Archive for the ‘CrossRoads Mylar’ Category
Kaz has had a spot of luck with Jaben, and he’s getting rid of his Brand new Mylar X3’s.
This is a chance to get one of the best IEM’s, for not very much money. See how much Kaz wants for them. Go to the forum and ask him.
http://www.headphonedeals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=149&highlight=
Here’s part of the thread
The folks over at Jaben are amazing! I wrote them an e-mail describing how I purchased the X3s the day before they released the new ones and asked if I could mail back the X3s and buy a pair of X3is. Instead they told me to keep the X3s and sold me a pair of X3is at a discounted price . . . a very discounted price. Their customer service is amazing!
Would anyone like to buy a brand new pair of X3s at a discounted price? PM me.
Get over to the forum now, and make Kaz an offer. Brand new, one day old, and going cheap!
This is a very rare opportunity, so take it!
A rare chance to get a pair of CrossRoads Mylars on the cheap. These still remain one of my favorite IEM’s to date. Far more capable than the Sennheiser CX300’s, sweeter than the Vibes, the CrossRoads MylarOne X3’s are one of the headphones phenomenons, that I hope will be with us for a long time!
We start with a warning for potential Super.Fi 5EB owners
Getting over the hideously disappointing Super.fi 5 EB’s was very easy. They were the most hateful earphones I’ve ever had the displeasure of buying. With that said, I still wanted to give Ultimate ears a good go, after all the 5EB’s had a very good top end, a brilliantly controlled low end with buckets of bass (which I love) and they had bulletproof build quality.
But there were many downsides. Yje weighted as much as two opera singers, the supporting wire that hangs over the top of your ears acts as an ear slicer because the 5EB’s weigh so much and worst of all, the 5EB’s suffer from the most unbalanced, unpredictable, desynchronized midrange in the universe. It is foul! So much so, that on an Art trip to Leeds, I decided to devise a little test.
| “The difference in weight is instantly noticeable with the Metro.Fi 2’s. The depths these can go to, for the money, is amazing” |
I decided to grab some unsuspecting members of the public, and try the 5EB’s against the much loathed Bose Triport OE’s, and as you might have guessed, every-single one of them went for the Bose. Comments about the super.fi 5EB’s included things like,
“They don’t sound right.”
“They’re no good.”
“No, I don’t like them at all”
“I’d go for the other ones .”(meaning Bose).
Not good for Ultimate ears then! So how bad are the 5EB’s? Now to be honest it’s been such a long time since I’ve tried the 5EB’s that I’ll have to refer to some notes written when they were in use.
Build Quality
So here we are with the Metro.fi 2, single driver unit, built like a nuclear bomb shelter……which means that we’ve just covered the topic of build quality. But they are solid! There’s nothing flimsy about the Metro.Fi 2’s, nothing! There is a slight issue though and that is the cable. It’s also bullet proof and I don’t mean that in a good way. It’s as solid as crow bar and about as easy to bend. You could use the replace the steel cable of the Golden Gate Bridge with the Metro.Fi cable, and I guarantee the Metro.fi cable would be stronger!
Now, lets warn you about the V-Moda Vibes
However, don’t take this as a bad point, the Metro.Fi inspire so much more confidence than the flaky build quality of the V-Moda Vibes, which had a slight problem when I tested them…….
“I’m positive that on this pair there’s a slight leaning to the right. Even adjusting the left hand ear bud, pushing at further into my ear, doesn’t solve the issue.”
That slight leaning to the right actually resulted in the left driver giving in completely, and my friend Jeswin having to ship them back to V-Moda in America for inspection two weeks after my review. Don’t blame me, it wasn’t my fault.
You know me, when it comes to build quality I like to push the item to the limit. Stand on them, sit on them and in the case of special headphones like the Stax SR-001, I like to get my wife to leave a pile of clean washing on top of them before informing you that they have no build quality issues. Needless to say Metro.Fi’s have past with flying colors or if you’re not from the UK, colors.
Accessories
Unfortunately the Metro.Fi’s accessories haven’t really bared up under even the mildest stresses of everyday use. Along with your lovely Metro.Fi earphones, you’ll also get the following.
- Additional sized earplugs (and you’ll need them to experiment with fitting)
- A lovely carrying pouch (which is nigh on useless, because the cable is so stiff, you won’t be able to wrap them up)
And there you have it. Not a huge great list of extras then, but there are other companies that give you less. When you buy a pair of Grado headphones, you’ll be lucky to get a presentation box with them. However the most essential items that you will need for the Metro.Fi 2 are there, and that’s the earplugs. This is where you’ll need to do some serious experimenting for the best fit. So let’s get onto the next subject.
Velcro is peeling off already, and I haven’t even use the carrying case yet
Fitting
Being a hardened headphone fan, I do have a lot of issues when it comes to IEM’s fitting in your ears properly…..if that sentence make sense to you? I find that for the best part, even for great IEM’s like the CrossRoad Mylars, they gently slip out of position far too easily, resulting in you getting less than 100% of the what they have to offer.
