View Full Version : Best earphones < 70 dollars ?
Hi,
As I often travel by plane, I would like to buy new earphones for my ipod.
Could you tell me what would be the best choice for less than 70-80 dollars ?
Thank you,
Greg
rebel99
07-03-2003, 10:57 PM
Sony MDR-EX71. Available from www.audiocubes.com. These earbuds block out outside noise basically by becoming earplugs that play music. But they really work! I was recently on a plane and could barely hear the engines.
mattwardfh
07-04-2003, 12:03 AM
If you're really picky about audio quality, you might not like them, but they're great for planes, and have a reasonably nice sound.
psxguy85
07-04-2003, 01:43 AM
If you are willing to spend a little more, Shure E2's would work best. There are better choices for plane use but they are way over your budget. I bought my Shure E2's on eBay, and they are perfect.
Jackonicko
07-04-2003, 07:51 AM
For airliner/bus/train use, the EX51, 70 or 71 would all fit the bill. I'd go for the cheapest (EX 51) and put the savings towards the ultimate earbud you can get for under $100, the Sony E888, which you should be able to find for about $60. These don't have anything like the same isolation, but you will be blown away by how great your music will sound with them.
Originally posted by psxguy85
If you are willing to spend a little more, Shure E2's would work best. There are better choices for plane use but they are way over your budget. I bought my Shure E2's on eBay, and they are perfect.
I agree with you 100%. I got my Shure E2's for $85.00, including shipping. If you can find a local vendor, you might be able to get them cheaper. I also own the EX's. I would STRONGLY recommend going slighly over your budget and getting the Shure's. But if it's going to stretch your budget, the EX's are a good alternative.
Thank you for your response.
Can you really hear a difference between the Shure and the regular ipods earphones ?
The Shure's blow the Apple buds away--and I personally don't think the Apple buds are all that bad, except they're uncomfortable to me..
boister77
07-10-2003, 05:01 AM
i got myself a koss portapro. i have to admit these are some great headphones. a bit odd looking but they have smooth deep bass and clear crisp highs. they a very comfortable. i can wear them for hours straight. they have great reviews and are respected among many audiophiles. for the price of $25 (from koss website using promotional code) it can't be beat. they also have a lifetime warranty.
mintcake
07-10-2003, 10:31 AM
I've heard good things about Koss 'phones - anyone use these (http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shopping/pages/buykosstheplug.html) ('the plug')? Any good?
The plug is awful. Don't waste your money.
The portapros, however, are very good--and an outstanding value. I still prefer the Shure E2's, but if you're looking mainly at cost, the portapros are an excellent alternative. They don't offer isolation though, and if that's a major concern, I'd look at the EX's or better yet the Shures...
mintcake
07-10-2003, 11:24 AM
Hmm right. Yeah I was thinking more of 'in ear' to cut out ambient noise. The portapro looks great value but realistically I'll not be wearing them on my daily commute.
What about Sennheisers? Good rep generally but it's functionality with the iPod that I'm interested in.
The Senn's are a great value--they sound very good, but are uncomfortable (at least to me--if you find the Apple buds uncomfortable, IMHO there's a pretty good chance you'll find the Senn's uncomfortable too), and once again, these don't offer any more isolation than the apple buds, and if that's what you're looking for, the Senn's aren't that great of an option.
Jackonicko
07-10-2003, 04:30 PM
I'll echo that. Koss' "The Plug" is the worst earbud I own, a good idea that was woefully badly executed, and which simply does not work.
The Sennheisers have better sound than the original iBuds, and about the same sound as the Gen 2 iBuds, but feel like a pair of frying pans in your ear because they are HUGE!
The best conventional earbud IMHO is the Sony E888. But it's not an in-the-ear design. If you go for an in-the-ear design (EX51/70/71, Ety etc.) you're buying an earbud with much smaller diameter drivers. To make 9-mm drivers sound any good costs big amounts of moolah, which is why (again IMHO) the EX51/70/71) are so poor.
Gunner
07-10-2003, 06:29 PM
Do the Shure E2s sound better then the Eytomic earphones? I have heard wonderful things about the Eytomic's but have never heard of Shure.
penbat
07-11-2003, 06:32 AM
There are other threads on this. The Shure e2Cs are good value (aroung ?70) and a lot better than the Apples. The Etymotic are much better still than the Shure E2cs but cost around 4 times as much but have a downside in that you get a lot of cable noise if you do as much as walk around with them.
mintcake
07-11-2003, 07:11 AM
Originally posted by penbat
...The Shure e2Cs are good value (aroung ?70) ... The Etymotic are much better still than the Shure E2cs but cost around 4 times as much but have a downside in that you get a lot of cable noise if you do as much as walk around with them. Seriously? *does quick calculation on fingers* ?280 (that's the price of a new 10gb iPod) for a pair of headphones that don't work properly?
er
/goes to check
edit - OK, 140 dollars a pair, hmm that's still a hella lot for suboptimal phones, even if it's not quite four times seventy pounds... ;)
Ok, a couple of things...The Shure E2's are comparable to the Ety6's, which are close to $140.00. Some people prefer the Ety's, some prefer the Shure's. For physical activity, because of the cord noise, I think the Shure's win.
