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Logitech Ultimate Ears UE 900 $443 (Includes Express Shipping)

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Logitech Ultimate Ears UE 900 $443 (Includes Express Shipping)
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ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 10:43 cgi.ebay.com.au (329 clicks)
Last edited 25/03/2013 - 13:50

Anti-troll statement: These IEMs are for audiophiles and hifi hobbyists and intended for enthusiasts looking for high-end IEMs with a warm sound signature and iphone controls.

Hi guys,

EDIT: Member ZRXS12(thanks mate!) found an alternative site that is a fair bit cheaper than the ones in this deal ($355 + shipping):
http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?gid=23859&pid=52193&p=product

I've been on the lookout for a pair of high-end universal IEMs for a while. I have a very particular set of signature requirements and having an iphone (mic and volume) control is an absolute must! This set of earphones definitely ticks all the boxes. I've had it for just around a week and absolutely love it!

EDIT: Seller's ABN is 29 327 609 466 (just checked the receipt)

This is the link to the official logitech page:
http://ue.logitech.com/en-au/earphones/ue900

joker's review of the IEM (search for 1C19):
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-274-iems-co…

My thoughts on these IEMS:

I detest bright or analytical IEMs, I needed a slightly warmer sound signature with very tight, punchy bass that doesn't drown out the rest of the spectrum. The iphone controls are a bit "meh" (I'd have preferred a slightly fancier in-cable remote at this price point) but it is perfectly functional and of decent build quality. It's important to note that there seems to be abject lack of IEMs with in-cable controls in this range. The accessories are brilliant and there are a huge number of tips provided which almost ensures that a perfect seal can be attained. The addition of a spare cable is a very thoughtful inclusion as cables seem to be the primary point of failure for most IEMs.

Let me know if you guys have any questions! :)

If you're not into hi-fidelity audio and do not have a good source these are probably not for you. If you're a newbie audiophile, I'd recommending trying out cheaper IEMs till you understand what your ideal sound signature is.

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closed Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2013 - 10:47
    +8

    $443? Yeah that's a bargain…

    • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 10:51
      -1

      As opposed to? All retailers (that I checked prior to taking the plunge) are selling it for approx $500. Hell when I tried getting it via Amazon, it was going to cost me ~$417 (+freight fwder charges and shipping to Aus).

      EDIT: If you comment was more along the lines of "who pays $450 for a pair of earphones?". :) I'm sure my gf can empathise with you. It's an expensive hobby. :)

      • HeXa on 23/03/2013 - 11:29
        +4

        the $299 DSE deal you missed out on is an even better price :p

        • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 11:39

          I know mate. Would've been freakin' awesome if I had bought it then (hell I'd probably buy 2 :P)

          I contacted them just to see if they could do something better than the $500 that's been listed… no joy. Ofcourse YMMV.

        • qazwsx on 23/03/2013 - 14:34
          +1

          Used that $299 deal to get it for $280 from another retailer. Not too bad given DSE only had stock in some random store out the back of QLD.

      • ZRXS12 on 23/03/2013 - 11:30
        +4

        $355 + Shipping
        http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?gid=23859&pid=52193&p=product
        That's odd they say they come with 2 years warranty, the ebay ones say 1 year… Hmmm

        • krisspy on 23/03/2013 - 12:33

          Ouch…

        • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 13:00
          -1

          Fair enough w.r.t Arc! I did a check on staticice (a mere shadow of it's former self) and saw the Arc website. Got really mixed reviews of the dealer on WP (coupled with a really dodgy website). As I am in NSW for only a few months before returning to WA, I didn't want to take the chance with a dropshipper (the site looks like megabuy and ITspot).

          A lower warranty term is fairly normal for most ebay sellers (anecdotal evidence).

          See my response below.

        • krisspy on 23/03/2013 - 14:38
          +2

          ARC is 100% legit AU stock. The guys at the Penrith store are good, bought a 7800NL from them and found the warranty seal was broken, they replaced it no questions asked. Cant speak highly of parramatta though, they just want you in and out.

