InEar ProPhile-8: Reference Universal With Two Switches

@MuZo2 Can you share some more information about the rig you use?

 

Are these shallow fit (like andromeda) or are the nozzles longer?

Do they sit flush or stick out much?

When will they be offered in CIEM form?

 

This discussion and the reviews I read place the ProPhile 8 very high up on my replace-my-ER4PT list. I do have one question, though. I listen to IEMs only when traveling, especially long flights between North America and Europe, so noise blocking is important to me. I'm currently using Comply foam tips that are for me more comfortable than the flanged Etymotic tips and do a pretty good job with outside noise. The only possible upgrade I was considering is audiologist-fitted custom tips, but I don't have any experience with those to determine how they'd affect sound quality. If I go for the ProPhile 8, do those of you who have listened to them extensively think those IEMs (or a CIEM version hinted at) would benefit much from custom tips -- or indeed whether custom tips would make any sense for them. Any advice appreciated. For context, besides the ER4PTs that I use traveling with a Questyle QP1R DAP, I use MrSpeakers Ether C FLows at home (with Schiit Bifrost multibit+Jotunheim), I have MrSpeakers Aeons on order to use with the QP1R at work, and I listen most to speakers (Schiit Yggdrasil>Hegel H360>KEf Reference 1+REL T7i). Music is mainly modern jazz with some select classical and world.
Update: Did a bunch more reading of reviews and impressions, took the plunge for the ProPhile 8s. Many consistent descriptions that fit closely what I'm looking for.

 

Just got mine delivered from the US dealer. Listened to two favorite tracks that start Vijay Iyer's "Accelerando" album (which I know very well), powered by my QP1R, medium gain setting, no EQ, SpinFit medium-large tips. First impressions: drums, especially cymbals, and double bass are outstanding, with superb detail and just the right resonance for the bass and kick drum. Piano, not so sure yet, sounded slightly muffled but at the some time more bassy-y than I expected in relation to my other setups (Bifrost multibit>Jotunheim>Ether C Flow; Yggdrasil>Hegel H360>KEF Reference 1s). Still, a strong first impression, way, way above my ER4PTs in detail and imaging. Not to mention comfort, which is way better than the ER4PT's "deep insertion." More listening to come, but I can already sense that these will be a much superior companion for long flights. Thank you to you all earlier in the tread for the detailed impressions and recommendations.

 

Might be the Spinfits, these are known to cut down treble on some IEMs.

 

Thanks, but treble is great, it's mids that felt a bit recessed relative to my points of comparison. But it was a very early test, I need to listen a lot more and try different tips. They are already exceeding my expectations with the QP1R.

 

Impressions update:

• The left ear treble switch was accidentally on, when turned to off the sound gained balance.
• Compared Spinfit and Comply tips. Comply feel like they have a bit more isolation, but they are harder to insert and remove. With respect to sound quality, I did not notice a huge difference on a few very familiar modern jazz tracks.

Overall, with QP1R in medium gain, no EQ: vey good clarity and detail, very good instrument separation on good recordings, strong bass (jazz double bass, kick drum) without being bass-y, accuracy over emotional impact (but that could in part by the QP1R). That's how I like it, anyway, seeing that my headphone rig is Bifrost Multibit>Jot>Ether C Flow, although the QP1R>ProPhile 8 pairing yet a bit leaner. Just right for my main DAP/IEM uses, work concentration and long flights, where I listen to modern jazz and classical that favor elegance, subtle rhythms, and spaciousness over direct emotional grab.

 

Hi, James633
There is no chance of Focal Elear audition in the city where I live, and I was absolutely interested in your feedback. So, anyway, does that suggest Elear is far from the level of PP8 regarding the reference purpose, and has distortion of acoustic instruments? In other word, it's not recommended for reference purpose?

 

If I may jump into the discussion...

I only have some impressions of the Focal Utopia from CanJam, but I actually spent some more alone time with the Focal Elear. To my ears, the Elear is strongly colored. Focal does nothing impressive with the treble at all. It sounds compressed, veiled and recessed in general. The sinus swipe was a little bit terrifying with a strong dip at around 7 kHz and too much energy at 10 kHz. This is nothing I can accept as reference. Focal did great from 30 Hz to 3 kHz, but after that we are back in mid-fi territory.

It depends on how much you care about tuning. Distortion of the Elear is quite low, you can fix it with an equalizer. Out of the box, the ProPhile is the far, far, far superior monitor.

 

The SE846 follows the Harman target pretty well too in certain filter configurations. Any comparisons vs. Prophile-8? They seem to measure excellent!

 

For such a highly-regarded IEM, it sure seems like discussion of it has tapered off (both here and on other sites). Is it because of their exclusive price? Is it because they're a German product with no "bling" (StageDivers aren't talked about that much, either)? Or... are people just disappointed with them and quietly selling them off?

I should be getting mine soon (it seems to have been stuck in the mail system...) but I'd love to get some input in the meantime from people who still own them.

Do you still think they have a good fit (compared to universals and compared to CIEMs)? Still liking the sound? What bass/treble switch configuration do you like most? How is the build quality holding up? Most of all, do you still like yours, or did you like your pair enough while you still owned them?

 

Same for me. Haven't found anything that comes close yet. I stopped writing about them because at one point it just seems like I am doing free marketing - but actually it's like I really feel.

 

Same here. I don't own a PP8, because of my preference towards dynamic drivers. But it's my favorite BA based IEM, slightly ahead of UERM and Andromeda.

 

Very happy with mine. Pair very well with QP1R for travel, capable isolation on airplanes, very comfortable (unlike the deep-insertion Etys I used before). Would not fly cross-US or US-Europe without them. Neutral, solid without being punchy, bring out the depth in well-recorded instrumental music. Winners with anything in the ECM catalog.

 

That would be great!

 

And then if enough like it... group-buy! I regret missing out on the CA one.

 

Are they able to overcome to any extent the pitfalls of BA - i.e. timbre and dynamics?

 

If you're sensitive to BA-sound... they still sound like BAs, just really classy and refined ones imo.