iPad & Audiophile Setup

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Chucky

If you would like to use an iPad as an audiophile centre piece for your headphones/earphones here are some ideas to get you started:

SOFTWARE:
– Flac player app lets you play FLAC files.
– If you’re using a Mac you can download XLD software and convert Flac files to ALAC (apple lossless) files then you can sync your music to your iPad.

OR
As iPads top at 64Gb, storage will be limited for high bitrate/sample music files. If you have an 16Gb iPad (like me) then space is a premium and you won’t be able have too many HQ music files on your iPad.

SO
You should stream all your songs. In iTunes you can turn on your home sharing preference and stream all your higher bitrate music stored either on your laptop or desktop (Of course this is assuming that you have an Internet with WiFi connection or you can AdHoc). Plus, as the iPad is capped at sample rate of 48 kHz (higher bitrate songs can be transferred to your iPad) you can listen to music with higher sample rate (e.g. 96 kHz) in your iTunes library.

HARDWARE:
1) Attach a headphone amp:

Entry Level
FiiO E6, E11,

Mid/High Level
ALO’s The National and The Continental

Accessories recommended: LOD (Line Out Dock) cable such as FiiO’s L9 ($14.95) or ALO’s The Cricket ($135). A LOD cable lets you bypass the iPad’s amp.

2) Products that “Officially” bypass the iPad’s DAC.

a) Fostex HP-P1 portable (battery powered) headphone DAC/Amp
b) Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo (battery powered) — only DAC
c) NuForce iDo desktop headphone DAC/Amp

3) Products that “Unofficially” bypass the iPad’s DAC.

You have an iPad > Apple’s camera connection kit > USB cable to Desktop DACs that are compatible***:

Products tested that bypass the iPad’s DAC (more products will be added to the list).

a) FiiO E7 headphone amp/DAC (must set the usb charging setting to OFF)

b) FiiO E17 must be different from E7, does’t work.

c) Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 UBS DAC* > a headphone amp (e.g. portable amps like FiiO E11 or desktop amps like HiFi MAN’s EF-5 tube amp).

*(connected to AC/DC power source)

d) KingRex UD384 32bits/384kHz USB DAC** > headphone amp with analogue RCA input or digital Coaxial>

**(AC/DC power source OR if you want to be totally portable and achieve a cleaner sound, use KingRex’s U Power — a Li-ion battery pack)

Advantages of using an external DAC to the iPad’s DAC — better and louder sound. If you connect just an amp to your iPad, you might find some amps to be “underpowered” when driving particular headphones.

Accessories required for particular setups:
Apple’s Camera Connection Kit (must), USB cable, RCA to RCA to connect to a headphone amp with analogue input, RCA to 3.5mm cable, digital coaxial cable

*** NOTE: You’ll get an Accessory Unavailable Message - the iPad can not properly power this device (e.g. FiiO’s E10 does not work as a DAC as it’s not battery powered and needs usb for power).

When FiiO’s E6 was attached to a USB DAC, there was a degradation of sound quality. I tested different RCA to 3.5mm cables and same results. Either the connectors or the circuitry can’t handle the extra load of power — I’m not an electrical engineer so I can’t explain what’s happening inside. But the E6 seemed loud even when the volume level was turned down. It was akin to how speakers sound when not sufficiently amped. I’ll have to test this out a bit more.

Focal Spirit One (mini review)

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Chucky

: Focal Spirit One headphones

Initial Impressions:

Sound Isolation:
For portable headphones, isolation is key and the Spirit One does a pretty good job as it has enough clamping force.

Although the Spirit One is listed as a circum-aural (over ear) design, the cups are more supra-aural in that they’re small, covering most of your ears (medium size), but not all.

Design and Construct:
The size of the Spirit One feels nice an compact and looks good when you put them on. The headphone cups don’t stick out when worn and the headband is thin enough so that when you wear the headphones, it won’t mess up your hair (this is important as you’ll be wearing them out).

Although in picture and even in person, it looks like the headphones are made of all aluminum (chrome), they’re an amalgamation of aluminum (outer part of headband arms, middle of the cups), rubber (head band and outer cups) and plastic. The headphones feel very sturdy on and off. The ear pads are of synthetic leather. The fabric cord with remote control is very nice — the cord is perfect length for portable use.

Sound:
Most importantly the Spirit One sounds just about right for a $279 headphone. I would characterize the sound signature as being neutral and balanced.

