Altec Lansing inMotion iM716 Headphones by Altec Lansing
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List Price: Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Altec Lansing inMotion iM716 Headphones
Digital camera Review: good sound quality at discounted price; has some ergonomic issues
Summary: 4 Stars
I replaced my Etymotic 6is with these because the Etys developed a short in the cord. My immediate impression was that these do have superior sound quality to the Ety 6is. I've never heard the Ety 4s, so perhaps these are more comparable to those -- and the Altec Lansing IM616's comparable to the Ety 6is -- a common assertion I keep running across on the 'Net.
The IM716s have a bit better bass in the HD position (and A LOT more in the Bass position) than the Ety 6is. They also sound a bit more detailed. Quite nice considering I got these for about the same price as the 6is.
As for eartips, I dislike foamies so I didn't even try those. I don't like the 3-flange tips that come with the IM716s because they have to be pushed farther into the ear that I'm comfortable with in order to provide decent bass response. Fortunately the eartips for the Ety 6is also fit the IM716s, so I was able to put some 2-flange tips on the IM716s -- comfortable fit and good sound!
I don't know whether any of the filters for any of Etymotics' models fit the Altec Lansing 'phones; I suspect not because the barrel that holds the speakers looks larger on the Altec Lansing 'phones than on the Etys.
My main complaint about the Altec Lansing is the inline module that allows the listener to switch between Bass and HD modes. The module adds considerable weight to the cord. This wouldn't be so bad if the clip on the module was designed well, but it's a shallow metal clip that isn't easily attached to clothing. (In contrast, the clip in the middle of the Ety's cord is a plastic alligator clip that allows you to open it up and "pinch" it on any kind of fabric area you want.) Having a clip like this -- particularly in the position it is in -- is not good for exercise clothes. The module and the clip would have been much better with a better clip design and a better location on the cord (much closer to the jack that plugs into the player instead of a foot away from the listener's ears). The end result of this poor design is that when I exercise, the cord is left to flop around. Given the microphonics issues involved in many IEMs, having a cord flopping around like this is far from ideal.
Overall I am happy with my purchase. I definitely prefer the sound quality of these to the Ety 6is, though I do like the design of the 6is more.
Digital camera Review: iM716 bargain amongst iem's
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not my first InEarMonitor purchase. Prior to the iM716, I have been using Etymotics er-6i (both amped and unamped), which I had considered the absolute best-bang for the buck monitors. My background includes an interest in "hi-fi" since around 1960, and several years with guitar, string bass, piano are the new champs in the under $250 price category, and strongly comparable to Shure E4, and Ety ER-4S. Negative reviews here reflect that some folks have little idea of how iem's are inserted/fit. Insertion is directed to the front and upwards (this is the natural direction of the ear canal). Also, don't be afraid of going too deep with them - you cannot hurt yourself with them and they demand a good seal. The iM716 is very good in presenting the details of a recording (they are derived from Etymotic drivers), but they are also very musical-sounding. My personal choice of tips for them is Shure Softflex (they fit perfectly). If you need foamies, then Comply works very well. The only questionable choice made by Altec Lansing was to put an in-line resistor module with them (giving you a choice of using them unamped from a power-weak player or switching the module to HD position for more refined sound which is best when amped (imo)(module also has a volume control). The downside for having this module is that it adds a bit of weight to the line. While I don't like this module for my usage, I can see where others could rejoice in its' inclusion.
The design is very attractive and I sometimes think of getting a second pair of them, simply because they are soo cheap and comfortable to me. These iM716's are now my go-to choice for portable listening.
Digital camera Review: iM716 Earphones
Summary: 4 Stars
Strengths: Sound quality; HD / Bass Mode selector; Isolation
Weaknesses: Low output; Pod not detachable; Microphonics
Summary: The sound from the iM716s is extraordinarily detailed. Transient response is excellent. Vocals will just jump out at you. An eerie experience on first listen.
