JBLoudG20 Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Lately I've been thinking if a home rig is really even worth it. I haven't used my home rig intensively for about 5 months. I really only use it when I am programming on my computer for school. I listen to music non-stop, but I've been using my portable setup the most. I guess I'm just at the point where I wonder if its worth all this. I have: Cardas cabled (balanced) k340, balanced 325i, my custom tube amp, Zhaolu, monster hts2500mkII. I figure I could sell it all and upgrade the weak link in my portable setup (e2c) to (e500). My portable consists of Zen Vision:m, pint, e2 and k81dj. I know this decision is really best answered myself, but I'm hoping for some words of wisdom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 If you really don't use it that much and could put the money to better use elsewhere then I say yes sell it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Is part of the problem that you're not happy with your home rig? Also: I don't know about selling it all, but there is definitely room for improvement. Also, yes, the e2c is definitely a weak link -- go Etymotic. Even their low end er6i is better (to my ears). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
en480c4 Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 I was in a similar situation a while ago... I had a great source, 3 amps, 2 pairs of home cans and just never felt I listened enough to justify keeping them all. I sat down and figured out why... like you, I did a majority of my listening elsewhere. For me it was while at work. So I sold off a majority of my home rig (MonsterPower 3500, PPA v2 + STEPS, M3 + STEPS, HD-650 & Zu Mobius, Denon DVD-2910). I still have the Millett Hybrid + db + STEPS Nate built for me, and my woodied HF-1, and when I want CD's, I can pull out my Denon DVM-4800 for ALPHA-processor goodness. This was the rig I used the most, so it was the one I kept. I used a little of that money to upgrade my work rig, and put the rest away. So now I have a mid-fi home rig I love and a kick-ass little office rig for where I listen the most. So, if you can't justify keeping it, go ahead and re-allocate your $ where you think you'll use it and pocket the rest. It can be fun putting together an amazing rig, but if you're not using it, it's a waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 I am perfectly happy ith the home rig, except for the fact that I feel tied-down. I do very much enjoy listening to my K340, I just sometimes regret spending all that money. Basically its just diminishing returns kicking me in the ass. I LOVE music, and I HATE hearing lo-fidelity. But I feel that after a certian point, especially where the dimishing returns really come into play, that my musical enjoyment scaled up along with the fidelity of my systen, it just flatlined. So I spent more, got better sound, for the same (or a tad less) enjoyment. My K340 does accompany me well with my late night VHDL adventures. And I think I would regret selling them. I KNOW I don't want to invest anything more out of pocket. I realize my home gear can be improved, but I don't feel the need for that. At the moment I am thinking about selling the 325i and the e2 (even though I know I wont get much) and getting a better IEM. What IEM should I be looking at for about $200-225ish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSloth Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 the ER-4P/S absolutely slays. Ah, someone who knows good sound when they hear it. Though I'd take the s over the p, even straight from an iPod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 I was thinking the ER4... but it would be out of my range from headroom... however http://www.earphonesolutions.com/etermireea.html Is this correct? Why does it seem so cheap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Is this correct? Why does it seem so cheap? To me the price doesn't mean much when it's followed up with this: Availability: No dates from the distributor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Yeah I just noticed that. Oops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister X Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 A quick froogle check suggest's $179 is about the average price for the Er4P. A couple of examples of sites that have the same or lower prices are: http://www.erwincomputers.com/etreerer4min.html http://www.provantage.com/er-4p-earphones~22099657.htm http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=368906&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Agree on B&H. Just never an issue when I deal with them. Can't say the same for folks like Amazon, Buy.com and J&R. Btw, did they finally get the fragile tubes on the ety's corrected? Loved mine but man, when the tubes cracked after I'd taken such good care of them, I wrote 'em off and sold them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister X Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Thirded for B&H But I have also had very good luck with Provantage as well so..