another headphone thread

[rebelwarlock]

i read through the sticky at the top, but i'm still having trouble finding what i need in a pair of headphones. i like the description of the quiet comfort 2 headphones from bose, but they're way out of my price range and i don't really want to buy low quality headphones. what i really need in a pair of headphones is noise cancelling. i usually use my ipod mini on the bus going back and forth from college on the weekend. buses in belize are very loud, since the buslines just use old school buses from america that sound like they're falling apart. also, people have louder conversations to be heard over the rattling bus and the bus driver's choice of music (which almost never agrees with my own). that's a lot of noise to cancel out, and the el cheapo headphones that came with the ipod mini just don't do the trick. it interferes with my seether experience. i'd prefer to not spend more than $150usd on headphones if i can help it. anyone have a suggestion?

EDIT: one of the reasons i got an ipod mini was to avoid spending money on batteries. if i could get headphones that didn't use batteries that would be great.

also, these look nice to me: http://koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc^nc^QZ99

[cetoole]

Dont get the Bose QC2, something like Etymotic ER6i, or, if you are willing to buy used, Shure E4/E4c would be great. They go in your ear canal, and physically block sound, just like a pair of earplugs, and they both sound much better than the QC2. They both are passive, so dont require any batteries.

[rebelwarlock]

i took a look at some pictures of the Etymotic ER6i. it looks rather uncomfortable since i would actually be shoving it in my ear, but it's hard to tell from just pictures. how much more intrusive are they compared to the headphones that came with the ipod mini? the shure e4/e4c looks more comfortable, but i've only seen them for $300.

[cetoole]

I have the Ety ER6i, and I am currently borrowing a pair of Shure E4c, that I will most likely buy. The E4/E4c can be had for as little as $190 new, give or take a little, using coupons at the right stores. Try the code "SELECT35" at Earphonesolutions, I think idealsound has them for $180 or so via an email quote, and headroom might be worth a look. I find the ER6i comfortable, but there are definitly people who cant stand them, or any IEMs. Shure E4c is also comfortable for me, but there is more plastic sticking out of your ears. They are definitly more intrusive, they use that to block external sound to a very high degree.

[TTP]

similar thread (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=395869)

I've recently ended up buying the ER4 microPro. It has all the base and full range I was looking for. But it may be too pricey for your tastes. I'd recommend the ER6i. You can get it for under $100. Just be aware that it REALLY blocks alot of ambient noise out. The Shure's and Etymotics are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I used to wear headphones but even the light weight ones pressing on my earlobes for a long time will feel painful. In ear phones are the only ones that I really find to be comfortable.

The other thing to keep in mind is do not turn up the volume too much. You'll definitely hurt your hearing. I used to listen to music on volume 4-5 for a long time and afterwards when I took off the earphones, I could hear a high tone ringing similar to being after a loud rock concert. I've since use a lower volume setting which still gives me a full range of sound and doesn't give me the after effects of the ringing in my ears.

[rebelwarlock]

after reading through the description of how to put them on, i don't think i'll be getting any canal headphones. i can't even put a qtip very far into my ear comfortably. given that decision, what do you think of the link i put in my first post? any other suggestions?

[Emon]

You really need to try canalphones, q-tips are not a good measure of fit. Try buying some from a retail store that will allow 30 day returns without a restocking fee (like, most all of them). You could even return them if you like them and buy them cheaper online.

[rebelwarlock]

i don't have that luxury, since we don't have any good retail stores for that sort of thing in belize. i would have to buy it online and have it shipped here. so if i didn't like it, i'd be stuck with it.

[shellshock]

Take a peek at these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826159209

I got me a pair and they are ****in awsome. I can mow the yard, and not hear the engine at all, just feel its vibrations on the handle. They block pretty much any outside noise around ya. They also have SWEET bass. plus, i can turn my ipod up full blast, and get no disortion or vibrating membranes like on the pos stock ipod buds.They come with 3 differnt sizes of silicone buds, so they fit your ear. VERY nice for only 33bux, imo

They also have black ones if you like that color better

[cetoole]

Take a peek at these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826159209

I got me a pair and they are ****in awsome. I can mow the yard, and not hear the engine at all, just feel its vibrations on the handle. They block pretty much any outside noise around ya. They also have SWEET bass. plus, i can turn my ipod up full blast, and get no disortion or vibrating membranes like on the pos stock ipod buds.They come with 3 differnt sizes of silicone buds, so they fit your ear. VERY nice for only 33bux, imo

They also have black ones if you like that color better
How loud do you listen? I have tried the EX71, and didnt care for them, but they did not offer great noise isolation, even with my etys which are true canalphones, and penitrate quite deep with triflanges, I can hear the mower perfectly fine, even when listening to music. Even when I put noise protecting earmuffs overtop the er6i and have music playing, I still can hear it.

[shellshock]

How loud do you listen? I have tried the EX71, and didnt care for them, but they did not offer great noise isolation, even with my etys which are true canalphones, and penitrate quite deep with triflanges, I can hear the mower perfectly fine, even when listening to music. Even when I put noise protecting earmuffs overtop the er6i and have music playing, I still can hear it.


They seal up your ear, for example, stick in some earplugs, and thats what it sounds like. You here NOTHING, regardless or what the volume is. I usually dont go over half way on my ipod volume when mowing.

I wear them for hours at a time when I mow, and I forget there in my ear. I heart my sony's haha

[Emon]

Unless you have that newfangled Japanese laser lawnmower, even the best earplugs won't make it completely silent. For you to NOT hear the mower AT ALL you must be listening at REALLY LOUD levels. I.e. VERY DAMAGING levels.

[cetoole]

They seal up your ear, for example, stick in some earplugs, and thats what it sounds like. You here NOTHING, regardless or what the volume is. I usually dont go over half way on my ipod volume when mowing.

I wear them for hours at a time when I mow, and I forget there in my ear. I heart my sony's haha
Yeah, I know what they are like, I have tried the EX71 before, and I wasnt impressed with the isolation. The Ety ER6i that I mentioned (just sold actually), blocks much more, it goes ~1cm into your canal, and I can still hear some stuff with them on.

[C38368]

If you can comfortably wear cylinder-shaped earplugs, then you can comfortably wear IEMs (at least with foam tips, which tend to rank as one of the two most popular options anyway).

I started out with Shure E2s and have since moved onto E4s. Big improvement to my ears (especially since I paid less for my E4s than for the E2s ;) ).
E2s, for their part, can be had for around $60 new if you find the right place (ie, not Guitar Center :rolleyes: ).

Very much worthwhile: IEMs in general isolate very well once you find the sleeve that fits you best, sound pretty good for their size and are extremely portable.