        • ZRXS12 on 23/03/2013 - 14:57
          +2

          Just out of interest I googled arc on whirlpool for the past 12 months, didn't see any neg threads or neg comments in the 6 or so threads I skimmed.

          https://www.google.com.au/search?q=%22arc.com.au%22+site:for…

        • EnALup on 24/03/2013 - 12:32

          Getting an item from OZ registered business is better than getting it from a standard eBay user.

  • Danstar on 23/03/2013 - 11:09
    +1

    Over $400 for in ear headphones? Can't be serious?

    • bentan77 on 23/03/2013 - 11:56
      +2

      Beats, but these actually sound good.

      • jmac on 23/03/2013 - 18:14
        +1

        they are the tits.. nothing like ur ibuds.. quad BA's = amazing reproduction

        • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 18:32
          +3

          Definitely! :) I was a bit apprehensive about the purchase as this is relatively untested as compared to Westone W4s and the Shure 535s. Really happy with these. Quad BA;s do seem to enhance the spectrum clarity (and I found a slightly increased soundstage). Definitely the tits! ;)

          OzB does have a fairly high number of resident trolls.

        • rustynail on 23/03/2013 - 21:26
          +1

          Yeah, these are definitely tempting…I'm using a pair of Westone 4Rs and am absolutely blown away by the sound. I've not not picked up my IE80s since I bought them. Cost me approx $399 thanks to OzBargain, and I've not had a moments regret spending the dough.

        • caprimulgus on 24/03/2013 - 00:07

          how does the bass on the 4Rs compare to the IE80s?

        • rustynail on 24/03/2013 - 18:56

          4Rs have a very good bass but tend to be a bit more balanced no matter how much more bass you add through the amp. The sound stage and signature is as close to neutral as I've heard from an IEM so far (I will acquire an equivalent shure, phonak or heir audio IEM in the future just to compare them with the 4Rs ;-)

          The IE80s on the other hand (I usually have the physical "bass" screw on the ear phone turned mid-way or full) have a very strong mid-bass colouring but it doesn't leak into the mids and highs like cheaper IEMs. I'd go so far as to say the IE80 is perfect for bass-heads that want the best compromise between being neutral and being bass-heavy - perfect for rock, reggae, house, drum n bass etc.

          Westone also supply a nice crush-proof carrying case that is convenient to fold and put away the headphones. I don't like the box supplied with the IE80, which is pretty stylish and lets you carry spare tips but it finicky to get the phone in.

        • caprimulgus on 24/03/2013 - 20:58

          Yeah I have ie80s,and agree on the case… Looks great, but annoying to use.

          Was considering getting a quad-BA like w4 or xba40, just for something different. I'm pretty sure I'll still enjoy the ie80 sound signature more, but would be interesting to have the clarity of a quad-BA to compare to.

          I also have super.fi 5EBs which I could turn into customs with extra drivers (now that I have the ie80)… But that's a whole new ball game I don't think I'm ready for just yet!

  • rmk on 23/03/2013 - 11:10
    +1

    these look awesome, would get them if I could wear in ears

  • coxjon on 23/03/2013 - 11:14
    +1

    Bought these for $434 shipped from ebay in January.

    +
    They fit under my motorcycle helmet

    -
    They tear comply foam tips to shreds, I had to replace them in less than a week and still don't stay in very well. I've gone back to the silicone tips.
    They don't sound as good as the older triple-fi headphones :(

    • HeXa on 23/03/2013 - 11:28
      +5

      organ doner

      • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2013 - 17:50
        +1

        Organ donor. Doner kebab.

    • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 11:31

      I did try some tf10s… they were extremely uncomfortable due to the shape of the housings. I guess you can get them re-shelled, but thats an investment of another $200 (which pretty much exceeds the price point of these babies).

