Shures or Ultimate Ears

[spyrius]

I'm upgrading my portables and I'd like some advice. I've tried the Shure E4Cs and the Ultimate Ears 5 Pros. I love the beautiful high end on the Shures. Some really punchy notes that sound sharp or harsh on all my other headphones are sublime on the E4Cs. Unfortunately, I don't like the lack of bass presence. Also, the ones I tried began to distort at a much lower volume than I expected.
As for the 5 Pros, the bass is much more powerful but not quite as clear as I'd like. Also, the high end could be more pronounced.
The main reason I'm posting this thread is to ask if anyone can give me an idea of how and how much they're likely to change after they're burned in. Also, what are your personal preferences between the two?
Thanks.

 

[rx7_fan]

Canal phones will not change over time, there's no such thing as burn in with canal phones. I own both the UE super.fi pro and the E4. I would say go for customs if you want bass and clarity, you wont be dissapointed with the UE5c if you choose the custom route =)

 

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

There's no "perfect" iem (although some would argue the UE10s). What you've stated is exactly true. E4s clarity and cleaness or the pro 5's strong bass. Whatever you choose is up to you.

 

[spyrius]

I've never had a chance to use any Etymotics. How do they compare?

And what are some people's personal preferences?

 

[tnmike1]

Own the etys. Wonderful sound, soundstage outstanding when used with an amplifier.

Don't agree, however, that they don't need break-in time. Most manufacturers' websites state about 40 hours I know personally mine didn't really come alive until about 60 hours and boy did they sparkle after that.

Don't know the budget but the Etys run about $330 or so. Heard the lower priced etys for around $120 and they're great performers too.

I believe if you buy from Headroom they may be returnable so if this is the case you've got nothing to lose in buying them.

By the way: saw your profile. My son lives on Oahu--he's in Merchant Marine and is based in the Pacific area. First coupla months he LOVED Hawaii. Then he sez it gets sorta boring after you've seen Honolulu, Waikiki and all the other spots in the islands. Good luck. He loves the tropics, though

 

[RockinOut]

From my experience and my ears with two sets of Shure E5c, IEM's do sound differently with more play time (to my ears so do amps, DACs, opamps). To me everything seems to smooth out and harmonize and sounds less distorted and separated. Bass is bloomier and highs and mids less harsh.

With my new set of E5c, I was not happy with "new" sound compared to older set. I just played music at different volumes continuously through them for 40 hours, and put the IEM's in a drawer so I wouldn't hear. After more listening (20 more hours), they sound just like my older ones.

I see no point in arguing whether IEM "burn-in" exists or whether it's psychological or some other hocus pocus. To me and my ears, it sounds different with extended useage and eventually stabilizes. Why? I haven't a clue, and I'm not worried about the reason.

Just try playing them continuously, and try again and judge for yourself. It's just like the format of music compression. Only you can decide if there is or isn't a difference and whether or not you like or don't like the sound.

 

[labrat]

Deleted.

 

[Jasper994]

If you are getting distortion out of either one, you have one or possibly all of the following problems:

1) You don't have them inserted properly so you have to turn them up louder to get the same volume.

2) You are going deaf because you always listen at insane volumes.

3) Your player is distorting. Not particularly likely since IEMs are very efficient (with the exception of Etymotic).

I own or have tried most of the universal fit IEMs out there. My personal favorite is the Shure E4. It has excellent sound quality, a good look, good comfort, and is well built. Right behind the E4 is the Super.Fi 5 Pro, the E5, and the UM2. I think the E5 takes the lead among the three in sound by a slight margin (mostly due to preference for its presentation, you may prefer one of the others), but is the least comfortable of the three.

I don't think any of Etymotics offerings hold a candle to the rest I have mentioned. The ER4p is okay. It has a detailed yet polite sound that I can listen to, but it certainly doesn't excite me enough to run out and buy a pair. The ER4s would be good if the highs weren't so harsh and out of control.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

This topic further proves that in the end, it's up to your ears. Some (like Jasper) simply do not like the Ety's sound sig, while others honor the sound like a God.

 

[pspivak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnmike1 Don't know the budget but the Etys run about $330 or so. Heard the lower priced etys for around $120 and they're great performers too.

I found a better price for the Ety 4p's here. Under $175.00

http://www.provantage.com/etymotic-er4p~7ETYM003.htm

 

[jumpinjohn1234]

Ooooh, I think I'll be picking up the erp4 instead of the super fi.5 pro once I sell my shure e4g. Cant wait

 

[xlEnt]

I've had the UE super.fi pro 5 and couldnt get accostumed to the IEM. I'd much prefer supraaural headphones portably. It was too much of a task to keep plugging the IEM in and out while trying to get a good seal as well.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtheisticFreedom This topic further proves that in the end, it's up to your ears. Some (like Jasper) simply do not like the Ety's sound sig, while others honor the sound like a God.

Hence, I said "I don't think" indicating personal opinion. I often wonder, however, if those who really like the ety sound have some hearing damage that makes those spiked highs sound flat...

 

[Mr Iriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper994 Hence, I said "I don't think" indicating personal opinion. I often wonder, however, if those who really like the ety sound have some hearing damage that makes those spiked highs sound flat...

me too.

 

[rodbac]

Quote:

From my experience and my ears with two sets of Shure E5c, IEM's do sound differently with more play time (to my ears so do amps, DACs, opamps)

This sentence speaks volumes about whether it's the IEMs or your ears that "break in"...

[edit] To be fair, you do seem to accept (and not care) about whether it's psychoacoustical or not, which nobody should argue with.