Bargains on IEMs for listener with bad run of luck

dB Cooper · « **on:** 5 Mar 2013, 01:26 am »

So the other day one channel went out on my Etymotic hf3 IEMs. Was going to send them to Ety for replacement until I notice that the cable on one side had gotten "skinned" (oddly enough, the side that was still playing, although I suspect the ground return to the dead channel.)

The last twelve months have been a nightmare in many ways; a family member health crisis has eaten it alive. So anyway, the headphone connection...

Lost two pairs of headphones in hospitals and now this. I have decided that I am not going to sink real dough into IEMs anymore- too many things can happen, and over the last year they pretty much have. Another $180 for another set of hf3s, well, forget it. So I am looking for champagne-sound-on-a-beer-budget in-ears. Absolutely want to stay under $100. I like the neutral sound of the Etys, so boom-boom bass-head types like the Beats need not apply. Here's what is on my radar right now:

Apple In-Ear (List $79, I can get them for $60. Not much audiophile "cred" and get wildly mixed reviews- on Amazon, there are almost the same number of ratings for each level, one through five stars. Dual-driver balanced armature, with the nice touch of having a washable stainless steel screen rather than the expensive filters that have to be replaced periodically on the other armature 'phones.
Ultimate Ears' UE600. About $80 "street". Single driver balanced armature. Square wave/transient response plots on Headroom dot com tests look spectacular; bettering many much more expensive cans.
Etymotic mc3 ($79 street). This was one of those that got lost in the hospital so am familiar with them. Need more juice to push than the armature types. Not nearly as detailed as my hf3's.

Anybody have any input/experience on any of these or other models I should consider on a shoestring budget? Thanks.

ajzepp · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 02:27 pm »

There's a code for these that allows you to get them for half off. It was mainly for people on head-fi, but the company has just let it ride. I'll let you do the google search for the code, but here is the link to the Atrio M5s (with the MG7 driver).

http://www.atrio.me/categories/atrio%C2%AE-%252d-Pro/

DS-21 · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 03:01 pm »

The ADDIEMs sound like they measure. (Those measurements are of my spare pair, bought last March at the Dubai airport. My first pair, bought in the summer of 2009, sound the same.)

As long as you don't like it very loud. At volumes one really shouldn't play IEMs at, they get a bit harsh.

I much prefer mine to my Ety ER-4s, and to the previous-gen UE IEM's that Dr. Geddes recommended, though I didn't listen to the UE's long because I managed to rip the socket out of one of the earpieces on my 3d or 4th wear.

They are best, IMO, with the Comply Whoomp foam tips. Hate the name, but they work.

ajzepp · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 03:27 pm »

love the comply tips here, too

orientalexpress · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 04:52 pm »

Quote from: ajzepp on 5 Mar 2013, 02:27 pm

There's a code for these that allows you to get them for half off. It was mainly for people on head-fi, but the company has just let it ride. I'll let you do the google search for the code, but here is the link to the Atrio M5s (with the MG7 driver).

http://www.atrio.me/categories/atrio%C2%AE-%252d-Pro/

i google it for coupon,nothing come up

ajzepp · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 06:22 pm »

Quote from: orientalexpress on 5 Mar 2013, 04:52 pm

i google it for coupon,nothing come up

Try this, exactly as written:
CostProg50%

It still works...I just tried it. When you have your cart pulled up, you'll see the "coupon code" text box on the right side of the screen.

orientalexpress · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 06:38 pm »

Quote from: ajzepp on 5 Mar 2013, 06:22 pm

Try this, exactly as written:
CostProg50%

It still works...I just tried it. When you have your cart pulled up, you'll see the "coupon code" text box on the right side of the screen.

sweet,Thank you

lapsan

jtwrace · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 06:41 pm »

Dr. Geddes likes these.

http://www.amazon.com/ViSang-VS-R02-Isolation-Ear-Buds-Earphones/dp/B004W8MEBY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362508871&sr=8-1&keywords=visang+r02

roscoeiii · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 07:24 pm »

Big fan of the Klipsch X10s. Most comfortable IEM I have ever used. Regularly discounted to under $100:

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Image-X10-Noise-Isolating-Earphone/dp/B000WAHFBK

DS-21 · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 09:01 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 5 Mar 2013, 06:41 pm

Dr. Geddes likes these.

http://www.amazon.com/ViSang-VS-R02-Isolation-Ear-Buds-Earphones/dp/B004W8MEBY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362508871&sr=8-1&keywords=visang+r02

Is that the "*** moving coil IEM that was really good and dirt cheap, but it is only available in China?"

Oh, and for the sake of completeness, the "UE" one I mentioned above was actually branded the "Altec Lansing UHP-336."

jtwrace · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Mar 2013, 11:29 pm »

Quote from: DS-21 on 5 Mar 2013, 09:01 pm

Is that the "*** moving coil IEM that was really good and dirt cheap, but it is only available in China?"

Oh, and for the sake of completeness, the "UE" one I mentioned above was actually branded the "Altec Lansing UHP-336."

No idea what you're referring to or what your point is but you can read it just like myself.

