Panasonic RP-HJE900 Zirconia Review

[great_badir]

I've lost the medium sized tips for these and am having to make do with the small at the mo, which is giving me a lot of sibilance at higher volumes with some material.

I imagine this question has already been answered, but I don't have time at the mo to read through the whole thread, so I wondered if someone could quickly suggest what the preferable replacements might be (not Comply) please, bearing in mind buying options for me in the UK.

I know dfkt likes the Ultimate Ears tips, and these are an option, but do they fit on the Pannys properly?

Thanks all

[Mikerman]

The Sony Hybrids work fine. Although I think they could be (significantly) cheaper, they are often available.

[great_badir]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

The Sony Hybrids work fine. Although I think they could be (significantly) cheaper, they are often available.

Thanks Mikerman. They actually sell those in HMV just down the road from where I work, but £5.99 for three pairs. I'll do some huntin'.

[drwhiteboy]

I really need some help here

I lost one of my HJE-900 earbuds and I am desperate for a replacement. Could anybody possibly sell me one or point me in the direction of somebody who could? I'm kind of freaking out right now I adore these IEMS.

[IDvsEGO]

check ebay and head-fi for broken sets.

[skip252]

It wouldn't hurt to put a "Want To Buy" in the Classifieds here. There's people that visit there that won't ever come to this thread and see this. Good luck on your search.

[khaytsus]

If you're looking for just the buds (the rubber bits), get these:

http://www.meelec.com/MEElectronics_...ancedsound.htm

I love them. They're not too big, not too small, block most outside noise, have a large aperture so they don't mess with the music, etc.

[Pennhaven]

Originally Posted by khaytsus

If you're looking for just the buds (the rubber bits), get these:

http://www.meelec.com/MEElectronics_...ancedsound.htm

I love them. They're not too big, not too small, block most outside noise, have a large aperture so they don't mess with the music, etc.

+1 That's exactly what I use on mine. I agree with your points and would emphasize these are by far the most comfortable tips I've found for HJE900s. That is a big plus because to me comfort is the only drawback to these phones. Also these double flange tips stay in place better than anything else I tried.

I still love the Panas though I just recently had to replace my cable. I was getting an intermittent signal on one side. I wear them over the ear and the conductor apparently broke down where the cable bent around my ear above the connector.

I bought the Sleek Audio SA1 cable. It's OK I guess, but the build quality is pretty disappointing, especially for the price and compared to the Panasonic OE cable. The Sleek cable is much thinner and springier, with a permanent memory that doesn't allow re-coiling much differently than how it came out of the package. Also the connectors fit more loosely than the Panasonic did, and tend to work loose. There is one plus, they are lighter than the Panasonic cable so there is less load on the phones. Consequently they stay in place better when moving around.

[Mikerman]

Thanks for the info.!

[Zyro]

Originally Posted by Pennhaven

+1 That's exactly what I use on mine. I agree with your points and would emphasize these are by far the most comfortable tips I've found for HJE900s. That is a big plus because to me comfort is the only drawback to these phones. Also these double flange tips stay in place better than anything else I tried.

I still love the Panas though I just recently had to replace my cable. I was getting an intermittent signal on one side. I wear them over the ear and the conductor apparently broke down where the cable bent around my ear above the connector.

I bought the Sleek Audio SA1 cable. It's OK I guess, but the build quality is pretty disappointing, especially for the price and compared to the Panasonic OE cable. The Sleek cable is much thinner and springier, with a permanent memory that doesn't allow re-coiling much differently than how it came out of the package. Also the connectors fit more loosely than the Panasonic did, and tend to work loose. There is one plus, they are lighter than the Panasonic cable so there is less load on the phones. Consequently they stay in place better when moving around.

I've had the SA1 replacement cables as well, and they lasted from September until now. That's roughly three months, and the death wasn't exactly sudden. My left phone started fading about a month ago and a few days ago it was completely dead. I switched the cables back and forth and both the phones work when powered by the "left" side of the cable. That's a bit disappointing really, after all I did pay 25 quid or so..

[Pennhaven]

Originally Posted by Zyro

I've had the SA1 replacement cables as well, and they lasted from September until now. That's roughly three months, and the death wasn't exactly sudden. My left phone started fading about a month ago and a few days ago it was completely dead. I switched the cables back and forth and both the phones work when powered by the "left" side of the cable. That's a bit disappointing really, after all I did pay 25 quid or so.

Sounds like there may be a repair attempt on the Panasonic OE cable in my future. Not sure how practical that would be though, seeing as the repair would be over the ear where I need flexibility and lack of bulk. Hoping someone here may have good suggestion on this.

