I just received my HEM2's. I'm using the braided cable and the large silicone eartips. Isolation is very good and they sound fantastic OTB. Listening to some classical (Von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker) on Tidal HiFi quality through my phone and Dragonfly Black. I find them very smooth sounding and warm. Highs sound pleasant and not piercing. Mids are very present with the sub bass kicking in when called for. Overall, they seem very balanced with neither one dominating the other. Sound stage is pretty wide. I feel like I'm sitting in the audience and can locate instruments as well as pick out different strings with ease as they present. Next I'll try some Jazz (Hiromi, as suggested - I like her a lot), and some contemporary pop and hip hop. I'm very glad I got these and am very happy with results just with my mobile setup. I'll try them through my MD 02 amp and CTH Tube Hybrid as well. These are great!
sucram65I'll also add that build quality is really good. They don't feel or look cheap. I like the braided cable. I don't hear any noise transmitted though it at all. The cable connections are tight and don't feel like they'll come loose. Wearing the cable over ear is comfortable, and the IEMs themselves fit comfortably. I'd like to mention again that sound isolation is good. I'd say on par with my Shure SE 215s.
sucram65My SE215s need a replacement.
I find myself replacing the cables too often and the mmcx connectors in the IEM have started coming loose.
Would you recommend these as an upgrade?
B3H1NDuFor me these were an incredible upgrade from the SE215's. I would recommend them. My only complaint is with the braided cable. Going from the plug to the LR split it is tightly braided. From the split up to the monitors the braid is very loose. I don't know if that is by design or just mine. That being said, I haven't had any sound problems.