Earphones

[jimbo118]

I'm looking to get some decent earphones for my birthday next week. I currently have a pair of Sennheiser CX300s:
http://www.easyheadphoneshop.co.uk/product.php/8/0/sennheiser_cx300_in_ear_headphones__white_

They worked great and I found the sound great(for me anyway, once I don't have any noise at all from around me I'm set tbh) but a year later the sound from the right earphone is borked, I get really annoying noise distortion when the line is touched at all and the rubber covering is starting to wear.

So I am looking to replace them.

I would like to buy a a pair from the earbud, in-ear or sound isolating variety. I don't want the big headphone style. Thanks.

 

[Vegeta897]

I have the Etymotic Research ER6i's and I like them. Man the ones you have there aren't even canal phones, you need to get ones like mine that go way in your ear.

Only thing I can think of is that they lack a bit of bass. Nothing some EQ can't solve though.

 

[jimbo118]

I have the Etymotic Research ER6i's and I like them. Man the ones you have there aren't even canal phones, you need to get ones like mine that go way in your ear.

Only thing I can think of is that they lack a bit of bass. Nothing some EQ can't solve though.

Yeah I have earbuds which are fine for me really, I don't hear anything over the musc anyway(except my footsteps ).

Whats the difference anyway between in-ear/ear canal headphones and the sound isolating ear phones like the Shure SE210 f.e

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Ele...und-Isolating-Earphones/Product.html?cur=257?

 

[hool10]

I hate earbuds and you get them for cheap free things like iPods. I hate them because:

1. They hurt instantly putting them in, or for more than an hour.
2. Hearing loss are common in those suckers.
3. Terrible bass, etc.

I mean they are used for temporary use and travel primarily. That's just my opinion anyways.

 

[Viperidae]

1. They hurt instantly putting them in, or for more than an hour.
2. Hearing loss are common in those suckers.
3. Terrible bass, etc.

Sigh. The whole point of IEM's is comfort, sound isolation (which means you can play at lower levels because outside sound is blocked), and good frequency response.

I feel like a broken record here. Someone sticky one of the headphone threads, so we don't have ppl constantly asking.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

I hate earbuds and you get them for cheap free things like iPods. I hate them because:

1. They hurt instantly putting them in, or for more than an hour.
2. Hearing loss are common in those suckers.
3. Terrible bass, etc.

I mean they are used for temporary use and travel primarily. That's just my opinion anyways.

I love my in-earbuds. They fit me perfectly and don't bother me at all. And the main reason i got them was for the hearing loss, if i'm listening to music i don't want to hear all the shit happening around me, and i can also turn down the volume so i don't annoy people. Mine cost over ?50 and it has excellent bass.

 

[AtomicSpark]

Earbuds give you hearing loss as in make you deaf. :hmph:

 

[Asus]

ear buds = bad
ear canal headphones = good

I have a basic set of Shure's ($99) and they work awesome for travel. Good sound and keeps things quiet which saves my ears. I use the pads that you squeeze and hold them in your ear for a few seconds to let them expand and fit the shape of your ear.

 

[Omnomnick]

This - http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/gh20.htm

I bought it from PC World for ?20 (UK Pounds incase it doesnt show em)

They are pretty epic, noise cancelling, great mic, vibrations when there is base, and pretty comfy, just watch your Ear lobes, mine hurt after a few hours of wearing them, but its fine none the less, great price too!! :thumbs:

 

[jimbo118]

Hmm weird I have Sennheiser's CX300's atm which are labelled as earbuds but that site says they are ear canal ones which they are really from my experience of them.

I was looking at the Shure SE110's which are cheap enough atm on Play.

 

[giant384]

Sigh. The whole point of IEM's is comfort, sound isolation (which means you can play at lower levels because outside sound is blocked), and good frequency response.

I feel like a broken record here. Someone sticky one of the headphone threads, so we don't have ppl constantly asking.

ive never had an earbud that had noise cancellation and comfort before. like the above poster said, they are really uncomfortable(at first) then you usually will get use to it.

for me i prefer the headphones that clip on to my ear. its provides complete noise cancellation and excellent audio/bass

 

[PimpinPenguin]

Oh crap, i thought mine were ear-buds turns out they are ear canal i should have read the box.

 

[Vegeta897]

Some headphones proclaim being canal phones when they are actually just buds. Sennheiser CX300 for example.

Canal phones don't just sit in that little space outside your ear. They go a good 18mm inside the ear canal, you feel them snugly (funny word) deep in your ear, acting like ear plugs at the same time for great isolation, putting the sound coming out literally like 6mm away from your ear drum. Because of this you can listen at much lower volumes, leading to less hearing loss (and less battery loss for your mp3 player, heh)

It's true it takes a bit of getting used to at first, and they take a bit longer to take out/put in, so there's a bit less convenience. You'll also need to rinse out the rubber/foam tips once in a while (I do mine about every month) as they get ear-waxy. But if this isn't a problem, the pros far outweigh the cons.

What Viper said, I've had to type this a million times.

 

[hool10]

Not familiar with ear canal headphones. I just have an issue when you put a foreign object in your ear other than a Q-Tip or some ear plugs. You are putting the speakers just very close near the eardrums and often times, I can hear what the person is playing 6' away. http://media.www.signal-online.net/...r-Buds.May.Lead.To.Hearing.Loss-1711443.shtml It sounds like you will be playing lot's of TF2 as well, so keep in mind all the loud explosions, and chainguns going off, right in your ear canal. /motherly rant over

 

[Asus]

Well with normal open headphones or ear buds they don't block outside noise while listening. So in turn you have to turn the volume way up to hear music/games clearly OVER the outside noise, even something that isn't usually loud like people talking or a TV. But that has become 'normal' for most people so it seems strange when people say they turn their volume lower for a great experience.

But that's just what in-ear headphones let you do (and sealed headphones). They are an ear plug so outside noise become very very muted (20-30 dB less). So if you play the volume at 'normal' it seems VERY loud and like it could hurt your ear. (yet you did the same volume with those cheap ear buds....and didn't mind then) So you turn the volume low and everything is not only loud enough but it is crystal clear because there is no outside noise. Plus the actual headphone usually produces a lot better sound than buds.

 

[Bakurei]

If you're going to buy in-ear-earphones you HAVE to go with Shure, theres no exeptions.

 

[jimbo118]

Asus is teh win. I think I will go with a pair of Shure's.