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Alehkhs
Oct 6, 2010

The Sorrow of Poets

Midorka posted:

Glad my review helped you.

Definitely!

They're a bit more quiet than I'm used to with buds, but I'm having a great time with them. If I do decide to go for an amp at some point, is the FiiO E6 anything to consider for a student budget? I noticed that it was packaged with the NVX XPT100's at one point, so I was just wondering.

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landofcake
May 7, 2009

CANNONBALL TAFFY O' JONES!!!
Thanks for the advice on the earbuds, so it looks like I'm currently choosing between the Audio-Technica ATH-CKM500 and JVC HA-FXT90 earbuds ... does anyone have any other thoughts on those two? I would have to wait a lot longer for the JVC pair and they cost about £30 more, but if they're a good amount better than the AT ones then it seems like they might be a good buy.

Lowness 72
Jul 19, 2006
BUTTS LOL

Jade Ear Joe
What's the best way to get my Grado SR80i sound into an IEM for under $100?

A pair of igis ? VSonics ?

Hippie Hedgehog
Feb 19, 2007

Ever cuddled a hedgehog?

landofcake posted:

Thanks for the advice on the earbuds, so it looks like I'm currently choosing between the Audio-Technica ATH-CKM500 and JVC HA-FXT90 earbuds ... does anyone have any other thoughts on those two? I would have to wait a lot longer for the JVC pair and they cost about £30 more, but if they're a good amount better than the AT ones then it seems like they might be a good buy.

I don't think those are earbuds. Read the OP again. You're looking for IEM's, right?

Sorry, haven't tried either of those two. I just love correcting people's vocabulary on the Internet.

Murodese
Mar 6, 2007

Think you've got what it takes?
We're looking for fine Men & Women to help Protect the Australian Way of Life.

Become part of the Legend. Defence Jobs.
Are there any closed circumaurals that are physically quite light? Seems mutually exclusive :(

e; actually, opens would be okay as well

Murodese fucked around with this message at 13:42 on Aug 28, 2013

landofcake
May 7, 2009

CANNONBALL TAFFY O' JONES!!!

Hippie Hedgehog posted:

I don't think those are earbuds. Read the OP again. You're looking for IEM's, right?

Sorry, haven't tried either of those two. I just love correcting people's vocabulary on the Internet.

Ah yes, you're correct hedgehog, sorry. I get so used to just calling them all earbuds I forget that IEM's are a separate category.

As it turns out, the whole point is moot anyway, because in a surprising turn of events the warranty company that I bought an extended warranty for my VSonic GR06s with (Squaretrade) ended up actually managing to repair them! So now I don't need a new pair anymore!

grack
Jan 10, 2012

COACH TOTORO SAY REFEREE CAN BANISH WHISTLE TO LAND OF WIND AND GHOSTS!

Lowness 72 posted:

What's the best way to get my Grado SR80i sound into an IEM for under $100?

A pair of igis ? VSonics ?

I am going to catch some poo poo for this one, but take a good look at a pair of Monster Ncredible Nergy V2s. Deep, punchy bass, smooth midrange and treble that carries a ton of energy and sparkle without being harsh. I haven't tried any Vsonics but for what it's worth, I found the iGis intolerably harsh despite the pair I listened to having something like 200 hours on it.

redeyes posted:

So the recommendation for the Vpulse earbuds.. goddamn dudes. Those things hit my ears harder than my in-house 12" Blue Sky subwoofer. It's absolutely insane how transparent these buds are for my tastes. They can dip LOW like 25-30hz and no problem, rattle my loving fillings out, and then go to slut-banging metal and even nice sweet jazz and all of it sounds very natural and full bodied and wonderful.

Glad they worked out for you. To think, there are still people who claim that IEMs can't do visceral, head-banging bass.

movax
Aug 30, 2008

Audio-Technica ATH-CK100, am I making a horrible over-priced decision? I have Etymotic MC3s right now, had Shure e2cs in the past. Looks like a few models around that range...JVC, Sony, Shure SE535, etc. Could go full audiophile-nerd and checkout 1964EARS too I guess.

Some of the Monster buds look pretty bad-rear end as well (Miles David trumpet edition) but I'd feel really silly buying Monster.

grack
Jan 10, 2012

COACH TOTORO SAY REFEREE CAN BANISH WHISTLE TO LAND OF WIND AND GHOSTS!
Any reason why you wouldn't look at the Ety E4S as an upgrade? Not that the CK100 is bad by any means but it's not a flat response headset.

