Reviewed December 2014
Details: Flagship in-ear from Scotland-based RHA
MSRP: $119.95 (manufacturer’s page) ; $129.95 for MA750i w/mic & 3-button remote (manufacturer’s page)
Current Price: $120 from amazon.com for MA750; $130 from amazon.com for MA750i
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 16Ω | Sens: 100 dB | Freq: 16-22k Hz | Cable: 4.4′ I-plug
Nozzle Size: 4.5mm | Preferred tips: Stock single-flanges
Wear Style: Over-the-ear
Accessories (5/5) – Single-flange (6 pairs in 3 sizes) and double-flange (2 sizes) silicone tips, foam tips (2 pairs), shirt clip, stainless steel eartip caddy, and zippered leather carrying case
Build Quality (5/5) – As with RHA’s lower-end models, the construction is impeccable. The MA750 boasts machined stainless steel housings, metal nozzle filters, and thick, rubbery cables. At the earphone end there is a molded “earhook” section about 4” long. It’s not memory wire, but it’s a lot more comfortable than the earhooks I’ve come across in the past. The cable is thick and tangle-resistant, and all of the hardware is metal, including the 3.5mm I-plug with a long “spring” strain relief. The 3-year warranty is very impressive as well
Isolation (3.5/5) – The housings are narrow at the front, allowing a good insertion depth and good isolation
Microphonics (4.5/5) – The cable carries some noise but microphonics are generally not a problem due to mandatory over-the-ear fitment and the fact that the cord is thick and heavy, and doesn’t move around much
Comfort (4/5) – The earphone housings have a familiar flared shape a-la Dunu Trident and RHA’s lower-end models. The earpieces of the MA750 made of stainless steel, though, so they are a little heavier. The small diameter at the front nonetheless affords a surprisingly comfortable fit considering the weight
Sound (8.9/10) – The previous RHA earphones I’ve tried left me impressed with their bass power and clarity, but the new MA750 is a strong performer all around. Its signature is predicated on enhanced bass, but less so compared to the lower-end models. It has a strong emphasis on sub-bass, and a little less on mid-bass. The bass quantity is not at what I would consider “basshead” level – deep bass presence is good with the MA750 but there’s not too much mid-bass punch compared to some of its competitors. On the other hand it is a lot bassier than the HiFiMan RE-400, which sounds more controlled but appears deficient in subbass in comparison the RHA unit.
The MA750 is warm in tone, but not overly so. It has decent enough treble presence to balance out the bass, though it is certainly is not a neutral earphone. The midrange is rich and full-bodied, with very decent clarity considering the sound signature. Clarity is better than with many other stereotypically “warm” earphones, such as the Sony MH1C and Dunu Trident. The RE-400, on the other hand, is more mid-centric, but still sounds more neutral and is a little clearer through its midrange. The pricier Dunu DN-1000 hybrid, too, is clearer, making the MA750 sound veiled comparison.
The upper midrange of the MA750 is energetic but emphasis diminishes before getting into the regions that typically cause harshness and sibilance. The MA750 is brighter overall compared to the Sony MH1C and Dunu Trident and has a slight tendency to sound “tizzy”, especially at high volumes, thanks to the lower treble emphasis. It isn’t bothersome, however, and I definitely would not call the treble energy excessive. On the other end of the spectrum, the Dunu DN-1000 has treble that is brighter and more revealing of artifacts, making the MA750 sound quite smooth in comparison.
Presentation-wise, the MA750 performs well for the price. Its soundstage is larger than those of the MH1C and Trident, and separation is better as well. The Trident especially sounds more in-the-head and congested in comparison. Aside from the enhanced bass having the ability to throw a slight veil over minute details and take away from its imaging ability, there is not much to complain about with the MA750 here.
Select Comparisons
RHA’s $40 MA350 is one of my favorite budget-friendly sets for enhanced bass, but while the flagship model does command a healthy price premium, it also offers up a significantly more refined sound. The MA350 has strong, domineering bass, but the MA750 manages to sound rich and full-bodied while maintaining lower overall bass quantity and better bass control. It’s more balanced, as well as smoother and more refined. The treble of the MA350 is a little grainy in comparison, and more prone to harshness. The MA750 sounds more natural and enjoys a larger presentation with better depth and separation, making the MA350 appear congested in comparison.
