Post by Rabbit on Feb 28, 2015 11:02:33 GMT
I know that many people into hi fi absolutely detest iem's in their ears and some get very tetchy about the sound quality from them. For instance, I know that Tyll really doesn't like any and believes that they all sound bad.
One that I particularly like is the Sennheiser IE8; mainly because I'm used to it and use it to work with. I'm fortunate in that mine is custom fitted so it stays in like glue and isolates to the point of near deafness. Another reason that I like it so much is that although it's not an 'accurate' headphone. it's one that doesn't sound 'tinny' in the treble and can play loud without inflicting pain.
So we're not really looking at typical hi fi qualities with an iem....... imaging, special stuff goes out the window really. (Although for me, depth imaging in headphones doesn't work that well)
IEM's are designed to fit a purpose. Again, many hifi types would turn their noses up at the idea of moving around with portable music and feel that you need to listen static so you can concentrate on the music.
I enjoy music anywhere I go so for me, this is not important. So for working on stage I might often use an ie8 and it doubles up as a portable headphone on the move. If I want something crisper in the treble, I go to the Klipsch x8 or x10 (I think they're called) They don't have so much bass and so have a lighter touch.
I've recently been sent a Soundmagic E10s which I must say. does look rather nicely designed. They come in different colours and the one I have is red. It actually looks nice since the little cups are black and are made of some kind of metal. I think that they retail around £39 so they're nothing like as expensive as the Senns or Klipsch.
Because of the retail price, I wasn't expecting too much if I'm honest. It comes with a rather good zip case, and adapter for computer use and no less than 7 tips in order to get the important fit in the ears. Without a good fit, you kiss goodbye to all bass.
The wire is pretty stiffish and is shrink wrapped. Slightly microphonic at the 'Y' connection but less so further down, although if you wear a coat outside and it rubs, the noise is intrusive. The plug has a tiny switch on it to make it work with different mobile phones. The plug itself is right angled, which I like on portables but quite large, unusually. At least you have something reasonably large to grap when you pull it out rather then grab the wire, so I guess that's a good thing.
So build is pretty good although I would prefer a better join into the cups. That looks like a weak point to me, since you naturally grap under the cups to pull them out of the ear. If the fit is good (as it is for me) you have to pull quite hard before the tips let go of your ears. That means pulling on that wire, so imo, better reinforcement is needed at that point. Time will tell.
In all honesty, I do like the look of this iem.
With 7 tips to choose from, it pays to go through them all until you get the best fit. They are a bit tight, so the best way to get them on is to turn the tip inside out so that you have something substantial to grab while you twist them onto the cups. That way, you can also see whether they've gone on properly. It's particularly nasty if these tips come out in your ear, requiring careful use of tweezers to get them out!!! Yes, it has happened to me in the past.
Once you have the right fit the bass appears and these actually sound very nice. Bass is elevated but I don't mind that too much myself. What I do hate is tinny treble which these don't have. In fact, the treble could be more prominent but it's not too bad. They can therefore be played quite loud without earache. They sound very full and large. They give a good impression of a larger headphone with lots of warmth so that fatigue is not really an issue. The tips are comfortable and soft, so all in all, not a bad little iem at all.
It serves the intended purpose really well. Delivers a fairly good sound. Is very sensitive. Plays loud without sounding aggressive and isolates well. Purely listening to it without knowing its price makes me feel that it could have been more expensive than it actually is.
This is the e10s which has a phone answering button. I'd have liked a volume control there too, since it can be useful when plugged into an amp, to turn the earphone down low and turn the amp up. That way, noise issues are very minimal.
The e10 is around for £29 without that button and if I weren't going to use it with a phone, I'd get that one tbh. Really good value for money.
One that I particularly like is the Sennheiser IE8; mainly because I'm used to it and use it to work with. I'm fortunate in that mine is custom fitted so it stays in like glue and isolates to the point of near deafness. Another reason that I like it so much is that although it's not an 'accurate' headphone. it's one that doesn't sound 'tinny' in the treble and can play loud without inflicting pain.
So we're not really looking at typical hi fi qualities with an iem....... imaging, special stuff goes out the window really. (Although for me, depth imaging in headphones doesn't work that well)
IEM's are designed to fit a purpose. Again, many hifi types would turn their noses up at the idea of moving around with portable music and feel that you need to listen static so you can concentrate on the music.
I enjoy music anywhere I go so for me, this is not important. So for working on stage I might often use an ie8 and it doubles up as a portable headphone on the move. If I want something crisper in the treble, I go to the Klipsch x8 or x10 (I think they're called) They don't have so much bass and so have a lighter touch.
I've recently been sent a Soundmagic E10s which I must say. does look rather nicely designed. They come in different colours and the one I have is red. It actually looks nice since the little cups are black and are made of some kind of metal. I think that they retail around £39 so they're nothing like as expensive as the Senns or Klipsch.
Because of the retail price, I wasn't expecting too much if I'm honest. It comes with a rather good zip case, and adapter for computer use and no less than 7 tips in order to get the important fit in the ears. Without a good fit, you kiss goodbye to all bass.
The wire is pretty stiffish and is shrink wrapped. Slightly microphonic at the 'Y' connection but less so further down, although if you wear a coat outside and it rubs, the noise is intrusive. The plug has a tiny switch on it to make it work with different mobile phones. The plug itself is right angled, which I like on portables but quite large, unusually. At least you have something reasonably large to grap when you pull it out rather then grab the wire, so I guess that's a good thing.
So build is pretty good although I would prefer a better join into the cups. That looks like a weak point to me, since you naturally grap under the cups to pull them out of the ear. If the fit is good (as it is for me) you have to pull quite hard before the tips let go of your ears. That means pulling on that wire, so imo, better reinforcement is needed at that point. Time will tell.
In all honesty, I do like the look of this iem.
With 7 tips to choose from, it pays to go through them all until you get the best fit. They are a bit tight, so the best way to get them on is to turn the tip inside out so that you have something substantial to grab while you twist them onto the cups. That way, you can also see whether they've gone on properly. It's particularly nasty if these tips come out in your ear, requiring careful use of tweezers to get them out!!! Yes, it has happened to me in the past.
Once you have the right fit the bass appears and these actually sound very nice. Bass is elevated but I don't mind that too much myself. What I do hate is tinny treble which these don't have. In fact, the treble could be more prominent but it's not too bad. They can therefore be played quite loud without earache. They sound very full and large. They give a good impression of a larger headphone with lots of warmth so that fatigue is not really an issue. The tips are comfortable and soft, so all in all, not a bad little iem at all.
It serves the intended purpose really well. Delivers a fairly good sound. Is very sensitive. Plays loud without sounding aggressive and isolates well. Purely listening to it without knowing its price makes me feel that it could have been more expensive than it actually is.
This is the e10s which has a phone answering button. I'd have liked a volume control there too, since it can be useful when plugged into an amp, to turn the earphone down low and turn the amp up. That way, noise issues are very minimal.
The e10 is around for £29 without that button and if I weren't going to use it with a phone, I'd get that one tbh. Really good value for money.