Hunting for THE right In-Ear Monitor, My list of favorite IEMs so far Options

[xTobix]

Hi,

I am hunting since quite a while for some new balanced IEM in the price range from $100-250.

I will use them with my mobile phone (Galaxy Nexus i9250), Laptop and eventually with a dedicated headphone driver (currently, I am eyeballing the CEntrance DACport Headphone amp)

My criteria beside the price tag are:

- Well behaved frequency response with a flat, slightly pronounced, lower frequency region (#5 the HF5 below is not great in this respect!)
- The impedance should not go to low (20 Ohm) (#2 UE600 has essentially a excellent flat line but at 13 OHM not very driver friendly IMHO)
- Impedance not vary to much across the band (#4 Shure SE 315 is pretty bad 25-160 OHM)
- A flat step response without crazy over or under shoots
- Harmonic distortions seem to be rather awful for all of them (don't know how critical this is tough...)
- Well defined stage with good mids (vocals) and highs
- Little cable noise
- Good sealing/fit (... many different ear pads)
- A little case to protect them
- Have I missed something important?

After a lot of reading & comparing I have come to the following list:

1) Ultimate Ears UE700 MSRP=$149.00
2) Ultimate Ears UE600 MSRP=$99.00
3) Phiaton PS 200 MSRP=$249.00
4) Shure SE315 MSRP=$249.00
5) Etymotic HF5 MSRP=$149.00


All constructive comments or personal experiences on those in the list are much appreciated as well as any direction to IEMs that possibly outperform any of the above.

Cheers!

[tsunarto]

I've been looking for the same thing. Recently, I've been looking at the Klipsch x10i. MSRP of $350, but it's easy to find them new for $200. I've been hesitant, though, since I'd like to make sure that I get "THE right" IEM, as well. This is literally the exact type of thing I was looking for.