...lol
Well, let me say this real quick, Dsnuts was on the MONEY!!! when he stated these IEMs are very refined. I would say refined and pushing toward wonderful lushness. I wouldn't say the soundstage is so wide (it's not small either), but I would say it has some amazing depth. Like you can hear where the musicians are while playing their instruments behind the singers. The vocals are some of the most lush and detailed vocals I've heard for an IEM under $200 (and forget about under $100). The vocals are also pushing toward analytical - as close as a dynamic driver can without sounding super cold and sterile. It's weird, but there's a nice touch of warmth with the vocals although there are rich details revealed in the singing. And I am typing this before I get any really good burn-in (AND I BELIEVE IN BURN-IN!!). I wonder what these IEMs will reveal after 100 hours?
Okay, very nice (I mean quite nice) details and micro-details in the guitars, bass and higher register instruments. Piano is forward in the mids, but not too forward. Vocals seem to be in front of the instrumentation. Very nice instrument separation, but not on the level of the W4 (which I think is the best universal for instrument separation, although the ASG-1 is not too far behind). But for a $72 IEM I can't think of anything that beats it in that price range (or a $100 more). And it's not like the CKM500 is miles and miles behind the W4.
I am really not trying to hype these up too much, but I am amazed. I was skeptical on what Dsnuts was saying, although he hasn't been off the mark really on anything he talked about that I've tried. The sound is so rich that I keep looking at my receipt and thinking I paid much more for these. I'm getting all of this from listening to Radiohead, Queen, the Clark Sisters (gospel music), and Led Zep. I am almost too giddy to think what these will sound like with jazz. That's coming up next though.
Treble is not harsh or too bright, but quite extended on cymbal crashes. Bass can really hit the sub-bass level and is really solid and punchy, but doesn't necessarily stay there when not needed, and it's not overabundant bass like in the terrific JVC FX700.
Criticisms? Well, the only thing I can think of is it would be nice if it had a bit of a wider soundstage, but this is not to say the soundstage is small (say like the SM3).
I hear details going from front to back of the stage more so than in width of the stage or tallness of the stage sound (like the IE8 and ASG-1 respectively). It's just amazing when I think that I have spent two or three times more on other IEMs than what the CKM500 cost, yet the CKM500 blow many of those IEMs away. But to be fair, the CKM500 - again - is not blowing away any universal like the W4, ASG-1, or EX1000. But it's closer than anyone would have ever imagined. It does surpass, however (in my opinion), the EX600, SM2, and the FXT-90 (especially in lushness and refinement). The FXT-90 may have the CKM500 beat in edginess of guitars and with a bit wider soundstage (plus those dual drivers give the JVC a unique layered sound). The FXT-90 is also much more warmer than the CKM500.
GR07? Hmm? I don't know yet other than the CKM500 is more refined than the GR07. The GR07 probably has a wider soundstage - at this point without burn-in - and deeper sub-bass (maybe, but I'm not so quite sure about that yet). If it has more Sub-bas it is not beating the CKM500 by much. The GR07 has harsher highs. The TF10 doesn't touch the CKM500 at all in my opinion. And the Sony XBA-4 doesn't beat this ATH in refinement and detailed sound (actually the XBA-4's vocal are too cold and analytical for my liking, but not as richly detailed). The ATH is clearly beating the GR07, FXT-90, EX600 in instrument separation.
I have never really been a fan of the ATH sound (I tolerate it in the M-50 and I have a couple of ATH IEMs that I never listen to and I'm about to give to my nephew as h.s. graduation gifts). These CKM500s are a different story. But even with these initial impressions, I am still trying to figure these IEMs out. One other thought: the CKM500 loves to be amped. I'm listening to it right now connected to the my Fiio E9 desk amp and using the E10 as the DAC. Superb!! Ask a question and I'll try to give an answer, but I'm still in submersion mode with these earphones. Vocals are outstanding!! I feel that the sound of the CKM500 is closer to the sound of the EX1000 in REFINEMENT than the Sony's little sister, the EX600. And the best thing about that statement is that the CKM500 doesn't have the harsh piercing highs that both of those Sonys possess. Okay, back to listening. Tone of guitar notes is just wonderful, but I haven't had a chance to really grasp what this IEM can do with strings yet.
Anyone have an explanation that works well for them? I could use some pointers.
