2012 Headphone Shootout Part 2: The In Ear Monitors

It's time for part 2 of the headphone shootout: The IEM's. They range from $70 up to $1,000, from single drivers to triple drivers. The models include Audiofly: AF-45M, Velodyne: vPulse, V-Moda True Blood Revamp, AKG: K350 Chrome, Audio-Technica: ATH-CKS77, Monster: Gratitude, Eers: PCS-250, Sennheiser: IE8i, and Altec Lansing: A3. The listening tests are the same with the same songs as in Part 1 of the Headphone Shootout.

First up is a pair of IEM's from Audiofly. It is their model number AF-45M, M standing for the built in microphone. They are IEM's that have a built in mic and controls.

Features and Specs:

-Custom voiced 10.7mm dynamic driver for superb detail across the dynamic range.

-Noise isolating In-Ear design, for up to 23db noise attenuation.

-4 sets of Silicon ear tips mold to your ears for better isolation and better sound.

-Clear-TalkTM- available on all AF45m models. We've split the mic from the mechanics of the button for better voice transmission during conversations, so you only need to say it once to be heard!

-AudioflexTM tangle free braided round cable for superior strength and abrasion resistance.

-Audiofly Storage Tin with plush velvet lining for roadworthy protection for your buds.

-Driver Type: 11mm Dynamic Driver Custom voiced 11mm driver for beautifully balanced bass, round mids and a crisp high end that chimes like a church bell.

-Magnet Type: Neodymium. Audiofly headphones use a neodymium magnet for longevity; the alloy has a unique crystalline structure that has a greater resistance to being demagnetized.

-Frequency Range: 18-20KHz. Audiofly's 11mm driver has an expanded bottom end for a rich bass response blended seamlessly with precision in the mid and upper frequencies.

-Cable Length: 1.2m. All Audiofly cables have a 1.2 meter/4' cable length.

-Plug Type: 3.5mm gold plated. We use gold plated plugs not because they look good, but because gold is the best conductor with the greatest resistance to corrosion giving you better sound transmission that is durable.

-Impedance: 16 Ohms. The AF45's 11mm driver has a low impedance of 16 Ohms. This is ideal for low powered devices like iPods® and iPhones® giving enough headroom so they have no trouble producing plenty of volume.

-Sensitivity: 118dB at 1kHz

-$70 MSRP

Quality appears to be good. The housing appears to be an olive green plastic, with an aluminum back. Cable connections look good. The cable is cloth covered that appears to be good quality. There is a small in-line mic, and one button control. Overall the quality and fit and finish of the materials appears good. The plug is gold plated.

Starting with Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, the resolution was good in the percussion and guitar, and was fairly clean sounding. They were a bit bright. Vocals sounded good. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters had acoustic guitar that was fairly crisp with good resolution. Vocals were natural sounding, and the kick drum had ok impact. Pusstcat Dolls: Don't Cha was quite dynamic with the snaps/claps. the vocals were a tad raw, and the sound overall was a tad bright. bass had good extension and played with good authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was clean sounding and just a tad bright. The trumpets sounded fairly natural. There was also good bass extension and played with ok authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing was fairly clean sounding, and the resolution was good. String bass had good output and clarinet was natural sounding. The soundstage was ok and they had good imaging.

Next in line is the Velodyne vPulse. Velodyne is a company that manufactures subwoofers. Now they do headphones as well. And with a tradition of quality subwoofer products, the vPulse has a bit of an emphasis on bass, and also feature a tangle free cable.

Features and specs:

-Aluminum driver housing and unique pressure-relief system produces precise, low-distortion bass
-Passive noise reduction from the intracanal design allows more details in your music and less outside noise

-Pressure-relief system reduces air pressure in your ear, ensuring more comfortable wear
-Multiple eartip sizes are included to provide the perfect fit

-Flat, rugged tangle-resistant cable
-Sleek styling and color with protective zippered case
-Works with iPod®, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and other portable music players

-Frequency Response: 20-20 kHz
-Sensitivity: 98.8 dB/1 mW
-Noise Reduction: 15 dB at 1 kHz
-Impedance: 16 ohm
-Driver Unit: 10 mm
-Cable: 43 1/2” (1.1m) at
-Plug: Gold-Plated 1/8” (3.5 mm)