Onkyo IE-HF300 ($129)
The IE-HF300 couldn’t be more different from the RHA MA750 in design, but sonically both earphones tend towards a warm, enhanced-bass sound. The RHA unit boasts bass that is both more extended and more powerful overall. The HF300, meanwhile, has less bass quantity with a focus on mid-bass. This results in mids that are a little more veiled compared to the MA750. The MA750 sounds clearer and more crisp, though it is a little more laid-back at the top end compared to the Onkyos. Both earphones boast above-average soundstages, with the HF300 being a little more open-sounding.
Yet another enhanced-bass, consumer-friendly earphone in the sub-$150 range, the EP1 nonetheless offers a sizable contrast to the MA750. Both earphones have a strong emphasis on bass but the MA750 is a little more powerful here, which gives it a warmer and more full-bodied sound. The RBH earphones place more emphasis on the midrange and sound a little clearer as a result. The MA750, on the other hand, has a thicker midrange presentation and a smoother and more forgiving sound. The RHA also boasts a slightly wider presentation and tonal character that, to me, is more natural overall.
VSonic GR07 Bass Edition ($179)
This earphone’s “Bass Edition” moniker is only true insofar as it is more bass-heavy than the regular GR07. Next to the MA750, however, the GR07BE sounds rather balanced. The RHA unit has more bass and a warmer tonal character while the GR07 is closer to neutral. The bass of the MA750 is boomier and results in more veiling of the midrange. The GR07BE lacks some of the full-bodied character of the RHA, but remains clearer, especially in the midrange. Up top, the MA750 is a little smoother where it counts while the GR07 is more sibilance-prone.
Value (9/10) – The RHA MA750 has a lot going for it – a warm and lush sound, spacious presentation, and good bass presence. No less important is the construction quality, which features stainless steel housings and thick cabling. The earphones are comfortable, too, thanks in large part to the over-the-ear fit and molded earhooks, and isolate surprisingly well. Most impressively, the MA750 is not at all exorbitantly-priced – it’s extremely comfortable just north of $100. Early last year I found myself impressed with the entry-level MA350 and hoped to see more great things from RHA, and this year starts off with another hit from the Scottish manufacturer.
Pros: Extremely solid build quality; 3 year warranty; warm sound with excellent bass presence
Cons: Housings a bit on the heavy side
337 Responses
Hey Joker. I was hoping you could help me out with something. I recently had my RHA-ma750’s stolen, and I’m having a hard time deciding on a suitable replacement. I’ve considered a lot of the good V shaped and balanced headphones, including the Ety HF5’s, DUNU-DN1000’s, and the JVC HA-FXT90’s. I’m a bit nervous about switching from a smooth dynamic to an analytical dynamic, so I’ve also considered the EPH-100’s.
I’m somewhat wary of re-buying the ma750’s. I loved the way they sounded, but I’m interested in hearing a different “sonic perspective”. A pair that I am curious about, but did not find listed, are RHA’s newer models, the T10’s and T20’s. Have you had a chance to listen to those and compare them to the ma750’s at all?
Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it.
One positive thing that came out of What HiFi mentioning burn-in is that you didn’t make up your mind about them out of the box but ended up experimenting some more to find a better configuration. While an unintended result, that’s a positive in my book and why I never really advise against “burn-in” when asked about it.
Happy listening!
Yes and hopefully other will understand that my problems had nothing to do with the quality of those IEMs and everything to do with this user’s incompetence… I learned my lesson – the importance of a proper fitting for IEMs cannot be overemphasized ; careful with pink noise – played too loud it will wreck your phones.
I frankly have my doubts now about the two supposedly professional reviews I mentioned. I can now safely say that those are great IEMs out of the box, and I’m not even sure they need to be burned in over a very long period of time as What Hifi wrote in order to be appreciated. They’re excellent as they are, well done RHA. And thank you joker again for your patience and the great work that you do.
It’s been quite a ride…
Very glad to have all this feedback on here – no doubt that other new MA750 owners will benefit from it.
Well, problem solved! Found back those missing mids.it occurred because I had pushed the tip too far back on the shaft. The sound now is fantastic. Thank you for bearing with me!
I think I’m going to try the sugru thing. I feel manufacturers should do better with tips, especially with sizes. A trivial reason why I almost bought the Sony EX650 (I might still buy them in fact) was that they come with 4 different tip sizes rather than 3; 5 sizes would have been even better.
