Travel Headphones Suggestions

[Dusty Chalk]

I like the Etymotic ER-6i. It isolates rather than noise-cancels. In-ear monitors. Good fidelity, does not require a separate amp.

[nightflier]

Just out of curiosity, do the Shures & Etymotics benefit from a portable amp or are they pretty easy to drive. I'm going to be sharing my music with my wife and was wondering if a bithead would help? I'm thinking of springing for the e2c's but I'm still reading & learning.

[Dusty Chalk]

The Shure E2c's that I owned definitely sounded much better with an amp. I specified the ER-6i's because they're specifically designed to be driven without an amp, and also because I own a pair that I use without an amp. Etymotic specifically designed this pair for use without an amp (also, the ER-4P). I don't know about other models.

[audio_dude]

ya, i love my e2c's, but recently, the left phone stopped working, for a while if i fiddled with it enough, it would work, but now its totally dead, any suggestions??

[emorphien]

ya, i love my e2c's, but recently, the left phone stopped working, for a while if i fiddled with it enough, it would work, but now its totally dead, any suggestions??

yes... send it in to shure

[Dusty Chalk]

yes... send it in to shure

Seconded -- Shure has a flat rate repair policy. Go to their site, print the form, send 'em in.

[emorphien]

Seconded -- Shure has a flat rate repair policy. Go to their site, print the form, send 'em in.

Apparently either my new or repaired E2cs just arrived at my home. I'll find out when I fly back tomorrow.

[jrhymeammo]

this is off the topic, but be careful with your grado. swivel/cheap design is nice and all, but cables get twisted wayyyyyy too much. If you are not careful you can easily ripout thin copper wires.

jra

[emorphien]

this is off the topic, but be careful with your grado. swivel/cheap design is nice and all, but cables get twisted wayyyyyy too much. If you are not careful you can easily ripout thin copper wires.

jra

Yup. I like my Grados but what I really want is to sell them and get some HD650s (or try some other things) and a nice headphone amp.

[jrhymeammo]

I've been trying to get a hold of a vintage STAX SR-40ish for around $100 and mate it with that cheap T-amp. I'm not gonna get it thru ebay so it's been kinda hard.

JRA

[GMichael]

Great thread Kid! And great info from everyone. You just helped me pick out a stocking stuffer for the little lady. The Sennheiser PMX 100 got the nod.

[audio_dude]

nice! ok, i'll print off the form, but from Canada, whats the rate??

[emorphien]

Just got em back. Brand new E2cs, for free!

[audio_dude]

ok, sent mine in, i really hope they don't charge me anything (the rep i phoned said it was free to canada) ya, do they just send the phones in? or like a whole new packaged product?

[emorphien]

I just sent them the phones, in a padded envelope and they sent me a whole new retail package back

[jrhymeammo]

This wasnt my thread, but I still appreciate all the posts.

I sold a couple of textbooks back, so I ended up purchasing In-Ear Active Noise Canceling buds made by Philips. Model # is SHN2500 for $29.99 at my local Virgin MegaStore so I imagine you can get'em much cheaper online...

It comes with 3 different sized rubber plugs. It looked foam-like, so I made-up my purchase. After opening the case, I found out that they are rubber pieces. I started to freak, cuz the last pair I used use interchangable rubber pieces kept falling out of my ears. Never gotta good fit, so I couldnt get them to produce bass in my canal. But turns out they fit fine. These plugs isolate sound as equal as my KOSS Spark PLugs I have been using. On top of that, it has battery powered noise canceling device. So, all in all it works pretty damn good on the bus and next to fans. So, I dont really know how they'll work on the planes, but I'm guessing it'll be alright.

One thing though, the NC electronic device creates more noise than what I've been used to.

I still become nausiated when I turn the NC swtich on.... guess I gotta train myselft to get used to it. I swear these things are bad for my heart....

JRA

[jrhymeammo]

Here is a minor complaint I have with these active/in-ear buds.

Length of wire from earpieces to the ANC box isnt long enough for me to put it in my jeans pocket. Even when I wear a shirt with a chest pocket, wire from that device to my ipod isnt long enough to insert my Ipoo in my pants. It'll be just fine when I'm sitting down, but I can't really use it walking around both hands tied.

JRA

[nightflier]

JRA,

Both the Shure e3G and the Etymotic ER-6i have decent length cords, but I can see where that would be a problem. By the way, I've been running these through their paces before taking off for a long trip and I must say that they are very similar, sound-wise, with the edge going to the Etymotics, I think. But I am having a hard time with those phalange ear tips. The Shures are more comfortable to my ears. The other minor gripe I have with both is that they don't have in-line volume controls - I know it's petty, but I doubt it would have added much to the price.

