What is Digg?126 Comments
- Darkspyder86, on 10/12/2007, -5/+21LOL some of these headphones cost as much or more than an iPod.
- dstart, on 10/12/2007, -8/+18Etymotic ER4P are teh sex.
- FarcicalFart, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Why just the iPod?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I listen to my iPod through Speakers bolted to my Collarbone.
- NanoStuff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Hey I have an idea. Let's all throw in our opinions about headphones without having a damn clue as to what we're talking about!
- chicken101, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10You'll be suprised what audiophiles will buy. Just like the $145 per foot power cords for their stereo system.
- dvoddo, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14"bose is better"
HAHAhhahaahahhaHHAHAHAHAHFSDLOOLOLOAAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA BOSE what a joke - Yoda716, on 10/12/2007, -9/+16Rather bad? That's putting it lightly, there craptacular. I guess there not THAT bad if you haven't ever heard what a real pair of headphones sound like.
- jeffremer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The Shure e2c set is well worth the money. I was hesitant to drop $100 on a pair of dinky little headphones, especially after reading that the reverberation from walking turned people away from this style. I'm glad I got them. I don't have the walking problem that others reported and I can actually hear what I'm listening to on otherwise noisy buses and trains. They are pretty heavy duty too - nice thick cord and solid construction. Some of the cheaper Sony alternatives have extremely thin wiring that feels fragile.
I use to be a fan of the clunky over the ear style studio monitors for portable listing (Sony MDR-7506), but my Shure pair is a whole lot more discrete, they fit in my pocket, isolate and sound better.
Take advantage of Shure's 30 day money back guarantee to try out a pair - unfortunately they are not for people with tiny ear canals. The smallest rubber inserts fit me perfectly, and the foam inserts work well too, but I couldn't see anyone being comfortable with the medium and large size rubber inserts. - Massif, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7My sentiments exactly!
It's pretty sad that some people use iPod and MP3 player synonymously. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11I agree!!! Etyomotic just stomps EVERYONE in sound quality. But you're still listening to a sub-par compressed recording (since iPod doesn't have FLAC support), with a sub-par audio codec, through a sub-par amplifier. Best MP3 players I've heard for sound quality are Rio Karma (sennheiser earbuds!), Creative Zen, and Cowon iAudio players. Apple fanboys will try to bury this comment, but iPod is teh sukk when it comes to sound quality.
- yawn, on 10/12/2007, -8/+13Well .. Their quality is rather bad.
- CLucas916, on 10/12/2007, -11/+16but they suck.
- mcbesq, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9Etymotic 6i's are not worth the money. While the sound blocking is great, the actual construction is terrible. The wiring at the plug is so shoddy that unit failure is almost a given after three months of use. Trust me, no matter how well you treat them, the wiring above the plug will break.
I unplugged my headphones by gripping the plug - as directed - nevertheless, after 3 months of normal use, failure. Do not buy them. For $80, I want better wiring. - Levin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Sorry to say but I've had my Etymotic 6i's for a little over a year now and they still work great, I keep them in my pocket, not some special case and I'll have to admit I don't take that great care of my stuff yet the 6i's hold up just fine. Well worth the 80$.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8If they were put in an mp3 player not made by Apple would they still be good earbuds?
- Henge, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Considering how easily small electronics like that can be lost/broken/stolen, i'll stick with the cheaper ones. Sound quality is nice, but not worth $400. Also, it's pretty common for the wiring on these little earphones to fray, so buy the cheap ones and use the money you save to buy backups.
- odaen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I love the way sarcasm travels over the internet...
Oh wait... you're being serious?! - yppiz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I have a pair of ER-4ps that I like quite a bit. I've had them for two or three years now, and really like their low-tech "noise-cancellation" approach -- rather than an active element, they just embedded their earbud in an ear plug. It works very well for airplanes and subways, but not so well if you're in motion (you hear the "micrphoning" effect as the headphone cord rubs against your clothing, and transmits the sounds up into your ear).
As far as sound quality goes, I couldn't tell the difference between the ER-4P and the much less expensive ER-6, however, the ER-6 was too large and uncomfortable in my ear canal (the 4P's hard plastic tube is narrower).
I bought mine from headphone.com which has the nice policy of accepting returns for any reason, including if you find out you don't like in-ear devices (the Etymotics are a love it or hate it device -- some people can't stand the feeling). - Spazkake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The iPod may be a bit lossy but it's stupid to think that apple's junk earphones are good because of that. It's always worth hearing your music the way it was meant to be heard, that's why it's a good investment to buy nice earphones/headphones.
