[TonyTripleA]

Anyone else find the Sound Quality of the Sharp MD33 canalphones to be very volume dependant?

A month or so ago I got a set of Sharp MD33 canalphones. These were to replace my old Sony EX71 phones that I use for cycling to work. I enjoyed the Sony's but was always dissappointed with the severe treble roll off. I could live with the boomy single note bass and the comfort was very good.

Anyhow, the Sharp's arrived and I swapped over. First few rides I didn't feel "overwhelmed", although I did like the extra treble. In fact I was underwhelmed for some time. I noticed only a few days ago that I was really enjoying the music however. What had changed?

Well, normally I ride with the volume pretty low (about a third of the volume available from a 3G ipod). Lately, I'd been bumping up the volume a bit on the remote. Unconsciously I think. But when I looked I noticed the volume was up, but so was the sound quality. These little cans sparkle quite a bit more with just a bit more volume.

Further analysis showed that just one or two clicks up on the ipod remote volume control makes a real SQ difference. And not too loud for riding the bike in traffic.... great! I'm much happier with the Sharps now that I was a month ago.

Pity Etymotics doesn't make a canalphone with the same low isolation you get with the Sony EX71 and the Sharp MD33 style rubber/plastic canalphone. Etys definitely don't loose anything as the volume goes down!

TonyAAA

 

[oluv]

maybe it is the source not the md33?

i am quite satisfied with mine, even at lowest volumes, although they are not the best, that is clear, but much better than the sonys anyhow.

 

[phyrefly]

I had the same problem, until I swapped the medium bud with the large bud. I get great SQ from the MD33 using 5/30 or 6/30 (volume) on my Zen Xtra.

The bass and lower mids were boosted greatly as well.

 

[gshan]

I take it that bass and volume are super dependent on a tight seal.

 

[TonyTripleA]

Thanks for the tip phyrefly, I'll try different sized seals and see how I go.

And the ipod 3G source drives my etys beautifully - Oluv are you suggesting some sort of dis-synergy with the Sharp's?

Bear in mind the Sharp's are not bad at all to me at moderate listening levels, I just feel they drop SQ quite a bit when on softer levels. Still my favourites for cycling.

TonyAAA

 

[oluv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyTripleA Oluv are you suggesting some sort of dis-synergy with the Sharp's? TonyAAA

i cannot say exactly. but i have problems with the headphone output from my notebook and the sharps. they get quite a shrill sound with little bass.
driven by my iaudio M3 they sound much fuller and the treble is also a bit more controlled.
with most of my other headphones the sound difference is not that obvious. only with the sony ex71, where it was even more pronounced.