Even jamming and screwing the ear buds in your ear, a slight movement from yourself or a rapid movement of air, can just put them out of place and once again, you’ll miss out on the full performance. Often it’s the bass that suffers, because you don’t get a proper seal in your ears. Like I said, this niggle can hamper even the best IEM’s, and I’m afraid that the Metro.Fi 2 …….. and the Super.Fi 5EB both suffer the same concerns.
| “Ask me where to put your money, and I’d struggle. Ask me which one I …… couldn’t do without, and the answer would be” |
I’m sure there are many an IEM expert that’ll tell you how to insert the ear buds properly in your ears, but as far as I can tell you, a perfect fit 100% of the time is nigh impossible. The problem is compounded by heavier ear buds, hence (I assume) the supporting wire of the 5EB’s. The Metro.Fi, although only slightly bigger than the Mylars, are slightly heavier as well. We’re not talking grotesquely over sized here, but you’ll notice the difference when you where them.
So what ‘s the solution?
Recently I had a serious play around, first of all changing the standard fitting ear buds for the CrossRoads ear buds, and that worked well. For this, you could use a pair of Sennheiser CX300 ear buds, but although they look the same as the Mylars ear buds, they didn’t give as good a fit as the Mylar ear buds.
The best and mot confident fit however, are from the smallest ear buds in the 5EB replacement range. They feel more rubbery than the Metro.Fi silicone ear buds, and they give more of a grippy feel when in your ears. The Metro.Fi 2 ear buds (smallest) are fine, and for the reason that I’m trying to get rid of my Super.Fi 5EB’s, I’ve stuck with the smallest range of Metro.Fi replacement ear buds.
Try and screw them as tightly as you can into your ears, and they’ll provide you with a good seal and then you’ll also feel the full effect form the bass. It’s not a perfect solution, and if I was intending to keep the 5EB’s, I’d nick their replacement ear buds, but the Metro.Fi 2 ear buds do a good enough job.
Of course it’s down to what you think gives you the best fit. I know some advice to go for the biggest ear buds, but I feel on this occasion, the smallest ear buds are the best solution.
So, are they better than the CrossRoads Mylars?
More on that next week.
Only joking! let’s try something classic (another better word than sad) and something quite quick. I like to keep my mind open, even though I think that the Metro.Fi’s are going to be better, I’ve yet to test the two of them back to back.
I’m going to start with two versions of the theme tune to the film ‘Bullit’ starring Steve McQueen. Why two versions? Because the version on the ‘Shaken Not Stirred’ Album is faster, and the version on the DVD I know has better, deeper bass. Brilliant film, although I wasn’t really taken aback with the car chase. You want a car chase, get Ronin!
imac - DVD player
Bang and Olufsen Beosound One
CrossRoads MylarOne X3
Ultimate Ears Metro.Fi 2
CrossRoads MylarOne X3
With the CrossRoads Mylars everything starts off well, with a fair amount of low end weight. Getting into the music, I could do with a little more detail, the highs seem to roll off a little too much. I’m going to put it down to the DVD recording rather than the Mylars ability.
The sound staging is good, and you’re able to place the interments quite easily. Unlike a piece of music with vocals, I don’t think everything is supposed to be dead center, but the sound staging calms down when the gangsters are breaking through the glass. this is an old film though, but bullets are flying about and you can hear them movement well enough.
The Album version is much more focused than the film version, and although in the versus, there is quite a bit of leaning to the right hand-side throughout the song, it’s balanced with a quick blast of instruments on the left hand side. So unlike the V-Moda Vibes, the Mylars don’t have any build quality issues, Phew!
Everything is crisp and clean just about enough, and they’re as detailed as you would expect from the Mylars. The instruments are well positioned and again you can easily pick out the position of each. The midrange is free and easy, but the top end isn’t as crisp as I’d want it to be. However, judging by the next track, It’s the fault of the recording rather than the Mylars.
Ultimate Ears Metro.Fi
The difference in weight is instantly noticeable with the Metro.Fi 2’s. The depths these can go to, for the money is amazing, however how does the rest of the sound stack up. To be honest, with the film recording of Bullit, unless you’re a hardened bass nut, I think that these might be a tad overbearing for you.
The sound staging is a wide as the Mylars, but it’s also very vague. It’s far more difficult to place the instruments as firmly as it was with the Mylars. You can hear each one, but the separation isn’t as good. This maybe a bad start for the Metro.Fi 2’s but this DVD version isn’t the best recording. Again, the breaking of the glass, isn’t as crisp, but 3D imaging comes in when the everyone starts firing their guns.
The power and warmth of the Metro.fi 2
shine though on the Album version of ‘Bullit’, the Mylars are a shrinking violet in comparison. This is true, loud, upfront, in ya face performance. Yet again the Metro.Fi’s show little delicacy in picking out fine detail. It just wants to shout at the top of its voice all the time.
“Here I am. I’m a big manly pair of earphones! Yes, hear me everyone.”
