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Top 5 Best Ways to Listen to Your iPod
blog.scifi.com — Take those earbuds that came with your iPod and throw them in the garbage. Then go out and buy one of these great-sounding earbuds or headphones.
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- paganizonda, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23shure earbuds are great quality, highly recommended..
- Tyr7BE, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Yeah I have a pair of E2Cs. A bit less expensive than those listed, but still fantastic earbuds. Very isolating, rich full sound.
- oxyrubber, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11My roommate has the Shures; I have Etymonics ER6s.
They are both high quality, but very dangerous if you're doing anything but sitting and listening. Jogging, riding a bike, driving (duh), and even waiting in a terminal for a plane are all very dangerous with inner ear sealing-stype earbuds.
And does anyone else see the AllMadden.com banner on the left? What possible use could anything that guy says be to anyone with half a brain? He's good for a chuckle on console games, but his phrases will rot your brain. - bannus, on 10/12/2007, -27/+10These are all expensive or big—it sort of defeats the purpose of the small, included (free) apple earbuds which are decent quality to begin with.
- Gardenhead, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4For a cheap solution (~$30), some recommend ordering the Shure "sleeves" for the e2cs and putting them on the $30 Apple in-ear headphones creating a better seal.
- scyform, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24This is a silly list. Any chump can take 5 pairs of good headphones and turn them into a "list." Look, here's mine:
Westone UM2
Etymotic ER6i
Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro
Shure e3c
Sony EX71
The Sony being the lowest end/cheapest of the bunch. There's no reason to get an active noise canceling set like on this guy's list since most properly inserted IEM headphones do a perfectly good job. - nonpareil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Without an Etymotic on that list, this is tripe. If you want reasonably priced, GREAT headphones/earbuds, get yourself an Ety. ER-6i is great and "reasonably priced" around $75. If that's a bit too much, 99% of non-audiophiles would be delighted with Sony Ex-71s or similar. Finally, if you want over-the-ear (not in-the-hear) headphones as opposed to earbuds, find the Sony MDR-V6's (not V600s) - they also come in model number MDR-V7506 (these have a gold-plated lead). Those are studio headphones the blow most of what's listed in this link away.
- wendelgee2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Those Sony EX71s are surprisingly good. I've owned them and the top-of-the-line Etymotic ER4s and they compare pretty favorably.
- Klisk, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13Working in a studio, I can confirm that earbuds are the quickest way to lose your hearing, regardless if they're Shure's, or any other high-end company.
Granted, if you're walking around in public, you don't want big gigantic headphones either. But there's better over-ear alternatives that are lightweight.
Or, if you're in public, do you really want to be walking around with 100-200 dollar earbuds? As it is the Ipod set you back a few hundred. I'd rather buy a pair of 9.99 earphones and use those in public so people think I'm using something junky instead of an ipod.
Save the good stuff for when you're at home, or in a safe environment. (I.e. not out jogging, or taking the subway or something.)
Just my opinion, though. Most really good headphones are going to require an amp anyhow. - PowerCat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Screw expensive as hell headphones. Get these kickass cheap Koss headphones that fit your ear and block outside noise! All for less than 20$.
http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc%5Eeb%5ESPARKPLUG - david76, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3If you're going to buy high end headphones, please, use them on something other than an iPod. Most MP3s people rip are 128kbps or 192kbps. And the original 16-bit resolution of a CD isn't really that great. There's really no point in spending $330 on earbuds to listen to compressed CD quality music.
- mallow005, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10How is it that earbuds are the best way to lose your hearing? You mean cheap ones like Sony's? Etymotics are designed for safe listening, which is why they are extremely isolating, allowing you to listen to very low levels and still being able to hear it perfectly fine in a very loud and noisy environment. I have used them in a studio and they work better than hearos earplugs.
- evilspoons, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5david76: the iPod supports Apple Lossless, and with the capacity of the new 30 and 80 GB drives, there's more than enough room for a large collection of CD-quality audio. That and the Shuffle and Nano (dunno about the iPod video) have one of the best headphone amplifiers around in a portable device...
