14 replies to this topic

[willy88]

Hey guys,

Fairly new here. Just need your help on choosing a pair of canalphones. My budget is between $100-$200 and I'll be using it with a FIIO E5 mini headphone amp to give it a slightly bigger boost than the iphone. Lol.

I'm currently using a pair of Shure SE115's which I had bought on impulse about a year ago. Found them to be not bad, but not great (bought them for $35 in Hong Kong). I reckon it's time for me to change, but I'm finding it a bit difficult to choose a pair.

I've sort of filtered it down to 3.

Brainwavz B2 - leaning more towards this one
Atrio M5
Etymotic hf5

I listen to various genres of music, but mainly Jazz and Hip hop.

Which would you guys recommend? Do let me know!

Thanks guys!

Edited by willy88, 08 November 2011 - 10:33 PM.

[firefly0071]

Etymotic canalphones are good at sound isolation such as when you are on a plane (I travel once a month) and that's a bonus. It's not as good in the areas of bass.

I have not compared but I do like the Etymotic for the sound quality other than bass.

The major problem is that it is difficult to test canalphones even if the store stocks them for hygiene issues.

If you go to headphonic.com.au, they have have a good range of earphones.

[willy88]

Yeah, I went there to have a look. And whaddya know.. the 3 i mentioned are recommended. Haha! I completely understand what you mean by not being able to test them due to hygiene reasons.. hence why it's so difficult to choose one..

Well.. I might try out the B2's and see how it goes. From an aesthetic pov, i like the looks of them. I'll see how they go.

[wolster]

Another to consider are the HiFiMan REOs. Also recommended by headphonic and at the lower end of your price range.
Very sturdy and good sound.

[GregWormald]

I really enjoyed my Audeo Phonaks on a recent overseas trip. They provided the only music I had for 4 weeks.

Greg

[Robbo1802]

Hi,
I have had a few canalphones.

I have had a pair of Ety ER-4P for yonks - I don't use them. A small proportion of people (me included) can't stand the sound, I believe there is an incompatibility between my ear canals and the Etys' design. I experience severe and very annoying sibilance. Also before buying Etys check out the cost of consumables especially the ear wax filters, depending on your ears you can go through the wax filters quite quickly.

I owned a pair of HiFiman RE0s and I must say they sounded very good, probably one of the best sounding canalphone I have owned. Unfortuantley the build quality was (is?) quite poor. Headphonic used to have them on the recommended list but took them off due to build quality. In the 2 years I owned them, the metal backs popped off (I tried several glues before I found one that would hold onto the anodizing), the sound became intermittent due to an unrepairable dry joint on the sheath of the molded in 3.5mm jack (I cut it off and soldered on a new one - not easy), and then finally one of the transducers failed. Unfortunately all this happened started to happen just after the warranty expired. Mine was not an isolated experience

You could ring up Headphonic and ask their opinion, they are quite happy to talk to you about the type of music you listen to, your taste in sound reproduction, and then give you several recommendations in your price range. I have not noticed any obvious attempts to upsell when speaking with them. I am not associated with Headphonic in any way except that I have bought several headphones off them and they helped me get a good resolution from Beyer with a problem repair to my DT880s.

Regards,
Bob

[kesa32]

Hi , l own Fischer DBA 02's and really like them , imported them through Budgen http://www.bugdenaud...dio-dba-02.html

If you go over to Headfi, you'll see all the reviews of different canal's over there

Cheers ken

[SRT]

Logitech TripleFi 10 are within your price range - now on special here.

[Nada]

Do canal phones cause any ear problems like wax blockage in the ear canal of infection?
I get swimmers ear so have stayed away from them after a bad experience overseas.

[GregWormald]

Do canal phones cause any ear problems like wax blockage in the ear canal of infection?
I get swimmers ear so have stayed away from them after a bad experience overseas.

If I had an infected ear, I would be very careful--of both canal phones and loud music overall.
There are reviews around that talk about how deep some canal phones go.
The Audeo Phonak ones I referred to are quite a shallow insert, although still get into the ear canal.

Greg

[elenalee]

thanks for the wonderfull post about the headphones
===============
Cheap Ipod Touch

[A J]

I've been a solid user of canal phones for the past 5 years or so, started off with the sony high end ones (forgotten model number) several sure sets and lately Grado GR8 and Ortofon EQ7. The Grado GR8 to my ears is the best made and sounding in ear phone. I use iot all the time, travelling (I used to use noise cancelling phones but the SQ used to bother me). The sound is clean, punchy, base is tight and the mid and treble are crystal clear. I'm about to list a set of GR8 (thought I had lost my set, bought a new set and subsequently found my old ones). I fully sanitise these in alcohol prep etc. The Ortofon's are interesting, the Grado's are great because they are low profile, so I can wear them while I'm snoozing, the Ortofons stick out a bit so less comfortable, but they have a pretty awesome, if slightly coloured sound. The GR8's are total killers for me - I don't think I would want anything else, and the build quality is rock-solid.

[DanTheMan]

I actually like the more expensive Apple ear buds. Shockingly good for the price and come with a mic!

Dan

[sfdoddsy]

I agree awith recommendation for Phonak Audeo. My Klipsch X10 broke on an overseas trip and I picked up a pair of 022s. They are great.

[bebop]

Just got myself a pair of Shure SE215 for use at work. I'm impressed so far. I prefer them to my other Klipsch S4i and Vsonic RE0.

For headphones, I look for a "fun" sound, as I predominately use them as background music while working, or just to relax at home or while travelling. And all powered via an iPhone.

The Vsonic RE0 is too cold sounding for my tastes. Not enough on the low end to and made some songs sound thin.

The S4i had enough bass, but the too fatiguing as the treble was too sibilant for my tastes.

So far the SE215 soundstage is better then the other two. Better detail and separation as well. Bass is very good. Closer to the S4i for bass but the bass is tighter then the S4i.

I've never had a Shure product before, but the fit on these are great. The S4i fit was good with the silicon, but I had trouble with foam tips. The RE0, I was never happy with the fit. But the SE215 fit is great with the supplied foam tips, and isolation is great. I cannot hear what is going on in the office around me.