Don’t get me wrong, they can do detail, but you get the feeling that the Metro.Fi wants to hit you like a sledge hammer rather than caress you with a nice cozy eiderdown. When you want to concentrate on sound staging and detail, the Metro.Fi’s just slaps you in the face and screams “What the heck are you worrying about all the nonsense for.” then they proceed to give you a swift kick in the gut, with it’s hard hitting low end weight. And you know what, I love them for it!
Jamiroquai - Too Young Too Die
Back on the CrossRoads MylarOne X3’s, this is the Mylars home ground, good sound staging with JK in the center, and everything else going on around him. but to be honest the backing music doesn’t have enough clarity to satisfy. Even when it reaches the chorus, you just want more refinement.
When the vocals come in, things sound less focused, but the vocals are the problem. They sound slightly out of balance with the rest of the music. I‘m not sure if this is on purpose but it make for a very fatiguing listening experience. You’ll strain yourself trying to listen to the backing music. I’ve heard much better from the Mylars.
Let’s try ‘Corner Of The Earth’(Jamiroquai). That’s much, much better, with good easy to pin point separation. Although you get the sense that you’re still very much forced to focus on the vocals, the guitars have a nice, weighty feel behind them. Ooooooh that bass is nice and warm, not overpowering, just nicely weighted. But still you’re left wanting for a bit more detail. Maybe that’s unfair given the price of the Mylars, they do represent great value for money. At least this track has proven one thing, The Mylars can do bass when partnered with the right music!
Switching to the Metro.Fi 2’s, from the off, I know I’m going to be much happier with these than the Mylars. The weight is very forthright, but it’s the sound staging and detail that are a big welcome. Each instrument is waiting for you to guess where about they are, and with the Metro.Fi’s it’s easier to pick out each instrument. The percussion although very much in the background, is far more noticeable with the Metros’ than with the Mylars.
To my surprise, and even with the heavier bass, the Metro.Fi’s offer a more relaxed listening experience. You’re not straining yourself with the Metro’s. When it comes to ‘Too Young To Die’ the Metro.Fi’s have it.
The start of ‘Corner Of The World’ is a little harsh, and that bass weight is very……powerful, but not at the expense of hearing the finer detail. Yes the Metro.Fi’s are for hardened bass heads, and they may not reach as high as the Mylars, but the sound is feels balanced, warmer, more welcoming, but not at the expense of detail, and that’s quite hard to do.
Again, you’ll get all you want from the percussion, and where the Mylars were starting to give me a headache, the Metro.Fi’s are far more relaxing.
Conclusion
The First thing I have to comment on, is to all those thinking about a pair of V-Moda Vibes, and it’s this, Don’t! Just don’t buy them. The V-Moda’s are a stunning pair of headphones, but the Metro.Fi’s have far better build quality. I would say the sound signature of the Metro.Fi’s lean towards the Vibes more so than the Mylars, so if you’re a Vibe owner, and you want better build quality, then get the Metro.Fi.
The second point is that as you can guess, I’m far more pleased with the Metro.Fi 2’s than I am with the Super.Fi 5EB’s, because they work well. No more of that horrid midrange. Sure, the rest of the sonic range isn’t as good as the Super.Fi 5’s, but with that dreadful midrange, the 5EB’s never really worked for me at all. It’s all or nothing, and with the 5EB’s it might as well be nothing.
I’m no technician, but the problem with the 5EB’s must be down to the twin driver arrangement, and whoever signed these off as ‘fit for market’ should get a stiff kick in the posterior. They just don’t work, but the Metro.Fi’s do, and with that reassurance, I’d be far more receptive to try another pair of Ultimate Ears, and put the 5EB’s down to a bad experience.
So, are they better than the Mylars?
This is a very hard one. If you’re not a bass head, these might be a bit too much for you. If you are a bass head, then there’s nothing better. I would sum up the sound as ‘Warm’ and ‘Full’ where I would describe the Mylars as ‘Fine’ and ‘detailed’. But the Mylar’s are a much more subtle proposition than the Metro’s. Does that mean I prefer them?
The thing is this, the Metro.Fi’s have yet to venture outside in the real world. They’ve been housebound since I got them. The Mylars have come out with me on a regular basis. The reason? The cable! because the Metro.Fi cable is thicker and therefore stiffer than the Mylars, I can’t wrap it around the ipod shuffle plastic wrapper thing, and the wire is too thick to fit in the gripping thing on the ipod wrapper. it simply won’t fit. So the Metro.Fi’s aren’t as practical as the Mylars. But do they sound better?
Much as I would pine for the sweeter detailed Mylars at times, I’d still go for the warmer, fuller sound of the Metro.Fi’s. Somehow, for your money, you feel that you get more bang for your buck. The Mylars are brilliant and until the end of this article, they still reign supreme, but if I had to ask myself ‘which of the two I couldn’t live without?’ it would be the Metro.Fi 2’s!