I think the highs are where the Spirit One shines. The highs are clear, not as detailed as some full sized headphones, but very good for portable headphones. Vocals sound alive and have clarity.

The upper mids to mids are smooth and well defined.

The lows are a bit on the thin side, but you get enough bass when the music calls for it. However, if you’re a bass head then the Spirit One won’t appease you.

Sound Stage is about where it should be for portable closed back headphones. I’d say above average.

The Verdict:
If you’re looking for a great mid-fi portable headphone suitable for most genre of music, then the Spirit is the “One” to look for.

Shure SRH1840 Initial Impressions

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Chucky

Impressions so far:

After about 25 hours of burn in period — Compared to Sennheiser HD800, they’re not as dynamic sounding or as detailed and slightly less bass, but we’re talking about half the price of an HD800 here. Compared to AKG Q701s, the SRH 1840 has a more pronounced bass.

Very comfortable and feels light on your head (267g w/out cables). Due to its size (smaller than HD800 or AKG Q701) and light weight, the SRH1840 doesn’t feel overwhelming when worn.

more to follow soon…

: Shure SRH1840

Comply Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers Review

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Chucky

: Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers with package

Initial Impressions:
My initial response after trying on the Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers is that they REALLY make the Apple Earbuds comfortable to wear. However, once I started listening to a track, I was sorely reminded that the music was still coming out of inferior Apple Earbud drivers.

The Sound: 7 / 10
Even with the Whoomp! EE, Apple Earbuds sound horrible for highs, mids, and lows. However, Whoomp! EE does add some bass, but only up to a point, it doesn’t make the bass tighter or deeper. The sound stage is somewhat improved, but still AE quality. Basically, the Enhancers are good, but doesn’t perform miracles.

So how does the Whoomp! EE improve AE? With the Enhancers on, the music is delivered directly into your ear-cannel, so you get a more intimate and engaging sound. Plus, you can decrease the volume one or two levels down and hear the same loudness. I took the left Whoomp! EE off the AE and tested the qualitative difference having the Enhancers off on one side. With the Enhancers off in one ear, I felt like sound was leaking and music, further away.

: Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers with nano

The Looks: 8 / 10
Whoomp! EE looks very natural on the Apple Earbuds. The “upgraded mod” looks as if it was designed by Apple. Looks wise, Whoomp! design is great, but the grey foam part worries me. As it looks like it may turn yellow after a certain period (like other grey Comply foam tips). However, the foam tips on Whoomp! EE look to be different in material, so time will tell if they’ll turn yellowish (I’ll post an update to the possible colour change).

: Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers hanging

Function: 7.5 / 10
The Whoomp! EE doesn’t greatly “enhance” the sound quality, but it definitely makes the Apple Earbuds comfortable to wear and provides added functionality.

With the enhancement, you can now use the Apple Earbuds for working out / jogging without the earbuds slipping out of your ears every 5 minutes. Actually, the earbuds stayed firmly on my ear and felt very light weight. It actually felt like I had cotton swab in my ears.

For people who feel that AE just don’t fit in their ears properly, Whoomp! EE might provide a better fit as the foam tips are malleable to different ear-cannel shapes and sizes.

The Enhancers also provided slightly improved sound isolation, which would make the AE better for commuting purposes (or for any other situations requiring sound isolation).

: Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers closeup

Boom for you Buck Rating: 8 / 10
Is the price worth the upgrade of Apple Earbuds? Sonically speaking no, but for $10 you get great comfort and fit and for me that’s worth the price of upgrade.

Total: 30.5 / 40
The New Comply Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers are for individuals who don’t mind the sound quality of their music, but want better comfort/fit for their AE. Whoomp! EE almost makes the Apple Earbud enjoyable to listen to… nah who am I kidding.

Pros: very comfortable to wear, easy to apply the upgrade on AE
Cons: durability of grey foam tips, marginal gain in sound quality

Orotofon e-Q5 Review

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Chucky

: Ortofon e-Q5 and box

Initial Impressions:
The Ortofon e-Q5 is a bright, accurate sounding IEM. Slightly heavier as a result of it’s solid aluminum acoustic chamber. With a fit that isn’t the most secure, when compared to Shure or Westone IEMs.

