Zephyron
02-05-2006, 20:05
Back home from meeting a fellow friend and portable audio audiophile.
I can't express in words how appreciative I was for him letting me test 4 in-ear-monitor (IEM) earphone models.
I shall list them and their price one by one now:
Audio Technica ATH-CK7 (Burn-in completed by my friend) = SG$150
Etymotic Research ER6i = SG$170
Westone UM1 = SG$230
Westone UM2 = SG$570
Opinions on these earphones (Take note, I'm not a person who loves too much bass) tested on my Cowon iAudio U3 at Normal EQ, BBE level 3, M3B level 0, MP Enchance On, 3D Surround level 0, variable volume levels depending on used IEM's impedance level, and Sony D-E355 CD Walkman at all 3 levels of Bass Boost (0, 1 and 2)
Note: All these are just my own opinions. Remember, one man's meat can be another's poison :)
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Audio Technica ATH-CK7 (Singapore $150-170):
-Been eyeing these for quite a while since reviews all over say they're very clear but still deliver bass in punches, which is a good thing, since I don't like my bass to be boomy, but tight and clean.
-Upon testing them, these earphones sound very, very, VERY crisp. Did I mention they're crisp?
-The CK7 has very little coloration on the sound graph other than its over enhanced treble IMO.
BASS (punch):
-Its bass is very clean and tight, and fortunately for me, its not omnipresent, its only out when it needs to be, and its punches are definitely strong IMO. However, as good as I find them to be, bass-heads are sure to find them lacking in bass *shrugs*
BASS QUALITY:
-From what I can make out, its very clean =)
BASS EXTENSION:
-The seal imperfection due to the construction of the earphone prevents me from properly being able to judge the bass extensions of these things.
MIDS:
-Vocals and mids sound almost perfect IMO, which means the singer keeps a distance from you rather than having feel as if there's a singer in front of you singing his throat down his ears, or having the singer's voice suppressed.
TREBLE:
-The treble for the CK7 is enhanced off the edge. This somehow makes it sound very scratchy in my opinion. It sounds very sharp, a bit too sharp in fact.
CLARITY:
-In a word, SUPERB!
SOUNDSTAGE:
--The seal imperfection due to the construction of the earphone prevents me from properly being able to judge the soundstage of these things.
Zeph's verdict: A very 'analytical' earphone. To bass-heads, this earphone will sound dead and boring perhaps. I would consider these earphones some more... if I could get them to fit my ear that is... Not that I can't, but its construction hurts the parts of my ears that cup the wire extension of these earphones, hindering a perfect seal. Its construction kinda hurts my ears too u.u
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Etymotic Research ER6i (Singapore $170-219):
-Wasn't eyeing these pair of earphones in the first place, due to reviews all over saying that it was completely bass-deficient and.
-Trying these on changed my mind however. The frequency graph matches the flatness I've been looking for in a very very long time from an IEM, and upon using my custom EQ setting... It sounded heavenly...
BASS (punch):
-Its bass punchiness can leave many people a bit wanting I guess, but its plenty sufficient for me. Its at the level of my current Cresyn LMX-E630 IEM if not a bit less, which I don't mind at all =)
This is easily fixed by adjusting the EQ
BASS QUALITY:
-Flat without EQ settings... Absolutely clean, wonderful and has a bit of a definitive presence, and definitely not boomy with my customized EQ for it! *sighs contently*
It rolls off at about 40-50Hz I think, but not many people can hear such things... I think.
BASS EXTENSION:
-Amazing and nothing short of clear o.O
I could hear things I practically couldn't hear with my current Cresyn LMX-E630 and Koss KSC75, particularly the very low drum beats from the 3rd minute 20th second to 3rd minute 27th second of Jay Chou's 'Fearless' theme song Huo Yuan Jia. This sounded a little muddy on my Cresyn LMX-E630
MIDS:
-Flat, just the way I want them to be. Vocals sound positioned the way I want to be - Definitive presence but does not interfere with the music =)
TREBLE:
-Etymotic Research estmates that the ER6i's treble rolls off at 16kHz, which I think its quite accurate. Its treble, with or without EQ, is very clean sounding and pleasant to the ears. There's neither harmonic distortion nor scratchyness with the EQs changed and volume increased.
