Looking for new Canalphones, ~100 aud

[millsy]

My soundmagic PL-50's http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=461 just dropped a side after a good 3 years of abuse, so looking for something to replace them. I am driving them with a HiFimeDIY Sabre USB DAC (fantastic for the price), http://hifimediy.com/sabre-dac-uae23.

 

In the past the PL50's stacked up very well against the competition, but not sure how the landscape is currently for IEM's. I would imagine choice in retail stores are still ****.

 

Key features for me are, in terms of priority:

 

Sound isolation (I use the big comply foam tips on my PL50's and love the isolation).

Accuracy

Mid range bass

 

My current ones don't have heaps of bass, and I don't like the compromise on lower end canalphones to get said bass, so happy to live without much if need be. Any suggestions? I was gonna get another pair of PL50's, but thought I'd get reccomendations first I believe Hifiman RE0 http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=413 were my other option last time but the PL50 won for whatever reason

Edited August 15, 2014 by millsy

[jaywhar]

I'm using the etymotic hf5 with comply tips and really like them. Good bass if you have a good seal. Got them off amazon a couple of years back for under $100

[cazzesman]

I'm using the etymotic hf5 with comply tips and really like them. Good bass if you have a good seal. Got them off amazon a couple of years back for under $100

I have been researching lately and the ER-4pt also get some rave reviews if you want to spend abit more

Regards Cazzesman

Edited August 15, 2014 by cazzesman

[wolster]

I would recommend the Hifiman RE-400s. Very close to your budget.

[Pieface]

http://www.exeltek.com.au/review/product/list/id/2660/

 

Still happy with these after a couple of years. Very good isolation but can be a bit microphonic if you are moving around a lot if that is an issue.

 

/brokenunderappreciatedrecord

[GregWormald]

Audeo Phonak--on runout--they are dropping the line and returning to just hearing aids (so I hear   ).

 

Greg

[millsy]

Thanks heaps for the suggestions, I'll have a look into them! RE400 looks to be a good balance of features I want at this point. Probably should have mentioned microphonics, completely slipped my mind, I'll wear these on the train and whilst walking so I'm a bit sensitive for that.

 

I noticed the RE0 is currently 60 bucks at headphonic, sounds pretty cheap to me!

 

Any idea how durable these suggested ones are? I'm guilty of falling asleep whilst listening to music at least once a month :lol:

 

@@greg, those actually look pretty compelling, I can't seem to find them for sale anywhere though!

Edited August 19, 2014 by millsy

[Pieface]

Yeah you need to wear the yammies over ear if you are walking around to avoid the microphonics.

 

Let us know what you end up with and how they are Millsy.

[millsy]

A year on and I seem to have lost the darn things this morning! Apologies too pieface, I ended up going with the RE0 and was generally very happy with them, bass was a bit lacking but that was to be expected and for the music I enjoyed I was very pleased with the results. Microphonics was a tad on the high side but bearable. Paired with the HiFimeDIY Sabre USB dac the value for money was incredible. Bit of EQ tweaking for the low end and very good. My biggest issue was the silicone tips, they never quite fit my ears correctly and I never got around to buying the foam ones. They did eventually start falling apart too, but that was mistreatment on my behalf as much as anything

 

So back on the hunt again

Edited November 13, 2015 by millsy