- BassCadet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Go buy some Koss KSC-75's (clip-on style headphones) for $20. They will absolutely destroy the midrange or bass of any earbud you could possibly buy.
Or even better, pick up some Sennheiser PX100's and get some small portable headphones that have sound that will rival any headphone for under $100.
Say NO to earbuds! Save your hearing and enjoy bass and midrange in your music once again! - BassCadet, on 10/12/2007, -11/+7"How is it that earbuds are the best way to lose your hearing? You mean cheap ones like Sony's?"
They're an inferior design. They seal off your ears so that there is virtually no soundstage. Instruments all sound like they're being played directly into your eardrum instead of in an airy room. The treble is highly accurate but *harsh*. Earbuds are fatiguing and can easily cause hearing loss due to their proximity to the eardrum.
Earbuds are for people who are willing to sacrifice sound quality for fashion. The people who pour out hundreds for Etymotics and Shures are the same suckers who spend $2000 to buy ***** Bose home stereos. There is a sucker born every minute! - convergent, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1I know some of those headphones and have used them, and they are excellent quality. But I'd rather not waste around $100 to buy one, I'd rather just stick to the earbuds that come with the iPod.
- cam0man, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2this article is ridiculous. My iPod is barely powerful enough to power my sennheiser buds, they don't even highlight any high quality pre-amps, which are required for most noise canceling studio headphones. Without a pre-amp, your stock buds will probably sound better than an under powered set of bulky high wattage headphones.
- ciotog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@Klisk & BassCadet,
I'd like to read more about what you've got to say on the earbuds (I've been using e2cs for over a year now and I'm generally really happy with them). Any links you can recommend (i.e. I'll google the topic but if you have some sites to recommend that you trust that would be better .. and appreciated)
- Hellman109, on 10/12/2007, -12/+35The in ear phones are good, but seriously if you have full headphones out in public you look like an idiot.
I always tend to think they're still listening to walkmans or something- sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -4/+106I used to wear those but then one summer I was eating two orange popsicles and a plane landed on me.
- drakethegreat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Take your earbuds and throw them in the trash go out and buy one of these and then take your credit card and throw it in the trash cause you just maxed it.
- Klisk, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Do you really want people to KNOW you're listening to an Ipod? You'll just get mugged. Better to have them think you're using a walkman. They won't even bother.
- whisk3rs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9If you care what you look like in public, then you're either an idiot or a teenager.
I like the richness of sound and the ability to block outside noise. Even though I often leave them at home due to their bulkiness, I still love my studio monitors. Earbuds are generally crap and Apple earbuds are just very uncomfortable and I don't like the sound.
"Unfortunately, the earbuds are even more likely to cause hearing loss than the muff-type earphones that were used on Walkman and portable CD players," Garstecki said"
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/109442
Enjoy your hearing loss :P while constantly worrying about what you look like in public. - Filozzi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2@sockpuppets:
Funniest. Comment. Evar! - Arkonnan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6> Enjoy your hearing loss :P while constantly worrying about what you look like in public.
This is not the case with noise-cancelling canal phones. Since ambiant noise is effectively being blocked, there is no need to turn the volume of your player up to compensate.
- sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -4/+106I used to wear those but then one summer I was eating two orange popsicles and a plane landed on me.
- hark, on 10/12/2007, -13/+3scull candy headphones are the best.. extreme bass... and cheap.. 30-45$
- gregdigg, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Don't you mean "Skullcandy" with a "k"?
http://www.skullcandy.com/ - friend18, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have skullcandy "smokin buds". They really are great. I only paid 17 bucks for them and they cancel out the noise so I can listen to my ipod on the subway without having to blast the volume. Nice deal. I recomend as well.
- albel65, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2$17? You should have waited. At F.Y.E., they sell those same earbuds for $7 now.
