iPod earphone alternatives

[GregN]

Got the IEMs today, love them!!!

[Man with the Golden Arm]

UP for considering these or others of the same species now as I can't go with the bigass headphones all the time.

so tell me, as I always cringe at the fact of wearing things in the old auditory canal thinking that I'm going to end up deef - are these really still comfy now that you've had them for many months??

... and what happened to my photoshop image of Nipper getting his head blown off by a Victrola in post #14??? it just don't read the same.

[jazzbo]

  jazzbo said:

When he last visited us, my father was really impressed with the B&O turntable, receiver and speakers we received as an inheritance from Helen's aunt. When he learned that I am using my iPod a lot here in Houston and back and forth to and at work in Austin, he sent me a pair of B&O "A8" headphones.

I have to tell you. . .they sound great with the iPod! I've only had them a few days but I won't part with them. . .

A year later and I still love my A8s!

[skeith]

Up for more discussion.

Lon's look interesting, but I do not like clips around my ears.

And Man with the Golden Arm has a point - I hesitate to put anytning that inserts into the auditory canal.

Are there any simple bud type headphones that sound good for around $30 bucks or so, I can't see how any ot these would sound as good as Grado SR-60s or am I just behind the times?

[Dave James]

I broke into the piggy bank a few months ago and bought the Shure e530's. I can't imagine there's anything out there that could hold a candle to these.

Up over and out.

[captainwrong]

  Dave James said:

I broke into the piggy bank a few months ago and bought the Shure e530's. I can't imagine there's anything out there that could hold a candle to these.

Up over and out.

Agreed. I tried out dozens of others including Etymotic, Sennheiser, other Shures and even (tried in store anyway) Bose, and the e530 absolutely killed them all. I've used these with my iPod, computer, even used them as in ear monitors for recording. Absolutely fantastic stuff. Couple them with a Bitheads amp and you're in really good shape.

Also, my first pair ended up with bad wring above the ear, Shure sent me a brand new set, I just sent the old ones back. Worth every penny.

skeith, I have a pair of cheapo Sennheisers for the gym and they are really good for the money (around $30.) Can't remember the model but they are bright green.

[jazzbo]

  jazzbo said:

  jazzbo said:

When he last visited us, my father was really impressed with the B&O turntable, receiver and speakers we received as an inheritance from Helen's aunt. When he learned that I am using my iPod a lot here in Houston and back and forth to and at work in Austin, he sent me a pair of B&O "A8" headphones.

I have to tell you. . .they sound great with the iPod! I've only had them a few days but I won't part with them. . .

A year later and I still love my A8s!

Another year has passed. . . . I love my A8s! Yes they clip around the ear, but they don't bother me as others have.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

picked up a pair of these JBL 410s for ipod use for twenty some bucks at Staples a while back. nice fit w/ a cup cushion that seats around the ear and a padded band that won't mess up my hair . great sound IMO.

also picked up a set of Denon 751 earphones (for thankfully much less than I see the retail now!) and really like them. they fit just inside the canal and provide a bit of outside noise reduction w/o the weird hum that the noise-canceling phones produce.

the $hure's do sound great from a small bit of testing I was able to do but the price value relationship seemed a bit of a reach.

[king ubu]

The dangerous thing about those earphones isn't that they're going directly into the auditory canals, but that people seem to listen at a higher volume with those. As far as I know, damage-wise it doesn't matter if you use earphones or headphones, it's only a question of listening too loudly.

[mjzee]

Am thinking of buying an IEM. Any recent thoughts? I'm considering Klipsch S4i because it has an iPod control, but may be shortchanging myself.

Jazzbo, do you still still still, after all these years, love your B&O's? Are they at all noise-isolating?

[mjzee]

Also, has anyone had experience with the B&O Form 2 headphones? Was wondering how they compare to the A8's.

[skeith]

I got some Sennheiser 560 in ear buds (these list at around $30)to go with my Discman and they were an improvement over the stock earbuds. My question is if you spend around $100 on headphones/earbuds can this make a big improvement when listening on a Discman? Or are most of you guys who are spending more cash on these, are you listening to IPods and cheap low fi sources or are you pairing them with good quality home stereo equipment?

[skeith]

Bose has a deal on in ear buds for about $100 and it is money back guarantee. Seems unbeatable ... anyone else offering that?

[Shrdlu]

The Dr Dre earbuds sound fantastic, and better than any loudspeakers I've heard. To take an advertising by-line from that Stella weewee, they are reassuringly expensive.

I'd love to hear their over-the-ear headphones, but they are about $200 on eBay, way more when new.