Wednesday, April 1, 2015

2015 Annual Headphone Shootout Part 2: The IEM's

Next up are the IEM’s. This is short for In Ear Monitors. IEM’s can be found with a single dynamic driver, and multiple balance armature drivers. We have some great models in this year’s shootout from some excellent manufacturers. They range from a single dynamic driver from Beyerdynamic for $130, to a Westone IEM with 6 drivers for $1000.


We will start off with the Beyerdynamic iDX160ie. They are a standard IEM design with a single dynamic driver. But at $130 MSRP, there are not standard. They came with a boatload of accessories. And they even have an in-line remote to control your iPhone. Having a bunch of ear tips to help you get the right fit is also critical, and Beyerdyamic has you covered there as well.

Features and Specs:
Transmission type

Wired
Headphone design (operating principle)

Closed
Headphone impedanceAlso known as nominal impedance. The impedance is the AC resistance of the coils of loudspeakers and headphones in ohms. Since impedance depends on the frequency, it is always specified at a frequency of one kilohertz.

47 ohms
Headphone frequency responseThe frequency response specifies the highest and lowest frequencies reproduced by the acoustic transducer of the headphones.

10 - 25,000 Hz
Nominal sound pressure levelThe acoustical level, the headphone transducer produces to an artificial ear (a measurement device, which simulates a human ear) with an input power of 1 mW (dB/mW @ 500 Hz).

107 dB (1 mW at 500 Hz)
Remote

3-button Apple remote
ConstructionSound coupling to the ear. A differentiation is made between supraaural headphones, circumaural headphones and in-ear headphones.

In-ear headphones
Cable & plug

0.30 m straight flat cable / extension cable 0.90 m with mini stereo jack plug 3.5 mm / 1/8”
Net weight without packaging

53 g


The Beyerdynamics, iDX160ie came shipped in good looking packaging, which included photos and specs of the product. They are mostly plastic in construction with some metal, which is typical.  Quality of materials used were good, as was the construction. Fit and finish were good as well. They felt like a fairly well constructed product in hand. Also included were the owner’s manual, multiple sets of ear tips, hard zipper carry case, cable clip and adaptor plug so someone else can plug in and also hear the music. Also included were a couple of detachable extension cables.

When it came to listening to them, they sounded quite good.  Fresh Aire II: Going To  Another Place, the strings were crisp with nice dynamics. The piano sounded natural. Bass drum had nice impact and kick.  Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, percussion was crisp and clean, guitar had nice detail. Vocals were very natural and smooth sounding. Drums had nice impact and depth.  No Doubt: Hella Good, percussion was crisp and clean with nice dynamics. Bass was very deep and played with authority. Vocals were very natural.  Eric Bibb: Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, guitar sounded clean and detailed with nice resolution. Piano was natural. Vocals also sounded quite natural with good harmonics.

ACS is a premium manufacturer based in England that specializes in custom IEM’s. They recently revamped their entry level and mid level IEMs. The ACS Evoke Studio Universal is their entry level single driver IEM, and uses a single balanced armature driver. These are fresh off the presses. So fresh, that I don’t have the packaging they come in. They were just included with the packaging of their midrange IEM. But at an MSRP of only $225, ACS is excited about them and just had to have them included.


Features and Specs:

Number of Drivers
Frequency Response
Impedance @1KHz
1 KHz Sensitivity
Isolation
Weight
Build Material
Cable
Included Accessories
One
20-20KHz
50 Ohms
105.5dB @ 0.1V
26dB
8g net
Polycarbonate Shell, PU Foam Eartips
Detachable Linum BaX Cable 1.1M length
Instruction Leaflet, 6 sets of Ear Tips,
High Quality Carry Pouch

Linum Cabling
Audio is delivered from the music player
through the innovative Linum cabling system.
Two individual cables from the 3.5mm
connector feed the left and right channels with
no splicing in the middle. Each enamel-coated
cable is made from 6 litz wire conductors
containing 7 individual sliver plated copper
strands to ensure no colouration of the sound.
Interwoven with aramid fibres to provide a
market leading pull strength of 60N, Linum
cables produce negligible microphonics and will
not corrode, oxidise or change colour. Weighing
just 2.7g and only 0.9mm in diameter, this
incredible cable is near invisible when worn and
adds another dimension to the overall listening
experience.
experience.

