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Earphones Reviewed (With Pics) |
IRFCA_WDG-3A
Joined: Nov 24, 2005
Posts: 359
From: Rajdhani Express!!
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Continued from "this" Discussion...
Well, with so many days of experimentation, I daresay, I have become an audiophile, thanks to my K750. And in the process I did manage to sample 9 different earphones (including sony ericsson's default ones).
So here's my review showing who fared how well.
I have taken the Default  K750 earphones (HPB-60) as the benchmark for comparing the other models, so that it can be easy for others to relate to the quality.
HPB-60
Comment:
The default K750 earphones, used here as a benchmark.
Pros:
a. Good Bass, but slightly soft and shallow
c. Low-Medium street noise isolation
Cons:
a. Slightly poor mid/high frequency reponse.
b. Earbuds aren't comfortable
Rating : 7/10 OPEN
HPM-70
Comment:
I attained musical nirvana with these!
Pros:
a. Marvellous bass response - soft/very deep.
b. In-ear design almost completely isolates street noise
c. Very comfortable
Cons:
a. Poor response to mid- and high range frequencies
b. Very fragile/delicate wiring
Rating : 7/10 IN-EAR
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AND NOW, the ratings among OPEN TYPE earphones:
(Please note, that names like Sennheiser, Koss and other such "pro"
brands are very rare here, and all the models I reviewed below are
from consumer brands only. Hence I cannot comment on any direct/
indirect comparision between products from such brands.)
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5. 
AIWA (Don't know the model #, see pic)
Comment: Got these ones real cheap off a grey market, most probably it had shipped with some Aiwa walkman. Never expected any quality, but was impressed with what I got, so not much to crib about  .
Pros :
a. Music quality comparable to the HPB-60 (Default K750)
b. Great value for money - Unexpectedly good sound quality for a cheap price.
Cons :
a. Poor build, cheap plastics used.
b. Slightly tinny sound.
Rating: 6/10 OPEN
4. 
iBall iB306
Comment:
It was an altogether different iball game. The first set I purchased was faulty, and the left earpiece made a nasty crackling sound. It was immediately replaced, but second one wasn't too good either. As I reached home and pulled out the earpiece, the earbud simply split, and I had to manage it with some super glue.
Pros:
a. Acceptable quality, good mid- and high-range frequency response
b. Looks good
Cons:
a. Poor build/assembly quality
b. Slightly low bass output.
Rating: 6/10 OPEN
3. 
Phillips "Bass Vent" (Can't recall the model #, see pic)
Comment:
Initially after I bought them, I was appalled at the very low bass output. However, after putting on a pair of silicone caps, the bass output increased magnificiently.
Pros:
a. Small earbuds give a very snug fit
b. Great bass response, soft/deep
c. Extremely lightweight
Cons :
a. Very poor midrange and low range output.
c. Without the silicone caps, bass output is appalling. However, it doesn't ship with the silicone caps, and you need to find a pair yourself.
Rating : 7/10 OPEN
2. 
Panasonic HV377
Comments:
Looks wise, it looked very chinese (read cheap) and girlish, and the bass too seemed low unless I pulled on a pair of silicone caps. Too bad, it doesn't come with matching white silicone caps, the black caps look very ugly on the white buds.
Pros:
a. Good bass, though a bit muffled, soft/deep.
b. Slightly muffled mid-and high frequencies, but better than the HPB-60
c. Ships with a carrying case
Cons:
a. Looks very girlish/chinese
b. Not too comfortable, doesn't ship with silicone caps.
Rating: 8/10 OPEN
1. 
SONY Fontopia MDR-E737 (same as E818, but with neckband design)
Comment:
The best sound quality I ever got on any earphone ever. The sound detail is very high - I could hear fine treble bits that I never heard before, and the bass was crisp and deep - Not too deep like the HPM-70, but just enough for the perfect balance. Also the bass notes are sharp, and not soft, as in the case of the HPB-60.
Pros:
a. Excellent bass, sharp and deep.
b. Excellent mid and high range frequency response
c. Comfortable enough, though the buds are a but too big for a snug fit.
Cons:
a. The only disadvantage I could find was poor street noise isolation - but again, i'm just being picky here, that's typical of all open-type earphones 
Rating: 9/10 OPEN
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Top Picks in Closed-type / IN-EAR earphones
(With inputs from paternoster, pmerryman, AlfBaxter)
______________________________________________
1. 
Sony MDR-EX-71
Comments:
Pros:
a. Very high comfort
b. bass is superb
c. hight tones are good
Cons:
a. Midtones are good but not superb
Rating: 9/10 IN-EAR
2. 
Sennheiser CX300
Comments:
Pros:
a. Clarity of sound, Crisp, clean treble, Open midband
b. Excellent bass response (less powerful but clearer and less muddy than HPM-70)
c. Very good stereo imaging/soundstage, Generally much more detailed and open sound than HPM-70.
