance (Naxos – Swan Lake, complete)
•Faure: Masques Et Berg masques, Op 112 ouverture (The Best of Faure, Naxos, Track 1)
•Beethoven : Symphonie no 5 Allegro Con Brio
•Les Toréadors – Carmen Suite Nr 1.
•Chanson du Toréadors – Carmen Suite Nr. 2
•Massenet – Méditation thaïs (Violin Passion, EMI)
•EMI VIOLIN PASSION disc 1- Airs Bohémiens op 20
•Mozart Clarinet concerto K622
•Faure: Pavane
•Bach: Christmas Oratorio BWV 248
•Grieg: Last Spring from two Elegiac pieces Op 34 (The best of Grieg, Naxos)
•Mozart Piano Concerto No 20 (K466)
•Mozart Quintet K452
Brief descriptions of the various products:
•IPod 5.5G 80GB – The latest avatar of the iconic music player from Apple… need I say more?
•Shure E4C – rated as one of the best single driver In ear monitor earphones
•Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 bookshelf speakers – one of the best budget bookshelf speakers ($ 250 – 300)
•Cambridge Azur 640A version 2.0 integrated amplifier – a cracking amplifier for $ 600
•Onkyo DV-SP502 Universal player (DVD-A/SACD) – a popular entry level disc spinner from Onkyo
•Sennheiser PX100 headphones – needs no introduction…..
•Sony Ericsson W810i Walkman phone – an excellent music enabled phone from Sony Ericsson
•Nokia N91 8GB – the king of all music phones
•Sony D-EJ 775 – vintage portable CD player from Sony
That was a hell of an introduction! Too long, a bit boring perhaps… So, let us jump to the core of the review.
Listening tests:
After ripping the requisite tracks to the iPod, I plugged in the PX100. With the volume at 50 %, I started listening to ‘Pavane’ (Faure). Those who have heard about Gabriel Faure, the French composer, must be aware of the fact that ‘Pavane’ was amongst his best works. As I started listening, I was startled by the initial experience. The built in amp of the iPod was rated at a whopping 60mW/channel…. But hey! ... Frankly speaking, I wasn’t hearing much at all! Frustrated, I stepped up the volume to around 70% of max. Now, the music flowed with ease and the volume level was adequate, if not ear-splitting. Next, I plugged in the E4C. This time, a volume of 55-60% seemed to suffice. I was impressed by the uncoloured, neutral sound of the iPod. The tonality was even. However, one thing was for certain. The treble did sound a bit rolled off. Listening to the same track on the home stereo (Wharfedales + Cambridge) turned out to be an immensely satisfying experience. The ‘You are there’ feeling was there to a larger degree. The soundstage was bigger and the presentation was far more ‘airy’. Tracks like ‘Airs Bohémiens op 20’, ‘Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 (Bach)’, ‘Last Spring from two Elegiac pieces Op 34’ (Grieg) and ‘Massenet’s Méditation thaïs’ confirmed my initial findings. For instance, ‘Airs Bohémiens op 20’ and ‘Massenet’s Méditation thaïs’ sounded good on the E4C. However, the ‘air’ surrounding the upper reaches of the violin was sorely missing. As I stepped up the volume to 65% with the E4C, the presentation improved. However, that immensely satisfying ‘air’ was only heard on the Wharfedale speakers. Large orchestras with several string instruments were portrayed with immense resolution and detail on the E4C. But it all sounded a bit ‘thin’ and ‘in your head’. The midrange of the iPod + E4C combo had more resolution than the bookshelf speakers. But was it more satisfying to the ear? .... At higher volumes on the E4C, it was darn close. But, at moderate listening levels (50%), the iPod sounded thin yet highly resolved. Instruments sounded ‘smaller than life-size’ and the overall sound, though highly detailed, lacked weight. Next, I listened to some popular waltzes with lots of transients. Once again, a similar picture evolved. The internal amp of the iPod just didn’t have the muscle to deliver mind-blowing transients. On home hi-fi, it was an entirely different story. The transients delivered by the iPod lacked the energy and slam that was apparent on home stereo. Till now, my listening experience on the iPod had not been an entirely satisfactory one. So hesitantly, I played Mozart’s famous clarinet concerto. Now…. Tell you what… this was a mind-blowing experience! The ear-filling sweetness of the clarinet was rendered beautifully by the E4C. Further listening tests showed that pianos and clarinets sounded especially good on the E4C. The same could not be said about violins and large string ensembles. Bass on the E4C was highly resolved, taut and deep. However, it wasn’t very prominent, especially at lower volumes. Playing Beethoven’s fifth symphony highlighted the fact that at low to moderate listening levels, timpani sections were often partially shrouded by other instruments. The situation improved immensely as the volume was notched up. However, the bass did not have the strength that was immediately evident on the Wharfedales.
