Quote:
Originally Posted by vkvedam /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Unable to resist, BTW here's a question for Zanth, do they compliment PS1000 or go beyond them in your musical imagination.
|
I wish I had the PS-1000's to compare. Ultimately the sound signature is quite different. I find it hard to compare IEM's vs. larger headphones. I find it nearly as incongruous as trying to compare full sized headphones to speakers.
That said, there are some similarities from memory. In my opinion, I would say these are a compliment to the PS-1000's rather than going beyond them, and vice versa. Certainly bass is no where in the same realm, imaging cues that add the perception of larger halls is on a smaller scale with IEM's, no pinnae interaction means a fundamental difference in the experience of the sound. That said, similarities immediately are detail (which I would wager a guess that the ES3X's have more, but then I would imagine IEM's, when well made should offer more detail or at least the ready detection of it since the sound is just that much quieter (no ambient external noise to interfere, particularly since I only use open headphones).
The mids are very nice too, very comparable. They may not have that sparkle of the Grados, but they have a wonderful liquid midrange, smoother than the modern RS-1's, on likely the vintage ones too. But not as liquid as the PS-1's. Probably then really falling closely in line with the PS-1000's.
The highs though, these may be the best highs I've ever heard. The reason I think is that there is absolutely zero emphasis. They are smooth and extended but never ever ever prominent. Some may find this is a detraction from the sound. I disagree, I think it marks a true high-end product where music lovers were targeting music lovers.
One thing I won't ever get over is the sensation of something in my ear, akin to those speaker lovers who will never get over the sensation of something on their heads when listening to full sized headphones. There is a comfort level that is impossible (at least for me) to achieve with IEM's as compared with the most comfortable full sized headphones.
I'm listening right now to my vinyl rig via the HP4: Brahms violin concerto in D major with Oistrakh on violin. This is an absolutely fantastic LP, not even "audiophile" grade as they are released today...no super heavy vinyl, double LP at 45 rpm...but the sound is sublime and the presentation with the ES3X's is unreal.
Because of their resolving power, vinyl isn't as "dead quiet" as often can be perceived with full sized cans or even better, with speakers, but the noise floor is incredibly low regardless and only in the quietest passages can I hear any futzing. My vinyl rig is pretty high end and it excels at tracking and a very low noise floor. I'm very please to hear that what I've thought and what has been claimed in the past with this combo is true, even with such sensitive transducers plugged in. This isn't even my quietest piece of vinyl either so I can't wait until later tonight.
I'm figuring out the fit now, I can get them in no problem, pulling them out is still a task and a half for me. Not sure why, but I don't quite have the hang of it yet.
This is a lot of fun, and I always enjoy figuring out new toys particularly headphones. When I get to evaluate a new sound, especially something as top tier as I'm hearing now, it really stretches my limits of defining what is or isn't perfect for me. The ES3X's are changing some things I've always come to expect from music.
