The EK2s will provide a near-proportionate boost in incremental value. They’re a worthy purchase just as the EM1 has been.
The better quality tips for one provide a better fit and seal. In terms of performance, the EK2 is tuned towards giving you more detail in the higher frequency ranges. In this effort it loses out on some of the body or “fullness” that a well represented mid-range imparts to most forms of music. The EM1 therefore feels more rich but at the same time a shade less precise. If any of you have had the chance to demo the EM1 and found them to be lacking on the bass front, you’ll find the EK2s severly lacking – they’re not, it’s just that true-to-source bass representation often seems below par to most people. Another important distinction between the EK2 and EM1 is that the EK2 seem to be a little more sensitive, so more volume per input of input power.
Nostalgia aside the EM1s still give you bang for your buck if you’re on a really tight budget. However, if you have a little more money to spare (only about 150 bucks more), the EK2s will provide a near-proportionate boost in incremental value. They’re a worthy purchase just as the EM1 has been.
Specifications
Driver size: 10mm
Impedance: 16 ohms
Rated power: 3mW
Max power: 20mW
Sensitivity: 103dB (at1mW)
Frequency range: 20HZ to 22,000Hz
Cord length: 1.2m