-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._- ``.~. r-. (*) -=~ .___ __. , ___ _ __ ' ' / \ // `| R \\ / \\ /: ^ / / '. \\ \/ ====| - | | ! || < :|. _ //.| 0 | /|: |*| | | A | || ||: = \*/ + || / | =|\ |. 0 |. \ | : | | a || | V | >=== -= v \ || \==- | ^ |. \\ // \\/ \v/ \_ --, \'/ : ~-= |`. `" ~ `~ u ' V |__| V .====| <- Back to 2008.02.17. Prepar' for the most comprehensive review of in-ear monitors in the world! Audio sources: * Apple iPod nano 2G * Apple iPhone * Edirol UA-1000 audio interface (headphone out) Jays q-JAYS the good - Great form factor - L/R well marked the bad - None of my audio sources seemed to drive them properly - Way too much treble, way too little bass Shure SE530 the good - Amazing response and clarity - Selection of ear sleeves allows a proper fit - iPod seems to drive them as well as the Edirol the bad - Harsh treble; a general problem of canalphones, but more pronounced here - Less bass than I hoped for with triple armatures - Awkward/ugly cabling Ultimate Ears super.fi 5 pro the good - Lots of bass (though not with much definition) - Fantastic sound for $190 (via HeadRoom) the bad - Lacking treble - L/R poorly marked - They protrude pretty far out of the ears, making me nervous about what could happen if they get bumped Etymotic Research ER-4 the good - Incredible definition without brittle treble the bad - Not producing much below 100 Hz - Seemed to want to be inserted farther into my ear than anything has a right to go - Hard to drive with an iPod, but OK with the Edirol Sleek Audio SA6 (with neutral treble filter and bass port) the good - Most balanced sound so far; good bass, good definition, no treble harshness - Fantastic cabling - Sounds great on the iPod and iPhone - Included storage case based on Sony's excellent Fontopia winding cases (since the early '90s) the bad - L/R poorly marked - Storage case fails to be good in any of the ways the Fontopia cases are -`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._-`._- clumma@gmail.com