View Full Version : Behind the neck earphones
Hi guys I have a quick question. I want to get a pair of earphones that go around your neck not over your head. Are there any good ones? I couldnt seem to find any reviews.
Im look into the px100 (i think thats what they're called) but those go over your head. And I dont want to have to ruin my hair everytime I put gel on it, you know what I mean?
Also for the in-ear phones, any1 find anything matching the ex71z in quality, and have equal lengths of cord on both sides? Also ill beusing these for working out as well as recreation so dont know if its a good idea to have canal earphones since I will feel every thump when on the treadmill. So any comments?
kauffee
03-15-2004, 12:48 AM
For around the neck, go with the Koss KSC-55. For EX71ish sound, look at the new Sharp MD-33. I'm not sure about the cord on the sharp, but I think it's normal.
nihil8r
03-15-2004, 02:07 AM
the sony streetstyle are nice, but they aren't studio quality. i have the sports streetstyle that are water 'resistant' . . .
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=-lloW12ujhJoUx3nqlRiUBKigzre7jfq2x0=?CategoryName=a cc_Headphones_StreetStyle&ProductSKU=MDRG57G&Dept=acc
Spoonman
03-15-2004, 09:41 AM
Originally posted by zgrm
Hi guys I have a quick question. I want to get a pair of earphones that go around your neck not over your head. Are there any good ones? I couldnt seem to find any reviews.
Im look into the px100 (i think thats what they're called) but those go over your head. And I dont want to have to ruin my hair everytime I put gel on it, you know what I mean?
Also for the in-ear phones, any1 find anything matching the ex71z in quality, and have equal lengths of cord on both sides? Also ill beusing these for working out as well as recreation so dont know if its a good idea to have canal earphones since I will feel every thump when on the treadmill. So any comments?
Budget?
KSC-55's would get my vote. Cheeper, and much better sounding than the sony streetstyle IMHO.
Spoonman
03-15-2004, 02:17 PM
Don't get sony streetstyles, they really do sound horrible
MikeM
03-15-2004, 02:23 PM
I would skip the behind the head band and get some good buds/in-ear plugs.
They don't mess up the hair and sound waaaay better.
ok so wihch ones would you guys recommend. Im hoping to spend under $40. The lesss the better! But they obviously have to be better then the apple earphones, otherwise no point of upgrading...
So which phones would you recommend? Like I said im not sure how good the canal ear phones would be for jogging. Any suggestions?
kauffee
03-16-2004, 08:40 AM
Given your budget, I'd still go with the Koss KSC-55. Their sound quality is better than the Sony EX71, which would really be the only canalphone in that price range. Plus, the headband will be better for jogging. They won't fall out and you won't get any microphonic effect.
microphonic effect?
I dunno for some reason I dont know if I should go with canal phones. I mean are they significantly better than regular earphones? And how would they compay to the Sannheiser (spelling?) PX100s that are regular headphones?
doctorjuggles
03-16-2004, 12:01 PM
Microphonics is the amplification of all sounds through the cord. When the cord rubs against your shirt, for example, you can hear it through the earphones.
Originally posted by zgrm
microphonic effect?
I dunno for some reason I dont know if I should go with canal phones. I mean are they significantly better than regular earphones? And how would they compay to the Sannheiser (spelling?) PX100s that are regular headphones?
I echo Kaufee's opinion, with regard to the KSC-55's vs the EX's.
Upper end canal phones (Shure E3, Ety 4P, Shure E5) are truly incredible. I would take any of these over the Senn 100's without a second thought (and that's nothing against the Senn's--the 100s are fantastic for the price). But you're going up significantly in price range to get into an upper end canalphone.
The E2's are more reasonably priced, but I'd be hard pressed to call them better than Senn PX100's...They are, however, the first reasonably priced earphone worth owning IMHO. I'd stay away from the EX's unless you're limited by price and absolutley must have the isolation of a canal phone--otherwise you have much better choices in your price range.
okie thanks. the Koss KSC-55 are they noticably better than the stock apple earphones?
And also will they be able to handle the power of the iPod without blowing, and are they powerful enough? lol sorry about all the questions just want to get all the facts straight.
kauffee
03-16-2004, 05:16 PM
Yeah, they are noticeably better than the stock phones. I've only heard the KSC-35 but since they have the same driver as the 55, I'm assuming the sound is the same. I really liked the sound... very full... strong, deep bass, and pretty accurate highs. A total bargain.
And yes, they'll be a good match for the iPod. They're designed with portables in mind. I highly doubt the iPod could blow them.
Once again, ditto Kauffe's remarks.
If you get the KSC-55's, save your receipt--they have a lifetime warranty...
wow thats great. Sounds good guys. So any1 know areliable place to purchase them from?
is there a difference between the 35's and 55's?
kauffee
03-17-2004, 12:17 AM
Google search yields plenty of results. The 35s are clip-ons and the 55s have the neckband. I think the 50s are the updated version of the clip-on with the new styling. The drivers are the same on all.
dmt which ones do you think are better in that price range? Should I get the Koss or not?
Im still thinking to go with either the Koss or some canal phones in the same price range. Which would be better? Because im frequently in the subway and all that noise has me listening at almost max volume to 'cancel' out the other noises on the stock phones...
Also how do the Sennheiser mx-500's fit in with these? I know they arent noise cancelling, but niether are the ksc-55's so how would you compare them?
Thanks a lot for all the advice this is really helping me narrow it down.
I just found some reviews on the KSC-55s. It actually said that they arent that good for jogging because the plastic band behind the neck will also be moving around and touching your neck all the time while u jog. Also there is non-existant noise isolation so every1 around me would hear what Im listneing to and vice versa.
