The Shure E500pth is the most expensive IPOD headphones you can by. Like many minature phones it relies on you put the headphones deep in you ear canal to get the decent sound.

When I was in the US an upmarket gadget shop "Brookstone" (or something like that) was allowing people to listen the Shure E500PTH headphones - it was not terribly hygienic as everyone elses ear wax was on the phones! But I was hugely impressed with sound but not the $499 price!

I bought a pair on Ebay for £200 ($371 - no duty) when I returned to the UK. I was even more impressed. The sound delivered is better then any head phones I have ever heard (including my GRADO RS1). The sound is rich, sumptous pure and distortion free even on very heavy dense classical music. Most heaphones sound congested and distorted when very loud choral or dense orchestral work is played - not the E500PTH - it never seems overwhelmed by even the most demanding music. The bass is astonishingly good - you would need a subwoofer to do better on a speaker system. The high notes such as sopranos are never harsh.

The obvioius drawback is that the phones have to pushed deep into the ear canal otherwise it sounds terrible. That might time getting use to - but that is typical of all high quality IPOD head phones.

Another drawback is that you wil find that for classical music the Apple Compression or MP3 not really acceptable. The headphone show up the poorer sound. You will have to record all your music using Apple Lossless or someother lossless format. Not only is this time consuming but also uses up a lot more disc space (Approx 200mb per 70 minute CD for Apple Lossless. I had to upgrade from 30gb ipod to 80gb to accomdate the 450 cd I wanted in my collection. However you will notice a big improvement in sound providing you use the E500PTH - you will not notice the improvement with any other headphone including the Grado RS1

What I have is a very high quality hifi system in my back pocket - there is no compromised in sound quality for mobility! I take my ipod everywhere - whenever I am in queue or even in the toilets with nothing to do - I just whip it out and indulge in high quality sound!! If you spend a lot time in hotels or a way from home - you can bring you hifi system and a massive CD collection with you. And at £200 it is a bargain - if you are serious about hight quality sound get the E500PTH right away.

P.S I have no links with Shure - I am just so hugely impressed that I just had to show my feelings!!!!

[Reano]

I also have the Grado RS1 and e500 I'm not sure it's better sound than the Grado RS1 or even the senn HD650 or AKG701. The e500 are more loud but if I compare like volume with like volume I think the Grado or AKG701 provide a more neutral sound (not too bass heavy). Having said all that I do like the shures and because I use them at work I probably listen to it up to 5 hours on somedays. The best sound come from the comply foamies.

Note these aren't the most expensive in ear phones that you can get. The custom mould ones like Ultimate ears and even westone are more expensive with I believe these guys all due to bring out true three-way drivers in the near future. Also I find 256kbps Vbr (variable bit rate) quite acceptable and to my ears not much difference to lossless or in fact the actual CD

The issue you will now have is the endless upgrades you will want e.g. a portable headphone amp really gives this great sound. Then you'll want to upgrade the interconnect cable between the amp and the mp3 player. Then you'll want to mod the amp or get more exotic flavours like one's with crossfeed, etc then you'll try all kind of plugs for the earphones.... Or maybe this is just me ...

[dodger747]

I was almost about to buy these until I read the Westone UM3 are due for release soon and I have decided to wait until reviews start appearing for them.

I don't even want to consider the UE-10'S but they look so tempting...

[DorKnight]

Glad you like the E500PTH, the reviews from users sound terrific.

Originally Posted by eugdog2

The Shure E500pth is the most expensive IPOD headphones you can by.

There are others which cost much more as Reano pointed out, like the UE-10 Pros and Sensaphonics.

I would also like to see the UM3s in action, it's a wise choice IMO to hang on until their release dodger747.

You just need to get yourself a line out and amp for the E500PTH eugdog2

[StevieDvd]

The E500 are OK but not as good as Grado RS1 or Senn 650, your source just is not good enough to extract the extra these will deliver over the E500. No offense to your source.

But if you tried custom fit iem's you'd appreciate how much better it can get but at a price and still no match for the RS1 or 650.

Steve

My pair of Grado RS-1 does give more musical detail but it simply cannot handle the louder, denser music such as big orchestral tuttis or loud choral music like Verdi Requiem without the music becoming distorted. The Shure do not have this problem. I used the Grado via a tube amp but an Ipod source (using Apple Lossless - I can clearly tell the difference between compression and lossless files)

BTW I am going to put the Grados on ebay or this web site £250-300 or best offer.

[Reano]

Originally Posted by eugdog2

My pair of Grado RS-1 does give more musical detail but it simply cannot handle the louder, denser music such as big orchestral tuttis or loud choral music like Verdi Requiem without the music becoming distorted. The Shure do not have this problem. I used the Grado via a tube amp but an Ipod source (using Apple Lossless - I can clearly tell the difference between compression and lossless files)

BTW I am going to put the Grados on ebay or this web site £250-300 or best offer.