As to the MA750, believe it or not, but I’m now noticing a bothersome issue with the midrange, where on some tracks the piano comping (Ella sings Cole Porter) or certain guitar parts (Lucinda Williams’s Car Wheels album) are really recessed far back, leaving very little charm to those tracks. Damn. I will abstain from any further comments on the MA750s though until they’ve have a good many more hours of use.
Glad you’re enjoying the MA750!
Yes, a poor seal is probably the most common reason any in-ear earphones get poor feedback on their sound. This is also why I don’t really trust Amazon and other mainstream sites when I see reviews of in-ears complaining about sound quality, especially bass.
DIY custom tips are something I haven’t tried. As for foam tips, you can import various kinds from China via ebay, but I don’t think we will see any mainstream brand providing an alternative to Comply any time soon due to patents.
Foam and silicone tips from different manufacturers can differ quite a bit in comfort and seal quality so ultimately it’s just a matter of coming across one that works for you. I tend like tougher/firmer silicone tips like those from Meelectronics, for example, but some like softer silicone tips such as Sony Hybrids.
Hello, an update on my experience with the ma750s since I received the new pair yesterday.
I almost got the Sony MDR-EX650 instead as they have good reviews, seemed more user-friendly and were discounted at $50 on the same site, but went on to order the RHAs anyway.
First thing I did was trying some of the other tips provided. Last time I had quickly determined the default silicone medium ones were my size, and the L ones did not fit anyway; and honestly the Ms do seem to fit perfectly, even though they clearly do not provide a perfect seal.
This time around I first tried the L double flanges and immediately noticed a better bass response, but they were very uncomfortable; I then noticed in the manual indicates the foams are an M size. I had not bothered to try them on the phones as visually they looked like Ls, much larger than the silicone Ms, and felt very stiff and difficult to insert on their own, not even mounted on the phones. The foams provided a further improvement in sound.
So, the verdict? I’m really happy now with the ma750s, even with no run in period. They do sound like they need to settle a bit, but the experience has been brilliant so far, with everything present across the full spectrum. I nearly fell into a dream trance listening to “Return to Paradise” by Shirley Horn, “Question And Answer” by Pat Metheny (featuring the amazing Dave Holland and Roy Haynes) and “Waltz for Nicky” by Richard Galliano. It’s been a fabulous listening experience and I just can’t take the damn things off. My source is a Sony Xperia Z3C phone.
I still think that RHA, and other manufacturers can do a better job of explaining the importance of a good seal. RHA might consider providing foam tips in all sizes. There is no objective reason IMO for some of the very negative reviews those headphones have been getting, even though such reviews are a tiny minority. But some appeared on major sites like What Hifi, and a prominent French digital tech site. There also needs to be more options besides Complys, which are too expensive. Foam tips are still a bit uncomfortable to me, and I plan to try the following hack – I wonder if you ever tried it?
https://sugru.com/guides/how-to-make-a-neat-and-easy-custom-fit-earbud-in-ear-monitors
All the best,
m_h
Not sure about the FXT100 but the MA750, EPH-100, and FXT90 would all be good choices. I tend to prefer the EPH-100 for its slightly more forward lower midrange and smoother upper mids, but the MA750 has a wider presentation and the FXT90 has arguably quicker bass. I would still go EPH-100 for electronic music, but you can’t really go wrong with any of them.
Hi joker, I love your reviews! I was hoping you could help me pick an iem that would best fit my taste. I’m looking for an iem with decent build quality and would work well mainly for electronic music. I’m looking for punchy fast bass, wide soundstage, detail, and good vocals. These two songs have everything I’m looking for.
Cyberbird GITS OST:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lBfYXE098bA
And Skrux Being Human:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7wc_G_A1KB0
So far I’ve considered the rha m750, yamaha eph100, and the jvc fxt100. Looking forward to your thoughts.
Hello,
A word about me, I’m a recent “convert” to digital audio, I’ve always loved music but kind of left ship in the decade of mp3 music. I had several models of the iPod and never used them for more than a couple of weeks – without knowing why in technical terms, only that it sounded terrible. Ignorance kept me out of digital audio for many years. Not until I made the effort to understand while it sounded like crap, from file format to chips to headphones, and began to rip my CDs in FLAC, and looking into gear, did my perspective on digital music begin to change. Gear-wise, I’ve been going one prudent step at a time, as my wife doesn’t quite share some of my obsessions, and truth be told, we have other priorities with two young children. When the time came to replace my phone, I was delighted to see that manufacturers are beginning to pay attention to audio performance, and got an Xperia Z3c which serves as my everyday player. Even though a beginner, I’m not going to preface with “Disclaimer: not an audiophile” as anyone with functioning ears and an appreciation for music can tell the difference between good and bad quality sound – and I believe I have pretty good ears.