Since Im looking to at least reduce some noise while im on the subway, and airplance (going on vacation), I would like to have something that would reduce some of the noise so I dont have to listen at full volume like I do with the stock earphones.
So what are my choices now? People seem to like the Shure E2's but they are a little out of my price range. So can I get anything decent for $30 or less?
The Koss with the neckband are fine for jogging. They do, however, leak sound like crazy. The Senn mx 500's are great for the price, but very uncomfortable for me--if you have problems with the stock buds, you'll probably have problems with the Senn's, and they won't isolate any better than the stock buds.. If that's what you're after, I hate to say this, but I'd strongly recommend spending the extra money and getting the Shure E2's. You might find them cheaper used at headfi.org; that would be a safe way to save some money on them. But you'd be able to jog with them, and they do an excellent job of isolating.
The Sony EX's would be an alternative if you can't afford the Shure's; they are very bassy, and muddy sounding however--but you might be able to find them for close to $30.00. I haven't tried the new Apple buds, but reports haven't been encouraging. The new Phillips buds have had some OK reviews, but I haven't tried those either. The E2's are significantly better than the EX's, IMHO. But for less than $30.00, you're not going to find a great isolating earphone. If you don't have to have the isolation, the Koss's or Senn PX100's would be my vote--very good value. If you're going to jog, I'd go with the Koss's (I have no problem with the neckband and jogging; they stay on pretty darned tight for me, but I haven't jogged with them for a while).
Maybe down the road a higher quality low budget earphone will make itself available, but the problem is the drivers are completely different once you go to the upper end phones--the E2 is the cutoff for the best of the relatively cheaper dynamic drivers, and while it's a good phone, it's quite a step down from the E3's or Ety 4P's, which use a different, more expensive type of driver. Meaning I just don't think you'll ever see outstanding quality from the cheaper canal phones, unless someone finds a way to create the better drivers much, much cheaper.
Isee. You might be right DMt. Im Just curios though. How much of a differnce in driver can their be betwwen the E2 and 3's. I mean the earphones are soo small. Is the driver more loud? OR tighter bass?
So basically your saying If I want any kind of decent isolatoin and quality to go for the $80 E2's? I was hoping there would be something cheaper that maybe just reduces sound like the EX71's but I just hate the way the cord is, and like u said the bass is too muddy, dont like that. I like a nice tight bass...
Spoonman
03-17-2004, 07:11 PM
E2 uses a dynamic driver, E3 uses an armature (Single Low Mass/High Energy Micro-Speaker) ... there is quite a bit of difference between these two earphones, not only in their design, but in their drivers, and sound...the E3's in a class above that of the E2.
I see. D*mn there so expensive though. They are so small and cost half of the iPod!
Spoonman
03-17-2004, 08:36 PM
I used to think it was all too expensive too...now I use E5's :eek:
thedodgyguy
03-17-2004, 08:47 PM
I think the Sony EX71 may just be the best compromise for your budget. I haven't heard the new iPod in-ear buds so I can't tell you anything on that point.
I think the EX71 probably isolates the most out of phones in that price range. Much less than the E2, but it's usable.
I used to use the EX70 for flying when the EX70's first came out, but found it somewhat unsatisfactory. It just didn't block out enough noise to get rid of stress. Now I use the Etymotic ER-4P, Shure E3c and the Shure E5, all of which keep me quite happy. I do have an EX71 too somewhere.
The Shure E2 will be the best noise blocking solution for a reasonably low price, albeit less comfortable than the EX71 or the ER-4P/E3c/E5.
I just went over to best buy to see if they have any in stock, so that I can try them out. Ive never really had canal earphones before so didnt know if I would like the feel. They only had Koss plug phones or something like that. Well I bought them tried them on and they felt terrible! So now I dont know if I would like the canal phones.
Does any1 know of a big store that doesnt charge a restocking fee. That caries the KSC-55, and the Shure E2/3's so I can see how they feel?
Koss plugs are nothing like the Shure's or Ety's. Koss plugs are like shoving a tampon in your ear (not that I've ever done that, it is simply an untested analogy). Headroom allows thirty day hassle free returns, but they are bit more expensive than other places. It's a fantastic vendor though if you think you might not like the phones; would be a good place to order the E2's from risk free. I don't know if they are stocking the E3's yet. I suspect you'd find the E3's more comfortable than the E2's; I'd go with these.
BrawnyDT
03-18-2004, 02:21 PM
From all the research I've done on the audiofile websites the Koss KSC-55's are the best value for under $40. I think I got mine for $30 at bestbuy. I don't know if they charge a restocking fee, I doubt it.
I got mine for $20.00, and that included cost of shipping, from an online store (can't remember the store--probably DJmart).
nihil8r
03-18-2004, 04:20 PM
Originally posted by Spoonman
Don't get sony streetstyles, they really do sound horrible
the sports version is upgraded over the regular kind. even then, horrible? uh . . . whatever you say. i'm donating both of my studio headsets to goodwill now that i have those. i'm wearing shure e3's while i type this, too.
I was hoping a Brick And Mortar store. Any1 know if Sam Ash would have these?
Not sure how much of a help this will be:
But I was at the Apple store in Novi, Mi and noticed a pair of behind the neck headphones, that folded!!!:eek:
And get this:
They were white!!:eek:
They were $50.00 so I didn't get them at the time but now I'm contemplating. I seem to remember them being altec lansings, but I cannot find them on their website, anyone have any ideas?
After doing some googling the model number is:
YO-302WHT
But I still cannot find a picture
NBrownie09
02-06-2006, 10:49 PM
Originally posted by qpid
After doing some googling the model number is:
YO-302WHT
But I still cannot find a picture
(dot)ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/altec-lansing-inmotion-headphones-ipod/
check out that link, not a good rating... C-?
I'd stay away...