As previously stated the ACS Evoke Studio Universal came with just the IEM. They are made mostly of plastic. I really like the clear plastic design, so you can see into the IEM and its internal components. It has a detachable cable which is a very good thing. The quality of components used were very good, as was the fit and finish. My only initial concern was the cable.  It is very thin.  But after discussing with ACS, it is actually an extremely hi quality and highly durable premium cable and sue to its small and lightweight size, it is easily forgotten about when they are worn.

Listening to the ACS Evoke proved very pleasant! Fresh Aire II: Going To Another Place, strings were really crisp and clean with good dynamics. Piano sounded natural. Flute had good air and was smooth. Kick drum was there with some depth.  Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, percussion was very crisp and clean with very good resolution, although just a tad bright. Drums had good depth and kick. The vocals very natural sounding with noticeable texture. No Doubt: Hella Good, percussion was very crisp and dynamic. Bass had good depth and played with sufficient authority. Vocals were smooth and sultry.  Eric Bibb: Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, percussion was very crisp and clean with very good dynamics. Piano sounded very natural. Vocals were pleasantly smooth with nice Timbre and harmonics. Imaging was quite good.

Do you enjoy your music and want to take it outdoors, such as camping, but don’t want to take it outdoors, such as camping, but don’t want to get them damaged. Westone has you covered with their Adventure Series. Westone’s Alpha model comes with a single dynamic driver in a magnesium unibody, so it can take a beating. The cables are cloth covered for extra durability. And if the case ever arises, the cables are detachable so they can be replaced if damaged. They are even IPX-3 water resistance rated. All of this comes at an MSRP of only $249.

Features and Specs:

·         Sensitivity: 97 dB @ 1mW
·         Frequency Response: 20Hz - 18kHz
·         Impedance; 21 Omhs
·         Driver: 6.5mm Dynamic Driver
·         Active Fit System - Up & Over cable routing and patented Star TipTM ensure superior fit, comfort, and retention
·         Audiophile Fidelity - Proprietary Extended Range 6.5mm Micro Driver with PSTTM (Precision Surface Tuning). Delivers sonic accuracy with extended bass
·         IPX-3 Weather Resistant - Protection against spraying water and adverse conditions. Perfect for every- day use, rain or shine
·         Magnesium Unibody - Low-profile lightweight magnesium unibody and aluminum faceplate for strength, durability and style.
·         AWACS Reflective - Adventure Warning and Control System: better visibility in low-light and adverse conditions with a reflective, replaceable cable featuring 3-button control system for iPhone, iPod and iPad.

The Westone Adventure Alpha came shipped in a really nice printed box with pics of the product and it’s specs. At the top of the packaging is a hard clear plastic box that actually holds the IEM, so you can clearly see it. Materials used in construction were metal, plastic and some cloth used to wrap around the cable. They were high quality, and fit and finish was also very good. They felt like a very well made product in hand. Also included were the owner's manual, hard case, multiple sized ear tips in various styles. I really liked the hard plastic storage case that also appears water resistant, maybe even waterproof.




Listening provided a very good sound, and a lot of low end for those that like a lot of bass.  Fresh Aire II:  Going To Another Place, strings were crisp and clean with good dynamics and resolution. Piano was very natural sounding. Flute was very smooth with good air. Kick drum played very deep with kick and authority.  Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, percussion was crisp and clean with good detail and resolution. Bass guitar had nice low end extension and played with very nice authority. Vocals were very smooth and natural with some texture.  No Doubt: Hella Good, percussion was very crisp with nice dynamics. Bass was very deep and played with tons of authority. Vocals were very natural with good smoothness.  Eric Bibb: Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, guitar had nice detail and resolution, although just a tad warm. Piano sounded natural. Vocals were smooth with good texture.

Next up is the Audio-Technica IEM’s. They are the ATH-CKR10. They are a unique design that used dual phase dynamic drivers in a push-pull configuration. It seems the design would be to provide better bass response. The housing is made of titanium. All of this is done for a product to give a high resolution sound, which is found in more and more of our music today.


Features and specs:

Type
Dynamic
Driver Diameter
13 mm x2
Frequency Response
5-40,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power
200 mW
Sensitivity
110 dB/mW
Impedance
12 ohms
Weight
16 g
Cable
1.2 m, Y-type
Connector
3.5 mm gold-plated stereo mini plug, L-shaped
Accessories Included
silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L) and protective carrying case

The Audio Technica ATH-CKR10 came in elegant looking packaging, with photos and specs of the product. Materials used in the construction were metal and plastic, and were of very high quality. The housing had a nice mirror finish.  Fit and finish were excellent and they seemed very well made in hand. Also included were multiple sized ear tips, owner’s manual, and a leather carry case with magnetic closure.


