Headphone/Earphone Reviews

[paultownsend]

have you tried the klipsch x1's? i moved from some cx300's, and im amazed what £21 gets you. noise cancellation is fantastic

[Finlandia]

Haven't tried the Klipsch X1, AKA Klipsch S2, but the Klipsch S4 can be found on my list

Glad you have found earphones to your liking, the sound quality/price ratio is so much better today than it was a year ago.

[carter711]

Wow.

I did a search looking for recommendations for a new set of headphones and boy did I find a good thread!!

Finlandia...

When I have more time I'm going to have a good read through your reviews, but in the meantime I wonder if you can point me in the right direction for what I'm after.

The source is an Iphone 4, I love bass but can also appreciate delicate treble and I prefer the earphones that actually go in your ear, like a plug. I mostly listen to electronic music as I love precision sound, if that makes sense.

I would like to spend around £40 but don't mind going up to £60 if it's going to be worth it.
I really like the look of those wooden ones you reviewed but looks aren't everything.

I've never known of someone with such an indepth knowledge of earphones!

[Finlandia]

Thanks

Out of the ones I have tested, or more rightly the mic'd version of the ones I have tested, the Meelectronics M9P, Klipsch S4i, Zagg Z.buds, Hippo Shroom-i and Jays a-Jays Four Iphone are all very good Iphone headsets.
Shroom-i is more neutral/detailed and the others are bassy. Best bang for buck is offered by the Meelectronics M9P.

If you don't need a headset, then I can recommend the Fischer Audio Eterna or Hippo VB for powerful and clean sound, or Hippo Shroom EB for more detailed sound that still sounds powerful, but not quite as much kick as the VB and Eterna.
Or again Meelectronics M9 or M6 for "best sound for your pound".

The wooden Vivancos look very nice indeed, and sound lovely as well, but won't take as much abuse as a metal or plastic casing, for obvious reasons.

[carter711]

Finlandia said:

Thanks

Out of the ones I have tested, or more rightly the mic'd version of the ones I have tested, the Meelectronics M9P, Klipsch S4i, Zagg Z.buds, Hippo Shroom-i and Jays a-Jays Four Iphone are all very good Iphone headsets.
Shroom-i is more neutral/detailed and the others are bassy. Best bang for buck is offered by the Meelectronics M9P.

If you don't need a headset, then I can recommend the Fischer Audio Eterna or Hippo VB for powerful and clean sound, or Hippo Shroom EB for more detailed sound that still sounds powerful, but not quite as much kick as the VB and Eterna.
Or again Meelectronics M9 or M6 for "best sound for your pound".

The wooden Vivancos look very nice indeed, and sound lovely as well, but won't take as much abuse as a metal or plastic casing, for obvious reasons.

Thanks for your help, I've ordered a a pair of Meelectronics M9s for the price of £27 delivered

I'll report back with how I find them, but from reading various reviews they seem unbeatable for the money, and have an inbuilt mic.


Thanks alot.

[Finlandia]

Glad to be able to help

[tcant]

Finlandia

Thanks for providing very useful reviews. I was wondering whether you can give me some advice?

I am currently using Shure Se110's and listen to most of my music on my ipod or my iphone. Problem is I can't get on with the cable going over my ears and no matter what bud I use I can't get a good fit. I want to replace the Shures and I am looking for a heavier bass and clear vocals. I want to pay £100-£150 for a new pair. I tend to listen to irish/punk/rock if that makes a difference.

What would you recommend?

Thanks

[Finlandia]

tcant said:

Finlandia

Thanks for providing very useful reviews. I was wondering whether you can give me some advice?

I am currently using Shure Se110's and listen to most of my music on my ipod or my iphone. Problem is I can't get on with the cable going over my ears and no matter what bud I use I can't get a good fit. I want to replace the Shures and I am looking for a heavier bass and clear vocals. I want to pay £100-£150 for a new pair. I tend to listen to irish/punk/rock if that makes a difference.

What would you recommend?

