Need help making a purchase decision

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
For those of you who don't know what either product is, an 80 dollar pair of awesome headphones (Shure E2C) or an iPod dock/speaker thing that can also be used with things like laptops (A/L iM3). Both of these are gonna be for an overseas trip thats lasting about 3 weeks.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Definitely the Shures given those two choices but I would try to move up the Shure line or get something from Ety instead.

Viper GTS
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Definitely the Shures given those two choices but I would try to move up the Shure line or get something from Ety instead.

Viper GTS
I was thinking about Ety, but I really just can't spending more than 80-ish for headphones, I'm leaning against the iM3's right now, because my laptop speakers are pretty decent (Dell Inspiron 9300) and probably just as good if not better than the iM3, it actually has a small speaker at the bottom of the laptop that puts out only some of the lower frequencies, really gives it some thump for a laptop, and if I buy the Shures I'll probably get an iTrip and just use my iPod with my uncle's Sharp boombox thingy, one of those bigger ones.
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
Originally posted by: chuckywang
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx

:thumbsup:
You have them? Can you vouch for how they sound? If I'm gonna spend more than 100, I've already decided its going to be Shure E3C, the Ety's have a 5 foot cord, that is as big as I am, and I hate earbuds where the silicone bud thing is like this <<< (Ety) compared to my Sonys and the Shures <
 

feelingshorter

Platinum Member
May 5, 2004
2,439
0
71
For $149 a pair

crazy... i wouldnt spend more than 80 dollars on it. BTW, those ear plug tupe earphones might hurt in the long run. I've worn all types of earplugs and make sure you know wat ur buying otherwise it hurts ur ear after 10 mins or so.
 

chuckywang

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
20,133
1
0
Originally posted by: sheik124
Originally posted by: chuckywang
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx

:thumbsup:
You have them? Can you vouch for how they sound? If I'm gonna spend more than 100, I've already decided its going to be Shure E3C, the Ety's have a 5 foot cord, that is as big as I am, and I hate earbuds where the silicone bud thing is like this <<< (Ety) compared to my Sonys and the Shures <

Well, they're specifically made for the Apply Ipod, but I don't know.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1597485&enterthread=y

There's a thread a while ago that I started asking whether the Shure E3C's were worth it. There's some good info there.
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
Originally posted by: feelingshorter
For $149 a pair

crazy... i wouldnt spend more than 80 dollars on it. BTW, those ear plug tupe earphones might hurt in the long run. I've worn all types of earplugs and make sure you know wat ur buying otherwise it hurts ur ear after 10 mins or so.
Thats why my first venture into in-ear buds (more properly referred to as "canalphones") whether it be my first or first and last, was the el-cheapo Sony MDR-EX51LP. I was blown away, and can't wait to see how much better the Shures are. One of my friends actually got a headache from wearing mine, I actually find the fit and feel of them in my ear quite comfortable.
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
I have the e2c's and they fvcking own. One of the best 60 bucks i've ever spent.
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
I know that there is a drastic difference between the way the E2Cs and the E3(and 4)Cs are designed. Gurck mentioned in the above linked thread that the 3s weren't worth it with the iPod, but all my music is now ripped straight from CD using EAC/LAME with a little custom string, I end up getting ~230ish kbps VBR MP3s, so far they sound fine through everything I've ever played them on, but that isn't saying much casue all that is is Logitech Z-5500s and my Sony in-ears.
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Originally posted by: sheik124
last bump for the night, its down to E2C VS. E3C

I think if yo'ure not an audiophile, e3c's aren't worth the money.
I wouldn't say I'm an audiophile, cause I certainly don't obsess over how things sound, but I can definitely tell the difference when moving up the ladder, for example, when I went from crap pack-ins to these Fontopias, it was amazing, getting my Logitech Z-5500s compared to my old cheapy A/L speakers, just as amazing. I'm still also thinkin they aren't worth the cash, there's something about the impendance on the E3C that, well, if you use them with a crappy source, like a crappy Sigmatel laptop codec, you'll get alot of hiss.

EDIT: That's where I'm planning on buying them from
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
Definitely get the phones rather than the speakers.

Canalphones weren't designed for the ipod, they're great phones designed to be small, sound good and offer isolation. The ipod BS is marketing; manufacturers need to make money after all.

Anyway, from what I know Etymotics offer a more neutral, analytical sound with probably a bit more detail per dollar spent and have very microphonic cords while Shures, like Grados, offer a fun sound with frequency response humps in all the right places. Between the e2c & e3c, I'd say get the 2s unless you're very serious about sound, listen to only 192+ bitrate lossy music and have good sources. I just ordered a pair of e2cs for $63 shipped, should be here in a week or so.
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
Originally posted by: Gurck
Definitely get the phones rather than the speakers.

Canalphones weren't designed for the ipod, they're great phones designed to be small, sound good and offer isolation. The ipod BS is marketing; manufacturers need to make money after all.

Anyway, from what I know Etymotics offer a more neutral, analytical sound with probably a bit more detail per dollar spent and have very microphonic cords while Shures, like Grados, offer a fun sound with frequency response humps in all the right places. Between the e2c & e3c, I'd say get the 2s unless you're very serious about sound, listen to only 192+ bitrate lossy music and have good sources. I just ordered a pair of e2cs for $63 shipped, should be here in a week or so.
Yeah, its probably part of Apple's new "Made for iPod" campaign, I tend to ignore that kind of crap. I hate flat music, the Shures seem to sound like what I want, on head-fi, alot of the people that stepped up from the Sony MDR-EX line liked the way the Shures sounded. You know, I only do listen to 192+ and use EAC rips for my sources, but the other part of me is tellin me I don't need the E3Cs, because until 5 minutes ago, the MDR-EX51s on my ear were fine enough, I'll be grabbin some E2Cs off Amazon with 2nd Day Shipping.
Thanks all for your help.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Originally posted by: sheik124
Originally posted by: Gurck
Definitely get the phones rather than the speakers.