- Erroneus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I got the shure e2 and as they say, they are great for beginners and have a fair price. It takes some time to getting used to and you look like a moron when you have to "plug'em in", because you have to pull up and out in your ear to get them proberly in place :)
- Elxx, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7I think the first step would be to get a half-decent MP3 player.
- tombomb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Soooo.... I assume you are calling yourself stupid as well?
- fa_pa, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Why would I use expensive headphones for a lossy audio player with rather low audio quality?
- MrSpontaneous, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have a pair of Shure e2c's. Best invest I've ever made. The sound isolation is nice (especially when you ride a bus and don't appreciate the engine drowning out your music), the sound is crisp, and it doesn't overdo the bass. The included fitting kit is key, as well.
Also, for some reason, one of my earbuds died. I sent them back to Shure and they replaced them free of charge, with great service. I had my new set in less than a week. - evilspoons, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@dvoddo: of course they can make you go deaf. Most of these are more sensitive than regular crappy earbuds, meaning they can produce MORE volume at the same power output level. It's not like they magically somehow vibrate the air differently so it doesn't hurt you.
- Prez, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Perhaps a better title should have been: "The Best Earphones for iPod, portable CD players, XM radios, MP3 players and home stereos."
Or maybe just the best Earphones for portable players. Not everyone has an iPod. - rye425, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I agree with you on that. The whole army of white earbud people is getting pretty annoying. I can honestly say I havent gone a day without seeing 15 people with them. I'm in Boston so its nice for me not to portray the message, MUG ME CAUSE I HAVE AN IPOD!
- skoles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I've had the iPod headphones, I've bought $20 headphones and I now own the Shure e3c ($180).
I bought them based on reviews I've heard, and the fact I have a credit card after 5 years w/out one so I was building my credit history back up (what a great excuse to buy stuff!). So these Shure's were my "monthly" allowance.
When they say they sound as good as the music (or device) you put through them they aren't kidding. These things pick up EVERYTHING in the music. So if it's a crappy encoding, you'll know. If the device has a lot of line noise, you'll hear it even worse. When plugged into my G5 I don't get any hiss, and like the website shows-they block about 90% of the outside noise. My music is ripped at 256kbps in Apple's AAC format and it sounds incredible. Bass, mids & highs are just all great and you really hear things you've never heard before in the music when you listen to a lossless source.
I was hesitant to spend the money on in-ear headphones, but I listen to music at work all the time and these just let you forget your at work. Only thing that sucks is coworkers try to talk to me and since the headphones are so small in your ear they don't know you can't hear them at all. - chaos86, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Aren't all digg stories basically just advertising for someone's site, whether it's a blog with 2 regular readers or CNN.com?
- obscurelyfamous, on 10/12/2007, -13/+16I don't understand why comments are dugg down SOLELY because others disagree with what is said. That's ridiculous! Digg down for trolling or inflammatory comments.
Back on topic: I'm also using the factory Apple earphones. I have quite a few of them. They're versatile enough to just toss around and not worry about breaking a pair of $50-100 quality earphones. Sure I'm an audiophile in some respects, but when it comes to portable music I don't need the best. - chaos86, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Earbuds make sense for people like me who don't want to carry around some headphones that take more room in a bag or pocket than the iPod.
Note: I have headphones and earbuds, and I choose the appropriate device for that particular day before I leave the house in the morning. - dvoddo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5LOL, your an idiot
- mianos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I've got the ER6i phones myself. I had to upgrade my mp3 player (to an iRiver) after hearing the difference between my crappy mp3 player and the SBLive24 USB soundcard plugged into my lappy. These headphones are a little uncomfortable to wear at first but once you get used to them they are fantastic. The foam inserts offer excellent isolation but they take some time to get them fitted and they tended to get a bit dirty. The isolation of the foam inserts is awesome. The rubberized flange push in is not as comfortable but has a great sound, good isolation and is convenient.
I don't consider myself an audiophile and I don' have 1 inch copper power cables going to my CD player but I do think that these headphones render the music I listen to really well.
(as the other poster said, I too used to find the Sony behind the ear phones sounded good and are very comfortable as well). This thread is good but the article linked to is rubbish, just about spam. - intricate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Too bad they cost too much.
- jrblaze, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I use the Sony MDREX71Sl/WK Earbuds and I love them. They block out sound very well and have some great bass response (at least for my ears).
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2123213&cp=2032057.2032187.2202780&allCount=98&fbn=Brand%2FSony&f=Brand%2F1000130%2F&fbc=1&parentPage=family - addisonj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2oops! i had wrong model number, i also like jrblaze have the 71's, got the numbers mixed up, but anyways, buy them off amazon for like 27 bucks or something, much cheaper than radioshacks 50 or whatever
- cavanaughphoto, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5I just can't bring myself to pay as much or more for my earbuds than I did my iPod.
