For reasons of hygiene is in-ear earphone may well not different. The merchants listen to sample. You can compare between listeners, which you own. So, I have long been a Sony MDR-EX85LP (13.5 mm dome, allegedly 5-24000 Hz, the then price about 20% of the capacity of my new iQ simplified Studio Version), and the comparison is limited to just that. The iQ was purchased from the local Ultrason Swiss dealer, delivery time 4 weeks. A) Handling: The actual sound-feed lines are partially covered with flexible sheath cables. The "frugal" Instructions requires that the owner must experiment alone until he sets the proper carrying position (to the ear around bend it back to front). Then the Hörstöpsel sit reasonably well. The ComplyFoam cushion hardly recommendable, the silicone pads are handy enough and seal against outside noise. The relative stiffness of the sheath cables designed stowage problematic in the elegant, but fairly small purse. The question, how many times you should repeat the Verstauensvorgänge until something goes kaput. The iQ-Studio version has no spare cable! The Sony in-ear earphone in this regard is clearly less complicated. Immediately after delivery the way my iQ copy produced unique cable noise, probably loose contact point. (According to my experience trader to it in some Ultrasone products happen before) After returning and repair or replacement (also 4 weeks. Duration) the cable noise are reduced to "common measure". B) Acoustics: Despite the 5-times the price may be no acoustic miracle against a reputable in-ear earphone average price generally expect the iQ. Small differences can be discerned only in juxtaposition Comparison in minute increments. What would this example here? The individual instruments sound at iQ something "true", the clarinet is more clarinet, etc. The Sony you something is slightly in front of a big orchestra that sounds iQ "reverberant", one has to stand the impression rather at the location of the conductors. The transparency is slightly more available than the Sony. Thanks to the closed system of iQ creates a quite deep bass, with a specified 17 Hz lower limit against the alleged 5 Hz of Sony, but dry, that is "true". We hear, for example, the beginning of Mahler's Third Symphony with 4.Satzes Abbado in 1982, which comes very deeply and quietly. Since some high-end equipment failure! However earphones remains earphones, the music - except for the stereo effect - sounds finally inside the head of Zuhöreres, "space" can occur at most in the imagination. (Ahh, the incomparable Edition 10 Ultrasone with its unique spatiality and transparency! For your dry bass not open system reaches so deep, flat.) Well, Finally: For rock and beat lovers with desire for eardrum-Concussive basses the iQ is nothing. Listeners of classical grossorchestraler could pull 5 times the price into account, but does not have to. In cases where they are "condescend" to earphones it also does a good middle class product, even if it would not be 2-way. Where the iQ properties present themselves best are small ensembles; Chamber music or sophisticated jazz.
