Hey all!

I will put the debate to an end, once and for all!

I have a Senn CX300, bought from Jenssen (RM179). My colleague have bought the Creative EP-630 from the last PCFair (RM59).

We have performed the ultimate AB test! This is achieved by the following setup...

Creative ZVM => Logitech PlayGear Share => CX300 + EP-630 (at the same time!) playing my favorite AB audition song, Daniel Powter, Song 6.

First, I listened to EP-630 alone. Then, listened to BOTH left piece of CX300 and EP-630, at the same time. Then BOTH right pieces at the same time.

SQ Conclusion (using, of course, IMHO Gauge©!:

1. EP-630 => High = 8, Mid = 6, Low = 5
2. CX300 => High = 7, Mid = 8, Low = 8

The major difference is with the bass. EP-630 can barely power thru the long "thump!" in the song, which CX300 was perfect! (almost Grado SR60 perfect!)

To make the conclusion, conclusive (pun intended), I ran thru the test with 3 different person (plus the owner of the EP-630), and they all agreed with my conclusion.

Even the build quality is diff!

1. CX300 = Stiff cord, L jack, longer sleeve from earpiece, very soft silicon earpiece
2. EP-630 = Soft cord, straight jack, shorter sleeve, harder silicon

So there you have it folks! There is absolutely nothing equal with these two phones, and definately is not the same manufacturer as many people speculated. A lot of rumours saying that they are the same earphones, and only the driver is the same. I have proven that it is 100% not true, as it is physically different, and sounds different as well. I can even swear that the size of the earpiece is diff also!

That's all folks... No more debate on this issue anymore

Modified: Missing Mid rating for CX300, thanks ellimist!

This post has been edited by johnliew: Aug 25 2006, 01:50 PM

Massive effort John - you're the man

WTH?!?

Last time I bought my EP-630 for a freekin' 20 Pounds!!
(ask my friend to bring it from uK...)

Now u r tellin me it is now RM 65 ...


This post has been edited by r1fq: Aug 25 2006, 10:22 AM

Hmm I thought ppl were talkin highly bout the EP630's bass when it came out (long b4 the cx300)

So the CX300 has better bass?

And dude,you're rating for CX300's mids is not there

because cx300 has awful mids, better not to rate it?

haha yeah. it need an amp to pump out the mid.

by the way. both earphone are from Foster. just they made it with different material and cost. that's all. they share the same machinary.
example. MX300 and MX400 using same mole. but different material.

what are the Mid's score for CX300 ?

How does it compare with your grado 60? Your personal score?

Well, the usual price is RM99, and PCFair promo price is RM59 to be exact But if you are earning UK$, 20 pound should be peanuts to you ...

Thanks guys! My bad again...

A lot of ppl are saying that, but if you are the phones closely, they are so physically different, that it's impossible to be from the same mould. The sizes are all out... (although very very little diff to the naked eye...) and the sleeves are diff as well... So, I guess still debatable fact that they came from same factory....

If I am not mistaken, MX300 and MX400 is identical twin (earpiece wise)....which is not the case with CX300 and EP-630.

Compare to Grado ar... Before I put up my imfamous IMHO Gauge©, I have to say that Grados are open full size headphones, so they are bound to be different. And CX300 are "jammed into your canal"-phones.

Grado Labs SR60 => Highs=7, Mids=9, Bass=9. Isolation=virtually none
Sennheiser CX300 => Highs=8, Mids=7, Bass=8. Isolation=8

Hope this will satisfy some souls out there (and hopefully not get bombarded too much later by Grado Fanboys alike...)

john u wanna do a comparo wit d CX300 n eidfier 260? personaly i like d eidifier abit more but...tat onli me. E260 rrp is rm99. try it at d lyp 4th flr edifier showroom n let us kno. thxs

is it both fully burn in ?

Good job , if got any further update pls inform.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennheiser

Yup! Mine have been using for 3 weeks, and his since the last PC Fair... that's 13 Aug.

I have been looking at the Foster web site => http://www.foster.co.jp/en_products/headphones/382326.html, and that's definately EP-630, NOT CX300. Compare the frequency response to http://www.creative.com/products/product.a...uct=11397&nav=1, which is identical.

