Sennheiser HD800 Over-Ear Circum-Aural Dynamic Premiere Headphone Review

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(More customer reviews)I am not a golden ear audiophile. I don't know what it means to hear "the air between the strings" and other such audiophile descriptions. More power to those that can -- I am simply not able to do so. I do however know that music is and always has been my greatest entertainment, and that as I have grown older, my ability to pay higher dollar for my equipment has also grown. No way could I have had these headphones in past times. No way could I have justified their cost. Other priorities would have always taken precedence over these. But now that I can afford them, I still debated and agonized over the cost, but in the end decided I would go for them. Am I glad? Absolutely. They are without question the best sounding headphones I have ever heard. I could hear the difference straight out of the box, I did not even do "A to B" comparisons to know how good they sounded. I did do comparisons with my HD600 to HS650 upgrade and was never sure I heard much difference. Not so with the HD800s.
Here is the best way I can describe them. When I was young, I would listen to a lot of music particularly nice in headphones. I am talking Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and many others. I am a child of the 60's/70's so I would often be a bit "altered' while listening. In those days a pair of Koss headphones, a little "substance", and the latest King Crimson album would lend to a headphone experience whereby I would believe I was literally dreaming the music. (A very nice state). But as time went on, the subtances went away, the latest King Crimson album I had in mind (Larks Tounge in Aspic) is almost 40 years old now, and my hearing ain't what it used to be.

All that was said to lead up to this. With these headphones on (no substances), I am dreaming the music again. The above mentioned artists, and now with music such as Chick Corea and Miles Davis thrown in the mix, sounds like they are in and around my head like they have not been in those 40 gone by years.
I would conclude that these headphones are worth the cost if you are in a position to put out that kind of money AND you really love your music. But be warned --- once you hear these, there's no going back to lesser headphones.

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There's has always been a debate between electronic reproduction and natural sound. The Sennheiser HD-800 is the headphone that has been specifically engineered in replicating the basic acoustic conditions of natural hearing. This level of performance has yet to be matched by any competitor. The HD-800 is the ultimate headphone to deliver nature. More than 60 years of ingenious headphone engineering has been applied into the new HD 800. Incorporating Sennheiser's most advanced driver technology, these open, circum-aural dynamic stereo headphones redefine what reference-level audio is all about. You will form an altogether new height of sonic perspective as you experience a high-fidelity natural hearing experience. Premium parts have gone into their production - the transducer is encased by a precision material made of stainless steel; ear pads are made of special high-quality Japanese Alcantara; while the headband and headphone mounting utilizes the most advanced development from the aerospace industry. In terms of connectivity, these headphones utilize specially designed, four-wire, high-performance connections with Teflon insulation. These headphones have been developed to provide the closest match to "being there" than any other available headphone. The Sennheiser HD-800 is for the discriminating audiophile seeking the best and most natural sound available. From rich bass lows to definitive highs, the Sennheiser HD-800 headphones deliver the exclusive sound that nature had intended. Special high precision headphone connectors Frequency Response - 14 - 44,100 Hz (- 3 dB) Nominal Impedance - 300 Ohms Contact Pressure - 3.4 N (+- 0.3 N) approx. Transducer Principle - Dynamic, open Thd - =0.02 % (1kHz/1Vrms) Characteristic Spl - 102 dB (1kHz/1Vrms) Cable Length - 9.84 feet (3m) Oxygen Free Cable Adapter - 1/4 (6.3 mm) stereo jack Sennheiser 2 year warranty Each pair of Sennheiser

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Shure SE535-CL Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Clear) Review