By the way, the best price online for these I found at NewEgg. There were a few lower prices from some never-heard-of-'em sites, but I thought I would play it somewhat safe and buy from an authorizes reseller. Shipping was super-fast: 2 days for just $6, probably from a local distribution center.

[jrhymeammo]

Thank you Nightflier, I always appreciate your advice.

Shure and Etymotic are tempting, but I think I would rather buy a nice set of cans. For walking around town, my KOSS Sparkplugs will do just fine, and my newly acquire Philips will be good enough for the trip I'll be taking this friday.

Thanks again,

JRA

[RGA]

I am going to plug a cheap headphone system that actually sounds good -- not perfect but nothing is.

First with regards to headphone amps - I have been very pleased for nearly a year with the Total Bithead headphone amp. This amp is also a digital to analog converter and has USB inputs so you can listen to music and bypass the crud inside the computer. It also runs off the power of your computer or takes 4 AAA batteries. Has two headphone jacks - really it's as good or better than several other head amps I've tried and it's hugely portable.
http://www.headphone.com/products/he...al-bithead.php

Headphones - I recently bought a pair of AKG 26p cans and I am afraid to overstate the performance but I find them musically engaging which is surprising for such a low price.

The are about $40.00 - they cut out noise exceptionally well and have tremendoue bass for such tiny cans. They are rolled off in the treble slightly but tha is not a bad thing given that they are probably going to be used with MP3 recordings. Midrange is clear on vocals - somewhat recessed but clear and engaging. Midbass can be over the top and the bass in general leans warn and wooly over tight and snappy. Still, the combinatin works very well to make a musically satisfying end result and given that they are sealed, fold up very nicely and are priced attractively - it's tough to go wrong. They will like rock/pop/dance/rap best.

They have a bit of vice grip on the ears which presses my glasses fairly strong so it's better for people with no glasses. http://www.headphone.com/products/he...akg-k-26-p.php

And rather than the Ipod I would look at what Sandisk is doing. I have a Sandisk e100 and for the life of me I don't understand paying so much more money for a machine that does so much LESS and has an idiotic proprietary battery. The e100 no doubt way out of date accepts SD cards up to 2 gigs plus the 512mb internal. It has a video display in two colours with artist track listing, several sound modes with an equalizer bass enhancements and SRS WOW which is pretty effective at creating ambiance for pop like music. No disc required to load mp3's to the thing either -- it is dead easy to operate as it functions like a flash hard drive. Also it takes one AAA battery for about 17 hours of use. And itran me $80.00.

The AKG above needs no headphone amp either - so without it you're looking at about $120.00 for the whole thing. The Sandisk somes with those special in-ear headphones and you'll want to dump those -- I don;t understand their appeal -- the bass is appaling and they don;t live up to the supposed superior comfort.

[audio_dude]

ok, just got back from relatives house to see what, but a package for me! from shure! amazing! so i grabbed it, took it inside and opened it to find a whole new retail package! i love these guys! i'm going to break out the stationary and write these guys a nice letter, service like this deserves to be complimented!

[thekid]

Thanks to all for your info and time in responding to my original thread.

Unfortunately I had limited options in my area and went cheap getting a pair of Sony Noise-Canceling Folding Headphones MDRNC6 for about $44 in part because I got a gift certificate for the story selling them. The reviews I have read are mixed. I have tried them with my Sansa MP3 player and the SQ is pretty good. I have not had a chance to try the noise-cancelling feature but will be flying again in Feb and will provide an update after seeing how they perform on the play.

[jrhymeammo]

The one got by Philips made my 12 hour flight an absolute joy. I storngly recommned it for someone who often takes long flights. Sound quality? Good enough and not bright so I listened to music for hours. It`s a noisy environement so whota hell cares.

JRA

[nightflier]

After having flown four times with both the Shure e3g and the Etymotics ER-6i, I will amend my original post and say that the Etymotics are way better that the Shures and also cost less. I also tried all the different plug types until I found the ones that made the best sea - again, the Etymotics won out. The sound is clearer and offers a much more even frequency range that the Shures. The Shures are still OK - especially in the bass where the over emphasis of deep bass can be fun for games and organ music, but what they do not do as well is the mid-range and the treble. If you're still debating on which in-ears to buy, I heartily recommend the Etymotics.

(and no, I don't work for the company)

[Dusty Chalk]

This is unamplified, correct? The Shures benefit from quality amplification, but I agree, the Ety's are better.