Earbuds replacement?

O

omaha-beenglockin

Joined
Oct 22, 2005
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My new iPod earbuds hurt in one ear--the other one is fine---if I try to make it comfortable it either falls out or is unlistenable.

Does anybody make some that are both comfortable and sound good?

Or better yet---is my iPod Nano strong enough to power over the ear headphones?

Thanks
 
Or better yet---is my iPod Nano strong enough to power over the ear headphones?
Click to expand...
yes. I had the same problem. The headphones run about 10 to 12 bucks. I have a set in the office made by Sony and one at home made by JVC. They are not the large plugged ones that you would plug into an amp. They just plug into the nano directly like the buds without an adapter.
 
I had the same problem. The regular ear buds fit ok, but not great and tended to fall out. Tried some of the "skull candy" style that dttomcat suggested. I just got a pair of cheap ones to try first to see if they worked for my ears. They worked much better for my ears and they usually come with several different size silicone covers to get a better fit in your ear.

One of my kids just uses some light weight Sony head phones. There's lots of different options.

I have a 3rd generation iPod nano and all the head phones/earbuds work fine.

Ric
 
I can't understand why mac doesn't change the design of their ear buds. To me, they're PAINFUL. I know others who feel the same.

Skull Candy for me. Very comfy. Good sound.
 
I have freak ears that don't accept the 'normal' ear bud style. I like the Sony in-ear style and they are very comfortable once you get used to something sitting inside your ear. I think most manufacturers of that style offer different sized silicone inserts so you can choose what's most comfortable.
sonyearbud.jpg


I tried skull candy a while back and loved them but two pairs fell apart on me. That was years ago so they likely have improved.
 
I also got with the Skull Candy in-ear buds even though they all die within a year. At the price I'm willing to live with the short lifespan and they fit well and never fall out even when I'm running.
 
i don't understand how ear buds stay in the ear, cuz they sure don't stay in mine; completely useless...the only ear phones that work for me are the ones that fit like foam ear plugs...
 
Get Sennheiser. I picked up a set at FYE for around $20 and they fit great compared to Philips, Logitech, or Sony.

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They don't have a case or pouch but an Altoids tin works fine.
 
Skull Candy! They have different size rubber pieces and are noise dampering. I love mine.
 
I like skull candy FMJ's or Titans. I use the titans now, cause theyre cheaper, and Im rough on my buds. Great sound quality, not the best bass, (pretty good for buds though) and only about $35. Great amps too, 25% volume on my itouch will blast my ears, so they help with the battery life.
 
I like the skull candy ones, but I have a set of Koss ones but one earbud broke. But koss is paying to replace it so its all good.
 
I' ve tried a few non name brands that came with different size rubbers. None of them work for me. They just don' t stay put. Nor do they provide the sound quality as the stock ipod models. How about a cone shaped type with molded in flanges much like the ones manufactured for shooting sports? I' ve used these for ages. And they are super comfortable for extended use.

N.

www.dozierknives.com/forum
 
The Marshmallows that I referenced above are like that. You roll them and they expand in your ear canal like ear plugs.
 
I hate ear buds, as they hurt my ears. I got myself a pair of Bose headphones.
 
Ear buds are garbage, and they can damage your ears because of their over-emphasis on certain frequencies. Even basic headphones are better. Some are quite good and are easily powered by the ipod itself, although using a headphone amp will improve the sound. Bypassing the internal op amps by using a wadia to take the digital signal and using an outboard DAC can give you CD quality sound if you are using lossless files, but that's something else again.
Get rid of the earbuds and get a decent pair of headphones. There is a very big community of headphone addicts on the net, much like the community of knife fanatics. Headroom is very good, and they have a good listing with reliable reviews: http://www.headphone.com/
 
I bought a set of these a couple days ago---Sony MDR-V150's --$20 bucks at Walmart. Amazon has them cheaper with free shipping now that I look online--oh well.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-Studio-Monitor-Series-Headphones/1957327

They are WAAAY more comfortable than the earbuds and have a deeper bass---the Nano seems to have no problem driving them---they have been great for around the house but I think I'll still be needing something smaller and lighter for when summer comes and the activities move outdoors.
 
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Saunterer said:
The Marshmallows that I referenced above are like that. You roll them and they expand in your ear canal like ear plugs.
Click to expand...

Maybe. But not what I was looking for. The ones I describe are made of molded soft/ pliable silicone. And can retain its shape for years. No need to roll and let expand. Just picture a miniature Christmas tree- a small flange at its tip, then a medium and a larger diameter at its end. This would allow for different ear opening fit. It' s actually a very simple idea and equally easy to manufacture for ear buds. At least I think so.

N.

www.dozierknives.com/forum
 
I've never even attempted to use the stock In Ear Phones (IEPs) that came with my iPod or iPhones because they're garbage. They don't fit your ear securely so you lose a lot of the sound quality which isn't great to begin with.
The Sony Ericsson IEPs that came with my W810 phone and have the silicone plugs at the end are too big for my ear canals and hurt like hell. Same thing with the Skull Candy IEPs I bought.
I decided to spend the $$ and get a pair of Westone UM1 IEMs (they're actually musician "In Ear Monitors" like you see singers wearing on stage with the cord that runs behind their ears and down behind their necks) that come with the foam buds and they're like heaven. I can wear them for hours, even lying on my side with them in my ears and not feel any discomfort at all. They sound great too.
I also bought some Sennheiser HD-228 over ear cans which are also really comfortable and great sound quality.
To me the old adage "You get what you pay for" applies.

Some links if you're interested: Sennheiser HD-228: http://www.testfreaks.com/headphones-headsets/sennheiser-hd-228/

Westone UM1 (Musician Monitors): http://www.westone.com/catalog/um1-personal-monitor and
http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/westone-um1-single-driver/4505-7877_7-31694877.html
 
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