Canalphones weren't designed for the ipod, they're great phones designed to be small, sound good and offer isolation. The ipod BS is marketing; manufacturers need to make money after all.

Anyway, from what I know Etymotics offer a more neutral, analytical sound with probably a bit more detail per dollar spent and have very microphonic cords while Shures, like Grados, offer a fun sound with frequency response humps in all the right places. Between the e2c & e3c, I'd say get the 2s unless you're very serious about sound, listen to only 192+ bitrate lossy music and have good sources. I just ordered a pair of e2cs for $63 shipped, should be here in a week or so.
Yeah, its probably part of Apple's new "Made for iPod" campaign, I tend to ignore that kind of crap. I hate flat music, the Shures seem to sound like what I want, on head-fi, alot of the people that stepped up from the Sony MDR-EX line liked the way the Shures sounded. You know, I only do listen to 192+ and use EAC rips for my sources, but the other part of me is tellin me I don't need the E3Cs, because until 5 minutes ago, the MDR-EX51s on my ear were fine enough, I'll be grabbin some E2Cs off Amazon with 2nd Day Shipping.
Thanks all for your help.

You may not like "flat music" but your headphones SHOULD provide as flat a response as possible. Same goes for any audio gear of course. If you're listening to accurate reproduction & don't like it then you can blame the music.

BTW I own a pair of EX51's too, great little phones that it wouldn't kill me to lose. Perfect for traveling.

Viper GTS
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Originally posted by: sheik124
Originally posted by: Gurck
Definitely get the phones rather than the speakers.

Canalphones weren't designed for the ipod, they're great phones designed to be small, sound good and offer isolation. The ipod BS is marketing; manufacturers need to make money after all.

Anyway, from what I know Etymotics offer a more neutral, analytical sound with probably a bit more detail per dollar spent and have very microphonic cords while Shures, like Grados, offer a fun sound with frequency response humps in all the right places. Between the e2c & e3c, I'd say get the 2s unless you're very serious about sound, listen to only 192+ bitrate lossy music and have good sources. I just ordered a pair of e2cs for $63 shipped, should be here in a week or so.
Yeah, its probably part of Apple's new "Made for iPod" campaign, I tend to ignore that kind of crap. I hate flat music, the Shures seem to sound like what I want, on head-fi, alot of the people that stepped up from the Sony MDR-EX line liked the way the Shures sounded. You know, I only do listen to 192+ and use EAC rips for my sources, but the other part of me is tellin me I don't need the E3Cs, because until 5 minutes ago, the MDR-EX51s on my ear were fine enough, I'll be grabbin some E2Cs off Amazon with 2nd Day Shipping.
Thanks all for your help.

You may not like "flat music" but your headphones SHOULD provide as flat a response as possible. Same goes for any audio gear of course. If you're listening to accurate reproduction & don't like it then you can blame the music.

BTW I own a pair of EX51's too, great little phones that it wouldn't kill me to lose. Perfect for traveling.

Viper GTS
Scrap what I originally said, simply put, I agree with what Gurck said, and on a sidenote, I often leave the EQ flat to get an accurate reproduction of what the recorders wanted me to hear when they mastered the song, unless I need to compensate for oddities about certain speakers/headphones, like weak mids on my Logitechs and excessive bass on my Fontopias.
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Originally posted by: sheik124
Originally posted by: Gurck
Definitely get the phones rather than the speakers.

Canalphones weren't designed for the ipod, they're great phones designed to be small, sound good and offer isolation. The ipod BS is marketing; manufacturers need to make money after all.

Anyway, from what I know Etymotics offer a more neutral, analytical sound with probably a bit more detail per dollar spent and have very microphonic cords while Shures, like Grados, offer a fun sound with frequency response humps in all the right places. Between the e2c & e3c, I'd say get the 2s unless you're very serious about sound, listen to only 192+ bitrate lossy music and have good sources. I just ordered a pair of e2cs for $63 shipped, should be here in a week or so.
Yeah, its probably part of Apple's new "Made for iPod" campaign, I tend to ignore that kind of crap. I hate flat music, the Shures seem to sound like what I want, on head-fi, alot of the people that stepped up from the Sony MDR-EX line liked the way the Shures sounded. You know, I only do listen to 192+ and use EAC rips for my sources, but the other part of me is tellin me I don't need the E3Cs, because until 5 minutes ago, the MDR-EX51s on my ear were fine enough, I'll be grabbin some E2Cs off Amazon with 2nd Day Shipping.
Thanks all for your help.

You may not like "flat music" but your headphones SHOULD provide as flat a response as possible. Same goes for any audio gear of course. If you're listening to accurate reproduction & don't like it then you can blame the music.

BTW I own a pair of EX51's too, great little phones that it wouldn't kill me to lose. Perfect for traveling.

Viper GTS

Every phone/speaker has a unique sound signature and is like listening with an eq set to something other than flat, it's unavoidable. Many love the 'fun' sound of Shures & Grados, and not only newbies who don't know much about audio. I personally prefer my EQs on flat as well, but don't hold it against someone if they don't, or if they attempt to compensate for their phones' or speakers' coloration with the EQ.