Midorka
Jun 10, 2011

I have a pretty fucking good palate, passed BJCP and level 2 cicerone which is more than half of you dudes can say, so I don't give a hoot anymore about this toxic community.

movax posted:

Audio-Technica ATH-CK100, am I making a horrible over-priced decision? I have Etymotic MC3s right now, had Shure e2cs in the past. Looks like a few models around that range...JVC, Sony, Shure SE535, etc. Could go full audiophile-nerd and checkout 1964EARS too I guess.

Some of the Monster buds look pretty bad-rear end as well (Miles David trumpet edition) but I'd feel really silly buying Monster.

I've never heard them, but I would really like to hear them. I've heard a lot of good things about the CK100, IIRC though they aren't heavy on the bass. That may be the CK10 though.

I have a pair of Heir Tsar 350, they are quite good also, but I would still absolutely love to try those Audio Technicas. I'm a huge fan of the company, especially the Ad series, I had the Ad700, and 900 and have the 2000. I love their quality of sound, so I'd love to hear their IEMs.

Midorka fucked around with this message at 06:17 on Aug 30, 2013

enojy
Sep 11, 2001

bass rattle
stars out
the sky

I'm looking for a well-regarded set of replacement tips for my IEMs! Ideally, nothing beyond the $10 - $15 range (I'm sure the price point can go much higher than that.) I've finally worn out the pair that came with my Nuforce NE-700M's; they now tend to break their seal and slip out of my ear with ease.

Cialis Railman
Apr 20, 2007

Budget: Up to $100 US, though I could push to $150 if I need to.

Source: iPhone 4S, maybe PC speakers.

Isolation Requirements: None.

Preferred Type of Headphone: Over-ear, but I'm willing to try IEMs.

Preferred Tonal Balance: I don't have a preference.

Past Headphones: Mostly crap from skullcandy. My current headphones are a pair of Sony MDR-PQ3s I bought at Target on clearance, mostly because they were $20 and yellow. The foam bit on the right speaker is starting to come apart so I figure it's time for a replacement or even an upgrade.

Preferred Music: Rock, metal, electronic/techno, hip-hop.

I've been browsing this thread and making note of what you guys recommend. The ATH-CKM500s by Audio Technica caught my eye, even though they're IEMs. I keep trying IEMs but they slip out of my ears and/or get all gunked up, and I don't think they sound as good as a pair of over-ear headphones. But by that same token, my only experience with IEMs has been cheap poo poo made to look like its quality. I'm definitely willing to try IEMs one more time, especially if they're really good.

One thing to note is that I have a big head so a lot of over-ear headphones just don't fit me that well. Amazon has a pair of my old MDR-PQ3s for $25, in black, so if all else I can go back to a proven design.

Lbeuol
Aug 19, 2006

Washing my hands since 2002
My v moda lp2 is dying and hoping to get something new and comfortable. Pretty open to anything new to try as long as they're. Comfortable. I'd love to get thé hd 650 but costs too much, looking for under 300. I have a fiio e9 and e17 setup amp wise.

GonadTheBallbarian
Jul 23, 2007


Lbeuol posted:

My v moda lp2 is dying and hoping to get something new and comfortable. Pretty open to anything new to try as long as they're. Comfortable. I'd love to get thé hd 650 but costs too much, looking for under 300. I have a fiio e9 and e17 setup amp wise.

How are you going to be using them?

Midorka
Jun 10, 2011

I have a pretty fucking good palate, passed BJCP and level 2 cicerone which is more than half of you dudes can say, so I don't give a hoot anymore about this toxic community.

enojy posted:

I'm looking for a well-regarded set of replacement tips for my IEMs! Ideally, nothing beyond the $10 - $15 range (I'm sure the price point can go much higher than that.) I've finally worn out the pair that came with my Nuforce NE-700M's; they now tend to break their seal and slip out of my ear with ease.

Check out the Sony Hybrid tips.

Apotheosis posted:

Budget: Up to $100 US, though I could push to $150 if I need to.

Source: iPhone 4S, maybe PC speakers.

Isolation Requirements: None.

Preferred Type of Headphone: Over-ear, but I'm willing to try IEMs.

Preferred Tonal Balance: I don't have a preference.

