63 replies to this topic

[whippedkeptboy]

Both pairs of Apple earbuds I have now have at least one buzzy speaker, so I need some new 'phones. The market seems to be fairly split, with loads around $10 and then a big gap up to around $100. I'd like a decent pair as I spend hours plugged into my iPod every day -- are there any particular brands that you have good experiences with?

[TheMatt]

Sadly with earbuds, that is what you get. You have the ~$10 low-end earbud phones, or the $100++ Etymotic-style canalphones. If you check with uber-headphone site HeadRoom, you'll see they don't even recognize that earbuds exist. Shure's and Etymotic's (and Ultimate Ears) do. The lowest cost one they sell is the Etymotic ER-6 at $100 right now.

That said, if you prefer not to go the route of the legendary PortaPro or new champeen, Senn's PX100, the one set of earbuds I've heard *some* good things about are Koss' The Plug. Keep in mind, these are $15 (pricey!) earbuds, but they are still about 50% hate, 50% can tolerate. And, as pointed out by Dan, people have tried to Etymoticize them.

[Melonious Thunk]

I have been using the ER4S Etymotics for over two years now and they are incredible. They filter out a huge % of outside noise and transmit music at astonishing range, clarity and fidelity. I have worn them for a 14 hour flight most of the way and felt no fatigue from listening or having them in my ear. They are expensive, but if you really care about the quality of the sound, there is nothing better.

[jschyun]

Yeah, Melonius did the homework.

I heard great things about the ER-4S Etymotics earbuds. But stupidly, I opted instead for the $300 Bose noise cancelling headphones. I hear a high whine when I use them. Also, unless you have the noise cancelling part on, the damn thing doesn't work. So you can't just use them as regular headphones. On the other hand, they are very comfortable, but they're friggin huge.

--OT but for home, I got a pair of Sennheiser 570s and they are great. Good clarity, and at $79 on some sale, a pretty good deal I think, but not great.

[mongo_jones]

i just spent $250 on an ipod. i refuse to spend any more money on this baby for at least another year--i don't care that the crap buds they ship with it make my ears bleed.

[mongo_jones]

since my ipod earbuds have gone on permanent vacation--they have not shown up despite a week of active searching and a week of waiting for them to fall out of the sky on their own--i am in the market. i think i may go for those sub $100 etymotics or similar for flights but reviews suggest these are dangerous for walking around on streets etc. as they apparently block all sound quite well. so, i'm also looking for cheap earbuds that are optimized for ipods/mp3 players. i specify this because the other cheap headphones i have lying around the house don't seem to deliver the same level of volume that the ipod earbuds did. any ideas?

[porkwah]

i think i have a pair of unused earbuds that came with an ipod somewhere -- if you want me to try to scare them up i can try.

i enjoy my iGrados quite a bit but they are headphones not earbuds.

[mongo_jones]

i think i have a pair of unused earbuds that came with an ipod somewhere -- if you want me to try to scare them up i can try.

you find them now and mail them next-day delivery!!!!

[GG Mora]

since my ipod earbuds have gone on permanent vacation--they have not shown up despite a week of active searching and a week of waiting for them to fall out of the sky on their own--i am in the market. i think i may go for those sub $100 etymotics or similar for flights but reviews suggest these are dangerous for walking around on streets etc. as they apparently block all sound quite well. so, i'm also looking for cheap earbuds that are optimized for ipods/mp3 players. i specify this because the other cheap headphones i have lying around the house don't seem to deliver the same level of volume that the ipod earbuds did. any ideas?

Get the Etymotics. If you don't insert them fully into the ear canal, you can still hear what's going on around you (to a degree). And when you go all the way with them, they're amazing. Especially on airplanes – never be bothered by screaming children again; bonus if there's an in-flight movie you actually want to watch – plug the Etymotics into the plane's audio jack, and you get superb cinematic sound.

[porkwah]

Another option is to go everywhere in your car and to use your car speakers.

[GG Mora]

Another option is to go everywhere in your car and to use your car speakers.

But you might have to buy an extra seat on the plane.

[mongo_jones]

i've always wanted to go all the way on an airplane.

i'll wait a couple of weeks--i have a huge number of amazon $25 rewards coupons coming my way, and no flights for another 2 months. found a pair of serviceable earbuds that should suffice for short hops from car to office and back .

[porkwah]

on an airplane, or in one? or with one?

[g.johnson]

Another option is to go everywhere in your car and to use your car speakers.

People like you are destroying the planet.

[porkwah]

Another option is to go everywhere in your car and to use your car speakers.

People like you are destroying the planet.

I don't do things like this!
What's destroying the planet is the disposable ice cube trays with spring water.