569 replies to this topic

[Trent Bennett]

Might have to try those next then. They're not a whole lot more money than the ones I just got.

Ya the price is pretty good on them and they're definitely the best earbuds I've owned. Everything comes in crystal clear.

[ChuckM]

Know what small, but essential thing really bugs me about a lot of earphones/earbuds? When they fail to label left and right, and the two are identically shaped.

How much more thought would it have taken for them to add little "L" and "R" labels? It saves so much hassle when they do.

[Trent Bennett]

Know what small, but essential thing really bugs me about a lot of earphones/earbuds? When they fail to label left and right, and the two are identically shaped.

How much more thought would it have taken for them to add little "L" and "R" labels? It saves so much hassle when they do.

I hate that too. The ones I posted don't label them but the short one is the left one. Im wrong they do label.

[Lurker]

Lately for casual listening I've been using the Skullcandy Titan earphones. I have a nice pair of Shure's, but they are all about maintenance and I spend more time replacing the poorly designed wax guard then enjoying music with them, it seems. The Skullcandy 'buds got a nice review in a publication I trust and I had a Target gift card, so I went with them. I think they're good.

Neil

[Trent Bennett]

How do the Shure's sound, Neil? I've been wanting a pair but they are a bit too high.

[Lurker]

The Shure's are very nice, I'm just not happy with the maintenance needed on them. I think this design may have been changed, but don't quote me on that.

Neil

[Trent Bennett]

The Shure's are very nice, I'm just not happy with the maintenance needed on them. I think this design may have been changed, but don't quote me on that.

Neil

Ah, that sucks about the maintence.

[BurgaFlippinMan]

there is one thing about the Shures tho (at least the SE210 I have), its the wrap around the ear design. Now, the bitter Indiana cold probably had a part to play in this, but the cable insulation where the wire goes around the ear has started to crack exposing the copper wire. This pair I own is just over a year old now, and luckily they are still under warranty. That aside, I love the sound.

[BurgaFlippinMan]

Lately for casual listening I've been using the Skullcandy Titan earphones. I have a nice pair of Shure's, but they are all about maintenance and I spend more time replacing the poorly designed wax guard then enjoying music with them, it seems. The Skullcandy 'buds got a nice review in a publication I trust and I had a Target gift card, so I went with them. I think they're good.

Neil

I'm having to return my Shures to get that cable fixed and I'm looking for a half decent replacement pair of earbuds. Could you please elaborate more on what you think about em Skullcandys? And do you know anything about other options in the price range? Thanks.


EDIT: Does anyone know anything about the Sennheiser CX300?

[king mark]

Lately for casual listening I've been using the Skullcandy Titan earphones. I have a nice pair of Shure's, but they are all about maintenance and I spend more time replacing the poorly designed wax guard then enjoying music with them, it seems. The Skullcandy 'buds got a nice review in a publication I trust and I had a Target gift card, so I went with them. I think they're good.

Neil

If you had the waxguards I assume you had the Shure E2C model (or equivalent). How do those Skullcandy compare in sound quality?

BTW my Shures broke twice (unexplained short circuit in the cord...no apparent damage and I was really careful with them) .I got free replacements each time though. I guess they last about 1 year with the best care possible

[John Crichton]

The generic Sony earbuds I got with my Walkman actually don't sound half bad.

[king mark]

yeah but once you try those more expensive ones such as Shures then you realize how muffled the Sony's are

[BurgaFlippinMan]

well amazon had Shure I2C for 40 bucks with free shipping so i got those as my stopgap.

[king mark]

I like the E2C (same as these I2C) better than the SE210 which I also tried .I find them more neutral.

[John Crichton]

yeah but once you try those more expensive ones such as Shures then you realize how muffled the Sony's are

Oh yeah, they're still no match for my Sennhisers. But if I take my Walkman to listen at work or something I'm not taking my good headphones, the earbuds are fine.

[BurgaFlippinMan]

I like the E2C (same as these I2C) better than the SE210 which I also tried .I find them more neutral.

what bias did the SE210 have?

[king mark]

I thought they added bass and highs at the expense of the mid range ,making them more tuned for pop music . They have an initial "wow" factor but after a while you notice stuff missing from the music . The E2 is more neutral and less spectacular at first but after while I couldn't return to anything else.

I usually know after a few days .I'll listen to something I know well and think "hmm,here there should be chimes or I should hear the guy breathing into the instrument."

[Lurker]

Lately for casual listening I've been using the Skullcandy Titan earphones. I have a nice pair of Shure's, but they are all about maintenance and I spend more time replacing the poorly designed wax guard then enjoying music with them, it seems. The Skullcandy 'buds got a nice review in a publication I trust and I had a Target gift card, so I went with them. I think they're good.

Neil

I'm having to return my Shures to get that cable fixed and I'm looking for a half decent replacement pair of earbuds. Could you please elaborate more on what you think about em Skullcandys? And do you know anything about other options in the price range? Thanks.

They suit my needs. They sound nice and I can comfortably wear them on long flights.

Neil

[BurgaFlippinMan]

I see. Well, having never really heard of Skullcandy, and with the Shure I2C's going for 3 dollars less on Amazon, I went for the Shures. But thanks for the input anyway.