Past Headphones: Mostly crap from skullcandy. My current headphones are a pair of Sony MDR-PQ3s I bought at Target on clearance, mostly because they were $20 and yellow. The foam bit on the right speaker is starting to come apart so I figure it's time for a replacement or even an upgrade.

Preferred Music: Rock, metal, electronic/techno, hip-hop.

I've been browsing this thread and making note of what you guys recommend. The ATH-CKM500s by Audio Technica caught my eye, even though they're IEMs. I keep trying IEMs but they slip out of my ears and/or get all gunked up, and I don't think they sound as good as a pair of over-ear headphones. But by that same token, my only experience with IEMs has been cheap poo poo made to look like its quality. I'm definitely willing to try IEMs one more time, especially if they're really good.

One thing to note is that I have a big head so a lot of over-ear headphones just don't fit me that well. Amazon has a pair of my old MDR-PQ3s for $25, in black, so if all else I can go back to a proven design.

The CKM500 are decent, but with the duo-flanged tips I found the highs to be rolled off. Others claim they have a v-shape, but I didn't experience that. I think they're good IEMs that can be found for $50 or less. You could get them and the Grado SR60i for $150 and have the best of both worlds.

crazyfish
Sep 19, 2002

Budget - Under $300.
Source - Headphone output of a Marantz 2240 receiver and the headphone output of my Thinkpad (would consider an amp/DAC to correct this as long as it works with Linux). Vinyl, cassette, and digital are all in play.
Isolation Requirements - I have an air conditioner in my apartment about 5-6 months out of the year that makes it hard to listen to anything but loud, constant-ish level music on my main speaker setup; anything with strong dynamics is pretty much thrown out the window.
Preferred Type of Headphone - Over ear. Prefer open because I don't like complete sound isolation at home.
Past Headphones: Currently have a set of Sennheiser HD555s at work which I love, albeit they're no longer being made. My current home pair is a set of HD497s that are borderline falling apart, and their sound pales in comparison to the 555s and I want to step up my home listening setup. I've heard of the 558 as the successor but I haven't heard anything specific about how they compare. I've tried the HD280s in the past and found them extremely uncomfortable; they make me feel like that exploding head GIF from Story of Ricky is about to happen on my skull.

In terms of what I'll be using them for, I listen to practically everything. lovely pop, rap, rock, funk, classical, jazz, harsh noise, techno, hell, even the occasional country tune. I don't know if any set of headphones would be ideal for all of these and more, but I definitely don't want some bass-centric monster unless I'm in a rap phase (and even then I'll probably make do).

I tend to sit on purchases for a long time before I make them (especially pricey ones like this) so it'll probably take me a long time to actually pull the trigger even if I know what I want. Any assistance would be appreciated.

edit: At some point, I'm probably going to buy some kind of new DAC for my laptop anyway as I'll be using it for music production as well, so consider that too I guess.

crazyfish fucked around with this message at 02:56 on Sep 1, 2013

Cialis Railman
Apr 20, 2007

Midorka posted:

Check out the Sony Hybrid tips.


The CKM500 are decent, but with the duo-flanged tips I found the highs to be rolled off. Others claim they have a v-shape, but I didn't experience that. I think they're good IEMs that can be found for $50 or less. You could get them and the Grado SR60i for $150 and have the best of both worlds.

I'll go check those out, thanks! :)

Midorka
Jun 10, 2011

I have a pretty fucking good palate, passed BJCP and level 2 cicerone which is more than half of you dudes can say, so I don't give a hoot anymore about this toxic community.

crazyfish posted:

Budget - Under $300.
Source - Headphone output of a Marantz 2240 receiver and the headphone output of my Thinkpad (would consider an amp/DAC to correct this as long as it works with Linux). Vinyl, cassette, and digital are all in play.
Isolation Requirements - I have an air conditioner in my apartment about 5-6 months out of the year that makes it hard to listen to anything but loud, constant-ish level music on my main speaker setup; anything with strong dynamics is pretty much thrown out the window.
Preferred Type of Headphone - Over ear. Prefer open because I don't like complete sound isolation at home.
Past Headphones: Currently have a set of Sennheiser HD555s at work which I love, albeit they're no longer being made. My current home pair is a set of HD497s that are borderline falling apart, and their sound pales in comparison to the 555s and I want to step up my home listening setup. I've heard of the 558 as the successor but I haven't heard anything specific about how they compare. I've tried the HD280s in the past and found them extremely uncomfortable; they make me feel like that exploding head GIF from Story of Ricky is about to happen on my skull.

