ericp10
Sits up all night comparing IEMs.
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2009
- Posts
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Nice initial impressions @ FlySweep. I should have my GR07 early next week (and the zo subwoofer). I can't wait to hear how these mid-priced power iems stack up against each other.
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Ordered the EX600 yesterday and they arrived this afternoon (Amazon Prime.. yeeeaaaah buddy).
They had been burning in since 3pm today.. out of the box, they were (as many reported) harsh, bright, and generally rough around the edges. After 6 hours or so, they settled down a bit.. the bass began to show better texture and presence. the mid-range on up still sounded grainy, metallic, and "silvery".
After 10 hours.. I'm beginning to hear why these get the praise they do. The mid-range and treble smoothed out a ton.. a ton. They're still very crisp and airy, but now have better tone as the timbre seems more balanced and realistic. Excellent instrument separation and detail. The soundstage is simply fantastic.. w i d e .. but not to where imaging is smeared or inaccurate.
These are in many ways, kindred spirits with the GR07. They share a very similar crisp, slightly mid-forward, neutral signature. But where the GR07 is smoother and slightly warm, the EX600 is crisper, cooler and airy (reminds me some of the RE0's mid range and treble presentation.. with better note weight).
The EX600's bass isn't as full bodied or impactful as the GR07, at this point.. but it's closing in nicely. The EX600 seem capable of going nearly as deep though. Again, I'm barely 10 hours into these, so I'm confident they'll improve with time. Like the GR07, it seems significant burn in is required for them to reveal their true character.
Every genre the GR07 excelled at, the EX600 seemingly does too.. with a slightly different (and welcome) signature.. so I don't have any qualms keeping both of them in the arsenal.
A correct fit is imperative with the Ex600.. The M hybrid tips have always been the best fit for my ears on other phones, but i found the L hybrid (w/o foam insert) to be the best fit. Once secured, they're very comfortable and feel like they can be worn for hours on end without any discomfort.
I'm kinda of surprised to say this but it's honestly a toss up between the GR07 & the EX600 right now. I love the GR07's refinement, smoothness, and lovely bass. I also love the EX600's crisp RE0-ish midrange & treble.. so it's really a case of each phone adding their own touch to a shared signature of sorts.
Regardless of the "competition", it's great to see two top tier (IMO) phones at relatively modest prices available to the masses.. it's a good time to be into hifi on a budget!