The Ety4's are $270.00. I would not consider them "suboptimal". They are for quiet, stationary listening--and in this situation many feel they are the best sounding earphones around, and by a large margin. Now, for physical activity, they aren't optimal--which is why I bought Shure E2s; the Shures are the best earphones I've found for working out, and are reasonable priced to boot.
Jackonicko
07-11-2003, 03:00 PM
E888s are $66 from Audiocubes, and they are far and away the best earbuds I've tried for less than $100.
But don't take my word for it..........
http://www.audiocubes.com/product_reviews_info.php?cPath=22_30&products_id=29&reviews_id=156
there are plenty of other reviews, too.....
I think what we need is a direct comparson between the E888s and the Shure E2's...I don't have the E888's so I can't do it.
I think the Shure's are going to isolate better, but it would be intersting to hear a direct sound comparison. The E888's are a bit cheaper, but the Shure's are absolutely fantastic and MAY be worth the extra money, depending on how the E888's stack up..
Jackonicko
07-12-2003, 08:05 PM
The E888s DON'T ISOLATE cos they're earbuds, not in the ear-canal earphones. But with 16-mm drivers I suspect that sound quality may be better. Like you I can't compare cos I haven't tried Shures properly.
Well, you just send me those E888s, and I'll do it...I promise to send them back, unless I like them better, in which case you'll be getting my Shure's...:D
Seriously though, Tom keeps threatening to do a comprehensive review on the Shure's, but he might just be teasing me...
Offline69
07-14-2003, 03:18 AM
Does the Sony e888 fit any better than the original iPod earphones? The stock iPod earphones may be a bit big for my ears, and I can't wear them for longer than half an hour.
Jackonicko
07-14-2003, 07:05 AM
You'd have to try. Generally speaking, those with small ears find any conventional earbuds uncomfortable, and you might prefer clip-ons. The 888 is not entirely circular, so it depends how you wear it. I have big ears, but initially found it uncomfortable, but then found a different way of fitting it into my ear, and its fine. My wife, who has small ears, had no problem at all. But generally, I'd say it may not be ideal for those with small ears.
madricka
07-14-2003, 04:14 PM
I've been using the Sony 71's for a few weeks & I think they're great. Granted, I haven't tried the other ones you guys are talking about, I think for your average person, the 71's are fine. I like the fact that they fit so snuggly inside your ear (and with the different size inserts, it works out well for a lot of people). I have small ears & the Apple earbuds are way too huge. If you do go for the 71's, try to find them cheaper on eBay -- there are a lot of resellers that offer brand-new, in-the-package 71's for much cheaper than you'd find them in store, even with the shipping.
Jackonicko
07-15-2003, 07:29 PM
Pioneer's $29 SE-CL30 Encapsulated Earphones may represent a better, cheaper option than the EX51/70/71 for those who need the isolation afforded by in the ear canal earphones. They have a slightly broader frequency response 5-23,000 Hz and use 10-mm drivers rather than 8- or 9-. They also come in black or white.
eatelsewhere
04-12-2004, 10:27 AM
yeah i just bought a pair of e888s... i prefer to have my music a bit distant from my brain. i tried a pair of mate's e2cs and just felt as if i was constantly being bombarded by my music :S
theres no doubt; the e2cs sound bloody amazing, i just felt a little threatened by their proximity :S hehe. im hoping the e888s will provide me with a little more room to breathe :)
Jackonicko
04-12-2004, 08:30 PM
I now have E2s AND E888s.
The E2s have great sound and great isolation. The E888 has great sound and no isolation.
I'd expected the E2 to be much more comfortable than the E888 and frankly it's not.
The EX51, 70 and 71 have GREAT comfort, great isolation and lousy sound.
The Apple In-Ears are more comfortable than either the E888 or the E2, but sound awful unless you can get a seal, and I think you'd have to be lucky for them to fit (they fit me, just, but only with the smallest earpiece in my left ear, and they don't stay in well).
The fact is that the perfect earbud has yet to be invented.
tombo77
04-13-2004, 07:41 AM
I have the Koss Plugs, compared to the original phones they were better but terrible fiit and isolation.
The 71's I still like but the E3's for me can be worn a much longer time and have way better isolation. I have to be careful taking them out as they are suctioned in my canals.
Getting the ETY 4P tomorrow, Gonna find out if they are indeed the best. I love the E3's. I can't imagine the ETYs being better. But there was a time not to long ago the 71's were good enough as well!
Actually they still are still a great choice for $39!