So, conclusion, Foster 382326 = EP-630. But NOT CX300. I will go ahead and dispute the Wiki in Wikipedia

p/s: the Wiki says "Similar to the Creative EP630 and the Sharp MD33". Pls note the word Similiar, but not Identical... Call me an*l, but I believe the author choose his word carefully for a good reason...

This post has been edited by johnliew: Aug 25 2006, 05:20 PM

Can't comment on the Edifiers, and probably will not do AB, coz the purpose for me to do this extreme AB is because too many ppl asked this EP-630/CX300 question, and I want to address it onces and for all

So, when the next time I drop by Edifier@Low Yat, will definately drop by and try them out. Will post in another thread

Wiki say tht one is CX300 and similiar to EP630

anyway ,I dnt knw lah ,but hrd tht foster is the one OEM for Senn

This post has been edited by lgs: Aug 25 2006, 05:40 PM

Yea I think most ppl think it's similar,not identical and all

But I've heard some ppl on head-fi saying the difference is negligible or somethin,guess they didn't listen to it enough

I think this review will help those who are wonderin if the extra bucks are worth it

Oh btw,are u saying u find the cx300 better than the sr60? (pure sound quality wise,don't talk bout soundstage or watever)

This post has been edited by ellimist: Aug 25 2006, 07:26 PM

So how about comparing CX300 with KSC75, someone else can comment?
Planning to get one 'normal' look phone for my ipod.

Where got where got? I still think that SR60 is the most balanced phones that I ever heard la. Soundstage wise, I think many would agree that SR60 virtually have none, unless you consider "smack-right-in-your-face" is a soundstage

CX300 lagi don't need to say la... all Canalphones don't have any detectable soundstage characteristics...

Overall, purely SQ wise, I still think SR60 more balanced than CX300. But there are so close that I can live with both signatures... (unlike my default EP-480....yuck.)

By quality of course the SR60 surpass CX300, but then the SR60 is headphones right ? the canal phones is lighter to carry and mean for 'portable'

....and that is exactly the reason that I got the CX300! and the fact that ppl around me don't appreciate me "sharing" my choice of music...

ya if no much different sound quality, Im also prefer to canal phones than headphones especially when moving around, headphones kindo limit my action imo

I digress, there is soundstage with canal phones, u just have to imagine it..
It's like you're encapsuled within a small sphere at about half arm's length.
Those are a different kind of soundstage, yes i can feel soundstage with my ER4Ps.

Anyway, nice review but I myself belive that the Sharp/Senn/Creative are all using the same drivers, but housing material and cabling material are different, that's all.

Why not buy an already succesful driver where u have to research and develop your own? and what if it turns out to be a flop?

My point of view is that this is a marketing strategy from Sennheiser, I think they want to test out the market's availability and demand for THEIR IEMs/canalbuds before venturing into their own R&D and designing their own IEMs.

Let's wait and see!

Trust me, u ain't heard the better (or let's say inssannely hiighhly priced) ones yet.

Dude, er....technically Etys and Shures are IEMs, more than Canalphone ler... IMHO anyway.

Seriously, that's why I started this thread. I have already sonically proven that CX300 are not using the same drivers as EP-630... certified by 4 pair of (music lover's) ears. Don't force me to crack them up to show u that the drivers are not the same...

I know I know.... No need to remind me liao

someone wan to poison u baddddd...... john..

nice review.

Maybe i will consider both model... But i dun really fancy Senn products..it looks cheap quality built.

Thanks! Just trying my best to fulfill my own curiosity

Anyway, I didn't say that the EP-630 is a bad product, I am just saying it is a technologically different unit from CX300. If you ask me, EP-630 @ RM59 is an fantastic price for a Canalphone, considering that the quality is not that bad! (ok ok ya'all, time to insert KSC-75 comments here )

johnliew
maybe you can test the Razerpro M100 canal phones,

http://www.razerpro.com//index.php?option=...id=36&Itemid=47

Identically with EP630, CX300, MD33, H260.. but no idea hows the sound quality

dun worry man. I dun feel ur review marks from both products is offensive to each others include Grado Sr60.
(After i auditioned SR325i, SR60 no longer stay as my lifetime best investment headphone anymore..haha. So whoever wanna bashing on SR60. Just do it. )

We as a user. We oredi understand what should take & leave inside another's personal's review.
Rm59 for a canalphone from Creative is interesting. Creative still a branded product which profession in audio industry. Apparently it is a steal for canal phone category but cannot guarantee as an outstanding "Koss75 wannabe" which came closer to be mini Sr60 once.
Myself used a earphone from Creative b4. N still using a Bluetooth headphone. I bet creative won't really made something horrible & put on the shelves.