      I did accidentally rip my comply foam tips while trying out tips. That said, isn't it extremely unsafe to be wearing these while riding a bike? The isolation is amazing.. perhaps a bit too good sometimes. Even without anything playing, if you get a good seal, you can't really hear anything outside. Which is a bit of a negative if they are used in places where a bit of situational awareness is required (driving, @work etc).

      • AncientWisdom on 23/03/2013 - 13:44
        +2

        Lots of motorcycle riders use ear plugs to protect their ears anyway, it's pretty noisy without them so there is not much lost.

        The only important exception here is to not wear ear plugs\ phones when riding in an urban environment in relative low speeds.

        • jmac on 23/03/2013 - 18:16

          tf10's are quite different.. they are the old UE line these are new.. i have the tf10's tried these and they are way more comfy 10's were just a weird shape

    • AncientWisdom on 23/03/2013 - 13:42

      I'm on the lookout for something that will fit under the helmet, isolate well and sound decent… still looking!

      • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 17:17

        Klipsch x10? They are extremely low profile and should fit under the helmet.

        • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 02:14

          Wow good recommendation, haven't considered them before.

          Check out this list (filtered isolation 4 and above):
          ljokerl IEM Review Table

          Do you think the Klipsch 10i would be a top pick?

          BTW I don't mind even spending dough on custom molds eventually if that will give me the silence and SQ that I desire while riding a motorcycle….
          I should also note that I find it hard being comfortable with IEMs for long periods of time with my Brainwavz M3\4 and other IEMs I tried (Sony and some others, nothing fancy).

        • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 16:28

          Hey, did you see my above reply? Really interested in your thoughts!

        • ThadtheChad on 24/03/2013 - 18:13

          Sorry mate,

          It's been a busy Sunday… laundry day. :P

          If you can get an x10i for ~$150ish then yeah sure, it's pretty good. However, being single driver may mean they don't have a huge "range". I would go for deep-insertion type IEMs as they tend to be low profile and therefore higher isolation. :) Thats said, what sort of sound signature are you looking for? Analytical?

        • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 18:23

          Generally I (think) prefer a better bass response than a flat analytical curve. So quality bass with enough quantity without being muddy or going into lower mid frequencies would probably be best. The mid and treble need to be clear while the treble shouldn't be too hot.

          I don't mind a flat response as long as it is able to reproduce the bass well (so not a big fan of the ATH-AD700 for example, and did not buy the ATH-AD900 [although I admit they are phenomenal] for those same concerns. Have a pair of Fischer Audio FA-011 which I am quite happy with sonically speaking. Also love my DT-770, Shure DJ750 and my Senn HD-25. None of them have a flat response curve of course. One thing I realised after getting the Brainwavz M3 is that once you get used to "good" sound it is really hard to go back. So while the M3 are considered good I felt like they were a step down. For this reason I am willing to look at all options even much more than the x10. I am also starting to suspect I will have to get custom molds eventually as my ears seem pretty sensitive and I can't get comfortable with any IEMs for long ).

          The above is the reason I haven't gone with the deep insertion Etymotics.

          I listen to lots of electronica, rock, acoustic stuff and occasional metal.

          Thanks for the help.

  • zelda707 on 23/03/2013 - 11:15

    geez $443 for earphones. I've never tried any that expensive, are they worth it? Is there much difference between a $400 pair and say a $100?

    • xxxfbsxxx on 23/03/2013 - 11:19
      -1

      is there much difference between a $400 android phone and $100 one? or $40k Car and $10k? ,etc

      • natsumezoku on 23/03/2013 - 17:38
        +1

        $5 HDMI cable and $250 Monster HDMI cable.

        • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 17:44

          So in essence you claim that it's pretty much the same?

        • natsumezoku on 24/03/2013 - 00:47
          +3

          In essence I'm saying zelda707's question is a reasonable question to ask if a product is actually worth the increased price compared to other items that have a similar function in a lower price range and there's no need to be condescending about a legitimate question.

