Guess I can say bye bye to my business expenses.
2 Likes
Just a long shot but going to try my luck. I’m not really an iem guy, but i found an old pair of Klipsch reference x6i iem, and just wow! The tips I think are oval (vs round)and with a good seal it has a musical balanced tuning with great bass (not basshead definitly). It has now peaked my interest in the next step up from it. The actual iem is extremely small and light. Thank you in advance for the hifi guides gang input
2 Likes
If fit is important then you might want to try the Sennheiser ie300 or ie600. It’s small and from what I have read most people find it is very comfortable but there are no guarantees as everyone ear is different. It’s a v shaped tuning and the 600 is better but also more expensive.
Thanks but looking for a mostly neutral profile with a warm musicality. I believe the Klipsch is a single balanced armature driver if that makes a difference.
1 Like
Fwiw I used Squig Link to make an EQ profile for the IE300 that mimics the IE600 and it sounds pretty great.
3 Likes
1 Like
Thanks. Will do
1 Like
The TRN A31 in your spreadsheet is no longer being sold. Which other 3.5mm 2 pin cable do you recommend?
Also, I just bought the Radius Deep Mount thanks to your ranking!
hmm, thats a cable @paulwasabii added to the list.
It looks like they might have replace it with the T2S Pro.
Cable A3 is a classic rec.
I do have a T2S now. I should add it. It works better than the cable that came with Kirin which has a loose connection on one side and is not usable.
1 Like
Well, damn. I just made a bud that is beating most iems in sub-bass. 
Compared it with the EX800ST with blutack and simulated the bass with PEQ.
8 Likes
Just got the LBBS… my first earbud (not counting the ones from 20 years ago that were bundled with mp3 players). First impression: Not so good… but also very unusual feeling, since I have only listened to IEMs the past years… and also I am not sure if I am doing something wrong.
Some dumb earbud beginner questions:
- Is there a recommended foam to use soundwise? The LBBS came with white and black foams, some with a hole in the middle, some covering the driver grill completely.
- How do you put the foams on? The circle is tiny and the earbuds have very round and thick edges.
- How do you wear/place/position the buds? If I just hang them so they fit effortlessly, the driver isn’t directed towards the holes in my ears, but instead it directs the sound more towards the wall of my head. That makes it sound very bright with no bass at all. If I angle them with my hands, so the sound is directed more towards the hole the sound improves a lot, but the buds don’t keep that angle if i let go.
- Do you have a (semi-)seal when wearing the buds? If I slightly angle and press the buds they kind of seal and sound completely different, but no way they stay in like that just by themselves
4 Likes
I use the ones without the hole, full foams. The ones with holes are called donut foams.
You need to stretch the foam a bit before you put them on, its easier that way. (be careful so u dont tear them.)
I wear buds diagonally.
no, they are not supposed to give u a seal. They feel more like the Koss KSC75 or open-back hps.
6 Likes
Thanks for the reply. I was able to put on the foams. I will do some more experimenting, but first impression is, that I like the LBBS’s sound better without foams, but they do seem to help with comfort.
The trick with diagonally inserting them seems to help a lot sound and comfort wise. I was just able to get a glimpse of earbud magic.
I will do some listening the next days before I will form an opinion on wether buds are for me or not
the LBBS shell is pretty unconventional, so if it doesnt suit u, you should try the vido buds before u dismiss buds entirely.
3 Likes
I’ve had luck wearing earbuds with the cables over the ear, like an IEM, and gently pressing the buds down toward the ear canals. It eliminates some of the gravity stress.
This works especially well for the FX500-type buds (for me), but I’ll occasionally wear the LBBS this way, too.
3 Likes
I also suggest using full foams - sound is more rounded, warm and less metallic. I personally don’t feel much difference between donut and no foam and generally don’t like buds that way at all.
Fit and inconsistency of the sound due to that are the biggest problems of buds in my opinion especially compared to IEMs when once the seal is achieved you could expect same results with same tips every time. But if you ask me if you don’t need to run or excersise with them and use them sitting it is for enough. I worked go even further than Riku comparing it more to listening of near field monitors, than headphones as the performed sound is not constant and changes slightly while you move closer and further from the optimal focal position:)
2 Likes
Agree, the differences between naked and donut is minor and depends mostly on the fit.
2 Likes
For me with the LBBS the difference between no foam and donuts is pretty huge. It must be either because the holes on the backside of the case are blocked or because the foam just creates a better seal. Without foams the bass is pretty weak, but with foams I am surprised about the level of bass buds can create (even if it might not be bass head level, it’s much better than with open back over ear headphones).
Second impressions are definitely much more positive. Good Bass, good treble and air… pretty good resolution for 50$. There are things about the tuning I don’t like, but that pretty much just boils down to personal preference in the end. I can definitely see how earbuds are a viable alternative to IEMs. Will probably compare them to a couple of IEMs over the weekend and am curious to see how it stacks up against them.
4 Likes