Korean Job Discussion Forums

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

After my $100 Sennheisers gave up the ghost, I decided to go budget. I bought a pair of Panasonic earbuds for around 30,000 won. I can't tell the difference in sound quality - certainly not a 70-80 dollar difference anyway.

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

I've gone through two pairs of Etymotic er6i buds. The first pair got snagged on a desk and the second pair (after three years of use) had the left bud intermittently fail. Sound quality is the best I've heard thus far.

I just ordered a pair of Etymotic hf5 buds and will be receiving them soon.

I highly recommend Etymotic.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Initial Impression compared to Philips SHE-9850:

I'm using the Foam Comply tips for both. The Klipsche Image S4's definately have better bass response. The bass is full and loud. Almost too loud. I had to go into my ipod and change the equalizer settings. Changing the EQ to Treble Booster helps to balance out the highs and lows.

The highs are not as crisp. I'm listening to Pink Floyd's "Time" guitar solo and the Image S4's just don't sing it like the Philips did. I'm sure that'll change in the coming weeks as I break in the earphones and the drivers settle in.

Throwing in some 311 - Beautiful Disaster, the bass and drum beats are superb.

The earphones are just so different. The Philips shined with the top end things. Cymbal crashes rang true, and high notes just carried throughout. The bass was there but wasn't aggressive.

The S4's feels like having subwoofers in my ears. Excellent bottom response. I can hear bass guitar notes that weren't as pronounced before. Cymbal crashes seem to fall a little flat early. Guitar solos sounded much better on the Philips. However, where the SHE's faltered at high volume, the S4's keep screaming.

I hope that helps some of you looking to buy the headphones. Honestly, I can't pick one over the other. They are just so different in the sound they deliver.

**EDIT Update**

Geebus. I don't what happened, but all of a sudden after an hour of having the earphones play random track, I put them in and wow.

WOW.

The highs are getting clearer. Not quite as crisp as the SHE's but its getting much better. Radiohead Paranoid Android sounded great. I listened DJ Tiesto's mix of Andain Beautiful Things and the bass from these earphones are hypnotic.

I tried both the factory ear tips and the Comply. It seems the Comply ear pieces were what was making the bass so loud. That tight seal from the foam makes a world of difference in the bass.

timolein23 · Joined: 08 Sep 2009

I also had 2 pairs of etymotics. unfortunately both failed on me eventually. They are great headphones for that price.

Im definitely buying klipsch s4's next. Did you buy them from earphoneshop.co.kr?

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

I got a nice pair of AKG earbuds, they don't fall out and the base is great.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

SMOE NSET · Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Seoul

If you had a 300,000W budget for new earphones, what would you recommend?
My original iPod ones are okay but would prefer nice ones as I am always listening to music. Also, I am sick of hearing the security guy, that I share an office with, smack his gums/talk to himself/make annoying sounds so they must be good at noise cancelling.