Extreme Isolation EX-29 vs. Vic Firth whatever-the're-called

[edva]

the Firths suck, IMHO. can't believe he put his name on such crap.

[shadewind]

What sucks about them? The sound? The isolation? The looks?

[tenkas]

I have the Firth's and got them for drummers. They seem to love them.

The are:

1) Not comfortable, they really squeeze your head, but that gives good isolation...

2) They are some of the worse headphones I have ever heard (for that price). No lows, no highs, very telephone like.

3) They seem pretty solid.


I much prefer the Sennheiser HD280

[edva]

Originally Posted by shadewind

What sucks about them? The sound? The isolation? The looks?

Bad sound, poor isolation, not well built. I have the original version of the Extreme Isolation phones, and use those for drum tracking, MUCH better than the Firths. I'm looking at the new Westone IEM's, but much more expensive.

[shadewind]

Allright. The EX-29s should be better I suppose... but it seems that they "squeeze harder" on the "front edge" of the cups than on the "back edge". But maybe they will wear in a bit? Soften up the foam if you know what I mean.

[uncle duncan]

Originally Posted by shadewind

Allright. The EX-29s should be better I suppose... but it seems that they "squeeze harder" on the "front edge" of the cups than on the "back edge". But maybe they will wear in a bit? Soften up the foam if you know what I mean.

The way they fit is going to be determined by the shape of the persons head.

The nice thing about the Extreme Isolation phones is the fact that you can replace the drivers and cord yourself, without sending them back for repair. He'll sell you a replacement kit direct for under $40. Considering that no matter how much you spend on headphones, they're eventually going to break, the Extreme Isolation phones could last you forever, as long as you can keep getting the replacement parts.

[biggator6]

I have the Vic Firths... no issues whatsoever. Isolation is GREAT, and sound is good enough - wouldn't mix with them, but for drum tracking.. fine.


Maybe they just didn't fit your head.

[monkeyxx]

isolation on the Extreme Isolations is in my opinion very poor, and has just caused me a week of downtime due to temporary threshold shift. would have still needed earplugs to prevent dangerous volume while tracking with a live guitar amp.

I've given up on this concept, maybe I should try the Vic Firth's first, though

[edva]

Originally Posted by monkeyxx

isolation on the Extreme Isolations is in my opinion very poor, and has just caused me a week of downtime due to temporary threshold shift. would have still needed earplugs to prevent dangerous volume while tracking with a live guitar amp.

I've given up on this concept, maybe I should try the Vic Firth's first, though

Yeah, the "new improved" ones aren't too good. They can be slightly improved by adding material to the outer shell, building them up a bit. The older, huge version is much better, still benefits from extra material. But with any headphone, you can still get a resonant frequency inside the cans that sounds loud and bad. Sounds like your guitar experience, if I was you I'd move my ears further away from that amp if it has to be that loud.
My next pair of phones for live tracking will be IEM's.

[edva]

Originally Posted by biggator6

I have the Vic Firths... no issues whatsoever. Isolation is GREAT, and sound is good enough - wouldn't mix with them, but for drum tracking.. fine.


Maybe they just didn't fit your head.

I'm glad you like them. They definitely were not working for me.

[Incremental]

has anyone else had problems with the extreme isolations snapping? they're just made of fairly flimsy plastic, and i've had a couple of sets snap at the bit where the phones clip into the holder. i've been thinking of getting a couple of pairs of the vic firths simply because they seem to be more robust.

[VacuousZounds]

I have the Vic Firths and yes, while the drivers do sound like crapola, I did a little mod. I gutted the original drivers and soldered in a pair of Sony 7506 drivers. Like night and day. The Vic Firths are simple to take apart and the whole project took me maybe a half hour. The isolation is good and blends a perfect amount of direct drum sound with whatever you're listening to. The only thing that may tend to get lost is the kick drum.
The thing that the VFs have going against them is how far the drivers are mounted away from your ears. Eventually I'm going to fabricate a custom mount for the drivers that brings them closer to the ears for better monitoring.

