Amplifiers and aftermarket earphones?

[jimhughes]

what earphones aftermarket do you suggest for S-10 maximum enjoyment? Are any of you using an amplifier to boost your S10 ouput and enhance your music. If so do you have suggestions or recommendations for amplifiers and earphone to go with an S10?

[andi001]

interest this too.

[DD]

What's your budget? (you can be looking at anywhere between $10 and $1000)
Are you looking for ear-buds, canalphones or IEMs?

And yes, there are amps, but how portable do you want to remain? The S10 is a very small player, and most headphone amps are around the size of an old iPod. Also headphone amps don't give a huge amount of benefit for earphones (unless you have the high impedance Yuin PK1, or some high end IEMs).

[andrewmel]

I tried a fairly cheap aftermarket amp, the PA2, IIRC, and it added a lot of noise with my Shures.

a

[jimhughes]

DD/Andrewmel: I don't want to spend a ton of money. I'd like to keep the IEM's under $150. I've had a couple of suggestions for skullcandy and Sennheiser X300B (as I recall). Both are within the given budget. I'm not an audiophile, but I do want to get the best quality I can afford. Quality to last as I 'm not prone to replace things everytime something new comes out. Thanks, Jim

[andrewmel]

I can recommend the Shure line, their products are of good quality, both in sound reproduction and build. Shure also have a great return and replace policy on broken equipment.

However this must be qualified as I have limited experience with other brands of top end gear, and old ears that are not as sensitive as they once were.

a

[jimhughes]

Andrewmel:
Thanks for your suggestion. I will investigat Schure. I've got a bit of time on my ears too, exacerbated by mid and high level hearing loss, thanks to Uncle Sugar. So schures might be right up my alley. Thanks, Jim

[DD]

With the Shure line, maybe look for a pair of well-treated older models second-hand. If I understand the Shure product line correctly, their 'new products' are essentially identical to the old ones just in different casings and the lineup shuffled around at bit with an extra mid-range model (which means that a like-new pair from the old range will be just as good).

Check out the used listings on www.head-fi.org. You can probably pick up some Shure e4c's for a good price (which are what I've got) and buy a new set of tips for the end which means the actual bit in contact with your ear is brand new.

[andrewmel]

The top end model, the E500 is not just a E5 in a new case, the whole driver system has been changed.

a

[jimhughes]

Andrewmel and DD Thank you for your suggestions and guidance. I appreciate it, Jim

[caramelsoul]

Originally Posted by andrewmel

The top end model, the E500 is not just a E5 in a new case, the whole driver system has been changed.

a

But the SE530 are the same as the E500.

[DD]

Originally Posted by andrewmel

The top end model, the E500 is not just a E5 in a new case, the whole driver system has been changed.

a

They've just slipped in an extra model to confuse you.
I remember reading about this - to keep the sales rolling over and shares healthy Shure sometimes rebrand products (this time with a more modern and consistent image - the last range had drifted in over time), whereas companies like Etymotic develop new products every time.

E2c = SE110 (cheapest single driver design)
E3c = SE210 (second single driver design)
E4c = SE310 (single drive design with 'Tuned BassPort' the same description given to the E4's)
E5c = SE420 (dual driver design)
E500 = SE530 (exactly the same aren't they?)

Some people say there are sound improvements, but looking at that list do you really think they put millions into developing new products which are marginally different than the old ones and having to change their whole production process to do so? I'm sceptical

[clieos]

I just want to point out that, E2c(SE110?) uses dynamic speaker unit. It was good when it was first released, but now you can find better (and cheaper) dynamic canalphones in the market, such as CrossRoads MylarOne X3/XB. E3c and above uses Balanced Armature speaker which greatly improve on detail (check this out).

Now a day you can get a relatively cheap IEM such as Etymotic ER6i or Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 3 studio for $60~100 (both are great entry class B.A. IEM). For $150, you might be able to get Future Sonic Atrio M5 (best dynamic IEM in the market) or a pair of Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 pro if you search around.

[jimhughes]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I've still not opened up my wallet and taken out der credit card. I do want to maximize my quality oof purchase and bang for my bucks. Your guidance has bee most helpful, Jim

[clieos]

As a general guidelines, I suggest you:
1) Figure out your budget limit.
2) Where/when/how will you use the headphone the most (environment wise).
3) Any particular form (size, shape..) of headphone in your mind?
4) What type of sonic quality (bass, detail, balance, soundstage, warm, cold..) are you looking for?
5) List down the type/genre of music you listen the most.

[VipFREAK]

I'm not sure how well it would do but I'm thinking of getting this to get the S10 louder. Although it might not be needed if I get a Clix 2. lol

[DaHarder]

I find that the CrossRoads Mylar Onex3 IEM has great 'sonic synergy' with the S10, and at US 40.00 they won't break the bank...

[DaHarder]

Here are three sets of In Ear Monitors (IEMs) that I've found to sound very good with my S10/2gb (left to right)

- Ultimate.Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro (around US 225.00)

- CrossRoads Mylar Onex3 (around US 40.00)

- Shure SE-530 (around US 450.00)

You really can go wrong (sonically) with any of them...

[DaHarder]

Originally Posted by VipFREAK

I'm not sure how well it would do but I'm thinking of getting this to get the S10 louder. Although it might not be needed if I get a Clix 2. lol

You're effort might be better spent on getting more efficient earspeakers than that... thing!

[Mike]

Just to correct the above, the Shure new line of IEMs is not the same as the on-going original series, with the one top-end exception. The fit is different (the new series fits and stays in my ears better), the cords are different, and I personally find the sound to be slightly cleaner (but that also can be due to the fit) in the SE210 model.