The Sound: 9 / 10
I have been listening to the e-Q5 for the last 3 weeks and I have to honestly say that I’ve grown to love them. At first I thought they were lacking in bass, but as I listened to them for a longer duration, I didn’t miss the bass much and really appreciated how detailed and crystal clear the highs sounded. The upper mids were clean and airy. Which leads me to the sound stage of e-Q5. So far the e-Q5 has provided one of the best sound stage I’ve heard on any IEMs. Even though the ear tips were plugged straight into my ears, the sound encompassed my ears like I was wearing headphones. As mentioned above, bass isn’t e-Q5’s strong point, but when listening to music with lots of bass, the e-Q5 presented a tight although slightly thin response. The use of Westone E6 headphone amp made the e-Q5 extremely pleasurable to listen to as the amp provided enough bass for music to sound fun (noted in Westone AMP’d review).

: Ortofon e-Q5 and nano

The Looks: 9 / 10
The Ortofon e-Q5 comes in red, black, and silver. The red anodized aluminum I reviewed was the first thing I noticed about these IEMs. The red chrome aluminum and it’s cylindrical shape makes the e-Q5 look very modern and chic. WIth silver accent on the bottom, these IEMs look like state of the art electronics pieces. When you wear them, they stick out like Combos crackers.

Function: 8 / 10
I tested the e-Q5s in various environments and activities and here are the results: provides great sound isolation for commuting and listening to music at home in peace. For light cardio the e-Q5s stay in your ears firm enough. However, for intensive workout I found myself readjusting the IEMs for a firmer fit. The Comply foam tips (included with silicon tips) provided a securer fit for my ears. The trick to achieving a securer fit is to put the wire over your ears. This helps to support the weight and the IEMs don’t droop down.
Distinguishing between right (red) and left (black) was very easy as the e-Q5 comes colour coded (bottom of the chamber). The bottom part of the cable is flexible, soft, and thick providing tangle free usage. The upper left and right part of the cable which connect to the aluminum chambers is thinner and as a result prone to microphonics. If you loop the cable around your ears then you have better protection against microphonics as the Y part of the cable becomes shorter and less prone to come in contact with your clothes. Looping the cable around your ears seem a bit awkward as the IEMs are not designed to be worn this way, but a) provided a securer fit, b) protects against microphonics.

: Ortofon e-Q5 closeup

Boom for your Buck Rating: 9 / 10
Priced at $300 CAD, these IEMs sit between Shure SE 425 and SE 535 in sound and price performance. Cheaper than Klipsch X10i by $50 dollars, the X10i provides better bass and comes with a remote control, while the e-Q5 has better highs and sound stage.

Total: 35 / 40
If you like precise, realistic music then e-Q5’s sound signature is the perfect solution for you.

Pros: crystal clear highs, good sound stage, looks great
Cons: slightly heavy as a result the fit isn’t as secure as some IEMs

Note: Ortofon is a Danish company famous for making great phono cartridges. And Oroton Japan produces the e-Q5 IEMs. The e-Q7, it’s older sibling, has been discontinued.

HEADFONEshop featuring Westone’s AMP’d Promo (mini reviews)

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Chucky

For a limited time, Westone UM2/UM2 RC (removable cable) and Westone 2 / 3 IEMs will come packaged with a free Westone E6 by FiiO (similar specs to E5, but in a lighter, smaller package with options for gain control (through EQ)- low gain for IEMs and high gain for headphones with higher impedance) …will add my impression of the Westone E6 headphone amp in a couple of days.

This is a great chance to upgrade your earphones and get into portable headphone amps. Although majority of IEMs do not necessarily require a headphone amp, it will improve upon an IEMs’ sound level, bring out the details, gain body or punchier bass, and make the overall music sound smoother and less raw. And if you already own a pair of headphones with high impedance (the amp can handle headset impedance: 16Ω~300Ω), you can pair it with this amp for an ultra portable rig.

You can visit HEADFONEshop and test out the IEMs with Westone E6 headphone amp or purchase the below products online at www.headfoneshop.com/eshop.

Westone IEMs with Westone E6 Headphone Amp by FiiO

Westone E6 Headphone Amp by FiiO mini Review:
IEMs used: Westone 2, 3, and UM2
Headphones used: Sennheiser HD 598 and AKG K272 HD

The Westone E6 has 4 different settings. Neutral (no light), Extra Bass (red, made the SQ sound artificial and muddy), and what seems like high gain (blue) and low gain (purple). Through out my testing I preferred the blue light setting. With this setting I was able to get a tighter, full bodied bass. With super low bass frequencies, distortions were less apparent. The mids sounded smoother and less raw and the songs gained a bit more detail in the highs. With the different IEMs used, the E6 accentuated the particular IEM’s pluses. For example, Westone 3’s bass (especially the low low bass) was even more prevalent with the amp. And the UM2’s overall balanced low/mid/highs were highlighted. With the Westone 2, the bass became tighter, and slightly more emphasized.