          Otherwise you end up the being the guy who spent $250 on monster cables thinking holey crap these cables must be good solely because they cost 50 times more than a normal cable (they use to be $500 from memory).

        • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 02:04
          +1

          I get what you are saying now but you need to see what you said from other people's perspective in which it might read as that you think that spending this much (more) on IEMs is like spending $250 (or $500 god forbid) on monster cables.

          @zelda707 (which no one seems to have answered to)
          It might be worth it, but is fully subjective (it is entirely up to you to decide that). Products of this price range would be easily differentiable than ~$100 and even $2-300 products.
          If you are interested I recommend reading this: http://www.head-fi.org/a/basic-guide-to-in-ear-canalphones
          especially:
          - 18. Are IEMs worth the money?
          - 20. OK, I have a budget now, what class of IEM should I be looking at?

        • natsumezoku on 24/03/2013 - 20:28
          +1

          I agree with you that appreciation from expensive audio equipment is highly subjective and it depends on the person how much enjoyment they would get out of high end equipment. (omgwtfbbq did reply to zelda707 already with a similar response to yours).

          I was just pointing out that xxxfbsxxx logic is flawed in that 'something that cost far more must be far superior.' If you read zelda707's question and xxxfbsxxx reply in isolation, would you agree that he could be led astray in thinking because they're more expensive they're worth it in terms of sound quality even though he may or may not subjectively appreciate the difference?

          That's the point I was trying to make, that the reply 'is there much difference between a $40k car and a $10k?' is both condescending and can possibly lead to bad advice. A an answer such as yours or omgwtfbbq's is much more informative and helpful.

          Anyway I've gone off topic enough so I'll leave it at that I guess. Apologies for ranting.

        • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 21:11

          Ah yeah I get it now! Cool we are completely agreeing.

    • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 11:27

      It depends on a lot of factors… the key being your ability to discern sound signatures. That said, my gf uses ATH M-50 closed cans (~$150-160) and she was marveling at the sound quality (although she still went "ZOMG you spent $400 on headphones?!!").

      Also a lot depends on the source content… I've noticed for certain type of music, high end gear tends to sound worse if the source is low-bitrate lossy mp3 (due to compression artefacts and lower range). Prime example: classical music with violins or a piano solo.

      For people starting out in the enthusiast scene, definitely start off small with $100-$150 IEMs/headphones. Understand what sort of signature you like as preferences varying (different strokes eh?).

      • Oshada on 23/03/2013 - 12:33
        +1

        Sounds like orc mischief to me

      • AncientWisdom on 23/03/2013 - 13:46
        +1

        Well at least your gf uses decent headphones. My wife would have nothing more than a pair of cheapo skull candy… :-o

        • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 17:18

          Guess who got them for her? :P

          ory_zm, time to get her the A900s eh? :) There's a rather popular deal active at the moment.

        • AncientWisdom on 23/03/2013 - 22:36
          +1

          Dude I have a few brilliant headphones lying around (free to use), she can appreciate they sound good but still reckons "it's a waste of money". She sorts of accepts that I do it but I think if I spent that kind of money on her she would kill me! ha ha

          I guess she doesn't use them enough to care.

        • cash8 on 24/03/2013 - 07:31

          Funny they don't think a $400 handbag is a waste of money while we are happily carrying a $40 backpack… lol

    • eug on 23/03/2013 - 21:19

      What's the difference between a 1984 Honda civic and a BMW? They both get you from A to B after all, right?

  • ZRXS12 on 23/03/2013 - 11:17
    +2

    I wouldn't take the risk of purchasing such an easily counterfeited high value item from a ebay seller with such minimal information about them available, only 3 items listed too.
    See my above post
    "$355 + Shipping
    http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?gid=23859&pid=52193&p=product
    That's odd they say they come with 2 years warranty, the ebay ones say 1 year… Hmmm"

    • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 11:35

      These don't appear to be counterfeited. They come in the original box and I bought them using my credit card as a secondary safety measure. I checked around head-fi to see if any counterfeited UE900s have surfaced (there was a thread re this a while ago) and it appears there arent.

