Well, I’m almost back to where things were before I cooked my iPod. The replacement works great, and I just went and picked up a temporary pair of in-ear monitors: JVC HA-FX33-A, a.k.a. “Marshmallow.” Silly name, kind of ugly, but they were cheap ($30) and they have what appears to be sealed foam tips, which make them comfortable and well-fitting. (I have asymmetrical ears, and silicone tips have never worked properly for me because they don’t fit well no matter what size I try. Foam tips are the only ones I’ve been able to wear that stay put and form a proper seal. I don’t like wearing over-ear or open-air cans either because I take public transportation, and the sound leaks significantly out of those.) I have to admit that for relatively cheap buds, these things sounds pretty damn good. Not as good as the Shures, but they’ll serve as a very capable replacement until I can replace them with another pair of Shures.
These don’t pass the “leak test” nearly as well as I’d like though. Sound still emanates from them audibly even when in place. But still not as bad as full-size cans.

