iPod earphone crisis

[KillyKillall]

I needed better ones anyway, but this just sucks since I use my iPod about 12 hours per day between my laptop, ears, and car stereo.

Which ones do you guys use for those of you that have went out and bought better earphones? I've seen a lot about the Shure E2c's and the E3c's.

Any recommendations? and why? I'm trying not to spend TOO much on them as money is tight right now.

 

[marketsons1985]

Do you want earphones or earbuds? If you want earbuds any Shures are going to be very very nice buds.

If you go to iLounge they have a very good section of discussion on iPod earphones of all type, including ratings (IIRC) on different earbuds, phones, etc.

Also, I'm not sure how long ago you got your earbuds, but Apple's generally really good about replacing them, if you got them less than a year ago. Mine bit the dust from xmas time (don't ask me how, i'm not quite sure) and I just walked into an Apple Store and they exchanged them on the spot.

Good Luck!

 

[acemcmac]

head-fi.org

I really reccomend it. Just arranged for the importing of some ATH-A500's on their advice :beer:

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
I needed better ones anyway, but this just sucks since I use my iPod about 12 hours per day between my laptop, ears, and car stereo.

Which ones do you guys use for those of you that have went out and bought better earphones? I've seen a lot about the Shure E2c's and the E3c's.

Any recommendations? and why? I'm trying not to spend TOO much on them as money is tight right now.

Need more criteria...

How much are you willing to spend?
Do you prefer earbuds over over-head?
Do you want sealed ones (Shure products are sealed)?

Without knowing any of these, I'd still recommend Shure or the new Etymotic 6's.

 

[KillyKillall]

Willing to spend up to $200.00 if they are decent enough to last and have great sound.

I prefer earbuds for these as I have a great pair of headphones, but I don't use them to travel.

I think I prefer the sealed.

 

[KillyKillall]

Ok..so I'm looking at the difference between E2c's and E3c's and here is what I found:

E2c - Dynamic Microdriver
E3c - Wideband Microdriver

What does this mean?

 

[torpid]

I don't recall what the going rate is for E4's. I would think you could get them for $200, though.

 

[KillyKillall]

Originally posted by: torpid
I don't recall what the going rate is for E4's. I would think you could get them for $200, though.

$300 from most places I see.

Basically -
E2's - $100
E3's - $200
E4's - $300
E5's - $550

 

[dabuddha]

You use headphones with your car stereo?

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall

Originally posted by: torpid
I don't recall what the going rate is for E4's. I would think you could get them for $200, though.

$300 from most places I see.

Basically -
E2's - $100
E3's - $200
E4's - $300
E5's - $550

Whoops. I don't recall the 3's being twice as good as the 2's, but the 4's are really great.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
You use headphones with your car stereo?

I thought that at first too, but he's referring to using the ipod. I don't know how it relates to earphones though.

 

[Fiveohhh]

I had some e3s I picked up from Best buy but they were $99 there(can be found online for about $70). I returned them after a week, they were weak sounding at lower volume levels. I was going to pick up some e3's but ended up buying some Alessandro MS1's and like them much better. There is absolutely no sound isolation though so unless its real quiet I wouldn't recommend them. If you want IEM's like the Shures I wouldn't use them while driving they isoplate almost all outside noise, especially if you listen to music somewhat loud.

 

[KillyKillall]

Know..I use my iPod in the following manners:

At home while I play games - with earphones
In my car - with iTrip
While my g/f is shopping at the mall - with earphones and it cranked as loud as possible so I don't have to give opinions on clothes
At work - plugged into my laptop - with my headphones plugged in

I use my good headphones primarily for recording music and playing games on computer. I don't like to hook them up to my iPod for some reason. So I just want earphones for that.

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: KillyKillall

Originally posted by: torpid
I don't recall what the going rate is for E4's. I would think you could get them for $200, though.

$300 from most places I see.

Basically -
E2's - $100
E3's - $200
E4's - $300
E5's - $550

Whoops. I don't recall the 3's being twice as good as the 2's, but the 4's are really great.

you can get e4's for 209 from earphonesolutions.com using the coupon found on the heafi forums

 

[HN]

the sennheiser cx300 has been getting pretty rave reviews especially in bang-for-the-buck value:
long thread from head-fi here:
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=162721

(they show up on amazon.com every once in awhile for 39.99)

 

[KillyKillall]

Ok.. I emailed earphonesolutions a price match to try and beat. I googled (froogled) them and found E4C's for $179.95 w/ $9.95 shipping. Hopefully, earphonesolutions will meet/beat the price as advertised on their site.

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
Ok.. I emailed earphonesolutions a price match to try and beat. I googled (froogled) them and found E4C's for $179.95 w/ $9.95 shipping. Hopefully, earphonesolutions will meet/beat the price as advertised on their site.

Make sure the other companys an authorized dealer.

 

[everman]

No love for Etymotic? I use ER6i in ear monitors and think they're great.

 

[KillyKillall]

Originally posted by: Fiveohhh

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
Ok.. I emailed earphonesolutions a price match to try and beat. I googled (froogled) them and found E4C's for $179.95 w/ $9.95 shipping. Hopefully, earphonesolutions will meet/beat the price as advertised on their site.

Make sure the other companys an authorized dealer.

Is there an easy way to check that?

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall

Originally posted by: Fiveohhh

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
Ok.. I emailed earphonesolutions a price match to try and beat. I googled (froogled) them and found E4C's for $179.95 w/ $9.95 shipping. Hopefully, earphonesolutions will meet/beat the price as advertised on their site.

Make sure the other companys an authorized dealer.

Is there an easy way to check that?

From my experience, if they don't say they are, they probably aren't.

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
In my car - with iTrip

sound quality enough a priority to you that you're willing to spend $200 for earphones, but you're content to use an iTrip in your car?

 

[Baked]

I use Sony EX71 and KOSS KSC75 for my video iPod. Don't see the point of buying expensive headphones on the go. I have an above average headphone system at home. NAD C524 > Headamp Gilmore V2 > Sennheiser HD650 (headphile.com recabled).

 

[Mo0o]

e2c if you want good quality and a reasonable price

 

[UncleWai]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
e2c if you want good quality and a reasonable price

Second that, blocks out all the ambient noise is essential. If you listen in a quiet environment, everything will just sound better. Anything more expensive seems like an overkill.

 

[Toonces]

Originally posted by: everman
No love for Etymotic? I use ER6i in ear monitors and think they're great.

:thumbsup: My recommendation if your music listening tastes aren't bass heavy.

The ER6i's have a nicer/fuller mids and highs - a little bright - but overall better quality sound than the E2Cs.

Oh, and I have them paired with my Creative Zen Vision:M, they sound great with the adj. EQ