Listening showed off just how well they are tailored to high resolution audio. Fresh Aire II: Going To Another Place, strings were very crisp and clean with excellent dynamics and were just a tad bright. Piano was very natural with good resolution. Flute was smooth with lots of air and good tonguing with plenty of resolution to hear it. The kick drum was deep, had good impact and was really full, playing with authority.  Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, percussion was extremely crisp and clean with very good resolution. Bass guitar had nice depth, with good resolution of the strings coming out. Vocals were natural and very smooth with good texture.  No Doubt: Hella Good, percussion was extremely crisp and clean and extremely dynamic. Bass was very deep and played with tons of authority. Vocals were very smooth with great texture in her tone.  Eric Bibb: Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, guitar was extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution and detail. Piano was very natural sounding. Vocals were very smooth with nice dynamics and tone. The string bass was very deep and played with tons of authority.

ACS’s new midrange product is the ACS Evolve Studio Universal. They have been revamped, and use the same 3-way balanced armature drivers as their previous top-of-the-line T1 model. They use the same clear plastic body so you can see the internal components. And they also use the same great detachable cable as the Evoke.

Features and specs:
Number of Drivers
Frequency Response
Impediance @1KHz
1 KHz Sensitivity
Isolation
Weight
Build Material
Cable
Included Accessories
Three
20-20KHz
50 Ohms
119.9dB @ 0.1V
26dB
8g net
Polycarbonate Shell, PU Foam Eartips
Detachable Linum BaX Cable 1.1M length
Instruction Leaflet, 6 sets of Ear Tips,
High Quality Carry Pouch

Linum Cabling
Audio is delivered from the music player
through the innovative Linum cabling system.
Two individual cables from the 3.5mm
connector feed the left and right channels with
no splicing in the middle. Each enamel-coated
cable is made from 6 litz wire conductors
containing 7 individual sliver plated copper
strands to ensure no colouration of the sound.
Interwoven with aramid fibres to provide a
market leading pull strength of 60N, Linum
cables produce negligible microphonics and will
not corrode, oxidise or change colour. Weighing
just 2.7g and only 0.9mm in diameter, this
incredible cable is near invisible when worn and
adds another dimension to the overall listening
experience.





The ACS Evolve Studio Universal came in an elegant looking black box. It is a got off the presses new product, and didn’t even have all of the packaging completed. (a printed sleeve with photos of the product and it’s specs is wrapped around the box.) But I’m glad they got the products to us in time to be included. Most of the product was made of plastic, but quality of materials is excellent, as is the fit and finish. The cable is misleading. Don’t let the cheap looking cable fool you. It is actually a very strong cable, and is designed to be so thin, so that you do not feel it. Also included were the hard carry case, and multiple sets of ear tips.

Listening to these is something you have to experience.  Fresh Aire II: Going To Another Place, strings were extremely crisp and clean, dynamic and excellent resolution. Piano was very natural sounding. Kick drum had nice low end extension, with good impact and authority. The flute was very smooth with a good amount of air, with good resolution.  Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, percussion had excellent resolution and was extremely crisp. Keyboards sounded natural. Kick drum had excellent tight kick and played with authority. Vocals were very natural with excellent harmonics and texture.  No Doubt: Hella Good, percussion was extremely crisp, clean and dynamic. Bass was very deep with excellent kick and authority. Vocals were silky smooth with excellent harmonics and texture.  Eric Bibb: Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, there was excellent resolution in the guitar, that was very crisp and clean. Piano was very natural with excellent harmonics and dynamics. String bass played deep with good resolution and authority. Vocals were silky smooth with excellent texture and resolution. Imaging was spot on, and they threw a big soundstage. I felt like I was right there with them with a mic in front of me!

Another great 3-way driver product is the Audio Fly AF160. The AF160 uses 3 balanced armature drivers, and a crossover network.  Audiofly may be relatively new to the headphone scene, but these boys from Australia do know their audio stuff! They feature an elegant looking finish and a durable cable.