CLARITY:
-In a word, astounding! Its at least on par with the Audio Technica ATH-CK7 =)
SOUNDSTAGE:
-Instrumental separation is great, not the best, but definitely excellent! =D
Zeph's verdict: A very 'analytical' earphone without any EQs set, but this changes drastically with EQs put into play *yay!* I love how well it responds to EQ changes =)
A very well performing IEM useable for every kind of genre, especially classical, where deep bass extension is much needed.
For bass-heads though, these would still be lacking I guess.
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Westone UM1 (Singapore $230):
-I was eyeing these at first, but like the CK7, my opinion quickly changed there-after.
-Its bass is what's enchanced right off the chart, but its a clear sounding earphone too. Its almost balanced... almost.
BASS (punch):
-Very very punchy, its a love hate relationship for me. Tight and punchy and clean, which I like, but its too much for me o.O
BASS QUALITY:
-Very strong bass quality, and it doesn't distort even when the volumes get turned up real high (OUCH! My ears...). Bass heads will like this I think.
BASS EXTENSION:
-Clear and definitive IMO. Can't fault it at all =)
MIDS:
-This is where the problems come in I guess. Right off the bat in flat Normal EQ, its mids are very pronounced, and a bit forward too, placing the singer rather close to you. On rock songs, this can make him/her scream her throat in front of your face and right down your ears. The mids are a bit harsh at times too.
-Also, the mid-highs seem to take a sudden dip before proceeding to the treble. This, to me, is drastic because it kind of affects the clarity of the earphones a LOT. Because of this ault, it makes the earphone sound a bit hollowed-out/muffled. This isn't easy to fix through the EQ as well IMO... I've tried...
TREBLE:
-The treble is well balanced and quite clear sounding, though I much prefer the ER6i's treble. Maybe its because of the sudden dip in the mid highs and its rather strong bass that overshadows its treble a little bit, but not by much.
CLARITY:
-Mixed feelings here... It feels clear... but there's that dip in the mid-highs... Not sure of what I should say o.O
SOUNDSTAGE:
-The soundstage has a strong presence and it is probably on par with the ER6i if not a little bit weaker. Is just my feeling though, mainly its because of the dip in the mid-highs.
Zeph's verdict: A musical earphone right off the bat with quite a strong emphasis on vocals, strong clarity and tight and somewhat powerful bass. I think this earphone should be able to satisfy bass heads since if my memory serves me right, its around or beyond the Sony MDR-EX71's level but much smoother and cleaner. Its mids are a bit too forward for my tastes... somehow.
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Westone UM2 (Singapore $570):
-I wasn't eyeing these at all right from the start, with its mad cost of Singapore $570... No way I can afford this x.X
-After reviewing it, my opinion stands unchanged...
BASS (punch):
-OH MY GOD! ITS BASS!!! This thing SOUNDS like a high-end HEADPHONE with A WHOLE DAMN LOT OF BASS thrown into it o.O
-This bloody thing is practically a Westone UM1 with its bass enhanced to EXTREME ends... too much IMO, I'm not sure about the bass heads.
BASS QUALITY:
-Very VERY POWERFUL and BOOMY is the proper way to describe this, but definitely not flabby unlike the Sony MDR-EX71s (which are crap IMO).
-Able to deliver a lot of bass without facing harmonic distortion... This is the power of having a 2nd armature driver in the earphone to deliver low frequency (bass) response... the result is a godlike bass o.O
BASS EXTENSION:
-I believe I need not comment on this... You'd get the idea...
MIDS:
-Very pronounced, more so than even the UM1... I have a rock singer in front of my face less than 1 metre away... all speakers at full blast too... *dies*
TREBLE:
-The sound signature is SUPPOSED to be the same as the UM1 here, but the bass is so goddamed powerful it drowns out most of the treble of the earphones, even the high frequency armature driver couldn't make up for it IMO *gasp*
CLARITY:
-On non-bassy parts of a music, its definitely good... but on bassy parts... *sighs* Bye-bye my dearest clarity =(
SOUNDSTAGE:
-... The Soundstage is unbelievably powerful and alive... Imagine being centrestage in a live concert... I shan't say more. The Soundstage of the UM2 is 2nd to NONE of all the earphones reviewed above.
Zeph's verdict: An UNBELIEVABLY POWERFUL set of IEMs, I think this will definitely satisfy ALL bass heads out there. The bass is simply that powerful... Too overpowering for my tastes. This IEM is really really an 'In Your Head' kinda earphone. On rock songs or techno songs, prepare to be rocked! Literaly! (I made the regretful mistake of turning my bass boost on the discman to 2. I'm sure I went partially deaf back then)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There, done!
