Nanuq Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I have some great earphones for my "real" sound system, and I'm looking for some nice earbuds for my iPhone. I see ads for $400 Klipsch earbuds, and $20 Skullcandy earbuds. I'm thinking they really can't be that different. But man that's a lot of money to throw around trying to find something nice. So I'm turning to the discriminating and sonically experienced members of this fine board, and ask your advice and opinion! Have you found a pair of earbuds that make your mouth water? Do you think the Skullcandy buds are harsh in the upper midrange? What have you discovered as you try different brands? C'mon, spill it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I have had great success with the Skullcandy earbuds while using my iPhone... pretty good sound quality, volume adjustment feature (always a plus), comfortable as all hell... I think they're a great bang for the buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikki6 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Sennheiser ear buds are awesome!! I use them for my iPod and for my PC ( I have to use a screen reader as I'm blind so need good sound and comfort!) They come with 3 different size 'rubbers' so you can get the best fit, they also cancel out pretty much all back ground noise. I also have bang ollufson and bose ear buds and to be honest there is very little difference between them and I have REAL good hearing! I would highly recommend them, you would save a bundle as well, the bose ones cost me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmurphy926 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I love my Sony MDR-EX90LP. I paid $100 for mine a couple of years ago. I recently lost one of the silicon earpieces so I went on the bay to find a replacement set that would fit these phones. I found these earbuds are now available anywhere from $20 - $80. So, rather than buying more silicon pieces, I just ordered a new pair of EX90LPs. $22 shipped. I can't wait to get them to see if they are still the same audio quality. I have tried offerings from V-Moda and Bose and neither could match the Sony's mid and high end clarity and crispness. About the only thing that wasn't quite as good on the Sony's is the thumping of the base. Although the lows are not as thumping, I still think the lower frequencies are cleaner and crisper than the they are on the others...and still pretty thumping, just not as much as the V-Moda or Bose. Frequency response: 5 - 25000 Hz It might be worth a shot for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I swear by my Sure E4c-n's....for in-ear For the ultimate Noice Cancelling Over Ear I highly Recommend the Bose Quiet Comfort. A must have for frequent plane travelers I might add! For Home listening to classic vinyl - Grado Cans for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbreene Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I use the Bose earbuds and love them. They are $99 so they are not super expensive but they really sound nice. It does take a little while to get used to the way that they sit in your ear but after that I would not use anything else. I use them in my iPhone, iPod, Nintendo-DS, and Bose Wave Radio and all work great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omd Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro Earphones (Black) 2 driver earbuds Amazing Sound Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Reviews at Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 i think i can give you a gooood advice on this there are also forums about audio stuff for audiophiles, best forum for headphones btw, there are earbuds and in-ear-monitors(IEM) difference is earbuds are open and IEM's are closed earbuds are mainly cheap and using dynamic drivers (i.e. sony,sennheiser) IEM's are sound monitors which are used by musicians,singers in studios with custom cases (they are 1000$+) but you can find similar quality IEM's with universal cases for about 100-500$ spend some time if you are interested, but i must tell you, just like watches, there is no best, sound is subjective and it all depends on what sound signature you like i got a shure 530, most advanced IEM of shure with 3 armature drivers (1xmid,high 2x low/bass), paid 500€ retail price 2yrs ago here but it can be had for much cheaper from internet, especially in usa i have tried many most expensive IEM's of almost every brand (UltimateEARS TripleFI 10pro, Westone 3 etc.) but ended up selling them from experience i can say for shure530: it has lush sound signature (warm but not dark), best midrange ever heard, slightly recessed highs and clean,big,punchy bass wide detailed soundstage if you never heard an IEM before you will be for sure blown away instantly anyway this is the EQ settings i use, best sound ever for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreww Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I'm sticking with the plain old white Apple ear buds until someone comes out with wireless ones. Just too much external noise in the city to get any benefit from high end buds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltatahoe Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 i have two different pair -- one with a closed ear design (for airplanes & blocking out noise) and one with an open ear design (so i can hear what else is going on in the world (like my phone ringing at work). for the closed ear design, i have a pair of shure e2c's; for the open ear design, i have a pair of the bang & olufsen a8's. i love them both; they are both different (and more than anything, feel different -- with the b&o's being significantly more comfortable) and serve different purposes. just my $0.02, deltatahoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Just too much external noise in the city to get any benefit from high end buds. you should try IEM's, they seal for about %90 of noise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I have a pair of Etymotic er6i headphones and they are fantastic, best I have ever owned! The i in the model reference designates the better version (compared to just the er6), designed to work with portable MP3 players etc..