Thank you all for your replies, Gentlemen the lot of you, and even after I was so disparaging about you audiophiles!
@ Castleofargh, now you are trying to entice me in to this audiophilia with this talk of BA and Dynamic drivers! I had never given this any consideration to the point that I have no idea what is in the IE80's or the InEar SD3's I just returned. OK, I had better get studying! I like the bass sound of the IE80's even though the bass of the SD3's was far, far more detailed. It just lacked that something, I don't know what. However, for music other than EDM, where the IE80's are just incredible, the mids and highs are just too veiled. I would go as far to say that the years of listening to conventional music on the CX300 was more acceptable than on the IE80's. It is quite possible that I am now just beginning to really listen to music since I bought these, so maybe I am being more critical.
I am intrigued by your description of your JH13. Even though I was leaning more toward the JH16 as so many have mentioned them being more bass heavy. Ultimately I believe that so long as I do not hear too many more varying signatures as comparison, I should (will, at this price!) be happy even if the bass is not similar to the IE80's.
Your point about headphones may well be a good one, if a little unnerving, given my need not to become infected with your audiophile illness. I am afraid that I would be even more out of my depth having never listened at any length to a headphone of any flavour. Indoors I have always used a full-sized system. Maybe, just maybe I will peek under the skirt of the headphone side!
@ Burtomr I did look at a few reviews regarding Tralucent Audio 1Plus2, but the reviews for the JH16's were so overwhelming as to be too convincing. Also, when I tried to get a price for these, even their own website does not publish them. That was a bit of a no, no to me. The JH16's I am able to get via a vendor here in the UK. Going direct to Hong Kong each time should there be an issue is a little disconcerting. But thank you never the less and enjoy your 1Plus2's
@ Willyvlyminck You know that I think for EDM, at least, that the IE80's are just the perfect iem, and I cannot see them being bettered. I am not even expecting the JH16's to beat them for that, but I am so used to getting more out of my speakers with my other music that the IE80's just don't seem to do this well. The SD3's I just returned, most definitely did sound great in the mids and highs though, so I know that it must exist out there somewhere. It is quite likely that I will have to be satisfied with a 'lesser' bass with another iem just to obtain more of a likeable sound in the mids and highs. In this instance it has more to do with psychology than sound. I reason that if I buy an absolute top of the range iem now, I cannot get any better, therefore I will just have to like the sound or accept that I have wasted rather a lot of money. I am sure this is a perverse strategy, but one that I am going to adopt!
@ Esuhgb Well, funny you should mention the Fa4e-bx! Just had an email from the vendor I returned the SD3's to asking how I wished for the refund to be made and I was perusing their site, saw the Fa4's and thought what the hell, and asked them to exchange the SD3's for them! Should have them by the weekend, and we shall see how right you are! Thanks
@ Krismusic I cannot say that I am anywhere near exasperated with the IE80's for EDM, but definitely would be if I had no other option for my normal music. I am not sure what 'thick' means, but for me it is the veiling that is the issue. I really only like instrumental EDM, not vocal, so it is not noticeable, but put Kate Bush on and it is really apparent. As for the ACS iem's I have to say that they were the very first option on my list when I realised that I needed a different iem for other music. I really liked the idea of the silicone housing, thinking it would be such a great fit, but when I tried to find reviews on the ACS T1 live, they seemed thin on the ground. No one seemed to be talking about them. I was going to (and still am going to get ACS custom tips for the IE80's) talk to the local ACS rep about them when I order the tips, but they seem to have taken a back step with me at the moment. If I went that route, it would have to be instead of the JH16's. No way I could justify two such top end earphone, never mind afford both! A £1000 is a huge amount, but given so many of you audiophiles buy so many different iem's, and then probably have to sell them on, at a loss, many of you have possibly lost that much in doing so. I thought I would just throw away this money in one go and be damned!!
Guys, thank you all for you input and ideas, I really do appreciate it, even if some of you try too hard to pull me over to the dark side that is you audiophile obsession!!! I have far too many other obsessions to keep me occupied. I shall resist all temptations.
JohnFY
