I currently have the SE846 in my possession and recently have began wondering whether the IE800s might be a better fit for me. I listen mostly to soft-rock, pop, rap, hip-hop and J-pop.
I've heard that the IE800s have a soundstage that blows all other IEMs out of the water, but does it sacrifice sound clarity and quality in the process? How do its sub-bass, bass, mids, and highs compare to the SE846s?
IE800: Superior on treble, overall clarity and soundstage.
SE846: Superior on midrange and lushness.
Bass will depend on taste. SE846 is fuller sounding and has more mid bass as well as deep bass. IE800 is mostly deep sub bass but its crazy textured and detailed. Its decent in amount but not thunderous or anything like that. Not sure it would be the best for rap or hip hop. If you liked the SE846 sound but were mainly looking for larger soundstage and more bassthe W50 would sure do that. But clarity would not be improved much at all.
IE800: Superior on treble, overall clarity and soundstage.
SE846: Superior on midrange and lushness.
Bass will depend on taste. SE846 is fuller sounding and has more mid bass as well as deep bass. IE800 is mostly deep sub bass but its crazy textured and detailed. Its decent in amount but not thunderous or anything like that. Not sure it would be the best for rap or hip hop. If you liked the SE846 sound but were mainly looking for larger soundstage and more bassthe W50 would sure do that. But clarity would not be improved much at all.
IE800: Superior on treble, overall clarity and soundstage.
SE846: Superior on midrange and lushness.
Bass will depend on taste. SE846 is fuller sounding and has more mid bass as well as deep bass. IE800 is mostly deep sub bass but its crazy textured and detailed. Its decent in amount but not thunderous or anything like that. Not sure it would be the best for rap or hip hop. If you liked the SE846 sound but were mainly looking for larger soundstage and more bassthe W50 would sure do that. But clarity would not be improved much at all.
In your explanation, what's the difference between deep bass and sub bass?
Are you saying that the ie800 has better sub bass but the se846 has better overall bass? I would think that the low-pass filter on the Shure would make it better for sub bass, since it's supposed to emulate "subwoofer".
( I hope I can explain this to properly project my thoughts)
SE846 probably has better overall bass that is more satisfying but a big part of that is mid bass (as well is deeper bass, and yes, deep bass/sub bass......I mean the same thing).
With IE800 it's like there is very little mid bass so what this does is sort of creates a "gap" between mid and bass which allows you to really hear a distinction between the midrange and the bass. So the bass that you hear is very isolated and textured and distinct...and DEEP. There is ZERO bleed into midrange.
Most IEM's have mid bass and there is a major bleed between midrange and bass. Sometimes it seems fine and sometimes it sounds bothersome.
The "audiophile" (har...har) will prefer the IE800 bass and some other audiophiles may prefer the SE846 bass but the general masses will most likely prefer the SE846 bass.
I personally just don't like the overly forward midrange of SE846 or SE535. Ruins everything for me as a guy that listens sort of loud.
I agree I love the bass on the se846 but the midrange is a little to much for me. Ie 800 and k3003i are more to my liking. Although I'm not saying the se 846 is not TOTL
IEM it sure does deserve that status. I keep going in cycles with all my IEM. One week the k3003i are my go too IEM, next week it may be my ASG-2 or so on. I guess for me it depends on my mood for witch IEM is by fav! I hold back from contributing to the treads because I don't want to sound like a merry go round with my picks but that is what I find for me at least is the case. I read a lot about how one IEM can out beat another. I love them all! Ha ha
I just was cleaning out my IEM stash and retried my first expensive IEM the turbine copper pro and I've been rocking them all day! See I'm addicted to this thing of ours I can't just have one favorite!
I agree I love the bass on the se846 but the midrange is a little to much for me. Ie 800 and k3003i are more to my liking. Although I'm not saying the se 846 is not TOTL
IEM it sure does deserve that status. I keep going in cycles with all my IEM. One week the k3003i are my go too IEM, next week it may be my ASG-2 or so on. I guess for me it depends on my mood for witch IEM is by fav! I hold back from contributing to the treads because I don't want to sound like a merry go round with my picks but that is what I find for me at least is the case. I read a lot about how one IEM can out beat another. I love them all! Ha ha
Not to derail the thread but it seems the mid-priced IEM's will always be best bang for buck and have the fewest flaws CONSIDERING THEIR PRICEPOINT because we won't expect 100% absolute perfection.
I think Westones W30 is a real hidden gem in that $300-400 range. If that's all the money I could spend on 1 IEM, that would be it. Of course, it does not do what the $1000 W60 does but it follows behind very wisely. Just as JH5 is the poor man's JH16.
Only fault I can find with them is the spike in the highs from time to time, but the day my wife gave them to me on my B-Day they have been my favorite IEM. I don't know how long that will last. But with the ref. filters they are great!
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