Good iPod Earbud Recommendations?

[GoldenBoy]

I'm looking for some good earbuds for my iPod in the ~$99 range, any suggestions?

[hobbes]

I'm looking for some good earbuds for my iPod in the ~$99 range, any suggestions?

I love my Shure e2c (around $70-80; e3c are better but cost $60 more). Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 and Etymotic ER6i should also fit the bill of below $100 – as should the Sennheiser CX 300 (especially if you don’t like in-ear headphones).
More than $100: Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 and Shure e3c, e4c,...
Check out this site: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/

[GoldenBoy]

I love my Shure e2c (around $70-80; e3c are better but cost $60 more). Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 and Etymotic ER6i should also fit the bill of below $100 – as should the Sennheiser CX 300 (especially if you don’t like in-ear headphones).
More than $100: Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 and Shure e3c, e4c,...
Check out this site: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/

I read that the e2c's were lacking in bass and a bit thin sounding, and this worried me. What are your thoughts?

[DaveN]

People say the same thing about the Ec3s. A good fit is the key to success. Even then, the bass is not going to be 'disco-worthy'. Rather, it will be accurate but quiet. The midrange is to die for though.

David

[GoldenBoy]

People say the same thing about the Ec3s. A good fit is the key to success. Even then, the bass is not going to be 'disco-worthy'. Rather, it will be accurate but quiet. The midrange is to die for though.

David

Sounds about right to me. I'm not expecting them to have pounding bass, which I'm not really into anyhow. I was just afraid that they may be shrill or weak sounding, but if the mid range is good and they aren't too high ended, then I'm there.

[hobbes]

People say the same thing about the Ec3s. A good fit is the key to success. Even then, the bass is not going to be 'disco-worthy'. Rather, it will be accurate but quiet. The midrange is to die for though.

David

Correct! Sine they are “in-ear” or “ear canal” phones, you really need to squeeze them in you ear canal. At first, it is a bit uncomfortable (suddenly, something is inside your ear that wasn’t there before). But I got used to it very quickly (a few days). When they fit well they sound very good, IMHO. When they don’t fit, the bass is virtually absent.
As with all “in-ear” headphones, it is about the “fit”. To me, the Shure e2c sound very good (better than the Etymotic ER6i) but, as always, it is all about taste and preference at the end (would love to have the Shure e4c – but too much money for me).

[Dennis Metz]

How do these compare to the E5C?

[hobbes]

Sounds about right to me. I'm not expecting them to have pounding bass, which I'm not really into anyhow. I was just afraid that they may be shrill or weak sounding, but if the mid range is good and they aren't too high ended, then I'm there.

I recommend that you experiment a little bit. Go to a store and try a few. See what is most comfortable for you (what fits best). I know several people who cannot stand “in-ear” headphones. Once you decide that you can stand the feeling of having something in your ears it is all about sound preference. The bass is not “heavy” with the Shure or any of those in-ear phones. The mid-rage, however, is pretty good, I think (considering the price and size of them).

Also, with regard to comfort and design, the Shure’s have a cable that goes around the outside of your ear (between head and ear – cannot describe it better). Other phones, e.g., the ER6i, don’t have this design – they are designed like “normal” ear buds with respect to the cable. Personally, I like the Shure design – some folks may not.

[DaveN]

hobbes - nice avatar! I really miss those guys.

Are you going to school in Fayetteville? I used to run the accounting dept in one of the auxilliary services there.

David

[hobbes]

hobbes - nice avatar! I really miss those guys.

Are you going to school in Fayetteville? I used to run the accounting dept in one of the auxilliary services there.

David

Yup and yup! Means that I miss those guys too - a lot! My favorite is the one with the Monsters under the bed :-) Lived with a guy from London for three years (In Hamburg) and he made me an addict :-)

Means also that I am going to school there (Fayetteville). I am trying to get my PhD (am close to finishing). For such a small city it is quite nice and the school (Business College) is great. But I am from Hamburg – miss the “big city flair.”

[hobbes]

How do these compare to the E5C?

Dunno - out of my price range (faaaaaaar away, in fact :-). I think they go for around $500 (I am a poor student).

[salleno]

try headfi.net

Those guys are insane as far as great headphones go.

[GoldenBoy]

I decided to go for a pair of E2c's. If I don't like the way they sound or feel, I can always give them to my niece and get something else. I don't mind earbuds, I've always preferred an in-ear style headphone for walkmans and things anyhow. Around the ear styles always seem too bulky for carrying and on the ear styles start to hurt.

[SamS]

I'm in a similar situation. I would like something in-ear (for running) that I could get for around $100. Preferably at Best Buy, as I have a gift card there.

Any ideas?

[DaveN]

BB online has the Shure E2c phones for $99. Sounds just about right!

David

[visprashyana]

The E3's sound better and actually fit a lot better because they have a whole series of different connectors. If the budget limits the price, then the E2's will be the choice. The E4's are a significant improvement over the 3's, and the E5's compare well to Grado references or whatever "real" headphone you want to discuss. The 5's are amazing! There is definitely not a lack of bass, whenever that is discussed it is because the earbud has not been properly put in the ear. If you are looking for bass that you feel in your bones, you won't get that from a headphone or earbud.

[GoldenBoy]

FYI, I ordered the E2c's from earphones.com. They have them priced far lower than everyone else. Just go to their site, click the link for Shure earphones and then click where it says email me Shure prices, or something like that. In a couple minutes they send you the listing of Shure earphone prices, coupon codes and the discounts.

[Dalziel53]

I've been using these for two years and think they are great.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/canadastore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=M9394G% 2FB

[Richard Feirstein]

The ipod now ships with earbuds that Apple alleges are improved over its previous version.

Richard.

[GoldenBoy]

The ipod now ships with earbuds that Apple alleges are improved over its previous version.

Richard.

I'm sure they are. :D

[visprashyana]

I don't think it really matters because they don't fit human ear canals. The iPod earbud are like shoving quarters in your ear - they just don't fit.

[GoldenBoy]

I don't think it really matters because they don't fit human ear canals. The iPod earbud are like shoving quarters in your ear - they just don't fit.

:agree: I hate them.

[GoldenBoy]

I got the E2c's a couple of days ago. It took me a little while to figure out how exactly to put them in correctly (even though it was pictured right there on the box. :shh:), but once I did, they sounded great.

Despite the fact that the manual says it comes with two types of earpieces, it actually comes with three and each in three sizes. There's a clear, hard plastic-type one, an orange foam, and a softer black rubber type. I've settled on the large-sized soft black rubber one.

I think these earbuds sound excellent. They are smooth, neutral and the mid-range is sweet. :agree: If these sound so good, how good do the more expensive one sound? :eek:

[seg763]

(would love to have the Shure e4c – but too much money for me).

http://www.abesofmaine.com/viewproduct~id~sue4.htm

you can get em for under $200, I did at the above site when I lost my e2's.

then a few weeks later, I found my e2's

The e4's do sound better, they are kind of fragile for commuting use so I've been using my e2's again for my daily commute, they are almost indestructable for little earbuds.

I do notice with both the e2 and the e4 that the silicone tips can come and get stuck in your ear canal.

I surprised my wife one day when I came home from work, took out my swiss army knife with mini plyers and said hey watch this! and proceeded to pull the silicone tip out of my head. :D

[Claus]

I'm using Westone's UM2 and I replaced the foam tips with custom earmolds later.... love these tiny stuff!