Does having Better more expensive Earbuds make sound louder/better?

[EpicSurvivor]

Hey guys so another "Off Topic" Thread incoming. I am using a pair of JVC Gummies for my Music on my Galaxy s6. They sound great and its the only pair of earbuds I've used in the past 3 years
NOTE: I only like using earbuds not headphones.

The JVC Gummies run me between $8-$14 depending on where I buy them and what model I get. I usually buy them at my Local Walmart or Best Buy.

I never used anything other than JVC Gummies. If I were to upgrade to something better say a pair of $30 earbuds would there be any improvement on Volume/Sound Quality? I just can't see my self spending more than $15 not knowing if its going to be Louder and Better Sound Quality you know? Are $50 earbuds really worth it or just gimmick?

 

[Number1]

https://forums.anandtech.com/forums/audio-video-home-theater.38/

 

[EpicSurvivor]

https://forums.anandtech.com/forums/audio-video-home-theater.38/

You know this time I posted on "off topic" not knowing I should have posted under Audio area since its not Speakers.
Is there a way to move this thread over there? Or just make a new post?

 

[BoomerD]

I don't know how the hell anyone can stand earbuds. They hurt my sensitive ears...

 

[EpicSurvivor]

I don't know how the hell anyone can stand earbuds. They hurt my sensitive ears...

I love them lol

 

[BoomerD]

I love them lol

I'd rather have a set of "real" headphones. Preferably "over the ear" than "on the ear," but either would be better than earbuds.

 

[Number1]

You know this time I posted on "off topic" not knowing I should have posted under Audio area since its not Speakers.
Is there a way to move this thread over there? Or just make a new post?

Ask a mod to move it? Not sure.

 

[madoka]

If I were to upgrade to something better say a pair of $30 earbuds would there be any improvement on Volume/Sound Quality? I just can't see my self spending more than $15 not knowing if its going to be Louder and Better Sound Quality you know? Are $50 earbuds really worth it or just gimmick?

As the owner of over 300 earbuds from $4-$350, yes $50 earbuds will generally sound better than $15 earbuds. Whether that sound difference is worth it to you is a personal choice. Recently I spent over $10K on headphones, yet I still don't mind using $4 earbuds. But you can totally tell the difference in sound quality and comfort.

 

[Paladin3]

I find perceived earbud sound quality depends on a lot on how well they fit in your ears. Good fitting earbuds have more perceived bass and seal out outside noise better. Out of what Walmart carries in store I like the iFrogz Plugz for $9.98. The largest ear cup it comes with fits me well and they sound great to me. I see no need to spend more money chasing better sound quality from an earbud.

The iFrogz Ear Pollution are the same earbuds without a mic and Walmart has them on clearance for $4.86 with free ship to store. They are my daughter's favorite and she's tried more brands/models than I have.

Monoprice.com has a pretty good selection of earbuds and lots of reviews on quality vs. price so you might want to check there too.

Pro tip: If you are listening to MP3s on your phone download a player with an equalizer so if necessary you can increase the bass or adjust tone. I use Dub Player. It can help make poor quality audio books easier to listen to as well.

 

[cbrunny]

There is a point of diminishing returns. $15 headphones will sound shitty compared to $80 headphones. Beyond that, its mostly arbitrary unless you are an audiophile pretend you can hear the difference.

 

[Sonikku]

As the owner of over 300 earbuds from $4-$350, yes $50 earbuds will generally sound better than $15 earbuds. Whether that sound difference is worth it to you is a personal choice. Recently I spent over $10K on headphones, yet I still don't mind using $4 earbuds. But you can totally tell the difference in sound quality and comfort.

Over $10k just on headphones?! Over 300 earbuds alone?! Good god man, what are you doing with all of them??

To answer OP's question, as someone who has listened to cheap $1 ear buds you get at dollar general for most of her life, I could distinctly tell the difference in quality when I got a popular Panasonic pair off Amazon for a Jefferson.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I have custom IEM's and an AK240 player, I will put my setup against some ears buds, mine might sound better.

 

[madoka]

Over $10k just on headphones?! Over 300 earbuds alone?! Good god man, what are you doing with all of them??

Here's some of what I bought:

I also got an amp from Woo Audio to pair them with:

Earbuds are cheap and I often lose them, so I buy them in bulk. When I see a good deal I'll buy 20-30 at a time. Like this recent order:

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Here's some of what I bought:

I also got an amp from Woo Audio to pair them with:

Earbuds are cheap and I often lose them, so I buy them in bulk. When I see a good deal I'll buy 20-30 at a time. Like this recent order:

How could you buy all that junk, these are much better.

 

[madoka]

How could you buy all that junk, these are much better.