In terms of what I'll be using them for, I listen to practically everything. lovely pop, rap, rock, funk, classical, jazz, harsh noise, techno, hell, even the occasional country tune. I don't know if any set of headphones would be ideal for all of these and more, but I definitely don't want some bass-centric monster unless I'm in a rap phase (and even then I'll probably make do).

I tend to sit on purchases for a long time before I make them (especially pricey ones like this) so it'll probably take me a long time to actually pull the trigger even if I know what I want. Any assistance would be appreciated.

edit: At some point, I'm probably going to buy some kind of new DAC for my laptop anyway as I'll be using it for music production as well, so consider that too I guess.

If you enjoy the HD555 I believe the next logical step would be the HD650. You can find a used pair for under $300. The stipulation with these is that you're going to only power them to their potential through your receiver until you purchase an amp and DAC for the laptop.

Conversely, you could get the Sennheiser HD558 and foam mod them, which essentially turns them into the HD598 without the color/fake wood burl.

Another option, that I'm quite partial to, would be the Audio Technica Ad900x. They are brighter and have quicker decay than the HD555 though, so they might not have the weight/impact on some notes that you like about the HD555. They are easy to drive though.

crazyfish
Sep 19, 2002

Midorka posted:

If you enjoy the HD555 I believe the next logical step would be the HD650. You can find a used pair for under $300. The stipulation with these is that you're going to only power them to their potential through your receiver until you purchase an amp and DAC for the laptop.

Conversely, you could get the Sennheiser HD558 and foam mod them, which essentially turns them into the HD598 without the color/fake wood burl.

Another option, that I'm quite partial to, would be the Audio Technica Ad900x. They are brighter and have quicker decay than the HD555 though, so they might not have the weight/impact on some notes that you like about the HD555. They are easy to drive though.

Thanks for the recommendations. I may have to just pick up a new pair of the 558s and (maybe) mod them. The 650s sound righteous, but it'll be pretty hard for me to justify such a luxury purchase with probably having to buy a new laptop and some music gear and homebrew gear in the next 6 months.

Esroc
May 31, 2010

Goku would be ashamed of you.
What's the most durable pair of headphones I can buy? I can't seem to keep a pair of headphones functional for more than a month or two before I inevitably get the cord wrapped around something and lose sound out of one side.

I'm currently using a pair where everything that I play through them sounds like it's an echo. :doh:

Iamthegibbons
Apr 9, 2009
Look into something where you can easily change the cable. For instance, my Sennheiser HD25-1 ii's have a pretty neat design feature in that the cables actually have a socket in the earpiece. If the cable breaks, you can just get a replacement, no soldering required to fix it right back up. Just unplug and remove the old cable, put in the new one and done! I think every part can be replaced.

That said, I replaced the cable on my old pair of Sennheiser 555s too, now nearly 10 years old. I even replaced the headband, which was held together by epoxy at that point due to a lot of falls. It just was a bit more annoying since you have to do more disassembly and reassembly to get it replaced. Same goes for my Sennheiser 280 Pros, again, no soldering needed. I think most circumaurals and supraaurals are like this beyond a certain price. I used to buy some pretty cheap Sony phones (about £25, forgot the model) on a regular basis. I would sometimes get through 2 pairs a year. In the end it cost me much more. The better headphones I've always been easily able to fix.

Also, if you break IEMs a lot, you can usually alleviate it with a proper case and over-under wrapping technique. Never let the jack have too much strain on it. Loop the cable through your belt if you must to minimise this. Keep it as straight as possible, and make the cable loop up to your ears further along, rather than at the jack. Proper care in this regard has massively extended the lifespan of my in-ears. The strain on the jack also applies to full-size headphones. Back of PC connections tend to work best with right-angled sockets I find, otherwise I prefer to just use a short stereo extension and connect to that, rather than let it hang over with a lot of stress on it. The 1/4" to 1/8" stereo adapters make this especially bad.

Iamthegibbons fucked around with this message at 12:54 on Sep 1, 2013

Midorka
Jun 10, 2011

I have a pretty fucking good palate, passed BJCP and level 2 cicerone which is more than half of you dudes can say, so I don't give a hoot anymore about this toxic community.

Iamthegibbons posted:

I even replaced the headband, which was held together by epoxy at that point due to a lot of falls.

To be fair, I've seen numerous pictures of the Sennheiser HD55X band breaking because of "why the gently caress not?" I've never seen another headphone that just crumbles and falls apart for no reason.

