hackeron
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2004
- Posts
- 481
- Likes
- 10
Hey,
First post, woopee
Anyway, my EX71 headphones died (left channel blew) and I got myself a shiny pair of E3c headphones based on the recomendations on this forum.
I've had the Sony EX71 headphones for just over a year before the left channel blew and the E3c headphones I've been stress testing for over 2 weeks now.
My opinion about the Sony EX71
I am really amazed by the quality of these $50 headphones. Asside from the common wax problem, I had them yanked out of my ear with tremendeous force several times, and no matter how badly I mistreated them, they always worked just fine afterwards. I suppose after over a year of daily rough usage. It was just their time to fail.
In comparison to my Logitech Z-680 THX certified (what a joke) speakers, they give slightly more clarity! -- I was quite amazed by that but I do notice new sounds in music when I listen to the EX71 after the Z-680 -- and although the sounds are there on the Z-680, they arent as pronounced or clear as on the EX71.
Another plus is the bass is extremely powerful. I let friends that own quite expensive sound equipment listen to them, and they are opened mouthed by the power of the bass these little things produce - When listening to them personally, I constantly checked if maybe I left the subwoofer on the Z-680 on -- the bass is really that great!
I would have to say they have given me great pleasure, and whenever listening to them, I found myself drifting in complete bliss and relaxation with moderate isolation, enormous bass and relatively clear sound (or so I thought).
My opinion about the Shure E3c
When I initially got the E3c's, I was very disappointed. Sure the chopin piano solos sounded great, but where was the bass in Evanescence? -- There was complete absense of bass so I did what anyone would do: I left them on relatively loud volume playing THX bass sound samples overnight ofcourse
In the morning -- there you are bass
So ok, the wearing in did good to the headphones, and the bass is getting better by the hour. In comparison to the EX71 however, its very fast and sharp, unlike atmospheric and boomy. From an audiophile stand, thats a good thing - from strickly bass pleasure, not as fun.
On the upside, I noticed an incompareable boost in sound clarity to anything I ever heard before (clarity even a friend's $2.5k speaker system doesnt produce). So I surely see the value in these things.
In all truth however, the sound is very upfront, dull and fatiguing. It feels very clear, but the "air" effect and resonance are practically zero. You feel like you hear mids and although with astonishing quality, it reminds me of listening to a cheap old radio that plays nothing but mids at times -- I wish the mids werent so over emphasized.
There is no "bliss" feeling. You dont get taken away by the music as with the EX71's and although as they are wearing in, they are getting significantly better, I dont see how listening to them could cause a calming sensation I got so used to with the EX71's.
One last thing that no-one covers for some strange reason. The warranty! -- Shure offer a 2 year warranty and a 30 day money back warranty. Having every pair of headphones fail during the second year, that was the leading factor that sold me on the E3c's over the Ety's -- they just look like they've been built to last.
Overall
Paradox. Although I really enjoyed the EX71's and find the Shure E3c too sharp and fatiguing, listening to the Z680 or the EX71 now brings tears to my eyes. Having actually tolerated 64kbps wma with them because of a lack of clarity! I now can clearly hear negative sound artifacts on 128kbps recordings, and sometimes even 160kbps isnt enough! -- 64kbps is now a joke, even if using the superior ogg encoder.
Naturally, I will never enjoy listening to the Z680 or the EX71 ever again now that I've seen the light. Although I dont find the Shure E3c's nearly as blissful and relaxing
-- so only choice seems to get a better pair (damn you head-fi.org!) 
I'm am however going to keep the E3c until I can afford a better pair like the Sensaphonics Soft 2X (I only want in ear monitors), but would just like the wonnabe audiophiles to get some warning of what they are getting themselves into.
Lastly, speaking of strickly "non boring" or artificially coloured sound. Any tips you have to get that artificial bliss and power effect from the E3c's? -- They are definitely technically capable (listening to those thx samples). Maybe some mod, or maybe I should get the triple flange or custom earmolds? -- whats your experience in this respect?
EDIT: I use the medium flex tips (not the black/grey or foem ones) -- the black ones are most comfortable, but then highs are even more recessed. And I use the Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 to drive them, or the Iops MFP-350 OGG player when I'm on the move.