Not sure if serious, but the Audeze LCD-3 in my picture is considered much better than the Ultraone 10 by the audiophiles:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ultrasone-edition-10-or-audeze-lcd3.585739/

 

[EpicSurvivor]

Here's some of what I bought:

I also got an amp from Woo Audio to pair them with:

Earbuds are cheap and I often lose them, so I buy them in bulk. When I see a good deal I'll buy 20-30 at a time. Like this recent order:

VERY NICE Stuff you got there! I wish I could just afford One pair of $50 Earbuds lol or Headphones. Never used something more than $15 worth lol

As the owner of over 300 earbuds from $4-$350, yes $50 earbuds will generally sound better than $15 earbuds. Whether that sound difference is worth it to you is a personal choice. Recently I spent over $10K on headphones, yet I still don't mind using $4 earbuds. But you can totally tell the difference in sound quality and comfort.

I Mean don't get me wrong the JVC Gummies are excellent for their Price! hands down my favorite go to Earbuds for under $20 I do hear Panasonic has a really good set of earbuds too, forgot the exact name for them.

Over $10k just on headphones?! Over 300 earbuds alone?! Good god man, what are you doing with all of them??

To answer OP's question, as someone who has listened to cheap $1 ear buds you get at dollar general for most of her life, I could distinctly tell the difference in quality when I got a popular Panasonic pair off Amazon for a Jefferson.

Man no lie! I bought a pair of $1 ear buds from Dollar General and the sound was so crappy Not that I am complaining because I had lost my Original pair but I had these thrown around in my drawer, the sound was very bad when compared to JVC Gummies.

I have custom IEM's and an AK240 player, I will put my setup against some ears buds, mine might sound better.

Ok

Man I am telling you guys if you are looking for cheap Earbuds JVC Gummies is where its at, you can get them for $7 on sale and $13 for the Ones with Microphone.

I always get them in Blue.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Not sure if serious, but the Audeze LCD-3 in my picture is considered much better than the Ultraone 10 by the audiophiles:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ultrasone-edition-10-or-audeze-lcd3.585739/

Of course I wasn't serious, hence why I posted Tyll and that video. Better is also a matter of personal preference.

 

[madoka]

Of course I wasn't serious, hence why I posted Tyll and that video. Better is also a matter of personal preference.

Oh, sorry I can't watch the video right now because I'm with a client (and I'm supposed to be working).

 

[OutHouse]

I don't know how the hell anyone can stand earbuds. They hurt my sensitive ears...

shave you old hairy ears.

 

[OutHouse]

Here's some of what I bought:

I also got an amp from Woo Audio to pair them with:

Earbuds are cheap and I often lose them, so I buy them in bulk. When I see a good deal I'll buy 20-30 at a time. Like this recent order:

damn dude stop losing your shit.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Oh, sorry I can't watch the video right now because I'm with a client (and I'm supposed to be working).

Check it out once you get a chance, his reaction is priceless.

 

[uhohs]

JVC gummies are fine for ~$10 disposables, I had a pair a few years back. But there's certainly better stuff for not much more.

 

[MrSquished]

It all depends on what your ears can discern. I also have a pair of Beyers - the T90's which are around $500 and by all accounts are 90% of the quality of the T1's which were posted above and are around $1100. But if you have that $1100 and you want to spend the money then by all means get the 10% better sound. If not, get the lower end pair. Like any good full-sized headphones they need to be paired with a good source and DAC and amp - don't run them out of a basic soundcard. I run mine out of a Schiit Bifrost Multibit and a Burson Soloist SL Mk II. All told those two cost me about $1100 but the sound is AMAZING.

My IEM earbuds are the Dunu DN-2000J which are $300. I also have a pair of Sennheiser Momentum In-Ears which are $99. The Dunu's crush them pretty good. But find the sweetspot price point for your product and buy there if you can.My $300 IEM's have been compared favorably with the AKG $1000 IEM's. I can hear amazing sound out of them. So I found the $300 price point for Dunus to be the sweet spot. Sometimes I rock out to them at home even though I have the full-sized T90's to listen to.

 

[R0H1T]

Over $10k just on headphones?! Over 300 earbuds alone?! Good god man, what are you doing with all of them??

To answer OP's question, as someone who has listened to cheap $1 ear buds you get at dollar general for most of her life, I could distinctly tell the difference in quality when I got a popular Panasonic pair off Amazon for a Jefferson.

I think he/she might have a museum dedicated to audiophiles, that or an unhealthy obsession of collection electronic stuff.

More expensive earbuds sure can get loud(er) but not all of them are better. Headphones are definitely better, than earbuds, in that regard.

 

[Sonikku]

Here's some of what I bought:

I also got an amp from Woo Audio to pair them with:

Earbuds are cheap and I often lose them, so I buy them in bulk. When I see a good deal I'll buy 20-30 at a time. Like this recent order:

Damn. Well, if you ever find yourself with too many top of the line quality head phones to know what to do with, let me know. Poor Sonikku listens to $10 fodder from amazon.