- asuraci, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2They're getting pretty terrible reviews at amazon.. They seem to be falling apart a lot and dying after about a month.
http://www.amazon.com/Skullcandy-SC-SBW3-5-Smokin-Buds-White/dp/B000CMS5B2 - friend18, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well I've had them for over a month. And they are still intact despite being getting caught onto peoples clothing and pulled on the subway. :-) Maybe I should write a review on Amazon to balance it out.
- gregdigg, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Don't you mean "Skullcandy" with a "k"?
- skoles, on 10/12/2007, -15/+12I always assumed the only way to listen to my iPod was through my ears. I've tried it in other places but it's been both futile and left me with smelly headphones.
- Misogyny, on 10/12/2007, -11/+3You should really try sharing an earbud with a girl on the bus, and see if she'll stuff it up her ass too...
- isewise, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I have those AKG K240's, i paid only $99 at Guitar Center though. The cord is really long, kinda annoying.
- numb401, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2AKG makes great stuff, I'm listening to my 271s right now :)
- audioscience, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I have AKGs at work and wouldn't think of using them anywhere else because they are so bulky (and the long cord thing).
Well, I would maybe use them at home but if I'm at home I'm playing music on my home system with surround... - tempusrob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Seriously, I don't know where he's getting that $167 from. MSRP maybe? Even when I bought a pair 4 years ago they were only $110ish.
Either way, worth every penny. They're great in the studio, and offer a nice competitive edge whilst playing Counterstrike. ;) - snuffhawk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i like my sennheiser hd 485s. they are huge and wouldnt be good to wear out, but they are great for home use and sound AMAZING for only 90 bucks.
- skyshock21, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7Seriously. Apple's earbuds are utter crap. The Sennheiser earbuds that came w/ my old Rio Karma were a million times better. They also seemed to sound better w/ the Rio Karma too for some reason. There's something that's just really screwy about the default "flat" EQ curve on the iPod - and the other EQ settings all sound like ass. Apple should have included a parametric EQ or multi-band graphic EQ.
However, I wouldn't consider this a "top 5" list since it excludes those earbuds made by Etymotic and others. http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx- Providence, on 10/12/2007, -5/+19On the contrary, Apple's earbuds are some of the best stock earphones on the market. Notice I said STOCK, not after-market. They really do produce great sound for their size.
- skoles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2If you have all your music set to their own EQ's in iTunes you should leave the EQ settings on the iPod to "off" so it will use the settings for each song. Otherwise it overrides it for the iPods setting.
- GeneralFailure0, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Except they die on you way too quick. Mine lasted about 3 months before the right earbud started to flicker in and out, and that was just with regular use. I got a 10 dollar pair of earbuds at walmart and they've lasted me probably around 8 months and they're still fine.
- Drewboy64, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I had a pair of eytmotic ER-6i. They were amazing in ear headphones. It's just mine broke about a month ago. But they are durable, considering I put my pair through the wash in the spring of last year. I highly recommend them anyway.
- joeTaco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I also use sennheisers on my Karma, though they say iRiver on them. (don't ask) They sound 100x better than any other stock earbuds I've heard, but there's still noticable hiss. Papa needs a new pair of buds.
Anyhow, the point of this post was supposed to be, 5-band parametric EQ is the only thing that keeps me hanging on to my good ol Karma, now that Ipods have gapless playback. My power button doesnt even work anymore, but I don't care. Real eq is sexy. - mastercheif, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3As a owner of a 80GB iPod full with apple loseless music, usally listened to with either a pair of Shen 650's + Chumoy or Shure E5C's, the NEW apple earbuds do not bother me one bit. Apple seems to have gotten their ***** togather and built a cheap, good fitting earphone.
- mudlite, on 10/12/2007, -8/+0werd
- MrFisty, on 10/12/2007, -18/+7High end headphones to listen to compressed MP3s?