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(More customer reviews)The 535 has been improved in several areas from the earlier 530 model, the latter of which I have two samples. The build quality has been discussed elsewhere. It is substantially solid and commendable. The replaceable cord is almost indestructible, but it being replaceable it is a non-issue.
More important is the sound quality which has been dramatically improved in a number of ways due to refinements to the shaping of the cavity within which the balanced armatures are fitted (I speak about the "speakers" inside which are more comparable to tuning forks than typical electo-magnetic speakers.) The crossover points between these armatures may also have been refined and adjusted for flatter response - meaning audibly flat, rather than just measurably flat. The external shape of the device was changed too, and it should fit more comfortably for many ears once one gets used to inserting them.
While a few listeners reported hearing "no difference" between the 535 and Shure's earlier 530 model, I strongly disagree. Or given that many people really can't hear even dramatic differences, it is merely true for them, but not true for those who can hear minute but significant changes between designs of audio equipment. The 535 is different from the 530 physically period. And sonically in a number of areas any sophisticated golden ear can hear. Among my audiophile acquaintances we could easily hear the improvements as follows:
1. Increased clarity and "transparency" throughout the frequency range resulting in better delineating of instruments, one from the other, and the textures and shapes within the sound. For example, the airy whoosh of a flute, the tinkles in the distance of a softy struck triangle at the back of the stage, the rosiny draw of the bow of a string instrument, the brassy rasp of a trombone, and the shimmer and afterglow of a brushed cymbal.
2. Higher resolution of the soundspace, such that the leading edges of percussion instruments penetrate with greater force, impact and speed. The fading tails of sound decaying away are easily distinguishable and followed to its silence.
3. The sound images locked-in-the-head feeling has been reduced significantly and the soundscape is now wider, many sounds seem to exist outside the head, even at a distance from one's ears.
4. More spatial clues and sound reflections are audible, such as naturally recorded hall ambiance and slap echo against a stage wall.
5. The bass is important to most listeners, it being the foundation for the rest and the rhythmic underpinning of music. The 535 excels in this area, even over Shure's 530 earlier model which provided deep bass surely, but not with the 535's impact, solidity and tightness, definition and textures. There are other brands with seemingly MORE bass or lower bass capability. This may be an illusion. For plumbing the deepest bass we have the requirement for very high definition. The 535 is, by a long shot, superior - you need to seal the earbud to your ear canal to hear it in all its glory.
6. One can continue describing sonic improvements over earlier designs, but there are space limits. Conclusion: I have not yet heard a more enjoyable, and most importantly, accurate portable device to date. The price, understandably, will be a factor for most people. However for the discerning listener who demands the quality of sound the 535 can furnish and will install CD Redbook standard or higher resolution audio files in their music players/iPods, the Shure 535 will be a stunning addition to their musical enjoyment on the go, in a plane, while exercising, or at home.


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The choice for discriminating professionals and audiophiles, the SE535 utilizes Triple High-Definition MicroDrivers for incredibly spacious sound with rich bass. Evolved from personal monitor technology road-tested by pro musicians and fine-tuned by Shure engineers, SE535 earphones deliver an unparalleled listening experience allowing you to hear the details of your music like never before.Featuring Triple High-Definition MicroDrivers, the SE535 utilizes dedicated tweeter and dual woofers to deliver spacious sound with rich bass. A detachable cable with wire-form fit enables easy replacement, both extending the life of your investment and providing a secure, comfortable fit. Sound Isolating sleeves in multiple sizes provide up to 37 dB of isolation, and a wide assortment of accessories offer premium customization.

