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

So after reading thread ad nauseam, I've swung off my ideal of going custom IEM and instead sticking with universal. I will say that my Westone UM50s are plenty comfortable, but don't provide the cleanest bass response (tends to load up) and in general aren't in the ethereal neck of the wood. Or nape of the neck.

At this point the PP8 is looking interesting, as is the Andromeda but I worry that might be a bit edgy given some of the comments. The Vega is another candidate as I like the idea of a DD (as well as them being built in Portland - flannel not included). Resolving power is a goal for me as I like to hear the details of the instruments. But I'm also quite sensitive to sibilance, particularly the upper-mid region (which for me is say 1-4khz - I'm a bass player so I shift everything left). A perfect IEM would work ok right out of an iPhone 7 (almost exclusively Tidal hifi streams/downloads), but I'm not averse to having a strap-on....uh....DAC/amp. Right now am listening to Who's Next via Mojo and AFO out of a MacBookPro and it's working for me. I do admit that the colorful lights on the Mojo are probably the best feature, but at least I'm honest with myself. Sonically I find it ok - a bit towards the warm side which works for me.

Desktop I'd drive them with Modi Multibit/Vali2, but anticipate more portable so either iPhone direct w/adapter or Mojo or I'll be trying an HA-2SE soon (nice form factor but figure it might be a bit edgy - time will tell).

Any shoves in a particular direction welcome.

 

My fear is that for many people "big bass" really means an upper bass push - thickness around 120hz plus or minus. To me that ends up being bloat where I can't hear the fundamental of the E string, and the 2nd overtone of A gets just too thick. I'm actually somewhat in the minority with many bassist who favor significant response in that region. I favor a more articulate profile - but one man's "solid" is another man's "bloated."

The sibilance for me can be broad and context dependent. There are some times a guitar, voice, or cymbal and be like an icepick to my earball. Invariably it is somewhere in the single digit kHz, usually the lower end. I suppose another candidate might be the Dorado, but the Andromeda gets such significant praise here it may be a bit of a Goldilocks solution.

Also I'm mostly a serial monogamist - I really only want one set of a particular solution in the house, Right now that is Sine w/cypher for iPhone direct listening, AFOs for home headphones, and TBD for IEM (travel, all-round use).

 

Awesome - thanks for the input. And output.

 

They are very different. The KSE sounds like a different tech altogether...because it is. It is faster, clearer, more transparent, with some of the tightest and fastest bass you've heard. It is picky with source, I would recommend something not too analytical. Also, it is very dependent on tips, and bad mastering will sound harsh.

The Zeus XIV is in my opinion better than the R. Despite the R being closer to neutral and wider, it also loses on what makes the Zeus special, i.e. Incredible resolution. To be noted also is that is is very prone to hiss, though with Mojo it is bearable. In terms of 3D experience, it might have the edge over the KSE1500, as it sound thicker and more fleshed out. It does also have the advantage of not needing to carry the amp.

I think overall the KSE1500 is technically better, but if I had to chose one I might pick the Zeus as it is more versatile. For myself, since I own several iems and switch, I kept the KSE1500.

 

You need to keep in mind that the KSE comes with a energiser as well so it makes the carrying size a lot larger than it seems.

 

Mine doesn't have an energizer

 

Whatever you want to call this: http://www.shure.eu/dms/shure/produ...cols/kse1500_top_bottom_landscape_10_cols.jpg

 

I was just teasing...but I guess it is an amplifier.

 

It's an AD -> Dsp -> DA -> amp

It always makes me laugh when I see people using this product with some super fancy DAP... Given all the stages after, no way can you hear differences with less esoteric sources.

 

Well it has line (analog) input and settings to bypass all DSP. Then it just acts as an amplifier supplying 200V DC to the stators.
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/earphones/se-earphones/kse1500-electrostatic-earphone-system

Just saying... not endorsing the use of super fancy DAPs in any way.

 

No sure, Im aware of that. But the iem is clearly meant to be used with EQ. They wouldn't have gone through the pain of implementing that whole chain otherwise. They could have simply implemented an amp, like the portable Stax.

 

Quick question, @shotgunshane, do the Plus female vocals sound more like ER4SR or XR? I know we pm'd about that difference between the Etymotic models. (Do you know what is the hz of that difference on a FR? I'm still so bad at reading those, beyond the basic gist.)

 

I have no idea, never use headphones

 

Why would they disable EQ for digital sources then? Here's from the user manual:

Maybe they do some undisclosed DSP, regardless of EQ settings? Idk, the concept of this unit is a bit puzzling.

 

Oh... I did not know that. Weiiiiird.

Yeah... It just got weird.