I've recently really gotten into audiophilia and perfecting my mobile sound quality - General

I listen to the music I have stored on my iPhone all the time and for the longest time, I've wanted to invest in some quality earbuds that really bring the music out. Until recently, I never really made it a priority, but I noticed that the earphones I was using were some crappy Phillips model and I wanted to enhance my audio experience. I did a little research and decided to buy these: Etymotic Research ER-4S earbuds: [IMG]http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images500x500/368907.jpg[/IMG] These bad boys cost me $270 and the sound quality is simply amazing. It really brings out the mids and highs and I've really been enjoying music a lot more lately now that I can actually "hear" what the artist wants you to hear. I did however notice that they were lacking in bass slightly and so I did more research and learned that these earbuds sound even better with a mobile amp so I went out and purchased this for another $50: i.Fuzen HP-1 mobile amp: [IMG]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61g0DPD6nZL._SL1000_.jpg[/IMG] This is pretty original as it acts as a battery case and amplifier. These REALLY brought out the sound in the earbuds, but after a few days of use, I noticed that the battery life of the amplifier function was only 2-3 hours and you can't even use it when it's recharging, you have to wait until it's charged, unplug it and then use it. This really bothers me because I use it a lot at work when it's charging so if I can't use it when it's charging, I only get 2-3 hours use, then have to recharge for 3 hours to reuse it. I wanted an amplifier that I could use when it's charging so again I reached into my wallet and for an additional $70 bought this: JDS Labs cMoy Rechargeable Portable Headphone Amplifier: [IMG]http://i.ebayimg.com/t/JDS-Labs-cMoy-Rechargeable-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Tin-cMoyBB-v2-03-Amp-/00/s/NTE2WDU1MA==/$(KGrHqV,!oME9dQc6YStBPq-djooJQ~~60_3.JPG[/IMG] I'm currently waiting for this to be shipped and will report back. As you can see, I've really gotten into this. I guess I'd start calling myself an amateur audiophile. Is anyone else into the audiophile experience and if so, what is your setup like?

Just don't go mad and do shit like this. [url]http://www.coconut-audio.com/[/url] Even though it looks satire, there are people out there that believe that sort of stuff.

[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;42792382']Just don't go mad and do shit like this. [url]http://www.coconut-audio.com/[/url] Even though it looks satire, there are people out there that believe that sort of stuff.[/QUOTE] What the fuck.... [img]http://i.imgur.com/wZyhn3Y.png[/img] NO MOM, ITS FOR THE QUALITY OF THE SOUND! [editline]8th November 2013[/editline] Also, Doesn't this : [img]http://i.ebayimg.com/t/JDS-Labs-cMoy-Rechargeable-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Tin-cMoyBB-v2-03-Amp-/00/s/NTE2WDU1MA==/$(KGrHqV,!oME9dQc6YStBPq-djooJQ~~60_3.JPG[/img] Just take the audio from the iPhone and make it louder? I can only see 2 mini-jack inputs (input + output?) so how exactly would that get you better sound quality?

[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;42792382']Just don't go mad and do shit like this. [url]http://www.coconut-audio.com/[/url] Even though it looks satire, there are people out there that believe that sort of stuff.[/QUOTE] [t]http://i.imgur.com/ovJvWfB.png[/t] ??? But I've always found this type of hobby highly expensive! Of course you can say the same thing with video games etc. but everything just sounds the same for me. Good luck

Lol, audiophiles are the biggest morons on earth.

[QUOTE=DrDevil;42793286]Lol, audiophiles are the biggest morons on earth.[/QUOTE] Funny thing is most audiophile gear actually produces worse sound quality than your average decent quality stuff, money != quality.

[QUOTE=Chryseus;42793336]Funny thing is most audiophile gear actually produces worse sound quality than your average decent quality stuff, money != quality.[/QUOTE] That's because they all rely on pseudo-science. All audiophiles should rather spend their time and money on electronics books and learn a thing or two about how that stuff actually works.

Ehh, how about getting some larger headphones that can really take advantage of an amp? If you really care about sound quality, investing a lot in sound on the go sounds like a waste of time and money.

The nearest thing to audiophile I've done is getting some expensive headphones that werent all that expensive. [url]http://www.gradolabs.com/[/url]

[QUOTE=Chryseus;42793336]Funny thing is most audiophile gear actually produces worse sound quality than your average decent quality stuff, money != quality.[/QUOTE] Source?

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;42793587]Source?[/QUOTE] Audio power amplifier design handbook by Douglas Self A highly respected book when it comes to audio electronics.

[QUOTE=Chryseus;42793912]Audio power amplifier design handbook by Douglas Self A highly respected book when it comes to audio electronics.[/QUOTE] Is it because audiophile brands "color" their designs?

[IMG]http://img3.findthebest.com/sites/default/files/805/media/images/klipsch_Image_S4_White_In-Ear_Headphones_208211.jpg[/IMG] I bought these for around 100 bucks and the quality is amazing. Don't see why you need all that shit for 1k+?

I just use the ear buds that come with whatever device I have. The quality is generally good enough for me.

If you were planning on spending over $250 on headphones alone, why did you buy earbuds? That's like, the most counter-intuitive thing ever.

