What Are Your Favorite Earbud Headphones?

[ethelbert]

I like earbud headphones, but I have a hard time getting a good fit (one ear always falls out). One thing I don't quite understand is the difference between canalphones and earbuds (look at this Cnet (http://reviews.cnet.com/best-earbuds-for-under-$100/)article). What are your experiences? I don't mind spending a couple of bucks (maybe $100), but it would really bum me out to buy a pair and find I couldn't get them to fit.

[The Tooth]

Proper canalphones (neat term) sit deeper, more-or-less act as decent earplugs as the rubber expands to fill the ear canal, and develop a bass response through a resonance effect with your own head. Earbuds are little tiny speakers that don't sit in your ear canal and are very uncomfortable. I'm happy with Sony's, the model up from the one in your link, but if you want to spend a little more, go for those Klipsches or see what Denon has to offer.

[The Tooth]

Whoops! I see the article doesn't define earbud and in-ear headphone the way I have. All those in that article look to be in-ear headphones and not earbuds. Earbuds, to me, are the cheap complimentary phones that come with most devices. I see they've done away with the nice foam pads to make them more uncomfortable still, getting you to spend more on something that doesn't hurt. I've worn my in-ear Sony's for 12-15 hours solid, no problem.

[ToeJam]

I'm a fan of the Ipod generic ear buds, though they do have a tendency to fall out, but I have been satisfied with their sound quality and all.

[Just Ed]

If you don't mind spending a bit, I'd recommend the Bose Mobile In-Ear Headset (http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/mobile_solutions/in_ear_mobile_solution/index.jsp). For what it's worth, Bose seems to have a different interpretation of "in-ear" as well, and I find them a much more comfortable fit. I could never get a good fit with Apple's In-Ear Headphones; one or the other or both would fall out no matter what size tip or what method of "insertion" I tried. The Bose model takes a slightly different approach, and molds the tips so that the earpiece sits in the bowl of your ear, while "funneling" the sound to your ear canal. You do not need to forcibly plug your ear canals with them, and the sound is outstanding. Also, for a few dollars less, you can get the In-Ear Headphones (http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/audio_headphones/in_ear_headphones/index.jsp) without the in-line microphone and button.

[drm]

Here is the line of Shure (http://store.shure.com/store/shure/en_US/DisplayCategoryProductListPage/categoryID.12165500) earbuds. I own the SE530s which are truly spectacular headphones but are well above 100 dollars but they have some more reasonably priced versions which I have also tested. Even the 210s are head and shoulders above just about every other earbud I've ever tested.

Also, earbuds never fit me correctly but these are nice and snug. You will hear things with these that you've never heard before...it's like you're in a concert hall.

[Bosstone]

If you're looking on the cheaper side, Skullcandy (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023RRNPS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00093DA2I&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RBD505TZRMSPGM263H5) makes some pretty good in-ear buds for about $20. I recently got them and am liking them, although the feeling I get when they're snugged tight, as if I need to pop my ears, can be a little disconcerting. They'll sit a little less snugly to remove that problem, but then there's the risk of falling out.

[Unintentionally Blank]

I have a set if V-moda in-canal headphones that include the mic for my iPhone. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE them. They block a lot of noise, have a button to let me answer the phone and/or change songs. They were $100, replaced at 8 months under warrantee, and the replacements are going strong at about 6 months.

[dropzone]

These (http://www.amazon.com/Koss-Plug-Portable-Headphones-colors/dp/B00001P4XA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257472394&sr=8-2) are great for the price, but you at minimum have to open each one up and put some tape over the vent holes for maximum performance.

More tweaks here. (http://www.headwize.com/projects/cmoy4_prj.htm)

It's the Hot Rod Ethic: It's more fun to take a pretty good product and DIY than spend several times as much to have it done right in the first place.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

I have a pair of the Skullcandy INK'D buds that I really like.

[Avumede]

You may find these articles helpful:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/fyi-basic-guide-ear-canalphones-310723/

http://www.inearmatters.net/2008/11/past-review-multiple-iem-shoot-out.html

[Snowboarder Bo]

Here is the line of Shure (http://store.shure.com/store/shure/en_US/DisplayCategoryProductListPage/categoryID.12165500) earbuds. I own the SE530s which are truly spectacular headphones but are well above 100 dollars but they have some more reasonably priced versions which I have also tested. Even the 210s are head and shoulders above just about every other earbud I've ever tested.