Am I the only one who sees a disconnect?- sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I have a headroom max with sennheiser 580's hooked up to my xfi. And yes it makes a huge difference.
- sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I have a headroom max with sennheiser 580's hooked up to my xfi. And yes it makes a huge difference.
- diehard2k5, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4What about solutions for us without the money to pay for 300 dollar headphones?
Why would you pay more for headphones than the iPod?- noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8COuple of good headsets for under $100 there.
- thunderer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Because you can use headphones for a hell of a lot longer than it takes for an iPod to break down, or just become so obsolete you don't like it anymore. The only way I'm giving up my Shure E3c's is if Shure stops making the amazing triple flange sleeves, or they get run over by a bus.
- vvvv, on 10/12/2007, -8/+4Ask mom for a bigger allowance.
- PowerCat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Try these less than 20$ ones. http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc%5Eeb%5ESPARKPLUG
- ripismoney, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4That's why I love my Sennheiser PX100's! Best headphones I have ever owned. They sound very rich, fill nicely over the ears, and, best of all, they're affordable at just $40. Plus, they seem to be very durable. I can recall accidents in which the headphone cord has been jerked or had some potentially damaging accidents, but over a year later, they still work beautifully!
- MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The Super.hi 3's or something like that are excellent under $100
I had a pair of Etymotic Er-6's which I LOVED, but I've heard the Super.hi 3's are better.
- dagamer34, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2Anyone know a way to compare different earphones? I know that the one's Apple gives you are crap (the base is WAY off on some of my songs) but without comparing what other stuff sounds like, I don't want to rush out and spend $50 on something that only has a mediocre improvement.
Any ideas? I'm ok with cheating companies and returning stuff while saying it "doesn't work".- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3head-fi.org is the best site there is.
- wvannus, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2The new Apple earbuds that came with my 5.5gen 80 gig are much better than the previous apple headphones. My ears bleed much less. I use them when i might get wet wearing headphones. Shure E4c's for me all the other times.
- ray4389, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1I have some shure E2Cs and they are alright. I don't recommend paying for them. I actually enjoy my philips noise cancelling ones just as much--and my sony's were good.
- mistercharlie, on 10/12/2007, -17/+1Wow - nothing from Bose in there? Their QuietComfort models are the bomb.
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Bose is mid rate quality. They dont compare to Sennheiser and Grado.
. Bose is well known because they market their product very well. Its a great sham that Americans buy Bose products for the absurd prices they charge. Ignoprance is Bliss. - j10s, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9im really not a fanboy for anything but bose are a waste of money
- quanta88, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6"No highs, no lows - it must be Bose"
As my sound engineer friends call them... - converge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"Better research through marketing."
- noouch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2My favorite for bose-bashing is still the acronym that suits them so well: Buy Our ***** Equipment.
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Bose is mid rate quality. They dont compare to Sennheiser and Grado.
- xenonflash, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Wow. This is actually a good list. I own Shure E2c's and Grado SR225's and they are both wonderful. I do not reccomend Grado's for iPod listening though, because the cord is incredible long. I think it's like 10-15 feet on the 225's.
My Shures are incredible for iPod listening. If you haven't got canalphones yet, I HIGHLY reccomend doing so. Just don't get any really cheap ones.
I don't like their inclusion of Sony earphones though. I had a pair of noise-cancelling Fontopia canalphones once that I paid about $40 for, and they broke after 3-4 days.
Shure FTW!- gharding, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3You can replace the cord on Grados. I have a pair of SR125s and a decent little headphone amp. Wonderful setup if you're stationary.
- flamingmb, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3What ever happened to Koss. I have a pair of UR-20's that I got 6 years ago for $20, still work great, lifetime warrenty.
- mistercharlie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Too funny - I just reached into my desk drawer and pulled out my Koss UR-20's. They do work excellently, but they're a bit bulky for anywhere but the home office.
- splat215, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Just finally killed my Koss UR20s from around 2000 - I concur, great set of headphones for the price. Still made too I believe.