[nid]

I've been using the EX-29s since 2006 and they do break, as Incremental posted above, for me at least once per 6-12 months. The first time they sent me a free replacement headband but the next times I was forced to buy it. It costs about 17euro where I live. But the most annoying thing is that for me they always broke during rehearsals and that ruined the whole session since I can't play drums without headphones, my ears really can't stand it and also my profession is sound engineering so I'm very cautious. This happens while I'm putting them on. The plastic joint of one of the phones (L or R) with the headband suddenly snaps. A few days ago it happened before a live show. You can't imagine how pissed off I was then... So I gave up on them once and for all, though I had got used to their sound and liked it. Not because they sound nice (they don't) but the blend of the sound from the outside with the sound from the drivers is warm and punchy, what a drummer usually likes. They press well on the head if you stand still and so they make for nice isolation but if you start grimacing (which drummers often do during performance) then the seal opens up a bit and (air and thus) sound gets through... so annoying!

I've uploaded a photo with my "collection" of broken headbands... Add one more from the last time. The EX-29 (I guess the other lesser models too) is a nice idea but cheaply implemented. On the box it reads "Professional Quality". It is not. Hope this helps potential buyers looking for trustworthy headphones. If in the future EX improves their quality then I'm going to check them out again. Now I'm thinking about getting a pair of DT770M...

[Tops Cut oFF]

i own the iso 29s and to me they are the perfect lowwer budget tracking head phones. great noise cancel and no sound bleed

[RCM - Ronan]

I have a couple pairs of the Vic Firths and I was surprised how "not terrible" they are. For that price the sound is quite acceptable and the isolation is very good. I know pretty big LA session drummers using them on sessions.

[ofajen]

I know you weren't really fishing for other options, but I'll just mention that I have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-770 M headphones that work pretty well. They are very solid (Beyer prefers metal frames and leather over molded plastic) and very comfortable while giving great isolation. The sound is reasonable for a closed phone. Not "telephone like" though not in the same league as my nice open Sennheiser HD 580 phones. There is enough bass, though not the super low end like the Senns. Just an option. New, they are definitely more than the EX-29s.

Cheers,

Otto

[nid]

Yeah I know that the DT770Ms are more than twice the price of the EX29s but that doesn't justify their fragility weakness (this plastic joint that keeps breaking). I mean, you know what to expect when you buy at this price level in terms of quality but you can't consider this a professional product when you can't rely on it for (at least) your professional activities. I have a feeling that more people than we are aware of have purchased at least once a replacement headband for their broken EX29s.

They could replace the whole plastic U-shaped phone holder with a metal version even if that raised the end price a bit. Now that I'm thinking about it... hm... perhaps I could have this made myself! Just give the holder to a metalwork shop and ask them for 2 copies in painted steel. I guess I'm not going to like the costs though. I'll let you know if I have further info.

[edva]

Originally Posted by nid

Yeah I know that the DT770Ms are more than twice the price of the EX29s but that doesn't justify their fragility weakness (this plastic joint that keeps breaking). I mean, you know what to expect when you buy at this price level in terms of quality but you can't consider this a professional product when you can't rely on it for (at least) your professional activities. I have a feeling that more people than we are aware of have purchased at least once a replacement headband for their broken EX29s.

They could replace the whole plastic U-shaped phone holder with a metal version even if that raised the end price a bit. Now that I'm thinking about it... hm... perhaps I could have this made myself! Just give the holder to a metalwork shop and ask them for 2 copies in painted steel. I guess I'm not going to like the costs though. I'll let you know if I have further info.

Just for the record, I have owned and used a pair of the old style, very large muffs, Extreme Isolation 'phones, for many years without a single issue.
I mainly use them to track drums, but have also taken them on live mix gigs many times. Prior to these, I was using foam earplugs with regular 'phones for drum tracking. Anyway, mine have never broken. My 2c. YMMV.

[nid]

Originally Posted by edva

Just for the record, I have owned and used a pair of the old style, very large muffs, Extreme Isolation 'phones, for many years without a single issue.
I mainly use them to track drums, but have also taken them on live mix gigs many times. Prior to these, I was using foam earplugs with regular 'phones for drum tracking. Anyway, mine have never broken. My 2c. YMMV.

I'm curious what the old style/version is. Mine from 2006 is this:



Is there an older version that this?

I had originally taken this photo to show that the pillows were badly glued and were falling apart just a few days after purchase... another "professional" point of the EXs...

Of course it has crossed my mind that I'm doing something wrong when putting them on, perhaps stretching them more than needed to fit them on my head because every time they broke as I was about to put them on, i.e. when stretching them to fit them on my head. But this little instantaneous "abuse", even if true, shouldn't "scare" a professional headphones product. They are $100, not $10.