Now, it was time to test the E4C with devices other than the iPod. I plugged them into my Cambridge amp and to other portable devices (w810i, N91) in turn. The ‘truth’ rang loud and clear. The shortcomings noted in the previous section were largely due to the failings of the internal amp of the iPod. The w810i and the N91 generated full bodied, ear splitting sound at 40 – 50% of full volume with either headphone (PX100 and E4C). Loudest of all was the headphone out of the home amplifier. Even the vintage Sony PCDP was way louder. In comparison, the iPod sound was quite a bit more ‘refined’ and detailed. The texture of the iPod sound was undoubtedly better. But the sad truth was that the iPod always sounded ‘anaemic’ and smaller than ‘life-size’.
Whew! .... That was a long review.
So, let me summarize the pros and cons of the iPod + E4C combo.
PROS:
•Incredibly detailed presentation
•Neutral sound with even tonality
•Pianos, clarinets sound good
•Bass has excellent resolution
CONS:
•Treble is rolled off and violins lack ‘air’
•String ensembles sound a little thin and bleached at lower volumes.
•Midrange though highly detailed lacks ‘body’ and ‘weight’
•Poor soundstage…. It’s all ‘in your head’
•Transients lack energy
•Overall presentation detailed yet anaemic
I have been planning to write this review for a while. However, laziness coupled with a rather busy schedule was hampering my progress. However, I have finally managed to gather myself to write one big review. So let us not waste any further time and get down to business. Today, I am going to have a look at the following components:
IPod 5.5G 80 GB with the latest firmware
Shure E4C IEM
As I share my experience with the above, I shall refer to the following components from time to time:
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 bookshelf speakers
Cambridge Azur 640A version 2.0 integrated amplifier
Onkyo DV-SP502 Universal player (DVD-A/SACD)
Sennheiser PX100 headphones
Sony Ericsson W810i Walkman phone
Nokia N91 8GB
Sony PCDP D-EJ 775
Test Environment:
•All audio tracks were ripped from Audio CDs using the Apple lossless codec in iTunes (latest release)
•Features of iTunes like Sound Check and Sound Enhancer were turned off.
•The EQ of the iPod was switched off.
•DSPs/tone controls/EQs were turned off in all the devices.
•I used the yellow foam sleeves with the E4C.
Test tracks:
•Danube Waves from Favorite Waltzes. (EMI)
•The Skaters from Favorite Waltzes. (EMI)
•Tchaikovsky: Act 3: In the Castle of Prince Siegfried – Spanish Dance (Naxos – Swan Lake, complete)
•Faure: Masques Et Berg masques, Op 112 ouverture (The Best of Faure, Naxos, Track 1)
•Beethoven : Symphonie no 5 Allegro Con Brio
•Les Toréadors – Carmen Suite Nr 1.
•Chanson du Toréadors – Carmen Suite Nr. 2
•Massenet – Méditation thaïs (Violin Passion, EMI)
•EMI VIOLIN PASSION disc 1- Airs Bohémiens op 20
•Mozart Clarinet concerto K622
•Faure: Pavane
•Bach: Christmas Oratorio BWV 248
•Grieg: Last Spring from two Elegiac pieces Op 34 (The best of Grieg, Naxos)
•Mozart Piano Concerto No 20 (K466)
•Mozart Quintet K452
Brief descriptions of the various products:
•IPod 5.5G 80GB – The latest avatar of the iconic music player from Apple… need I say more?
•Shure E4C – rated as one of the best single driver In ear monitor earphones
•Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 bookshelf speakers – one of the best budget bookshelf speakers ($ 250 – 300)
•Cambridge Azur 640A version 2.0 integrated amplifier – a cracking amplifier for $ 600
•Onkyo DV-SP502 Universal player (DVD-A/SACD) – a popular entry level disc spinner from Onkyo
•Sennheiser PX100 headphones – needs no introduction…..
•Sony Ericsson W810i Walkman phone – an excellent music enabled phone from Sony Ericsson
•Nokia N91 8GB – the king of all music phones
•Sony D-EJ 775 – vintage portable CD player from Sony
That was a hell of an introduction! Too long, a bit boring perhaps… So, let us jump to the core of the review.
