Earbuds for iPod/iPhone/MP3 player choice?

[poker]

I just had a cheap pair of Skull Candy ear buds break down on me and looking to replace them with something better. Been looking around and found there a pretty wide range available. Each seem to have their own pro/con and I was wondering what you own, or plan to own next.

Considering items from Shure, Bose, Etymotic, and Ultimate Ears at this point.

So, lets hear what you own, why you like it or hate it, prices, and help me find a pair I might be happy with.

BTW: I don't need a mic (even though its for a iPhone 3G), and also no need for active noise canceling (too bulky).

[poker]

Oh I forgot:

Primary use: 3-4 hr sessions at the poker table 2X a week (not running around or anything)

Primary music: Classic Rock / 80-90's metal

[piperman]

Bose are real good, kind of pricy but worth it.

[shilala]

I've tried a bunch and I use my plain old ipod earbuds. They're all uncomfortable, but the ipods are the least uncomfortable.
I've been told that Sennheisers (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=sennheiser+earbuds&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6943558436819756215#ps-sellers) are wai badass.
If I was forced to buy something different, that's the way I'd go. If I was looking for headphones, that's also the way I'd go. It's only because all the audiophiles shout about the brand. If you say Bose around them they'll run you out of the room. :D (I like Bose stuff, but I won't admit it in public.)
Bose is to audiophiles what Thompson's is to cigars.
MithShrike is bigtime into this stuff. He'd be a good guy to ask. :tu

[replicant_argent]

I have had a pair of Shure IEMs (E2c) for a while now, temporarily misplaced at the moment, but decent performance. I like the idea of the replaceable wax screens as well.
The foam plugs are very comfortable, and block a huge amount of ambient noise. They hang on to their plug material well, unlike the Vibes I am using now. The Vibes, I had to reglue a metal screen already, and will be returning. The thought of a metal screen loose in my ear canal does not excite me.
Edit: no
Buy
Other
Stereo
Equipment
for me either.

[bazookajoe]

I have 3 pairs I like:

Sennheiser CX300 - $30ish

Lenntek Sonix - $40-$50ish

Etymotic ER6 - $60-$70ish

Some good info here:

http://forums.ilounge.com/forumdisplay.php?f=43

[poker]

Thanks so far guys! Im just so damn confused since I been looking. I mean, they range from like 6 bucks up as high as 400! I mean, I dont mind spending good money, but seriously...400 bucks for earbuds? :r

[dunng]

I have the Sony MDR-EX51LP and I love them... they include different size earbuds for the best fit. Best of all I paid about $25 in 2007 and not they are under $20. :ss

[shilala]

Thanks so far guys! Im just so damn confused since I been looking. I mean, they range from like 6 bucks up as high as 400! I mean, I dont mind spending good money, but seriously...400 bucks for earbuds? :r
400 bucks is crazy.
Try the Sennheiser CX300. They get great reviews and the price is fair. :tu

[Resipsa]

I have had a pair of Shure IEMs (E2c) for a while now, temporarily misplaced at the moment, but decent performance. I like the idea of the replaceable wax screens as well.
The foam plugs are very comfortable, and block a huge amount of ambient noise. They hang on to their plug material well, unlike the Vibes I am using now. The Vibes, I had to reglue a metal screen already, and will be returning. The thought of a metal screen loose in my ear canal does not excite me.
Edit: no
Buy
Other
Stereo
Equipment
for me either.:tpd:Big fan of the Shures, but the E3C's. Looks like Shure has some new models out so the E series is a good buy at amazon, ;)

[tsolomon]

My daughter likes the Etymotic ER6 both for the sound and noise cancelling properties.

[St. Lou Stu]

Koss SparkPlugs..... comfy and great audi quality for $50.

[Redbaron]

paging Raisin or Seanahue.....

[macpappy]

Tossed the earbuds a long time ago. I have a Sony noise canceling headset. Of course I don't jog or workout or anything like tht while I'm listening to my Ipod.

[DavenportESQ]

Was gifted a pair of sennheisers! They rock, nothing compares!

[smitdavi]

Will have to say Sennheisers as well....will never buy another pair of headphones

[Sauer Grapes]

I have had a pair of Shure IEMs (E2c) for a while now, temporarily misplaced at the moment, but decent performance. I like the idea of the replaceable wax screens as well.
The foam plugs are very comfortable, and block a huge amount of ambient noise. They hang on to their plug material well, unlike the Vibes I am using now. The Vibes, I had to reglue a metal screen already, and will be returning. The thought of a metal screen loose in my ear canal does not excite me.
Edit: no
Buy
Other
Stereo
Equipment
for me either.

:tpd:

The Shure E2c's are great and if you are patient you can get them for under $40, maybe even under $30 if you are really patient. The replacable wax screens are nice, but kind of annoying to keep in place when you change them and put the ear plug back on.

The foam plugs are great as stated. I found the others not that great, but everyone in different.

On the other hand, I think the foam plugs will almost block too much noise for the poker table if you plan on hearing anyone. Even without music they act like ear plugs and block a lot of noise.

[Mark C]

:tpd:Big fan of the Shures, but the E3C's. Looks like Shure has some new models out so the E series is a good buy at amazon, ;)

:tpd: I agree 100%. I ditched the iPod buds within a week and have been using the E3Cs for a couple years now. My set came with three different type of plug (foam, gray rubber, black(?) rubber), and the rubber plugs each came in three different sizes. The small gray rubber works best for me, I've worn them on flights for 6+ hrs at a time with absolutely zero discomfort. Blocks out almost all ambient noise too without having to crank up the volume, no engine noise, no snoring traveling companion, no screaming baby, in fact someone usually needs to poke me and tell me when it's time to turn off the iPod. Sound quality is pretty darn impressive for a set of l'il buds.