First post, woopee
Anyway, my EX71 headphones died (left channel blew) and I got myself a shiny pair of E3c headphones based on the recomendations on this forum.
I've had the Sony EX71 headphones for just over a year before the left channel blew and the E3c headphones I've been stress testing for over 2 weeks now.
My opinion about the Sony EX71
I am really amazed by the quality of these $50 headphones. Asside from the common wax problem, I had them yanked out of my ear with tremendeous force several times, and no matter how badly I mistreated them, they always worked just fine afterwards. I suppose after over a year of daily rough usage. It was just their time to fail.
In comparison to my Logitech Z-680 THX certified (what a joke) speakers, they give slightly more clarity! -- I was quite amazed by that but I do notice new sounds in music when I listen to the EX71 after the Z-680 -- and although the sounds are there on the Z-680, they arent as pronounced or clear as on the EX71.
Another plus is the bass is extremely powerful. I let friends that own quite expensive sound equipment listen to them, and they are opened mouthed by the power of the bass these little things produce - When listening to them personally, I constantly checked if maybe I left the subwoofer on the Z-680 on -- the bass is really that great!
I would have to say they have given me great pleasure, and whenever listening to them, I found myself drifting in complete bliss and relaxation with moderate isolation, enormous bass and relatively clear sound (or so I thought).
My opinion about the Shure E3c
When I initially got the E3c's, I was very disappointed. Sure the chopin piano solos sounded great, but where was the bass in Evanescence? -- There was complete absense of bass so I did what anyone would do: I left them on relatively loud volume playing THX bass sound samples overnight ofcourse
So ok, the wearing in did good to the headphones, and the bass is getting better by the hour. In comparison to the EX71 however, its very fast and sharp, unlike atmospheric and boomy. From an audiophile stand, thats a good thing - from strickly bass pleasure, not as fun.
On the upside, I noticed an incompareable boost in sound clarity to anything I ever heard before (clarity even a friend's $2.5k speaker system doesnt produce). So I surely see the value in these things.
In all truth however, the sound is very upfront, dull and fatiguing. It feels very clear, but the "air" effect and resonance are practically zero. You feel like you hear mids and although with astonishing quality, it reminds me of listening to a cheap old radio that plays nothing but mids at times -- I wish the mids werent so over emphasized.
There is no "bliss" feeling. You dont get taken away by the music as with the EX71's and although as they are wearing in, they are getting significantly better, I dont see how listening to them could cause a calming sensation I got so used to with the EX71's.
One last thing that no-one covers for some strange reason. The warranty! -- Shure offer a 2 year warranty and a 30 day money back warranty. Having every pair of headphones fail during the second year, that was the leading factor that sold me on the E3c's over the Ety's -- they just look like they've been built to last.
Overall
Paradox. Although I really enjoyed the EX71's and find the Shure E3c too sharp and fatiguing, listening to the Z680 or the EX71 now brings tears to my eyes. Having actually tolerated 64kbps wma with them because of a lack of clarity! I now can clearly hear negative sound artifacts on 128kbps recordings, and sometimes even 160kbps isnt enough! -- 64kbps is now a joke, even if using the superior ogg encoder.
Naturally, I will never enjoy listening to the Z680 or the EX71 ever again now that I've seen the light. Although I dont find the Shure E3c's nearly as blissful and relaxing
I'm am however going to keep the E3c until I can afford a better pair like the Sensaphonics Soft 2X (I only want in ear monitors), but would just like the wonnabe audiophiles to get some warning of what they are getting themselves into.
Lastly, speaking of strickly "non boring" or artificially coloured sound. Any tips you have to get that artificial bliss and power effect from the E3c's? -- They are definitely technically capable (listening to those thx samples). Maybe some mod, or maybe I should get the triple flange or custom earmolds? -- whats your experience in this respect?
EDIT: I use the medium flex tips (not the black/grey or foem ones) -- the black ones are most comfortable, but then highs are even more recessed. And I use the Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 to drive them, or the Iops MFP-350 OGG player when I'm on the move.