Features and Specs:

Driver configuration: Three balanced armature drivers with crossover
Frequency range: 18-22kHz
Sensitivity: 110dB at 1 kHz
Impedance: 18 Ohms 
Cable length: 1.6m / 64in
Plug type: 3.5mm gold plated, right-angle format

They came in an attractive box with a sleeve with photos and specs of the product. Materials used in the construction were mostly plastic, with some metal and cloth. Quality of materials used were excellent, as was the fit and finish. I love the look of the housing, which was a brown with a bit of a shimmering look to it. Also included was an extremely nice real leather case, owner’s manual, multiple sized and styles of ear tips, cleaning tool, ¼ inch adapter, and airplane adapter.

Listening to these gems showed off their amazing aural colors, that was on the warm side.  Fresh Aire II: Going To Another Place,  revealed very crisp strings with very nice dynamics. Piano was very natural sounding with great resolution. The flute was very smooth with a good amount of air, as well as resolution. The kick drum had nice depth with good kick and presence.  Steve Miller Band:  Swingtown, percussion was very crisp and clean with excellent resolution. Keyboards sounded natural. Bass guitar was detailed and played with good depth, as did the drums. The vocals were very good with very nice texture.  No Doubt: Hella Good, percussion was very crisp and clean with excellent resolution and were very dynamic. Bass was very deep and played with good authority. Vocals were very smooth, sultry and just sounded amazing.  Eric Bibb: Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, guitar was crisp and clean with lots of resolution. Piano was very natural sounding. The string bass had excellent low end extension with amazing resolution and authority. Vocals were pleasantly natural, with excellent texture and harmonics. Imaging was very good, and they threw a good soundstage.



Last but not least is the Westone W60 IEM’s, known as their signature series. It doesn’t get much better than these! They feature a detachable cable, as well as an exchangeable metal faceplate in red, gold or silver. Now you can have them match your outfit! The cable has built-in controls for your iPhone. They actually come with 2 pair of cables!  One has the iPhone controls, and the other doesn't.  SO you can actually use one of the cables as a spare!  And for your aural bliss, they feature 6 balanced armature drivers and a 3-way crossover network. So the highs, mids, and bass all have 2 drivers dedicated to those separate frequencies.


Features and specs:

New Westone W60 with 6 drivers per earpiece and a 3-way crossover.
Metallic Faceplates - Multiple metallic color faceplates with secure attachment.
Mini Monitor Vault II - Constructed of a high-impact polymer, it’s the perfect size for travel and storage. Features a protective foam interior and weather resistant design.
The Westone W60 offers listeners an amazing six-driver system with three-way crossover. Dual drivers help produce a clear sound with rich detail in the highs, mids, and bass. The music sounds deep, powerful, and alive.
Balanced Armature Westone’s balanced armature drivers are far more efficient and produce a much more detailed sound than a traditional dynamic driver. The Westone W60 features six balanced drivers per earpiece with a three way crossover network. This setup provides enhanced audio detail and a clear frequency range that makes the music sound amazing and hard to replicate by others.
Westone True-Fit Technology Westone offers more than fifty years of experience with in-ear listening technology. The True-Fit Technology promises a lightweight and low profile earpiece with unmatched comfort and sound quality. Users can choose from five pairs of True-Fit foam tips and five sets of STAR silicone tips. True-Fit foam tips ensure a maximum seal and comfortable use and the STAR silicone tips precisely conform to your ear to eliminate unwanted noise.
Replaceable Cable The Westone W60 includes a new replaceable cable connection with a braided EPIC cable and a round MFI cable featuring a 3-way button control and microphone. Changing the cable is simple and this flexibility helps extend the life of the earphones.
Three Button Apple Control System and Microphone The round MFI cable provides function control for Apple products and includes volume, tracking, phone answering, and Siri activation.
Multiple Faceplates Customizing the W60 earphones is simple! The W60 includes three metallic exchangeable faceplates to update and change the look of the earphones. Users can choose between metallic bronze, red, and silver and even mix and match left and right earpieces.
Two year warranty
·  Sensitivity: 117 dB SPL @ 1 mW
·  Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
·  Impedance: 25 ohms @ 1 kHz
·  Passive Noise Attenuation: 25 dB
·  Driver: 6 balanced armature drivers with a 3-way crossover
·  Weight: 0.445 ounces / 12.7 grams
·  Cable: EPIC replaceable cable and MFI Cable
·  Cable Length: 52” / 132 cm

The Westone W60 came in an elegant looking box, with photos and specs of the product. The materials used in the construction was plastic and metal. The quality of the materials used was excellent, as was the fit and finish. They felt well made in hand. And I love the interchangeable covers, that give them a different look. You can definitely tell that this is a premium top of the line product. Included were the owner's manual, multiple different size and styles of ear tips, cleaning tool and way loop, and extra cable without a built-in remote, and an extremely durable hard plastic case that looks to be waterproof. (Although may not be marketed as waterproof.  So may want to test it first to make sure, if you plan to use them that way).  And for you Apple product users, there is a Westone app that can be used to customize and improve the sound.