I personally recommend the Grado SR60's - amazing sound, fairly cheap (can be had for $60) - sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0the Grado 60's are a little too clunky for wearing on-the-go
- MSTK, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Those prices are pretty steep.
- flamingmb, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4yeah I cant see myself spending $300+ on headphones.
- skoles, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3If you enjoy listening to your music as opposed to it just being noise to drown out the world then these headphones are actually moderately priced.
I have a set of the Shure e3c's and I've never heard my music sound so good. I was literally hearing "new" things in the tracks because I had always bought cheap headphones (never more than $20). Once I started ripping my music at CD quality I wanted to invest in something nice.
- justconnor, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2and i came in here betting on 'with my ears...'
- grachi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Yea, the ones that come in the box are crap I'll agree. I think after a few months mine crapped out. I use noise-cancelling over-the-ear ones. Yes, I look like a dork but I think it sounds a hell of a lot better, especially when you don't have any excessive noise interfering with your listening. They wern't that expensive, either, around 40 bucks I believe.
- unununium272, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Get or make a good cmoy amp and go with the grados or their alessandro brethren... best cheap cans ever made next to the koss ksc75s. That or the UE10's if you have massive wads of cash.
- kutza, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Definitely second on the ksc75s. Hate to sound like an ad, but they're by far the best cheap set I've ever had (they're only $20). They're by far the best bang for your buck.
Headphones, however, are a personal choice, and not everyone likes the same sounds, but the 75s are great for all around, then I have some sony over-the-heads, and Shure in-ears.
If you wanna find a better list, opinions and whatnot (and much cheaper for better quality than those mentioned :p), go to headwize's (audiophile/headphone site) forum and browse around.
- kutza, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Definitely second on the ksc75s. Hate to sound like an ad, but they're by far the best cheap set I've ever had (they're only $20). They're by far the best bang for your buck.
- danielman94, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1This list is nice, but I have the Apple in-ear earbuds(not the ones that comes with the iPod). They work really well, and are only 40 dollars. The pack-ins are terrible, though. They hurt my ears....
- xenonflash, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3I've heard awful things about Apple's in-ears. Look at the reviews of them on their online store. Everyone seems to hate them but you....
- danielman94, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I dunno, I haven't listened to these other ones, but I am not going to pay over 100 bucks for some earbuds, if my iPod costs 250, and I am not really an audiophile..
- Misogyny, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Everything above 15KHz is gone for me. I'll take cheap and loud thanks...
- D4r7h3v1l, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I bought the Sennheiser PX100 on Amazon for $40. Excellent sound for the price. I'd definitely recommend those.
- j10s, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3i got the px200 (pretty much same thing) and they are an awesome compromise between the earbud and headphone.
- zippo512, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah. The px100 and 200 are very cool, especially if you don't like shoving crap in your ears. The px line is extremely well designed and constructed, plus they're known for their awesome bass. Another similar pair is the AKG K26P's, which don't look as shnazzy, but are on par with the px100 in terms of price and sound.
- yfph, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Plus, you have to love the compact case that comes with the PX-100s. It makes toking them around a snap..
- iStormy, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Deleted.
- AmishJedi, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7How about something less then $50???
- tempusrob, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7May as well stick with the stock iPod buds then...
- unununium272, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Koss ksc75's or Senn Px100's are amazing for little cash
- bdbr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you want really good sound from earbuds, you have to spend some money. If you want really good sound for under $50, the Sennheiser PX-100s are the real deal.
- xptweakerntn, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1because some people are rich.
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5http://www.head-fi.org/ is bar none the best place to get information about the head phones to get. people there are hard core audiophiles. i have bought many a headphones in search of what i liked best and i think the Sennheiser PX200's in white are the best for iPod. They are very loud, good midtones and bass, well constructed and cheap($39).