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Just too much external noise in the city to get any benefit from high end buds. You must have never tried true isolation headphones then, or you would never have said that Put your little fingers into your ears, that is the same amount of noise they cut out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I'm a sure fan as well. Mine are middle-of-the-road E4C's. I have a couple of suggestions, no matter what you decide: Consider buying a set of custom made silicone ear molds. They'll add comfort, isolation, and richness.Break in your earphones for several hours (like overnight), at a med-high volume. This will loosen up the drivers, and increase the bass response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Break in your earphones for several hours (like overnight), at a med-high volume. This will loosen up the drivers, and increase the bass response. only for dynamic drivers, balanced armature dont break-in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 What a timely post. I just this second left a number of web-sites in my quest to find the best ear buds for under $100.00 dollars. I will be watching closely. Thanks, all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Etymotic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ifeveri Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 I'm sticking with the plain old white Apple ear buds until someone comes out with wireless ones. Just too much external noise in the city to get any benefit from high end buds. If noise isolation is an issue, try the Etymolic ER6i. They come with variously sizes silicone ear pieces that fit into the ear like an ear plug, and provide excellent isolation. I use them riding a motorycyle, and the noise isolation is so good that I don't even have to turn up the volume on my MP3 player between walk-around use and 85mph on the freeway use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Etymotic FTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted January 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Thanks for all the great replies! I went to Best Buy and the man there says I can buy 'em and try 'em and if I don't like 'em?? ............bring 'em back, no questions asked. So I picked up a nicer pair of Sony's and they're warm but muddy... so back they go. Then I put my cheap Skullcandy buds back on, jammed the tips in my ears and hit Play, and I was blown away at the bottom octave that suddenly showed up, and how dynamic the sound is. I mean they just sound amazingly open and airy and punchy compared to the high end Sonys, and these little suckers only cost like $16.99 At this price I can afford to freeze them in the car overnight, slam them in the door, drop them in the snow... and not even worry. SHWEEEET!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Sony headphones are sheet, just like the apple ones At this price I can afford to freeze them in the car overnight, slam them in the door, drop them in the snow... and not even worry. SHWEEEET!!! At that price you could use them for shoelaces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted January 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 At that price you could use them for shoelaces Now THAT'S a good idea!! And it fits right in with the Boy Scout Motto... BE PREPARED! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 Now THAT'S a good idea!! And it fits right in with the Boy Scout Motto... BE PREPARED! Dib, dib, dib! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spidey7 Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 I love the new "Z-Buds" made by Zagg specifically for use with the iPhone. Good sound, decent price, volume adjustment on the headphone cord as well as a microphone and call answer/hang up button. You can also use the button to forward songs and skip tracks. It's great for the iPhone because you don't have to unplug the earphones when you get calls. It comes in RED and BLACK http://www.zagg.com/audio/zbuds-iphone-earbuds.php Features 2009 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase Honoree, Rich, responsive sound from superior speakers, "Hangin' tight" wearable - wear Z.buds around neck, Built-in music control for iPhone Premium length, tangle-free cord, In-line volume control, Multiple sliders for better cord management, 3.5mm jack compatible with first gen iPhone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonthebhoy Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Bob...You need these........they never fail me........just don't use them when you're driving! JTB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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