Quick Comparison of 63 IEMs (Spreadsheet)

[rickysio]

OR just use "Massive" for the quantity?

Would allow the chart to be more specific.

[kasrhp]

Originally Posted by dfkt

Thanks for your kind and constructive comments. I agree that bass quantity can be a major deciding factor, for or against phones. Three quantity steps are indeed too coarse to convey the right meaning.

What do you think about simply adding a fourth quantity, a "basshead" category to the bass column, for phones like the FX700 and VB, and using "plenty" for phones like the UE11 and HJE, which clearly have more bass than the PFE or RE0, yet not so much as to be proper basshead phones? (Maybe the color indicator for that should be blinking red? )

That sounds good. 1 more quantity would add some dimensions to a couple of those phones.

[lestatar]

Originally Posted by dfkt

...SNIPPED...What do you think about simply adding a fourth quantity, a "basshead" category to the bass column, for phones like the FX700 and VB, and using "plenty" for phones like the UE11 and HJE, which clearly have more bass than the PFE or RE0, yet not so much as to be proper basshead phones? (Maybe the color indicator for that should be blinking red? )

+1 and agree with NBC - this sounds like a great idea and will def help narrow down the bass category for sure.

Gosh, I never thought I was a basshead, but I guess I kinda am

[JxK]

Originally Posted by dfkt

But yeah, the only customs that are of interest to me at the moment are the EM3-Pro... and maybe the weirdo mythical JH-3A thingies.

Ironically enough, a review of the em3-pro just happened to be released today.

[odigg]

Originally Posted by dfkt

Thanks for your kind and constructive comments. I agree that bass quantity can be a major deciding factor, for or against phones. Three quantity steps are indeed too coarse to convey the right meaning.

What do you think about simply adding a fourth quantity, a "basshead" category to the bass column, for phones like the FX700 and VB, and using "plenty" for phones like the UE11 and HJE, which clearly have more bass than the PFE or RE0, yet not so much as to be proper basshead phones? (Maybe the color indicator for that should be blinking red? )

I think the only problem with the term "Basshead" is that many people (including bassheads!) see the term as a negative. It's easy to misinterpret. But you do have a "quality" category and that would probably address the possibility of misinterpretation.

Maybe instead of saying "basshead" you could have a animated gif of a subwoofer breaking glass

"Plenty" seems like a better fit for headphones like the FX700 as plenty is typically interpreted as "more than enough" or "a lot" For example, "Don't worry, I've got plenty of booze..."

But what about stuff like the eq7 and SM3? I know I said the word "good" is out of place, but I've been thinking about it and it makes a lot of sense. I have seen questions like "I want a headphone with a good amount of bass, but not too much." From what I've read, it seems like the SM3 (I've never heard it) would fall into this. It seems like people might say "The SM3 does not have enough bass for my preference" but nobody could say flat out "The SM3 does not have enough bass to sound realistic." They could say this about the PFE. So saying the SM3 has a "good" quantity of bass would fit.

You already use "good" in your table so it would be easier to interpret since people could see how you have used it in other categories.

[FreeZ5]

Originally Posted by odigg

You already use "good" in your table so it would be easier to interpret since people could see how you have used it in other categories.

Yes but good (as in "not excellent") versus good (as in "not plenty") are not the same and that usage would likely confuse people.

At least that's how I see it.

Steve

[rickysio]

Originally Posted by FreeZ5

Yes but good (as in "not excellent") versus good (as in "not plenty") are not the same and that usage would likely confuse people.

At least that's how I see it.

Steve

Use something similar to acceptable for the not excellent ones?

[odigg]

Originally Posted by FreeZ5

Yes but good (as in "not excellent") versus good (as in "not plenty") are not the same and that usage would likely confuse people.

At least that's how I see it.

Steve

I agree with you. Perhaps dfkt's "basshead" classification is the best addition. As dfkt said, "Plenty" can be used for IEMs like the SM3 and HJE. "Basshead" is also a pretty good fit for phones like the FX700. It's also teach bassheads to realize they are bassheads!

Originally Posted by rickysio

Use something similar to acceptable for the not excellent ones?

"Excellent" is typically a comment on quality, and dfkt does have a "Bass Quality" column. I do agree that "good" can be misinterpreted quite easily as a comment on quality when we are talking about quantity. "Acceptable" can also be seen as "Just a little better than terrible" and so that can be misinterpreted as well. Typically "acceptable" or "satisfactory" is rarely a compliment.

Beyond all this, perhaps it's best not to get too fussy with how people are going to interpret it. It's a reference guide, not something to describe exactly how a headphone sounds.

I should probably remember this comment I just made as I'm the one who originally got fixated on the meaning of words and their interpretation.

I vote to add "basshead" and move "plenty" down a notch.

[lestatar]

Originally Posted by odigg

...SNIPPED...I vote to add "basshead" and move "plenty" down a notch.

+1: I think this is the best option presented thus far.

I think we all agree that dfkt's review chart is already quite good. No reason to nitpick too much and drive the guy crazy over semantics.

[miow]

dfkt, may I know why do you prefer the Panasonic HJE900 over the Ultimate Ears UE11 Pro?

[dfkt]

They sound more exciting, more dynamic, and have less midbass hump with more treble sparkle. Not to mention they're much easier to drive.

[rickysio]

In your opinion, is the SM3 worth the price hike over the HJE900s? There's a Mass Order going on in a local forums I visit, and the price is a wallet numbing SGD480. Sort of interested to see how it sounds like - perhaps I'd request a demo when either Stereo or Jaben secures distributor rights.

[miow]

Originally Posted by dfkt

They sound more exciting, more dynamic, and have less midbass hump with more treble sparkle. Not to mention they're much easier to drive.

Thanks man. Can't wait to get mines. If I love the Playaz N3, so I guess I will die with the HJE900. lol

[tehort]

DFKT, are the SM3 a good combo with the Sansa Clip+ alone(rockboxed/no amps)?

[dfkt]

Yes, definitely. The Clip+ can drive such multi-armature phones without issues.

[macrocheesium]

Hey dfkt, which do you think has better clarity- the Panasonic RP-HJE900, or the RE0? They're both at the same price point, and I can't decide which to get. My top priority is sound quality and clarity. And either of these will be good with a Cowon J3, right?

[dfkt]

They're both pretty much equal when it comes to clarity. The RE0 have less bass, which often seems to imply subjectively more clarity, but the HJE900 deliver all the details as well, just with more bass, with a different sound signature.

[macrocheesium]

Would it be possible to turn the bass down on the Panasonics with an EQ, so they sound almost the same as the RE0? I'm leaning towards the Panasonics because of the better build quality, but I usually don't like a lot of bass.

[miow]

dfkt, will the HJE900 bass satisfy bass-heads? I always get "worried" when you put "medium quantity".

@macrocheesium, I don't think you'll need to do so. But of course that you can turn the bass down with an EQ.

[Leen]

This is just a suggestion, but I think it's very easy to implement.
What about a column saying if the driver is armature or dynamic? I just thought some people might be interested to know what kind of driver the iem has.