To get to the ma750s, I recently got a pair of those headphones, but regrettably made a moronic mistake in the “burn-in” process and ruined them after a few days. The pink noise track I was using had been recorded very loud and instead of using my ears to set the volume at the recommended medium level, I physically set the slider halfway at medium level. Four hours was all it took to ruin the poor headphones. I’m sharing that embarrassing story as a cautionary tale for others.
Another pair is on its way and in the meantime I wanted to submit a few comments and questions. Out of the box, the sound of those headphones was amazing, but they were definitely lacking in bass. Not in extension and quality, which were beautiful, but in volume. At home it was ok, but it became a problem on the commute. Kind of frustrating, because hearing full bass extension was heaven on jazz recordings, I never realized how much information I was missing. It really changes the appreciation, enjoyment and intelligibility of the music itself, I need to emphasize that. There is absolutely no way jazz can be properly appreciated in mp3 format. Hearing jazz with anemic or distorted bass doesn’t make any kind of sense. In the real band context, other musicians can’t do what they do if they don’t get the full information from the bass, and get it musically. Jazz doesn’t make any sense in the mp3 format and the same holds true of any quality music regardless of genre. So the ma750s gave me that to a degree, but I need them to perform while on the go, as those are my best opportunities to really listen to music.
I don’t think I was using the wrong tips, as the only ones that fitted were the single flange medium ones that come by default on the phones. Many reviewers seemed to be enraptured by the selection of tips coming with the phones, but I wasn’t, as the foams are supplied only in large, and the double flanges only in small and large, so that leaves only one choice only for medium ear canals, which I would think are the most common. Some reviewers have also stated only foam tips really should be used to get good bass, but in that case why is RHA supplying all the other ones? Also, I will need to investigate further but it’s possible that my size is in fact “medium-large” and I didn’t get a perfect “airtight” seal with the mediums. I find Comply’s price policy to be a bit silly, and might go the DIY route, customizing some standard ear plugs.
So I’m giving the RA750s another chance because they’re available in my country at a ridiculous $85, and some reports (such as the whatifi review) that they really come into their own, including in the bass department, after a long burn-in. Whatifi say it wasn’t the tips as they had tried all of them. They ended up burning in the ma750s for a whole week, which is a lot of time, but may be ultimately worth it. Sorry about the long-winded post, take care,
m_h
Shures are closer to the MA750, just have more relaxed treble which makes them even more different from your Etys. And yes, I figured you wanted something that’s not too bassy coming from the Etys, which makes the MA750 a “maybe” – it’s a good IEM, but definitely bassy.
Thanks for the really fast reply! I think you are right saying that the ma750 might be to bassy. I heard that the isolation of the fidelio s2 is not that good. What do the sure se215sound like compared to the etys? I am looking for something with a more punchy base than the mc3s rather than a bassy sound, you know what i mean? Thank you for your help, picky
The RE-400 isn’t much bassier than the MC3, but on the other hand the MA750 might be too enhanced in the bass department. It’s much bassier than the MC3. Good if you want a sizable change from your MC3, but if you liked the Etys and just want something a little different, the MA750 is quite an extreme jump in sound signature.
The GR07 BE is a nice mid-point. It’s smaller than the MA750, too, so you’re more likely to be able to lay down with it. The only limitation of the GR07 BE is that it can be mildly sibilant. Usually it’s not an issue but some people can be more sensitive to it. There is an alternative with similar sound quality and slightly less sibilance – the Philips Fidelio S2 – but you won’t be able to lay down with it.
Hey joker, first of all: Thank you! Your reviews are awesome! I have used Etymotic mc3s for 3 years and i liked them alot until they finally broke. Now i am looking for new IEMs and i think some more bass would be great (but i am no basshead). Comfortable fit (would be great if you can lay down with them) and nice build quality woukd be great too. I thought about sure se215, vsonic gr07 bass and rha ma750. i dont know if the bass of the re400 is enough. But im open to other IEMs too if you think they woukd fit me better. I listen to Linkin Park and some EDM (etc.) and my budget is up to 150€.
