It's time to get GOOD ear buds.

Joined
Jun 12, 2006
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I will spend what I have to to get a good set, well maybe keep it under $150.

I listen to everything from classic rock, country, metal, rap, and more... I love a bassy' sound even in my classic rock but in ear buds they can be a little harsh. Have tried a few $30 buds and "in the ears" and the regular apple buds knock them in the dirt.

Also use mostly iTunes MP3s so there is no need to get a higher quality headphone/ buds then what apple has for me to download. If that makes sense? (no need to have higher qaulity headphone then I can play from there MP3s)

So what should I get, I'm ONLY looking for buds not a headset. In ear or regular buds what's the best for all types of music playing in Apple's Itunes quality MP3s? :cool:



Much thanks in advance :thumbup:
 
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I use V-modas with my iphone, and love them. The have great bass and sound great. In your price range, I would also check out offerings from Shure.
 
I seen v-modas at costco for around $30 so I went online to look at reviews right there in costco on my iPhone. :D Most all said, the sound was "muddy."

I'm sure there are a few different series, what do you have? :cool:
 
I finally settled on these and REALLY like them. They do a great job of keeping ambient noise out have good response and great bass. You can get them at wal-mart, radio shack, wherever for about $40.

Sony Earbuds
 
I have the V-moda vibe duo's. I bought mine a few years back, I paid $99 for them. They sound clear to me, I play mostly country. I bought these because they had the clicky and mic for use with the iphone. I did have to send in my first pair due to the one of the buds going out, they were quickly replaced by Vmoda. If you don't need the headset part for your iphone, then you might be better off with the Shures or Bose.
 
Try one of the Shure models. I have the e3c model, and they are fantastic. Clear highs, real bass that is very impressive for in ear buds, and several tip options to fit different ear shapes. All of their models have been receiving glowing reviews from many people for many years. They had a ridiculously low price on the SCL3 and 4 (white only) earlier this year since I guess they made too many, so you can still find the SCL3 for around $85 shipped on ebay.
 
I loved my e4c from Shure, awesome sound. Unfortunately the pair is out of warranty and the wire is internally shorted. You can find them for $120-180 if you can find them. Great sound. For any IEM you will need to get a proper fit, it's amazing how the fit can ruin the sound, or make it.
 
Check out the Sennheiser CX 300. At around $50-00 they are awesome value and they sound great. I bought 2 pairs so I keep one pair in my car as I inevitably leave the other pair at home.
 
Forget any of the nicer headphones if you really want to stay with straight itunes purchases. Also forget about the nicer headphones if you want to stay with buds rather than In Ear phones.

For example, I need buds for when I walk my dog. I need to hear what's going on, if there are cars coming, etc. In Ear phones, especially good ones will isolate sound like ear plugs, and I'll be walking deaf. So I have a great headset at home, and just the apple buds for walking around. I've looked for better quality, but of the very many phones I've looked at (and listened to) that have a bud format, there's only an incremental quality increase for a lot more money.

On the other hand, if you don't know that much about listening but are open to learning, and/or on the other hand don't desperately need a bud format, there's a lot of options for you. Westone makes a great single driver in ear for around $150 that will knock your socks off. Unfortunately, once you get hooked you're going to start ripping your tunes in Apple Lossless and you're going to want two or three drivers, then comes the amp, and then you might as well admit that you're a junkie in need of an intervention.

So my advice is, if you are happy with the buds save yourself the headache and leave it be. :D
 
While ear buds do make for convenient carry, I just love music too much to wear them when there's quality headphones sitting around. That's why I'm usually wearing some Equation RP-21s. They're similar in price-point to Grados SR80s, but the quality is much better. More comfortable to wear, better noise cancelling, and stronger bass.
 
+1 on Sennheiser CX series. I had the 300's which I loved until they somehow got crushed under my chair. I now have the 400's which are better overall quality, but less bassy.

I'd also recommend a small cheap amp like this:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18350

I have the older E3 version for $8 which gives a very clear improvement in quality. Definitely worth more than they are!

If you're willing to get earphones rather than earbuds, I'd recommend the Grado SR-80's. I don't have them myself but I've heard a ton of good reviews about them and its top on my wishlist. They're about $90. If you want a step up, then get the SR-225's.
Here's a comparison review:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/review-grado-sr-225-vs-grado-sr-80-a-368461/
 
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While ear buds do make for convenient carry, I just love music too much to wear them when there's quality headphones sitting around. That's why I'm usually wearing some Equation RP-21s. They're similar in price-point to Grados SR80s, but the quality is much better. More comfortable to wear, better noise cancelling, and stronger bass.
Basically, with sound... SIZE MATTERS.

The bigger the driver, the more air it's going to move... the fuller the sound and bigger the range. Obviously you can have a good small driver, and a bad large driver, but ultimately size will most likely win, in a contest of comparable equipment.

Same idea with speakers. The 1x50mm driver in a Bose speaker, even if it wasn't a terrible quality $10 paper cone with no crossover mounted in an badly damped plastic case, still could not outperform the 2x80mm drivers in my full tower speakers. The 100X difference in internal volume, and the vast difference in driver surface area always matters.

Buds can be GOOD... but don't expect to be amazed... especially if (as been said previously) you're using a compressed file as a source.
 
I'm gonna have to give the Vmodas a :thumbup: as well. I've tried a couple pairs from Shure, but for the money the Vmoda ones I have decimate. I think they were like $70-$80?
 
+1 on the Sennheiser CX series.
They are all good, but as usual, you get what you pay for.
 
I have the V-moda vibe duo's.

Costco's Vmodas are "sport" somethings??? Not Vibe duo's, reviews said they loved Vmodas... and thought $35 was a good deal for any Vmodas. That is untill they plugged them in and found out why they are $35 and not $100. :cool:


I was in BestBuy and they had some Shure se115 in stock for $100 and a few pairs or sonys. They sonys said extra bass... Blah blah blah and ran from $45-$80. Nobody has said anything about Sony, are any of them good?
 
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About to go buy them Shure se115 later today.


:D


Well unless somebody says they are crap and you can do better for the money :cool: :D
 
Bought Shure se210 :D

They sound good, not a lot of bass though. I can hear the highs and mids very clear. Bass is also clear... I just thought it would have more power behind it. Maybe more body to the bass would be a better way to say it?

Some of the highs sound like they are bouncing around in a tin can. I played with the EQ, and tried all the ear plugs. I have a good fit :cool:

Tried the stock Apple buds again, they now sound muddy.. Way way muddy. Same as my older Koss in the ears. What the heck did I just get myself into???

I might take them back, the tin can sound does not sound like $150 phones IMHO. :o
 
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