For high end listening at home get Grado 125's, its the best possible way to listen to music. Pink Floyd never sounded so good
oh yeah, and sorry about your wallet - jav1231, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11You spend $329 on a set of earbuds, Jules, I'll shoot your ass on general principle.
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3http://www.ultimateears.com/custom/UE-10-Pro.htm
quality cost money. it isnt for everyone. not everyone needs a lexus, but those who can afford them , and choose to drive them, feel the difference. anyways, these phones will run you a cool grand.
i hope that awsome companies that care about the industry they work in never give up on quality just so they can cater to the Wal Mart generation who only want th lowest prices. - fantal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1omg, I wasn't even able to tell which side goes in the ear.
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3http://www.ultimateears.com/custom/UE-10-Pro.htm
- cocoamix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've tried earbuds by Sony and Etymotics and Bose Quiet Comfort 2's, and I wasn't impressed.
I got a pair of FS1 earbuds by Future Sonics/ExremeMac, and they sound amazing, better than any of those.
The FS1's had better bass response than the Sonys and Etymotics, were more comfortable than the Etymotics (which you have to jam WAY inside your ear canal, and were more portable than the Bose earmuffs.
Just my humble opinion. Your mileage may vary.
http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/earphones_recorders/fs1.php - DriverDan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How can they claim that $60 headphones are one of the best ways to listen to anything? Best implies just that, the best. The best would be audiophile level open air headphones with an amp. Combined you're looking at quite a bit more than the iPod costs. Perhaps they should have titled the article "Top 5 Best Ways to Listen to Your iPod on a small budget."
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0agreed. you really cant say it's the best you could get on an ipod without having an amp.
- foolfromhell, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Im 14, and cant tell the difference between 48kbps audio and Lossless.
What can I do do make my hearing better?- D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Do nothing, If you can't tell the difference in the long run you'll be saving money. That and I'm not sure there is anything you CAN do...
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5really? thats pretty rough kid. lay off the volume.
- Maniaca, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Get a hearing exam. I'm serious -- there may be help available.
- DjDimitrious, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2well, you should stop listening to your ipod at 90dB six hours a day...
- annoia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Why exactly is this article ipod-centric? I have an IOPS mp3-player, before that I had an iRiver - for both of them I had to purchase new ear buds to get decent sound and I'm sure people do for most other players too. So why isn't this for me? Are these head phones somehow fine tuned to the ipod? Do they only work with the ipod? And don't tell me the ipod has better sound quality, so it needs better head phones, since I simply don't believe that.
Or is it just that the ipod is so wide spread that it has better recognition among the cattle, than mp3 player does?- danielman94, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I think they said iPod because it has most of the market share, and most of the people on digg are Apple people, so they used iPod. It isn't because they are fine tuned to the iPod.
- D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Why restrict it to mp3 players, some of us still have cd-players and walkmen
- danielman94, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I think they said iPod because it has most of the market share, and most of the people on digg are Apple people, so they used iPod. It isn't because they are fine tuned to the iPod.
- D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1When it comes right down to it folks, at the end of the day you're just shoving something into your ear... Would I pay 40$ for new headphones, no..If I need to buy new ones maybe, but if you have ones that work, why bother?
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2tis the indifferent attitude of your average consumer. but for people who actually care about their musical experience, and see it as a retreat from their surroundings, quality is an issue and the few hundred to pay for that is not a big deal at all. everyone must have their guilty pleasure.
- sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Still driving to work in a yugo, huh?
- tempusrob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Spoken like someone who's never used a quality pair of headphones. It's like saying "I have a perfectly fine Ford Escort that gets me around. Why would I bother with a Porsche?"
They can make all the difference in the world, and you're almost guaranteed to hear things you had never heard before, even in songs you've listened to a thousand times.
- vvvv, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Recently, I was told that if you hold an iPod against you ear, you can hear the music playing. I didn't believe it until I tried it myself, and it turns out you really can hear music.
