[googleli]

I am running in my newly purchased SR71B with my iBud at the moment, using a balanced out to 3.5mm connector. The reason is that I don't want to run in the SR71B using any of my more expensive IEMs, universals or customs.
 
I have come a long way since my first IEM and I believe I am one of the lucky ones who is able to hear what can be considered high-end headphone and IEM systems (check out my list of main gears in my signature block). I was curious on one hand and also a bit snobbish on the other, wanting to hear how bad the iBud sounds to me now - so I picked up the iBud which is driven from the SR71B balanced out (albeit through the connector) and gave it a listen.
 
To my surprise it sounded not bad - at least not as bad as I imagined. It doesn't have the tight bass, nor the silky smooth mids and treble which I am used to with my SR009, nor the creaminess of the mid range of the LCD2 Rev 1. And certainly it does not have the deep bass and refined treble of my UE18 Pro, or the fullness of the mid high range of my ES5.
 
But it doesn't sound bad to me at all. I don't know how much the SR71B plays a part here, but it really surprises me the effort Apple is making through these years. I remember the stock iBud which came with the first generation of the iPod nano really sounded like crap.
 
I wouldn't go as far as running full tests on the iBud with my other portable amps or the iStuff DACs (I have both CLAS and Fostex HP-P1), or re-terminating the iBud to balanced mode for the SR71B (lol), but it looks like that I will stick these iBuds into the bottom of my bags or pockets just as a backup in case I forget to bring my customs.

 

[bubsdaddy]

If you put foam covers on them the sound improves.

 

[DaBomb77766]

Yup, the new iBuds aren't as bad as people say they are.  The old ones, however, are.

 

[cifani090]

Quote:

Yup, the new iBuds aren't as bad as people say they are.  The old ones, however, are.

Wow iBuds with a SR71B. That's a first!
 

 

[googleli]

Lucky iBuds - I am now running the STS Digital burn-in tracks from the iPhone, using the DAC portion of the Fostex HP-P1 DAC, then the balanced in of the SR71B using a balanced connector , and then through another balanced connector to the iBuds. 
 
The goal is to burn in the SR71B. Not sure if the iBuds will last long - I am doing it 24 hours now and on high gain setting on the SR71B, with the volume at 9 o'clock position. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[googleli]

Since then I added the DB2 to the chain and created a fully balanced combo. The iBuds are now fed with  balanced signal from iPhone 4S -> CLAS -> DB2 -> SR71B Balanced In -> SR71B Balanced Out ->  balanced to 3.5mm convertor cable. Probably the best treat the iBuds ever had. I was tempted to but refrained from getting someone to reterminate the iBuds into fully balanced - not worth the hassle.