I just wanted to take a minute to blab about the Jim Nicehck EB200 and compare it to some more popular buds that I have on hand. Firstly, it's smooth and powerful. While you can power it directly from an iPhone or So-so DAP, you're best served to give it some juice. I did some initial impressions with my iphone SE, then moved on to a Fiio portable amp, and finally a Denon amp. My other rigs are at work, but I'm looking forward to giving them a go tomorrow, as well as doing a direct comparison with the Zen 2.0. The EB200 scaled as would be expected and sounded more rounded and fuller with more power as one might expect.
The sound,to me, is very balanced. It handles bass quite well and the treble is rolled off enough to accommodate long listening sessions while still giving me a lot of detail. A very slight v shape. There's a maturity here that's unusual for this price range, to be sure. The vocals are forward but there's a good sense of depth and width that is very pleasing. The soundstage is excellent.
Vs Faaeal 32ohm v. 2: The EB200 has a wider soundstage, more bass and scales better to power (which may go without saying). The Faaeal 32 is the clear winner in the treble department, but that's it. Vocals sound more natural and instrument separation is quite a bit better on the EB 200.
Vs Faaeal 64ohm version 2: To preface, I hold the 32's big brother in really high regard. In fact, it may be my favorite budget bud. It's got an excellent midrange with a beautiful bloom in it that warms the vocals and is very pleasing to my ears. The EB200 does not have this, and is not quite up to its level in the mids, however, the sense of depth and width, as well as the scaling to power, allow the EB200 to really shine. It's soundstage eeks out the win for me here. It's very close and depends on what's powering. To be fair, the Faaeal is by no means a slouch with it's soundstage. To me, with only a DAP onhand, I would grab the Faaeal 64 but amped up, it would be the EB200.
Vs Ty Hi-Z 32: I must confess that I'm not a huge fan of the Ty 32. I find it sharp and not particularly good for, you know, listening to music. So that presents an issue. It has sharper treble and very good bass for a 32ohm bud, in my opinion. The EB200 is more pleasant all-around and has a very similiar level of bass from a weaker source (phone etc.). Again, the sound grows, with the bass with more power thrown at it. No contest for me. EB200 ftw.
Vs Vido: ah the Vido. My lil buddy. He's made huge waves in the earbud community and with good reason. Vido's bass is both impressive and perplexing. What has happened to get this amount of bass out of a bud at this price? Just what on God's Green Earth is happening here? Well, Vido fans will be happy to know that this bop machine has won another head-on contest in the bass department. EB200 has excellent, controlled bass but loses to the Vido in this regard. The Vido, to me, is a strange little bud though. It's got all this bass, but it shares virtually none of it with the midrange, which makes it sound rather thin in this department. It's as if I'm listening to music in a car with a so-so system and huge fart box in the trunk. The EB200 is the winner with a more prominent midrange and smoother vocal presentation.
Vs Monk Plus: Do I have to? After all, the Monk is my first child. Hmm, one bud to rule them all though...Well, the thing that always keeps the Monk at the top of the pile for me is the stunning vocal presentation and beautiful range. I do find it a tad fatiguing for long listening sessions however. With thicker foams, that dissipates and the bass blooms out. I do love the Monk, But there's a new kid in town. The Monk, like the Faaeal 64 do scale well with power. They do not scale quite as well as the EB200 though. I would say that the soundstage department is extremely close here. Both buds have good depth and width. The Monk presents more pleasing vocals for me. There's something that other manufacturers simply can't do - a secret sauce if you will, that Venture Electronics has on lock in this department. Both buds have excellent staging, as stated, but the EB200 sounds bigger and thicker. There's an underlying sense of power and its a level up on warmth in the mids. I do have a tough time picking a winner here, and I'd have to listen to the use case in order to make a rec between the 2 really. For example, 70's rock? EB200. Classical? Monk. Jazz? Er, what type of jazz sir? I think you get the point.
And another thing. Nice case! And! Fast shipping :)