Good IEMs for Ipod?

[av399]

Hi, I'm looking for a good pair of IEMs that sound nice paired with an Ipod. It's my friend's birthday soon, and his phones recently broke so I figured I can just get him a new pair as a gift. He's already had two pairs of Klipsch S4s and I was wondering if I could find anything different that still sounds good. My budget is about $60, but I can go a little bit over if necessary. Thanks

• Budget: $60 max, but willing to go a little bit over
• Country: America, more specifically California
• Category: IEMs
• Primary use: portable use/home indoor
• SQ or sound signature: he prefers bass
• Media: any genre really
• Source: portable player

[skip252]

Not sure why you came to anythingBUTipod looking for headphone recommendations for an iPod. However you've been around for a while so I'll assume it's not a troll thread and won't lock it.

You should add the information requested here http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum...ad.php?t=59847 for meaningful recommendations. Newer iPods generally have decent a decent hardware and good sound quality. Just about anything that meets your criteria should work well.

I recently got a set of Soundmagic E10 and I like what I'm hearing. They don't have quite the bass of the S4 but have a much better overall balance that makes me prefer them. The build quality also seems to be better, especially around the strain reliefs leading into the earpieces. I'd take a look at those.

[The DarkSide]

For iPod,...MUAHAHAHAHAHAHBUA!!!!!

[JK98]

I have heard people saying that the ipods have high output impedance, and that they don't work so well with lower impedance headphones. Is this true? I never owned an ipod. I read this about the Samsung Galaxy S2.

"High output impedance
One characteristic of Galaxy S II's headphone driver is its relatively high impedance: higher than competitor chips. Power efficiency diminishes when the output impedance grow: energy lost in heat. This is why Yamaha’s choice of design is surprising.
I measured mine at 49 Ω.
A notable side effect of this characteristic is that the headphone output becomes less loud with low impedance cans.
Output impedance doesn’t have much effect on 300 Ω gear, but on common 16 Ω earphones:

• Gain is lowered, hiss level is reduced: nice bonus
• Frequency response shift: less bass, more highs. Okay if the tiny speakers was too bassy, terrible if the headphones were bright already.

As a result, Galaxy S II might play well with some equipment but also reveal the worst side of other with harsh and aggressive rendering.
This output impedance is why opinions about Galaxy S II audio are so contradictory in forums: experience can vastly differ depending on your choice of headphones."

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4686/s...t-redefined/13

[skip252]

You'll hear all types of "I believe" silliness hanging out over at headfi, JK1. Please don't start dragging that over here.

Unfounded conjecture and results for an unrelated player won't help in this discussion. If you have something more than "I have heard", please post a link to the source.

A good source of accurate info would be somewhere like NwAvguy's blog where he has actually measured and posted the results http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/...-measured.html demonstrating that newer iPods don't have high output impedance. If you have links to credible sources that refute his results I'm sure our members would also be happy to examine those.

I've seen test result for other newer iPods and had a chance to listen to every model from the iPod Video 5.5 forward. That includes all the Touch and iPhone models. The 5.5 has the hiss I've noticed as a symptom associated with high output impedance with sensitive IEMs. None of the rest that I've heard do.

Considering both the test results and my personal experience I'm willing to stand by my advice that just about any IEM within the specified budget should work well with a newer iPod.

[The DarkSide]

All the iem's I've tested with my classic & touch sound great with them. This includes my JVC cheapo iem's and expensive Denon ones as well, and ALL my better quality headphones. An iPod drives almost all quite easily,...

[av399]

Hehehe, yeah I know, what the hell am I doing on this site looking for help with an Ipod? I tried talking him out of getting one, but it was too late However, seeing as though I wasn't sure of where else to look and since I've gotten a lot of help here in the past, I figured I would ask for your input
But as for the criteria,

• Budget: $60 max, but willing to go a little bit over
• Country: America, more specifically California
• Category: IEMs
• Primary use: portable use/home indoor
• SQ or sound signature: he prefers bass
• Media: any genre really
• Source: portable player

[WalkGood]

av399, I added your criteria to your first post so that anyone late to the party sees it easier.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by skip252

You'll hear all types of "I believe" silliness hanging out over at headfi, JK1. Please don't start dragging that over here.