: Westone E6 Headphone Amp, Westoe 3, and Nano

Paired with headphones the E6 will gain you the extra oomph in power to drive them with at a higher volume level (higher the ohm level, the more useful E6 becomes). I noticed a more prominent bass response with the AKG K272 HD and a fuller tighter bass with Sennheiser HD 598.

With the E6 you’ll hear a slight hissing noise in the background if you have the amp plugged in, the volume high and no song playing. But you won’t notice any hissing when you’re listening to music or if you have the amp volume on 40–50% (about 10 clicks on the digital rocker) and control the mp3 player’s volume level.

: Westone E6 clipped front

Overall, the Westone E6 will improve your IEMs/headphones’ sound quality just enough for you to want to use the amp whenever you can. And with the diminutive size you can carry it with you wherever you go.

The Bad: Add another device that’s a finger print magnet as the lacquered black finish just loves finger oil.

Note: A fully charged battery should get you around 10 hours. I’ll add a definite battery usage after I test it out for a week. You can utilize the E6 with your laptop to improve it’s sound quality as well.

: Westone E6 clipped back

Update (Aug 31^st): After having used the Westone E6 for the last week I can say that it’s definitely worth using this device for any IEM. I’ve been using the E6 with Ortofon e-Q5 and I’m really enjoying the e-Q5 for it’s great detail, accuracy, and clarity. While the E6 helps boost the e-Q5’s slightly lacking bass to a level that’s just enough (even at E6’s blue setting). I think the two are a great pairing. (battery avg. about 3 days of usage <8-10h>, powered off when not in use)

: ALO cable and Orotofon e-Q5 connected to nano

CAUTION: The 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable that came with the E6 is now non functioning. I’m losing sound in my right channel. When I first plugged in the jack I noticed that the jack was freely swinging around when the amp wasn’t clipped to my pocket (or the clip accidentally became lose as I was moving around). I also found the supplied cable length to be a bit awkward, not quite short or long enough. Either the cable is of very cheap construct or I wasn’t careful enough. I’m now using ALO’s 30pin to 3.5mm LOD cable and I have to say the Wesston E6 looks and sounds better (the cable is about 4 times the price of the amp). Plus you only have to worry about controlling the volume level on your amp.

Westone E6 Review:
(by Emerson) / IEMs use: UM3X RC

… once the amplifier is plugged in with my iphone and UM3X RC earphones the sound quality is enhanced slightly. Lows go lower and the highs seems crisper, mids are roughly the same. The overall sound signature seems to have better depth as well.

The battery life on the amplifier is pretty decent, can probably get through two days of normal usage (around 4–5 hours per day). The equalizer settings are rather vague (since I can’t find a menu/manual to tell me what each of the colours for the EQ settings mean) but in general the Red is a bass booster, Blue is probably a treble booster and purple is a combination of the two. There is also a setting where the EQ enhancements seems to be turned off (colourless) as well..

Besides that I think there is not much to say about the amplifier. It provides pretty decent enhancements to any headphone that I use. I also use it to enhance the sound output from my laptop to my 2.1 speaker set at home as well. It provided more substantial sound enhancements than when paired with the Westones… It is a nice little add on to the earphones!

Westone 1 Review

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Chucky

Westone 1 w/ box

Initial Impressions:
Trying on Westone 1 IEMs for the first time, I noticed an absence of bass but was drawn in by the clarity of vocals and the extreme comfort of wearing them.

The Sound: 8 / 10
Like I mentioned above, the Westone 1’s strong point is it’s upper mids to highs. The first thing you’ll notice when listening to the Westone 1 is how clear the vocals sound and the detailed separation of highs. If you listen to music and with a lot of vocals (e.g. classic rock) or like acoustic songs, then you’ll enjoy these IEMs. The Westone 1 does an adequate job of representing the lower mids to bass. The bass was never muddy or distorted, songs sounded crisp and tight. But what was lacking was that kick or oomph to the music. I couldn’t “feel” the drumming beats or the thumping sound of the bass. My yearning for more bass might be a bias towards Shure SE 215’s sound signature (pronounced bass) though. However, stacked up against SE 215 in treble, Westone 1 is the “clear” winner. I’d say the Westone 1 has better highs than even Klipsch Image S4. Finally, I seldom talk about sound stage for IEMs, but while I was running a comparison of the aforementioned SE 215 and Image S4 to Westone 1, I noticed that the Westone 1 had pretty good sound stage (for IEMs). There was a bit of airiness and openness to the songs not apparent in SE 215 and Image S4.