This only works with mp3s though, not with lossless file formats. - icdeadpeople, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I dont think i will ever buy expensive headphones because i ruin them all so i've just started to buy the 1 dollar ones, lol... sound quality is A, O, K! lol :)
- zeiben, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2"Take those earbuds that came with your iPod and throw them in the garbage"
so much better with ellipsis:
"Take ... your iPod and throw ....in the garbage" - untested, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I've tried out a bunch of different headphones and have found the quality of my Shure E4C to just blow anything else out of the water (although their price also blows most everything out of the water...)
My original problem with the apple 'phones was that they made my ears feel like they were bruising. I got some Koss earbuds and they were really good until I lost them... Then I tried two pairs of Sony headphones, 1 noise-cancelling and they both stopped working within 2 months. Sony just makes crap products now as far as I'm concerned.
If you like your music and listen to it on-the-go just bite the bullet and get some Shures. Not only are they great quality but they've also outlasted any of my other pairs, I've had them for over a year now and they sound as good as when I got them. I've easily saved as much from them not breaking as I would've spent just replacing some cheap $20 ones. I got mine at www.americantechpushers.com , they let you to put in a price and I was able to get mine for $150 bones. Check them out, seemed too good to be true but it actually worked =D - junojoy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1I picked up the BOSE in- Ear , they are only $100 bud damn great . Awesome sound quality but also great comfort. Doesn't hurt your ear. I like them better.
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Bose is the Best!! The steak at TGI Fridays is the Best!!
only suckers pay for Bose - meepus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I hate to see all the people downtalking Bose get dugg down. They really do over-price their products.
If you really can't stand the idea that Bose is mostly marketing, take a look at their headphones' Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bose_Headphone_Family
If you examine it closely, you'll see that the information directly mirrors everything you might read on Bose's official website. That's because the article was clearly written by Bose's marketing reps. Look at the criticisms section: nowhere is it mentioned that overpricing is a criticism, but from reviews, this is what I hear the most! Take a look:
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/electronics/headphones/index.html
In that article, for noise cancelling, it says the Sennheiser headphones are less expensive and just as good as the Bose.
http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_125575_2750crx.aspx
This article has multiple reviews of Bose headphones that cite low value ratings from consumers.
http://www.cnet.com.au/hometheatre/accessories/0,239028666,240002300,00.htm
In CNET australia's review of Bose's headphones 'The Bad' is topped off with the word 'Expensive.'
This is just from the first page of a cursory Google search. Bose makes decent headphones, spends a decent amount on marketing, and then charges a buttload of money. Uneducated consumers pay. Don't let yourself be one of them.
I own a pair of Grado SR60's, which were mentioned in the article, and I use those with my iRiver. The sound is amazing, and my only complaint is that bass isn't powerful enough. A decent headphone pre-amp would fix that. Mine were $50.
Most of my friends use Sennheiser headphones, and speak highly of their quality at all price ranges. The AKGs in the article are amazing.
I guess that's it.
- sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Bose is the Best!! The steak at TGI Fridays is the Best!!
- OMightyColumbia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2wire headphones are the way to go. that way they dont know you actually have an ipod on you
- ReRush, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Do you guys think it is stupid if I dugg the story solely for the comments? These are helpful...
- Phyrefly, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Marked inaccurate, since there are many better headphones that can be had for less (except perhaps the SR60).
If you want to know which headphone to buy, head over to head-fi.
Oh, and please, IEMs can never match the sound quality of full size headphones... keep dreaming - h00ligan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2jesus christ the content here gets more and more simple. Do we REALLY need this?
This just in! expensive earphones sound better than factory crap!
Next up, why putting better tires on your car in winter weather can make it safer to drive! - saturn639, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Meh, whats wrong with the earbuds that come with the iPod? The 5G iPod has some nice ones included . . . Maybe I'm just not an audiophile.