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Grado GR8 In-Ear Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)The sound of the Grado earphones is very good. It is balanced. It is not weak either in the upper end or in the bass. The sound production seems very accurate, but also really fun. These earphones have that Grado sound which is very lively. I have used them both for classical music and jazz. They are surprisingly good in classical music. They are very clean sounding. I listened to them on an Ipod with a Leckerton headphone amplifier which is under $200.00. It comes with three different sizes of ear gels, but none was quite big enough for me to achieve a good seal which is necessary for proper bass response. I used a T 400 Comfort Foam Tip which did the trick for me. I noticed that Westone, Shure and Etymotic all include foam earpieces to ensure that their earphones achieve a good seal. If a listener (particularly a newbie to high end earphones) first tries earphones and does not get a good fit, they feel cheated or at least very disappointed. Hopefully, Grado will see fit to include some alternative foam tips in their packaging for future models.
The best thing about these earphones is that they have a very good sound stage. I listen primarily to jazz and classical music. Both are essentially "acoustic" in nature. You can actually detect "sound stage" and placement of instruments with these earphones which I believe is not very common in earphones.
The individual earphones ae very compact which is very convenient. There are three negatives to these earphones. The packaging is very sparce. It comes with the standard three ear gels which are always too small for me to get a good seal. Secondly, the earphones do not come with a little carrying case. This is a mistake. They could have a small pouch like comes with the Etymotics if they wanted to save money. After all, they are portable for people on the move. The investment is too dear to not want to take care of them. The good news is that there are a few sources for inexpensive zippered cases. If Grado included a carrying case, it would complete the picture for me. Don't be discouraged though. You can buy a very cheap carrying case. It does improve the comfort and sound experience. Lastly, the wiring seems to get tangled rather easily. I am using an old Shure case with a spool in the middle to wrap the cables around to ensure that they do not tangle. Even though the wiring can easily tangle, the wires are not particularly "microphonic" in that they do not seem to actually magnify the sound of the wires rubbing against anything while you move. The Klipsch Image is a wonderful tiny earphone where the wires are extremely microphonic which can be irritating.
PS. I recently got some black flex tips which allows me to get a good seal with the earphones. I got them on Sweetwater from the Amazon website. It is great because the tips have a rather large opening which makes it easier to put slip them onto the Grado earbud and the Audio Technica earbuds. It provides another alternative along with the Comply Comfort Tips which are wonderful.
All in all, these earphones really sound fun. That Grado sound is like a terrific desert.

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A proprietary wide bandwidth moving armature design provides the listener with unsurpassed performance. Small size allows earphone to nestle well within the ear canal, maintaining an excellent air seal for improved bass and reduction of outside noise without causing discomfort.

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Shure SE425-CL Dual High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Clear) Review

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(More customer reviews)Hi Everyone,
I just received my SE425's 2 days ago, and have had ample time to "break them in". After spending almost $300, I'm not sure if they're exactly as I expected. I previously had the Shure E2C, SE210, and SE310; all of them were wonderful in their own ways at their price points.
However, the SE425 have very similar sound to the now-discontinued and discounted SE310 even with two discrete drivers, while costing more (after SE310 price discounts). The cables are too rigid near the ears, making for uncomfortable wearing. Also, the nozzles/earpieces don't go as deep in the ear canal as previous models, but surprisingly without sacrificing sound isolation. The bass is too understated, even compared to Shure's "flat-sound" standards. The detachable cables are an amazing innovation (finally implemented), especially since my previous models have gone through 3-4 cable warranty repairs (crackling sound) while the drivers themselves were perfectly fine.
Beware, the earphone plug-in piece is quite large, making it very difficult to fit in iPhone/MP3 player cases (especially the iPhone 1st gen and iPhone 4 w/ bumper). The previous Shure models didn't have this problem, as their plug points were quite narrow.
Overall, the Shure SE425 seems more durable than previous models, but their high price point with only marginal improvements makes it slightly difficult to justify over previous Shure models, which are now heavily discounted.
I'm do not claim to be an audiophile who listens to music only through Amps and such, though I do value and understand quality audio. I mainly use these headphones with my iPhone 4 and laptop with higher bitrate songs (320 KPBS+ VBR).
Hopefully this helps, and good luck in your earphone search!!

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Designed for the demanding audio specifications of live performance, the SE425 is engineered to provide reference quality audio. Hear all the details of your music with Dual High-Definition MicroDrivers that deliver an incredibly accurate and balanced listening experience. Featuring Dual High-Definition MicroDrivers, the SE425 uses a dedicated tweeter and woofer for an accurate and balanced sound. Detachable cable with formable wire enables easy replacement and secure, comfortable fit. Sound Isolating sleeves in multiple sizes provide up to 37 dB of isolation.