- tmchow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I used to think that buying $100+ earphones for a $200 ipod was ridiculous, but when I went to CES last year, I got a chance to try out the Shure e3c's. Needless to say I was blown away. Not only was every song much more detailed, but the noise cancellation effect that they had as a side effect was mind boggling. No need to buy $300 Bose noise-cancellation headphones!
Since then, I bought a set of Ultimate Ears superfi5's and think they are the best value for the money. At $110 price I paid, they have dual drivers and blown the Shure e3c's out of the water. For this price point, the Ultimate Ears are the best that money can buy IMO. Try em out, you won't be disappointed. (Best thing is that even though the cord is thinner/flimsier than the Shure's, it is user replaceable -- the cord actually unplugs from the earbuds!) - ejreynolds, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2ugh BOSE.
the epitome of name brand marketing.
they had something way back when when they came out with the 602 series and such way back when but now its just overpriced *****. - Refrag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Lossless
Apple has their own lossless audio codec and the Ipod supports it. - dvoddo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3bose makes the most over priced headphones. you would have to pay me to use QC2.
- addisonj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2all of these are $100 plus, if you want some nice headphones in 20-50 dollar range might i recoment sony MDR-51's (white to match the ipod of course). Great sound quality for the price, nice isolation, fit well in ear, only problem i have is the stupid cord with one being shorter than the other. Some like it, i personally hate it
- jk_baller23, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4List is a bit biased since it is categorized:
Home > SHURE > Earphone Systems > THE BEST EARPHONES - ipodman715, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5ER-6i's!!
(Oh, I thought this site had reviews) - shank2001, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I disagree COMPLETELY. Most of these headphones on this site have impedance ratings of under 60 ohms, this is NOT good with the iPod as it will attenuate the bass and cause distortion (do a search around the internet for ohms and iPod to see what I mean). The iPod performs best with headphones that are a min. of 60 ohms, the higher the better. when you are choosing a headphone that has a high ohms rating, make sure the sensitivity is high. The best headphones I have ever heard with the iPod are the Koss Porta Pros. Nice high ohm rating, great sensitivity, and amazing sound.
- CnorthMSU, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I had a pair of the ER-6i that went bad above the plug in ~6 months of use. Fortunately I just had to sent them off for warranty service and got a new pair. I've learn you do need to be gentle with them though, especially when unplugging from the jack. I cringe every time I my iPod falls out of it's holder not because I worry about the iPod (it's old and the battery is getting crappy), but for my precious earphones. How's that for loving your music/hearing.
What I really love about the noise isolation you get from these earphones is explaining people who think I'm damaging my hearing that when you're willing to invest in a decent set of earphones you can listen at very low volumes and still enjoy your music. - wheels999, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I bought the Shure E3c about a year ago, and really love the sound quality. My only gripe is that the rubber buds tend to come off rather easily and you have to be ultra-carefull not to loose them.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1the warranty is pretty good, 1 or 2 years
- wilf_brim, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2First, the title of the post is misleading. It should be the best earphones for you portable music player. Someof us wouldn't be caught dead with an iPod, yet I have 3 different portable music players (by 3 different makers, for 3 different things).
The one thing that all portable media players have in common is that the earbuds that come with them suck ass. Apple, Creative, iRiver, whatever. Doesn't matter. The earphones are all totally craptacular. If you really like the ones that came with your PMP, I suggest you try something a bit better. You will be shocked. Of course if play music encoded at a really low bitrate, maybe you are better off.
I have tried some of the earbuds listed in the article and those in the comments. We can ignore the shure E4c and Etymotic ER2s and the like Those are studio grade earphones, and you shouldn't even consider them for use in your portable media player, taking them out of a studio is just nuts.
For most people (who don't want to spend a ton of money) the Sony Fontipia earbuds (run about 25 bucks) sound much better than the generic earbuds, fit better, provide better sound insulation (so you can play them at a lower volume and still hear). The only down side is that the little ear pieces tend to come off.
I have a pair of ER6i. They are kind of uncomfortable at first, and you do have to jam them in pretty far. They do sound very good, though. However, I am concerned about their durability; the wires seem awfully flimsy. I'll see how well they hold up. I also wouldn't do much in them; you probably don't want to take them to the gym, or work out in the yard with them, either.
I got a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort headphones with a bunch of credit card points. They feel good, sound good, and the active noise cancelling does work reasonably well. However, they are no way worth what they ask for them. -
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