Greetings from germany, picky 🙂
There’s quite a few things to recommend for this because your budget is sizable. First thing that came to mind is the EarSonics Velvet. It’s one of the most fun and engaging warm-sounding earphones I’ve tried and can currently be had right around $600 (was $799 at launch, I think). My full review is coming soon, but there’s already one from average_joe on the site.
Lots of other options for warm sound with clarity, good noise isolation, and bass that’s no necessarily as enhanced as it is on the MA750 – InEar StageDiver SD-3, EarSonics SM64, Westone UM3X, and so on. If a little more treble energy is okay also, then there’s also the 1964EARS 1964-V3 customs. These two still maintain good bass impact, but have a bit more treble emphasis than the MA750 and sound slightly brighter.
If you want to try an different model in a similar price range, I rather like the Yamaha EPH-100. It has the potential for better noise isolation than the MA750 (with the right tips) and has a different, though still bass-heavy, tuning that also works well for EDM. Reviews of all these can be found at https://theheadphonelist.com/headphone-list of course.
The HD25 and DT1350 are fine, too. I tend to prefer IEMs, especially where isolation is important, but for sound those headphones will be up there with the MA750. I’ve always quite like the HD25 for EDM, though these days it falls short with some other genres.
Hey Joker
I really liked my Rha 750 . I really liked that warm sound and clarity but unfortunately my left driver stopped working two weeks ago.
Soo I am looking for a new pair of headphones which would isolate as rha 750 or even better and maybe it should sound a bit better (I work in a noisy environment and I also travel a lot , and I started to dj in my local music club) .
I listen mostly to EDM (but bass is not a high priority for me) So which iem would recommend me ? My budget is 400-600$
P.S what do you think about HD 25 and DT1350 compared to iem (Sound and isolation ) I know that’s like comparing apples and oranges , but I want to know your opinion on this
Cheers
Earl
I will be trying the T20 at some point but it’ll be a while before they are ready. For what it’s worth, I think the MA750 is a good S4 upgrade and the T20 will be quite a bit pricier.
Hello Joker,
I am considering to upgrade my Klipsch S4 to RHA MA750/T10 after going through your review and comments. I had heard that the T10 have much overpowering bass and less clarity and was about to go for the MA750, but recently they just announced their new RHA T20 which have a new Dual Coil dynamic driver which work like its have 2 drivers that will be releasing this summer. Will you be trying it out any sooner and would it be worth waiting for compare to the MA750?
Ah, that’s a shame. I guess the combination of weight and size is always a limitation with earphones like these.
I still can’t think of a better small-and-comfortable IEM with a smooth sound signature than the RE-400 that also has better build quality (this eliminates the Klipsch X10/X11 and UE600). Closest thing is probably the Creative Aurvana In-Ear 3. I never really recommend these because the $100-150 price they used to go for was too high for the sound quality with things like the RE-400 and HF5 on the market. Now that it’s $60-ish it’s a decent value: http://bit.ly/1dTsdUC . Cable is a little thin, but Amazon reviews don’t indicate reliability issues so it should be better than the RE-400.
Sadly, I’ve returned them. I positively loved the sound. It was great for on audiobooks, but the large-ish steel housing rubbed against my ear (antitragus) and left them very sore on day one. That was about six hours of wear, and I had them in briefly twice afterwards, but couldn’t avoid them pressing uncomfortably.
I’d still recommend them easily, ear shape fitment issues won’t be universal. The bass and clarity without any harsh treble is brilliant for spoken word, and I chose challenging material with very high quality and very poor quality recordings. Male and female narrators.
I’m seriously considering trying another pair of RE-400’s now. I just wish they had less issues with bad cables.
Yeah, I’d be interested in how they hold up!
I’ve generally bought cheap in the past for IEM’s because I wreck them in the gym, but I’m keeping seperate pairs now. Some really cheap ones that go to the gym until the succumb to the steam room, and a nicer pair for listening when I’m out and about, or when I don’t want to wear a full over-ear set at my PC.
Between the two, I vastly preferred the RE-400 to the HF5. More comfortable to wear, and sounded great. The sort of IEM I could end up wearing at my desk instead of switching to my over-ear set. I’m going to try the MA750. I’ll let you know how they stand up to extended audiobook sessions.
