Earbuds - Finally tried some sound isolating type

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
I have always used the standard ear buds, like what comes with iPods.
I always assumed those newer sound isolating types would be weird feeling.
They are the ear buds with the rubber gasket that inserts into your ear canal. (See links below)
I finally tried my friend's cheap pair of Skull Candy headphones and WOW!

You can't hear outside sounds!
You don't have to turn the volume up so loud to override all the ambient noise!
The bass sounds so much better, probably because all of the waves are forced into your ear canal.

What's a good pair for ~$30 of sound isolating type headphones?
A Google search pointed me to these three.

JBuds J2 Premium - $15 - http://www.amazon.com/JBuds-Premium-...pr_product_top

Sony Mdr-Ex75/Whi - $22 - http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Mdr-Ex75-...tag=011080e-20

Sennheiser CX-300 II - $35 - http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-II-...9209887&sr=1-3

Those seem pretty cheap compared to Shure buds that I assumed were the best prosumer because they are like $200+.


Edit: Just found these related threads for suggestions:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2147232
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2142154
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2140873
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2135377
 
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HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
I have always used the standard ear buds, like what comes with iPods.
I always assumed those newer sound isolating types would be weird feeling.
They are the ear buds with the rubber gasket that inserts into your ear canal. (See links below)
I finally tried my friend's cheap pair of Skull Candy headphones and WOW!

You can't hear outside sounds!
You don't have to turn the volume up so loud to override all the ambient noise!
The bass sounds so much better, probably because all of the waves are forced into your ear canal.

What's a good pair for ~$30 of sound isolating type headphones?
A Google search pointed me to these two.

JBuds J2 Premium - $15 - http://www.amazon.com/JBuds-Premium-...pr_product_top

Sony Mdr-Ex75/Whi - $22 - http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Mdr-Ex75-...tag=011080e-20

Sennheiser CX-300 II - $35 - http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-II-...9209887&sr=1-3

Those seem pretty cheap compared to Shure buds that I assumed were the best prosumer because they are like $200+.


Edit: Just found these related threads for suggestions:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2147232
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2142154
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2140873
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2135377

I've got the Sennheiser ones you list, awesome. Well recommended, worth every penny.
 

CRXican

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
9,062
1
0
I have the JBuds

they are my first pair also, very meh if you ask me, guess I was expecting too much
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,837
38
91
i'd be afraid i'd miss something if i can't hear it. or paranoid someone will run me over and i wont hear what i need to.
 

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
i'd be afraid i'd miss something if i can't hear it. or paranoid someone will run me over and i wont hear what i need to.
Yeah, you really can't be using these while doing stuff outside. The wire is often tiny and it's very hard for others to know you're wearing isolated buds. They're perfect if you were on a subway or bus, or something like that.
 

Taejin

Moderator<br>Love & Relationships
Aug 29, 2004
3,270
0
0
spend a couple hundred dollars on a music listening device and use 5 dollar shit earbuds to listen to the music.

always found it amusing =)
 

mcvickj

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2001
4,602
0
76
I picked up a great pair of SoundMAGIC PL21 ear buds in the FS/FT forums. Been very happy with them. Sound awesome compared to the stock iPod buds. Plenty of options for different ears to get the right fit. Looking to pick up another pair so I can keep them at work.
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
I highly recommend using triple flange tips/sleeves, like the one's Shure sells. I used them with the e2c, and it was the best combo of fit and noise blocking I've ever had.
 

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
spend a couple hundred dollars on a music listening device and use 5 dollar shit earbuds to listen to the music.

always found it amusing =)
The funny thing is that people almost tend to look down on those who spend a couple of hundred on headphones or a headphone amp. Yet, this really gets you the best audio value for your money.
 

blamb425

Senior member
Mar 30, 2007
545
1
0
KLIPSCH S4

Come on, people!!!!

EDIT: Didn't see the $30. Another vote for the Senns.
 
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0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Sennheiser CX-300 II
This.
they are far better than the mk1. they are sorta in between, they don't go deep in your eears, but none of the cheaper ones really do, real iems go DEEP in your ears, and those are true isolation, and to me, weird feeling and not so good that way. but if you realy need to block out the noise and get crystal clarity, iem is the way, for more general use the regular silicon bud type is good compromise since you want to be aware of your surroundings. in anycase, any silicon bud is better than those cheap plastic old fashioned ear buds like the ipod type ones. those leak so much sound that you have to crank them, and that is what damages hearing, cranking to over power the outside noise. this used to be even worse back in the day with those "walkman" type headphones, folks used to literally crank those up so high you could hear them like laptop speakers strapped to their head.

beware of ebay.
fake headphones galore. don't pay 30 bucks for a 5 dollar headphone knockoff.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
plus the J cord behind the neck is more secure, esp if you have the cord under your shirt.
keeps from the snagging wire on stuff as you walk by as well...which probably accounts for many of the headphone deaths
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
I use Super Fi 5 Pros for listening usually, but the TF 10 Pros are used at home.

Good earbuds are amazing.

People who put mine in and say "Ugh not bassy" are just clueless. Then again it's probably the same crowd that loves the deep oversaturation of glossy panels and AMOLED screens.
 

Check

Senior member
Nov 6, 2000
366
0
0
JVC HAFX34 (aka marshmallows)

For entry level IEMs they are pretty good. Unless you want to drop $100+ I would go with these.

They can take quite the beating, I've used mine for 2 years while working out. (for comparison my Klipsch S4s lasted about 90 days)
 

uhohs

Diamond Member
Oct 29, 2005
7,660
44
91
if you don't need tons of bass, these.

there's some cheaper sites than focalprice, but i haven't purchased from those stores before.
 

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
I use Super Fi 5 Pros for listening usually, but the TF 10 Pros are used at home.

Good earbuds are amazing.

People who put mine in and say "Ugh not bassy" are just clueless. Then again it's probably the same crowd that loves the deep oversaturation of glossy panels and AMOLED screens.
What if I like AMOLEDs because of their lack of a backlight that results in increased viewing angles, thiner size, and better battery life?