Out of all the above, I'm currently eyeing the Etymotic ER6i =)
I can't express in words how appreciative I was for him letting me test 4 in-ear-monitor (IEM) earphone models.
I shall list them and their price one by one now:
Audio Technica ATH-CK7 (Burn-in completed by my friend) = SG$150
Etymotic Research ER6i = SG$170
Westone UM1 = SG$230
Westone UM2 = SG$570
Opinions on these earphones (Take note, I'm not a person who loves too much bass) tested on my Cowon iAudio U3 at Normal EQ, BBE level 3, M3B level 0, MP Enchance On, 3D Surround level 0, variable volume levels depending on used IEM's impedance level, and Sony D-E355 CD Walkman at all 3 levels of Bass Boost (0, 1 and 2)
Note: All these are just my own opinions. Remember, one man's meat can be another's poison :)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audio Technica ATH-CK7 (Singapore $150-170):
-Been eyeing these for quite a while since reviews all over say they're very clear but still deliver bass in punches, which is a good thing, since I don't like my bass to be boomy, but tight and clean.
-Upon testing them, these earphones sound very, very, VERY crisp. Did I mention they're crisp?
-The CK7 has very little coloration on the sound graph other than its over enhanced treble IMO.
BASS (punch):
-Its bass is very clean and tight, and fortunately for me, its not omnipresent, its only out when it needs to be, and its punches are definitely strong IMO. However, as good as I find them to be, bass-heads are sure to find them lacking in bass *shrugs*
BASS QUALITY:
-From what I can make out, its very clean =)
BASS EXTENSION:
-The seal imperfection due to the construction of the earphone prevents me from properly being able to judge the bass extensions of these things.
MIDS:
-Vocals and mids sound almost perfect IMO, which means the singer keeps a distance from you rather than having feel as if there's a singer in front of you singing his throat down his ears, or having the singer's voice suppressed.
TREBLE:
-The treble for the CK7 is enhanced off the edge. This somehow makes it sound very scratchy in my opinion. It sounds very sharp, a bit too sharp in fact.
CLARITY:
-In a word, SUPERB!
SOUNDSTAGE:
--The seal imperfection due to the construction of the earphone prevents me from properly being able to judge the soundstage of these things.
Zeph's verdict: A very 'analytical' earphone. To bass-heads, this earphone will sound dead and boring perhaps. I would consider these earphones some more... if I could get them to fit my ear that is... Not that I can't, but its construction hurts the parts of my ears that cup the wire extension of these earphones, hindering a perfect seal. Its construction kinda hurts my ears too u.u
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Etymotic Research ER6i (Singapore $170-219):
-Wasn't eyeing these pair of earphones in the first place, due to reviews all over saying that it was completely bass-deficient and.
-Trying these on changed my mind however. The frequency graph matches the flatness I've been looking for in a very very long time from an IEM, and upon using my custom EQ setting... It sounded heavenly...
BASS (punch):
-Its bass punchiness can leave many people a bit wanting I guess, but its plenty sufficient for me. Its at the level of my current Cresyn LMX-E630 IEM if not a bit less, which I don't mind at all =)
This is easily fixed by adjusting the EQ
BASS QUALITY:
-Flat without EQ settings... Absolutely clean, wonderful and has a bit of a definitive presence, and definitely not boomy with my customized EQ for it! *sighs contently*
It rolls off at about 40-50Hz I think, but not many people can hear such things... I think.
BASS EXTENSION:
-Amazing and nothing short of clear o.O
I could hear things I practically couldn't hear with my current Cresyn LMX-E630 and Koss KSC75, particularly the very low drum beats from the 3rd minute 20th second to 3rd minute 27th second of Jay Chou's 'Fearless' theme song Huo Yuan Jia. This sounded a little muddy on my Cresyn LMX-E630
MIDS:
-Flat, just the way I want them to be. Vocals sound positioned the way I want to be - Definitive presence but does not interfere with the music =)
TREBLE:
-Etymotic Research estmates that the ER6i's treble rolls off at 16kHz, which I think its quite accurate. Its treble, with or without EQ, is very clean sounding and pleasant to the ears. There's neither harmonic distortion nor scratchyness with the EQs changed and volume increased.
CLARITY:
-In a word, astounding! Its at least on par with the Audio Technica ATH-CK7 =)
SOUNDSTAGE:
-Instrumental separation is great, not the best, but definitely excellent! =D
Zeph's verdict: A very 'analytical' earphone without any EQs set, but this changes drastically with EQs put into play *yay!* I love how well it responds to EQ changes =)
A very well performing IEM useable for every kind of genre, especially classical, where deep bass extension is much needed.
