In-Ear Headphones

I like the ones I got from SkullCandy. They're the 50/50 ones. I got them for $30 with a coupon but they're usually $50. I've had them for about a year, no problems with em. Also SkullCandy does have a lifetime warranty with their headphones, though I'm not sure how easy and/or convenient the process is when you're trying to your headphones replaced.

 

I like the AKG's when it comes to affordable buds.

I have a pair of their K311's for 20 bucks and love them.

If you want a mic then you will need to look at other models.

AudioTechnica also makes some decent stuff for that market, but I prefer the AKG's and UltimateEars for earbuds. UE's being in a world and price unto themselves.

 

I enjoy these
http://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-In-Ear-Noise-Isolating-Headphones/dp/B0068Z8JBS

Upside is the incredible range of sound for the price...the higher the encoding, the more these guys will pick up. Bass is okay but not exaggerated and nothing to die for.

Downsides are the questionable build quality (hasn't broken in my year of playing it), and it does not isolate sound that well...meaning if you don't want to hear the outside world these aren't the buds for you. On the flipside, they don't leak out sound in case you're self conscious.

But if you work with other people and like to know if something is going on, these are actually better than noise isolating earbuds.

These are 40 right now on amazon...I saw it at 30 at one point in time.

 

http://us.akg.com/akg-products-us/brand_akg/akg-headphones/on-the-go.html

 

I liked my Sennheiser CX 500's. I don't think they make them anymore...they were around $100. This seems like the closest one to them..

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-MK-II-Precision-Enhanced/dp/B001EZYMF4

(almost $20 cheaper than the silver version of the same set)

 

Had Klipsch S4i's but cord/jack shorted out. After doing some research, discovered many rave reviews on the SkullCandy Smokin Budz for $19.99. 11mm drivers deliver sound comparable to the ole S4i's for a fraction of the cost.

Only draw back, cord shorted out after 2 months. But Radio Shack replacement worry for $2 bucks took care of that issue...

 

There a discontinued model of the s4i. They're the klipsch pro media ear buds. The s5 series is also the sane drivers but more rugged.

I like the ones i recommended more, but the klipsch were better at isolating noise and were pretty comfy for my small ears

 

You don't say?

As a side note - I can't believe anyone would recommend SkullCandy. I consider those pretty much consumer garbage across the board but to each his own.

I have a twenty dollar pair of chocolate AKG's that people constantly ask me about because they look so cool. The added benefit is that they rock - I have even used them on the road for audio editing jobs.

Unfortunately they don't make them anymore - but their next step up is equally as nice in respect to sound and they have some models that are simply fantastic.

Eventually I will go the multiple driver UltimateEars route but the thousand dollar price tag is hard to swallow.

 

Klipsch S4i, $69.99 on Amazon, free shipping with Prime.

One year warranty

In-line controls that integrate with ipod/iphone/ipad that allows you to skip, reverse or pause tracks with button clicks, in addition to volume control. Also has a mic so it doubles as a headset for phone conversations.

As a non-audiophile, I can attest to the excellent sound range with good bass.

I've also always had issues finding ear buds that fit my ear-holes, these are as snug and comfy as a virgin's vajay-jay. Comes with three different size buds for different sized-holes.

 

As long as we are on the subject:

1. I can't fit most in-ears in my tiny ear holes, post if you have a recommendation for smaller bud sizes

2. Also if you have a recommendation for bluetooth headphones you can work out with (not big cans)

3. What is the frequency range on the headphone jack on most phones? is it worth upgrading your headphones? Also the frequency range for streaming audio (all I ever listen to anymore)?

 

1. I cannot help you with your tiny earballs

2. Defer to others

3. Frequency range on your phone will be directly correlated to the converters used. Typically this will be full bandwidth (20Hz to 20kHz) on the DA converter at output. On the AD on input most phones shelve at around 50-70Hz.

However, the Nyquist filter that is utilized as part of the conversion process will never be of very good quality on a consumer device such as a phone or Mp3 player and this will effect the signal in the audible range. This means that the upper range of frequencies will be less than stellar. In addition you are placing an audio converter inside of an electromagnetic minefield so there will always be some issues with quality as a result.

The streaming quality of the content that you are playing back is directly proportional to the content itself. Typically this is poor with limited dynamic range and crappy encoding creating an artifact filled listening experience; or typical best case simply lacking in detail as it throws out material it deems unimportant in order to compress the material.

All this means is that if this is your primary application spending more than 80 bucks for a set of earphones/microphone is more than likely a waste of money unless you just really want to listen in finite detail to those digital artifacts and noisy frequency altering cross-talking converters.

 

Pandora and Spotify say they send everything that is on the CD. But using them as a source on a home stereo doesn't come close to CD quality.

Is there any more loss if I use a Bluestooth receiver instead of plugging in to the headphone jack (another connection, another set of signal loss?)

 

In that scenario you will still be limited to the capabilities of the content and the DA (digital to analog converter) which would now be at the receiver instead of in the phone but still housed inside of a transceiver and of dubious quality.

In respect to streaming quality, all of the content providers I have tried are encoding in some fashion despite their claims. The only one I have used that allows me full CD 16 bit 44.1kHz content is Amazon when purchasing content. I do not use iTunes so cannot vouch for them, but I suspect that uncompressed audio is a rarity.

 

I should clarify -

With Bluetooth you run the risk of the protocol itself introducing additional lossy encoding depending on the version of Bluetooth and the devices being utilized.

Traditionally this has resulted in lower fidelity and an increase in artifacts in order to stay within the Bluetooth bandwidth limitations when streaming audio.

Modern versions have attempted to rectify this situation. I'm not a Bluetooth user so cannot vouch for the success rate, however the comment on quality of DA converters and the associated Nyquist filters remains.

 

The V-Moda Vibes are the best in-ear phones I have ever had. Unfortunately, the build quality and, apparently, overall quality has greatly suffered in recent years. But if you can find some Vibes on clearance somewhere, older models which do NOT have a microphone, you might really like them.

The clarity and brilliance and detail in the music are astounding. However, they are NOT 'bass-heavy' - they are extremely open and airy, and in fact that are not really 'noise-blocking' like so many other IEM's are. But this is a good thing, because noise-blocking IEM's can be very dangerous if you are walking or riding a bicycle or something where you kind of need to be able to hear what is going on around you.

If you want noise blocking and very strong bass, then I would recommend taking at look at Sennheiser, but don't go the cheapest, that's not going to be satisfactory.

 

Wait until black friday ish when the UE triplefi 10s go on sale for 99$.

 

^If you have small ears, the Klipsch image X10 also drops to 99 bucks on black friday.

Has a funny amazon review but is pretty nice...