The HD25 are completely replaceable though.

GonadTheBallbarian
Jul 23, 2007


Esroc posted:

What's the most durable pair of headphones I can buy? I can't seem to keep a pair of headphones functional for more than a month or two before I inevitably get the cord wrapped around something and lose sound out of one side.

I'm currently using a pair where everything that I play through them sounds like it's an echo. :doh:

In ears? Over ears? Sounds like you could benefit from a model that has a removable cable.

Dogen
May 5, 2002

Bury my body down by the highwayside, so that my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride

Midorka posted:

Conversely, you could get the Sennheiser HD558 and foam mod them, which essentially turns them into the HD598 without the color/fake wood burl.

Unlike the 555->595 version of this, don't the 5x8 series have different drivers now?

enojy
Sep 11, 2001

bass rattle
stars out
the sky

Midorka posted:

Check out the Sony Hybrid tips.

Thanks! This looks to be up my alley. I was ready to buy a set of Comply foam tips, until I read about their general lifespan and special needs for cleaning/storage -- wouldn't work in my situation.

Midorka
Jun 10, 2011

I have a pretty fucking good palate, passed BJCP and level 2 cicerone which is more than half of you dudes can say, so I don't give a hoot anymore about this toxic community.

Dogen posted:

Unlike the 555->595 version of this, don't the 5x8 series have different drivers now?

I thought that was the case, but a Headfile review checked it out and they use the same drivers.

Dogen
May 5, 2002

Bury my body down by the highwayside, so that my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride

Midorka posted:

I thought that was the case, but a Headfile review checked it out and they use the same drivers.

Intriguing. I was thinking about stepping up to 650s but I might just get some 558s if that's the case. I've been happy with my 555s other than the cracked headband, which is mildly unsightly but hasn't impacted use.

KillHour
Oct 28, 2007


Midorka posted:

I thought that was the case, but a Headfile review checked it out and they use the same drivers.

And now this makes me mad that I spent $300 on the 598's. I mean, they're great cans, but... gah.

Artificer
Apr 8, 2010

You're going to try ponies and you're. Going. To. LOVE. ME!!
I'd like to get a present for my girlfriend, who is looking for headphones that fit over the ears, under $100, with noise reduction/cancellation, and to listen to classical and "fun" (I'm guessing pop music of some sort) music with. Any recommendations?

Archer666
Dec 27, 2008
Budget: 100 Euro max.

Source: iPod Touch 3G, Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.

Isolation Requirements: Preferable.

Preferred Type of Headphone: IEMs.

Preferred Tonal Balance: No preference, so balanced I guess?

Past Headphones: I had a AKG K530. They were okay as far as sound goes, but the isolation on them was non-existent which really bugged me. Then I switched to Sennheiser CX 281’s until those broke down. These were my personal favorites. Great isolation, great sound, ability to adjust the volume without getting out my iPod/phone. Right now I'm using Samsung IEM's that came with the phone, but their output is weak and I think they're also broken.

Preferred Music: Rock, metal, pop, classical, electronic. Those are the main ones, but I really listen to everything.

I decided to go out and buy some new headphones today and as I was standing looking around, I realized that I really had no idea what I was doing. So instead of (possibly) wasting my money, I decided to ask you guys. My friends all live and swear by Sennheiser and from my experience with the CX 281's I totally understand why, but I'm wondering if there's nothing better out there.

trilobite terror
Oct 20, 2007
BUT MY LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON THE FORUMS!
Any consensus on the Sennheiser Momentum series yet (both the around-ear and on-ear models)? On the one hand, these kind of blatantly look like the company decided to churn out some me-too "premium" headphones that deal mainly in looks rather than sound, but on the other- Sennheiser is a legit headphone company and these things are pretty.

Based on the promo it seems like these are strongly being marketed for mobile devices (inline remote, bendy plug, kevlar cable, etc)- not that I'd ever wear some ~$300 cans on the bus- so I take it that they're certainly not going to be the best bang-for-buck when it comes to home listening, right?

jink
May 8, 2002

Drop it like it's Hot.
Taco Defender

Electric Bugaloo posted:

Any consensus on the Sennheiser Momentum series yet (both the around-ear and on-ear models)? On the one hand, these kind of blatantly look like the company decided to churn out some me-too "premium" headphones that deal mainly in looks rather than sound, but on the other- Sennheiser is a legit headphone company and these things are pretty.