Past 1000 dollars for your whole system setup I think you're either at, or right past the point of diminishing returns also I'm talking about a stereo/speaker etc. setup. For mobile I don't bother too much and use some 50$ buds from radioshack, they sound pretty alright. My headphones are all foldy so I could bring them around but I'm afraid that they would be stolen

[QUOTE=DrDevil;42793286]Lol, audiophiles are the biggest morons on earth.[/QUOTE] to a certain point, audiophilia is fine. if you have very meticulous hearing you can tell a clear difference from a lossy codec ie 320 kbps mp3 and a lossless codec ie flac pretty easily. headphone amps and anything like that are genuinely ridiculous but the idea of having crisp mids, unmuddy lows, and nonearpiercing highs is a valid concern for anyone that cares about audio quality. to lump everyone together simply because they enjoy higher audio quality to an acceptable degree and call them morons is moronic in its self. please educate yourself in some basic audio/sound engineering fundamentals before you post out of your ass again. also, mobile audiophilia is honestly a joke you're better buying a decent stereo/speaker set up then waste money on placebic amps and over expensive headphones plus, chances are the source you're using for music on the go is probably a shitty ipod or tablet with a weak audio quality. if you really want high aq mobile then invest in an old or new cd player.

[QUOTE=Mr. Bleak;42794466]If you were planning on spending over $250 on headphones alone, why did you buy earbuds? That's like, the most counter-intuitive thing ever.[/QUOTE] exactly ear buds are fucking terrible so to buy better ones and expect sound quality that can compare to even a 4" speaker is laughable it's a gimmick to buy "high-end" ear buds period

[QUOTE=nick_9_8;42794315][IMG]http://img3.findthebest.com/sites/default/files/805/media/images/klipsch_Image_S4_White_In-Ear_Headphones_208211.jpg[/IMG] I bought these for around 100 bucks and the quality is amazing. Don't see why you need all that shit for 1k+?[/QUOTE] [t]http://i.imgur.com/5yu8lQl.jpg[/t] i bought [url=http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=8320]these[/url] for $8 and the quality is amazing. also has lasted me for ~8 months of constant everyday use so far not sure why you'd spend $100 on in-ears tbh

If you ever have a chance to go to a music studio (or the fancy office of a music prof.) with sound insulated walls and studio monitors worth in the tens of thousands, it's quite the experience for your ears. Idea of what I mean: [img]http://mosslounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/soundproof-wall-and-flooring-in-music-studio.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Angus725;42795631]If you ever have a chance to go to a music studio (or the fancy office of a music prof.) with sound insulated walls and studio monitors worth in the tens of thousands, it's quite the experience for your ears. Idea of what I mean: [/QUOTE]I've got mild tinnitus, so i'd imagine the silence of the rest of the world would drive me mad with the noise in my own head :/

I do sound engineering & I've got pretty loud tinnitus. It may not as bad as you think, I tend to forget that I even have it when I'm listening intently. But I am pretty passionate when I get into making a song.

Five hundred dollars of "high-end" equipment to listen to terribly encoded audio on a phone with some half assed DAC. You're wasting your money and are the sole reason everyone hates audiophiles. [editline]00[/editline] And don't ever spend more than forty on a pair of earbuds.

[QUOTE=Penguiin;42794575]exactly ear buds are fucking terrible so to buy better ones and expect sound quality that can compare to even a 4" speaker is laughable it's a gimmick to buy "high-end" ear buds period[/QUOTE] Case in point, my $135 open-ear Sennheisers have better... everything than those earbuds that are twice the price. Audiophilia is fine if you're doing it for the right reasons and not "Oh hey let's blow a grand on stuff that's not going to make anything sound better" I refuse to let myself by anything better than what I've got because A) the sound card in my laptop isn't good enough to hear the gains from much more expensive amp-driven headphones B) I have almost all my music in MP3 V0 because FLAC is pointless to me when it takes half an hour to download an album and takes up a good portion of my HDD and C) While I'm listening to music constantly, I rarely listen so in depth that I would notice the difference either way It's practically bordering on pretension.

[QUOTE=Mr. Bleak;42795961]Case in point, my $135 open-ear Sennheisers have better... everything than those earbuds that are twice the price. Audiophilia is fine if you're doing it for the right reasons and not "Oh hey let's blow a grand on stuff that's not going to make anything sound better" I refuse to let myself by anything better than what I've got because A) the sound card in my laptop isn't good enough to hear the gains from much more expensive amp-driven headphones B) I have almost all my music in MP3 V0 because FLAC is pointless to me when it takes half an hour to download an album and takes up a good portion of my HDD and C) While I'm listening to music constantly, I rarely listen so in depth that I would notice the difference either way It's practically bordering on pretension.[/QUOTE] okay i get your point but are you seriously complaining about something taking half an hour to download anyway a room with good acoustics is really important so good luck on your futile journey for mobile sound quality while interacting with traffic on a daily basis, considering traffic noise is literal noise on all frequencies and masks everything so the only way to really 'improve' the sound quality is to increase the volume

[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;42792382']Just don't go mad and do shit like this. [url]http://www.coconut-audio.com/[/url] Even though it looks satire, there are people out there that believe that sort of stuff.[/QUOTE] Coconut-audio sucks cables.

I don't think you are an audiophile, I think you are just getting carried away.

[QUOTE=Darkjerms;42795817]I do sound engineering & I've got pretty loud tinnitus. It may not as bad as you think, I tend to forget that I even have it when I'm listening intently. But I am pretty passionate when I get into making a song.[/QUOTE]Thing is, I can't seem to not notice it. It's not particularly loud, but dreadfully invasive.

I have a pair of sony earphones that are decent quality when you play around with the equalizer [editline]8th November 2013[/editline] they've been in the wash about 4 times and they always work fine

Is there a change between the triple flange silicone and the one piece silicone on in-ears? Sound, comfort?