Wow at that price I would love first refusal on the Grado's but I must say I think you are making a mistake. I have various sources for the Grado and I use a Grace M902 Headphone amp (one of the best in the world) and the Grado's are just more neutral, the AKG701 more smooth, warm, easy to listen too (than the e500). I have used countless amps to list a few here Musical Fidelity V3, Creek, Project Headbox, Graham Slee monitor class, Sugden Headmaster, terratec 96/24 sound card, EMU 1820 sound card, Beringher mixing desk, minibox, XM4 mini amp, boosteroo, penguinamp, Marantz headphone out, etc and I tell you something must be wrong for the Grado's to be distorting. I haven't heard the Grado's distort ever. The source yes but not the headphones. And yes I listen to Verdi requeim 'dies irae' <-- or whatever (the scary bit), loads of Tchaivoksy that is normally very dense and no problem at all. Rachmaninov 'Variation on a theme of Paganni' loads of good piano variation here no problem. Jill Scott 'Who is Jill scott' album great RnB tester CD for female vocals and deep bass, no worries. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 'Great Gig in the sky', <--vocals and highs, etc, etc no problem whatsoever on the Grado's my ears would distort way before they do.

[StevieDvd]

I agree with Reano there must be a problem with your RS1 as I've not heard this problem with mine (or my Grado HHF1s, Alessandro MS1 or MS2i).

There is a problem known as Grado grattle where a hair or some other foreign body gets onto the driver - if you google the term you'll find a myriad of users mentioning it and various cures to try before getting Grado support involved.

At £250-300 a fully working boxed set of Grado RS1 would be a steal, if I had not got some recently I would have been interested too.

It's much harder to get decent soundstage and spacing on iems than it is with full sized headphones so I'd be very suprised to find any that can out do the Grado RS1, Senn 650 or AKG701 - unless badly driven. That includes my own ACS T2 which are far superior to the E500. I sold my E500 but kept the Westone UM2 as backups - would never have got shot of E500 if they were that good!

Whilst you are googling grab the Sensaphonic test seal tracks, they give a very good check of bass and seal. Try the same on full size cans too and compare the bass. The full size should win easily.

Steve

[Reano]

Yep Soundstage the key the feeling of the music being around you (especially when using Crossfeed) is brilliant on the RS1 and AKG701 (I don't use the Senn as often). Many imes ive been in my room and the music has made me look around as if something (like a door slam) was actually done in my room. The e500 does not give that feel it's more upfront in your head. Yes the detail is good, etc but the space similar to reverb is not as apparent as on the open air phones

[doctorjuggles]

As someone who doesn't own a pair of RS-1, eugdog2, hopefully I'll be considered for first refusal on yours at that price! FWIW though, I think you should keep them unless you really don't think you'll use them again.
Anyway, whereabouts in the UK are you? There are a load of us who get together at meets and often meet up individually too for a gear listening test. I'm pretty sure you'll be further impressed if we chuck a portable amp onto the line-out of your iPod (I have a Tomahawk and a Hornet, StevieDvd has both of these plus an SR-71) I think you'd be surprised at the extra a decent portable amp can get out of the E500s especially.

[Reano]

Originally Posted by doctorjuggles

As someone who doesn't own a pair of RS-1, eugdog2, hopefully I'll be considered for first refusal on yours at that price! FWIW though, I think you should keep them unless you really don't think you'll use them again.
Anyway, whereabouts in the UK are you? There are a load of us who get together at meets and often meet up individually too for a gear listening test. I'm pretty sure you'll be further impressed if we chuck a portable amp onto the line-out of your iPod (I have a Tomahawk and a Hornet, StevieDvd has both of these plus an SR-71) I think you'd be surprised at the extra a decent portable amp can get out of the E500s especially.

Here I go again Can you point me to the Tomahawk, Hornet and the SR-71 site ..... Oh dear .....

[StevieDvd]

Originally Posted by Reano

Here I go again Can you point me to the Tomahawk, Hornet and the SR-71 site ..... Oh dear .....

Sure but mind your wallet here

[doctorjuggles]

Originally Posted by Reano

Here I go again Can you point me to the Tomahawk, Hornet and the SR-71 site ..... Oh dear .....

Steve's already helped you there, but if you'll pardon my poor UK geography, where is Telford? Is it up near Wolverhampton? It would be good for you to test it out first, so if you were around in London at any time we could arrange an audition for you.

[Reano]

Originally Posted by doctorjuggles

Steve's already helped you there, but if you'll pardon my poor UK geography, where is Telford? Is it up near Wolverhampton? It would be good for you to test it out first, so if you were around in London at any time we could arrange an audition for you.

It's near wolverhampton middle between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. maybe level with Stafford then to the west 25 - 30 miles hehe So don't get much chance to audition but if the reviews are good I go with that so far they have generally been right. Im always buying then selling the kit a previously brought (normally second hand so don't usually lose money on the previous gears purchase price). Im currently liking the Practical Devices 'XM4' Headphone amplifier for my portable rig with the e500.

