WaywardTraveller Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 Hello,Since I haven't yet seen a basic thread on this topic I thought I'd start one in the hopes of veterns giving less-experienced people like myself some ideas to go on.Being in Singapore, having bought a pair of EX81s and having them die on me within a month, and now having just purchased E888s for CAD$45 (), I started wondering about this:How do you all shop for earbuds/headphones? What criteria do you use when you comparison-shop? I'm personally interested in earbuds (since those are what I use), but would welcome general discussion.In my limited knowledge, I look for a nice, wide range of frequency response...however, I remember seeing a pair of JVC buds (sorry...model # eludes me) which advertised 5-23000 or something like that for about AUD30! I later found out my friend's son bought a pair only to say they were complete crap....so it occured to me that there might just be other things to look for when choosing the "perfect pair"...While we're on the topic, any suggestions as to a good STURDY pair of earbuds? Having had EX81s and EX71s die in the right channel (same problem with all of them) eventually, I somehow end up going back to the good ol' dependable cloth-corded MDR-ED31s. I'd love to find something with that durability combined with the swet, sweet sonic bliss of my other Sonys...but alas, I search in vain peaceWaywardTraveller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenmachine Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 Ignore the specs and try before you buy if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPlitude Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 Ignore the specs and try before you buy if possible.another thing to consider is how the phones fit on youagain, try before you buy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky191 Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 E888s are meant to be quite good, haven't heard them, but they are meant to be probably the best of the earbuds. I found the Sennheiser's MX500 decent and cheap. Cheap is important because earphones don't last that long. I like a cord down one side as its easier to manage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercury_in_flames Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 Well sound quality, You dont HAVE TO try before you buy. Loads of research can equate to the same result. I didnt try my ath-900's before i bought them, and i didnt regret it. I researched peoples opinions, on head fi, as well as audio t board. I look for , well looks, at first. Things i like in 'phones are durability, whether its the cable or parts in general, but comfort and sould rule over all other factors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zerodB Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 If you're going to spend a large proportion of cash (which is the case if you want to get decent buds/phones), it would be foolish not to try them out previously, IMHO.Take you're weapon of choice shopping (MDP, DAP), and try out a few instore. When you're getting into Hi-end gear, different phones will end up having different sonic signatures, and will also perform according to the device used. For many, it's not a matter of "better" - but instead finding a sound that suits their own listening preferences, not to mention suitability to the device and type of music listened to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercury_in_flames Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 If you're going to spend a large proportion of cash (which is the case if you want to get decent buds/phones), it would be foolish not to try them out previously, IMHO.Take you're weapon of choice shopping (MDP, DAP), and try out a few instore. When you're getting into Hi-end gear, different phones will end up having different sonic signatures, and will also perform according to the device used. For many, it's not a matter of "better" - but instead finding a sound that suits their own listening preferences, not to mention suitability to the device and type of music listened to.it can be foolish, but it might also be an option some dont have. If you want audio technica, you arent going to find those in europe, or in england at least, unless you do some serious hunting, and if you want grado (american?) then you are stumped there too, again, unless you do some serious hunting. Then theres the problem of not being able to try it with the set-up you actually OWN. You cant exactly take your md deck along with you, and trying to use headphones that require alot of power using only an mdr would also be foolish. You would end up needing to buy a CMOY or other battery box, just to try the phones out. I think theres also a health issue in europe with letting customers try out headphones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zerodB Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 Hmmm... There's also a likley health issue of litting customers try out IEMs. Imagine the communial earwax on those things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky191 Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 I never been able to try before I buy with a lot of items. Earphones, TFT screens etc. It not store policy where I live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrain Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 most australian places don't allow trial before purchase. where've you done it zero, in melbourne? