SoundStage! review of the Sensaphonics Soft 2-X

[Genetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ServinginEcuador Genetic, It was indeed a very unfair fight between the Etys and Sensas. I only included it to show how much of a step-up it was to go from a generic fitting set of canal phones to the custom molded pair. If I could have talked Sensaphonics into doing a custom mold on the Etys for the review believe me, I would have! I think that my daily cleaning of my ears with Q-Tips is the likely culprit of the painful Ety experience. I did try some OtoEase to lessen the pain, but it did very little. The silicon simply rubs me the wrong way, and is never more than slightly bearable. I wish it were different, but I just can't wear them it seems.

Unfair or not you indirectly brought up a valid question: does the custom mold for Etys is gonna close, significally, that existing gap between these two products? Now I'm this close, again, to try it myself with my recently repaired Etys.

As far the pain from using the Ety I'm sorry to hear that it is a serious issue with you. I could make a joke about the «alien green» picture of what it came out of your ears, during the molding session, but I wont....

Amicalement

P.S. Hope that you will get these UE-10 soon.....Maybe if a big enough group of Head-Fiers write to them....

 

[Tyler]

Thank you for the review as it was very helpful for my current situtation. If I can add my humble opinion, it is very well written and easy to undertstand despite the huge amount of information provided.

I would also be interested in saint.panda's question about the Sensaphonic's peformance in comparison to full sized headphones.

Again, this is one of the best headphone reviews I have read until now.

Tyler

 

[lindrone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genetic Unfair or not you indirectly brought up a valid question: does the custom mold for Etys is gonna close, significally, that existing gap between these two products? Now I'm this close, again, to try it myself with my recently repaired Etys....

No, it wouldn't even be close. Custom molds for the Ety may or may not improve the sound slightly by creating a more consistent seal at all time. At best it's a tiny improvement, at worst it might be a slight detriment to the sound. The reason to even consider custom mold for Ety is for comfort, and nothing more.

This is true of any universal fit IEM with aftermarket custom mold fittings. It is not just the custom mold that makes the difference between the sound, but the driver and the circuits that's in the IEM itself. The price difference is not just the custom mold.

 

[Genetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindrone No, it wouldn't even be close.

Why when I read this I have the strange feeling that a beam a light will take me away deep into the spending part of the audio universe?

In my defense I read probably too much in Doug extended coverage of the seal comming from the custom molding.

I think that another minor point, not that minor for some, is that the review didn't cover the fact that , unless I'm way off base on this, you wont be able to try these without buying them. O.K. probably they are better than Etys but that custom molding is a curse for the undecided.


Amicalement

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genetic Why when I read this I have the strange feeling that a beam a light will take me away deep into the spending part of the audio universe? In my defense I read probably too much in Doug extended coverage of the seal comming from the custom molding. I think that another minor point, not that minor for some, is that the review didn't cover the fact that , unless I'm way off base on this, you wont be able to try these without buying them. O.K. probably they are better than Etys but that custom molding is a curse for the undecided. Amicalement

There is a universal fit for testing that my audiologist in San Francisco had. She said they also have one at the headquarters in Illinois. It is mostly used for trade shows. This sounded pretty close to the finished product.

I also saw in another post that ultimate ears had universal fits of all their models at their lab in Los Vegas.

 

[Genetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamdone There is a universal fit for testing .....

Are you saying that we could try it, using that universal fit, and not be force to take a 750$ «chance» on these Sensa???

BTW I saw that you have also a RS-1, like I do, and may I ask you how the Sensa is doing against it?

Amicalement

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genetic Are you saying that we could try it, using that universal fit, and not be force to take a 750$ «chance» on these Sensa??? BTW I saw that you have also a RS-1, like I do, and may I ask you how the Sensa is doing against it? Amicalement

Yes, you can try universal model without buying it first. Are you in the bay area or Illinois?