[Blumenkohl]

Grado's suck for score's but they're great for rock/metal. They're way too metallic and close.

The best cans for orchestral music are the AKG K701....with a decent amp and 200 hours of burn in. They're also $249 + at least a $200 amp. = $400. They don't colorize the sound AT ALL. You hear what the recording engineer wants you to hear. The soundstage is also very wide, something that really helps with orchestral works. There's also the Sennheiser HD650, they too are great, but there's a lot more colorization. These are really relaxed headphones. Both in comfort and the sound they pump out. You could listen to days without tiring of music.

Next price level below the AKG's/HD650 I would put the Sennheiser HD595's. They're also very easy to drive out of a source like a laptop, without an amp, though as always the dynamics will become way more rich and detailed with a small amp/portable amp.

You're not gonna be getting any real quality/sound detail out of the lower mid-range to higher end headphones (read $150+) without some sort of amplifier.

For earbuds, ditch Skullcandy, they are very inaccurate reproducers of sound. Try instead the Yuin PK series or Yuin OK series. They can be purchased from Head-Direct.com (Don't be afraid of the small size, the guy behind it does GREAT customer service, and ships internationally)

For in ear monitors...I don't know, I don't like sticking things inside my ear canal.

And as always, stay away from Bose. Overpriced and overcolored.

[king mark]

Grado's suck for score's but they're great for rock/metal. They're way too metallic and close.

I use them on my PC..I like them. I like close sound I guess

For in ear monitors...I don't know, I don't like sticking things inside my ear canal.

I prefer canal phones..because they drown out outside noise

JVC HA-FXC50 are also good .You don't stick them as far in your ear as Shures but they have a similar microdriver and sound about the same .They are also much more discreet and comfortable to wear. I've actually been using that with my ipod for the past 2 months

[Koray Savas]

Only headphones I use are my Apple earbuds. Hardly listen to my iPod anymore now that I don't have 20 minute bus rides to school anymore. Most of my music listening is on my laptop or in my car, which has no means of playing my iPod.

[king mark]

yes, the crap ipod earbuds would match the sound quality of the integrated speakers on your laptop

[Koray Savas]

Yep, they're great.

[BurgaFlippinMan]

i got my I2Cs today...and they do sound good.

[Henry Buck]

Yep, they're great.

Their treble/mid range is pretty good for default headphones, but their bass is incredible weak. When there's background noise (e.g. a car engine) I can hardly even hear the bass, which tends to be the harmonic foundation of music.

I just bought some $50 Sony earbuds, noise canceling ear canal style. They feel a little weird, but then they're great for blocking out the sounds of my roommate and his girlfriend... being fond of each other.

[John Crichton]

While you're in the room?! When I was in college there was an accepted protocol. The least they could do is kick you out or leave a rubber band on the doorknob. Or do you need to invest in blinders as well?

[Henry Buck]

While you're in the room?! When I was in college there was an accepted protocol. The least they could do is kick you out or leave a rubber band on the doorknob. Or do you need to invest in blinders as well?

Haha, oh man. I haven't been sexiled yet, if that's what you mean. They don't go that far when I'm around.

[Koray Savas]

My friend was sexiled a couple days ago

[indy4]

From your room??

[Drax]

Headphones? Fiddlesticks.

Yamaha RX-Z11.

Jensen speakers.

[Trent Bennett]

If you guys really want a good pair of noise canceling headphones that sound great over all get the Sony MDR-V600's. They are the best headphones I've ever owned and they cancel out noise really well. My parents have had to bang on the wall just to get my attention when I'm listening to music through those. Ya they're big and they may not be ideal for going out in public but they're great for home use.

For earbuds these are the kind that Erik Woods recommended me and I got them and they are by far the best earbuds I've owned.

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/B000095SB6

[Koray Savas]

How long have you owned them? Apparently after a month or two the wires turn to mush.

[Trent Bennett]

The earbuds? I've had them for about I believe four months now. The only thing that's happened to them is the plastic piece for the left ear cord has broken a bit but the wires are okay. The wires haven't turned mushy at all. The Sony MDR-V600's I've had for over a year now and these last a long time.

[Koray Savas]

I have a pair of Sony MDR-NC50's. Not sure what that means, but they're noise canceling. They're really good, but not fit for taking out of the house, and since I do all my listening on my laptop speakers, I never use them.

[Mr. Breathmask]

Ridiculous.

You have a perfectly fine pair of headphones that reportedly produce pretty good sound, yet you choose to listen to your music over a pair of laptop speakers?!

Plug those headphones into your laptop ASAP!

[Koray Savas]

That's kinda like saying, listen to your iPod while driving, instead of using the radio.

[Mr. Breathmask]

Uhm... no.

[Trent Bennett]

Ridiculous.

You have a perfectly fine pair of headphones that reportedly produce pretty good sound, yet you choose to listen to your music over a pair of laptop speakers?!

Plug those headphones into your laptop ASAP!

Ridiculous indeed. I'd plug my MDR-V600's into my pc speakers all the time since so I don't annoy my parents with my music. I'd also plug them into my laptop too.

[John Crichton]

That's kinda like saying, listen to your iPod while driving, instead of using the radio.

Are you afraid of crashing into a tree while sitting at your computer?