Unfounded conjecture and results for an unrelated player won't help in this discussion. If you have something more than "I have heard", please post a link to the source.

A good source of accurate info would be somewhere like NwAvguy's blog where he has actually measured and posted the results http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/...-measured.html demonstrating that newer iPods don't have high output impedance. If you have links to credible sources that refute his results I'm sure our members would also be happy to examine those.

7 ohms is kind of in between high and low. Its not bad, but its still higher then it should be.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by saratoga

7 ohms is kind of in between high and low. Its not bad, but its still higher then it should be.

And I consider the UE11s low at 18 Ohms, although the sensitivity (119db @ 1mw) is more likely the culprit that allows you to hear a hiss on crappy players without a good amp. That said, the clip does a much better job than most at matching them IMO.

[steinburger1109]

Brainwavz M2 might be a good fit for you.

Originally Posted by WalkGood

And I consider the UE11s low at 18 Ohms, although the sensitivity (119db @ 1mw) is more likely the culprit that allows you to hear a hiss on crappy players without a good amp. That said, the clip does a much better job than most at matching them IMO.

He can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure 18 ohms is low for headphones, but not for players, that the two use the same unit, but are on two different sides of the scale.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by steinburger1109

... I'm pretty sure 18 ohms is low for headphones ...

I know that, this is why I posted when he said "7 ohms is kind of in between high and low and I wanted to get his feedback. My full size cans are 300 ohms which I consider very high but for IEMs I consider anything above 30 starting to get at the lower end of high because all the other IEMs I've owned are 16 ohms and lower. Plus I have seen some IEMs much higher than 30 ohms but it's not common IMO.

Edit: @av399 btw the MEE A161P are great on ipods as they were designed for them, but they're over your budget as MEE sells them for $99.99. If you can find a deal on them, I'm sure he'd love them.

[aimran]

If you use this coupon code (BUY_AGAIN_20) at MEE, it will get the A161P down to $80.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by WalkGood

And I consider the UE11s low at 18 Ohms, although the sensitivity (119db @ 1mw) is more likely the culprit that allows you to hear a hiss on crappy players without a good amp. That said, the clip does a much better job than most at matching them IMO.

By 7 ohms, I meant the output impedance of the ipod tested in that review. Output impedance is supposed to be as low as possible (ideally 0). Its not the same thing as the 18 ohms of your headphones.

With regards to headphones, 18 ohms is extremely low.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by aimran

If you use this coupon code (BUY_AGAIN_20) at MEE, it will get the A161P down to $80.

That's a great deal for them, I really like them. BTW I know someone that bought them used for $65.00 and for another $15.00 new is nicer IMHO.

[av399]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies I think I'm going to go with the A161Ps, and thanks a lot for the coupon code, the price would be perfect with it I will try to refrain from Ipod posts in the future, though

[steinburger1109]

Lol don't get that impression, most people here don't hate iPods, in fact many of us have them.

[skip252]

Originally Posted by av399

Thanks everyone for the quick replies I think I'm going to go with the A161Ps, and thanks a lot for the coupon code, the price would be perfect with it I will try to refrain from Ipod posts in the future, though

No big deal about the iPod part. I was just a bit puzzled until I looked at your profile and saw your past posts and figured it was what you said. This is a place where you've received help in the past and figured it couldn't hurt to try again. Looks like you were right.

Glad you found something that works for you. Hope your friend enjoys them.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by av399

... I think I'm going to go with the A161Ps ...

If your friend hasn't ever tried good IEMs, I think he/she will be blown away as they sound very good across the sound spectrum from low to high and very clear. Just make sure they select the right tips to get a good seal, the set comes with loads of tips so that shouldn't be a problem.

Originally Posted by av399

... I will try to refrain from Ipod posts in the future, though

No worries, you can post or talk about ipods here, just don't make it a habit (roll eyes means I'm being sarcastic)

[The DarkSide]

I personally would NEVER make a post about those disgusting iPods!!! GAWD help us ALL!!!