-$90 MSRP

Quality was much better than expected at this price point. They came with a nice zipper hard case, with an internal packet for accessories. The earbuds themselves also appear to be priced aggressively. They looked more like $200 IEM's, not $90. The housing was blue and natural aluminum, with the tip angled for a better fit. The cable was a blue plastic tangle free design. There was an in-line 3-button control. The end tip was 90 degree angle with a gold plated tip. There were also many additional different sized tips to ensure a good fit for you. So far, I'm impressed.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown had crisp and clean percussion, nice bass with good bass extension, clean and punchy. Resolution was good, and the vocals were natural sounding. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters acoustic guitar was crisp with good resolution. The kick drum had nice extension and played with authority. The vocals sounded natural. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had ok dynamics with the claps/snaps, pleasant vocals that sounded natural. Low end extension was nice with lots of authority and was very clean. Resolution was also good. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was clean sounding with good resolution. Trumpets all sounded natural. There was good extension in the bass with good authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing was fairly clean sounding with good resolution. String bass had good extension and output and resolution. the clarinet was clean and natural sounding. It's soundstage was fairly large and imaging was good.

V-Moda is known for some great sounding headphones. Now they have a True Blood line based on the TV series True Blood. The IEM ReVamp is part of that True Blood line and includes red in the design and materials.

Features and specs:

-9mm V-MASQUE high-definition driver provides vibrant bass, vivid mids, vivacious highs

-V-PORT for 3D soundstage

-Built to last under strict military testing guidelines (MIL-STD-810G)

-Durable aluminum-metal construction

-Kevlar® reinforced cable survives 60k+ bends

-45-degree flexible 24k gold-plated plug

-Elegant carrying pouch

-$100 MSRP

Quality appeared slightly above what I would expect at their price point. The housing is made of black aluminum, with a blood red back for the True Blood styling. Cable connections looked good. The cables were cloth covered and appeared good quality. There is an in-line mic and one button control. And the tip was gold plated as well. Quality, and fit and finish are good. Included accessories were additional rubber tips, and cloth carry bag.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown was clean with crisp percussion, and nice resolution in the guitar. They were just a tad bright sounding. Vocals were fairly natural sounding, and bass guitar had nice extension. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters has clean and crisp acoustic guitar, and was just a tad bright. Kick drums had ok extension, and vocals were natural sounding. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha has nice dynamics in the snaps/claps. Vocals were a tad bright, and resolution was ok. Bass extension was good with good authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was clean sounding and just a tad bright. There was nice resolution in the acoustic guitar. Bass extension was good with ok authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing was fairly clean sounding, and trumpets sounded natural, as well as the clarinet. String bass had good extension and output. The soundstage and imaging were good.

The AKG K350 Chrome is the next model. They are a traditional IEM design. AKG is a headphone manufacturer based in Austria, known for their quality products. The K350 Chrome appears to fit that mold.

Features and specs:

-In-line microphone and volume control

-iPhone compatible

-Frequency Response: 12Hz - 23.5kHz

-Maximum Input Power: 20 mW

-Input Impedance: 16 ohms

-Sensitivity: 121 dB SPL/V

-Cable: 1.00 m

-Weight: 3 g

-Colour: Chrome

-$100 MSRP

Quality appears good, and on par for their price point. They feature a plastic cable, with in-line mic and 3 button controls. The housing is part black rubber/plastic, and part silver plastic. Cable connections look good, and the tip is gold plated. Overall, quality and fit and finish appear good. Accessories included 2 additional pairs of rubber tips, and a semi-hard zipper case.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown had crisp and clean percussion. There was nice extension in the bass guitar, and natural sounding keyboard. Vocals had nice timbre and resolution, and were fairly smooth. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters had crisp acoustic guitar that was pretty clean sounding. Kick drum had good impact and extension. The vocals were clean sounding and fairly smooth. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had good dynamics in the snaps/claps. Vocals were natural sounding and just a tad bright. Bass extension was good and played with authority, and resolution was good. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was crisp and clean sounding with good resolution. Trumpets sounded natural and were just a tad bright. Bass extension was ok with ok authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing was clean sounding, had natural trumpets, and string bass had good extension. The clarinet sounded natural, and there was nice impact and pitch definition in the drums. Soundstage was fairly large, and had good imaging.

Audio-Technica makes a very solid product. They have been in our annual Headphone shootout for years, and have yet to disappoint. They have a new Solid Bass line, and the ATH-CKS77 IEM's is part of that line. Their design includes a rear chamber for additional bass output.