For bass-heads though, these would still be lacking I guess.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westone UM1 (Singapore $230):
-I was eyeing these at first, but like the CK7, my opinion quickly changed there-after.
-Its bass is what's enchanced right off the chart, but its a clear sounding earphone too. Its almost balanced... almost.
BASS (punch):
-Very very punchy, its a love hate relationship for me. Tight and punchy and clean, which I like, but its too much for me o.O
BASS QUALITY:
-Very strong bass quality, and it doesn't distort even when the volumes get turned up real high (OUCH! My ears...). Bass heads will like this I think.
BASS EXTENSION:
-Clear and definitive IMO. Can't fault it at all =)
MIDS:
-This is where the problems come in I guess. Right off the bat in flat Normal EQ, its mids are very pronounced, and a bit forward too, placing the singer rather close to you. On rock songs, this can make him/her scream her throat in front of your face and right down your ears. The mids are a bit harsh at times too.
-Also, the mid-highs seem to take a sudden dip before proceeding to the treble. This, to me, is drastic because it kind of affects the clarity of the earphones a LOT. Because of this ault, it makes the earphone sound a bit hollowed-out/muffled. This isn't easy to fix through the EQ as well IMO... I've tried...
TREBLE:
-The treble is well balanced and quite clear sounding, though I much prefer the ER6i's treble. Maybe its because of the sudden dip in the mid highs and its rather strong bass that overshadows its treble a little bit, but not by much.
CLARITY:
-Mixed feelings here... It feels clear... but there's that dip in the mid-highs... Not sure of what I should say o.O
SOUNDSTAGE:
-The soundstage has a strong presence and it is probably on par with the ER6i if not a little bit weaker. Is just my feeling though, mainly its because of the dip in the mid-highs.
Zeph's verdict: A musical earphone right off the bat with quite a strong emphasis on vocals, strong clarity and tight and somewhat powerful bass. I think this earphone should be able to satisfy bass heads since if my memory serves me right, its around or beyond the Sony MDR-EX71's level but much smoother and cleaner. Its mids are a bit too forward for my tastes... somehow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westone UM2 (Singapore $570):
-I wasn't eyeing these at all right from the start, with its mad cost of Singapore $570... No way I can afford this x.X
-After reviewing it, my opinion stands unchanged...
BASS (punch):
-OH MY GOD! ITS BASS!!! This thing SOUNDS like a high-end HEADPHONE with A WHOLE DAMN LOT OF BASS thrown into it o.O
-This bloody thing is practically a Westone UM1 with its bass enhanced to EXTREME ends... too much IMO, I'm not sure about the bass heads.
BASS QUALITY:
-Very VERY POWERFUL and BOOMY is the proper way to describe this, but definitely not flabby unlike the Sony MDR-EX71s (which are crap IMO).
-Able to deliver a lot of bass without facing harmonic distortion... This is the power of having a 2nd armature driver in the earphone to deliver low frequency (bass) response... the result is a godlike bass o.O
BASS EXTENSION:
-I believe I need not comment on this... You'd get the idea...
MIDS:
-Very pronounced, more so than even the UM1... I have a rock singer in front of my face less than 1 metre away... all speakers at full blast too... *dies*
TREBLE:
-The sound signature is SUPPOSED to be the same as the UM1 here, but the bass is so goddamed powerful it drowns out most of the treble of the earphones, even the high frequency armature driver couldn't make up for it IMO *gasp*
CLARITY:
-On non-bassy parts of a music, its definitely good... but on bassy parts... *sighs* Bye-bye my dearest clarity =(
SOUNDSTAGE:
-... The Soundstage is unbelievably powerful and alive... Imagine being centrestage in a live concert... I shan't say more. The Soundstage of the UM2 is 2nd to NONE of all the earphones reviewed above.
Zeph's verdict: An UNBELIEVABLY POWERFUL set of IEMs, I think this will definitely satisfy ALL bass heads out there. The bass is simply that powerful... Too overpowering for my tastes. This IEM is really really an 'In Your Head' kinda earphone. On rock songs or techno songs, prepare to be rocked! Literaly! (I made the regretful mistake of turning my bass boost on the discman to 2. I'm sure I went partially deaf back then)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There, done!
Out of all the above, I'm currently eyeing the Etymotic ER6i =)