Best headphones you've ever heard/used

Best place to explore this is over at head-fi.org, where they talk headphones incessantly, and are quite nice, too. I have learned a lot from there, and also used the site to make an informed purchase of my fave, the Audio Technica L3000.

For example, you'll find many comparisons of IEMs, but the UE-10 is clearly in the top of the heap, with the Sensaphonics 2Xs...those seem to be blow away the universal IEMs, from what I've read. I have the Shure e4 and e5 and have had the e2 and e3. The e4s/e5s are different and very good, but from what I've read, should not compare to the UE-10...and they are very different prices, too, with the UE-10 being almost 3x more than the shure e5.

- walkman

Henryhk,

I would assume the same thing.

I've not used the custom IEMs but ultimate ears or sensaphonics, or for that matter, Shure also lets one purchase custom ear molds with their universal IEMs, however, the use of the foam tips with the Shure's makes them more customizable to one's ear canals. And, when removing the IEMs, one should raise the top of one's ear to break the seal, and then slowly pull out the "plug." No pain at all; no worries, no suction, no vacuum effect -- not with the foamies.

I've been using IEMs for 6-7 years now. They are great, especially for blocking out outside sound. There are different sound signatures with the various brands, Shure, Etymotics, Superfi.pro, Westone, and the custom IEMs. Usually, it's a matter of getting comfy with the concept of screwing a canalphone into one's head, and finding the right kinda tip (e.g. the foamie). Otherwise, IEMs to me, are an indispensable portable headphone. I use them walking around NYC, and on the subway and bus commute to work within NYC.

Some have mentioned the Shure e3; well, IMO and many others, the e4s are far superior. I've had both, no comparison. The e4s are richer, more detailed, and have some bass, especially when used with a portable headphone amplifier (easy to plop the amp and the mp3 player in a bag and carry the bag). The e5s have a ton of bass, but too much, but are a rick, thick sound with detail. I prefer the e5s unamped and the e4s amped.

Again, you'll find a lot more information at head-fi.org about these headphones and others. Audiogon and Audio Asylum for hi-fi, Head-Fi for headphones. Very easy.

- walkman

Walkman,

Given that the E4 would require the cost of an amp to go with it. Would you say that there is no reason to get an e4 at all unless you already own a portible amp given that after the amp purchase the cost would be close to the same?

Hi Robm321. No, I guess I would not say that. There are plenty of folks over at head-fi who are claiming "sonic satisfaction" with their e4s straight out of their MP3 players. However, I am not the only one over at head-fi who claims that (while the e4 is clearly superior to the e3), the e4 straight out of the source (e.g. iPod) is not an excellent result. I like my e5 straight out of the iPod more than the e4. It's not a huge preference, but is a winning preference.

You should know that there other IEMs (canalphones) in the e4 price-range that have a different sonic signature, and may be preferable to you. The westone UM2 gets good reviews, and apparently has more bass. A lot more bass from what I have read. I have not tried them. There's also the Super.fi pro5 by Ultimate Ears, the same folks who make the custom UE-10/UE-5.

I really like Shure headphones because they are comfy to me, sound good to me, and Shure has excellent customer service (not just to me, but widely regarded and lauded).

I think you do have options here, and I would not necessarily preclude the suggested purchase of the e4 sans a headphone amp. I'd consider the e4, and if you got it, and found the bass lacking (it depends on the source; the iPod does not have great bass, but some have found satisfaction here with the bass boost turned on, while others using different mp3 players are satisfied), then you can consider getting a portable amp (price range $50-$400, and widely available used on head-fi). Another option is to buy both the Shure e4 and the Westone or the Super.fi Pro 5, and return the one you like least.

I did already have a portable headphone amplifier prior to the purchase of the e4s. While neither the e4s nor the e5s, nor many (if any) canalphone require a headphone amplifier from a sensitivity view, they do benefit to some degree from an amplifier due to the fact that the amp is just a better amp of sound than the little chip located in one's mp3 player. I do love the sound of my shure e4s with my headamp AE-1 (and Ray Samuels has a tiny new "Hornet" out that is getting some early, strong reviews over at head-fi, and Jan Meier has a new version of the Porta Corda, but these are not cheap, and there are many other good portable headphone amplifiers, new and used, to shop from), and it's the pairing of the mp3 player & the headphone amp that is somewhat consistent with the sonic nirvana that folks shoot for here with their home systems. I'm satisfied, but also can do better as those custom IEMs would likely be a big step up (but also in price and anxiety due to the worry factor of getting such an expensive IEM snagged in subway or on the bus or whatnot...).

good luck,
- walkman