Westone 1 and nano

The Looks: 9 / 10
The Westone 1’s design is a pleasant and modern representation of IEMs on the current market. And the imprinted graphic logo of “1” using green as an outline, gives the lacquer black IEMs an edgy feel. Plus, the intertwined cables also give it a serious and sophisticated look to the overall look of the design. Finally, the low profile right angled jack sits nicely to an mp3 player when plugged in (the jack doesn’t protrude out).

Westone 1 worn on left ear

Function: 9 / 10
The Westone 1 feels a bit cheap when you handle it for the first time as it’s light, but the deficiency of it’s mass is a plus when you have them on. The IEMs are very comfortable to wear and the comply foam tips give proper seal, providing no discomfort inside your ears. This is an important point for some people with sensitive ears or for those who feel that sticking something in their ears feels foreign. For those using an iPhone or mp3 player with a case that has a small opening, the smaller, low profile jack fits perfectly. (unlike the current Shure SE line). Speaking of cables, they provide great protection against micro phonics and doesn’t tangle up easily. The Westone 1 is great for working out, commuting, and for any activities you want sound isolation.

Westone 1 low profile right angled jack

Boom for your Buck Rating: 7.5 / 10
As the Westone 1 is around $20 more than SE 215 or Image S4. They’re not the best in Boom for your Buck Rating.

Total: 33.5 / 40
If you have sensitive ears, demand comfort, and inclined towards music with good vocals and upper mids to highs, then the Westone 1 will be a good choice for you.

Pros: low profile right angled jack, comfortable comply foam tips, clarity of highs

Cons: costs more than it’s competitors, grey foam tips change colour (yellowish), requires extra effort to distinguish between right and left drivers

Headphone pics # 1

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Chucky

Wondering how they look on your head?

Sennheiser HD 228 White

Sennheiser HD 228 White, left

right side… good looking headphones on the go, but not the best in sound quality.

Sennheiesr HD 228 White, right

Sennheiser HD 238i Precision

Sennheiser HD 238i left

and right side… looks alright, provides great sound quality on the go.

Sennheiser HD 238i right side

Sennheiser HD 558

Sennheiser HD 558 left

and right side… pretty decent looking, very comfortable with audiophile sound quality.

Sennheiser HD558 right

AKG Q 460 White

AKG Q 460 left

and right side… very fashionable headphones on the go, provides enough sound quality and isolation.

AKG Q 460 right

AKG K 272 HD

AKG K 272 HD left

and right side… they look huge right? But provides audiophile SQ and VERY comfortable to wear.

AKG K 272 HD right

Shure SRH 550 DJ

Shure SRH550DJ left

and right side… these headphones look a bit warped on the top, may need to wear them in.

Shure_SRH550DJ_right

Well that’s it for now. You should have a good feel for how the headphones might look on your head. If you have any questions like the sound quality or sound isolation of these headphones then feel free to leave a comment.

Sennheiser HD 238i Precision Review

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Chucky

Sennheiser HD 238i Precision with box

Initial Impressions:
The Sennheiser HD 238i Precision felt a little cheap upon opening the product and touching it. But after hearing the first note, I was very impressed by the sound quality and sound stage.

The Sound: 9 / 10
These headphones are a great performer in the sound department and that’s what you need from a pair of headphones, right? First of all, the sound stage is very good for a portable supra-aural headphone thanks to its open back design. The music has depth and vastness to it. The sound stage is much better than HD 228s and although not as good as the HD 558s, you will definitely be impressed. The lows/mids/highs are for the most part neutral on the HD 238i. The vocals and instruments are clear and detailed. Mids are tight and the bass is crisp and slightly emphasized. However, the HD 238i sounds slightly strained when rendering the ultra low frequencies. Overall, I really liked the sound signature of the HD 238i.

Sennheiser HD 238i Precision with nano

The Looks: 6.5 / 10
I’m not overly thrilled with the design of these headphones. The remote control looks compact and cute. But the headphones like I mentioned in my initial impressions looks and feels a bit cheap. When you wear it though it looks alright on your head. But if you have a big brain, the headphone looks stretched. To break down the design, the driver and the ear cushion part of the headphone looks good, but the headband part is flimsy looking.