Also, earbuds never fit me correctly but these are nice and snug. You will hear things with these that you've never heard before...it's like you're in a concert hall.

I have the 210s and the older version, and I prefer the older version. I'll explain why, but first a plug for Shure's products: they are very well made speakers, and come with enough types of foam and rubber that anyone should be able to get a snug, comfortable fit for their ears. The sound is great, including the bass response. My preference is for the type that go over your ear, thus eliminating the weight of the cable as a source of pull.

But...

The older models were just what you would expect: a cable that split 1/3 of the way from the earbud end, with earbuds on both tails of the Y.

The newer models, for some inexplicable reason, all come as 2 cables: The earbud part, with a minijack, and an "extension" cable with both male and female jacks. This means that there is now an extra connection between source and speaker, potentially compromising sound quality and offering another place for cables to become unplugged, soldering points to come undone, etc.

Thus, I prefer my older pair, with only one connection to worry about. (They also seem to fit in my ear in a more sleek manner than the new ones, but that's a minor quibble.)

[dropzone]

[hi-fi geek from ten years ago]The problem is that the increased distance from one vs the other completely screws up the stereo experience you seek.[hi-fi turd]

[typoink]

Skullcandy Titans! No question, in my mind, especially for $35-40.

I just bought a pair, and they're fantastic. They sound as good as MUCH pricier phones that I've heard, and they feel sturdy and look great.

The guys on Head Room (a headphone shop that vigorously researches their stuff) says they're one of the best buys in the world of headphones, and perform at the quality of buds three times their price. Most Skullcandies are just decent, but the Titans are truly fantastic.

They also have a volume dial on the cord, which can be a blessing since many of the newest media players (such as the iPod Touch or Zune HD) don't have hardware volume controls anymore.

[Bosstone]

They also have a volume dial on the cord, which can be a blessing since many of the newest media players (such as the iPod Touch or Zune HD) don't have hardware volume controls anymore.Well, crap. Now I wish I'd done a little more research. One of the reasons I specifically bought a pair of in-ear buds was to use on my motorcycle, but I've been apprehensive because wearing gloves doesn't make it easy to adjust the volume or stop playback, assuming I could even use the iPod safely on the bike. Those look like exactly what I need.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

They also have a volume dial on the cord, which can be a blessing since many of the newest media players (such as the iPod Touch or Zune HD) don't have hardware volume controls anymore.

While the first iPod Touch didn't have a hard volume control, the 2nd gen fixed that by adding buttons on the side to control the volume even when the screen is off.

[Swords to Plowshares]

I'm quite happy with my V-Moda Vibes. They can be obtained rather inexpensively now ($30-40 on Ebay), though I'm not quite sure why. In terms of audio quality my experiences have been something like this:

Apple earbuds << Creative EP630 earbuds << V-Moda Vibes

[andiepandie]

Another vote for Skullcandy here. The pair I bought came with three or four different sizes of the plastic ear pieces so you could get a perfect fit, and they've really stood up to a lot of abuse. Plus, the sound is much better than any other pairs I've bought in the same price range.

[Snowboarder Bo]

Well, crap. Now I wish I'd done a little more research. One of the reasons I specifically bought a pair of in-ear buds was to use on my motorcycle, but I've been apprehensive because wearing gloves doesn't make it easy to adjust the volume or stop playback, assuming I could even use the iPod safely on the bike. Those look like exactly what I need.

In-ear speakers would not be the smartest thing to wear while riding a motorcycle or bicycle. They nearly completely shut out any outside noise. I know your motorcycle helmet cuts out a lot of noise, but I'm talking about sensory-deprivation-tank levels versus through-a-closed-door levels. I tried riding my bicycle with my earbuds in once, and found it a fairly disturbing experience. I stopped and removed them after just a half mile or so.

[Bosstone]

In-ear speakers would not be the smartest thing to wear while riding a motorcycle or bicycle. They nearly completely shut out any outside noise. I know your motorcycle helmet cuts out a lot of noise, but I'm talking about sensory-deprivation-tank levels versus through-a-closed-door levels. I tried riding my bicycle with my earbuds in once, and found it a fairly disturbing experience. I stopped and removed them after just a half mile or so.I have seen veteran riders recommend getting earplugs, even the mold-your-own kind that provide a best fit for your own ears. Granted, earbuds take it a step further by piping in sound as well as blocking it out. I've yet to test it, honestly, so it might turn out to be a foolish thing.