Based on the promo it seems like these are strongly being marketed for mobile devices (inline remote, bendy plug, kevlar cable, etc)- not that I'd ever wear some ~$300 cans on the bus- so I take it that they're certainly not going to be the best bang-for-buck when it comes to home listening, right?

Check out the Inner Fidelity review of them:

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/very-adult-sennheiser-momentum posted:

Let me get my one gripe out of the way, these cans are slightly small for circumaural headphones, and folks with larger than average ears may want to test fit a pair before committing to a purchase. Aside from that...

The Momentum is simply one of the best balanced headphone offerings I've ever experienced. They're very good looking, very good sounding, have excellent isolation, are easily driven from portable players, and are supremely comfortable. This is an ideal headphone for home, office, and listening on the move, but its sound is so good that I'll happily recommend it to audio professionals and audiophiles for all but the most demanding applications.

The Sennheiser Momentum is going up on the "Wall of Fame" as the best sealed headphone for general purpose uses.

grack
Jan 10, 2012

COACH TOTORO SAY REFEREE CAN BANISH WHISTLE TO LAND OF WIND AND GHOSTS!

Archer666 posted:

Budget: 100 Euro max.

Source: iPod Touch 3G, Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.

Isolation Requirements: Preferable.

Preferred Type of Headphone: IEMs.

Preferred Tonal Balance: No preference, so balanced I guess?

Past Headphones: I had a AKG K530. They were okay as far as sound goes, but the isolation on them was non-existent which really bugged me. Then I switched to Sennheiser CX 281’s until those broke down. These were my personal favorites. Great isolation, great sound, ability to adjust the volume without getting out my iPod/phone. Right now I'm using Samsung IEM's that came with the phone, but their output is weak and I think they're also broken.

Preferred Music: Rock, metal, pop, classical, electronic. Those are the main ones, but I really listen to everything.

I decided to go out and buy some new headphones today and as I was standing looking around, I realized that I really had no idea what I was doing. So instead of (possibly) wasting my money, I decided to ask you guys. My friends all live and swear by Sennheiser and from my experience with the CX 281's I totally understand why, but I'm wondering if there's nothing better out there.

This is going to be a bit of a strange suggestion, but try picking up a pair of Philips SHE3590s. They're comfortable, isolate well and sound fantastic. They also cost less than 1/10th of your stated budget but don't let that fool you. They're really, really good.

It's the pair I take on transit around here.

Also, while the volume control on the Sennheisers is nice from what I've read it can be a point of failure on their headphones.

Spermanent Record
Mar 28, 2007
I interviewed a NK escapee who came to my school and made a thread. Then life got in the way and the translation had to be postponed. I did finish it in the end, but nobody is going to pay 10 bux to update my.avatar
The Westone 4rs were recently on sale so I picked a pair up for $325.

I'm mostly very happy with them but it's taking some time to get used to them compared to the Sennheiser IE8s I had before.

The IE8s were very bassy and tended to colour the whatever you listened to. I've always tended use a V shape on my EQ so they sounded really good to me, although not very accurate.

Coming from that to the Westone 4rs is a huge shock. They're the first headphones I've used that really don't seem to benefit from EQing at all. Whacking up the bass and treble like I used to makes them sound very unusual and harsh. They don't lack anything at all but my brain keeps saying, 'WHERE'S THE OOMPH?!'

They're not nearly as fun as the IE8s but I'm finding they really reward close listening. Sometimes you'll hear an instrument and turn round, thinking it's in the same room as you. Guitars and vocals sound so drat good. Much much sweeter than the Sennheisers.

It's so strange though, having programmed yourself to listen to music in a certain way for years, having to change those habits can be really tough. My basic problem right now is that I don't even know what midrange sounds like... but these headphones are teaching me!

The other thing I've noticed is that some albums sound like poo poo when they used to sound ok on the 'fun' headphones. Jose Gonzalez's album, In Our Nature sounds like it was recorded in his carpeted living room.

Spermanent Record fucked around with this message at 10:08 on Sep 3, 2013

trilobite terror
Oct 20, 2007
BUT MY LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON THE FORUMS!

jink posted:

Check out the Inner Fidelity review of them:

Well poo poo. Guess I'd better start saving....

Ultimate Mango
Jan 18, 2005

frozenpeas posted:

The Westone 4rs were recently on sale so I picked a pair up for $325.