That’s an interesting question. Normally I recommend more balanced IEMs for this sort of purpose, but you’ve already owned two of the better ones and I can’t think of any in this price range especially focused on build quality. I guess as long as clarity and vocal intelligibility are good, the remainder of the sound tuning shouldn’t matter too much. The more balanced HF5 is excellent in this regard while the warmer, bassier MA750 is merely good, but I doubt it will make much of a difference in the overall experience. At least the MA750 won’t be harsh or sibilant, so it should make for a good extended listen.
Hi Joker!
I absolutely love your reviews and have been buying my IEM’s based on your big master list for awhile now. I’ve been seriously considering the MA750’s based on the build quality and strong warranty. Unfortunately, I don’t really know what sort of sound I’m looking for in an IEM.
I almost exclusively listen to audiobooks on my IEM’s, and I’ve never had a clue what sort of sound profile is well suited to them. I’d like something rugged and well-built following bad experiences with RE-400’s (bad from factory) and Ety HF5’s (fell apart due to steam, maybe). I guess, would the MA750 have a sound well suited to speech and extended listening?
No experience with the CKR9 here, so I can’t provide a comparison. Obviously I do like the MA750 a lot for the price and sound signature – warm, slightly v-shaped with full-bodied and impactful bass. The M50x is, in theory, more neutral than the MA750 but it’s hard to compare headphones to IEMs because certain things – especially bass and soundstaging – are perceived differently. An IEM that’s as neutral as the M50x will probably have less bass impact than you’re used to with the ATH, while the warmer MA750 certainly won’t have that problem.
Hi Joker, first of all I would like to thank you for making this list. Now I’m having a little of a dilemma here. You see after looking at your website, I was thinking of getting the MA750i but my friend recommended me the audio technica CKR9 which after more researching about it is actually a pretty good earphone. Now is it better to pay the extra $50 for the CKR9 or should I get the MA750i? Or is there a better alternative from the 2. My budget is up until $200. For reference I have the ATH-M50x as my headphone right now and I really like it. I’m just looking for a earphone that I can carry around. Hope you could help me out and thank you
Awesome, very glad to hear it! Enjoy!
I finally bought the MA750i, and im reallly impressed with it. I like the clarity and bass, on this better than my Klipsch, although the bass is a bit high for my liking but im learning to love it. 🙂
Thanks for the recommendation, Joker.
You mentioned the Momentum’s bass wasn’t what you wanted – if it was more enhanced/emphasized than you would have liked, then for sure don’t go for the MA750 – it’s actually a little bassier. Otherwise the MA750 does have several advantages over the Momentum, but the two biggest ones are treble smoothness (likely not a concern coming from the harsher S4) and soundstaging. For clarity and resolution, the MA750 and Momentum are similar, but don’t quite keep up with the more neutral RE-400/GR07.
Yes, overall it appears as if I feel I should go for the Momentum Inear but the base on that wasn’t quite exactly I wanted.
I really want to go for the RE400, cos people have been talking about their magical mids and how wonderful they sound in terms of accuracy. But when I went to amazon to order, I read lot of customers having issue with the cable and seem to break relatively early, some even weeks into the use. I dont know if the guy has been rolling down a hill or bashing his headset with a hammer, but with 1yr warranty I am kind of insecure. My very first Klisch S4 broke in the first 6 months even after careful usage, had to replace them to get these pair and now they are lost. So i would like if I didnt have to go through replacements.
Meanwhile, I am revisiting the RHA 750i, with the headphone option and I think they seem to have decent base and overall detail and sound quality. Built like a tank and rolling out with 3yr warranty, I am willing to take the bite.
In your reviews you mention, Gr07 is more clear and detailed than the RHA. RE400 i believe is more detailed than the GR07. So coming from Klipsch (although I havent lost them few months ago and been using my basic Sony DR/MDR eaphones, so I might not exactly remember how Klipsch sounds like now but with Momentum, I know yeah, its similar).
So, if cable quality wasnt an issue, I would just go buy RE400. But coming from S4, you say I might not like it. If, RHA is better in terms of quality, sound stage, clarity etc than Momentum or S4s, I would consider buying the RHA instead.
Ive been running around in circles for a while now. I appreciate your finesse to see things as it is, in these matters. Perhaps, if i were to try these then I couldve arrived at a conclusion myself, but unfortunately, not so lucky there. Thanks again 🙂
The Klipsch S4 is a very v-shaped earphone (emphasized bass and treble), so just keep that in mind as you’re reading about more neutral sets like the RE-400. The bass and treble on that will be much more balanced and delicate than you’re used to.