Features and specs:

-Solid Bass System with outstanding balance between low, mid, high frequencies
-Double Air Chamber consists of two chambers to reproduce richer and deeper bass
-New two-position post adjusts earpieces for better fit and sound isolation
-Uniquely developed 12.5 mm direct diaphragm results in more impactful audio reproduction and lighter weight
-Features titanium construction for maximum quality and durability
-1.2 m elastomer sheath cable with L-type plug for portable audio players
-Includes carrying pouch and ear tips (XS/S/M/L)

-Type: Dynamic Driver

-Diameter: 12.5 mm
-Frequency Response: 5 - 25,000 Hz
-Maximum Input Power: 100 mW
-Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW
-Impedance: 14 ohms
-Weight: 7 g
-Cable: 1.2 m
-Connector: 3.5 mm L-type mini-stereo, gold-plated

-$120 MSRP

Their quality is on par for their price point. They have a soft rubber/plastic cable. The housing is titanium and appears to be a sealed design. The rear has the audio-technica logo, in black with a silver ring on the outside for some styling. I also like the fact that the IEM is angled to give you a better fit. The end of the housing at the bottom is rubber at the cable connection for better durability. Unlike the other models previously mentioned, there is no in-line control. Quality of materials used and it's fit and finish is good. Also included are three additional pairs of differently sized rubber tips and a soft carrying bag.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, showed crisp and clean percussion, nice resolution in the guitar and keyboards. Vocals had a natural sound, bass guitar had great extension and dynamics. The drums were clean with nice kick. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters revealed acoustic guitar that was quite crisp and clean with good resolution. Kick drums had good impact, with great extension and authority. The vocals were natural sounding. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had nice dynamics in the snaps/claps, and the resolution was quite good. Vocals were natural and quite smooth sounding. Bass extension was very good, with impact and a lot of authority. Brunson Brother: Fleace Movae was very crisp and clean with good resolution. Trumpets sounded very natural. Bass extension was very good with great authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing was crisp and clean in the percussion and trumpets, string bass had good extension and output. The clarinet sounded natural, drums had nice pitch definition and good impact. The soundstage was big with good imaging.

The Monster Gratitude. Where do I start? I can do a whole article just on what they have done on headphones alone. Monster just makes great products. Period. Some have felt they are over priced. But you tend to get what you pay for. The Gratitude's are gorgeous looking IEM's, and feel they are actually under priced.

Features and specs:

-The natural sound of vocals, percussion, and brass – that's what makes the music of Earth, Wind, & Fire special. Personally tuned by Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Verdine White, and Head Monster Noel Lee, GRATITUDE accurately reproduces your favorite songs by keeping that vibrant feel intact. You'd have to stand onstage to get closer to the real thing.

-High-performance Monster® cables for astounding sound quality

-Noise isolation keeps the music in, unwanted noise out

-Tangle-free cables for a hassle-free life

-ControlTalk for on-cable iPhone® or iPod® playback control and iPhone/music phone hands-free calling

-Premium rose gold finish

-Monster SuperTips™ Sound Isolating Eartips

-$230 MSRP

They came in a nice looking package, and I love how they got Earth, Wind and Fire involved (which also threw a great concert for Monster last year at CES). Sliding off the outer sleeve, my jaw just dripped. I love the brown velvet box, and the saying on the side..."Life is too short to listen to bad headphones..." is priceless. Heck, that could be my motto for our annual Headphone Shootout! You read my mind Noel! Opening up the box showed the IEM's, owners manual, two different carrying cases, and a plethora of additional sized and styles of rubber tips. Both of the cases feel like soft leather. One is small and would fit in your pocket of purse. The other is larger with a belt-loop to wear on your belt. Of the rubber tips, there are a few with the Monster designed rubber tips, for a more firm feel and better fit. Turning to the IEM's, they feature a tangle free cable, in-line mic and 3 button control, and a 90 degree angled connector with a gold plated tip. The housing is a rose gold finish, with again an angled design for a better fit. The quality of materials, and fit and finish is excellent. The quality of the presentation is mind blowing! I would have thought they were $500 IEM's.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown showed crisp and clean percussion, and resolution was very good in the guitar and keyboard. Vocals were smooth and natural with great harmonics. Drums were clean, and the bass guitar had good extension and played with authority. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters was crisp and clean with great resolution in the acoustic guitar. the kick drum had a lot of impact with good extension and authority. Vocals were very good with nice timbre, and very natural sounding. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha was very dynamic in the snaps/claps. Resolution was very good, and vocals were natural and fairly smooth. Bass was very clean with great extension, authority, and good impact. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was very crisp and clean with excellent resolution. Trumpets sounded very natural. Bass extension was good with good authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing had crisp and clean percussion with great resolution. String bass had good extension with nice authority. The clarinet was clean and natural sounding with good air. The soundstage was big with very good imaging.

Eers is quite a unique product. IEM's have evolved, to give us a better fit. This usually comes from the use of angles, and different sized tips. Then there are custom models, but they are pricey. Eers brings custom fit for a more economical price.

