Like I said, I have tried out some isolated earplugs, and here are my findings. Basically, at no extra costs, the original Apple is good for the deal. Unless you are prepared to pay over HKD$1,200 for an extraordinary pair, stick with the original and enjoy the music instead of worrying about the “Hi-Fi”.
That said, I have not tried many earplugs, any non-plug type earphones, or any other types of headphones within the $1200 range, so I can’t say for sure there is nothing else worth trying within. Among the earplugs I have tried though, the Westone UM-1 transparent (newer version), the Etymotic ER-6i, the Westone UM-1 black (older version), and the Etymotic ER-4P, in that order. Of the first three, which are all around HKD$900, IMHO they are all crap with the ER-6i sounded better than the two Westones in a sense of much more controlled high frequencies, yet still loose low frequencies and are therefore worth no where near its price. I ended up buying the $1880 ER-4P.
The P version is for used without a headphone amp. There is also a S version that is supposed to be used with a headphone amp.
With the ER-4P, the sound by itself is a little forward with clean high frequencies, slightly bright mids and slightly boosted lows which are all under good control. This works for most pop music and vocals but not as good with instrumentals, especially with violin and piano Solos or Concertos. Of the Jazz and Classical cuts that I have heard so far, it presented the Instruments somewhat “electronic” like. For those listen primarily to Pop, the ER-4P is great. With the S being spec’ed as a more “flat” frequency response without the intended high end and low end boosts the P does, it might just be the key for Instrumentals. While I have not actually heard the sound of the ER-4S, I have no way of confirming so.
There is however one optional equipment for the ER-4P available. The HKD$380 ER-4P24 “P to S” converter patch cable. This is supposed to make the P into a S. My findings are, since more of an amplification is needed with the converter cable, what were not amplified enough to be any thing significant are now more so amplified to be significant – hence a sense of more “resolution”. While playing with the cable however, I find that even with it on, I am able to get a decent volume with just the iPod nano alone at about an 80% volume setting. And surprisingly, perhaps as the P and the S are spec’ed in which the S has a flat frequency response and without the P’s boosted high end and low end, direct plug-in to the iPod with the converter cable on sounded more natural and less “electronic”! That mellowed out some of the harshness of the ER-4P alone. While I’d prefer such a less forward sound, some may find it not enough “bass” (boosted bass are distortion to me).
Which brings us to another completely different kind of earplug. A non-isolated electrostatic earplug. The Stax SR-001mkII. It comes with its own power supply/amp which is a must for these earphones to work. My friend bought a set so I have the privilege to try them out.
Originally, the shop owner threw in a source to amp cable. We find the cable that came with my earphone amp, the Xenos 0HA which I use it to boost resolutions at low volumes, to be better than the freebie. My friend ended up buying the original Stax cable afterall.
Without the Stax cable, the SR-001mkII set sounds excellent with violins and pianos but a slightly veiled and even more laid back vocals. It does the opposite of what the ER-4P does in which the Stax seemingly tries to “de-electronic” the sound. With a much laid back sound, vocal does not work so well and neither does Pop. Which explains why the SR-001mkII does not have such raved reviews as does the ER-4P. However, it sounded much more musical than the ER-4P does. For those who are looking for boosted punchy bass, look elsewhere. The original Stax cable made it even more so than what the set does by itself with a cheapy cable.
While we have tried out many combinations. Personally, I’d prefer the Stax with Instrumentals and the ER-4P for a more all round music type enjoyment. I think I might prefer the ER-4S even more if the ER-4P with ER-4P24 truly does what the ER-4S does by itself. Since the big outer casing of the Stax hurts my outer ears by pressing too hard against my ear ridges, as much as I like its sound I have no desire to buy one for myself. I’ll keep running in the ER-4P for the moment and might just keep running it with the ER-4P24 en route without an amp for easier carrying convenience.
About isolation earplugs in general, while the isolation does what it is supposed to do, it introduced some problem of its own. When the isolation is too much, one can hear ones own breathing and might even hear ones own pulse if the plugs are too tight. Choosing the perfect size foam or rubber type interchangable plugs for that perfect fit is essential. Too tight, too much breathing sound and very uncomfortable. Too loose, no bass at all.
Perhaps an open type headphone like the Sennheiser PX-100 might be easier and more comfortable to wear but I am not sure which ones sounds so good yet.
WhaUSay?!