[florence]

Hi all,
 
With the aim of trying different IEMs, I would like to hear some recommendations from you. I absolutely love IE800's signature btw. 
 
I am looking for,
 
same price range,
equal or better crystal clear presentation,
equal or better soundstage depth,
equal or better thick and distortion free deep bass ,
better comfort,
equal or better mids, trebles, bass impact,
 
Is there any IEM that you can recommend in this conditions? Thanks in advance.

 

[Kunlun]

I don't know about better in an iem versus the ie800, although there are certainly different choices that may fit someone's personal preferences more. People will recommend the Shure se846. I would say listen before you buy and maybe it'll be right, maybe not. I would take the ie800 over it and other people like the shure.

For a ciem, the Future Sonics MG5pro with a 10mm dynamic is similar to the ie800 in many ways with a more textured subbass and a fuller sound in the treble with a more prominent midrange. And a much better cable, of course...

 

[florence]

I have auditioned SE846 and I take IE800 over it as well. Please do not recommend SE846, I think IE800 is a better IEM to my taste.
 
I forgot to add that universals preferred. Thanks for FutureSonics advice though.
 
What else do you recommend guys?

 

[Duncan]

The only thing to do is spin it around, if you want to upgrade from the IE800, why? - the only feature you want that needs to be 'better' from your criteria is comfort (all others are 'equal' or better), have you tried Comply tips??

 

[fb24601]

I think it is not possible to have an iem at the ie800 price range that beats ie800 especially for instrumental genres, since ie800 produces superb quality in bass extension and also soft and smooth treble in very details.

Some may say ie800 do not have a close enough mids for singers and yes if you prefer pop songs maybe se846. Just as third floor mentioned it is a matter of preference.

Aside from price I would say kaiser 10 is a full all rounder upgrade and now noble audio has a universal k10u. K10u can produce equally deep bass extension as ie800 and a much closer mids as se846. The treble is also very detail and smooth but in the style of ba drivers. The stock cable is very bad and I changed it into a 8 strand silvery alloy with occ hybrid, then the sound stange problem is resolved and I would say k10u is perfect in every aspect.

 

[fb24601]

I own k3003, ie800 and k10u. I cannot say they are better than one another but just having respective styles. K10u is a better all rounder though.

You can also check mentor from unique melody which also has very high quality for instrumental genres with a more v shape character and brighter tone in treble.

 

[Duncan]

I own k3003, ie800 and k10u. I cannot say they are better than one another but just having respective styles. K10u is a better all rounder though.

You can also check mentor from unique melody which also has very high quality for instrumental genres with a more v shape character and brighter tone in treble.

As a new 846 owner, I really like the forceful [in your face] nature of these compared to the IE800 - How is the 3003 compared to IE800? - that, if the price is right (thinking Xmas sales etc.) could be a contender for the OP?!

 

[fb24601]

k3003 is different styles comparing with ie800 in all spectrum. k3003 sound stage is widest and the feel of transparency (crystal clear feel) and openness is unbeatable. It may be due to effect of its semi-open sound sealing.

The bass character of k3003 is elastic with minimal decay which ie800 is producing very deep extension in bass. Their mids do not differ much and both further away than se846. Some will say k3003 has closer mids. For treble both k3003 and ie800 can produce in smooth and every details but ie800 in soft style which k3003 in typical ba drivers brighter style.

Overall ie800 has more follow notes in all frequencies and make it sounds richer while k3003 feels fresh and clear.

These characteristics make them split in performing music. Take for example k3003 can produce a sweeter sound in strings and paino while the richer follow notes of ie800 allow it to perform a much fuller atmospheres in big band classical.

I'll say they are equally superb in small band instrumental jazz and are unbeatable.

 

[Dobrescu George]

then how does the k10u compares to k3003?
 
have you heared/tried ultrasone iq? it seems to be a great contender to akg k3003, and i am searching too for a new iem, and iq from ultrasone is so much cheaper than k3003 and it seems to produce a very similar sound

 

[fb24601]

then how does the k10u compares to k3003?

have you heared/tried ultrasone iq? it seems to be a great contender to akg k3003, and i am searching too for a new iem, and iq from ultrasone is so much cheaper than k3003 and it seems to produce a very similar sound

I haven't tried iq. Comparing k3003 and k10u, both are very balanced sound without specifically overwhelming mid high or low. k10u tends to be more attractive in that it has more extension in bass close to ie800 and a closer mids sort of se846 for vocals. The k3003 has a wider sound stage than k10u unless the stock cable of k10u is changed using a better one.

k10u can be more versatile than k3003 but if one likes the openness and transparency of k3003 it is still a very special one.

 

[Dobrescu George]

I haven't tried iq. Comparing k3003 and k10u, both are very balanced sound without specifically overwhelming mid high or low. k10u tends to be more attractive in that it has more extension in bass close to ie800 and a closer mids sort of se846 for vocals. The k3003 has a wider sound stage than k10u unless the stock cable of k10u is changed using a better one.

k10u can be more versatile than k3003 but if one likes the openness and transparency of k3003 it is still a very special one.

i love the ideea of soundstage, but i found that most people consider that ultrasone iq sounds like k3003, only at half the price... 

 

[refault]

The K3003/K3003i is a nice compliment IEM to the IE800. While the IE800 sounds more organic with a full, lush sound that doesn't lack in any aspect from the lows to the highs, the K3003/K3003i has very crystal-clear/detailed mids and highs (i.e., slightly bright) with probably the largest soundstage in any IEM I've ever listened to (similar to the IE80 soundstage, but with tons more detail, depth, and clarity/nuance), although the K3003's lows might be slightly disappointing in terms of its very slight out-of-sync decay/time issue with the dynamic driver keeping up with the TWFK mid-high driver. Thus, the K3003 doesn't have as much of an "organic" or natural sound signature as the IE800, but it makes up for that with a much larger, out-of-head soundstage and a very crystal-clear midrange presentation that presents microdetails effortlessly.

 

[Dobrescu George]

  The K3003/K3003i is a nice compliment IEM to the IE800. While the IE800 sounds more organic with a full, lush sound that doesn't lack in any aspect from the lows to the highs, the K3003/K3003i has very crystal-clear/detailed mids and highs (i.e., slightly bright) with probably the largest soundstage in any IEM I've ever listened to (similar to the IE80 soundstage, but with tons more detail, depth, and clarity/nuance), although the K3003's lows might be slightly disappointing in terms of its very slight out-of-sync decay/time issue with the dynamic driver keeping up with the TWFK mid-high driver. Thus, the K3003 doesn't have as much of an "organic" or natural sound signature as the IE800, but it makes up for that with a much larger, out-of-head soundstage and a very crystal-clear midrange presentation that presents microdetails effortlessly.

so the soundstage of the ie800 is less than k3003, and less than ie8?

 

[Spyro]

Yea, REALLY.....please don't mention SE846.    I was disappointed by it.     Returned it in 3 days.  I though it was maybe 20% better than SE535, if that.  Exact same IEM/sound with a slightly fuller sound.   I found treble and soundstage on SE846 poor for a $800 + IEM.   From what I have been reading IE800 has no problems in either of these areas and also has fantastic bass and midrange too,