TIPS and FIT: I was unable to get a good comfortable fit with the included tri-flange tips. Everything sounded canned, tinny. The highs were good, but weren't nearly balanced with the rest of the range. Everything changed dramatically with the foam tips. Very comfortable, and from the mid range down, the sound signature filled out. FYI- I have large ear canals. I later cut off the smaller of the 3 flanges, and the now bi-flanges fit perfectly. People with small ear canals have reported similar beneficial effects from trimming off the larger flange. The foam tips can cover a wider size range.
Inner ear monitors (IEMs) are 'very' sensitive to getting a good seal. Think of it this way, a small 2-way speaker system can sound wonderful in a small room. In a larger room it will not effectively load the much larger space, and bass will seem deficient. The same is true for IEMs. If you properly seal off your ear canal, the IEM will be loading a very small space. Improper seal will decimate bass. For those reviewers that graded these phones poorly, poor sealing of the ear canal due to lack of experience with IEMs is the issue. Anyone can get a proper fit with IEMs. It may take a little more time to adjust these phones, they do not just slip over your ears like full size cans. When properly inserted the wires should go straight down, or toe in a little towards your neck. Therefore the phones are inserted at an upwards angle, NOT straight in and sticking out of your ears like carrots. ;-)
NOTE: Many people believe that balanced armature transducers like those in the iM716 do not require a burn-in period. I found these to flesh out after running them for a full week hooked up to a sound source. Balanced armature transducers are more costly than normal dynamic drivers, and are the transducers of choice in the most expensive IEMs.
SOUND: Upper mid to highs: Exceptional. These are very fast. Articulation is outstanding due to the fast transient response. You will hear fingers sliding down the neck of a guitar, the breathing of vocalists. Exciting.
Mid-bass to mids: With the foam tips or modified bi-flanges, this was in very good balance with the highs. Gives good `body' to vocals.
Bass: Very fast and tight. No one-thump, boomy bass. Acoustic bass is realistic. But if you love the visceral impact of subwoofers, you may prefer a full sized, over the ear set of cans. These are not overly warm, rolled off phones. They almost demand you sit up and notice.
OTHER: HD / Bass modes: Very nice. HD is perfect for quiet surroundings listening to vocals and/or instrumentals. Bass adds more fundamentals. Better for rock and hip-hop and/or surroundings that have higher ambient noise level, like the gym. The volume potentiometer, which I originally disliked having in-line (an audiophile quirk), is actually much easier to control than the iPod wheel.
These earphones are not efficient. I need to increase the volume to get a similar volume level as the stock iPod earbuds. I typically run at about 75% volume.
The isolation factor with these on, with music, is very high. Do not jog, drive or bike in a crowded area with these on. You won't hear a bus 10 feet away. Great for travel or the gym (maybe not the treadmill, due to microphonics inherent in IEMs, dunno, never tried).
OVERALL: These phones will show the limits of your DAP, and not the other way around. Hooked up to a good source and amp, these really shine. I would rate the sound 9 out of 10. Although keep in mind my tastes prefer a fast transient response at the expense of a deep and prominent bottom end. If you are running 15" woofers in your ride, or you prefer tinnitus inducing volume levels, this may not be the phone for you.
To get opinions from people that spend a lot of time with headphones, please go to head-fi.org . These headphones in head to head comparisons have bettered the Etymotics ER6 and ER6i (and Shure e2 and e3), and have come close to the sound quility and refinement of the much more expensive ER4 series (and Shure e4). It should not be too surprising as they were originally reported to be a `tweaked version' of the famous ER4S.
Digital camera Review: im716 headphone review
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased these headphones because I needed isolation from noise and these did the trick. The sound quality is great and the quality of the headphones themselves is first rate. The noise isolation is good for work, planes, anywhere the noise level is too high. Irecommend them for the price.Digital camera Review: overall good phones
Summary: 4 Stars
I haven't heard other in-ear phones that fall into the same class as these, such as Shure E4C or Westone UM2, but overall they seem to be a good bang for a buck. I previously owned Etymotic ER6i and I only after buying these phones discovered that they are also made by Etymotic Labs. Fortunately sound is nothing like Etys, it has much more bass but still has that good treble of Etys. It only had triflanges and foam tips included, but fortunately foam tips are just for my ears. Also, I'm thinking of removing the pod, that should considerably improve the sound, here's link to