I just got the RS-1 and think they are the sound I was looking for all along. I prefer them over the sensa because they are more exciting and have an open sound. The sensa are more aggresive than the hd650 but not like the RS-1. The guitars are little in the background and smoothed over. The RS-1 and the hd650 both sound a little more natural. The sensas present the music almost perfect, note for note, it's just that it almost technical about it compared to the other headphones. It's like everything sounds great but is that really how live music sounds. Maybe I just prefer the sound of open headphones. Gives my ears a chance to breathe.

Now compared to the etys, or any of the shures, these are superior. They present the music with a lot of space outside of your head and just do everything else better.

 

[Genetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamdone Are you in the bay area or Illinois?

I wish I was....No I'm up, way up north fighting the cold....

I have been vey satisfied with my Etys and the next time they let me down (the usual splitting tube transducer issue) I will go for another earphone product even if it means paying much more. Time to move up.

The RS-1 is much fun, dont forget the flat pads and enjoy.

Amicalement

 

[catscratch]

Very good review. I wonder how they'll match up to my Stax SR-001 Mk II. I don't have the need to waste whatever meager means I have left on these, but custom molds for the 001 is something that I definitely have thought of. A custom-molded 001 vs Sensaphonics would be quite a comparison

 

[ChicagoPhil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genetic Are you saying that we could try it, using that universal fit, and not be force to take a 750$ «chance» on these Sensa???

That's what I am going to do this Friday. I made an appointment with Sensaphonics here in Chicago for a demonstration of the universal fit model. I currently have demo sets of the ER-4 and Shure E5 on hand and will hopefully be able to post some impressions on all three this weekend from the point of view of someone relatively new to canalphones, and hi-fidelity headphones in general.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[mavis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoPhil That's what I am going to do this Friday. I made an appointment with Sensaphonics here in Chicago for a demonstration of the universal fit model. I currently have demo sets of the ER-4 and Shure E5 on hand and will hopefully be able to post some impressions on all three this weekend from the point of view of someone relatively new to canalphones, and hi-fidelity headphones in general. Cheers, Phil

Yeah, that's what I'm going to do tomorrow - I've got an appointment for ear impressions with Sensa's Japan rep, and he's got universal fit units at his office - I've already made up my mind (to get the Sensas) but it'll be nice to finally hear them, and compare them to the E5c's (albeit a quick comparison) ...

 

[mavis]

Oh yeah, thanks for the great review, ServinginEcuador!

Your review will help make the four week wait for my Sensas even more agonizing ...

 

[jjcha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavis Yeah, that's what I'm going to do tomorrow - I've got an appointment for ear impressions with Sensa's Japan rep, and he's got universal fit units at his office - I've already made up my mind (to get the Sensas) but it'll be nice to finally hear them, and compare them to the E5c's (albeit a quick comparison) ...

Personally, it took me 3 weeks to appreciate the Sensas. Right out of the box, I didn't like them. But I knew it would take me 3 weeks to appreciate them, because that's how long it took me to appreciate the Shure E5c over the Sony EX-71.

IMO, for anyone considering custom fit IEM versus universals (e.g., Ety/Shure vs Sensa/UE) just skip over the universal and go straight to the custom fit. It's more money, but if you honestly will get the upgrade bug, don't waste your time and money on the universals.

Best,

-Jason

 

[mavis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjcha IMO, for anyone considering custom fit IEM versus universals (e.g., Ety/Shure vs Sensa/UE) just skip over the universal and go straight to the custom fit. It's more money, but if you honestly will get the upgrade bug, don't waste your time and money on the universals.

It's funny, Jason - I read a comment like that right before I bought my E5c's, and I totally disregarded it - I figured the Sensas/UEs were too expensive and I'd never want to spend that much money ... Now, just a few months later, here I am buying the Sensas after all. In other words, you're absolutely right!

 

[duetta]

With regard to the Etymotic "pain" issue, when I first got my pair in 1998, I couldn't use the white tips for more than a few minutes without great discomfort. I stuck to the foam tips and eventually had custom earmolds made. However, over time, I found the foam tips and the earmolds created different kinds of durability problems, and after yet another repair, decided to try the silicon tips again. And five years later, they now feel fine. I guess using the foamies over time prepares your ears for the silicon tips. Go figure.