I need earbud recommendations

[Hybrid_theory]

I've tried so many different earbuds over the years and the ones i keep coming back to are the ipod ones. But my left earbud has gotten staticy so i wanna pick up some new ones on the weekend. Now if there's something better you can recommend at a similar price point, im all ears. Apple earbuds cost $30 on their site, i imagine the same in store.

I last had the Bose ear buds that cost $120. They sounded fantastic but i had to RMA them every 6 months cause they kept shorting out.
I've had skullcandy inear ones and they were garbage, couldnt stay in my ear well and didnt sound all that great.
I had some sony black ones and they were decent. But any bass drum note had a putt putt sound to it.

[Flyordie]

I would recommend CX-300 IIs or the ..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826735006

Those. :-p They aren't bad. Anythingbutipod users and one admin (dfkt) has nothing bad to say about them, which really means they are great for the price.

[DaveK]

I also have the CX300 II and they're great. The RRP was €39.99 which is a tad expensive but I got mine on sale for €18. Sound is pretty good on them, the earbuds have a nice fit and are extremely hard to pull off so you don't lose them and there is 3 earbud sizes.

Sennheiser > Apple

[Hybrid_theory]

Hmm yeah i have sennheiser pc 350 for my computer and they are fantastic. Now the problem i had with the Bose in ears was id have to put my volume to 95% on my ipod to have it loud enough, with the ipod earbuds its at 75% at most usually. Im wondering if thats the case with those sennheisers or not. One thing i have had trouble with those inear round ones (which the skull candys i had were) is that they werent small enough for my ears. i have small ears.

[Wile E]

Head Direct/HiFiMan has the best bang for buck in ears, period.

The RE0 competes with IEMs in teh $200 bracket. Extremely accurate and detailed mids and highs. Little light on the bass tho. http://www.head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=38

The RE2's compete in the $100-120 bracket. Extremely good sounding mids, average bass and treble extension, but still detailed. http://www.head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=23

Both are leagues better than the CX-300's. And come with a bunch of different tips. They fit small ears with the small tips. The Mrs uses my RE2's with her iPod, and she has small ears as well.

[momentomoir]

i like my razors ones theyre awesome

[Triprift]

Another vote for the CX300 II's great cans and much better than the Apple ones.

[Wile E]

Seriously, the RE2's are way better than the CX-300's, and cheaper to boot.

[MT Alex]

Thanks for the link. Once my virus scan is complete I'm ordering those RE2s. I just haven't decided if I should just order two pairs now, for 29 bucks it will be hard to go wrong.

I'm tempted to get the $79 RE0, but most of my music is crappy MP3s, so I figure I won't need the best, that and they double as work earplugs.

Here's a TPU review of the RE2: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Head-Direct/RE2/1.html

[Wile E]

It's actually Frederik's reviews that turned me on to the Head Direct (now actually HiFiMan) iems.

[Reventon]

I've tried so many different earbuds over the years and the ones i keep coming back to are the ipod ones. But my left earbud has gotten staticy so i wanna pick up some new ones on the weekend. Now if there's something better you can recommend at a similar price point, im all ears. Apple earbuds cost $30 on their site, i imagine the same in store.

I last had the Bose ear buds that cost $120. They sounded fantastic but i had to RMA them every 6 months cause they kept shorting out.
I've had skullcandy inear ones and they were garbage, couldnt stay in my ear well and didnt sound all that great.
I had some sony black ones and they were decent. But any bass drum note had a putt putt sound to it.

Skullcandy inear headphones are decent, their position gives good bass, but their durability is terrible. I made the mistake of buying another pair after the first broke. Second pair broke too.

[paulieg]

I just had a similar thread going. I'm seriously OCD when it comes to researching things like this. I'm convinced I bought the right pair. We should find out today or tomorrow.

http://www.generalnonsense.net/showthread.php?t=3396

[MT Alex]

I just ordered the RE2s.
My payment was submitted to Chin wa gong cow.
http://img.techpowerup.org/100723/Untitled281.png

[Hybrid_theory]

I just had a similar thread going. I'm seriously OCD when it comes to researching things like this. I'm convinced I bought the right pair. We should find out today or tomorrow.

http://www.generalnonsense.net/showthread.php?t=3396

I did see your thread. I just wasnt looking for noise cancelling necessarily

In terms of the headdirects. im sure their nice, but im impatient and i want to get some tomorrow. HMV and futureshop dont seem to have them. And shipping from the states will take a couple weeks.

[Hybrid_theory]

Well bought the CX 300-II at HMV. They are quite good. Sound pretty nice, and block out a lot of sound too. Didnt notice that till I took them out haha. The volume is much better than the Bose ones I had as well, and they're a bit cheaper than them :D

[MT Alex]

Holy Balls!