Listening to these beautiful deliverers of music nirvana is an experience to remember.  Fresh Aire II: Going To Another Place,  strings were extremely crisp and clean with excellent dynamics and resolution. The flute was very smooth with nice air and harmonics. Piano was extremely natural sounding and great tone. The kick drum was very deep, full, with nice impact and very good authority.  Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, percussion was extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution and dynamics. Kick drum was deep with authority. Bass guitar also had good extension and resolution. Keyboards sounded extremely natural. Vocals were smooth like honey with excellent harmonics and texture.  No Doubt: Hella Good, percussion was extremely crisp, clean with excellent dynamics. Bass was extremely deep with good impact and authority. Stephani’s sexy vocals just sounded so amazingly silky smooth with amazing texture and resolution. I thought I was right there in the recording studio.  Eric Bibb: Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, guitar was crisp and clean with excellent resolution and detail. Piano was very detailed, sounded natural with excellent dynamics. Vocals were silky smooth like honey, and their texture and harmonics were stellar! They provided the intimate sound of being right there in the studio next to Eric Bibb and having a mic in front of you. The Resolution was amazing. Imaging was also spot on, and they threw a big soundstage.

We had some amazing products among this year's IEM’s in the shootout. Each one had their unique sounds, depending on if you like your IEM’s to be bright, warm, or more neutral. The Beyerdynamic iDX160ie produced a great sound for the money. Add in all the accessories and it’s a bargain! The ACS Evoke Studio Universal is another bargain with a detachable cable and balanced armature driver. They were just a tad on the bright side, but are again a huge bang for your buck with the detachable premium cable and such resolution for their price! They were only slightly lacking in bass output. The Westone Adventure Alpha’s didn’t have quite the resolution as the models with the balanced armature’s. But if you like a lot of bass, they delivered! And they were really easy to get a great fit! Add the iPx rating and durable detachable cable into the mix, and you get another great bang for your buck! The Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKR10 with their dual phase drivers provided a ton of resolution low end output as well, and tended to be bright. High resolution Audio is definitely what they are designed for.

The next few with multiple drivers takes the sound to a whole new level! Audiofly’s AF160’s with their 3 balanced armatures delivered in amazing sound. They tended to be more warm in sound, with excellent resolution, and very good imaging and soundstage. The ACS Evolve Studio Universal use the same 3-way drivers that were used in their old custom TI. Sounding a tad on the bright side, the level of detail and presence that they provide is hard to beat. Feeling like you are right there in the recording studio is truly something that needs to be experienced! Last but not least is the Westone W60. Their four figure price tag is not for everyone. I think Ferris Bueller said it best, “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.” Their 6 balanced armature drivers deliver an extremely neutral sound that is jaw dropping, goose bump rendering aural bliss. I can see that some would ask the question: 6 Drivers? Really? Does it really sound that good? But before you can even finish asking the question, knowing what the question is, I would answer “Yes!!!” And to make things even better, Westone has an audio app for Apple products that helps you custom tailor and improve the sound even more.

As I said before, we had some great models in this year's shootout! And hopefully it was educational, as none of these were Bose, or Beats. Let your ears be the judge. Any of these models would be great choices, depending on your budget. And those of you that have the means and pulls the trigger on one of these more pricey models, you are in for a serious treat! Based on their design, features, quality and performance, the Beyerdynamic  iDX160ie has earned our Value Award. The ACS Evoke Studio Universal and Westone Adventure Alpha have earned our Recommended Award.  The Audio-Technica ATH-CKR10, Audiofly AF160, and ACS Evolve Studio Universal have earned our Highly Recommended Award.  And the Westone W60 has earned our Editor's Choice Award.  For more info and complete specs, checkout their websites at www.beyerdynamic.com, www.audio-technica.com, www.audiofly.com, www.acscustom.com, and www.westone.com.





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