Features and specs:

-Custom-fitted earphones in only 4 Minutes!

-Dual balanced armature speakers with crossover

-Single button in-line microphone compatible with all mobile devices

-Extreme wide band support and extended high, MID and low frequency response

-Safe and Comfortable SonoFit™ Fitting Process.

-Custom-fitted shape creates Sound Isolation “Acoustic Seal”

-Secure fit so earphones do not fall out even when active!

-Protects your hearing – set your volume levels low and increase as required

-Typical nominal impedance: 32 ohms

-Sensitivity: 103 dB SPL /100 mVrms @1 kHz

-Maximum output level: 115 dB SPL

-Frequency Response: 18 Hz - 16 kHz

-Cable1.3 m (50 in.) kink-resistant

-Connector3.5mm (1/8'') gold-plated stereo jack

-Typical Weight: Approx. 15 g (0.53 oz)

-$300 MSRP

Build quality is pretty good. It comes with the full kit to make your own custom fit IEM. The instructions were well written and easy to follow. Materials used were high quality. The cable is rubber/plastic, with a gold plated tip. And I liked the hard zippered case. Custom fitted IEMs with dual drivers for $300 is an amazing price! You definitely get a better fit than any tips available. After all, they are molded to your ears. I must admit, I was skeptical at how well they would really work at cutting a good custom fit. But it actually did work!

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown showed very crisp and clean percussion, and very good resolution in the keyboard. Vocals were very natural sounding with great timbre and harmonics. Drums were clean with good impact, and bass guitar had good extension and played with authority. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters provided a very crisp and clean sound in the acoustic guitar. The kick drum had very good impact with a lot of authority and very good extension. Vocals were natural and smooth sounding. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha was very dynamic in the snaps/claps. Resolution was great, vocals were natural and fairly smooth. Bass was very clean with excellent low end extension that played with great authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was very crisp and clean with very good resolution. Trumpets were very natural sounding, and bass extension was very good with great authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing played crisp and clean percussion with great resolution. String bass had good extension and authority, and the clarinet was very clean and natural sounding with good air. Dynamics were very good. The sound stage was very big with great imaging.

Sennheiser makes some great headphones. When it comes to their IEMs, the IE8i is top. And when it comes to drivers, most manufactures at this price point will use balanced armature drivers. Sennheiser actually uses single dynamic drivers. They also use adjustable tuning for its bass output.

Their features and specs include:

-Dynamic drivers with powerful neodymium magnets ensure outstanding sonic accuracy and clarity
-Smart remote with mic to control the iPhone
-Durable housing and rugged, interchangeable cable
-Unique, manual bass response tuning function
-Sleek ergonomic design and various types and sizes (S/M/L) of ear adapters ensure a comfortable, secure fit and excellent attenuation of ambient noise
-Optimised for professional monitoring use and ideal for portable MP3 and CD players
-The remote and microphone are supported by iPod touch (2nd and 3rd generation), iPod classic, iPod nano (4th and 5th generation), iPod shuffle (3rd generation), iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and Macbook, Macbook Pro and Mac Pro (2009 and later). Voice Control is supported by the latest iPod touch, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. (iPhone, iPod, iPod classic, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc.)
-2-year warranty

-1 IE 8i headset
-1 storage box
-Earpads (in pairs):
-3 standard (size S, M and L)
-3 lamellar (size S, M and L)
-2 foam (size S and L)
-2 mushroom form (size S and L)
-1 cable clip
-1 pair of ear hooks
-1 cleaning and adjustment tool
-1 user manual
-1 dry salt pad

-Frequency response (headphones): 10 - 20,000 Hz
-THD, total harmonic distortion: < 0.1%
-Sound pressure level (SPL): 125 dB
-Impedance: 16 Ω
-Jack plug: 3.5 mm, angled
-Cable length: 1.2 m
-Frequency response (microphone): 80 - 15,000Hz
-Pick-up pattern (Headset microphone): Omni-directional
-Microphone sensitivity: - 40 dBV/Pa
-Weight: 18 g

-$500 MSRP

The quality of materials was good. The cable is a rubber/plastic. There is an in-line mic and 3-button control. The end tip is 90 degrees. The cable connections also look good. The housing is plastic, but appears good in quality. And it is angled for a better fit. It came with a wax loop, multiple sets of different styles of tips, and a nice hard protective case.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown had crisp and clean percussion, deep and clean kick drum, and excellent resolution in the guitar and keyboard. Vocals were smooth and natural, with nice timbre, and great harmonics. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters was extremely crisp and clean with very good resolution with the acoustic guitar. The kick drum had good extension, while the vocals were very natural sounding and quite smooth. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha showed excellent dynamics in the snaps/claps. resolution was excellent with the vocals, which were also natural sounding and smooth. bass had good extension and played with authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was extremely crisp and clean sounding with excellent resolution. The trumpets sounded very natural. Bass extension was good and played with authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing showed excellent resolution in the percussion and very clean sounding. String bass had nice extension and output. Clarinet was clean with good air. The soundstage was big with great imaging.