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Etymotic ER-4P Portable In-Ear Earphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm on record with a total rave of Etymotic's ER-6 headphones - but the ER-4P is vastly more satisfying. The difference is bass (the most immediately obvious difference). The ER-4p has phenominal bass for headphones - probably state of the art in this reguard. But what makes the ER-4p really special is its amazing dynamics. The soundstage is huge, and sonic textures leap out of velvet silence. It's hard to characterize superb dynamics. Music sounds "bigger". Quiet passages have more presence - and louder passages have more inner detail. Another strength of the ER-4p is that the extra bass energy allows the vibrant treble detail to sound balanced - not strident or analytical (as the ER-6 can sometimes sound). Between the dynamics and the bass, the ER-4p ends up sounding more musical and alive than the ER-6 (and thus virtually every other earphone). There is a touch of mid-bass ripeness - sometimes deep voices like Mark Knopfler sound a little chesty. There's also a downside the huge dynamics - sometimes a touch of congestion can creep in during crescendo peaks. The flip side of this is that quiet passages can have enormous presence and emotional power. Small scale accoustic stuff and female vocalists shine and have amazing presence. Nora Jones, for example, has never sounded better. Big rock doesn't suffer either. The fantastic treble detail and huge deep bass makes both classical and rock really slam. These really are amazing phones.
There are the usual caveats of an in-ear-canal headphone: Ear-canal type headphones like these must be inserted ALL the way down into the ear canal to get good bass. The better the seal the better the bass. One of my ear canals isn't straight and I sometimes have trouble getting that ear's earphone properly positioned. Once I do - the bass on these phones is amazing. This issue causes problems for some. Some people just can't tolerate something in their ears. My wife uses foam earplugs all the time but she's too squeamish to insert these earphones properly. I know plenty of people with this issue. Be honest with yourself about this before you make the plunge. If ear canal type earphones are not inserted all the way to make a good seal they sound tinny and lightweight with no bass.
Then there's the usual caveat for any high-end audio transducer: it's only worth the money if you've made sure the signal you're feeding it can do it justice. If your source material is great you'll thrill to hear all of it. You'll hear things you never heard before, guaranteed. If your source isn't good - you'll hear that too. I suspect this is the source of many of the complaints. There are a lot of people listening to low grade portable players - or to audio files with too much compression. Check out any peer to peer sharing sites and you'll find lots of audio tracks that sound like they were ripped off a poorly tuned AM radio station. If this is your music collection you should probably stick to cheap earbuds that soften and roll off the music. Etymotics will sound glorious if you are using lossless compression or high-bit rate encoding off good source material.
I'm an audiophile. At home I tweak room accoustics, cable types, speaker placement and the like. My lifestyle dictates I end up doing much of my listening on commuter busses, airplanes, subways, and long walks across the city. The Etymotics and my iPod - filled with losslessly compressed tunes gives me an audiophile experience on the road. I frequently hear things on this rig that I don't hear even on my high-resolution home system. This kind of musical satisfaction at this price is astounding - a total bargain. Part of what makes it work so well for passenger transport use is the excellent isolation. These things are earplugs - plain and simple. They cut out ambient noise exactly like earplugs. Be aware that sonic isolation can be dangerous for pedestrians, bikes, drivers, and motorcyclists. You can't hear the car horn that might save your life. I walk NYC streets all the time with these on, but when I jaywalk I'm extra careful to look both ways.
I've used ER-6s for last 3 1/2 years or so and was deeply in love. I'm probably a good candidate for Sensas, Ultimate Ears, or other expensive exotic phones, but decided to upgrade to the ER-4ps on reputation when the ER-6s began to lose some sonic integrity after years of hard use and rough treatment. (I use the ER-6s at the gym now - where they sound great and stay put during vigorous exercise). At first the ER-4p's bass was over-ripe. They need some burn-in time. After 5 hours or so the bass came into line with the rest of the frequencies. It is still extremely strong - sometimes almost overpowering. I find this a rare and desireable trait for headphones. Most phones - even really great phones like Electrostatics or dynamic phones like Grados or Sennheisers have deficient bass. The bass and dynamic prowess of the ER-4p puts them in a different league than the ER-6 - which can sound a bit hard and analytical at times. The ER-4p sounds almost euphonic by comparison. I don't think it actually is euphonic. I've used them for about 75 hours so far and they reveal the source material. They just do so in a beautiful way. If you care about audio quality, can tolerate ear canal type phones, and can feed them high resolution source material, you'll probably fall as deeply in love with the ER-4p as I have.
A word about ergonomics. Some have criticized the ER-4P's microphonic cord and way they stick out of your ear - making them vulnerable to contact with hats and helmets. There is something to this criticism - especially in winter. The ER-4p sticks out of your ears, secured only by the friction fit of the earpiece itself. This can lead to annoying encounters with hats and scarves. It's not so easy to make these headphones happy inside earmuffs or ear covering hats. Etymotic was one of the first in-ear-canal headphones and the design lacks the ergonomic advances of Shure and others - principally the routing of the cord up and around the ear and a thicker, non-microphonic cord covering. I wish Etymotic would consider incorporating these advances. Etymotics have penetratingly transparent sound - transparency (ultimately, fidelity) that is impossible to match anywhere close to this price. I'll put up with the ergonomic issue (which are really only issues in winter - for me).
Follow-up - Last week I had an hour to kill at the airport and a nice salesman let me do a shootout with Shure E3cs, E4cs, E5cs, and Sennheiser CX-300s versus my beloved Etymotic ER-4Ps. I was able to eliminate the Shure E3c and Sennheiser CX-300 immediately - they sounded unacceptably muffled and congested by comparison. The Shure E4c and E5c were more interesting. The E5c had more powerful bass, but was ultimately less transparent than the Etymotic ER-4P. The E4c, however, really gave the Etymotics a run for their money. Shure's E4c had excellent midrange and treble transparency and strong powerful bass. I had to go back and forth between these and the ER-4Ps many times to get a firm fix. The major difference is EQ balance. The Ety ER-4Ps are flatter; the E4cs more tipped up at each extreme, as if you had turned both the treble and bass knobs up. The E4cs had a seductive sweetness in the treble and rich solidity to the bass that was very seductive. I was tempted to put my credit card down. The Etymotic ER-4Ps are less exciting - but ultimately felt a little truer to the music. I'd say both had about equivalent transparency and apparent fidelity. The E4cs are twice the price of ER-4Ps - underscoring Etymotics excellent value. The Shures had a nice wind-up case and, perhaps, better ergonomics, however. Food for thought.
Yet another follow up: a word about the fact that the new ER-4Ps are black and the old ones were blue and red. I imagine that Etymotic stopped making the blue/red cable boot models because people thought it looked funny. Now that they are all an attractive black some mourn the lost functionality of immediately being able to see which one is left and which right at a glance. There is an easy way to do this with the new black ones (I own the black ones BTW). Hold one out in front of you and look for the shiny circle. If you see the shiny circle, stuff it in the ear it's pointing towards. If not, shove it in the other ear. Perhaps my words are not clear, but try it once and you'll immediately see my logic. Once you learn this move you'll never have any issues about which is right or left - except in total darkness. If spotting the shiny circle isn't easy for you, add a drop of nail polish on the right one and you'll be able to grab the right one that way.