Quote

5.0 out of 5 stars A real buy, February 20, 2013
By Earl Geddes -
This review is from: ViSang VS-R02 InEar Hi-fi Noise Isolation Ear-Buds Earphones (Electronics)
I was designing and making in-ear monitors for a living and I had tested about 15 different units with prices up to $350 a set. By some coincidence when I was in China I got hold of a pair of these and tested them just to see how they performed. I was completely amazed since they tested better than anything else that I had tested to date. At that time, in China, I paid about $10 for a pair, but even at $35 they are a steal. I still have my initial pair after some four years and they still work great. I also own several pair of other "pro" in-ear monitors with an average price of about $150 - I don't use any of those anymore. The only advantage that the hi-priced monitors have is sound volume. They use a different transducer type(from hearing aids) and will play at excessively loud volumes, but a less smooth response. For sound levels that are not dangerous however, there simply is no better choice than these.

They do need to be placed deep into the ear canal to work right and this can be intimidating. The rubber issolator often comes off when I remove the earphones, but I simply stick the 3.5 mm plug into it and pry it loose and it comes right out. If they do not seal well then the sound is not good - but this is true of ALL insert type headphones, not just these.

Review is here: http://www.amazon.com/ViSang-VS-R02-Isolation-Ear-Buds-Earphones/product-reviews/B004W8MEBY/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

dB Cooper · « **Reply #11 on:** 6 Mar 2013, 03:28 am »

roscoeiii, that is one amazing deal on the Klipsch. I would feel like a real sucker if I bought them on Headroom for the full $349 and then saw that...

All may not be lost; the mfr told me to send them in and another AC'er may have an alternate (used) solution just in case. Mailed them today, keeping fingers crossed

I'm getting some good suggestions though, will keep them in mind for when things settle down somewhat.

DS-21 · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 Mar 2013, 03:40 am »

Quote from: jtwrace on 5 Mar 2013, 11:29 pm

No idea what you're referring to or what your point is but you can read it just like myself.
Review is here: http://www.amazon.com/ViSang-VS-R02-Isolation-Ear-Buds-Earphones/product-reviews/B004W8MEBY/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

The quote is from Dr. Geddes on his forum. Thanks for the link to the amazon review. Mine come in Thursday.

Also, the Altec/UE one was an earlier rec from him.

eclein · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Mar 2013, 08:31 am »

I recently got some UE500's and love them, I also have Ety mc5's and the UE500's sound just as clean to me but with added low end the Ety's could never pull off. They need to play-in/burn-in at least mine did.

I've always loved my Sennheiser CX???'s and just grabbed another pair today off Neweggs sale....todays were CX280's for $18 down from $69.95. I think Sennheiser is clearing the floors for newer models myself as I see CX??? numbered models popping up lately....

rif · « **Reply #14 on:** 6 Mar 2013, 01:32 pm »

I really like my MEElectronics A161Ps. They are right at your budget, however, $100 at amazon. I like them more than the etymotics er6 i had several years ago, but there was a few years gap between owning the two.

There's a nice write up at anythingbutipod

http://anythingbutipod.com/2012/05/meelectronics-a161p-iem/

eclein · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Mar 2013, 04:32 pm »

The new ones I just got from Sennheiser mentioned above arrived yesterday and they sound excellent. Like so far, some of the best sounding ones I ever heard. I never heard Westone 4's or any over like $250ish but for me the diminishing returns seem to start early up the ladder. I enjoy these Senns, UE's and Sony's I have just as much as any of the more expensive models I have currently but use very sparsly-mainly to maintain them and keep tabs on what works or not.
I think soon I'll be selling a bunch, they are fun to collect and then they sit, most I give to my kids or close friends but I'm starting to have way to many.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Mar 2013, 03:22 pm »

Interesting about the Apple IEMs- they tested well at innerfidelity except for a large spike in distortion just above 3kHz (where the ear is quite sensitive, and one might suspect, the crossover frequency). Probably well worth the $59 Amazon price.

jackman · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Mar 2013, 04:46 pm »

Quote from: eclein on 6 Mar 2013, 08:31 am

I recently got some UE500's and love them, I also have Ety mc5's and the UE500's sound just as clean to me but with added low end the Ety's could never pull off. They need to play-in/burn-in at least mine did.

I've always loved my Sennheiser CX???'s and just grabbed another pair today off Neweggs sale....todays were CX280's for $18 down from $69.95. I think Sennheiser is clearing the floors for newer models myself as I see CX??? numbered models popping up lately....

I tried to buy the CX280's today and although the price states $18, it's $29 when I try to order. Several of the prices are different on the site when you try to buy. is anyone else having this problem?

orientalexpress · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Mar 2013, 06:30 pm »

Quote from: jackman on 8 Mar 2013, 04:46 pm

I tried to buy the CX280's today and although the price states $18, it's $29 when I try to order. Several of the prices are different on the site when you try to buy. is anyone else having this problem?

Hmm,i order mine on Wednesday It's cost $18.00 plus tax with free shipping.

lapsan

eclein · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Mar 2013, 01:36 pm »

I may have used a code the other day to get the 18 but I don't remember. If you guys don't like them please don't yell at me..lol.
Everybody has different ears and I always get nervous when folks buy stuff I really liked. Either way do please let me know what you think about the Senns.