Upgrading to IEM

[leroyishere 0]

Hi everyone. This is my first posting here. Got to know about this site through hardwarezone.com. Well, i have been recommended the Cresyn 630 earphones by some people there, and i got it. Initially, I was very happy with it as it definitely provided a significant improvement in terms of both isolation and sound quality form my conventional headphones.

 

However, as time goes by, I find the isolation provided inadequate. (Okay, maybe this is just an excuse for a new pair of earphones.) The smaller tips are too small for me(doesn't reach in deep enough), whereas the medium ones are a little big.

 

So now, I've decided to upgrade to a true IEM. Hope to get it after my A levels this year, or if time permits perhaps get it during the IT fair coming up.

 

Budget : <$150 or thereabouts

 

What i would be looking for is Clarity, Isolation, and a decent enough Bass. Have read around this forum but don't really grasp some of the audiophile terms here such as treble or soundstage and such, so the above is the most i can muster out of my limited knowledge in this field. Also, I'd prefer not to have cables that go around the ears, just the normal kind will do.

 

After much reading about this forum, i have found that a couple of earphones meet my budget, which is the Westone UM1, and the Ultimate Ears Superfi . 3 Studio.

 

Can you guys please help me in my decision? Any other recommendations are most welcome, pictures are a bonus.

 

Regards

Leroy

[Cocobean 0]

Hi there,

 

Firstly welcome to Sgheads, we're a small family here. I'm recommending you to the UM1

however you must let you ears be the judge.

 

The UM1 has excellent sound and it is within your budget, however if in doubt you should go and audition it first.

 

If you live in a central area, you can go down to Jaben for a listen and Uncle Wilson there's gonna welcome you.

 

If you live near the west like Boon Lay or Woodlands etc, you can hop down to Stereo for a listen.

 

I hope tat I've helped you. Enjoy ur stay bro.

Edited August 24, 2006 by Cocobean

[loop_ 0]

Hi Leroy,

 

Welcome!

 

Well basically, if you are new to audiophile terms (actually you can read the definitions for months on end and still not get it sometimes, because this is a very subjective field and is filled with alot of verbal diarrhoea). So just go and listen.

 

To give you a feel about where you might want to audition them, Jaben has a more congenial atmosphere - you're almost obligated to socialise with whoever's there - whereas Stereo Electronics is a less personal experience, but arguably, that allows you to just bother about listening.

 

My 2 cents, get an ER4P/S! but it's out of your budget. If you really get into this though, you'll probably upgrade very soon anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

[scanfiend 0]

Hmm....no wires over the ear? Why do you not want that? Wearing wires over the ear is one of the most effective ways to reduce microphonics, which is the annonying echo you get in your ears i.e. sound of your breathing, the brush of the wire against your clothing etc which gets amplified by the wires into your headset. Microphonics is the bane of canal phones and IEM's

 

If your budget is less than $150, you might have to temper your expectations a bit. In earphones, you generally get what you pay for - i.e. the higher the price, the better the 'phone.

 

I know that budget is sometimes a concern, but try to buy as much an earphone you can afford, for it can save you a bundle in upgrading in future For about $150 to $200+, the best bang-for-the-buck IEM would be the Westone UM1. It offers decent sound & bass, along with good isolation. For about the same price, you can get the Ultimate Ears Superfi 3. I find that both offer similar sound, so try them both and see which you prefer

Edited August 24, 2006 by scanfiend

[kenshin_himura 0]

haha welcome !!! i got my UM1 recently and i am taking As too =D..haha aniway u shd go audition and see which IEM u r comfortable with.. personally i have no regrets getting the UM1.. aniway have fun trying out the diff IEMs and i hope u would be able to find the suitable ones =D

[theory_87 0]

try im716, im616, er6i if u do nt wan it to go ard ur ears... if nt D-Jays and creative aurvana

[norseman 0]

Love my um1s, they made me discover the basshead in me so now I'm getting some full-size cans for some real SLAM!

[chanti-sama 0]

Er4p if you can get it.

 

Got a few forumers are letting it go in the classfieds section.

[Proton 0]

Hi Leroy,

 

Welcome!

 

Well basically, if you are new to audiophile terms (actually you can read the definitions for months on end and still not get it sometimes, because this is a very subjective field and is filled with alot of verbal diarrhoea). So just go and listen.

