IEM Hissing

[rockyglw]

I recently purchased a pair of Panasonic RP-HJE70's for my ipod 5G 60gb from Audiocubes. My purchase was based on dissatisfaction with many other earbuds, together with recommendations such as Jackonicko. In the main I am delighted with my phones in terms of sheer sound quality, build, isolation and comfort. However there seems to be one major drawback. Probably due to the analytical nature of these and maybe other IEM's. I can hear an increase in background hiss when compared with any other phones I have tried. This not only seems to exaggerate recoded tape hiss for example, but also can be heard between tracks. Is this normal for these types of earbuds. Are some such as say the Audio technics better in this respect? Or is sound quality sacrificed? Comments please. Perhaps I am expecting too much from what is basically a cheap HiFi

[feh1325]

try listening to a file that is over 192 kbps

[rockyglw]

Hi thanks for the reply. Got me experimenting with bit-rates. Recorded the same well recorded CD track at various bit rates higher than 192. Using AAC did not find any difference in noise levels. I have come to the conclusion that the Panasonics are reproducing the music warts and all. Whilst this in the main is desirable, it can also be a poisoned chalice. The ipod video does seem to output a certain amount of white noise which can be heard when there is no music playing. I never noticed this with my previous MP3 payer, which was a Creative Zen Xtra. Then again I did not use IEM's with it.

[Interpol]

That's not 'white noise' you're hearing, it's noise from the amplifier circuitry in the iPod, which was never that great to begin with.

Try listening thru the line out with an external amplifier and I'm sure you'll notice a difference in SNR.

[Jackonicko]

Try 192 MP3, not AAC. I hear no hiss from my Nano or my photo with these phones and that's how most of my music is encoded.

Or try accessing the line out via (say) a Sendstation Pocket Dock and use soundcheck to get the volume right for the phones and you.

[evoGage]

Originally posted by Interpol
That's not 'white noise' you're hearing, it's noise from the amplifier circuitry in the iPod, which was never that great to begin with.

Try listening thru the line out with an external amplifier and I'm sure you'll notice a difference in SNR.

Yep its only natural to hear the hissing sound and don't think its the earphones that are broken or encoding of the files.

You could always try them with an amp or some sort (if you have them) and see if its different.

[rockyglw]

Thanks for the help guys. I am sure you are right evogage, that the hiss is normal for the amplifier circuit in the ipod video. In fact the hiss I get from my ipod Shuffle is even louder. I have tried the ipod with the universal dock, my NAD Hi-Fi amp and B&W speakers. It does sound amazing considering that it is essentially an mp3 player. I certainly do not regret buying the Panasonic earphones as they are by far the best earbuds I have listened to so far!!

[Jackonicko]

Phew, thank goodness for that!