I wouldn't fear IEMs

Posted by texanater (A) on May 14, 2015 at 07:23:13

In Reply to: Best headphone set up? posted by ruxtonvet on May 13, 2015 at 15:37:07:

They have made huge strides in the last few years in in ear monitor (IEM or ear buds) technology. You would be really amazed. I don't have a lot of experience in the price range you are considering. Most of my experience is under $500 new. But the IEMs in that price range are not that far off from the full range. Perhaps that doesn't translate to the higher end models. If you read just a few threads down you'll see a comparison I did between Focal Classic ($450), Beyerdynamic DT880 ($350) and JVC FX850 ($250-$300) The FX850s are IEMs and really hold their own to the full sized. I love them and wouldn't trade them for anything.

Many if not most of the IEMs in your price range are custom molds which are great! The custom ear mold completely isolates outside sound and are perfectly comfortable. I have a pair of etymotic HF2 with the custom molds and use them for travel or mowing the lawn etc... I am active duty military and have had my fair share of 50+ hour plane rides. I'll put the etymotics in just to filter out all the sound even if I am not listening to music. And isolating the outside noise has pretty significant impacts some good some bad. I recall one time I was listening to a live recording and a musician must have been picking up his/her instrument and I swear I thought someone was in the room with me! I jumped out of my chair because I knew no one was home at the time!

Anyway, I am not necessarily recommending an IEM. Perhaps in your price range they are not competitive I don't know. But given equal quality between an IEM and full sized headphones I would take the IEM in a heart beat!

I'm linking below a really exhaustive comparison between IEMs. This is probably dated now because it started a few years ago and I'm not sure how much updating has been done, but it will give you a flavor of what is out there. I would look more carefully before you rule them out!

Nate

You can't cheat an honest man, never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump -- W.C. Fields

IEM comps (Open in New Window)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Best headphone set up? - ruxtonvet 15:37:07 05/13/15 (22)

RE: Best headphone set up? - Wesley Miaw 15:40:12 07/24/15 (4)

RE: Best headphone set up? - genungo 15:51:34 07/24/15 (3)

RE: Best headphone set up? - Wesley Miaw 15:59:53 07/24/15 (2)

RE: Best headphone set up? - genungo 17:10:40 07/24/15 (1)

HiFiMan HE-1000 Matched with a Violectric Audio HPA V281 - audiophile919 12:38:39 08/19/15 (0)

RE: Best headphone set up? - krankkall 15:20:27 07/17/15 (0)

RE: Best headphone set up? - nl 06:08:19 07/16/15 (1)

RE: Best headphone set up? - genungo 10:31:29 07/17/15 (0)

My vote is Grado PS500, but it's your ears in the end that matter. - robertd 11:54:23 07/12/15 (3)

RE: My vote - genungo 12:05:58 07/12/15 (2)

RS1 - don't remember if I tried it. But I do love rock music - robertd 12:39:02 07/12/15 (1)

RE: RS1 - don't remember if I tried it. But I do love rock music - genungo 13:03:43 07/12/15 (0)

Well, there obviously is no "best" ... - Mike K 07:41:29 06/29/15 (0)

RE: Best headphone set up? - JimL 09:40:34 05/25/15 (0)

RE: Best headphone set up? - joessportster 19:01:17 05/15/15 (0)

RE: Best headphone set up? - robss 17:20:08 05/15/15 (0)

RE: Best headphone set up? - trioderob 14:34:58 05/15/15 (1)

RE: Best headphone set up? - trioderob 15:10:58 05/15/15 (0)

there is also this - texanater 10:30:51 05/15/15 (0)

'the phones are heavy' - mbnx01 20:17:50 05/14/15 (0)

I wouldn't fear IEMs - texanater 07:23:13 05/14/15 (0)

RE: Best headphone set up? - Bill Way 18:16:13 05/13/15 (0)

Follow Ups

I wouldn't fear IEMs - texanater 07:23:13 05/14/15 (0)

I wouldn't fear IEMs

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