Listening tests:
After ripping the requisite tracks to the iPod, I plugged in the PX100. With the volume at 50 %, I started listening to ‘Pavane’ (Faure). Those who have heard about Gabriel Faure, the French composer, must be aware of the fact that ‘Pavane’ was amongst his best works. As I started listening, I was startled by the initial experience. The built in amp of the iPod was rated at a whopping 60mW/channel…. But hey! ... Frankly speaking, I wasn’t hearing much at all! Frustrated, I stepped up the volume to around 70% of max. Now, the music flowed with ease and the volume level was adequate, if not ear-splitting. Next, I plugged in the E4C. This time, a volume of 55-60% seemed to suffice. I was impressed by the uncoloured, neutral sound of the iPod. The tonality was even. However, one thing was for certain. The treble did sound a bit rolled off. Listening to the same track on the home stereo (Wharfedales + Cambridge) turned out to be an immensely satisfying experience. The ‘You are there’ feeling was there to a larger degree. The soundstage was bigger and the presentation was far more ‘airy’. Tracks like ‘Airs Bohémiens op 20’, ‘Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 (Bach)’, ‘Last Spring from two Elegiac pieces Op 34’ (Grieg) and ‘Massenet’s Méditation thaïs’ confirmed my initial findings. For instance, ‘Airs Bohémiens op 20’ and ‘Massenet’s Méditation thaïs’ sounded good on the E4C. However, the ‘air’ surrounding the upper reaches of the violin was sorely missing. As I stepped up the volume to 65% with the E4C, the presentation improved. However, that immensely satisfying ‘air’ was only heard on the Wharfedale speakers. Large orchestras with several string instruments were portrayed with immense resolution and detail on the E4C. But it all sounded a bit ‘thin’ and ‘in your head’. The midrange of the iPod + E4C combo had more resolution than the bookshelf speakers. But was it more satisfying to the ear? .... At higher volumes on the E4C, it was darn close. But, at moderate listening levels (50%), the iPod sounded thin yet highly resolved. Instruments sounded ‘smaller than life-size’ and the overall sound, though highly detailed, lacked weight. Next, I listened to some popular waltzes with lots of transients. Once again, a similar picture evolved. The internal amp of the iPod just didn’t have the muscle to deliver mind-blowing transients. On home hi-fi, it was an entirely different story. The transients delivered by the iPod lacked the energy and slam that was apparent on home stereo. Till now, my listening experience on the iPod had not been an entirely satisfactory one. So hesitantly, I played Mozart’s famous clarinet concerto. Now…. Tell you what… this was a mind-blowing experience! The ear-filling sweetness of the clarinet was rendered beautifully by the E4C. Further listening tests showed that pianos and clarinets sounded especially good on the E4C. The same could not be said about violins and large string ensembles. Bass on the E4C was highly resolved, taut and deep. However, it wasn’t very prominent, especially at lower volumes. Playing Beethoven’s fifth symphony highlighted the fact that at low to moderate listening levels, timpani sections were often partially shrouded by other instruments. The situation improved immensely as the volume was notched up. However, the bass did not have the strength that was immediately evident on the Wharfedales.
Now, it was time to test the E4C with devices other than the iPod. I plugged them into my Cambridge amp and to other portable devices (w810i, N91) in turn. The ‘truth’ rang loud and clear. The shortcomings noted in the previous section were largely due to the failings of the internal amp of the iPod. The w810i and the N91 generated full bodied, ear splitting sound at 40 – 50% of full volume with either headphone (PX100 and E4C). Loudest of all was the headphone out of the home amplifier. Even the vintage Sony PCDP was way louder. In comparison, the iPod sound was quite a bit more ‘refined’ and detailed. The texture of the iPod sound was undoubtedly better. But the sad truth was that the iPod always sounded ‘anaemic’ and smaller than ‘life-size’.
Whew! .... That was a long review.
So, let me summarize the pros and cons of the iPod + E4C combo.
PROS:
•Incredibly detailed presentation
•Neutral sound with even tonality
•Pianos, clarinets sound good
•Bass has excellent resolution
CONS:
•Treble is rolled off and violins lack ‘air’
•String ensembles sound a little thin and bleached at lower volumes.
•Midrange though highly detailed lacks ‘body’ and ‘weight’
•Poor soundstage…. It’s all ‘in your head’
•Transients lack energy
•Overall presentation detailed yet anaemic
