CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => IEM Measurements => Topic started by: ultrabike on May 15, 2014, 06:19:10 AM
-
Sound
Plenty of bass, but less than the other dynamic IEMs I have in hand (JVC XX and SHE3590). Quite a bit of impact and extension. The main problem I have with these is a perhaps a bit of glare. Me thinks some emphasis somewhere around 3 kHz. Other than that they sounded pretty good. They seem relatively more detailed.
Comfort
No issues so far. Still, it is easier for me to place the SHE3590s in my ears than these or the JVCs.
Presentation
Like 'em.
Price
Available at www.MassDrop.com (http://www.MassDrop.com)
Overall
I don't think these are a screaming deal as the Philips, but the extra $ perhaps get one better lower mids, and less bass if one feels the other alternatives have too much.
Measurements
Like previous plots, these are not compensated (will work something out later and update). Best to look at these relative to other similar IEM measurements.
Frequency Response
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1596.0;attach=6445;image)
Distortion Right
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1596.0;attach=6447;image)
Distortion Left
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1596.0;attach=6449;image)
Impedance
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1596.0;attach=6451;image)
Comparo with other IEMs
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1596.0;attach=6453;image)
-
What are you using to couple the IEMs for your measurements? (Helps give me context for these measurements)
-
Hmm, I hear them with more of a valley in the upper mid/lower treble, as they sound super smooth (too smooth actually). I'll go back and use some test tones to pinpoint where. Distortion guitars lack bite and overall notes lack attack, but vocals sound superbly smooth and inviting. To me it excels with acoustic and vocal oriented tracks.
Bass is a bit hazy to me and while plentiful, it doesn't have a lot of impact, rather is soft and polite. My biggest beef is the mid and upper treble which is a bit tinny and metallic (and problematic at times) but at least gives it a bit of air and staging is pleasantly wide.
-
What are you using to couple the IEMs for your measurements? (Helps give me context for these measurements)
I use these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0UW0CE3972
Basically I drilled the center and insert the mic on one end and the IEMs on the other.
Better pictures here:
http://technabob.com/blog/2012/04/02/fake-ear-earphone-tidy/
Hmm, I hear them with more of a valley in the upper mid/lower treble, as they sound super smooth (too smooth actually). I'll go back and use some test tones to pinpoint where. Distortion guitars lack bite and overall notes lack attack, but vocals sound superbly smooth and inviting. To me it excels with acoustic and vocal oriented tracks.
Bass is a bit hazy to me and while plentiful, it doesn't have a lot of impact, rather is soft and polite. My biggest beef is the mid and upper treble which is a bit tinny and metallic (and problematic at times) but at least gives it a bit of air and staging is pleasantly wide.
I guess impact is sort of relative. Compared to the JVC and Philips these do lack impact. Compared to the Nobel 4's these have more impact (to me at least). I did ran a 3kHz tone and it seemed a bit emphasized, but yes, the vocals seemed pretty smooth.
I also agree that the treble might be a little metallic but airy.
-
What are you using to couple the IEMs for your measurements? (Helps give me context for these measurements)
I use these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0UW0CE3972
Basically I drilled the center and insert the mic on one end and the IEMs on the other.
Better pictures here:
http://technabob.com/blog/2012/04/02/fake-ear-earphone-tidy/
Hmm, I hear them with more of a valley in the upper mid/lower treble, as they sound super smooth (too smooth actually). I'll go back and use some test tones to pinpoint where. Distortion guitars lack bite and overall notes lack attack, but vocals sound superbly smooth and inviting. To me it excels with acoustic and vocal oriented tracks.
Bass is a bit hazy to me and while plentiful, it doesn't have a lot of impact, rather is soft and polite. My biggest beef is the mid and upper treble which is a bit tinny and metallic (and problematic at times) but at least gives it a bit of air and staging is pleasantly wide.
I guess impact is sort of relative. Compared to the JVC and Philips these do lack impact. Compared to the Nobel 4's these have more impact (to me at least). I did ran a 3kHz tone and it seemed a bit emphasized, but yes, the vocals seemed pretty smooth.
I also agree that the treble might be a little metallic but airy.
Thanks. You have the Noble 4 on hand? Any chance you'll be measuring them as well?
-
I don't have them anymore, but I do have measurements. I can post them later tonite.
The Noble 4s had less bass than all of the above, but perhaps did other things better (mids maybe). Unlike JVL, Philips, and Ostry, the Noble 4 seem to use 2 armature drivers. They have a fairly wacky impedance curve (used a FiiO6 in the measurement loop to overcome that issue).
I was told that dynamic drivers tend to have more bass response and impact than armature drivers, though not always. The Noble 10's I heard (meet impressions) had more impact and covered bass better than the 4s IMO, but I know some thought they (Noble 10s... and JVC, Philips and Ostry) were bassy. Relatively speaking I agree. TBH I didn't like the 4's that much, but I did like the 10s (hated the price tag, but then again I think it's a 10 driver deal! :-0).
-
Any KC06A plans? Didn't like the low end on these.
-
No plans unless someone volunteers them...
As far as the low end... too much... too little?
-
No plans unless someone volunteers them...
As far as the low end... too much... too little?
Too little sub bass.