[VarlosZ]

I have a set from Altec (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_sq_top?ie=UTF8&keywords=altec%20earbuds&index=blended&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000Q7F890&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0QQMGQ1XJ6HNK49S7EYF) (don't know which model) that I love. It's not the sound quality (which is fine), but rather the fact that the cord is cloth-covered. Seems like a small thing, but it's actually very cool. The cord doesn't snag on things like, you know, skin, nor does it ever get tangled up. If there's any justice, cloth-covered headphone/earbud cords will become a standard feature.

[Vihaga]

I'm quite happy with my V-Moda Vibes.

I got my brother a pair of these for Christmas last year, and he mentions how much he likes them pretty much every time I see him. I really should get a pair for myself...

[3waygeek]

I used a pair of Etymotic ER4p's for a while -- they sounded great, but were just too flimsy. After only a few months, the plastic tube the earbud fits onto cracked & broke.

I replaced the Etys with a set of Ultimate Ears TripleFi.10's -- they sound at least as good as the Etys, and are a lot more rugged.

[MacTech]

I *tried* to like the earbuds that shipped with my iPhone 3GS 16GB, the inline remote with it's volume up/down, microphone, click to pause, double click to skip, and the undocumented triple-click to back up one song was a nice feature, but the buds themselves did a thoroughly craptacular job of staying in my ears, and depending on the angle they were sitting at, sounded either tinny or muffled

I have been considering the Apple In-Ears with the same wired remote/mic, but I've read that they tend to be neutral to bass-deficient, I want a flat neutral sound, maybe a *little* thump, but not enough to muddy the details

my favorite headphones were my old Sony MDR-V500 earmuffs, they were big, powerful, boomy headphones, and incredibly comfy, just not practical for walking around outside/jogging, they were a "sit in a chair" headphones, sadly, they broke a couple years ago, but I got at least 10 years out of them.....

needless to say, I've never been impressed with earbuds, Apple earbuds, the Sony earbuds with the little rubber ear hook thingy, any buds I tried were either horribly muffled (Phillips cheapies), uncomfortable (Sony in-earbuds), or just badly fitting (Apple earbuds), I was ready to go back to the on/over ear design

Tonight, I took a chance, and picked up a set of Klipsch Image S2's and I've been favourably impressed, these actually sound quite nice, a nice strong bass, clear mids, and crisp highs, they sound almost as good as my Sony MDR-V500's a slightly more muffled bass, and a slightly less bright high, I actually had to turn off the "Bass Booster" setting as the highs were getting a tad muddled, they seem to perform best with either the Flat, or Rock settings, or even with the EQ off, Bass Booster makes them too boomy at the expense of the highs

They pick up a lot of details, in the Blue Man Group song "Drumbone" of their "Audio" album, you can hear the sounds of the drumsticks actually tapping the PVC plastic of the "Drumbone", the orchestral crescendo of the 1812 overture has a wide dynamic range

While no in-ear headphone will ever be as comfortable as a nice set of over-ear earmuffs, the Klipsch S2's are actually rather comfortable, thanks to a couple novel design elements;
the driver pods themselves are a long, straight tube, and stick directly out of the ear, not touching the earlobe, so there's nothing pulling on the pods, and the pods aren't pressing on any part of the earlobe
the silicone tips (they come with three sizes) are soft and pliant, yet springy, they seal exceptionally well, dropping ambient noise by easily half
the silicone tips are *oval*, like the ear canal itself, allowing the tips to truly conform to the ear canal, not only does this give them a nice, tight seal, it makes them far more resistant to being pulled out, unlike the Apple buds, where even the slightest breeze would knock them from my ears

All in all, not a bad set of canalbuds, not perfect, but what is? the Klipsch S2's are an excellent value, a great sounding, comfortable, and *reasonably affordable* ($59.95) set of in-ear canalphones, they're lacking in a couple convenience features (wired remote and mic), but these 'phones are intended solely for *listening* purposes, what you give up in convenience features, you make up for with the excellent sound quality