shotgunshane’s IEM (custom and universal) recommendations, favorites and classics

Isn't this just like the Sonoma Model One? Don't think DSP is weird...

 

Of course DSP isn't weird. If your passive response is poor, by all means, correct that shit. What is weird, is that Shure for whatever reasons disables it when you connect a digital source.

 

I read this to mean that under Equalizer settings, when Flat (Bypass) is selected, digital EQ is disabled for USB audio input and only the DAC is functional. Pretty sure you can still use the EQ with USB input if you select one of the preset or custom settings.

 

I believe DSP is separate from the EQ.

 

The EQ runs on the DSP. It's Digital EQ.

 

Still don't understand your confusion. You can have EQ with digital input or analogue input, but if you don't want EQ, you can disable it too. The English is very clear.

 

You're right, I searched the manual for info on EQ, but didn't notice the chapter title. I stand corrected, sorry for the confusion.

Still don't get why these would be meant to be used with EQ though, if the default preset is "flat".

 

Is it mandatory, if so I will go to purchase some immediately.

 

Had a chance to audition the new IE800S at length today, including a direct A/B to my 5 year old IE800. Here's a quick rundown:

• IE800 => IE800S re-tuning target reminds me of HD800 => HD800S (i.e. slightly warmer, more forgiving)
• IE800S has less subbass and more mid/upper bass, sounds slightly fuller / warmer, but less clear than IE800
  
• IE800S has a tad more upper mids presence and smoother transition from mids to treble
  
• IE800S sounds less peaky around 10kHz (the peak itself might be the same though, just masked by warmth)
• Treble is less thin sounding than on the IE800. However, due to fuller / weightier bass, note-weight disparity between bass and treble remains the same
  
• Overall sound signature is less u-shaped than IE800, reminds me a bit of the Pinnacle P1
• Cable is much more supple than on my 1st gen IE800
  
• Cable length between Y-splitter and earpieces remains unchanged <facepalm>

Conclusion: a somewhat half-hearted rehash, I personally would have hoped for more. Probably easier to like than the IE800. But note-weight / timbre remains skewed and bass detail / resolution is hardly up to TOTL standard.

 

Seems like whoever Mr S in Sennheiser is has the Hand of Sadim - turns everything he touches to shit. The IE800 already had a lot of midbass...

 

I think the official title is "Dr. Scheisse". Unlike the signature series from Marantz (Ken ishiwata), that are at least on par with original versions, the Sennheiser is less successful (at least on this forum).

 

With a perfect seal, the old IE800 has a steady rise from lower mids to subbass. Like the CA Vega, just less extreme. Which makes the low range sound quite clear and detailed, but a tad hollow. On the new IE800S, main emphasis is shifted upwards to midbass. The hollowness is gone, in favor of a fuller, albeit a little muddier bass range. This casts a bit of a "Sennheiser veil" on the mids, which makes the IE800S sound slightly softer and easier on the ears than its predecessor.

I wouldn't call it shit, but it's not the kind of bass I'd expect from a TOTL IEM. My $30 modded BW-ES1 beats the IE800S hands down in bass accuracy and detail.

 

My brother is cheap and wants to get something in $30 range. I saw the TE-02n and noticed it is now discontinued I guess. Has it been replaced in the line with something equally capable?

 

Tenore build though is iffy especially for every day out and about use. Or at least it was when I had them (before they broke). Not sure if they've been improved.

 

Yup, sadly no worthy Fostex successor for the TE-02n that I'm aware of.

But if you trust yourself to do a little modding, I can't recommend the BW-ES1 enough. About $30, including sorbothane and 3rd party tips... and gives pretty much all other dynamic driver IEMs I've heard a run for their money. As @tgx78 put it, price/performance ratio is through the roof with these.

Other than that and besides the ones @shotgunshane already mentioned, I like the $10 KZ ED9 quite a bit. You get two pairs of detachable tuning nozzles, and while the default one (gold) turns them into veritable bass cannons, the second one (bronze) delivers surprisingly balanced and refined sound for the money.

 

I've read good things about the Final E2000 but never heard them.