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaywardTraveller Posted October 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 (edited) Good advice from all corners...unfortunately, as was mentioned before when I was buying my EX81s in Melbourne I wasn't allowed to try them before...hygiene reasons for earbuds. Too bad, too...I loved the sound the EX81s had, but I was so irritated having to constantly fiddle with the clip on the left ear (which kept slipping loose) that it very possibly contributed to their early demise .However...my newfound oldskule EX70s have been working fine...I use a pair of E888s for night listening and they're sweeeet. I'm considering getting some clip-on earphones (if that makes any sense), but I'm wondering if freq. response is the main thing to look for, assuming you can't try before you buy? Or is power output also a considerable factor?peaceWaywardTraveller Edited October 31, 2005 by WaywardTraveller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPlitude Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 for all headphones in general, good fit is a virtue, even if the headphones are really good, you wont notice how good it ais you're finnicking with the headphones with improper fittry before buying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercury_in_flames Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 Have you ever actually tried before you bought? And if so, what 'phones were they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPlitude Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 tried most of my phones or borrowed from friends before i actually bought them in addition, J&R in the city [new york] offers a wall where you can try on most of the headphones they offeranyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercury_in_flames Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 Haha, thats how ey. None of my friends spend anywhere near as much as I do on audio gear. Ive probably spent about £885 on my gear, and I'm a student with only a sat/sun part time job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaywardTraveller Posted November 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Ok...has anyone actually been able to try earbuds before they buy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 nope even though most shops have a try-out wall for over the head type phones but for buds/in ear: never and honestly, if a shop near me would offer that possibility... I might try it (but not sure yet)... but I certainly wouldn't buy them from that shop imagine a nice pair of in ear buds that come with some free gunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zerodB Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 (edited) most australian places don't allow trial before purchase. where've you done it zero, in melbourne?Tried a few senheissers headphones @ JB Hi-fi once. Have also tried out some various other studio headphones at musician's stores like Allans & Music Junction in camberwell. In my experience the music gear stores were a lot happier to open boxes, etc...Don't know about trying out earbuds... Edited November 2, 2005 by zerodB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bland10000 Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Here in Japan, the electronic shops such as Yamada denki, Ishimaru denki, Bic Camera, and Yodobashi Camera have earbuds and headphones available for testing. The problem with this is the 'phones are plugged into a music outlet supplied by the store that plays music they choose not me. To test out 'phones I prefer to listen to something I am familiar with. The 'phones that are used for testing are just that, test models so no need to worry about buying a pair with someones elses gunk on 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPlitude Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 JR has a headphone wall, but have never found a earbud wall of any sort in NY yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenshank Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 The 'phones that are used for testing are just that, test models so no need to worry about buying a pair with someones elses gunk on 'em.No, but you would be testing a pair with someone else's gunk on, for earbuds at least. Yuk.I bought a pair of Sennheiser MX500, just like Sparky191, and while the sound is better than supplied earbuds, I have to ruin it by wearing them with the optional covers, thereby muffling it rather, because otherwise they just fall straight out of my ears! Are there any decent earbuds for "the larger lughole"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 No, but you would be testing a pair with someone else's gunk on, for earbuds at least. Yuk.that's what I meant yeahAre there any decent earbuds for "the larger lughole"?maybe you could try some in-ear (canal) phones like the pana's RP-JE50 or etymyotic or shure e-series as they come with different "plugs" including some bigger ones so they provide good seal for most ppland further they often sound better and are quite a bit more efficient than earbudsPS: I use the Senn MX 350's, 450's and the pana's and I must say: no competition, the pana's win on all levels, including comfort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenshank Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 that's what I meant yeahmaybe you could try some in-ear (canal) phones like the pana's RP-JE50 or etymyotic or shure e-series as they come with different "plugs" including some bigger ones so they provide good seal for most ppland further they often sound better and are quite a bit more efficient than earbudsMmmm, for some reason I'm more than a bit reluctant to try canals. I suppose I don't like the idea of being totally isolated from background noise, and I'm worried about upsetting my inner ear pressure balance and aggravating my tinnitus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPlitude Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 for canal-phones, fit is the key to anything and everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrain Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Mmmm, for some reason I'm more than a bit reluctant to try canals. ... aggravating my tinnitus.i'd steer clear then or at least wait until you can see an ear specialist & then pose the question. if you were to use them anyway something with a flat response is aparently recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mckellen Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Comfort. I say this because I just bought a pair of Sony MDR-V150s and they're not the most comfortable things. Unlike my old Sennheiser HD410s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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