 

To give you a feel about where you might want to audition them, Jaben has a more congenial atmosphere - you're almost obligated to socialise with whoever's there - whereas Stereo Electronics is a less personal experience, but arguably, that allows you to just bother about listening.

 

My 2 cents, get an ER4P/S! but it's out of your budget. If you really get into this though, you'll probably upgrade very soon anyway.

 

True, I have the UM1 for 1 month plus and now I'm thinking of upgrading to ER4P/S

[leroyishere 0]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys.

 

Scanfiend: Thanks for the recommendation, but I personally think it looks a little weird to be wearing the wires around the ears. Maybe i'll change my mind when i see them up close though. Btw are the microphonics prevalent in the UM1 IEMs? Or even the Super Fi. 3 for that matter?

 

LOL sorry guys ER4P is way outta my budget i think. Hehe.

Yeah i know many of you are very happy with your UM1s, and my heart's slowly but surely leaning over to the UM1s as well. At least after a while, if i do not like it, should be able to sell as it's quite highly sought after.

 

Why no reviews bout the D-jay's yet? Has anyone gotten hold of a pair? I think they look pretty cool, not too sure bout the sound quality though. Anyone can advise?

 

Edit: Btw, is jaben or stereo gonna open any booths in the upcoming IT fair? Would be more convenient that way.

Edited August 25, 2006 by leroyishere

[scanfiend 0]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys.

 

Scanfiend: Thanks for the recommendation, but I personally think it looks a little weird to be wearing the wires around the ears. Maybe i'll change my mind when i see them up close though. Btw are the microphonics prevalent in the UM1 IEMs? Or even the Super Fi. 3 for that matter?

 

LOL sorry guys ER4P is way outta my budget i think. Hehe.

Yeah i know many of you are very happy with your UM1s, and my heart's slowly but surely leaning over to the UM1s as well. At least after a while, if i do not like it, should be able to sell as it's quite highly sought after.

 

Why no reviews bout the D-jay's yet? Has anyone gotten hold of a pair? I think they look pretty cool, not too sure bout the sound quality though. Anyone can advise?

 

Edit: Btw, is jaben or stereo gonna open any booths in the upcoming IT fair? Would be more convenient that way.

 

Hey there leroyishere Haven't heard or seen the phrase leroywashere for years now. Used to be real popular as graffiti or carved into trees

 

I have tried and owned a fair number of canal / IEM phones - and they all exhibit microphonics to varying degrees. Some people get used to it, but I cannot

 

The UM1 / UM2 are the only IEM's I have tried so far that have little to zero microphonics. The wires are very soft and simply drapes over the ear. The "memory wire" of the UE's are quite stiff (but bendable), and I have read that some people who wear spectacles have some problems with the cable.

 

The D-jays are very new canal ear-phones. I don't think many people own them yet, but there is a thread on it in headfi I think. Best is to go down to Stereo Electronics to audition for yourself.

Edited August 25, 2006 by scanfiend

[fallraen 0]

yea um1s are real good but i'm beginning to like to super.fi 3 studios! try them both

[leroyishere 0]

Hey there leroyishere Haven't heard or seen the phrase leroywashere for years now. Used to be real popular as graffiti or carved into trees

 

I have tried and owned a fair number of canal / IEM phones - and they all exhibit microphonics to varying degrees. Some people get used to it, but I cannot

 

The UM1 / UM2 are the only IEM's I have tried so far that have little to zero microphonics.

 

 

Haha what's the meaning behind the "leroywashere" thing? Has it got something to do with the song "Bad Bad Leroy Brown"? lol. My real name's Leroy, hence the nick leroyishere. Ha. Never knew my name was part of a graffiti trend in the old days.

 

So i guess the UM1s are pretty microphonics-proof. Will keep this in mind. Thanks for the help Scanfiend.

[kenshin_himura 0]

i am in luv with UM2 *drools*...

[That dude 0]

After trying out your old canal's, are you certain u wanna trade up to an IEM. If you are, i suggest you save up longer and get yourself a decent dual driver one (*if u like them better and single drived ones) You'd save yourself a lot a money cuz frankly, if you buy the um1 or the super fi. 3, u Would wanna upgrade after a short while. I upgraded from a ck7 to super fi. 5 pro, so go try more iem's out, and think about wad i said. This piece of advice is given to me by wilson from jaben, and from SE.