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The ER-4P MicroPro noise-blocking earphones from Etymotic Research offer realistic sound reproduction and noise isolation that far surpasses that of active noise-canceling earphones. The ER-4P earphones--which require no batteries--can be plugged into any audio source. They can be used with portable CD, MP3, DVD, and other players without an additional amplifier.The ER-4P earphones were designed to match the response of the ear, creating nearly perfect sound reproduction. They reduce external sound naturally by sealing your ear canals, without the added weight, bulk, or external power supply required for active noise-canceling. Their external noise exclusion (up to 33 dB using the supplied 3-flange eartips and 41 dB with foam eartips) lets you hear the full dynamic range of recordings without your having to play them at unnaturally high and unsafe levels.What's in the Box ER-4P MicroPro earphones, a 5-foot cord with 3.5 mm stereo phone plug, a .25-inch stereo phone adapter plug, six 3-flange eartips, 10 foam eartips, a filter-changing tool, 4 replacement filters, a shirt clip, a zippered pouch, a storage box, a user's manual, and warranty information.

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Beats Pro (High Performance Professional Headphones From Monster® - Pro-tuned Over-Ear - Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This set sounds great, I would rate the sound 5 stars eeven if it cost double the price. I'm going to end my comments on the sound this way, incredible bass, clarity and very good detail.
However, no matter how good they sound, the poor comfort makes them a lousy choice. I imagine some may find them comfortable, but not many. If you can't stand to wear your headphones, it really doesn't matter how good they sound.
The beats studio, while not sounding as good, are at least comfortable, and far better than the Monster haters would have you believe. Make sure to buy these from Amazon or best buy, so you have 30 days to return them. As much as the sound makes me want to like them, the sore ears make it impossible. Hopefully, Monster will make a revised model like they did with the Studio model. As it stands, few will be able to wear them for long.

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Designed by audio professionals for a balanced sound, Beats Pro makes a perfect reference headphone for sound engineers, DJs, musicians, and hardcore music lovers alike. Constructed from strong, lightweight aluminum, Beats Pro resists vibrations, so you never hear unwanted artifacts--just pure, clear sound. Dual input/output cable ports let you share mixes by daisy-chaining headphones, so others can plug right in. Plus, convenient flip-up ear cups let you monitor the room with Beats Pro still on your head. Plush ear cushions provide serious comfort and isolation, and solid construction makes these cans rough and road-ready.
A perfect reference headphone for sound engineers, DJs, musicians, and hardcore music lovers alike. Click here for a larger image

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Sennheiser IE 8 Premium Audiophile In-Ear Noise Isolating Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)First off I am a normal consumer who does not work for the industry at hand. I have been in search of the "Best" in ear monitors or ear buds for nearly 4 years. Never being happy with what I tried based on reviews I always returned them or sold them online. I have tried Ultimate ears super fi pro 3's & super.fi 5's, Klipsch Image & Custom 3 's, Sony, Apple in-ear with remote (Best for the price except cable noise) Koss CC_01's, and most recently Shure Se 530's (which I thought were the best until I go tired of the THICK cable with noise at the connections)... Now, last week I ordered the Sennheiser IE8's. SIMPLY STUNNING, from the bass control, to the changeable cables, to the comfortable fitting, to the amazing sound quality both low and hi. The warm sound, solid yet smooth bass, and crystal clear hi's I am amazed and I am not even through the total burn in time they do require by audiophile standards. I have about 12 hours on them thus far and they are already 150% better then out of the box. I took them for a hike yesterday, they stayed in place, sounded amazing and look great too, very stealth and sleek once in. they also come with a HUGE assortment of fittings for your comfort level needed. Trust someone who has finally ended their search and has found a keeper..... I am a new fan of sennheiser. In fact, I just ordered their "Work out" phone for my shuffle. Thanks!

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The Sennheiser IE 8's audio performance warrants a standing ovation. Rediscover your music collection and tailor it to your aural tastes with a tunable bass frequency response. The customized sonic signature is complemented by a unique fit thanks to the included ear adapters, ensuring perfect fit, guaranteed. This fit isolates the user from their environment, offering passive noise attenuation and the best sound experience. The compact design of the IE 8 works with any attire in any situation. The IE 8 stores quickly and safely in the included carrying case.

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Monster Turbine PRO High-Performance In-Ear Speakers (Copper) Review