I just couldn’t live without that power, I couldn’t live without the build quality, not to say the Mylars build quality is bad, it isn’t, but the Metro.Fi’s feel like they would last a millennia, at least. The Metro.Fi’s offer about 70-80% of the Mylar refinement, but they’re at least 200% ahead in bass depth, and upfront performance. And no, that bass weight doesn’t come at the price of detail.
Ask me where to put your money, and I’d struggle. Ask me which one I …… couldn’t do without, and the answer would be the Ultimate Ears Metro.fi 2s. Are they better than the Mylars? I’m not sure. However, I just could not, not have the Metro.Fi’s in my life!
Click here and tell me what you think.
Protect yourself against the flood of fake headphones.
Is this pair of Sennheiser CX300’s real or fake?
Because of the epidemic of fake headphones on the market, I’ve set up a fake headphones section, with as much info that I can on this growing problem. Due to the popularity of the Sennheiser CX300 earphones, potential CX300 owners seem to get hit the most, but you not off the hook yet.
Shure, CrossRoads Mylar, Bang and Olufsen, Sony, these are only a few brands that have people asking questions about legitimacy and worrying if what they’ve just brought is the real deal or not.
Click here for more information.
Shure owners, I need you!
After the disaster, that are the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5EB’s, I need to find a good replacement and Shure are next on my list. So Shure owners, which should Shure headphones should I start on?
I also want to find out if there is any sub $50-60 IEM’s that can take on the CrossRoads Mylar X3’s. I’d really need your input.
Click the image for more info
Posted by matt
STAX,
CrossRoads Mylar,
Koss,
JBL,
headphones Vs headphones,
Forum,
Alessandro,
Ultimate Ears,
Bose,
Bang And Olufsen,
Shure,
AKG,
Denon,
Equation Audio,
Audio-Technica,
Ultrasone,
Beyerdynamic,
Sennheiser,
Grado
Come and ask your question, on the new headphonedeals forum. Click here. I spent along time looking on forums before I had the Courage to join in. Your questions, view points, opinions, experiences are all very welcome and dare I say needed. I’m not the best educated when it comes to headphones, I’m just a guy with a hobby. Maybe you can teach me something new, in fact I know you can teach me something new.
Remember had it not been for people like yourself, sharing information, I wouldn’t have experienced half the headphones I now had. And, on top of that, I would have missed out! So come and join us, ask your question and show me something new.
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BEYERDYNAMIC VS SENNHEISER
hd200 vs hd 212 sennheiser review
compare test Sennheiser AKG Beyerdynamic
Sennheiser Hd205 vs PX100
compare Sennheiser AKG Beyerdynamic PROl
px100 vs JBL
BEYERDYNAMIC VS SENNHEISER
akg porta pro sennheiser px100
seinnheiser cx 300 vs jbl reference
sennheiser hd 280 vs denon ah-d1000
Audio Technica ATH-CK5 vs CrossRoads Myl
px100 vs igrado
dr150 rp21
px100 vs igrado
Sennheiser HD201 rubbish
Bose OE vs IE
bose triport around ears vs. sennheiser
mylarone classic vs x3
JBL Reference 410 vs K27i
JBL 410 vs K27i
Mylar x3 and super.fi 3
px100 hd414
Sennheiser PX100 vs bose
Sennheiser PX100 vs bose over ear
+shure +e2c +akg +k27i +PX200
hd201 vs px100
bang olufsen form 2 vs bose triport oe
sennheiser hd280 vs px100
Bose OE vs IE
px100 vs super.fi 5
v moda vibe vs px100
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px100 vs super.fi 5
jbl or sennheiser better?
icans versus igrado
Sennheiser PX100 vs. koss portapro
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mylar three vs cx300
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shennheiser px100 vs px200
sr325i vs. rs2
jbl 410 vs grado sr 80
sennheiser px100 vs ultimate ears
Alessandro MS-1 vs Grado SR125
Sennheiser CX300 vs V-MODA Vibe
Sennheiser HD25-1 vs bose on-ear
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Vibe Review
I have to write this V-Moda Vibe review quickly before the shop keeper finds out they’re missing.
Only joking folks, I got these from an associate, who has kindly agreed to let me have them for a few days. He’s getting my new Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5EB’s for a few days, and when I get them back, they should have been burned in a bit more, and I expect a drastic change in their (Super.Fi 5EB) performance or else! More on that later.
The V-Moda Vibes, I put them in my ‘5 best looking headphones‘ article, a while back, and I have to say that to a certain degree I’ll stick by my article. Having said that, for some reason, in the flesh, the V-Moda Vibes are an ever so slightly, disappointing. I’m not sure if that’s because I just acquired the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5EB’s this week, and I’m musing about them.
Build
Now at this point I have to say that in the real world the V-Moda Vibes haven’t been getting a 100% on build quality. Some owners have been sending them back in fury. But with that said, I’m not sure any headphones are full proof. I’m positive that on this pair there’s a slight leaning to the right. Even adjusting the left hand ear bud, pushing at further into my ear, doesn’t solve the issue.