My RE2s are here already. I was just checking the tracking number and it said: Delivered @ 1:42 pm. Ran out to the mailbox, and I'm wearing them now. Hell, I ordered them Friday morning - NY to MT in such a short time is pretty nifty.

They fit great, I love the double flange type insert. I'm damn excited to use them at work tomorrow.

As far as burn in goes, is it worth it to download a burn in track and let them play for hours on end?

[Wile E]

Yeah, they get even better with burn in time.

I use the double flanges as well.

[MT Alex]

Boy.
I've never owned a nice pair of earbuds, I'm a little awe struck. They sound far and away much better than anything this hairlip has owned. Listening to Song for Sonny Liston by Mark Knopfler.

Also, I'm actually going to have to set a volume limit in my settings.

[Wile E]

Yeah, they really really shine with acoustic, country and rock.

Try some Andy McKee if you have any.

[pr0n Inspector]

Head Direct/HiFiMan has the best bang for buck in ears, period.

The RE0 competes with IEMs in teh $200 bracket. Extremely accurate and detailed mids and highs. Little light on the bass tho. http://www.head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=38

The RE2's compete in the $100-120 bracket. Extremely good sounding mids, average bass and treble extension, but still detailed. http://www.head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=23

Both are leagues better than the CX-300's. And come with a bunch of different tips. They fit small ears with the small tips. The Mrs uses my RE2's with her iPod, and she has small ears as well.


WTF? $29 and $79? For real?

[Wile E]

For real. They introduced some other products, so those models went way down in price. Worth every penny.

[paulieg]

Well, I finally have my Audio-Technica's burned in. I can say that they kick the crap out ov my Vmoda Vibes and Bose earbuds. I'm hearing all kinds of stuff that I've never noticed before. I bought these after an exhaustive search, and I've not tried the Re0's, but I can say these are the best sounding earbuds I've ever owned, and at $69, they are a steal.

http://www.accessoryjack.com/-strse-1407/Audio-dsh-Technica-ATH-dsh-CKS70-CKS70-Dynamic/Detail.bok

[pr0n Inspector]

For real. They introduced some other products, so those models went way down in price. Worth every penny.

I went with a pair of Hippo VB in the end. should be in my hand in a couple of weeks(I was too cheap to pay for express shipping lol)

[Hybrid_theory]

Well my CX300 IIs broke on me. The sheath that covers the plug got seperated from the plug, exposing the wire. I tried to glue it back in with krazy glue but it didnt stick for long. now the wire has gotten damaged and my left earbud doesnt play sound. Im sending it in for repair, but just be careful on how you pull the plug out of your device, id recommend close to the gold plate, than on the rubber.

[pr0n Inspector]

Well my CX300 IIs broke on me. The sheath that covers the plug got seperated from the plug, exposing the wire. I tried to glue it back in with krazy glue but it didnt stick for long. now the wire has gotten damaged and my left earbud doesnt play sound. Im sending it in for repair, but just be careful on how you pull the plug out of your device, id recommend close to the gold plate, than on the rubber.

soldering iron + hot glue = time saved.

[Hybrid_theory]

soldering iron + hot glue = time saved.

Maybe a hot glue gun would have worked better. unfortunately cause of the loss of sound, i have to send it in.

[MT Alex]

SHITBALLS!!!

http://img.techpowerup.org/110712/004.jpg

[twilyth]

Do you play hockey with that thing when you're not listening to it? I mean, use it as the puck? If there are ever laws about the humane treatment of electronics, I think you're going to have to find someplace even more remote than Montana. :p (toast)

[MT Alex]

I can't deny that. Looks like they made it 15 days short of a calendar year, not bad. The iPod, surprisingly, will be 6 years old if it makes it to Christmas. Ordering another pair of RE2's right now.

I bet I've dropped it, pulling the jack out while the buds are in my ears, at least 75 times a year. Probably yank the buds out of my ears when the cord gets caught (very violent feeling) half that many times a year. I have to work hard, and I have to have tunes while I'm doing it.

[Reventon]

I don't blame you. That happens to me a lot as well. I'm usually very careful with shit like that. Probably why my portable headphones always break...

[CyberDruid]

I found out that iPod ear bud things are crap. I expected more from Apple.

[Reventon]

Yeah they are awful. I have some cheap $15 Sony earbuds. I'm scared to buy expensive portable headphones because I know they will eventually break.

[mlee49]

Lol, so are you looking at new earbuds again?

I just bought a pair of Klipesh S4's that were the better part of $100. Not bad, but damn I hate hearing every sound my mouth makes. Cant hear anything else, but it drives me insane to wear them tight.

[CyberDruid]

Stick them in your girl friends ears so you can hear what your dick sounds like.