      Lastly, if these are fakes, I'm really impressed coz the build quality and sound signature are absolutely top notch. :) There are more than 10 items in the seller's shop, so I'm not sure why you negged this deal.

    • Benno123 on 23/03/2013 - 11:39
      +1

      I would say the chance of these being fakes is close to 0%.

      • ZRXS12 on 23/03/2013 - 12:02

        Really?
        Why does Arc say 2 years warranty and the ebay ones 1 year warranty?

        • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 12:03
          -4

          Yes really.

          The fact that the ebay seller has specified 1 yr vs 2 yrs on the Arc/LTS shop has no bearing on the authenticity of the actual product.

        • ZRXS12 on 23/03/2013 - 12:19

          Why doesn't it?

        • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 12:33

          While it is definitely not justifiable, I guess it relates to the complications of providing after sales support for 2 years post sale. An ebay vendor may go out of business by then and fair trade laws require them to provide warranty support for the period initially specified in the sale listing. This appears to be the case here.

          That said, being Australian stock (as evidenced by the warranty documentation accompanying the product), it will be supported for the full 2 years by Logitech Australia (also in the warranty doc).

          Reasons why its not a fake:
          1. High complexity in the driver arrangement.
          2. Flagship build quality and packaging.
          3. ROI to fake this is significantly lower (if not negative) when there are more popular mid end phones with high demand that are easier to fake.
          4. Mimic the SQ of a high end IEM as the target audience is an enthusiast niche.

          Reasons why it could be fake:
          1. Cheaper than normal Aussie RRP by ~$50.
          2. Ebay

        • eug on 23/03/2013 - 12:48
          +1

          My local computer store says 1 year warranty on hard drives. But the manufacturer actually provides 3 or 5 years. It's not a surprising thing for a small ebay seller to only provide 1 year - they're trying to save on costs.

  • Aneurism on 23/03/2013 - 11:19

    Luckily my ears cant tell the difference between a $40 or $443 set of ear phones..

    • xxxfbsxxx on 23/03/2013 - 11:21
      +2

      you probably need serious music sources and a good DAP to see the difference

    • sheepy on 23/03/2013 - 11:38
      +2

      Yeh, sometimes the differences are subtle, the high end ones can give more details though.

    • Benno123 on 23/03/2013 - 11:42
      +4

      The difference between my Triple Fi's and, say, the UE Metro Fi 200's (somewhere around $40) is massive. I don't think anyone would have a hard time telling the difference between them.

    • AncientWisdom on 23/03/2013 - 13:48
      +3

      Then you must be deaf. (if it was $200 and $400 I could agree)

  • revacious on 23/03/2013 - 11:29
    +1

    The point of failure for most IEMs isn't the cable, its the places where the cable has strain; this includes the point at which the cable attaches to the earpiece.

    Wonder if LTS will match this/beat this? Been waiting ages on either these or the older TF10s to go on sale at LTS for a good price!

    • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 11:44

      Same…. if TF10s went on sale, I'd probably get a pair and get them reshelled. CIEMs on a bargain. :P

      Agreed. In my case, most of the failure occurs at the base of the earphone jack which gets a fair bit of torque under portable usage scenarios.

      Please post if LTS price matches this. :P Would be epic for some of the other audiophiles on OzB (including yourself :) )

  • dpp04 on 23/03/2013 - 11:42
    +1

    Significantly cheaper at ARC Computers (above). No deal.

  • Pacify on 23/03/2013 - 12:10

    Lets hope the cable is better then their triple.fi's, cause mine broke like a #$*(@. Really annoying having to source a replacement cable all the time.

    Also, you'd better have an awesome rig to warrant a $400 earphones, what amp do you use?

