Massdrop Version of Hifiman RE-00 for $35 - new cable

Comply T500s fit very nicely. T200s are too small to fit onto the bore of the RE-00s.

 

How do they change the sound?

 

Not sure if this is the right place, but what exactly is "texture"? Because I also own the ER4S and the RE-00, and while I agree with most of your other points I'm not sure what to make of this one.

 

The best way I can think of to explain what I meant by "texture" is to consider the difference between viewing in-person an original piece of art on the canvas as opposed to a high resolution image or reproduction of the original. With the ER4, I think the driver is faster, more technically capable, has better instrument separation, lets me follow certain instrument lines better, has more extended frequency response on both ends of the spectrum, etc. The RE00, however, gave me more of a feeling that I could reach out and touch an instrument. I heard more nuance of an instrument and how it interacted with the space around it, especially with cymbals. The RE00 placing the listener closer to the performers than the ER4P likely helped with this.

 

I agree with this. I had been inserting them fairly deep when I made my previous comments (long time ER4 owner, those things sit deep). With a shallower insertion, as shallow as I can while still getting a decent seal, they indeed do seem a little less bassy, enough so that I would describe the bass as slightly below neutral. The upper mids and treble may seem a little smoother too, although I haven't really made up my mind on that. Definitely more mid centric with a shallow insertion.

 

I sounds like your describing is what I referred to as transparency. The ER4s are undoubtably more detailed, cleaner and more defined (faster), but the RE-00 can sometimes sound more lifelike, like your hearing a real instrument or voice in the flesh. Like I said I've always found the ER4S to have a little bit of its own "sound" that can prevent them from sounding truly lifelike.

 

Alright I think I've listened to these enough over the past week to give some initial impression.

Build quality is mediocre. They seem to have sufficient strain relief at the 1/8" jack and at the IEMs themselves but I worry about where the left and right cable come out after the split. This is one of the thinnest and softest cables I've come across. Time will tell but they don't seem particular durable. I'm guessing most people are like me and would have rather had the case for these than $3.50 back from Massdrop.

Comfort is good for me. 3 sizes of tips probably would have been better than 2. The doubles flanges are too big for me but the singles seal well and are relatively comfortable but not perfect. I get a little discomfort in the ear cannel but I have no issue with the textured part of them IEM. That said it's an interesting design choice.

The sound of these out of my Fiio X5ii is again mediocre. Maybe it was crazy but was kind of hoping for RE-400 like performance or close to it and I'm just not getting it from these.

Timbre wise they sound relatively neutralish but the mids are a little accentuated and the bass fairly rolled off. Even though they are kind of mid-centric they don't really come across as "warm" sounding. I haven't really wrapped my head around the treble yet. I find it nicely balanced with the bass and mids but it doesn't sound completely accurate to me in itself. But, I don't really see anything in Marvey's measurements that would explain this (am I missing something?) One thing I've noticed about the treble is it tends to accentuate hiss and static in recordings that I don't usually notice on any of my other speakers or HP's. Like others, I'm finding playing with insertion depth does effect the treble response of these more than I'm used to.

While I would describe my ER4S's sound very clean and tight I would say these have more grain or even euphonics. They actually remind me of HE500s a bit in that sense. Compared to the ER4S's these just have a little bit grain and muddiness to the sound. It doesn't sound "bad" to me but it does obscure detail and transparency to some degree and in my opinion keeps them from sounding truly "hi-fi" (or even mid-fi in this case). I would say detail retrieval is not there strong suite.

I commented earlier that these might be more transparent than the ER4S's but as I listen to these more I'm starting to think neither are partially transparent but for different reasons. With the RE-00's its the grain I mentioned in the last paragraph that detracts from the transparency. With the ER4S's I think it has more to do with the FR, patricianly the lower treble peak.

Overall I'm not blown away but I guess you get what you pay for. Id say they are probably worth the $35 I paid for them, but I would not recommend them for the $80 Massdrop is claiming for a full price. I thought the RE-400 was a little better petty much across the board, and measurements of them seem to reinforce that. I'd really like to a see a Massdrop version of the RE-400 for around $50. That would be a winner in my book.

One thing is for sure, I'm really anxious to see measurements of the production units.



Disclaimer: The above is just my opinion. I haven't heard anywhere near as many HPs and set-ups as many of the members here. I also don't have much of any experience with IEM's <$50, so take all this with a grain of salt. To give you an idea what I'm comparing these to, I've owned ER4S's for almost 15 years now and at one time or another borrowed UE700's, RE-400's, and Fidelio S2s.

 

Pretty much agree with all of this. Without any comparison, at first the RE-00 may seem like it's smooth and relatively grain-free but once I compared it to the ER4S the grain became pretty obvious.

Also definitely agree about the RE-00 accentuating hiss and static. I'm honestly not sure if this is supposed to be the "correct" way to present many recordings because I don't think I've really heard this kind of behavior to this kind of degree in many other headphones.

The one thing I really do wish for is for more bass. Normally, I'm rather tolerant of headphones and IEMs that are somewhat lacking bass but in this case I simply wish there was more. I mean, I even feel my ER4S with the Shure Olive tips has decently more bass.

I still think the RE-00 sounds really good for the money, though the sound signature will probably not be for most people.

 

Just in case people are curious: http://www.0db.co.kr/xe/REVIEW_0DB/11138#20

These guys use a GRAS 43 AC (IEC 60318-4) for IEMs and a B&K 4128C HATS for cans, linked to an APx585.

 

One more data point for those of you considering these: about ten days after receiving mine from Massdrop, on my fifth or sixth use, the housing separated on the left bud while putting it in my ear. The plastic threads inside were clearly defective. Massdrop's response was to inform me that they don't handle returns and to redirect me to Hifiman. QC fail meets CS fail. I believe I will be steering clear of both of these companies in the future.

 

Old news but I thought I'd add to this thread because I see a very simple mod wasn't addressed here. Try plugging one of the 2 ports. They now have plenty of bass and more solidity. Lose a bit of that ethereal sound but a good trade with a bit of tip optimization. I've found Comply Confort 600 work well this way, slightly warmish and nicely balanced in the upper ranges. I wear them up as the deeper allowed insertion helps... for me.

 

Thanks for this! Plugging one of the holes with a dab of hot glue took my set from unlistenable to not too shabby! Mine were so bass-light before that they still don't have what I would consider plenty of bass, but they aren't complete garbage anymore. Perfectly fine for $35 now.

 

I just got a pair of RE-400s. It seems insertion depth may also play a part in the differing response. With the stock tips the earphones sound too sibilant for comfort for me, with the small barred tips they're more enjoyable. I have pretty small ear canals though, so I can achieve a pretty good seal with deep insertion of the small tips w/ the bars. Rin Choi says the RE-00s sound better shallow inserted, RE-400 better deep inserted. Take that as you will.

It's kind of scary how good the RE-400s sound once you get the best tips for your needs. For detail the ER4s still win, but the the balance the 400s achieve is quite good for the price. I'd like to try the RE-00s, just waiting for the next drop.

 

I'll be getting one of these

 

Interesting...
had requested one

 

neutral, transparent and spacious