What are the Best Budget Earbuds?

[Scott549]

I had the 560's, I believe, and my understanding is that the 560/660/760 have similar sound. Anyone please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this. I now have the Yuin PK2's and PK3's.

To my ears, the Yuins are vastly superior. Basically, the Sennheisers sound like cardboard and have no life whatsoever. This is for rock, I should mention, and it is possible that this sound signature is not as bad for classical. The Yuins actually have some life -- some brightness and punchiness.

I've mentioned this before, but the choice between PK2 and PK3 is basically one of budget. The PK2's are just a bit better overall, particularly in the clarity of mids and highs. I do not agree with the people who think the PK3's have better bass -- I think it's about the same.

 

[wuwhere]

Yuin PK1

 

[Scott549]

PK1 needs an amp, though, right? To me that's a deal breaker. The whole idea of earbuds or IEM's is that they are small and easy to carry around. Instead of using an amp, why not just get a pair of Grado SR60's?

 

[kjk1281]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott549 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I had the 560's, I believe, and my understanding is that the 560/660/760 have similar sound. Anyone please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this.

The models share certain similarities, but the differences add up. The MX460s, which I believe are very similar to the 560s except for the lack of accessories and the asymmetrical cord, lacks extension in both treble and bass, making the sound very mid-centric. Seperation is lacking, and the sound seems very confined and sometimes even congested. The MX660 adds soundstage and bass quantity, with slightly better treble, but the midrange is recessed. The MX760 brings the midrange back (although it is still slightly laid-back), treble is further extended, and is all around far more detailed than either, all while retaining the soundstage. These aren't small or barely noticable differences like the MX400/500 or the K12/14/312/314/JBL Reference 210.

 

[DeusEx]

Starting to listen to more pop and punk rock these days....

A lot of female vocals ..

 

[DeusEx]

Also, which one has better bass, more accurate, tight, impactful?

 

[reign]

For what it's worth (I'm just getting into this whole hi-fi audio thing), I got my pk3's today and they sound fantastic. Listened to them for a while with many types of music (granted not much of what your types are, but a few genres) and they sound good throughout. They're currently burning in in my room

For $39 I really don't think you can go wrong with them.

 

[DeusEx]

What genres?

39$ is indeed a drop compared to SE530 or D2000....maybe a molecule to the JH13s...but if the Sennheiser for $19 is not that much worse ( I mean how good can earbuds get?), then I'd opt for the Senn (they look nicer, although the cable puts me off...)

Are both dynamic drivers?

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusEx /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are both dynamic drivers?

Naturally. I'm not aware of any non-IEM head/earphones that use BA's.

 

[DeusEx]

bump - buying tomorrow! Either Senn MX760 for $19 or Yuin PK3 for $39....leaning toward the Senns...but still didn't quite get the shirt clip idea...doesn't the clip add even more weight overall??

 

[wind016]

i say get the Yuin earbuds. ive tried alot of earbuds, even B&O earbuds, but Yuin just amazed me. they sound more like full size earphones then other earbuds ive tried. live concert songs(or songs with sounds like thunder) have tricked me into thinking that im surrounded by ppl or maybe there's thunder outside. theyre fun earbuds. nothing really bad to say about them except that they look really cheap. biggest audio flaw for me for PK3s specifically is that cymbals sound fake to me. like the way cymbals sound through imac speakers.

 

[Cahayahati3105]

yuin pk1.......

 

[bernado]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusEx /img/forum/go_quote.gif bump - buying tomorrow! Either Senn MX760 for $19 or Yuin PK3 for $39....leaning toward the Senns...but still didn't quite get the shirt clip idea...doesn't the clip add even more weight overall??

The shirt clip is to keep the cable still and stop it banging aginst you, causing an annoying thud in your ears (an effect known as microphinics)

 

[DeusEx]

Why do people keep mentioning Yuin PK1?? First, $160 is not exactly budget to 90% of the people here (including me), and I've actually stated my budget at <$50...

...I'd only spend that much if I was looking for IEMs...I mean, I'm not going to hear half the things I'm playing since these don't have isolation... (which is the point...)

To Wind016, you say that the cymbals on the PK3 sound fake? It doesn't have convincing timbre? How about other acoustic instruments? (violin, guitar)

bernado - the MX760 cable has microphonics?? I thought earbud cables were all pretty lenient...does the shirt clip add consierable weight though?

Pretty much, if the PK3 is worth $20 more than the MX760, I'd get it. If it's only marginally better, than forget it, I'll go with MX760..(I already own CX300 - do they have a similar sound character?)

 

[DeusEx]

edit button is screwy....just wanted to say that I want to use these for jogging/cycling too...is that a problem?