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(More customer reviews)Introduction:
Before I begin this review, I'd just like to thank the folks at Monster for their dedication and generosity in putting together the review program that gave me this opportunity. Do note that after the review program ends, the reviewer (or better known as me. ) does get the opportunity to keep the review unit. While I try to keep an unbiased tone in my reviews, I just wanted to put this disclaimer out there. For more information on this review program, please refer to here.
I have always been an IEM user from the very beginning. In fact, my first audiophile-worthy equipment were in-canal earphones. As I ventured deeper into the depths of high-fidelity audio and more specifically the full-size headphone "arena", I began to lose touch with the portable earphones world. I am happy to say that this new jewel from Monster has brought me back.
Head-Fi is known for, among other things, the overzealous hype surrounding new products, especially within the portable audio world, where new earphones seem to pop up everyday. Because of this, I was understandingly hesitant and cynical when Monster debuted its Turbine Pro line to overwhelmingly positive feedback. I am pleased to say, after trying these little devils out firsthand, that none of the applause was hype.Packaging, Accessories, and Build Quality:
Packaging-
The Monster Turbine Pro Copper IEMs (hereby denoted by MTPC) arrived in a plain brown box. I was immediately underwhelmed, thinking, "[...] earphones arriving in this?!" A second later, and I realized that I was staring at a FedEx shipping box.
A minute into unboxing the earphones from the clean, minimalistic magnetic black box, and I was instantly hooked. Calling this luxury was an understatement. The MTPC's packaging was superb, to say the least.
Accessories-
Unlike some of the cheaper, if you will, earphones and headphones I have purchased over the years, the MTPC came with a multitude of accessories, including:
A velvety "clasp" case
A magnetic button case
Bag of SuperTips
Bag of gel-filled tips
Bag of tri-flanges and foam tips
Bag of generic silicon tips
Anti-microphonic clothing clip
Holster-style tip holder
Antibacterial cleaning cloth
Documents
On the topic of accessories, the amazing array of tips the MTPC comes with really speaks to how much Monster cares about its customers. There has been a lot of interest on Head-Fi over the variety of tips Monster offers. At the pinnacle are the SuperTips. Called everything from the ultimate sleeves to "the best foam earphone tip on the market". Monster's SuperTips are hybrid foam tips encased by an external layer of soft, cushiony foam and sustained internally by a thick, sturdy silicon of tube. This combination resulted in excellent isolation and comfort, combined with minimal impact on the overall sound quality of the MTPC, a perfect aggregation that no other tip has reached. However, one caveat of the SuperTips is their relatively low durability compared to silicon tips. The silicon tube is easily separated from the exterior, and this might result in degradation in isolation and sound quality after a few months. In the end, nevertheless, SuperTips last far longer and sound better than foam tips, yet provide a more comfortable alternative to traditional silicon tips.
Build Quality-
On to build quality! Even the best earphone is no good if it can't withstand the stress of our daily routines and activities, which is why the build quality of an IEM is so important. One of the first things I noticed after looking at the MTPC was its heftiness. The brass earphones looked and felt practically indestructible, especially compared to the flimsy OEM earphone shells many other audio companies are using. Well, to adequately test the build quality of the MTPC, I decided to take my pair along with me on a 1500+ mile road trip! Needless to say, the MTPC survived the exhibition in tip-top shape, while my stock iPod earbuds died along the way. One downside of the excellent brass design is weight. The MTPC felt heavier in my ears than other comparably sized earphones, but it did not bother me too much.