The cable has a strong and light feel about it, and once similar to the Super.Fi 5EB’s the cable is clear, and you’re able to see the bare twisted wire inside. Cool? I don’t know, but it makes a slight style change from the usual black cables that manufacturers bolt on the headphones.
I’m not 100% sure that the build quality is better than the CrossRoads MylarOne X3 (coming up in the sound test), and I wouldn’t unduly want to fling the V-Moda’s about for fear of breaking, and of course, they’re not mine anyway.
I have to say that the V-Moda’s are smaller than I thought they would be, but once again is it because they’re dwarfed by the Massive Super.Fi 5EB’s. Even against the CrossRoads, the V-Moda’s are small.
At times the size is handy, like storage and carrying, but fitting is tricky, even when using different size ear buds, the V-Moda Vibes are so small they seem to just move around my outer ear, just a bit too much for my liking.
Extras
My friend Jeswin, only gave me the earphones, so I can’t bring you any details or photos of any extras that comes with the Vibes.
Quick conclusion so far
1) The V-Moda’s are a little disappointing in the flesh, design wise. They don’t have the same presence of the very bling Ultrasone iCans, but they do sound better than the iCans.
2) The build quality is nothing to write home about. There’s nothing I can put my finger on, but the build quality doesn’t inspire confidence, unlike the CrossRoads MylarOne’s…….or my cheap Yamaha neck strap earphones.
3) They are tiny, which has it downfalls including easy movement. I feel more confident dancing around the room with other IEM’s without the fear of them falling out. Not that I dance around the room with headphones on, I’ll have you know. How can I when I’m writing this article?
So, how do they sound?
To be honest, before we get into a deep test, they don’t sound half bad. Slightly more rich and mature than the Mylars, and if I was more happy the whole package, they would be on my ‘to buy’ list.
V-Moda Vibes
Let’s jump Straight into ‘Tracey Chapman - For My Lover’ and the first thing I notice, is that leaning to the right is very obvious, regardless of making adjustments to the left hand ear bud, it just doesn’t make a difference. The occasional guitar comes in on the Left, but it’s very unbalanced. Is this a sign of the V-Moda build quality?
So, sound staging is good, barring Tracey obviously being on the right hand side. instruments are coming in where they should be. But to be honest, I’d swap a bit of the richness for a touch more definition.
CrossRoads MylarOne X3
That’s the Kind of detail I want the V-Moda’s to have. But with the Mylars comes a sacrifice in low end weight. Sure, the bass is finely detailed, but a bit more bite wouldn’t go a miss.
The clarity from the Mylars has the V-Moda’s eating their dust. Rich and mature though the Vibes are, they’re just not doing it with Tracey Chapman.
Round One: It’s the Mylars I’m afraid.
CrossRoads MylarOne X3
Let’s try something a little faster and harder. I haven’t listened to ‘Arctic Monkey’s - View From The Afternoon’ for a while. I love the video. For the purpose of the test, I’m sticking to the Vibes.
This song needs the detail of the Mylars. At high volumes the Mylars struggle, as do many headphones, but at reasonable volumes, the X3’s are nothing but sublime. I have to say that compared to the Vibes, the Mylars tend to sound a little…….empty, a little edgy.
V-Moda Vibes
V-Moda Vibes fuller sound kicks in nicely, the highs are a little harsh, more so than with the Mylars. The mid and bass make the Vibes sound soft and slow compared to the X3’s. I thought the warmth of the Vibes would be welcome, but I’m eager to put the CrossRoad’s back on. It’s not an unsatisfying sound from the V-Moda’s, not at all. It’s fuller than the Mylar’s but not as detailed as the Mylar’s.
Round Two: I really want to say ‘the Vibes’, but the sweeter and more detailed sound of the Mylar’s means that wins again.
For the Last track, I’ll try something with a bit of warmth. A classic track. ‘Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger. I was in a car park the other night, and in the corner were the young folk, revving their engines, blasting out their drum and bass. But this one young lad, with a very loud sound system in his boot, was playing this.
I have to say it made a refreshing change, from hearing the usual thud and thumping that you get from some of the music these younger folk play from their cars.
V-Moda Vibes
I think I’ve still got them on, yep because the Mylars are on the side. I have to say that everything sounds good, even the leaning to the side. The lean singer (do know his name) is dead central, and very clear. Even with the backing music getting louder around him, attention to the lead singer isn’t lost.
Now, I don’t think it’s an easy task because I tried this track with the Super.Fi 5EB’s and this is what I quickly noted. Take into account that I’ve been advised the 5EB’s need 200-250 hours burn in.
“Almost perfect, the sound staging good, but once again recessed. There’s a slight fake feeling about the vocals. The music comes through strong, the vocals don’t.”
With that in mind, I think the Vibes deserve a pat on the back.
The Warmth of the Vibes go well with Eye Of The Tiger, it’s quite. They give the guitars; a nice touch weight and realism abut them.
