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A community member
Jun 21, 2017
is this worth 400? or is it better to get the SE846 for a better investment.
sonnyboy27
1
Jun 21, 2017
For $400 these are awesome. I have them and they've been great for all around stuff (mixing, live sound, etc.). But what are you planning on using them for? The 846 are nice but if you're looking at that kind of money then I would just get molded in ears from a company like 64 Audio.
A community member
Jun 21, 2017
sonnyboy27 Truthfully, I just need one GREAT iem so that I dont have to waste a few hundreds just to find out a better one is out there, been saving for it but dont want to overkill and spend more than what they worth. Hence, the endless research. I decided to max the spending at 1.5k if you have any suggestion on which iem is worth the money for that amount, please do let me know. I know the sound quality goes up with the price but other than that I'm looking for durable, more mobility, easier maintenance, and if it really possible to have a transparent housing and cable that wont look dull after extensive use (or at least can be restored to that crisp transparent looking)
JWalker16
1
Jun 21, 2017
Are you also looking into headphones or just IEMs? With this budget, you can try Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation with a modest amplifier.
A community member
Jun 21, 2017
JWalker16What would a modest amplifier be? Is beyer t1 2nd gen is better than senn hd800? I have a senn hd800 and it's just sitting because im frustated on what amplifier i should get to pair with it. At some point i gave up on finding it and enjoy or more curious about how good an IEM can sound with or without portable amplifier plugged in into my phone.
speecher
6
Jun 21, 2017
I own both. The 846 are better of course. More open and with better seperation. The bottom end is nothing short of mind blowing. I really love them. If there were no 846s i would enjoy the 535 as i did when i first bought them. Kinda like a Camry vs Avalon. Only other thing is the 846 have metal tubes making it virtually indestructable. The 535s plastic can break.
jumoonji
9
Jun 21, 2017
sonnyboy27If you got the cash to buy 846, then go to JHA Angie, Fidue Sirius or Noble K10 instead. Unless you got the 846 on sale, don't bother buy them at its full price. There are many more options worth exploring for.
edit: sorry was meant for the OP
JWalker16
1
Jun 21, 2017
I don't have a great answer for portable amplifiers. But with $500 you should be able to find something. I use a desktop amp, Beyerdynamic A2, for the T1. And you can get both in a bundle for $1,599. I am very happy with them. But when I'm on the go, I use B&O H5, yes, Bluetooth earbuds for the mobility. I think H5 offers great warm sounds and is very comfortable to wear. It's underrated and does well with the Comply tips. I have a pair of SE315, unimpressed.
switchstyle123
27
Jun 22, 2017
Sounds like you're describing the classic symptoms of the dreaded "earphone spiral." We've all been there ;)
It's really hard to give specific recommendations without knowing your preferred sound signature, but if you've got money enough to buy the SE846, you might want to consider the UERR customs from Ultimate Ears (UE Pro Reference Remastered), which go for the same price. You can't really go wrong with them if you're looking for a one-stop solution that gives you great all-around sound quality for any genre of music--without having to pay upwards of $2k as you would for the top of the Noble line (e.g. Kaiser Encore, Katana).
Although having one really good IEM does not guarantee an end to your spiral, there's really no substitute for the fit and comfort of custom IEMs. And the UERR sound is one that is guaranteed to stand the test of time, despite any changes in preference you might have in the future. Plus, you can get transparent housing, no problem. :)
A community member
Jun 22, 2017
switchstyle123are those nobles worth the price for their 10 drivers iem? they look so much better compared to UE. Really dont mind saving for a few months to drop 2k for an IEM as long as that's the only IEM i'll ever need lol
switchstyle123
27
Jun 22, 2017
Well then, my friend, it sounds like you still have some research to do! - to figure out what kind of sound signature you want (Nobles sound very different from anything else, let alone the UERR), what kind of design you like, and how much you are willing to pay for a decent combination of both that you're able to afford. To be honest, I wouldn't bother with the Massdrop releases of the Shure in-ear lineup (SE215, SE535 etc). They may have been cutting edge back when they were released in 2011, but the portable audio industry has EXPLODED just within the last few years, and there are so many good/better options at similar/cheaper prices now. Although the Shures will always retain a degree of classic appeal, I think it's safe to say that they haven't quite been able to keep up with the times, and these drops look like Massdrop is trying to get rid of some excess stock that nobody wants.  One word of caution from me would be to resist the urge to judge IEMs based solely on the number of drivers they use. I know that the driver count makes it *seem* more impressive, but once you put them into your ears and start listening to music, what difference does it make if there's 1 or 10 or 100 drivers inside? There have been a number of high-end IEMs that came out recently which use only a single dynamic driver, but have gotten a lot of rave reviews - the Beyerdynamic Xelento Remote, the Dita Dream, and Campfire Audio's Vega, just to name a few. In the end, the most important thing is to figure out your preferred sound sig, and see whether a particular IEM fits your tastes or not (unless you just want to max out on driver count, in which case the Empire Ears XR would be at the top of the list, with its whopping 14 BA drivers per side). The best way to do this, of course, is to audition them in person. I know this is easier said than done, but if you're anywhere near Japan, or are planning to visit sometime in the future, I would STRONGLY recommend coming to Tokyo to check out the e-earphone store at Akihabara. They have a store dedicated especially to Custom IEMs, and there you can freely audition LITERALLY every custom model (or universal model, for that matter) from almost any brand imaginable - and some you didn't even know existed. Honestly, this place is a veritable HEAVEN for audiophiles. http://www.e-earphone.jp/shopbrand/ct1637#002
A community member
Jun 22, 2017
switchstyle123Japan is my next vacation destination then! (you're totally right about just go and try them all, but where can I find it here in the states?) haha.
switchstyle123
27
Jun 22, 2017
Yeah, I know it can be hard to find good places to audition gear, but sometimes it's the little obstacles along the way that make life that much more fun and interesting, right? :)
Cheers, and good luck with your journey!
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