- sunimoto, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1What I really want to get is an iPod remote control with a screen that shows all contents of the player. I would attach an iPod to the sound system (it could be a proprietary system similar to iPod HiFi) and then just choose songs on the remote. Having an iPod broadcast music to speakers would not yield the best quality and there could be losses due to interference. Having the iPod attached to the speakers and the speaker system sending the playlist to remote would make it a perfect.
Does anyone know such a system exists? I could not find anything like that... - prezmcmahon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This isn't a bad list. I have the Grado SR125's, awesome headphones. I also have the Shure E3C's - which are wonderful at separating me from the world. Perfect for in-flight listening.
Some of the critique here is misguided. Yes there are many "good" headphones out there. These happen to be the favorites of this person, that doesn't make him wrong by any means. He actually has headphones in this list that are very accurate at sound reproduction. For instance, the AKGs are "open" design. They allow for more accurate bass/low end response, while not causing listener fatigue. These are used in many studio situations. The Grads are very similar in the open design. The SR60's are a good budget set, I would recommend a jump to the 80's or 125's. These are some of the best I have ever used for music listening. One thing to note: Using the larger Grados (as well as others) may require a headphone amplifier. That's a whole topic in itself. I have never used the Yamaha paid he lists, so I can't give perspective either way.
For people wanting sound isolation, it can be done various ways. You can get sound isolating headphones, which is often the choice for people who don't like the in-ear design. (They just are not preferred for some people. For others of us, we like the in-ear approach. Who makes the best pair? Well, everyone hears differently. I personally have never used the Sony pair, so I can't give thumbs up or down for me. I will say, however, that I mix for bands every week, and the ONLY brand any of them use is Shure. Most of them use E3/4 series, some of them even have custom ear pieces made.
All that to say, his list isn't bad. Better than a lot of other "top 5" lists I have seen. He is also specifying it to iPod use, which without a headphone amp, excludes many headphone models. - sweetmartian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Comparing the Sound Quality of Apple IEP's to Senn's/Grado's is like comparing the Sunday drive of a Lexus and this http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1234/bigfoot521b2889ag4.jpg
- CheapDigWannbe, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2WTF, who would buy an iPod for it's slick looks and tiny size, and then carry around wires and humongous headphones.
Stupid submission - MackPrime, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2i listen to my mp3 player on the bus or walking on the streets. It'd be flatout dangerous to seal my inner ear, and having high quality sound is wasted unless you're in perfect silence. ***** paying over thirty AUD for any earbuds. I have mid-range Sony headphones for listening at home, they are for movies and games, or music if i'm sitting still.
- Phyrefly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You have no idea what you're talking about do you?
Wearing IEMs is no more dangerous than writing that comment of yours. Plastic tips inside your ear or your head up your ass... same thing
- Phyrefly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You have no idea what you're talking about do you?
- timnz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0If you want independent reviews of headphones try http://www.headphonereview.org . It's more aimed at audiophiles but it has some good value headphones (ie cheap) as well.
- bram, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1headphonereview.org is a spam site. Don't waste your time! Try http://www.headphonereviews.org/ instead.
- iEnigma, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Here's an even better idea:
First, buy a Creative Zen Vision:M, which has better sound quality and more features. Then go out and buy some good headphones.
Commence digg-down in 3, 2, 1... - jazzmans, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I use the shure e2c's, and on the most recent full size ipod I have to say, .... crap.
I used a pair on a cheap Panasonic made CD/mp3 player, and they sounded better IMO. I can't say for sure whether it was the Panasonic or the earlier e2c's, because the earphones broke the day I bought the ipod, and I had to replace them.
At this point, I'm not going to even consider any other earphone/headphones, because the ipod either
a. plays mp3's like crap, or
b. the variable bit rate with lame makes an mp3 that is crappy on ipods.
It'll take a couple more months experimentation before I can say more, and I'm sure this thread won't be around.
Being digg, there probably will be a new/other thread at that point.
FWIW, I have a pair of sennheiser hd 360s, that I listen to music on my main stereo with.
infinity kappa 7's are my main speakers when I'm not using headphones.
jaz -
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