Best In-Ear Monitors under $100

[sids911]

Hi All,

I want to get the best IEMs under 100USD or 4-5K INR.

The music that I listen to mostly is prog rock like Dream Theater and Dredg, Indian Classical (Instrumentals), Some pop like The Fray and Coldplay and occasionally some R&B/Hip-Hop.
So, varied music tastes and I wouldnt mind thumping bass either. Best balance of highs,mids and lows for me.

Enuff of that, lets come to choices that I have;

1. Shure SE110
2. Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3
3. Etymotic ER6i
4. Sennheiser CX-300
5. Bose Triport IE

Out of these, Bose is the only thing that I can get in India officially I guess. Others, I would have to scour them from somewhere outside India.

But, out of these, which ones provide the best balance of highs,mids and lows? Which ones are sheer value for money?
Can I get them in the grey market in Mumbai? If anyones ownes any of these, can they reply with a short review?

Oh, and I am using iPod 80Gb Classic, if that matters.

Thanks!

[iraghava]

I think the Sennheiser's are also available in India officially, not sure about the particular model you want but have been seeing them on sale here for a while now.

[HellwratH]

I got myself Shure E2C about two months back..and love them! Consider them too and its best if you can source it from US. For more info please look into this thread,
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/gadget...earphones.html

I think even shure is available in India, do check out some places where they sell professional equipment.

[gopz]

Sennheiser's are available officially at Apple stores.

JBL Noise canceling headphones (not in-ear type) are available for Rs.4500 in the grey market in Bangalore, and I think its worth it...Sam bhai can comment if he passes by this thread...

[sids911]

Originally Posted by gopz

Sennheiser's are available officially at Apple stores.

JBL Noise canceling headphones (not in-ear type) are available for Rs.4500 in the grey market in Bangalore, and I think its worth it...Sam bhai can comment if he passes by this thread...

Yeah, hope he passes by and shares some insight about the "Reference" series that they have. Sam bhai, are u listening?

Let me check for sennheisers at official Apple stores.

Btw, Shure E2c and E3c have been discontinued by the company. They are replaced by SE110 and SE210.

By any chance, someone with experience of Dual Driver IEM's here? They must sound pretty amazing. no?

[gunbir]

Originally Posted by sids911

I want to get the best IEMs under 100USD or 4-5K INR.... So, varied music tastes and I wouldnt mind thumping bass either.

Originally Posted by sids911

Yeah, hope he passes by and shares some insight about the "Reference" series that they have. Sam bhai, are u listening?

Well thanks to Sam, I have some experience with the JBL Reference 220 IEMs. Here's a review akin to my findings, so heres a link. In a nutshell they will suit you well cuz they are great for bass. Its like having a small sub in your head.



JBL Reference 220 Earphones | iLounge iPod Accessory Reviews

[Sam Kapasi]

Gunbir - you got the white ones? AFAIK we only have black in India.

[sids911]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Gunbir - you got the white ones? AFAIK we only have black in India.

Whats the price for them? For the black ones specifically?

and well, how do they compare with Shures and Sennheisers of the world?(I hope I aint asking you blasphemous question!!)

[sids911]

Well, I just heard Bose's Triport OE. and now I know whats Bass Bias.

I had to reduce bass on my iPod for a better perspective, otherwise it was just bass and more bass everywhere.

And also, now I know why people like their Bose equipments. more bass=nice sound to a lot of people.

I would definitely prefer a better balance in highs, mids and lows.

I can get Shure SE110 for 4000 INR in HK. Does it look like a good deal?

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by sids911

Whats the price for them? For the black ones specifically?

and well, how do they compare with Shures and Sennheisers of the world?(I hope I aint asking you blasphemous question!!)

Nothing blasphemous about it. They are made by AKG of austria, a sister company of JBL. AKG is one of the oldest and most reputed headphone mfrs in the world. IMO they rock.
And they cost about 3500/-

[appuchan]

Originally Posted by sids911

Hi All,

I want to get the best IEMs under 100USD or 4-5K INR.

The music that I listen to mostly is prog rock like Dream Theater and Dredg, Indian Classical (Instrumentals), Some pop like The Fray and Coldplay and occasionally some R&B/Hip-Hop.
So, varied music tastes and I wouldnt mind thumping bass either. Best balance of highs,mids and lows for me.

Enuff of that, lets come to choices that I have;

1. Shure SE110
2. Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3
3. Etymotic ER6i
4. Sennheiser CX-300
5. Bose Triport IE

Out of these, Bose is the only thing that I can get in India officially I guess. Others, I would have to scour them from somewhere outside India.

But, out of these, which ones provide the best balance of highs,mids and lows? Which ones are sheer value for money?
Can I get them in the grey market in Mumbai? If anyones ownes any of these, can they reply with a short review?

Oh, and I am using iPod 80Gb Classic, if that matters.

Thanks!

I have Grado SR225 and Shure SE210. Shure IEM models are really suitable for good quality portable music players like iPods. Ultimate Ears are also of very high class. Grado generally is of professional grade and demands a much better source. Sennheiser is more of generic good quality ones except for their audiophile range. Not sure of other ones mentioned.

[appuchan]

Originally Posted by sids911

Well, I just heard Bose's Triport OE. and now I know whats Bass Bias.

I had to reduce bass on my iPod for a better perspective, otherwise it was just bass and more bass everywhere.

And also, now I know why people like their Bose equipments. more bass=nice sound to a lot of people.

I would definitely prefer a better balance in highs, mids and lows.

I can get Shure SE110 for 4000 INR in HK. Does it look like a good deal?

I generally dont enjoy any Bose products as all of them appear artificial to me with high bass and trebles and lower mids. May be thats what they call "Sound Engineering"

[sids911]

Originally Posted by appuchan

I have Grado SR225 and Shure SE210.

I would have gone for Shure SE210 eyes closed. But they cost around 140 USD (Amazon.com) and thus wont fit my budget. Can I get them cheaper at local grey markets?

[reignofchaos]

The sennheiser is a rather cheap generic IEM. A 1200 rupee creative ep630 sounds as good as that sennheiser. I haven't heard the JBL so can't comment on them but I have heard the e2c/e3c/UE super.fi 3, ety er6i. I'd buy neither of these... what I'd get is the Altec Lansing IM716. Its made by etymotic and is based on the ety er4s design and costs way less than than it.

Hands down my favorite IEM in the budget category.

PS: Before you call me biased against sennheiser, I'd like to point out that at home I use an HD650 .

[hydrashok]

I've used a shure e2c and an e3c. I love the way they sound. The e3c sounds better, obviously, but the e2c isn't that bad either.

Shures sound very neutral, without any bias toward any type/kind of sound. IMHO they are totally faithful to the original signal -- no boosting or cutting anywhere.

So if you'd like a bit of extra bass, they will not sound good to you (Friends who use 900/- Sony earphones preferred the Sonys to the Shures as the Sonys gave better bass and treble ressponse).

I picked up both Shures from India itself, with B&W. The official importer is based in Mumbai.