Why oh why did Panasonic market such a nice IEM with a replaceable cable and then fail to offer the replacement cables?

[BruceBanner]

Just found this review. Coming from Soundmagic E10's are they a decent step up? I ask as dfkt himself only has the just above the E10's on his spreadsheet.
A quick google and I'm seeing different versions/products of the RP-HJE900, which exactly are the ones dfkt reviewed?
Are these them?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-RP...onic+RP-HJE900

EDIT: I now see that E-K means black. I ordered these, they are getting shipped to my dad in uk, then they will go to me in oz (seller wont post to oz). Man i couldn't find these anywhere, seem to be last pair on earth!

[Mikerman]

These are excellent phones, with great construction. Unfortunately discontinued outside of Japan (and I'm not sure about Japan), in a poor decision-making process.

[BruceBanner]

Yeh i feel lucky to have grabbed a pair...
Now i'm wondering how easy it will be to find a replacement cable should these one fail somewhere down the line...

[Pennhaven]

Originally Posted by BruceBanner

Just found this review. Coming from Soundmagic E10's are they a decent step up? I ask as dfkt himself only has the just above the E10's on his spreadsheet.

I don't have the E10s but I have the E30s and when I got them I made the point that the close rankings to the HJE-900 on dfkt's spreadsheet don't adequately reflect the really significant difference.

I still love my HJE-900s and the E30s are still a backup pair for use only when there's a greater risk I might lose or damage the Panas. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with your purchase.

[epithetless]

Originally Posted by BruceBanner

Yeh i feel lucky to have grabbed a pair...
Now i'm wondering how easy it will be to find a replacement cable should these one fail somewhere down the line...

I do believe the Sleek Audio SA1 cable should fit the RP-HJE900. I know the SA6 cable does (although it enters at a right angle, instead of straight), and the SA1 cable looks to have the same barrel size (but straight, like the RP-HJE900's). Also, I'm not sure about the availability of Sleek Audio accessories outside of the US...but it's an option.

[Mikerman]

Originally Posted by BruceBanner

Yeh i feel lucky to have grabbed a pair...
Now i'm wondering how easy it will be to find a replacement cable should these one fail somewhere down the line...

Keep your eyes open at ebay--I picked up an extra cable that way.

[BruceBanner]

Originally Posted by epithetless

I do believe the Sleek Audio SA1 cable should fit the RP-HJE900. I know the SA6 cable does (although it enters at a right angle, instead of straight), and the SA1 cable looks to have the same barrel size (but straight, like the RP-HJE900's). Also, I'm not sure about the availability of Sleek Audio accessories outside of the US...but it's an option.

Thank you.

Talking of Sleek Audio accessories I can't find the wireless solution at all? Where is to buy the transmitter (3.5mm headphone jack one) and the receivers? Do you HAVE to buy their IEMs to get the receiver or...?

I read they provide 10hrs battery life, that's enough for a day at work for me, genuinely interested in this as a wireless solution, BT doesn't last long enough for my purposes..

Originally Posted by Mikerman

Keep your eyes open at ebay--I picked up an extra cable that way.

Cheers, will do!

Originally Posted by Pennhaven

I don't have the E10s but I have the E30s and when a I got them I made the point that the close rankings to the HJE-900 on dfkt's spreadsheet don't adequately reflect the really significant difference.

I still love my HJE-900s and the E30s are still a backup pair for use only when there's a greater risk I might lose or damage the Panas. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with your purchase.

Interesting. I guess I thought that just because they sit above the E10s in the spreadsheet doesn't necessarily equate a slight better sound, the scale here is perhaps hard to judge, so I was hoping they would be a significant higher quality difference, this is good news to hear
For sure I have a few of the IEMs on this spreadsheet and agree on alot of the placements etc.

[epithetless]

Originally Posted by BruceBanner

Talking of Sleek Audio accessories I can't find the wireless solution at all? Where is to buy the transmitter (3.5mm headphone jack one) and the receivers? Do you HAVE to buy their IEMs to get the receiver or...?

I read they provide 10hrs battery life, that's enough for a day at work for me, genuinely interested in this as a wireless solution, BT doesn't last long enough for my purposes..

From the internet trawling I just did, it looks like the W-1 transmitter and receiver (the two were packaged together) are now discontinued. The Sleek Audio site hardly makes any mention of them, so I wouldn't be hopeful about coming across any at this point.

[BruceBanner]

Yes that's what I saw also... shame.