Best place to do a "side-by-side" comparison??

[cberube]

I think new headphones are going to be my next big upgrade, and I've been watching this forum and reading the threads for weeks now. Every time a headphone starts getting some good feedback and I start thinking "that's the one I need" along comes someone else who slags the one I settled on and I'm back to square one.

So, I'm thinking maybe I just need to do a side by side comparison of my own, and I was just wondering if anyone could suggest a store that would allow me to plug the headphones that are getting talked about in this forum into my own ipod before I buy?

Thanks in advance.

[dmt1]

Headroom will allow you to return them hassle free within 30 days of purchase, so you could buy two pairs, and return the ones you don't like. I bought my Ety 4p's this way (I could have got them cheaper elsewhere, but I wanted to make absolutely sure I could return them--but you'd have to pry them from my cold dead fingers to get them from me at this point).

[SkippyMcHaggis]

you might try the Guitar Center there in Denver. i bet they would have some of the Shure's around to try. i'm not sure if they sell Etymotics or not, but it's worth a try. just don't forget to take your iPod along.

i can't remember if there's a Pro-Sound in Denver or not...i used to live in the Springs, and they usually had a decent amount of inventory around, too...

there would probably also be some other high end audio stores in the Denver area that might have some stuff. it never hurts to check the phonebook

and dmt1's suggestion of headroom (www.headphone.com) as a place to try is also a good one.

Skip

OT: hey dmt1, just how microphonic are the ety cables?

my Shure e2's showed up today and i'm liking them a lot...thinking about an amp now tho...

[cberube]

Thanks for the suggestions; keep them coming. I'm not seeing Headroom or Pro-Sound in the phone book, but the Guitar Center is a definite possibility. The only high end store I've been in so far is the Bang & Olufsen store. They had some headphones that they let me try out with my ipod and I have to say that, for $160, I wasn't all that impressed. Surprising b/c I really love my B&O home stereo.

[dmt1]

Oh yeah, I forgot about guitar center--I'd try that first if you've got one in your area.

Skippy: the Ety cables--and I have the Ety 4p's with the new, less microphonic cable--still have quite a bit of cord noise with activity. I don't like to use them walking around. They're fine with the shirt clip on and exercising on an elliptical or recumbant exercise bike (where the cord doesn't move), but forget about lifting weights, jogging or a treadmill--the cord noise will drive you crazy. The Shure's are better for exercise--I get minimal, if any cord noise from those, and the sound is very good. Plus they just look and feel more durable, and it probably makes more sense to use them in the gym anyway.

I like the Ety's so much I use them in place of my Grado SR 60's at home, and if I'm using an elliptical. Otherwise, if I'm lifting weights, or walking around, I use the Shure's. Still keeping my fingers crossed for triple flanged sleeves for the Shures though...

And if your going to go for an Amp, I'd recommend strongly considering the Ety's--you're not going to be portable with an Amp anyway, and the upgrade, especially with an Amp, would be significant. You could get the Ety4s, which are supposed to sound even better than the 4P's amped, or the 4P's, which sound better than the 4S unamped (hope that makes sense); you can for an extra $45.00 get a cord adapter that converts the 4P's to the 4S--you'd have the best of both worlds then--you could go unamped or amped depending on your situation.

[SkippyMcHaggis]

cberube: Headroom is an online retailer. i'm not sure where they're physically located. to do a side-by-side with them, you'd have to front quite a bit of cash to actually buy what you wanted to hear, but then return what you don't like. not the easiest or cheapest way to do it, but it's a way, and you'll only actually spent money on what you keep.

since you haven't mentioned price range, what kind of general sound presentation you like, or headphone style (canal phone, earbud, open or closed cans) i'm not sure what else to suggest. everything has its pluses and minuses, but we might be able to point you in the "right" direction if we knew some of that.

i'm not sure if you've checked out: www.head-fi.org or http://headwize2.powerpill.org/index.htm and read through the reviews there. some of them are very good, and even try to remain fairly objective about it, but everyone has their own opinion. the important thing to remember when looking at all this and reading reviews is to remember that YMMV (your mileage may vary). until you start to build a base of knowledge and a frame of reference for how different stuff sounds, you're never gonna know exactly which will sound best to you.

Skip

dmt1: thanks for the info :)

[cberube]

Again, thanks. The price range would be less than $100 or so. I'm thinking ear canal type phones would be best b/c whatever I buy, it will need to fit in my pocket. Just based on what I have read here, I am leaning toward either the sony or the sennheiser, but I am also wondering if the shures are worth the extra cash. If there is something else I should be considering, I guess I don't know what it is.

[SkippyMcHaggis]

if you can afford it, go for the Shures. i got mine a few days ago and i'm never going to step down in quality again. the only way to go is up :P

seriously, i'm really liking them. if you're willing to take the gamble that you'll like canal phones and would like a cheaper place to get some of the e2's, the guy i got them from on ebay was easy to work with. $79.99 shipped. his ebay id is "brianf" he should come up with a search for Shure E2

but don't be afraid to try out the Sony or the Senns if you can get em local. (i know Circuit City is supposed to carry the Senns.)

i haven't heard the Senns, or the Sonys but they'll be better than the stock buds. they prolly won't be white, but i'd actually rather not draw attention to my self or my iPod.

i've had lots of other sony products that i liked, but i just talked myself up to the Shures. and i don't regret it. i wanted the isolation that a canal bud offered. i should mention that i sleep with earplugs in every night (light sleeper, and a roommate that snores loud enough to wake the dead, thru walls...) so i'm really used to having stuff in my ears.

make the decision that makes you happy, and that'll be the best decision you can make. but don't forget to fear the upgraditis virus :P

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