Thanks

Thanks

Well, more bass than the SE110's is easy, nearly all IEM's are capable of that, it's a bit trickier to find much clearer mids/highs but still far from impossible, those added with the option to run the cable straight down and the price bracket of £100-150 makes it somewhat hard.

Out of the ones I have reviewed here, Hippo VB and Shroom EB would fit the requirements, but they are a bit off budget, in a good way though as they are quite a lot cheaper.

I have heard plenty of good things about Head Direct RE0 an RE252 as well, they are ultra clear and very detailed, while neither of them are bass-monsters they do have more of it than the SE110's. I have not personally heard them though, so can't really say. But I have heard the lower end RE1, and it does wipe the floor with the SE110, but really needs an amp to shine.

If you could imagine to have the cable over the ear, the Westone UM2 is very, very good and just slightly over your budget.

Edited by Finlandia on Wednesday 4th August 12:00

[tcant]

Thanks Finlandia, I will see if I can get over my cable over the ear phobia and try out the westones!

[[AJ]]

tcant said:

Thanks Finlandia, I will see if I can get over my cable over the ear phobia and try out the westones!

If you haven't done it already, give them a try. If they are even anywhere remotely close to the UMX3 you won't be disappointed.

[Finlandia]

Govibe Single and Hippo Box portable amps added

[CR0X]

Finlandia said:

Govibe Single and Hippo Box portable amps added

Thanks! I know they aren't quite Fischer amp type but could they be used for a live band setup? Needing 6 makes the Fischers quite expensive!

[Finlandia]

CR0X said:

Finlandia said:

Govibe Single and Hippo Box portable amps added

Thanks! I know they aren't quite Fischer amp type but could they be used for a live band setup? Needing 6 makes the Fischers quite expensive!

I'm guessing you use a cordless system, with a sender hooked up to the mixing table and a receiver and amp to boost the signal on each member, or something along those lines?

Shouldn't be a problem to use them in a system like that, but the Hippo Box hasn't got a volume control of its own, so needs adjustable in-line signal (this can probably be done from the mixing table), Govibe on the other hand has a bit of a weak gain, so it may not be ideal.
Hippo Box would get my vote.

Or have a look at the amp above them, the Fiio E5, at the price asked you can experiment with the E5 and if it's not good enough, it was still only three pints worth of cash. Fiio also have other models, E7 a USB DAC and portable amp in one, haven't tested it myself but it's getting quite good reviews.

[CR0X]

Thanks Fin. It would be used as part of a large sound rig, with the signal being sent by the mixing desk.

The advantage of a dedicated amp like the expensive Fischer is being able to link in a local signal and to control the mix, but in terms of bang per buck, it is an expensive option.

I will have a look, cheers.

[Finlandia]

Shure SE535 added

[Harry Flashman]

ceebmoj said:

I have a pair of what I think are shure E2c or possibly next model up they where about £75 when I got them witch was the lowest price I could find on line. The sound quality is great but I have been less than impressed with how they have lasted.

The cable that runs back over your ears has split witch for a pare of head phones at this price is fairly pore in my mind.

I had E2Cs, and exactly the same thing happened. Was pretty unimpressed.

[EdJ]

Harry Flashman said:

ceebmoj said:

I have a pair of what I think are shure E2c or possibly next model up they where about £75 when I got them witch was the lowest price I could find on line. The sound quality is great but I have been less than impressed with how they have lasted.

The cable that runs back over your ears has split witch for a pare of head phones at this price is fairly pore in my mind.

I had E2Cs, and exactly the same thing happened. Was pretty unimpressed.

They have quite a good warranty depending on when you bought them (something like 2 years) and they will replace them with a brand new pair.

[NAS]

Great thread. I'm shopping for new earphones soon and these reviews are very usefull.

Kiitos!

[NDA]

A very good reference - many thanks for taking the time to do this.

Have you tried the Bowers & Wilkins http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=4.... I tried a pair recently and was impressed....

[Finlandia]

Kiitoksia, thanks guys

Sorry, I haven't heard the B&W, but they look interesting.