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Amazing sound quality inexpensive earbuds

I'd like to share my experience with quality earbuds for my Galaxy S3. I read reviews of many headphones looking for something reasonable and when I almost pulled trigger on $150 Yamaha EPH-100 I found this review of LG Quadbeat SE (also known as HSS-F420):

http://en.goldenears.net/15834 (a lot of earbuds reviewed there)

Just look how clean waterfall diagram is. I ordered them from gooddigitalshop.com that is Korean company located in Seoul. I got them within a week and am absolutely amazed with the sound not to mention that they costed me $21 ($29 with shipping). I used Paypal but they also accept credit card. Not only that sound is clean transparent and very, very dynamic with beautiful midrange, but also comfort is great. I ordered second pair for my wife and just got confirmation that it was shipped. Yamaha might be good as well but it is 16ohm - minimum recommended for S3. LG Quadbeat SE is 24 ohm. I also have AKG K271 mkII and this LG earbud is pretty close. Be sure it is SE version since they make another regular Quadbeats. SE version has red logo on the back of each earbud. I hope this might be of use to anybody looking for high quality earbuds.
128x128kijanki

Showing 16 responses by kijanki

kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
That's strange. I got two pairs and both came with groved pieces installed. They even show unopened box here: http://www.gooddigitalshop.com/lg-hss-f420-quadbeat-se-black-optimus-g-in-ear-headphone-earphone-handsfree.html
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Philjolet, what do you think? Average, Great, Bad? Was I wrong?
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Milpai, I don't know. Impedance (24ohm) should be OK but loudness depends on the particular player. I don't have Discman to try.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
I just hope you guys won't kill me if I'm wrong.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Tgrisham, Thanks for the trust. The only drawback I found initially was difficulty to slide them into ear canal, since tips are very soft. Now it is much better since a little of skin oil (or wax) got on the rubbery part. I also use this earbud with Fiio E07K portable amp and it makes it slightly better. If you won't find them great I hope you'll find them at least decent for $29 total. Tell me what you think. Here is the link to black one I got:

http://www.gooddigitalshop.com/lg-hss-f420-quadbeat-se-black-optimus-g-in-ear-headphone-earphone-handsfree.html

They also sell white version but black cable looks better to me. There is a microphone/button on the cable that works with Galaxy S3 (Android) but I'm not sure it would function with IPhone.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Csontos, I was afraid of that. Give them time. Bottom is fuller and stronger with original double rubber pieces. I found that smaller piece reduces bass expanding midrange. I still believe it is great bargain for $29 total. As for typical $3 earbuds - I have few of them including one that came with Samsung Galaxy S3. All of them lack dynamics, are laid back and sound just opposite to vivid - muffled.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Csontos, One that is installed has different shape. It is longer and has grove in the middle. That's the one with more bass (if you want it).
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Mapman, you cannot go wrong with AKG K3003 and it is on sale right now for only $1300 (and it is not made of gold)

http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K3003I-Reference-Earphones-Control/dp/B006Q4NSK8
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Chandliz, Largest pieces are a little too large for my ears but give good bass. The only problem is that mid-bass is recessed and replaced with stronger midrange. Split rubbers give fuller sound - decent with Galaxy S3 but much cleaner with Fiio E07K fed by USB from the same Galaxy S3.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Jp1208, It amazes me that piece of rubber changes sound that much. Smallest rubber kills the bass, split one expands mid-bass making midrange a little congested while largest rubber extends the bass and opens midrange. I agree with Chandliz that highs need some taming but it might come with time. It feels very tight at first but doesn't cause discomfort. Amount of bass is a very personal thing in headphones. I can correct it in my phone or headphone amp. What cannot be corrected are resonances that these earbuds seems to be free of. Waterfall diagram shows them to be free of resonances (aluminum body?) except for one resonance at about 20kHz.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Mapman, Yamaha EPH-100 might be the answer since it seals better by being pushed deeper into ear canal (rubber has to splits). Yamaha claims that smaller driver closer to eardrum produces sound without side reflections making it cleaner. It has good reviews but comes with only one rubber piece that is not available separately. Once it is gone $150 might be gone.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Csontos, I'm also leaning toward largest piece that I tried again after Chadnliz post. I'm happy you like it.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Mapman, That's true but pieces here are extremely soft (thin rubber hollow inside) and don't put a lot of pressure.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
I'm happy guys that you like them. I would hesitate to recommend anything more expensive because of my limited experience and issues of fitting etc.

Thanks to everybody for your response and opinion/evaluation.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Mtruong34, I found widest rubbers to expand and clean midrange while smallest rubbers remove most of the bass. Have you tried it?
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,394 posts
 
Kbuzz, fit gets a little better when they get oily from the skin.
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