[Reano]

Ok Ive read this review

"Portable amp roundup! 9 portable amps reviewed and compared " From headfi and the Hornet is rated in second. My current portable is the XM4 rated 5 (middle) and those the little dot + thats rated last (unfortunately). So which is better the Hornet or the 71 from Ray samuel as that wasn't in the review.

[DorKnight]

If the amp is just for IEMs then I would say The Tomahawk.

[StevieDvd]

Originally Posted by Reano

Ok Ive read this review

"Portable amp roundup! 9 portable amps reviewed and compared " From headfi and the Hornet is rated in second. My current portable is the XM4 rated 5 (middle) and those the little dot + thats rated last (unfortunately). So which is better the Hornet or the 71 from Ray samuel as that wasn't in the review.

It's a more of lifestyle choice when deciding between the RS portables.

Sound-wise. I'd list them SR-71, Hornet then Tomahawk.

Feature-wise. Hornet, Tomahawk then SR-71

Convenience. Tomahawk, Hornet then SR-71

So for most iem's the Tomahawk is fine.

For high quality iem's, it's a little debatable between Hornet & Tomahawk. Convenience over Quality sound - not that we are talking a huge difference.

If you step up to bigger cans or consider the amps for transportable use (movable between locations rather than on the go) then I'd say SR-71 or Hornet. Again based on whether the sound is more important (SR-71) or the mains adapter/charger of the Hornet. The Tomahawk would be OK but not the best option.

For any casual reader of the thread the 3 amps basic features are:

SR-71 largest of the three, fixed gain setting runs on battery only uses 2 x 9v PP3

Hornet smaller than SR-71, 3 position gain, built in charger, takes 1 x 9v PP3. Can run on mains with/without battery.

Tomahawk. Tiniest of the three. 2 position gain, designed for iem's but can power bigger cans, runs on 2 x AAA batteries. No charging options.


Pics and sizes etc see the RS Audio web site.

Steve

[Reano]

Yes it would be just for IEM similar to the Shure e500

[Reano]

Originally Posted by StevieDvd

It's a more of lifestyle choice when deciding between the RS portables.

Sound-wise. I'd list them SR-71, Hornet then Tomahawk.

Feature-wise. Hornet, Tomahawk then SR-71

Convenience. Tomahawk, Hornet then SR-71

So for most iem's the Tomahawk is fine.

For high quality iem's, it's a little debatable between Hornet & Tomahawk. Convenience over Quality sound - not that we are talking a huge difference.

If you step up to bigger cans or consider the amps for transportable use (movable between locations rather than on the go) then I'd say SR-71 or Hornet. Again based on whether the sound is more important (SR-71) or the mains adapter/charger of the Hornet. The Tomahawk would be OK but not the best option.

For any casual reader of the thread the 3 amps basic features are:

SR-71 largest of the three, fixed gain setting runs on battery only uses 2 x 9v PP3

Hornet smaller than SR-71, 3 position gain, built in charger, takes 1 x 9v PP3. Can run on mains with/without battery.

Tomahawk. Tiniest of the three. 2 position gain, designed for iem's but can power bigger cans, runs on 2 x AAA batteries. No charging options.


Pics and sizes etc see the RS Audio web site.

Steve

THanks for this Steve I maybe should have started another thread but anyway I think the Hornet is top of my list now especially for the rechargeable battery. I must say though I love the XM4 sound but there's always better I guess and I think the Hornet would give a good improvement. Only thing maybe crossfeed this is very good on the XM4 and it's user adjustable too. You don't happen to have any spare Hornets around?

[doctorjuggles]

Originally Posted by Reano

You don't happen to have any spare Hornets around?

I have a spare Hornet lying around, but I'm 99.9% sure I'm not going to be selling it. If you'd like to audition it, I'd be happy to do a temporary trade for your RS-1s, which I've heard but not for extended periods of time, but I'd think the distances would put the kybosh on this plan, plus you probably use your RS-1 most of the time.
Anyway, onto your choices, I'd say the Hornet is the perfect compromise between size/sound, although the little Tomahawk really does perform amazingly well, it's really tiny.
From what I've read on the Head-Fi forums, the amp that won "Skylab's Shootout", the Larocco PRII, has a few issues with hiss with the E500 in particular (there's a PRII in the FS forum of that website right now because of this very issue.)

Of everything I've heard, which in portable terms is only the RS stuff, a Xin Supermini and a few odds and ends like the Cmoy and Meier's Porta Corda, I'd rate Ray's stuff highest, then the Xin (it would feature more in my thoughts if his service was as good as Ray's) and then the Porta Corda, closely followed by Cmoys and the likes. The last two would probably not offer anything that your Practical Devices doesn't already.
Avoid the Boostaroo though!