Any Recommendations for good ear/headphones for my MP3 player?

[SiM]

Am I the only one that actually likes the Sony MDR-EX71s I've been using for the last couple of years?

Admittedly, when they break I'll probably replace them with something nicer, but they haven't done bad after 2-3 years of abuse...

Have you heard better any better earphones?

My ex71 lasted about 18 months. I know have UE metro.fi2 (not exactly high end either) and the difference is like day and night. Better highs, mids, clear and tight bass, better build, better isolation, soundstage exists! (unlike in the ex71s, I never knew what soundstage meant when using those)! I can't believe I put those pieces of crap in my ears for 18 months without realising how bad they were!

Sure they beat the standard apple headphones, but the ex71s are still very low quality imo.

[dave87]

That is probably true, but I simply haven't had the chance to try anything better. That will come when I replace them I guess, but they are still better than most of the sub £30 headphones.

[NightshadowUK]

At £16 I'm mighty tempted to get some CX300's myself but can anyone shed any light on the apparent noise you hear when the wires are touched by anything... ?

[schmunk]

At £16 I'm mighty tempted to get some CX300's myself but can anyone shed any light on the apparent noise you hear when the wires are touched by anything... ?

I don't get that, but sometimes you can hear the wind whistling through the cables...

If you're using bundled headphones, £16 is a wonderful investment!

[NightshadowUK]

I've currently got --> Sony MDR-ED21LP

Think I'd be able to hear an improvement?

[SiM]

I've currently got --> Sony MDR-ED21LP

Think I'd be able to hear an improvement?

Yes definately... thats like asking if a 1st divison club is better than a conference club lol

[arthurleung]

If you are taking the Piccadilly / Victoria / Central or any other "noisy" line, don't bother with any non-isolating/cancelling ear/headphones. You will have to turn volume up to somewhere like 75% to actually hear any vocals.

I'm using the Etymotic ER6i on the Piccadilly line at the moment, MP3 running at minimal volume (somewhere like 5%, although occasionally push up to 20% just to keep myself awake)

I once felt asleep on Piccadilly line because it was so "quiet" and missed my lecture

Although you don't want to have it on when you're overground because you'll barely hear people shouting at you.

[SiM]

For IEMs the rule is
Vibration => Microphonics => Not good isolation

So as arthur said, not really great for the tube... but then again no earphones really are.

[pr0p4g4nd4]

I'm using the Etymotic ER6i on the Piccadilly line at the moment, MP3 running at minimal volume (somewhere like 5%, although occasionally push up to 20% just to keep myself awake)

I adore my ER6i, got them for under £50 on ebay brand new (from a US seller). They're better looking, fitting and sounding than the Shure E2c or E3c in my opinion. Can't go wrong with them

[TooNice]

I've tried some mid to high end IEMs (short of custom made) from various brands. I definitely think they are 'different'. I do share the opinion of many that the Etymotics ER-6i is bass shy (and I do not mean next to a car subwoofer). I do not subjectively find them better than the Shure EC3.

To be honest, it takes some pretty high end IEM to wow me so far. I am currently using the Westone UM2, and while they are solid when isolation is needed (train/plane - they aren't particularly vulnerable to microphonics to me), they stay in the box at other times. I really like the Shure E500 - though in a 'I can justify the cost and amount of listening' worth of cost.

It really comes down to your budget. For £30, I agree that the Sennheiser (et al. - as in alternatives using the same drivers) are nice. And a welcome improvement to the Sony EX-71. But, I personally find equivalent non isolating headphones to sound much better.

About the Bose, I am not aware they made IEMs. Shure, Etymotics, Ultimate Ears, Westone, Sensaphonics are all IEM specialists. Those passively reduce background noise by blocking sound in and out of your ear canals. The Bose (et al.) noise canceling headphones use active noise cancellation. Instead of blocking the sound, it tries to 'cancel out' outside noise which is better explained here. The end result tend to be more bulky as it requires a battery powered device.

Bose do not have much 'creds' amongst headphone enthusiasts in general, given that for the cost of their product (or less), you can usually find a better sounding one. But to be fair, they are very comfy, and I would not fault anyone choosing them to use on a long haul flight over an IEM.

[SiM]

Good post TooNice, although the bose are not active noice canceling.

I am considering the e500 (or UM3) the next time I head over to the US

[Oobie-]

Thanks for the input guys, I personally don't like the idea of spending £30~ on some earphones, if you consider that there are headsets worth that much too. I dunno, something in me as a person wont let me do it.
THe sennheiser mx400's that came with my mp3 player are pretty decent, but I think I will go with the cx300's

[darrensen]

Sennheiser CX300.... Brilliant sound, brilliant value for money!!

[TooNice]

@Oobie: Actually, you are only scrapping the surface of how expensive headphones can get

But you have to pay for the isolation. Both monetary, and, IMO, sound quality (at equivalent price). My favorite low cost headphones are the Koss KSC-75. For less than £12 ($15 in the US!), you get something that competes with IEMs (and many headphones for that matter) more than 3x it's cost (IMO again, sound being subjective and all). To round it up, you get a life guarantee. I know I sound like a Koss salesman, I did not mention it earlier since you asked for isolation, but I think that it should replace every headphones bundled with MP3 players

@SiM: Ah, I see that Bose have the TriPort In-Ear headphones. If you were refering to those, then yes, they do not look active noise canceling at all. I did not know they made those until moments ago. The only Bose product I knew that reduce ambiant noise were the Bose QuietComfort, which 'electronically' cancels out ambient sound (I missed the post mentioning the tips).

And now's a good time to pick up nice toys from the US

But if I was to get more headphones, I'd go Stax

[EtheAv8r]

BOSE Quiet Comfort II or III.

The III has better bass and are smaller. Both are wonderful. They ARE active noise cancelling.

They are THE best!

NOT cheap.

[MSIC]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-C...8483570&sr=1-1

£16.50 inc free delivery!!
How's that for good timing