My brother in law plays guitar for a local band, classic rock, modern rock, etc. He uses the Shure E5Cs on stage and loves 'em.

[Mr.Maduro]

I have the Sony MDR-EX51LP and I love them... they include different size earbuds for the best fit. Best of all I paid about $25 in 2007 and not they are under $20. :ss

:tpd: Great buds for the price. Whatever you do DO NOT get the Bose. They suck big time!! :2

[mikeyj23]

I have a pair of Etymotics musicians' earplugs - they were customed fitted to my ears in an audiologist's office after a complete aural evaluation. They took a wax mold of both my ears which they sent to the factory to manufacture my earplugs. I know that Etymotics and a few other companies make custom-fit earbuds as well. If the earbuds fit like my earplugs, which I imagine they would, then I recommend them 100%.

Earbuds are a fine balance of audio quality and fit. I've had GREAT sounding earbuds that hurt my ears like crazy, and well-fitting earbuds that sounded like crap. Etymotics is a reputable audio company, so I'm sure their earbuds don't sound like crap. Go custom fit, that's my :2

[poker]

The custom fitted ones sound really expensive, no?

[Pat1075]

THe shure E2c's are fantastic I'll put my encorsement on these

[mikeyj23]

The custom fitted ones sound really expensive, no?

My earplugs were $110. I'd imagine the earbuds would be a little but not a tremendous amount more. Certainly not $400, but not $40, either.

[poker]

My earplugs were $110. I'd imagine the earbuds would be a little but not a tremendous amount more. Certainly not $400, but not $40, either.

Oh not bad! :tu

[mikeyj23]

Oh not bad! :tu

Did a little googling - looks like you buy the Etyomics er-6 for around $102, then get custom fit enclosures from your audiologist, which I figure would be around what I paid for my earplugs. Altogether you'd probably run $250, which is more than what I thought they were. Here's an article (http://nopain2.org/archives/000048.html), for what it's worth. Obviously the custom fit are isolation headphones and reduce all external sounds, just like earplugs (but with music, instead :tu).

[parafumar]

I have the Bose Tri-Port headphones. Expensive, yes but I highly reccomend (and it took me 3 trips to best buy to finally pull the trigger, so it was not on a whim). Cost me $100, not sure if they ever go on sale.

Comfort and sound quality are both TREMENDOUS. They come with a little leather type case that would make a good holder to/from the tables. They also come with 3 different size 'buds' that go on the end (the part that goes into the ear canal) so you can get the best fit. They also do quite well at blocking background noise, and reproduce bass quite well.

[Cigary]

Bose are real good, kind of pricy but worth it.
Ditto this,,,the wife just got me a pair off the QVC or HSN site. These are great!!

[AD720]

THe shure E2c's are fantastic I'll put my encorsement on these

I have a set of e2c's as well. The are fantastic.

If those are a too rich for you blood I also really like the Sony-MDR-EX81LP for around $30.

I also grabbed a set of Sibera earbuds for less than $15 that are really good for the price and come with a micophone attachment.

[King James]

I've heard very good things about Shure and have had a good experience with them first hand.

[gettysburgfreak]

go with bose. I use the around the ear ones and love them. Not terribly expensive I think I paid 150, good quality and sound for the price.

[Bruzee]

I've tried a bunch and I use my plain old ipod earbuds. They're all uncomfortable, but the ipods are the least uncomfortable.


:tpd:

[MadAl]

I have a pair of Bose, use them and like them a lot

[Scimmia]

I'm surprised at how many people are recommending Bose. Personally, I can't stand the sound of anything they make. No highs, no lows, must be Bose.

Hard to go wrong with anything from Shure or Etymotic.

You really want to get confused? www.head-fi.org ;)

[Silound]

Honestly, I haven't found anything more comfortable than the stock Zune buds (the good ones that come with the 80Gb model). They have an excellent range for basic buds (given that all I listen to is talk shows and classic rock), and they're comfortable if you pick the right set of rubber plugs (they come with like 5 sizes).


I own 3 pairs of Zune buds and wouldn't go back to anything else.

[Rock Star]

I use in-ear monitors for when I play..Use to use Shure E2s with fitted molds..You can get the ears wires for $100 from music store then go get fitted molds for another $100. or you can by the E5s with hard wired molds that have cross overs and the whole 9 for around $500 or so. You cant hear anything outside. they go deep in your ear canal. I go through so many in-ears from sweating and shorting them out.I have like 4 sets of shures that have only 1 side working. so i started using the skull candys and theyve lasted me 3 times as long at a fraction of the price..i sacrifice a little sound quality but its worth it. Kelly, My bass player is a manager at Guitar center. I can probably have him call the manager in your area and get you the good guy price unless you can get better price somewhere else. give me a call if you want. He swears by ultimate ears though.

[ir13]

I have the Eytomonic ER6I's and they are great. Used em at a poker tourny i went to and with them in and no music playing i couldnt hear chips shuffling. They produce great sound and dont hurt for long sessions of having them in.

Thats what i would recommend.


Where would one go searching to get fitted molds for the ER6I's if anyone knows?

[Genetic Defect]

using Denon here.