Monster's highly acclaimed cable management system is also included on the MTPC. A very well-built cable complete with a metal "L-jack" and "Y-split" added to the already glorious build quality of the MTPC. The included clothing clip also reduced microphonics to an almost non-existant level.Sound Quality:
Most of the attention surrounding the MTPC was centered around its unnaturally excellent sound quality. Of course, seeing as the MTPC retails at $400 and is marketed as a top-tier earphone, I was prepared to also be unnaturally critical. Yet, one minute into the first audition, and I was stunned. Blown away, even. The MTPC is unlike any earphone I have ever owned. More on that in a second.
Bass-
The MTPC is a bass-centric earphone. There's no way around that. And it's not a bad thing either. While its bass quantity falls short of the Sennheiser IE7/8's bass quantity, the MTPC makes it up in quality, producing some of the tightest, best-controlled bass I have ever heard on an earphone. The bass extends low enough for deep bass aficiandos, while staying strong and punchy enough to satisfy anyone from "bassheads" to lovers of lean, audiophilic bass. Impact is excellent, and bass detail retention is above par. There is a hint of muddiness, however, but I'm really just nitpicking now.
Mid-
Liquidy, natural, full, warm are just some of the words I'd use to describe the mids of the MTPC. Keeping in line with the overall balanced natural of the MTPC, the mids are no exception. They are slightly warm, yet still realistically detailed. They are full and weighty, yet still fast and agile. They are forward when needed, yet laid-back enough to not seem tiring. The mids of the MTPC are, in two words, almost perfect. A slight bit of mushiness combined with perhaps a little too much fullness prevents me from giving the MTPC's mids my utmost adoration. In the end, however, these are still some of the best mid frequencies I have heard on any earphone, barely falling short of the Shure SE530.
Treble-
Fans of treble will enjoy the MTPC's sparkle and smoothness in the upper frequencies. However, when compared to the other frequencies, I found the treble to be slightly lacking. In my opinion, there was a hint of recessiveness in the treble, especially in the upper-treble area. And while the MTPC can still be considered one of the most balanced earphones, it's bass-centricness does take just a nibble away from the treble. Compared to the Etymotic IEMs, the MTPC loses a bit on treble detail and aggresiveness. Overall, the MTPC's smooth and relaxing treble still won me over, giving me a much-needed break from the bright, hyper-aggresive upper frequencies of my Etymotic IEMs and my Grado and Ultrasone headphones.
Soundstage and Imaging-
Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional soundstaging was excellent on the MTPC, especially compared to the large majority of IEMs. Imaging was also very good, though it suffered a bit compared to my Etymotic IEMs due to the slight lack of detail in the treble region.Overall-
The key word to describing the MTPC's sound signature and quality is balance. Unlike just about any other earphone I have had the pleasure of listening to, the MTPC, though focused on bass, does not fall tremendously short in any one area. The magnificent soundstage and imaging with a wonderful musicality made listening to the MTPC was a very enjoyable experience.Summary:
Transducer: Dynamic
Cord Style: Y-cord
Mini Jack Style: {''L} style, Heavy build.
Eartips Used: Monster SuperTips, Monster Gel Tips
Physical Properties:
' Packaging: '''''5/5
' Accessories: '''''5/5
' Build Quality: '''''4.5/5
' Isolation: ''''4/5
' Microphonics: ''''4/5
' Comfort: '''''4.5/5
Sound Quality:
' Treble: '''''4.5/5
' Mid: '''''5/5
' Bass: '''''5/5
' Soundstage: Great / Wide
' ABF: [Mid]
' Overall SQ: [4.85 / 5]
Overall Value: [5 / 5]Conclusion:
With a collection of accessories unlike any other, a tank-solid build quality, an extremely generous life-time warranty, great customer service and a stunningly good sound quality, the Monster Turbine Pro Copper In-Ear Monitors have set a new standard for earphones and headphones alike.