CrossRoads MylarOne X3
That Mylar detail is shinning through again, which makes the track more enjoyable. But it sound clinical. The lack of warmth is ……… noticeable.
In terms of sound staging, the lead singer is where he should be, but he’s not as …..placeable as the V-Moda’s. With lack of warmth, the Lead singer is forward, during the verse, but then gets swamped easily in the chorus, when the hard guitars come in.
You do miss the warmth, and the Vibes offer better sound staging, if not as detailed as the Mylars. But the Mylars make up for it, by giving you bucket loads of clarity instead.
Round Three: Pick the Mylars, but you’ll want for the Warmth of the Vibes.
Conclusion
The conclusion of the test is obvious. If you want fine detail and clarity, and you’re willing to settle for slightly vague vocals, then go for the Mylars. If you want warmth, a touch more bass depth, and stunning good looks (but not as stunning as the Ultrasone iCans) then take the V-Moda Vibes.
Even though the Mylars won all the tests, practically, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. In some ways, the warmth of the Vibes is a nice extra, but it’s the detail that comes from the Mylars, that would have me clicking on this jaben.net link, and parting with my money.
Quick Review update
For those of you who don’t have the time to read a full review, you’ll be glad to know that the “quick Review” section has been updated, with comments on the Equation Audio RP21’s, CrossRoads MylarOne X3, Denon AH-D1000’s and the JBL Reference 410 headphones.
Click here for more info.
Just a quick review of my experience of the CrossRoads Mylars to and in Prague.
Click the image below for the review.
My dedication to headphones is unwavering, or so Mrs headphonedeals thought as I decided to take a few important and memorable pictures from our holiday in Prague. Actually we were there for my brothers wedding, but I couldn’t resist when I got on the Prague tour bus and I was presented with a pair of Philips SBC HP195 headphones, lovely!
The Philips didn’t really go down well. Connected to the tour bus audio unit or to my ipod shuffle, they just didn’t do anything for me, so I had to swap over to the CrossRoads Mylar’s.
Excuse the triple chin there…
CrossRoads MylarOne X3’s were much better.
My wife decided to take the Sennheiser PX200’s (she loves them) but they didn’t really do much to block out the ambient noise on the plane. I also took the JBL 410’s which did an admirable job on the plan, but the CrossRoads Mylars did a lot better.
In fact they blocked out all the ambient noise, and i only felt the mild vibrations from the plane, which begs the question, do you really need a pair of noise canceling headphones?
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The first headphonedeals competition has ended.
A big hearty thank you for all of your suggestions. After my wife made the ban, she then lifted the ban and anyone who’s been on the new and improved headphonedeals site, www.headphonedeals.org, then you would have kept upto date on the headphones i’ve brought.
Amongst the collection, there are a few of the suggestions from the competition. the Crossroads MylarOne X3’s and the Equation Audio RP21’s spring to mind.
I’ve chosen the two winners, and they are Nick and Chad. Here are their comments.
Chad wrote the following;
I would suggest the Goldring DR100 at the $100 price point. I love my DR150’s (sold my grado SR225’s with no regrets) and I want to buy the DR100’s for portable use.
I loved the firm endorsement of the Goldrings. The particular comment that won me over is the part where Chad says in brackets,
(sold my grado SR225’s with no regrets)
That’s a powerful endorsement if ever there was one. I do have the Goldrings in my sight, and they seem to have nothing but positive comments.
Nick wrote the following;
Crossroads Mylarone X3.
It seems to me you want something portable. These are only 57 USD, leaving you 43 USD to take your wife out to a restaurant!
My wife chose this one, for obvious reasons, but the suggestion of taking my wife to a restaurant was a nice thought. I did buy the CrossRoads Mylar’s, and they are worth the money.
As I’ve said, this is the first headphonedeals competition, and there is another coming up in the next few weeks, so keep an eye on www.headphonedeals.org for details.
Keep listening, keep saving!
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Sorry! I know it’s been a long time coming, but a full review of the CrossRoads MylarOne X3’s is ready for you. It includes a test against the Sennheiser CX300, and my new favourites, the Grado iGrado.
Click the image and enjoy!
The
Full Review.
With tests against the Sennheiser CX300 and the Grado iGrados
The CrossRoads Mylar are relatively an unknown make, and until headphonedeals started, I’ve never come across them. Does that mean you should shy away from them? and the answer is a resounding no!
I advise you to follow my lead and be adventurous in trying new headphones, and the Crossroads Mylars have been the perfect example of being rewarded for trying new things.
Sometimes We Get Set In Our Ways!
I don’t know if you’re like me, sticking to what we know and trust, or have used before or know works well for us. So why change if it’s working for you? The answer is so simple. I’m happy if your choice works for you, but don’t you ever wonder if there’s something better for you out there?
When you see others raving about different things, doesn’t it make you curious as to what the fuss is all about. That’s one reason for buying the Equation Audio RP21’s, and I’m glad I did, because they floor the equivalent Sennheiser HD280’s.
