[Review] ortofon e-Q7 - a touch of class

[shigzeo]

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I suppose my title's caption, 'a touch of class' foretell my conclusion of the e-Q7. It is without a doubt, one of the most impressive earphones on the market. I don't really care what's under the bonnet here, but I'm sure it was a labour of love. One thing's for sure, it doesn't sound 100% like your traditional balanced armature and it certainly isn't as powerful as a dynamic driver.
 
For full review and pictures, go to my review of the ortofon e-Q7. 
 
Since headfi isn't as much into construction quality or ergonomics as it is in sound, here's the grit:
 
The e-Q7 has the following wonderful things going for it: solid bass, smooth mids, and organically decaying highs. But, it isn't accented. It simply is. Right, 'simply is' is a cliche addon for truant thinkers, but I think that at times, it applies. Let's put it this way: bass rushes out with the wind. There isn't an abundance of fibrous detail as in the Victor FX500 or Radius HP-TWF11R, but there is sound pressure, especially after 80Hz. For your sticklers, I can attest to 30Hz vibrations with only a minimal perceived loss in output - the e-Q7 goes very low and sustains itself well.
 
Thanks in part to the fact that its bass isn't heavy handed, its mids are broad and pleasing. Vocals, chimes, electronic percussions - sweetness in all obsequiousness. You can fasten this earphone to rock, to vocal, to jazz, and especially to electronic and even to fast trance. By token of its lilt-less voice, it does everything.
 
But, like all do-it-all earphones, it doesn't have one sweet spot where it ruins all other earphones. It's not a string fiend like the Radius, nor a chime fiend in the same breath as the Final Audio 1601SS. Instead, it decays, it attacks, and it vibrates in all the right places at the right times and sounds right well. 
 
There are no faults in the e-Q7. There are no real 'gotta have it' strengths either, but that isn't a bad thing. Rather, ortofon's debut earphone is a gotta have it product because it doesn't put its foot down, doesn't downplay or up-play anything. It's worth the money if you are in the market for a great earphone, but maybe not realistic if you are happy with what you've got. 
 
Again, for full review and pictures, go to my review of the ortofon e-Q7. 

 

[helljudgement]

I have agree with you on this point. This is currently one of the most balanced phone out there in the market and although they are a great all rounder performing well in all genre, there isn't a particular area that they are 'perfect' in. As an all rounder, how well does this stack up against your beloved ck10 and DDM? Been tempted to get the ck10 ever since I first tested it but I got the e-Q7 instead as they are a better all rounder for me. I'm keen to hear more about what others think about those 2.
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It's worth the money if you are in the market for a great earphone, but maybe not realistic if you are happy with what you've got. 

 

[shigzeo]

You know, the CK10 beats the e-Q7 in all-round use. The e-Q7 would never survive a bicycle ride, doesn't play as nice (fit), and for trance, isn't quite as wiiiiide. But I value its sound as much as the CK10. They are analogues of eachother, the CK10 losing out in bass impact but gaining in space and quality build. both are phenomenal phones. The CK10 is still my favourite non-professional monitor and... even stacked against the SM3, my favourite. 

 

[koonhua90]

Nice analogy of the English language! One question, for string and acoustic instruments, do you think the Radius DDM sounds better or the e-Q7 sounds better? Which one of them image better?

 

[shigzeo]

It really depends. Quite honestly, I think nothing really touches the DDM for strings and when placed properly with the proper sleeves, for isolation. Good luck though. It is more heavily accented though: a very sweet midrange with just a small blip about where female vocals should sound amazing, but only sound excellent. 
 
The easier to use and more comfortable and overall much better earphone as a tool is the ortofon - by leagues. Both are exquisite sounding, but the DDM offers something unique: width, speed, AND maturely smooth midrange. 

 

[helljudgement]

When I say all rounder I mean in terms of sound preference not everyday use. The e-Q7 is hopeless even for simple activities such as jogging or using it in bed. The sm3 seems to be receiving a lot of love around here lately and I was thinking whether I should get them or the ck10. Which do you think would better compliment the e-Q7? From memory the ck10 is one of the best I've heard but the sm3 seems technically superior.

 

[DaeO]

Great review again shigzeo - another IEM to add to the list

 

[shigzeo]

The SM3 is a great sounding earphone also, but for some genre (trance, electronic), I tend to favour e-Q7/CK10 sort of sound signature. Sharp, exciting. The SM3 is genius for just about everything else! Again, however, the CK10 trumps it because of build quality. I think Earsonics should go the route of: metal housing or thick, impact plastic, especially around the nozzle. 
 
Pretty sure my personal favourites lie along the CK10/e-Q7 line in terms of sound though. I entered into high quality earphones from the ER4S so... you can hear that in my reviews. That said, the SM3 has emotion behind it and a to-die-for bass - not impact so much but... amazing.