Mini Replacement Earphones: Shure E3c or Etymotics ER-6i

[bikepodmini]

First off, I know this has been talked about and talked about, but I wanted some more recent information, and had a couple of questions.

The Shure E3c's have been around for a while now, and it seems that people here like them. What do these compare like the the current ER-6's? From the web site, it seems like the 6i's will have a little bit better low-end responce.

Is the fit better or easier to come by, in one versus the other?

I notice that the Shure's come with a nice zipper case, what about the Etymotics?

What is this business about filters for the Etymotics? Filters for what? Is this to keep earwax or something from entering the earphone? Need a little help on this. Also, do the Shure's have these too? How often do they have to be replaced, and how do you know when they need to be replaced?

What about this "microphoning" effect. Is it worse on one versus the other? Actually, I get a slight amount of that effect with the current (crap) Apple headphones that came with the Mini. Is it more pronounced on these in-ear phones?

What about the quality of each. Accessories, fit and feel, etc. Which gives you impression of, "wow, that is cool, that's why I paid $150+ for these things."

I'm swaying more towards the Etymotics. The price is lower, and it seems like they will have an outstanding earphone compared to the older ER-6's.

Thanks everyone, this has been one of the greatest forums I've been on, everyone seems so helpful.

[bikepodmini]

Correction. Buy.com has the E3c's for $137.**, so actually, they are cheaper, and currently available.

[jai_163]

Ok look i know im a noob so what im about to say may sound totally crazy but i gotta ask, is it just me or does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture. Apple provide us with perfectly adequate earphones so why do people go out and purchase ones that "apparently" make the music sound better? i have all my aac and mp3 music encoded at 128k and to my untrained savage ear they sound perfectly fine. so can someone answer me this, is the difference in sound between the apple earphones and so called "high-end" ones THAT great to justify buying EARPHONES of all things at $137!!?!? thats almost HALF the cost of a 4g 40gb ipod!!!
I just thought it would be a good idea to see what you could get with $137 instead of a pair of earphones. This is what i got!!

1. Gameboy advance + game and still have change for a happy meal!
2. 3.2 Megapixel digital camera!
3. Portable dvd player with a 7inch tft screen
4. hp iPac Pocket pc 1910!!!!!!
5. Xbox Console (the greatest console on Earth!)
6. Playstation 2 (Only if u have the Xbox already!)
7. Cotton Sportshirts from Barneys New York :confused:
8. Silver Tiffany pendant for the girlfriend! (I'd take Gratitude Love making over EARPHONES anyday!!....wouldn't you??)

so anyway as you can see i think its fair to say that money spent on earphones to increase the quality of sound of the ipod could be well spent. As i understand it you can actually get decent earphones for $35 (but thats if you really really need to)
Otherwise I think the apple earbuds provided with the ipod are perfectly fine so go spend ure money on better things. Maybe not what i've suggested but you'll find something good! You were wise to invest in the ipod you bought a great product and it was money well spent!! so dont stop there!!!!!

[funnyperson1]

Well jai, not everyone is like you. Many people here have very sensitive ears and can only truly enjoy their music after dropping a huge load on some nice earphones.

Now personally, I wouldn't know, I have never spent more than 25 bucks on headphones, all varying from the best for the money to absolutely awful.

You need to realize though because this is an Ipod site, there are many here who truly LOVE their music, and need it to be heard with the absolute highest clarity. And yes, if your ears are sensitive enough (every person is different) you could certainly notice a difference.

And bikepod, this should have been posted in the headphone section of the regular Ipod forum. You probably would have gotten your question answered by now had you done that.

[bikepodmini]

LOL. You are crazy.

Do you listen to any music that has a kick drum (or low frequency hip hop or rap) in it? If you don't, then (other than the exception noted below), no, you don't need a better pair of earphones. If your ears hurt like mine do after about 10 minutes of listening, then yes, you need new ones.

Try turning on the R&B EQ setting with the Apple "earphones" and listen to some low frequency music. I'm not a "bass-head," but if I can't even listen to some decent Rock music with these earphones, I think I need a new set. I was horrified when I first listened to my iPod Mini, and thought it was actually the Mini, but when I tried a different set of headphones, the distortion was gone.

Now, maybe you're right, do I really need to spend $137 on earphones, maybe not. Maybe I can get away with some cheaper ones, and maybe someone here will suggest some alturnatives.

I'll tell you what, $137 isn't going to buy much at Tiffany's though, maybe the back of an ear ring. I already own the most wonderful game console on Earth, the PS2, so I won't need to be spending it there.

One last note, to spend $250 on a quality piece of work (i.e., the iPod Mini), and leave it with a pair of highly crappy earphones (which I would consider to be worth about $15-$20), is like buying a Lamborghini and putting some P rated Firestone tires on it. How's that hot rod going to perform when you take some turns on the Autobahn...I sure don't want to be with you when you do...

;)

[bikepodmini]

Ah, I thought I looked for a headphone section, didn't see it...Guess I should repost over there, unless a MODERATOR can move it for me!?

EDIT:
No, actually I don't see a headphone section???

[funnyperson1]

Its inside the gear section for the regular Ipod.

It is a little hard to find, but it was there last I checked.

http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=43

[jai_163]

LOL!!!:p Love the lambo analogy. A very good point well made!! But you get my point though right?? headphones just aint worth that kind of money!

