why why why...

[ljokerl]

Quote:

Are their more IEM's with replaceable cables? Like something slightly cheaper?

Sleek SA1 and Altec Lansing UHP336 but they can't really touch the HJE900 when it comes to sq or overall build quality.

 

[SoSpecial]

 
Quote:

Quote:

Are their more IEM's with replaceable cables? Like something slightly cheaper?

Sleek SA1 and Altec Lansing UHP336 but they can't really touch the HJE900 when it comes to sq or overall build quality.

How bad are those Altec's? That is right in my price point and I think the idea of not having to worry about breaking the cables makes them100 times more valuable.

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

How bad are those Altec's? That is right in my price point and I think the idea of not having to worry about breaking the cables makes them100 times more valuable.

 
The sound is competent but nothing special. A bit thick, a bit muddy, etc. They're rebadged UE SuperFi3 so they do have audiophile roots. I did hate the fit but that's personal. Also you may want to check how much replacement cords cost before you proclaim them to be the fiscally responsible option. I think they're around $20+shipping but I'm not sure.

 

[SoSpecial]

Quote:

Quote:

How bad are those Altec's? That is right in my price point and I think the idea of not having to worry about breaking the cables makes them100 times more valuable.

 
The sound is competent but nothing special. A bit thick, a bit muddy, etc. They're rebadged UE SuperFi3 so they do have audiophile roots. I did hate the fit but that's personal. Also you may want to check how much replacement cords cost before you proclaim them to be the fiscally responsible option. I think they're around $20+shipping but I'm not sure.

That is a very good point, it might be better to just get three M9's, then one of them and a replacement cable.

 

[Painful Chafe]

Here is suggestion #2:
 
MEELectronics M6's are very good sounding for the money. One of head-fi's best bang for the buck. They have an over the ear memory wire cable and the cable itself is very good quality. The memory wire should withstand a lot of abuse. I have a set and I sleep with them every night. After 5 months of tossing and turning, tugging at the cable the cables look like new. They are on sale this weekend and you get a free pair of M2P's. If you add them to the cart the price drops to $39 for both. The M2P's have an Iphone control microphone on it.
 
Here is the link:
 
http://www.meelec.com/M6_Series_earphones_s/246.htm
 
Or if you don't care about the M2P's, I think they are a bit cheaper on overstock now.

 

[rawrster]

They also have one of the best cables where you don't have to worry about a replacement cable.

 

[Young Spade]

this has never happened to me granted the cheapest IEMs I have ever had cost 120. As you go lower an lower on the chart, the parts and quality diminish as well. When you pay more you aren't just paying for S but durability and quality as well.

 

[rawrster]

That's not always true. I had a pair of MEElectronics M9 which is in the top 5 in my book for build quality for an earphone regardless of price. I think it's mostly sound that improves as you go up. For the most part I can't imagine the parts being that expensive anyway.

 

[Chef]

I've had my earphones for about a year and a half and there is no problem. Old earphones still work. I considered writing a guide on how to take care of earphones, but it seems way too pretentious.

What it boils down to is that people need to stop wrapping the drat wire around their mp3 player. 90% of the time that's what messes them up. The rest are freak accidents and simple abuse (like absent mindedly swinging them around). But mainly it's because people think they are being all clever and space efficient by warping the wire, when really you should just put your mp3 player in your pocket, and loosely put the earphones in after it. That's what will make them last.

 

[Laokid18]

Just by a pair of any MEelectronics, I just got a pair of M11 and they are the most comfortable iems I have ever worn, zero microphonics and a perfect cable.

 

[Young Spade]

That's not always true. I had a pair of MEElectronics M9 which is in the top 5 in my book for build quality for an earphone regardless of price. I think it's mostly sound that improves as you go up. For the most part I can't imagine the parts being that expensive anyway.

I didn't mean all the time, just in general. Sure there are exceptions such as the RE0s (good) and Shures (old wiring) but I was speaking on an overall level.

And no, the parts get more expensive, but most of the "cost" is being attributed into the work and machines used to construct the drivers and crossovers; fine tuning the armatures and things of that nature.

A lcompanies most expensive "part" is research and development, and that's what you're paying for when you shovel out that cash (well that and company premiums and whatnot).

Shure spent some time making that new cable an redesigning the new housing to fit it, also micro tuning the armatures for a better overall sound. The IEM might be the same as a whole buy there were some small , costly changes that were made to make the own what it is.