Sennheiser HD 238i Precision close up top

The Function: 7.5 / 10
The Sennheiser HD 238i Precision is a headphone geared towards portability with great sound quality. The headphones are very light weight and comfortable on your head. The ear cushions are very comfortable to your ears and there was no fatigue what so ever wearing them for a prolonged period of time. I can’t stress enough how comfortable they are. You can used them indoors for watching movies or listening to music on your computer. But these are portable headphones so you’ll be using them outside. First of all the sound leaks (open back) and there is very little noise isolation. So if you use these headphones on the subway or in a noisy place then be prepared to crank up the volume and be mindful of others around you. But you shouldn’t be purchasing the HD 238i if sound isolation is a requirement for you. It’s a trade off between good soundstage and noise isolation/leak. The remote control works with most iPods/iPhones for play/pause, rewind/fast forward and volume. The remote also worked on OSX 10.6.8 for the system volume and in iTunes, you can control all of it’s functions (play/pause etc.). I tried the controls in Windows 7 and all the buttons were non functional. I suspect the compatibility of the remote is an iPod/Mac thing.

Bang for your Buck Rating: 9/10
I put these on par with Klipsch Image One, but with better sound stage.

Sennheiser HD 238i Precision closeup side

Total: 32 / 40
Provides great sound quality and comfort and if you’re sold on it’s design, then you’ll be delightfully satisfied with these headphones.

Pros: nice tight bass, very comfortable to wear, sound stage, remote control
Cons: no noise isolation, feels a little cheap, fuzzy ear cushion material gets caught on hang nails (maybe just me)

Shure SE315 Review

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Chucky

Shure SE 315 with box

Initial Impressions:
Shure SE 315 is like a middle child, a solid performer in every aspect (bass, mids, and treble), but doesn’t gain the attention that SE 215 or SE 425/535 receives.

The Looks: 8/10
The Shure SE 315 is slightly bigger than the SE 215 with more rounded edges. For someone with smaller ears, the SE 315 looks a bit oversized. The black model is painted in lacquer black and the SE 315 model number and Shure name is embossed in silver. This makes for a very clean modern looking IEM. The looks won’t wow anyone, but they’re aesthetically pleasing set of IEMs. As with the rest of Shure SE line, the SE 315 has memory wires around the ear so that you can loop them around your ears and the nice thick cables are detachable and Kevlar reinforced for durability. As a result you have a cable that’s very sturdy and doesn’t tangle up easily.

The Sound: 8/10
As I mentioned above, the SE 315 is solid in low/mids/highs. Compared to the SE 215 it has cleaner more detailed mids and highs. I think the SE 315 performs very well with the mids but the highs are a bit flat. Listening to jazz/classical or music with many natural instruments and vocals in the higher frequency brings out it’s limitation. But I wouldn’t say it’s a big weakness. Just comparatively speaking to it’s older brothers (SE 425/535), the highs are a bit lacking in detail and crispness. As for the bass, it’s a bit recessed and more on the neutral side so if you’re a bass head, you might not be impressed. I like bass myself, but I didn’t find the bass to be weak or deficient. The lows are not as tight as SE425s, but with SE425s you’re going up a level with 2 micro drivers vs. 1 micro driver for SE 315s. I’ll get back to updating the sound quality of these IEMs after 100 — 200 hours of burn in period.

Shure SE 315 closeup

Function: 8/10
As with all of the SE line, the SE 315 has great noise isolation and they stay on your ears. So they’re great for jogging, working out, or commuting. Also, if you live in a noisy household they’re great for blocking out the stressors of screaming children (blocks out around 30 dB). For home entertainment like watching movies or listening to your CD/FLAC/Lossless music, I would invest in headphones which provide better sound stage.

Boom for the Buck Rating: 8/10
The question is for twice the price of an SE 215, how do they compare? I would pay the extra dough for clearer more defined mids and highs. But thats just me. For IEMs hovering around upper $100 to lower $200 (CAD) range, it’s tough to find better IEMs.

Shure SE 315 3.5mm jack with round end

Total: 32/40
Nothing too spectacular or inferior to outline.
Pros: great all around in sound quality, noise isolation, sturdy cable,
Cons: as with all the SE line, if you use mp3 players/phones with a case that has small opening and the jack socket is recessed then the 3.5mm plug won’t fit

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Author Archives: Chucky