OT: ipod "earbuds" crapped out.. what's a good rep

pilcrow · Post by **pilcrow** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:25 pm

My ipod headphones just crapped out--it was the original earbuds that came with it, and which I was happy enough with. So...now I'm in the market for some aftermarket phones. I am constitutionally unwilling to go to the Apple store and pay $30 for another set. Anyone have any recommendations for good-sounding cheaper ones? Appreciate any thoughts.

cosmosuave · Post by **cosmosuave** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:40 pm

Anything better than those in the ear earphones... I cannot stand them.... They fall out all sorts of ambient noise leaks in you have to crank them up to allow for the ambient noise and crappy bass response... Get yourself some over the ear muff headphones... $50 should get you something decent...

pilcrow · Post by **pilcrow** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:17 am

I know more expensive over-the-ear type would sound better. But fact is I use the ipod mostly for podcasts and other spoken word stuff, not music. So the in-ear dudes were working pretty well for that. I've been listening to all kinds of little headsets ever since my first Walkman (1982??), and the thing that galls me is how fast they all break. If I paid $50 for one and it broke within the first year, I'd have to go on a rampage. I'm looking for something that sounds at least as good as the Apple ones for under $20.

Anubis · Post by **Anubis** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:06 am

The iPod earphones are crap. These are the best (consumer grade)earphones I have ever used... and I've tried many, many different brands. Great isolation and solid bass. I got 'em for like $12 at Best Buy but that was a while back.
Here's the link to their site: http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p? ... pc^eb^PLUG

PLUG SRP: $14.99
Frequency Response 10-20,000 Hz
Impedance 16 ohms
Sensitivity 112 dB SPL/1mW
Distortion <0.3%
Cord Straight, Dual Entry, 4ft

kettensaege · Post by **kettensaege** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:15 am

Sennheiser CX 300 (current favourite for the money)
Creative EP 630 (I got the feeling the Sennheisers sound slightly better)

I had the KOSS Plugs for quite a while, but the isolation is too extreme for my liking (its basically a styrofoam earplug with a speaker whereas the others have easier fitting rubber) and the cable broke after only a few months so I didn't get another pair.

swishniak · Post by **swishniak** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:16 am

yeah - there are alot of ear buds out there now, it seems, and i think theyre almost all better than those ibuds.

i probably spend at least 50 bucks a year on heaphones.. . sometimes 2x that much.. and thats just on consumer type stuff. . theyre just not made to last that long (and they take a proper beating from this guy).

substance_g · Post by **substance_g** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:36 am

I replaced my rubbish iPod earbuds with Sony EX71SL earbuds. The sound quality is way better and good for the price.

Around $30 on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-EX71SL-F ... B000092YQW

The cord's a bit soft though: it's worn out after about 12 months of regular (ab)use. I'd buy them again though.

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:01 pm

a little above your pricerange, though but the shure ec series ec2-ec4 are pretty good and cancelling a hell lot of ouside noise out.

i have the ec2s, and can recommend them.

jesso · Post by **jesso** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:02 pm

The sure EC series are amazing. Look em up, I think mine were under a hundred bucks, but I thank god for them every day.

pilcrow · Post by **pilcrow** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:08 pm

Hey.. thanks for all the recommendations, folks. I'll check 'em all out.
-much appreciated.

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:10 pm

Sony MDR-71s.

Inexpensive, great sound isolation, great bass, although a bit 'toppy'.

Mine have been washed and tumble-dried (accidentally!), caked in mud, used running, mountain biking, motorcycling, and still sound great.

The only thing I really f*cking hate is how they tangle themselves up as soon as you put them away and turn off the lights!

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 1:29 pm

hambone1 wrote:Sony MDR-71s.

Inexpensive, great sound isolation, great bass, although a bit 'toppy'.

Mine have been washed and tumble-dried (accidentally!), caked in mud, used running, mountain biking, motorcycling, and still sound great.

The only thing I really f*cking hate is how they tangle themselves up as soon as you put them away and turn off the lights!

he he, classic for walkmann / ipod phones, ahh and that's why i like those shures as well apart from there great sound, the cable is pretty sturdy, not to thin, so it can take a pull and it doesn't 'tangle' itself to much, convinient for daily road use.

OT: ipod "earbuds" crapped out.. what's a good rep

OT: ipod "earbuds" crapped out.. what's a good replacement?