Those sony headphones..whatever they're called just went out and bought the white fonotopia ones for ??35 and i gotta say i listen to mainly hip/hop and RnB music and i guess theres a slight difference in the bass, and im happy with it. I would neva spend $150 on earphones though.

Oh and by the way....Xbox is the greatest console...not ps2, come on u know its true...stop kidding yourself. If someone was to own a sony net walkman doesnt make it better than the ipod just cos THEY say so!!:p

[bikepodmini]

funnyperson1. Thanks for the link. I would have never found it, never new there were MORE forum sections inside of the forum sections (it's not that way on the Mini General forum, that's just it, Mini General).

Okay, okay. I agree, possibly. Maybe you're right, $150 is a lot to spend on earphones. The problem is, most electronics stores aren't going to let you stick your grubby ear all over an in-ear headphone to try out, so you are mainly buying off what other people say. (Let alone that, would you want to stick an in-ear earphone in your ear that's been in other people's ears? Reminds me of something else, but I won't go there...)

If I could find a pair of in-ear earphones that sound as good as my MDR-G52's ($20 Sony's), then I'd probably be happy. I hooked them up to my Mini, and they sound great, compared to Apple's "earphones." But, you say, then why not use those? Well, now that I'm in this "small" world, those phones just won't cut it. With the loose in-ear's, you can put them in a tiny case, or no case at all, and put them in your shirt pocket, along with the Mini.

Umm...what else? Oh, yeah. Xbox doesn't have SOCOM the last time I checked, so in all respect, the PS2 must be the greatest system known to man. There won't be any question when the PS3 is here... (Except why the freak after one year, has two of my Sony controllers gone bad? Each one has a stuck button or a button that doesn't work very well...)

[funnyperson1]

I have had the G52s for almost 3 years now, and for the price they are darn good phones. I do agree that something more mobile, with that comfort level and sound quality would be perfect.

I might get the Sony In ears if the price is right. Maybe even Shure E2s, but after that it gets a bit expensive. I have heard that the fittings that come with the sony are the most comfortable so that might even be an option for you. I have heard of people buying E2s or better phones and ordering the Sony fittings.

Another trick I have heard is to buy foam ear flugs and melt a hole through the middle, after you stick it in and it molds to your ear it is supposedly very comfortable. When it loses its comformability you just make new ones.

As far as the section goes, the only reason I knew about it is because there was a sticky in the Ipod Mini: Gear section that says to not post headphone questions here and instead post them at the linked section. It is a bit tricky.

As far as consoles are concerned, the XBOX is obviously superior technology wise. However, people buy systems to play games, not be awed by graphics. Anytime I talk to an Xbox person all they talk about is Halo, its only one game, and it seriously isn't that great. The arsenal of incredible games available for PS2 is huge compared to that of Xbox. That said, I'll stick with my PC.

[bikepodmini]

Yeah, I like my G52's, one of my better $20 bills spent. That annoying part that goes towards the bottom part behind your ear is what hurts on those after a while.

That's a great idea on the ear plugs. Those are very comfortable, and you can almost forget they are there after a while.

Ah, I thought I read everything in the sticky, but it's getting rather long, so it's hard to read all of it.

I would agree with you on the superior technology of the Xbox. But what you have said is precisely why I bought the PS2 versus the Nintendo offering (Gamecube). I just couldn't believe the amount of games that were made for the PS1, and the selection is great, granted, they don't have a good enough selection geared towards girls (or, my wife, in other words), so she absolutely hates it when I play the thing. (Guess that's why it's good I get off work an hour and a half before she does...)

So, are you starting to look at those socket 939 mobo's yet? I've been waiting for them to come out, and now am waiting for the prices to come down a bit. Also, it's like, you wait for something, then something else cool happens, like now you have to decide if you want PCI-Express and SATA with command queueing...it never ends... I may wait another few months, as my AMD XP 1800+ seems to be holding out, although I didn't realize how slow it was until I installed iTunes!

I may decide to just go with the E2c's, just because their a better price point, at only $70. Plus, if there anywhere close to the sound of the G52's, that will be good enough for me.

[funnyperson1]

Not really, my overclocked 1800+ does the job pretty well. I will be getting a new video card at some point though. Itunes shouldn't be taxing at all though, the only thing I can think of that would slow it down on an 1800+ is maybe lack of ram, my system runs Itunes as fast as I would expect it to.

I may eventually get the E2s or maybe just the Sony EX71s.

Also, chicks dig gamecubes. ;)

[bikepodmini]

Hmm...I have 512MB of RAM in mine, although my system is not overclocked right now. The time I notice the slow down is when I launch the program. It takes on the order of 6-8 seconds before it comes up after clicking on the icon.

I haven't reached a conclusion on the earphones yet. I think I may just stick with the Apple phones for now, wait until the Etymotics 6i's come out, and see what happens to the prices of the Shure's and the Ety's. The new 6i's should be out by the end of the month, or beginning of next.

Yeah, I should have gotten a Gamecube. I sold my N64 a while back, maybe that was a mistake.

[dlegros]

Speaking purely personally.

I hated the Apple earbuds as they were painful due to the shape of my ears.

I got the Sony 71SLs, which were much more comfortable and blocked out much more outside noise allowing me to listen to the music more, rather than traffic, make sure you look around you more!), but the left earbud had a habit of feeling like it was falling out, no matter what size earpiece I used.

So now I have the Ety 6is, I'm still getting used to them, but I love the isolation and the fact that feel like they will not, under any circumstances, fall out.

Dom