UE TF10 Pro vs. FreQShow vs. UE SF5 Pro

[Maelstrom]

Hi all! I currently have the SF5 Pro's, have been happy and proud of its performance but am considering an upgrade to UE TF10 Pro or FreQShow to make even fuller use of my Cowon.

I see a good number of you have acquired either/both of the latter two

Was wondering, those of you who've had the chance to compare TF10 with FreQShow, how do you feel about the differences in SQ? How about when they're compared against SF5?

For FreQShow, please state too if it's Music Makers or Lovers crossover, as I'm still unsure about the differences in SQ. Do they perform the same when both unamped? Thing is I won't be using an amp for quite a while...but since I may in future, do you think I should get the Makers one? But being unamped in the meantime, will it perform as well as Lovers?

I've really enjoyed the SF5's clarity + separation in sounds and punchy bass, and its soundstage has been pleasing enough, that widened especially after I paired it with the Cowon. What I hope for is to retain that kind of sweet clarity and separation (of course better would be bonus), but have the bass/oomph hit harder and deepened, and even bigger soundstage. So those are my main areas of concern.

Please share what you think, would be a big help. And owners of the FreQShow, kindly please PM me its costs including ear molding, all shipping (I'm in Singapore), actual package and whatever else? Thanks lots!

 

[Dopefish]

Having replaced my SF5 Pros (and SF5 EB before them) with the TF10 Pros I can say that I'm definitely happy with the additional depth of bass. Listening to much bass heavier music, you'll definitely appreciate the better precision the Tf 10s have. I think a better level of clarity is what hit me second but as for soundstage, I was already pretty happy with the seperation on my Sf5 Pros.

Haven't tried out and of the FreQ lineup but one thing I haven't liked about any of my UEs is the fit of the universal tips. I currently have tri-flanges on my Triple.fi 10s and would definitely jump at the chance to have some customs on them.

 

[Maelstrom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dopefish /img/forum/go_quote.gif Having replaced my SF5 Pros (and SF5 EB before them) with the TF10 Pros I can say that I'm definitely happy with the additional depth of bass. Listening to much bass heavier music, you'll definitely appreciate the better precision the Tf 10s have.

Very glad to hear that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dopefish /img/forum/go_quote.gif one thing I haven't liked about any of my UEs is the fit of the universal tips. I currently have tri-flanges on my Triple.fi 10s and would definitely jump at the chance to have some customs on them.

Good for you! I'd envy that

I'll probably go for a silver cable and possibly an amp before I come to that, or...maybe I'll just save and spring for an UE11 a year or two down the road, lol. Yep I never enjoyed their tips as well, they never seem to provide good enough SQ. The double-flanges seemed decent but made my ear canals sore when new, then after switching to comply tips, despite their short lifespan I never looked back - significantly boosted bass and total comfort, though they mask the highs/trebles a tad but I think most foams do that. You might want to give the complys a try before getting your customs?

Thanks Dopefish, appreciate your feedback!

 

[Maelstrom]

Today I had a chance to audition the TF10's and SE530's, no FreQ's for me since they're unavailable for audition unlike Livewires. Found that the Shures do perform very well across spectrums as well, with impressive sound separations too, but over all the feel of the mids and highs were...darker?...dunno how I should put it, but guess I've grown so used to the lushness and brightness of UEs. Its bass was definitely obvious but didn't feel as punchy as the TF10's.

As for the TF10's, soundstage and separation were outstanding but the differences that were audible to me were mainly the trebles and some instruments which I previously didn't hear as well with the SF5 Pro's, especially in lighter music, but the bass difference, I didn't so much hear it as felt it...it does go lower and there's more oomph. Though, whether it's a problem with my ears or that my expectations were stretched a bit much just like many potential buyers of the TF10's, somehow it felt like at the same time I finally heard/felt as much bass as hoped for, the other spectrums felt a bit masked as a result...I mean, I really did hope for the exact same forefront-ness of trebles/mids as found in the SF5's, but have the bass extended even further... Now it feels like they sit a little further back. I had thought with 3 dedicated drivers all spectrums would be presented just as well. Either I'm looking for too much, or bass is always a compromise with mids/highs, sigh... Or maybe listening to them for half an hour with different genres still wasn't enough for them to have a chance to show off their best?

Anyways, I've now made the move to put my SF5's up, will take a week or so to reach my final decision.

 

[elnero]

I recently had an extended audition with a pair of Triple.fi's using Comply tips as opposed to the stock tips. The Comply's supposedly tip the balance to a more bass oriented sound but I haven't compared to the stock tips to know for sure.

The TF10's had some of the best bass and soundstage I've heard from IEM's unfortunately though I found the mids and treble seemed recessed and less involving than the bass. I liked them a lot but those factors mixed with the awkwardness of getting them on and a somewhat awkward fit I decided they weren't an option for now at least.

 

[Maelstrom]

elnero, thanks for pointing that out! Was just thinking about that myself, that possibly the TF10's sounded that way to me because I was testing them with comply tips. The complys when used on my SF5's boosted the bass but masked the trebles a tad too, though to a lesser degree than on the 10's.

The way you described the feel of the bass/mids/highs with the TF10's is exactly what I felt listening to them! As for putting them on or getting a nice fit, fortunately I don't really have problems with those.

Anyhow, I'd decided that in the next visit I will test them with double-flanges to listen for differences. Perhaps I'll finally hear what I'm looking for