The Crossroads Mylars took a bit fair bit of faith because I really liked the CX300’s and had no real reason to change. Instantly the difference between the Mylar X3’s and the CX300’s were obvious. Carry on reading and you’ll find out just how different they are.
The Amazing Package
The first thing that will amaze you about the Crossroads MyalrOne’s is not how they sound, it’s the entire presentation. opening them is not, just something you have to do, it’s like a royal ceremony.
First there’s the lovely Blue box, not overly expensive arrangement, but a classy affair (as far as boxes go). embossed on the box…..well you can see for yourself. Nice!
Then you reach the main act, the stunning red pouch. It’s small enough to fit into your average size pocket, and it comes with a nice leather handle. The Crossroads name is also embossed on the leather clad pouch.
Unzip the pouch and in one half you’ll find what you’ve paid for, and in the other half, it has to be said, a nice collection of extras. These included the following.
- CrossRoads MylarOne X3 earphones
- In-flight adaptor
- Additional sized earplugs
- Swartwrap - cable wrap device
This is a very good package by anyones standards, taking into consideration the price and performance of the Crossroads X3’s. Seriously, what more could you ask for? A first class package.
Ordering
Ordering form Jaben.net was easy and fuss free. nothing more than making a standard online purchase. No hassle from customs either, the whole process was pain free.
The only slight niggle was the wait. but Before they were sent. I put this down to Jaben being out of stock. you have to remember, in the far east these have a huge following. With that said, I was email to tell me the status of my order.
Professional service all the way from Jaben.net.
Comfort And Fitting
The Crossroads are my second pair of IEM’s and I have to say I’m still impressed with how comfortable they are. Being terrified of sticking what amounts to no more than plastic and rubber in your (my) ear canal, used to terrify me.
The whole experience is nothing to worry about. it’s not as dramatic as it sounds, and it’s far more comfortable than you might expect.
The Mylars have very flexible rubber tips on them, end of course with additional sized tips that comes with the Crossroads, you should be able to find a good comfortable fitting.
How Do They Sound?
For the purpose of this test, I’m going to put the x3’s against the Sennheiser CX300 and the Grado iGrado, both of which retail at around the same price as the Crossroads Mylar.
The Sennheiser CX300 sound has a slightly heavy handed approach. the bass doesn’t overwhelm, but it represents a good portion of the CX300 sound. The iGrado’s are neckband headphones I know, but they are weighty enough, and they sound near perfect for the price.
Playing through iTunes with the equalizer set to dance.
We’ll start with Beastie Boys - Ch-Check It Out (clean version).
Sennheiser CX300’ are up first and the bass is firm and deep, if not all that well controlled. Remember the CX300’s have been hiding in my car for nearly three weeks, so I’m not used to them. the only problem with the Sennheiser’s is that they do sound closed.
Sound staging struggles a bit with this track. sometimes the singers get lost in the echo’s at the side. you have to concentrate really hard to focus on the sound staging here.
The iGrados, are a revelation compared to the Sennheiser. Everything opens up and the presentation is near perfect. The bass is punchy but not as deep as the CX300’s, but the bass is far more accurate.
One area well the iGrados do well is sound staging, and here the iGrado’s is light years ahead of the CX300’s. The main vocals are central you can hear that straight away, and the echo effect doesn’t muddy the sound staging as it did with the Sennheiser’s.
You can pin point everything far easier with the iGrado’s, they’re precise and punchy.
The Crossroads MylarOne X3 is slightly more revealing than the iGrdao’s. The sound staging is again slightly wider than the Grado’s, but not necessarily as well defined as the iGrados.
The vocals aren’t strong or as central as the Grado’s, but the echo effect seems…….muted, and once again not as defined as the iGrado’s.
The whole presentation however is more detailed. I’m trying not to say thinner, but if you want clarity, then the Mylars are the ones to have.
Round 1: It’s between the iGrados or the Mylars. I’d go for the iGrado’s, but if you want clarity and detail, the Mylar’s have it.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (hey yo)
Starting with Crossroads, everything is right with the world. They sound detailed, although they could do with a bit more oomph. It’s not that they Mylars don’t do oomph, they do. With Shimon - The Shadow Knows, the X3 can really kick.
Again, although the detail is smooth and punchy, the sound staging leaves me wanting. just a little more definition, just a little more detail, just a little more central.
Switching to the iGrado’s there’s a big sigh. this is what you want, easier sound staging, and I have to say that with The Chili Peppers, the Grado’s are are a touch more defined than the Mylar’s.
Although the whole presentation from the Grado’s is more laid back, it’s……better. Blending from ‘Snow’ to ‘Fortune Faded’, the iGrado’s sing and sing. sorry but I’m enjoying this, let me just finish ‘Fortune Faded’.
Thank you!
Back to ‘Snow’ and the Sennheiser CX300, this is the bass I want. With the CX300’s there’s a gentle blend of feeling and hearing the bass, it’s wonderful.