Cons:
a. Sound isolation not that great
b. Treble can be a bit harsh on the ear at high volume, may need to use equalizer
c. Hiss (K750i) is more noticeable due to increased sensitivity
Rating: 8/10 IN-EAR
That's it for the time being, if any one else have reviews, please post it here for the benefit of all audiophiles 
Cheers,
BZ
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[ This Message was edited by: IRFCA_WDG-3A on 2006-05-12 10:25 ]
[ This Message was edited by: IRFCA_WDG-3A on 2006-05-15 05:35 ] | |
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mcrosser
Joined: Oct 11, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: Peru
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I use a Panasonic RP-HS41, and I must say, the sound quality is really superb!! It handles treble and bass really good, man I love it. It's really confortable and the bass produces vibration in the ear wich is a nice sensation . one of the cons is that the sourroundig noise is only muffled 50% say. and also the people around can hear your music unless it is in somewhat low volume. My mom is allways telling me to lower the volume I rate it 8/10. cheers
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pmerryman
Joined: Jun 02, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Oldham,Uk
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I use these Sony MDR-EX71SLW Stereo Earphones. Very good bass on these, and they take out 80% of the street noise. Very comfy to wear, and the price is excellent. 8/10
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IRFCA_WDG-3A
Joined: Nov 24, 2005
Posts: 359
From: Rajdhani Express!!
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The Sony EX-71 is inarguably one of the best, only below shure and etymotic.
Although I havent tried them out, if that's better than HPM 70, it should get 10/10 I believe!
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cipri
Joined: Apr 12, 2006
Posts: 117
From: Romania,Deva
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the hpm-70 earphone haven't any good bass.i the sound is not powerfull.i use them with my k750i and i dont't like the quality os sound.maybe is because my phne.is not like w800?but my first handsfree from k750 the quality of sound was more good than hpm-70. |
EastCoastStar
Joined: Dec 07, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: orlando fl US
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thank you for creating this thread! it will help alot of people out, and should make people stop with the best headset threads. thanks!
Its good to be back! |
paternoster
Joined: Dec 03, 2005
Posts: 87
From: Belgium
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The Sony EX-71 are probably the bestearphones in the 'affordable' category.
Very high comfort
Bass is superb
Midtones are good but not superb
Hight tones are good
If you have got money to spend, have a look at ultimate ears.
http://www.ultimateears.com |
themarques
Joined: Jan 26, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: London, Tokyo,
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Quote:
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On 2006-05-12 20:36:59, paternoster wrote:
The Sony EX-71 are probably the bestearphones in the 'affordable' category.
Very high comfort
Bass is superb
Midtones are good but not superb
Hight tones are good
If you have got money to spend, have a look at ultimate ears.
http://www.ultimateears.com
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Mmm I got two UE5 PRO AND UE10...they are simply amazing and I dont think I will go back to normal in ear monitors again, I am in the process of getting the Sensaphonics...now those are true audiophile.
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AlfBaxter
Joined: Jan 20, 2005
Posts: 100
PM |
I use Sennheiser CX300
Pros:
Clarity of sound
Crisp, clean treble
Open midband
Excellent bass response (less powerful but clearer and less muddy than HPM-70)
Very good stereo imaging/soundstage
Generally much more detailed and open sound than HPM-70
Louder than HPM-70
Cons:
Sound isolation not that great
Treble can be a bit harsh on the ear at high volume, may need to use equalizer
Hiss (K750i) is more noticeable due to increased sensitivity
Overall I would give these 8/10 (I would give HPM-70 6.5/10)
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needles
Joined: May 27, 2004
Posts: 20
From: Brighton UK
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The EX71's were what I WAS using when I got my W800i.....
but I found that the longer right-hand earpiece cord which goes round the back of the neck started to scretch and eventually split, exposing the wires inside.
IMO the EX71's are THE BEST (even though the ones bundled with the phone are supposedly the same). So much so I went straight out and bought another pair, but this time the white ones. |
IRFCA_WDG-3A
Joined: Nov 24, 2005
Posts: 359
From: Rajdhani Express!!
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Thanks all for the inputs. As I mentioned earlier, hi-fi brands like Sennheiser, Koss, Shure and others (UE etc) are not available here for reviewing, hence I could not rate them.
I request the members who review the earphones to please post their reviews alongwith the pics and their ratings (out of 10)
ALSO, since the sound quality is different in closed-type (in-ear) earphones from that of open-type earphones, and they are not comparable to each other, there will be two different systems of ratings.
X/10 OPEN will represent the rating of an open earphone
X/10 INEAR will represent the rating of an in-ear set.
Thanks
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[ This Message was edited by: IRFCA_WDG-3A on 2006-05-15 05:21 ] | |
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Posted: 2006-05-12 11:21
