Need Advice On Purchase x2

[EvoKazz]

Hiya guys, new here but was told this is the place to come for info on headphones etc...

I'm currently using Beats By Dre iBeats as my main in ear phones (don't laugh) I was using them with an HTC One X Plus Smartphone, which has Beats as an audio feature, using them over a year I thought the sound was decent, but on getting a new phone last week (HTC M8) The sound has drastically gone rubbish, I tried the earphones for the first time in my AV Receiver, and this confirmed to me the iBeats were rubbish after all! I'm not an Audiophile, but pretty picky on these things (so maybe I am? who knows).

Basically, I am after some new in ear phones to replace the iBeats, I also want a pair of Headphones as never owned a decent pair. My budget is £100 for in ears, and £100 for headphones. The headphones and in ears will both be mainly used for music, genres I listen to are Rap - HipHop, Trance, Dubstep, and Rock....so as you can see I need both items to be adaptive to a wide range of genres. I am not a fan of Bass, I like it to be present, but I hate the mad vibration boom sound you sometimes get with cheap earphones and speakers, I prefer clarity and treble, if that makes sense, but want cans that can handle bass on the genres that push it.

In ears I am totally stuck with what to buy, no idea, some have suggested Beyerdynamic, others Sennheiser, but no idea of models that would cater for me, headphones people keep throwing up AKG K550, everywhere I look I see these recommended for my needs, would you guys agree? Any advice appreciated, especially on the in ears.

 

[ID.]

headphones people keep throwing up AKG K550, everywhere I look I see these recommended for my needs, would you guys agree?

I think that these are too bass light. While you don't necessarily want a bass head's headphones, for most of the genres you listen to you'd want (I want) headphones that have tight and detailed bass that is in balance.

 

[EvoKazz]

Yeah that makes sense, in balance, present, but not overpowering, so have you guys got any picks you'd recommend for both types I'm after.

 

[JoelSim]

For the in-ears you can get an extremely nice pair for £100. With the type of music you listen to then I would suggest the Musical Fidelity EB-33 or the Nocs NS600 Crush which will both wipe the floor with the iBeats.

For the headphones, again Musical Fidelity with the MF-100, AIAIAI TMA-1x or the Audio-Technica ATH-OR7 or ATH-M50.

All of these sound good with all the genres you have mentioned, happy to advise more but you would need to get in touch.

 

[EvoKazz]

Thanks for the reply, is Musical Fidelty a good brand? they are looking the nicest cosmetically but do they deliver that well?

 

[JoelSim]

Thanks for the reply, is Musical Fidelty a good brand? they are looking the nicest cosmetically but do they deliver that well?

Absolutely. They produce cracking hifi kit and have for years. Certainly have a lot more pedigree than most.

 

[EvoKazz]

Thanks, Ok I am going for the Musical Fidelity in ears, but for overheads, and my needs...

AKG K550 Vs Musical Fidelity MF-100

Which of these 2 would be better?

 

[JoelSim]

I can't give you the answer to that I'm afraid as I haven't heard the K550s.

I have done an A/B test with the K450 and MF100 and it was like night and day in the MF's favour, but the K550 is a different beast entirely.

 

[EvoKazz]

Thanks, if I pushed the budget to £150, would the Musical Fidelity EB-33 for the in ears still be your top pick?

 

[JoelSim]

No. I would go for the Klipsch X7i, or something from Shure.

 

[EvoKazz]

Urgh, lol I'm not a huge fan of Shure, but that's due to having a couple of dodgy pairs from them years ago. Klipsch X7i I've never heard of, but on doing some reading people seem to rate the EB33's higher than the Klipsch X7i but I think price is a major factor for a lot of sites I've looked on.

To summarise, I know you said earlier, but wanted to double check, would the EB33's really wipe the floor with my Dre iBeats? Like will I actually notice a huge difference?

Taking the above question further, would the Klipsch X7i essentially wipe the floor with the EB33's? I'll await your answer and purchase from there, many thanks for your time by the way.

 

[JoelSim]

The Klipsch X7i is a very neutral earphone, made for audiophiles essentially, where the quality is the main thing. Klispch are one of the foremost hifi brands (US), and were instrumental in starting things off decades ago.

Musical Fidelity are UK and again are a hifi brand. They branched into headphones only about a year ago but their pedigree is certain. I've demo's the EB-33 on my iPhone, through my PC with an MF V90-HPA headphone amplifier and also through my pretty decent stereo system. I liked them.

They are far better than Beats, and a little more bassy than the Klipsch. I'd be more than happy to use a pair on a regular basis, but if pushed then I would opt for the Klipsch as I go for absolute sound quality myself, and of course they should last for years. I would say that the EB-33 are 90-95% as good as the Klipsch.

Beware of counterfeits though, there are some around.