Hidden gem or Insanity?

[Jacona]

So...I discovered that there's this company that sells a pair of earBUDS for over $1K USD (or maybe $128?).

Not in-ear-monitors or any other CIEMs, but earbuds. 

 

The aliexpress page

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Venture-Electronic-VE-Zen-high-impedance-320-ohms-earbud/32302987270.html

Product page.

http://eng.52ve.cn/product.php?cm_id=196

 

I've never seen anything like this before, it's highly efficient @106 db/mW like any other earbuds but it's 320 ohms. Apparently they want you to use this with a tube amplifier or something since it has dampening headroom. 

Have any of you guys seen this before and have any experience with this?

 

There is however, a cheaper model they have that I'm tempted to try at only $5. Such escalation. 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Venture-Electronic-VE-MONK-earbud-earphone/32417311324.html?spm=2114.01020208.3.2.pBSBW2&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_2,searchweb201644_5,searchweb201560_9

[AresKrieger]

I vote insanity regardless, $1000 ear buds better be made out gold and platinum or how could that price be legit.

[TheAmazingCookieFromSquare]

Fucking chinese scams

[CierroMierdo]

So...I discovered that there's this company that sells a pair of earBUDS for over $1K USD.

Not in-ear-monitors or any other CIEMs, but earbuds. 

 

The aliexpress page

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Venture-Electronic-VE-Zen-high-impedance-320-ohms-earbud/32302987270.html

Product page.

http://eng.52ve.cn/product.php?cm_id=196

 

I've never seen anything like this before, it's highly efficient @106 db/mW like any other earbuds but it's 320 ohms. Apparently they want you to use this with a tube amplifier or something since it has dampening headroom. 

Have any of you guys seen this before and have any experience with this?

 

There is however, a cheaper model they have that I'm tempted to try at only $5. Such escalation. 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Venture-Electronic-VE-MONK-earbud-earphone/32417311324.html?spm=2114.01020208.3.2.pBSBW2&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_2,searchweb201644_5,searchweb201560_9

Assuming that the specs are legit, its insanity. But guess what? Insanity got us to progress. Who knew the planet wasn't the center? Who knew we can put tons and tons of books into a phone? And who knew we can listen to music on the go privately (assuming open-back headphones never existed and headphones never had sound leakage)?

It has more than enough sensitivity that it can drive off of a smartphone or even a nokia cellphone that has a headphone jack.

[KaminKevCrew]

If you look in the description, it says 128 USD, so I wonder if that's the actual price. Looks like it would be, unless those tubes come with it. Certain tubes can be very, very expensive...

[Jacona]

If you look in the description, it says 128 USD, so I wonder if that's the actual price. Looks like it would be, unless those tubes come with it. Certain tubes can be very, very expensive...

Hmm did overlook that, but that's still more than what most other companies offer for a similar product. 

I guess the price exploded since there's only 1 left on sale. 

 

Seems to get great reviews on Head-Fi, though we all know Head-Fi is hit or miss. 

[KaminKevCrew]

Hmm did overlook that, but that's still more than what most other companies offer for a similar product.

I guess the price exploded since there's only 1 left on sale.

Seems to get great reviews on Head-Fi, though we all know Head-Fi is hit or miss.

To be fair, just because it's a similar looking product doesn't mean that it's a similar product. A huge amount of engineering may or may not have gone on inside of those little guys, and they may very well sound very good.

I find that the descriptions of sound are fairly accurate on head-fi (e.g. One headphone has more bass than another, etc.) so if you're doing it that way, head-fi can be a useful resource, although I still haven't made up my mind about the whole amp/dac thing. I feel like it's a bit of a middle ground, where an amp/dac *can* change the sound slightly, to really make your headphones sound perfect to you, but I don't think that there are meteoric changes to be had there, as everyone seems to describe them.

[Jacona]

To be fair, just because it's a similar looking product doesn't mean that it's a similar product. A huge amount of engineering may or may not have gone on inside of those little guys, and they may very well sound very good.

I find that the descriptions of sound are fairly accurate on head-fi (e.g. One headphone has more bass than another, etc.) so if you're doing it that way, head-fi can be a useful resource, although I still haven't made up my mind about the whole amp/dac thing. I feel like it's a bit of a middle ground, where an amp/dac *can* change the sound slightly, to really make your headphones sound perfect to you, but I don't think that there are meteoric changes to be had there, as everyone seems to describe them.

 

I am about to order their cheapest model, if that turns out well then hmmmmm.

Was looking at the Baldoor E100 that people we praising, but apparently the newer ones use different drivers. 

 

For the most part when people are comparing headphones to other headphones, it is pretty accurate. But like you said, it's when they use the same headphone with different sources (Amp/DAC) in their review/comparison is when it gets kinda wonky. 

[KaminKevCrew]

Pretty much

[Fred Castellum]

I'm going to be straight right now, I don't know how these sound but the appearance alone makes me feel like their a small pile of garbage. 

[ICantThinkOfAnyGoodName]

I'm 99% that this is overpriced shit.

[CierroMierdo]

I'm going to be straight right now, I don't know how these sound but the appearance alone makes me feel like their a small pile of garbage. 

I thought the Alpha Dogs were head plugs for a shooting range (or whatever its called). Didn't know it was a headphone until I got to try it, and it was really good. Looks can be deceiving, but oh well. Some headphones do end up sound as bad as how they look, or even sound horrible compared to their aesthetics.

[Donk Quixote]

It's very hard to find non 5 star review on that site, for almost any product.  It's not so hard if you use Google to find bad reviews off their site.  That should tell you something.

[Jacona]

It's very hard to find non 5 star review on that site, for almost any product.  It's not so hard if you use Google to find bad reviews off their site.  That should tell you something.

I only used that site because that's the only place that sells it.

I only got interested because the reviews on headfi were calling it great.

Of course I wouldn't trust aliexpress reviews.