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Best earphones (IEMs) for under $100?

C

CurseTheSky

Diamond Member
Hi guys,

I'm looking for a good pair of in-ear 'phones for music. I listen to rock / metal, and want something with good comfort and decent sound (I wish I could afford to pay $300 for earphones, but we all have to make sacrifices... 😛). I'll be using them on a laptop (no external amp), and possibly on a Zune or something similar.

Right now I'm considering:
Klipsch IMAGE S4's, $80 - http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-IMAGE-...7945066&sr=1-3
NuForce NE-7M, $50 - http://www.amazon.com/NuForce-NE-7M-.../ref=de_a_smtd
Etymotic Research HF5, $105 - http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Resea...8429814&sr=1-1
SHURE SE115, $100 - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TDMVO0/...SIN=B001TDMVO0

Any better suggestions, or any comments on which will be better for comfort and sound quality?

Thanks.
 
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While I can't really help you, I posted a fairly similar thread not too long ago.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/...-ne6-meelectronics-m6-head-direct-re0-455326/

The best resource I've found for budget IEMs is here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/...mpared-updated-11-13-09-a-453836/#post6132998

which I referred to when making most of my impressions.

Since your budget is about double mine, it opens up some other options, too.

I ordered MEElectronics M6s based on joker's review, but I haven't received them yet. I'll let you know how they are when I get them 🙂
 
Own the nuforce - INCREDIBLE value. I've also had the popular senheiser cx300s, ultimate ear super.fi3s, etynomic 6is(?i think that's the model number), and various other sub-$100 IEMS.. The nuforce is simply the best. Amazing sound stage, great highs, beautiful mids, and more than enough bass. Not as "fun" as the cx300s or Sony iems ("fun" seems to mean bloated and ghetto to me), but beautiful sound across genres.

In fact, my wife stole mine from me and I'm stuck with ultimate ears right now and, let me tell you, it's a world of difference. I miss my nuforce!
 
Hey, I hope no one minds, but I'd like to leech on this thread.

Can anyone recommend over-the-ear headphones for listening to metal/rock on a desktop computer (no amp). My budget is $70. I like warmth and solid bass, but not too boomy.

I've done just a google search and was overwhelmed with the choices.
 
rivethead said:
Hey, I hope no one minds, but I'd like to leech on this thread.

Can anyone recommend over-the-ear headphones for listening to metal/rock on a desktop computer (no amp). My budget is $70. I like warmth and solid bass, but not too boomy.

I've done just a google search and was overwhelmed with the choices.
Click to expand...

I love the following:
-Grado sr60. Great sound stage, but open so everyone can hear what you're listening to. That shouldn't matter at home

-JVC harx700 / rx900- Own the rx700 and, for $35 shipped, an outstanding value . warm, good sound stage, closed so no one hears what you're listening to.. Check out head-fi.org for reviews
 
freedomsbeat212 said:
I love the following:
-Grado sr60. Great sound stage, but open so everyone can hear what you're listening to. That shouldn't matter at home

-JVC harx700 / rx900- Own the rx700 and, for $35 shipped, an outstanding value . warm, good sound stage, closed so no one hears what you're listening to.. Check out head-fi.org for reviews
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch for the reply! That website was very helpful. I just ordered the JVC harx700s from Buy.com for $34 shipped. After reading some things on head-fi, they sound perfect for what I need.
 
freedomsbeat212 said:
Own the nuforce - INCREDIBLE value. I've also had the popular senheiser cx300s, ultimate ear super.fi3s, etynomic 6is(?i think that's the model number), and various other sub-$100 IEMS.. The nuforce is simply the best. Amazing sound stage, great highs, beautiful mids, and more than enough bass. Not as "fun" as the cx300s or Sony iems ("fun" seems to mean bloated and ghetto to me), but beautiful sound across genres.

In fact, my wife stole mine from me and I'm stuck with ultimate ears right now and, let me tell you, it's a world of difference. I miss my nuforce!
Click to expand...

How noticeable / annoying is the mic? I'm considering grabbing them, since they're so cheap, but I'm afraid the mic will dangle near my face and make me hate wearing them. On the other hand, having the mic available for the few times I need a headset while on a call or on Ventrilo would be awesome.

Additionally, how's the fit? Do they fall out or stick out of the ears uncomfortably? They look a bit awkward.
 
After reading several more reviews, and how people raved about the comfort of the Klipsch Image S4, I went ahead and ordered it. Though price and sound quality are some of my top concerns, I know I'll never end up using the earphones for more than a few days if they're simply uncomfortable. The NE-7M's were $30 cheaper, but I didn't want to take a chance that they'd be uncomfortable.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
 
Back in the day, the Altec Lansing IM716 were pretty good for the value. They were about 90$.

For over-the-ear, my favorite is the Denon D1001 for all music in the 80$ price range. Sennheiser HD-555 is also good in the 80$ price range. The Grado SR-80 is also good ($90), but it not as comfortable (to me) as the former two. I haven't tried the SR-60 which as completely different earpads and might be more comfortable.

Nevertheless, doing a Beyer mod to the headband is a easy mod, costs 5$ to get the beyer dt880 headband direct from beyer. All you do is snap on the beyer headband cover (it has 4 snap buttons) and it fits like a champ.
 
CurseTheSky said:
After reading several more reviews, and how people raved about the comfort of the Klipsch Image S4, I went ahead and ordered it. Though price and sound quality are some of my top concerns, I know I'll never end up using the earphones for more than a few days if they're simply uncomfortable. The NE-7M's were $30 cheaper, but I didn't want to take a chance that they'd be uncomfortable.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Click to expand...

Good lucky with that! The nuforce beat out, in head to head comparison's, the klipsch image x10, which is significantly better than the consumer oriented S4.

I see the ne-6 as being a bit more balanced. Nothing is overly emphasized, but the bass is present. Out of the box, the nuforce's are fairly smooth and an overall good entrance pair of IEM's.

The S4's took a bit longer to get used to. For me, the bass and highs were a bit over-emphasized with recessed vocals in metal. After some EQing though, I think I've found a setting that I really like. They're a bit more detailed than the nuforce's and slightly more warm. The klipsch soundstage is miles ahead of the ne-6's. Aside from comfort, I would say that the SS is its strongest feature.
Click to expand...
 
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