The Momentum is much more similar to the S4 than the RE-400. The GR07 (in terms of tuning) is somewhere between the RE-400 and Momentum. But, unlike those two, there is no option for a mic. I don’t really see anything wrong with going for the Momentum if you like the sound and features – it might not be quite as crisp and clear as the RE-400 or GR07, but it trades that off for nice bass that’s closer to the Klipsch S4, and of course the headset functionality.
If you’re certain that you want to try a more accurate earphone, and don’t mind flatter bass, then I guess the RE-400i is your best option – it has smoother, more delicate treble than the GR07 and more emphasis on vocals, as well a a remote.
from all the other reviews and discussions, I am leaning towards the HiFiMAN RE400 but the VSonic GR07 pulls me back (however, bass is not a high priority for me but I want the base to be there as its intended). Im dropping the RHA MA750, says it gets corroded if not handled with care. But Dunu Titan 1 remains.
Hi |Joker|, i recently lost my headset which was a Klipsh Image S4 and I am in for a new in-ear headphones. Well, it was about time I changed them anyway. I am confused between, the multitude of options and I cant seem to get clarity and come to a conclusion and I ran into your website here.
I emphasis mostly on crisp vocals, detailed instrumentals and not too overpowering bass.
I listen pretty much to every kind of music to movies.
I would really love to have a controller, if not volume controllers atleast a mic
around $130 budget
Ive listned to Sennheiser Momentum in-ear and they were pretty great. Fits my requirements but I dont know if I am falling for the controllers there. Ive read the RHA MA750 and the Dunu Titan 1 are equally brilliant at the similar price range but I cant conclude.
What do you recommend, among them or any besides them, will be better when it comes to the giving the best audio experience in that price range ???
These and the HF3s are just very far apart in bass quantity, burn-in won’t help, but you might get used to them some given time and of course equalizing helps. That’s what I would do.
Otherwise your best bet in this sort of price range is the HiFiMan RE-400i. It’s definitely closer to the HF3 in sound, but with slightly more full-bodied bass and smoother, slightly more dull treble. Build quality is not as good as the MA750 of course.
I’ve just picked up a pair of these, and like them so far – but think there might be a smidgen too much bass for me. I’m coming from Etymotic HF3s, and would be the first to agree that those would have gotten me used to very light bass – but these seem like they might be a bit over-emphasized. However, I love the fit and build quality on these, as well as the airy and lively presentation.
Keeping in mind that an iphone mic (“3” in the categorization here) is mandatory for me, would you recommend I keep these and wait for burn-in / equalize them a bit, or is there an alternative you would suggest that falls somewhere between the HF3 and MA750i? Something with a bit less bass and more clarity than the MA750, and a bit more bass than the HF3?
Awesome, thank you very much! I’m keeping the MA750 at the top of my list.
The Momentum tends to be mid-recessed while the A71 is not as powerful when it comes to bass (but better for vocals). I guess the MA750 is a good compromise between them if you want to look at it that way. It’s biased a little more towards good bass than good vocals, which seems to be in line with what you’re after anyway.
Ah okay thanks! MA750 is at the top of my list right now. Would you say the MA750 is better than the Momentum in-ear’s and A71’s for what I’m looking for? I really dislike when vocals are veiled but I dislike it more when the bass rumble isn’t what I’m expecting from a certain song, if you understand what I mean.
Not sure about the XB90EX but the MA750 has noticeably more bass than the SE215 and IM50, though I think all of them already have better sub-bass than the Havi.
I’d probably stick with the MA750, especially considering the EPH-100 didn’t do it for you bass quantity-wise. That is, unless you want to spend extra for the DUNU DN-1000 to get more of that v-shaped sound signature coming through. The DN-1000 is getting up into the top tier of things, mostly just improving on the MA750’s bass control, overall clarity, and treble crispness/sparkle, at the expense of a little less bass and a slightly more v-shaped overall sound sig.
Hey ljokerl! My Havi B3 Pro 1’s recently broke (getting a replacement) and I’m in the market for new IEM’s. I loved the Pro 1’s but found the bass (especially sub-bass) to be lacking in quantity and depth. I had this same problem with my Vsonic GR06’s but adored the soudstage and overall clairty (bought them off your guide). I currently use DT770 Pro 80’s at home and the V-shape, especially the deep and powerful sub-bass is what I love about them. I do have slightly bothered ears by sibilance but mainly only at higher volumes. I purchased a pair of EPH-100’s last summer off Amazon and I’m pretty sure they were legit but I really didn’t find there to be very deep bass extension which was weird to me so I returned them.