It's good to see ppl provide much cheaper & good audio gadget lately. i extremely like high budget product vs low budget product's review which results doesn't appear to be completely One side winner.

SInce i haven't lay my mind onto canal phone level, i will apply urs for future reference.

Totally agreed, Soundstage on earbuds will become quite apparent if you concentrate on listening. Even with Panasonic HJE50 and Sony MDR-ED21LP, some sort of close quartered soundstage will linger around your head, but it's more like left and right kind of experience - a good source will definitely improve soundstage too - specially if amped.

My 2 cents

Wow, nice review.. and opinions from john..

Urm, I digress a bit.. since the EP-630 is similarly priced with Koss' Plugs, how does the 2 compare (in terms of sound quality)?

Since I've heard in the "Recommend a... Earphone" subforum that the Koss Plugs' quality is equivalent, if not better than RM1xx earphones.. how true is that?

Put your money in EP630. I have listened to both. EP630 is superb in handling bass, bass extension and bass sweeps. KOSS the Plug - well it's like having a Subwoofer in your head - MASSIVE BASS but it can be overwhelming and because bass is so strong the rest of the sound spectrum specially the mids sounded muddy. EP630 can balance both treble and bass nicely. One of the best sub RM100 money can buy.

On the other hand usually those high end canalphones are not bass heavy - they are focused more on overall clarity and balance. Just ask anybody who have tried EP630 and Etymotics ER6i - they will tell you the truth.

Hmmm...

Seeing how Im a basshead and also considering my source which has quite low bass output (Nokia 3250) (or maybe it's the Nokia HS-20 headset problem, it sucks serious ass) would the Koss be the better choice over EP?

Btw, to digress a bit, where can I find the EP630 for sale in Malaysia, and what is the retail price >_<?

edit: tried to look for it in the "where to buy what" post.. don't have

This post has been edited by despair89: Aug 28 2006, 11:34 PM

For Creative EP-630, during PCFair, the listed usual price=RM99, promo price then was RM59. Listed distributors are:

C2O Corporation 03 2287 8736
Micro-D 03 7880 6888
Servex Malaysia 03 80246688

I also saw it on the Bulk Section. Check it out!

But dude, seriously, if you want real punchy bass, get the Senn CX300 ler.

There's a a lot of type for basshead. Some prefer tight and punchy, some like it rumbling and extended and some just simply like it loud. Just like John said if you are looking for quality tight and punchy bass go for CX300, if you like powerful bass attack it has to be EP630. If you simply just want it powerful and loud (not caring much about the rest of sound quality) KOSS the Plug is the answers.

But if you consider yourself a pro basshead, it will have to be a RM390 AKG K81DJ......LOL!

edited sorry

This post has been edited by despair89: Sep 2 2006, 11:45 AM

so between these 2 earphone which one suits best for my samsung yh-j70?btw yesterday i saw the ep-630 and the price is about rm 111

if u buy branded players. my suggestion is at least get a decent pair of earphones. if not u better buy lousy player and so-so earphone. just my opinion , coz u wont get the full potential of the good player...

today just got my hand on real EP630.
after getting fake one from bulk, then i go buy real one.
huge different. and it's huge improvement compare to SHE9500. in term of bass quality mid and clearity.
i don't say it is very clear. but overall i feel happy about it's isolation and sound quality. quite balance among all in ear i ever heard (panasonic / philips / senheiser / creative)
i once listen to scottiebaby cx300. i feel that it's different sounding. which one better i not sure, as i cannot remember so clear. but CX300 does sound better in treble, and isolation, that's for sure.
how ever... isolation of ep630 is damn good already comparing to she9500. i can hear my heart beat... hell man.. scary...

lol, I just experience liek a Vader breath ... (hoooooh.. hoooh),

You can get it for RM50 at Garage Sales.