[nid]

Originally Posted by ofajen

I know you weren't really fishing for other options, but I'll just mention that I have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-770 M headphones that work pretty well. They are very solid (Beyer prefers metal frames and leather over molded plastic) and very comfortable while giving great isolation. The sound is reasonable for a closed phone. Not "telephone like" though not in the same league as my nice open Sennheiser HD 580 phones. There is enough bass, though not the super low end like the Senns. Just an option. New, they are definitely more than the EX-29s.

Cheers,

Otto

You've got both EX29 and DT770M? If that's the case, have you noted this 6db difference in isolation? (35 minus 29)

I'm greatly interested in the most reduction I can get. The DT770 (not M) has definitely less isolation than the EX29, that's why I'm a bit scared to go and buy the M, but I guess they have a different built even though they look much alike.

[ofajen]

Originally Posted by nid

You've got both EX29 and DT770M? If that's the case, have you noted this 6db difference in isolation? (35 minus 29)

I'm greatly interested in the most reduction I can get. The DT770 (not M) has definitely less isolation than the EX29, that's why I'm a bit scared to go and buy the M, but I guess they have a different built even though they look much alike.

Sorry, I only have the Beyers, so I can't compare.

Cheers,

Otto

[nid]

just got the DT770M and wanted to share my satisfaction. They sound of course like DT770, which is something I never had problem with and for sure is way better than the EX29. At last I can hear lows... kick thump! yes! I feel though that they need their burn-in period so I guess they'll get even better.

The isolation is also a bit better. 35dbA vs 29dbA which is true, though they do squeeze your head a little bit more than the EX29s. I have the impression that they isolate the annoying low-mid "mud" frequencies more (than the eX29) so you get a clearer result overall. And last but not least, they maintain the seal around your ears even if you make sudden moves, grimace, etc.

[Plankspanker]

I have both and they both suck. They provide very limited isolation and the drivers are just horrible. I started using better quality in-ear plugs (i.e. Shure or Skull Candy) and putting the iso headphones on over the top for tracking. You can "mix" the amount of drum vs. monitor mix by moving the iso's slightly off your ears and you don't need to monitor at super high volumes just to overcome the drum sound leaking in. Kind of ghetto but works great.

[IsaacP]

I haven't used the Vic Firths.

I bought a pair of EX-29's for myself for rehearsing with my band. My drummer tried them, loved them, and ordered a pair the same day.


I use this is in a live band enviroment playing twice a week. I play a 50 watt head into a semi-closed 2x12 and sing. No problems with volume, isolation, etc.

The headphones are comfortably snug for myself and my drummer. My experience with these headphones have been excellent.

[jpgerard]

Just a quick reply to confirm that the current, post-2008 EX-29 from Direct Sound have been redesigned and are much more reliable and sturdy. I've been using them for a while now and everything seems solid... the plastic parts are more pliable and I can't see how they could snap but if they ever did parts are available and cheap. Hope this helps!

[2nd Childhood]

Hi all - first post here. I have a set of EX-25 isolation phones. Before purchase I contacted the manufacturer about the breaking headband issue and was informed that this has been corrected. So far so good but I do treat them gently when placing/removing them from my head. Here is my situation - I am a drummer and do a single using a decent sound system and tweaked MIDI files. The EX-25's do well for me. I get good vocal monitoring and I am able to balance the vocal/music ratio well. There is just enough drum bleedthrough to give me a feel for overall balance to the audience once a 'roadie' (my son or wife) gives me a little input. I play 50's-70's pop rock (no metal) so given all that I find the EX-25's perfect. For reasons of vanity I would rather have inconspicuous IEM's but I don't want any more isolation than provided by the EX-25's. I also notice that since I made the purchase, the manufacturer now operates through dealers and at a higher $. I wonder if parts availability is still good?

[Fab Macedo]

Originally Posted by biggator6

I have the Vic Firths... no issues whatsoever. Isolation is GREAT, and sound is good enough - wouldn't mix with them, but for drum tracking.. fine.


Maybe they just didn't fit your head.

+1

[CanFan]

They now have Incrediflex Headbands that will not break. I would call or email Direct Sound and get the replacement headband. Orders@extremeheadphones.com.