I’m considering the MA750’s but I’ve also been looking at the ATH-IM50, SE215, and the XB90EX. I’m willing to spend $150 or so but could potentially go to $200 if the jump in quality would be that much of an improvement. I’ll be sourcing out of a iPhone 5S with mostly high quality bitrate songs. I mainly listen to hip-hop, pop, alternative, post-hardcore, k-pop, j-pop/rock. Thanks!
That’s a pretty open-ended question but generally speaking I do think these are good mid-high level IEMs to start with if you tend to like a bit of enhanced bass. At the very least there’s nothing clearly better unless you 1) spend a lot more or 2) have sound preferences or other requirements these don’t meet.
Can’t comment on the X1 as I don’t have any experience with it, but I did like the X3 and X5 the few brief times I’ve tried them.
Hi Joker,
Great review I’m a begginer and decided to go with RHA MA750i and I also bought Fiio X1 to go with it. I’m currently using Samsung Galaxy Note4 and not happy with it’s sound quality at all. Do you recommend those two for begginers like me btw I can’t find all models in my country and u.s. dollars are as twice as expensive from my currency. Long story short my budget can’t afford more than these 🙂 but I’m open to suggestions at this price range.
Thanks in advance for your hard work and time reviewing all these models.
The GR07 BE lacks the bass depth and power of the DN-1000, MA750, and SE215 and tends to be more sibilant (closest to the S4 in this regard). The SE215 is the smoothest of these, but can sound a little dull and lacking in detail as a result. So, I would pick between the DN-1000, MA750, and EPH-100.
The EPH-100 is the smoothest and has the deepest bass, with the MA750 close behind and the DUNU a little more balanced in the bass and has brighter and less forgiving (but also more detailed and resolving) highs. I can’t provide a comparison to the momentum over-ears but IMO you can’t really go wrong with any of them – just have to decide which seems the most appealing based on your past experience.
As a general rule, don’t expect IEMs to have a better soundstage than an over-ear headphone, but they can separate out instruments better and of course there is a lot of variation from poor to great in both classes.
Thanks for your detailed response. actually i wasn’t so happy with the treble of my s4’s , i was founding them a little bit too harsh and sibilant for my taste. Now i am mostly using my momentum over ears with my Fiio X3. But sometimes i feel that i can’t get the full detail and specially soundstage that i would like from them, and also i am looking for a little bit more subbass than what momentoms offers.
Do you think that any of the above mentioned In ears can satisfy me or not? what about GR07 BE? Do you have any other suggestions? my budget can extend to 200$ at maximum.
I really appreciate to hear from you. Unfortunately i can’t test those headphones where i live, That’s why i am trying to get help from expert people like you. 🙂
Thanks
The Altone200 is a rather bright earphone and I typically don’t recommend it as an MA750 alternative or upgrade for that reason, but it does have tight bass, good clarity, a v-shaped sig, and a spacious soundstage (more so than the DN-1000, at least). It’s just less balanced and tonally less natural (to my ears) than the higher-end DUNU and Fidue models, and even the warmer MA750.
The DUNU DN-2000 is a good K3003 alternative at ~$300: https://theheadphonelist.com/headphone_review/dunu-dn-2000/ . There’s also the slightly less balanced/more bassy DN-1000, which is less expensive.
The closest thing to MA750 in its price range but with a cable-down wear style is the Yamaha EPH-100: https://theheadphonelist.com/headphone_review/yamaha-eph-100/
Thank you for the suggestions! How about the T Peos Altone 200 compared to the RHA MA750? Would this be a better solution for what I’m looking for such as tight bass, not veiled, v shaped, great soundstage?
oh well but not something like the k3003 please, I know i said ignoring price budget but .. those are just too expensive x]
i was just searching for some reviews on this and yours is much more detailed than others :,) . so I’m here about to ask;; (well partly bc you seem friendly too) , ignoring the price budget, what earpiece would you suggest? Noise-isolating ones, i mean. I guess in terms of the overall sound quality, since I don’t really notice the bass much when i listen to songs.. I would get the RHA but i hate having to wear earpieces via over the ear method, since straight down is always the most comfortable way for me ..