  • aboutconfig on 23/03/2013 - 12:28
    -2

    It's made of gold!

  • dan0909 on 23/03/2013 - 12:48
    -5

    I always ask a question before buying anything, what is the cost to manufacture this? They make it in bulk so less than $4. Say they did a lot of research to create these high end earphones so lets add $50. ( or even $100). These should not cost us more than $130.

    That is how i try to justify price for anying I buy (or avoid). Anyway my point is…

    $400 for earphone?

    • eug on 23/03/2013 - 12:56
      +1

      How much did it cost to build your car?

      Things like this are very niche. They're definitely not a mass-market product. Niche market products cost more because the manufacturer won't sell as much, so there's less chance of recouping their investment into design, testing and re-testing, and molding costs.

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 23/03/2013 - 12:58

      These definitely do not cost less than $4. The componentry used in them definitely does not cost less than $4, ill bet it costs them more than $4 in electricity just to manufacture them.

      This isnt a pair of generic phillips headphones that a factory stamps out with materials costing less than $3…

      Although i do admit..$400 for IEMs…ffffffuuuu

      • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 13:07
        +2

        Definitely manufacturing and design are very cost intensive products for iems. Think of a speaker system that is precisely built with extremely high precision to be able to use acoustic properties of your ear canal. :)

        An analogy is the price difference between a $100 casio vs a $3000+ Breitling. Apart from cost of materials, there is tremendous amounts of workmanship and design that goes into making these time pieces.

        This is a normal price for high end universal ($400-600) IEMs.

        A crude approximation of the tiers would be:

        <$100: budget IEMS; very utilitarian

        100-150: lower-mid

        150 - 300ish: upper mid

        300+ : higher end

        800+: professional/ultra high end/ CIEM

    • AncientWisdom on 23/03/2013 - 13:53
      +2

      Those prices are just pulled out of no where and have no substance. As an example the cost of R&D per pair could be anything and would depend and the total research cost + the amount of pairs sold (they could be even losing money if they don't sell enough pairs).

      Another point I wanted to make is that a price of something does not always need represent how much it cost to make but rather what cost the consumer attaches to it and what it provides (not saying fair, right\wrong, just the way the world works).

    • mickeyjuiceman on 23/03/2013 - 14:04
      +4

      OzBargain is a great repository for sheer ignorance.

    • xxxfbsxxx on 23/03/2013 - 14:09
      +2

      should you google and figure out how much does your body cost….
      If everything is judged by that way we should never buy any iphone or even mobile phone since their manufacturing cost way too <$100,etc

      and actually you should not buy anything since their cost will never match your expectation. The reason may be you have never seriously thought about R&D, Marketing, Brand name, Warranty,etc

      are they free? nope at least you have to pay much salary for workers.

  • PresidentClinton on 23/03/2013 - 14:06

    If they wanted, they could manufacture millions of these and sell em for $50 each. But they won't because people place value on perceived 'value'. Happens with things like high priced shoes. But it doesn't bother me, it's amusing.

    • mickeyjuiceman on 23/03/2013 - 14:08
      +3

      Always good to have an expert in the house…

    • xxxfbsxxx on 23/03/2013 - 14:13
      +3

      ppl are willing to buy Beats trash for $400-$700 without questioning
      while this is made for serious music listener and got too much dumb comparison with cheaply made earphones

      • AlexF on 23/03/2013 - 19:21
        +5

        that's 'cause Beats is a fashion item - their practicality or function is irrelevant. Think of stiletto shoes.