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 I am perfectly happy ith the home rig, except for the fact that I feel tied-down. I do very much enjoy listening to my K340, I just sometimes regret spending all that money. Basically its just diminishing returns kicking me in the ass. I LOVE music, and I HATE hearing lo-fidelity. But I feel that after a certian point, especially where the dimishing returns really come into play, that my musical enjoyment scaled up along with the fidelity of my systen, it just flatlined. So I spent more, got better sound, for the same (or a tad less) enjoyment. My K340 does accompany me well with my late night VHDL adventures. And I think I would regret selling them. I KNOW I don't want to invest anything more out of pocket. I realize my home gear can be improved, but I don't feel the need for that. At the moment I am thinking about selling the 325i and the e2 (even though I know I wont get much) and getting a better IEM. What IEM should I be looking at for about $200-225ish? Well, that's odd -- that's not buyer's remorse, that's more like owner's remorse...or maybe owner-and-not-user's remorse. So yeah, sell off your stuff (but maybe not the K340) and upgrade your portable system and use your portable system as your home system also. Oh, and I second all the Etymotic recommendations. And the B&H Photo recommendations. I bought my 6i's from buy.com. One of these days I'll grow up to a 4 or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Thanks guys. I've decided to keep most of the home rig, sell the Grados, and get the Ety's. My Grados are too aggressive for background listening while programming anyway. I'm going to list the 325i today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Noooooooo! Buy more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 I do have to question the Ety ER4 recommendations, it's very different from the Shure sound and I'm not convinced it's the right way to go. To me at least, Shures have a decent balance with slightly rolled off highs while the Ety ER4 is painfully bright with super-tight and to me, lacking and dry bass. The ER4 is among the most sterile and analytical IEM or headphone I've ever heard, and with an all solidstate signal chain it just spells trouble IMO. Personally I'd much rather grab a Shure E4, not it's not quite as detailed & resolving but I find the balance is a lot better and the tone is much more to my liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 that's what the Etymotics sound like if you have a bad seal. they are very balanced when you get a good seal.Nah, that is what they sound like with a good seal to me. To each his own though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddy Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Nah, that is what they sound like with a good seal to me. To each his own though. Yeah those were pretty much my impressions of them as well. Plus, they can be annoying to wear because of the non over-the-ear design and the terrible microphonics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 I definitely preferred the UM2s to the ER4Ps, even tho I didn't find the ER4Ps lacking, exactly. Just, uhm, boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 I'm pretty sure I got a good seal since I couldn't hear a damn thing from outside. Heard'em at a couple meets with both flanges & foams, it absolutely needs tube gear and even then I still didn't like it much. To me it's for someone who likes the HP-1000 sound as opposed to the RS-1 or PS-1 sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted September 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Aargh, now im confused again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 ...To me at least, Shures have a decent balance with slightly rolled off highs while the Ety ER4 is painfully bright with super-tight and to me, lacking and dry bass...I disagree. To me, the Shures (e2's) are painfully rolled off (not Sennheiser rolled off -- much worse; veiled, even), and the Ety's are detailed and clear. No, they've not the best bass, but they have pretty damn good bass -- kind of sealed enclosure bass, like Spendor S3/5's, except starting lower. It's taught, but extended, and does not roll off sharply, like a bass reflex speaker. I liked the bass, in a not-for-home-theatre-or-games kind of way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted September 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 I disagree. To me, the Shures (e2's) are painfully rolled off (not Sennheiser rolled off -- much worse; veiled, even), and the Ety's are detailed and clear. No, they've not the best bass, but they have pretty damn good bass -- kind of sealed enclosure bass, like Spendor S3/5's, except starting lower. It's taught, but extended, and does not roll off sharply, like a bass reflex speaker. I liked the bass, in a not-for-home-theatre-or-games kind of way. I completely agree about the e2. I HATE the trebile on them. I am a little worried now about the brightness on the ety... but I DO own a 325i after all, I bet itll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted September 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Well, once my Grado sells, I think I'l grab the ER-4p from BHphoto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 aerius - I don't really agree with your Grado analogy... as I like all three. if it sounded bright and thin a good seal was not achieved.No! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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