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Studio Reference In Ear SpeakersTurbine Pro Copper are studio quality monitors engineered for the most critical listening applications. They deliver the accuracy, transparency and detail required by musicians and audio professionals that absolutely must hear absolutely everything. Advanced driver technology, resonance-cancelling enclosures and superior isolation provide astonishing new benchmarks in resolution and clarity. The end result is true game changer in personal listening -- a high end audio experience that you can put in your pocket.A New Paradigm In Personal AudioTurbine Pro Copper faithfully reproduces all your audio sources with complete tonal and dynamic fidelity throughout the frequency spectrum. Its ultra-wideband driver system delivers deep, tight bass that sounds like an in-ear subwoofer, and crystal clear mids and trebles that rival full-sized high-end speakers. The sound is open, unveiled and remarkably vivid -- you'll hear exciting new subtleties even in your best-loved music.Reference Quality Playback For The Most Critical ListenersMonster's name is legendary throughout the music world, from stage to studio, and our audio professionals are as passionate about music as the artists and engineers who create it. Our "instrument" is audio design, and we're constantly driven to ever-higher achievements in sonic performance. When we invited the Monster virtuosos to create an in-ear speaker system that they themselves would want to own, the stunning result was Turbine Pro Copper.A High End Audio System That Fits In Your PocketTurbine Pro Copper has been conceived as a true audiophile playback system that just happens to be extremely portable. Its superior fit and isolation duplicates the effect of full-sized speakers perfectly tuned to their room. The patented Magnetic FluxTubeTM cabling is derived from the same technology found in the best Monster Speaker cables, as are the secure, 24k gold plated connectors.

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