With the Grado’s and the Mylars, I was wondering if the Chili Peppers track had a bass-line. the Sennheiser confirm that it does.
Yes you get that closed in feeling, and the sound staging is ‘nothing to write home about’, but the Sennheisers make up in other areas.
Round 2: This is hard because pick any one, and you’ll miss the others. The Mylars clarity, the Grado’s punchiness and the Sennheisers bass.
I’ll play devils advocate here and go for the all rounder, which makes it a win for the Grado’s.
Let’s end on one of my favorites, Shimon - The Shadow Knows. A fast moving, Drum and Bass track. This is purely to hear the speed and depth of the bass, and not much else.
Grados up first I think. I’m very surprised at the bass with this track, I didn’t think the Grado’s would do this well, with the bass.
I suspect it won’t be the strongest bass out to the three, I think that award will go to the CX300’s, but they can kick it when they want. If you are hardened Drum and Bass listener, and you need a good pair of portable headphones, then the iGrados should be on your list. But there’s also the JBL’s, more on that later.
The Sennheisers perform well in terms of bass, but suffers everywhere else. the whole sound is muddy and confused, and although the bass does kick, it’ll be hard to live with for everything else in this track.
Clarity is far below the iGrados, and that means Mylars will be light years ahead of them as well. Bass? Yes, as for the rest, give the CX300’s a miss.
Final hearing for the Crossroads MylarOne X3’s. I have high hopes for them with this track!
O.K. let’s cut to the chase here. Bass is full, but not bloated or as deep as the CX300’s. although not as deep as the CX300’s the bass has far better definition, and the whole presentation is nothing but first class at the price.
They offer clarity and detail that the CX300’s can’t even come close to. therefore the Mylars are easier and more enjoyable to love with everyday. The Myalrs are also smoother than the iGrado’s, which in this case is a good thing.
Round 3: Don’t get me wrong, I do love my iGrados, but for this track, it would be the Mylars.
Conclusion
To be honest with you, it’s been an ear opening experience. I thought the Mylars would be the surefire winner here, but now it’s not that clear cut. The Mylars do clarity and detail very well, but only scores average for sound staging.
In this company (talking about the iGrado’s at this point) the Mylars have to do a bit better than average, because the Grados aren’t your average headphones. They’re better than the Mylars in terms of sound staging, and can nearly match the Mylars at everything else.
The Mylars do come with a host of extras, and they also come with a stylish carrying pouch, and are a great deal more compact than the iGrados obviously.
It’s one of those ‘rock and a hard place’ situations. Either way, Grados or Mylars, after a while, you’d ask yourself if you’ve made the right decision. You want an out an out winner between the Grados and the Mylars, sorry, even I’m stumped at that one.
One thing is for sure, the Crossroads MylarOne X3’s are definitely worth the investment.
Final Words
Like many other headphones, earphones and IEM’s, the Crossroads Mylars come under threat from the Barrage of Sennheiser bargains. This is where things get tricky.
The Mylars are $57 and the Sennheiser CX300’s are currently available for under $20. In the UK I brought my CX300’s for £6.99 on 16/5/2007 according to my email (around $12 US) and now they’re selling for under £4. But let’s not beat around the bush here, regardless of the price, the Mylars are better than the CX300’s, be in no doubt.
Tempting thought the CX300’s prices are, I’d still go for the Mylar’s if I were you!
For more pictures of the CrossRoads MylarOne X3’s, Click Here
Come and have a chat on the new headphonedeals forum. Click here.
The JBL Reference 410 headphones have arrived, and they’re better than I thought. You’ll get a full review next week, and an extensive test against the AKG K27i’s. Stay tuned!
I’ve found my Sennheiser CX300’s, So I’m revising the full Crossroads Mylar review, and it’ll be ready is coming tomorrow…..hopefully. I want to put the Mylar X3’s against the CX300’s and the iGrado’s. Both are around the same price as the Mylars. For now you’ll have to content yourself with the Mylar pictures. Sorry for the delay.
My CX300’s are genuine!
Typical isn’t it? a day after I decided to order another pair of CX300’s, I found my old pair. But there’s better news for the Sennheiser CX300. Having recently got in to a discussion about the flood of fake CX300’s going around, I was happy to discover that my £6 CX300 that I brought from a vendor on amazon.co.uk are genuine.
Now the UK price has dropped to under £4 for the CX300’s, I’m dying to see if my new pair are genuine, but it’s not me that’s going to find out, it’s you.
I’m going to have a quick little competition, and the prize will be the new CX300’s. I’ll post details when they arrive.
headphonedeals.com competition coming to a close, but you still have time.
Have you entered the competition yet? It’s so easy to enter. Win one of two Sennheiser PX100’s The competition to win a pair of Sennheisers is coming to a close, but you still have a few days left.
Over at headphonedeals.org, I’ve just put up another load of images for the Crossroads Mylars and the Equation Audio RP21’s for your perusal. But these are large, close-up pictures. So click any of the images below for more………images.
Soundwise - USA
Soundwise - UK
