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Simthaniel
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merrick97
Should I exchange the PC38X for better headphones?
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LostnAmerica
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Fabulous
Looking for a gaming/content audio setup
Hello! I'm looking for recommendations on audio setups. I'd be planning on using it mostly for gaming. Preferably I'd like a pair of large closed back headphones since I have a big head and jaw. I'd also like to hear myself through my mic with mic monitoring. As far as budget goes, I don't really have one. But under 600$ would be nice. I can go higher if needed. The audio setup would be connected to a high performance PC. Thank you in advance for any recommendations!
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1plsd
$10 Drop Coupon Email not sent?
Trying to buy some gear off Drop for the first time. I was told I would receive an email with a welcome to drop $10 off promo. I never received that email. Drop was able to send me emails for my login token and email for Password update. But for some reason the $10 off coupon was never sent to me.
Mar 31, 2024
NMPacella
New here
Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
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I own or have owned everything I mentioned and for the genres you mentioned, they could all fit your taste and needs well.
But no, every IEM I listed can be powered from a phone and get quite loud (I use an old S7 Edge). The only exception would be the Pinnacle PX. While it will get loud, it will be the quietest of the bunch and a portable amp would wake it up a bit more. I still like mine out of my phone but when I use my portable amp/dac they sound much better. All the others have a very low impedance and high sensitivity so they'll get painstakingly loud through your phone, laptop, etc. just fine.
If you don't need a DAC, I use a Fiio A5 ($130) as it's powerful and cheap. If you don't ever plan on powering higher impedance cans, the Fiio A3 would be a safer and cheaper bet (it's only $60). Honestly, if you're sticking with IEMs, you really don't need an amp/DAC. The only reason I got mine was for my Shure 846 and in that regard, it was worth it.
Topping also offer some amp/DACs in a similar form factor but I haven't personally owned those so I can't speak to their quality. They seem popular though and aren't terribly expensive.
1More Triple Driver Marshall Mode in-ear
Both have very satisfying bass and are great iem starting points, with no need for an amp.
I own or have owned most on your list, and agree they are all very good iems.
But I'm thinking that with the genres he mentioned, and being new to iems, he might enjoy starting with a well executed V-shaped profile. That's why I added the Mode and 1More Triples as options. The Klipsch R6i has some fantastic bass as well.
Just curious on your thoughts, since I'm not really into those genres.
So my former sugegstions would suffice and really depend on the HipHop/EDM the OP listens to. I'm a closet basshead but shitty bass can kill well recorded HipHop or EDM and enjoy the taut snap of a drum more than the next guy.
That's really my only main issue with the IT01 as its bass is sloppy AF but has some good impact. All the sub/bass on that thing comes over as one note and is a bit boomy. Same with the EDC. The 215 is borderline in that regard but it has the most texture of the three and knows how to get out of its own way.
The PX and F9 Pro make the bass known only and only if it's the main course for a track. Otherwise, they take the backseat. I'm OK with this on some songs as the bass reaches deeper and you require a different texture and tone than the typical 808 and "boom boom bap" from the bass/drums.
I really only included the ED3 as it is a good middle ground for entry-level neutral in my opinion. They're smooth and unoffensive and as long as one doesn't need a lot of bass impact, they're sufficient in that regard. It's a good starting litmus to find what one prefers and moves onto. I personally find strong v-shaped stuff to be very polarizing as I'm in the treble sensitive and sibilant camp. For me, I get this in more aggressive v-shaped stuff than anything else. I thought about recommending some solid single BA IEMs but they may lack the bass impact and texture the OP would want. That and bass is still funky on BA's compared to DD's.
I'm not familiar with the Marshall but the 1More Triple I absolutely despised. Tuning wise it felt like a mess. The Quads were better but not by much. Also, no removal cables which is a huge turnoff in this price bracket for someone that is active doesn't help either. For the cost and bundle of accessories for all that I mentioned, I think they're a good stepping stone for the OP.
While I don't agree with your take on the 1More, you're hardly the only person to find it sibilant, so probably just a matter of our respective tastes being different, so to each his own. For my part, it was one of my first iems, and one of the few I've kept from my original forays into audio. I find it pretty lively and engaging. Polarizing indeed!
But to your point, I have enough neutral reference iems now (e.g. PX, Ety Hf5) that I tend to be drawn to ones with a unique sound of some type.