        • ZRXS12 on 23/03/2013 - 21:00
          +1

          Mmmm, love my stiletto's :)

        • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2013 - 21:03

          @AlexF, grrrrr wrong analogy. No trolling pls ;)

          Edit: Ever heard of Zahavi's handicap principle? might want to look it up

    • ThadtheChad on 23/03/2013 - 14:33
      +1

      Mate with those comments, you're really living up to your username. ;)

  • lufee on 23/03/2013 - 14:33
    +1

    Who buys Beats for music lol, it's for fashion

    Those who are serious audiophile should know these are the best mid ranged products

    W4R, SE535, IE800, CK100PRO, XBA-40, etc…

    • rustynail on 23/03/2013 - 22:04

      ie800 is most definitely not a mid-range product. For the price, I would get a custom IEM (Heir Audio custom IEMs start at $600). Or better still, I'd spend an extra $300 and get the JH Audio (JH 13) customs.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2013 - 16:25

    Holy $HlTTTT! What a bargain!

  • KLoNe on 23/03/2013 - 17:30

    Logitech Ultimate Ears UE 900 $ONE BILLION (Includes Express Shipping)

  • umoddbro on 23/03/2013 - 20:20

    $400+ for in-ear phones.. seriously I don't care how good they are but in-ear phones should never cost this much.

    • rustynail on 23/03/2013 - 22:10
      +2

      Wrong….they go much higher. It all comes down to personal preferences in sound signature. Custom IEMs take it a notch higher but customizing the unit to your ear canal, whilst others like the Ultimate Ears Customs (over $2k + consulting costs with an audiologist) tailor the sound signature to your preference.

      IEMs have come a long way and while they might not match their headphone counterparts outright due to the way the human ear intercepts and perceive sound, they provide an clean, isolated environment when listening to music on the move.

      It all comes down to what you like in sound/music, how often you listen, preference in sound signature etc. that result in people paying what they pay for their equipment. It's the same with other things in life…cars…watches…notebooks etc.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2013 - 21:36
    +2

    I've stole-erm-borrowed my DEH's Phonak Audeo PFE 232..and they're WOW!!! Never knew I was missing so much.The texture they bring out is incomparable to the cheapish Meelec I was using before.Unfortunately, I might have to return them at some point:( How does the UE900 compare to the Phonak? I'm assuming they are same price point.r they?

  • cash8 on 24/03/2013 - 07:34

    Just curious…. what the most expensive earphones headphones around? Last time I thought it was Beats

    • ThadtheChad on 24/03/2013 - 11:04

      Beats is for people trying to make a fashion statement. The sound quality is abysmal and most people who actually enjoy listening to music would not buy one of these.

      Asking what is the most expensive earphones is like asking how long a piece of string is. ;) I've seen IEMs that are in the ~2K-3K mark. There aren't many of those for obvious reasons.

        • eug on 24/03/2013 - 16:24
          +2

          Gotta be careful once you reach that territory. There are monster-cable-type companies there too.

        • ThadtheChad on 24/03/2013 - 18:19

          Oh most certainly. Sadly Australia doesn't have "trial" type stores with a decent return policy where you can test out a pair. So you need to spend ages reading forums and stuff and try and piece together a picture on the basis of completely subjective opinion on SQ. /facepalm

          Also, no hifi meetup in our part of the world where enthusiasts can try out new gear. :'(

    • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 13:48
      +1

      There are headphones that I know of going for around 5k.

      • eug on 24/03/2013 - 16:25
        +1

        5k is a toy compared to Sennheiser's Orpheus HE90 at $16k. It does come with its own amplifier though. :)
        http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/01/sennheiser-orpheus-he90-wh…

        • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 16:32
          +1

          Yeah but they are not in production. I was referring to the Stax SR009 (http://www.stax.co.jp/index-E.html) which are still being made.

        • eug on 24/03/2013 - 16:40
          +1

          They are, they're just made in very small numbers. If you had the right amount of money you could pick one up. The Orpheus line has been around since 1991. The HE90 was revealed in January.

          You can pick up an Orpheus HE90 here:
          http://www.ebay.com/itm/300877065276

        • AncientWisdom on 24/03/2013 - 16:44
          +1

          That's a used pair. Where did you get the impression they were still being made? Everything I read indicated they are discontinued.

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