Abouna
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
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[size=x-small]Just a short review of the sub-$100 IEMs I've owned. Mostly for those looking to get superior sound on a budget. I'm certainly no expert so take this all with a grain. This is obviously not exhaustive. I'll apologize right now for any mistakes or lack of knowledge![/size]
[size=x-small]Gear[/size][size=x-small]: Zune 30, 256kbps mp3[/size]
[size=x-small]Music: Beethoven, XTC, Bitter Sweet, Queen, Hendrix, Cars, Royksopp, Jethro Tull[/size]
[size=x-small]
Description: Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 3, red[/size]
[size=x-small]Sound: Excellent. Pronounced but not excessive bass with no boom whatsoever, very clean. Midrange is excellent likewise, very good detail. Highs very good across the board with occasional excess sibilance on some tracks (Queen was notable here). Very easy to drive to excessive levels.[/size]
[size=x-small]Build: Very nice. Seem to be quite solid, time will tell.[/size]
[size=x-small]Comfort: I was aprehensive about the design here, these are worn with the cords pointing up. A peice of memory wire loops around the top and back of your ear. Actually I've found this to be more comfortable than my other IEMs. Wide profile, you won't be laying down with these on, they stick out.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cord: Good & Bad. Bad beacuse the material is a rather stiff unyielding plastic coat, just doesn't lay nicely. Good because of the very reason it's bad it's also very resistant to tangling. No microphonics at all! Short cord at about 31" after the Y.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cost: Retail is $99. Steet $70-$80, I paid $39 at Buy.com after Google checkout discount.[/size]
[size=x-small]Overall: In this price range I'm giving these 3.5 out of 4 Stars
[/size]
[size=x-small] [size=x-small]Description: JBL Reference 220[/size]
[size=x-small]Sound: Very good. Very balanced sound across the board if a bit flat. Initially a bit weak on the low end but this improves greatly with burn in time. No comparison to the Ultimate Ears. Harder to drive, notably so than the UEs.[/size]
[size=x-small]Build: Very nice also. Basic but solid, I've been using these for months with no problems.[/size]
[size=x-small]Comfort: Typical. I've been using UE silicones on all my IEMs for months, and these are no different. I found the stock tips to be too stiff but the UE versions seem to make a better seal which is very critical with these.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cord: Good & Bad. Good, fabric covering makes the cord very supple and nice looking. Also tends to tangle less. Bad, fairly pronounced microphonics. Only an issue if your'e moving around a lot. Y cord.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cost: Retail is $79. Steet $30-50, I paid $33 at Amazon.com.[/size]
[size=x-small]Overall: In this price range I'm giving these 2.75 out of 4 Stars[/size]
[size=x-small] [size=x-small]
Description: Sennheiser CX300 / Creative EP-630[/size]
[size=x-small]Sound: I'm lumping the Senns & Creatives together as I beleive, as do many others, that they are the same cans (and yes, I've owned both). Sound is not as good as the JBLs. Bass tends toward boomy. Still a giant leap in quality from most OEM or $20 units. Not as easy to drive as the UEs but easier than the JBLs.[/size]
[size=x-small]Build: Decent. Unfortunately I've had 3 sets with 2 losing sound in one channel. Customer service is excellent though.[/size]
[size=x-small]Comfort: Ditto the JBLs. Typical. I've been using UE silicones on all my IEMs for months, and these are no different. I found the stock tips to be too stiff but the UE versions seem to make a better seal which is very critical with these.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cord: Typical rubber cord. Tangles VERY easily. Moderate Microphonics. Y cord.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cost: Retail is $89-99. Steet $40-60.[/size]
[size=x-small]Overall: In this price range I'm giving these 2.25 out of 4 Stars[/size]
[/size]
[/size]
[size=x-small]Gear[/size][size=x-small]: Zune 30, 256kbps mp3[/size]
[size=x-small]Music: Beethoven, XTC, Bitter Sweet, Queen, Hendrix, Cars, Royksopp, Jethro Tull[/size]
[size=x-small]
Description: Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 3, red[/size]
[size=x-small]Sound: Excellent. Pronounced but not excessive bass with no boom whatsoever, very clean. Midrange is excellent likewise, very good detail. Highs very good across the board with occasional excess sibilance on some tracks (Queen was notable here). Very easy to drive to excessive levels.[/size]
[size=x-small]Build: Very nice. Seem to be quite solid, time will tell.[/size]
[size=x-small]Comfort: I was aprehensive about the design here, these are worn with the cords pointing up. A peice of memory wire loops around the top and back of your ear. Actually I've found this to be more comfortable than my other IEMs. Wide profile, you won't be laying down with these on, they stick out.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cord: Good & Bad. Bad beacuse the material is a rather stiff unyielding plastic coat, just doesn't lay nicely. Good because of the very reason it's bad it's also very resistant to tangling. No microphonics at all! Short cord at about 31" after the Y.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cost: Retail is $99. Steet $70-$80, I paid $39 at Buy.com after Google checkout discount.[/size]
[size=x-small]Overall: In this price range I'm giving these 3.5 out of 4 Stars
[/size]
[size=x-small] [size=x-small]Description: JBL Reference 220[/size]
[size=x-small]Sound: Very good. Very balanced sound across the board if a bit flat. Initially a bit weak on the low end but this improves greatly with burn in time. No comparison to the Ultimate Ears. Harder to drive, notably so than the UEs.[/size]
[size=x-small]Build: Very nice also. Basic but solid, I've been using these for months with no problems.[/size]
[size=x-small]Comfort: Typical. I've been using UE silicones on all my IEMs for months, and these are no different. I found the stock tips to be too stiff but the UE versions seem to make a better seal which is very critical with these.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cord: Good & Bad. Good, fabric covering makes the cord very supple and nice looking. Also tends to tangle less. Bad, fairly pronounced microphonics. Only an issue if your'e moving around a lot. Y cord.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cost: Retail is $79. Steet $30-50, I paid $33 at Amazon.com.[/size]
[size=x-small]Overall: In this price range I'm giving these 2.75 out of 4 Stars[/size]
[size=x-small] [size=x-small]
Description: Sennheiser CX300 / Creative EP-630[/size]
[size=x-small]Sound: I'm lumping the Senns & Creatives together as I beleive, as do many others, that they are the same cans (and yes, I've owned both). Sound is not as good as the JBLs. Bass tends toward boomy. Still a giant leap in quality from most OEM or $20 units. Not as easy to drive as the UEs but easier than the JBLs.[/size]
[size=x-small]Build: Decent. Unfortunately I've had 3 sets with 2 losing sound in one channel. Customer service is excellent though.[/size]
[size=x-small]Comfort: Ditto the JBLs. Typical. I've been using UE silicones on all my IEMs for months, and these are no different. I found the stock tips to be too stiff but the UE versions seem to make a better seal which is very critical with these.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cord: Typical rubber cord. Tangles VERY easily. Moderate Microphonics. Y cord.[/size]
[size=x-small]Cost: Retail is $89-99. Steet $40-60.[/size]
[size=x-small]Overall: In this price range I'm giving these 2.25 out of 4 Stars[/size]
[/size]
[/size]