So what do you give the guy who has everything? Chances are he doesn't have custom IEM's. And even if he doesn't have everything, custom IEM's are still a great option. After all, how cool are custom IEM's! Altec Lansing now has a custom line of IEM's. And the Altec Lansing A3 is their top of the line with triple drivers. Altec Lansing is working with ACS out of England for the manufacturing of them.

Features and specs:

-Triple finely tuned balanced armature drivers

-Acoustic filters on both channels

-Gold cable connectors

-Maximum frequency response

-Unique medical-grade 40 shore soft silicone

-Ultra flexible fit

-Maximum -26db noise isolation

-Made by hand in the UK and US

-Custom made from start to finish

-Kevlar reinforced cables for strength

-Frequency response 16Hz-20kHz

-$1,000 MSRP

The quality is excellent. They came shipped in a small plain brown box. Opening the box revealed a nice hard leather case, and a small leather zippered case. Also included in the box was the owners manual, and a business card for any assistance. Nice touch! And so was the sticker on the back of the hard case that said custom made for, and my name. Opening the box revealed the custom made drivers, a large 1/4" plug, wax loop, and a tube of comfort cream to help them fit. the cable was a high quality Kevlar for further strength and protection. The plug is 90 degree angle, with a gold plated tip. I really like the soft medical grade silicon that is used for the custom molds. Once in, they actually soften with your body temperature for a better fit. And the fact that the molds are dark clear grey, you can actually see the triple drivers and the internal wiring. So in this case, you can actually see the quality of the construction of the drivers. The look of the custom drivers with their shape, and the ability to see the drivers and wiring is just over the top. I mean how cool is that! You will be the envy of your buddies. And after reviewing the ACS website, they have an impressive endorsement list of rock stars that use their product. Now you can listen like a rock star! And to finish it off, they also include a nice little leather strip that snaps together to keep your wound cable together when not in use. You will find that there is no in-line mic and controls, but come on, what rock star will be listening to their iPod or answering their cell phone while on stage? I mean really...

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown provided crisp and clean percussion, and excellent authority in the kick drum. Vocals were smooth with great timbre. Drums had a lot of impact and authority in the midbass. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters revealed extremely crisp and clean acoustic guitar with excellent resolution. Kick drum had good impact with nice extension and authority. Vocals were extremely natural sounding with excellent timbre and were quite smooth. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had excellent dynamics in the snaps/claps, and very good resolution. Vocals were natural sounding and smooth. The bass had good extension and impact, with good authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution, and fairly smooth sounding. Bass extension was very good and with good authority, and excellent resolution in the acoustic guitar. They are actually long time friends of mine, so I have been listening to the track for years. Yet I still managed to hear subtleties in the instraments I had never heard before. The resolution was that good! Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing provided excellent resolution in the percussion and trumpets. String bass had good extension and output. the clarinet was natural sounding with a lot of air. You could actually hear tonguing and woodiness of the reed. the soundstage was big, with excellent imaging. The harmonics was also excellent, and they were very musical!

All in all, we had a really good showing of IEMs in this years Headphone Shootout. All of the models of the IEMs performed at least as good as their price point. And just like is sometimes the case in March Madness, there were a couple surprises in the IEMs this year. Sometimes, you will see a 16 seed make it to the Sweet 16, and sometimes an 8 seed makes it to the Final 4. I think the Velodyne Vpulse and Monster Gratitude were examples of that, performing better than their $90 and $230 price points. Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the Audiofly AF-45M, V-Moda ReVamp, and AKG K350 Chrome has earned our Value Award. The Velodyne vPulse and Audio-Technica ATH-CKS77 has earned our Recommended Award. The Monster Gratitude and Eers PCS-250 has earned our Highly Recommended Award. And the Sennheiser IE-8i and Altec Lansing A3 has earned our Editor's Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their websites at www.audiofly.com, www.velodyne.com, www.v-moda.com, www.akg.com, www.audio-technica.com, www.monstercable.com, www.sculptedeers.com, www.sennheiser.com, www.alteclansing.com.