I'm mostly very happy with them but it's taking some time to get used to them compared to the Sennheiser IE8s I had before.

I think you are experiencing what I've heard called 'brain burn-in.'

You said it really well, you have been programmed to listen to music in certain ways and it takes time to adjust to the new headphones and how things sound. Once you start to adapt, you will hear things in music that you didn't before. It can be a lot of fun. There was one track I remember where I had a big AHA when I heard that there was a male singer backing up what I thought was only a single female singer.

Maybe try listening to stuff you haven't listened to in a while, or some new stuff and then go back to familiar tracks once you have adjusted a bit.

That being said, if you like a little thump the 4rs may not have been the best choice. I have a different 4 driver iem and also found them lacking in the low end, but brilliantly clear in other ways.

Spermanent Record
Mar 28, 2007
I interviewed a NK escapee who came to my school and made a thread. Then life got in the way and the translation had to be postponed. I did finish it in the end, but nobody is going to pay 10 bux to update my.avatar
Yeah I find balanced armatures a little bit...I don't know, clinical? They seem to do everything really well but they don't give things that extra wow that dynamic drivers do.

Then you find a track where the vocals and instrumentation just kicks you square in the face with their incredible clarity and sweetness and you wonder what you were missing in the first place.

I paired them with a Fiio E17 and I have to say it's made an incredible difference coming from the standard Realtek audio output. My Ath-A900's sounded incredibly wimpy coming out of the PC before - I actually prefer the sound of the E17 to my unamped Cowon-D2.

Spermanent Record fucked around with this message at 15:44 on Sep 3, 2013

skimothy milkerson
Nov 19, 2006

I just ordered a pair of Shure SE215s, I'll let you all know how that goes. I had a pair of Etymotic ER-6is years ago and loved them but I'm looking for something a little more casual. I'm curious to see how the Shure's compare to my HD650s, AKG K702s and Denon D2000s. From what I've read, the Shures have a sound in the same vein of those headphones.

featurecreep
Jul 23, 2002

Yes, Robinson, take the Major, the Robot, your wife and kids... but leave Will for my plea-- his education.
So I built a new computer and now I'm using the onboard ASRock "purity audio" headphone amplification rather than using my old Headroom amp for my VSonic GR07s. I honestly can't notice a difference, so I'm happy except for the lack of analog volume control.

The problem with this is digital volume control is complete poo poo. Are there any in-line volume control bits that are actually high-quality and won't add a notable hiss to my audio? I ask because the two I already have, one from Radioshack and another that came with some lovely pair of earbuds my wife bought, both introduce an annoying hiss. It's not even just on these, it's on any pair of headphones I pop in.

Figured this would be a good place to ask, any ideas for a good analog volume control that doesn't involve adding an amp/preamp to my system?

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Ultimate Mango
Jan 18, 2005

Skim Milk posted:

I just ordered a pair of Shure SE215s, I'll let you all know how that goes. I had a pair of Etymotic ER-6is years ago and loved them but I'm looking for something a little more casual. I'm curious to see how the Shure's compare to my HD650s, AKG K702s and Denon D2000s. From what I've read, the Shures have a sound in the same vein of those headphones.

The 200 series Shure are a gateway drug. You will listen to them and grow to like them and then compare them to other things you like and then all of a sudden you are going for newer sets, more drivers, etc. I think the pair of E2Cs I started with a very long time ago have made it to multiple new owners who all caught the bug and now have multiple pairs of iems. You chose a great pair to start.

shymog posted:

So I built a new computer and now I'm using the onboard ASRock "purity audio" headphone amplification rather than using my old Headroom amp for my VSonic GR07s. I honestly can't notice a difference, so I'm happy except for the lack of analog volume control.

The problem with this is digital volume control is complete poo poo. Are there any in-line volume control bits that are actually high-quality and won't add a notable hiss to my audio? I ask because the two I already have, one from Radioshack and another that came with some lovely pair of earbuds my wife bought, both introduce an annoying hiss. It's not even just on these, it's on any pair of headphones I pop in.

Figured this would be a good place to ask, any ideas for a good analog volume control that doesn't involve adding an amp/preamp to my system?

You may want a volume attenuator. Shure and Bose both used to pack them in with certain models and may work cleanly enough for you. No reason not to get an amp though, they can control things nicely and there are decent FiiO and other inexpensive brands.
With an attenuator you would just go loud from the PC and notch it down.

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