Wanted: Advice on which pair of in ear earphones to buy for iPod use for £60-80.

Duffy1207 · 09-02-2008, 8:34 PM

Hi.
I own a pair of Sennheiser CX300's that I've had for around a year. I've found them to be quite good, if not a bit boomy. Recently, though, I've had the urge to upgrade them for some other, higher priced in ear earphones.

Sorry if there's been a post like this before, but I've narrowed it down to a few pairs.
Sennheiser CX500, Ultmate Ears Super.Fi 3 studio, v-Moda Vibe, Shure SE110, Etymotic Er-6i ane Westone UMR1. I would like to know what you all think of these headphones.

I'd listen to Rock, Hip Hop, the occaisional bit of dance and a little acoustic music, and wouldn't really want a earphones lacking in base after the CX300's.

Any advice and opinions would be welcome. =]

Ikki · 12-02-2008, 12:31 AM

I have moved on from CX300's to the UE Super.fi 3's and the sound quality is much better but there is less (plenty for me) bass.

Try the d-jays, j-jays, UE metro.fi 2's, Audio technica ATH-CK7's as well.

Duffy1207 · 12-02-2008, 1:28 PM

Did you find the super fi 3's to be too big?
And are you supposed to wear them with the cable around the ear in the "professional" way?

lowmans100 · 12-02-2008, 1:36 PM

Take a look at the V-Moda Vibes, I guy I work with bought a pair to replace his UE-EB's and he prefers them over the UE's.

Duffy1207 · 12-02-2008, 1:39 PM

They do look nice, but i'm not really bothered by that. Heard they're very bassy, which could be a problem, but I can't find many reviews on them.

Anyone know much about the Shure SE110's?

lowmans100 · 12-02-2008, 5:41 PM

The V-Moda's are bassy but they are very smooth if that makes any sense. There is a smooth transition between lows mids and highs and if your iPod has decent EQ the bass shouldn't be a problem. I don't have and have never had an iPod so don't know what the EQ is like but on my Rockboxed iRiver the bass was not a problem. And yes they do look the part!

Duffy1207 · 12-02-2008, 5:46 PM

I'll certainly think about the V-Moda's then.
But I've heard so many good things about the Shures and Ultimate Ears.

lowmans100 · 12-02-2008, 5:53 PM

Both the UE & Shures will be great, and they get great reviews so I doubt you will be dissapointed either way. They are quality items and are made well, I understand Shure's aftersales & customer service is excellent.

Ikki · 12-02-2008, 6:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffy1207

Did you find the super fi 3's to be too big?
And are you supposed to wear them with the cable around the ear in the "professional" way?

No, I don't find them too big. They are meant to be worn over the ears, but it vastly reduces cable micrphony.

Duffy1207 · 13-02-2008, 10:31 PM

Thanks.
Anyone know much about the Westone UM1's?
Heard some good things.
And how about the new Sennheiser range, heard the CX95's are top notch.

sim0n89 · 13-02-2008, 11:43 PM

After reading your posts, i felt compelled to register and try to stop you making the same mistake i did.

Dont get the vibes. I bought a pair in christmas 2006 and they were a big disappointment. If you are looking for headphones in a similar price range go with the Shure e2c's or etymotic er6i's. I owned both of these before the V-moda's and was far happier with both of them, it felt like i had taken a step backwards when i put in the v-modas. Although they may look fantastic, i found the sound quality to be noticeably poorer.

Good Luck anyway

Duffy1207 · 13-02-2008, 11:49 PM

Thanks for that.
You registered all for me ahaha

.
They were near the bottom of the list because there's not many reviews on them and I haven't heard anywhere near as much about them as I have with the Shures and the UE's.

*Sideymun* · 14-02-2008, 10:30 AM

I am having a similar decision problem as i need to replace my CX300s too and i thought I had finally decided to buy the Shure SE110 for 49.99 from ebuyer but then i found that i can get SE210s for only £10 more. Are the 210's worth the extra money?

(sorry to partially hijack the thread)

*insomniak123* · 14-02-2008, 2:24 PM

I've found the Shure e2c's to be the finest pair of earphones I've owned.

Very nice sound, good true bass (not thumpy bangy bass) when inserted correctly (a lot of people seem to have trouble with this

)

closest now I think are the SE210's

Duffy1207 · 14-02-2008, 3:57 PM

In some magazine I saw (What Hi-Fi sound and vision I think) the SE110's got 5/5 and the 210's only 3/5 because of "music sounding closed in."
I'd say they're still probably superior the the 110's, though?

Duffy1207 · 14-02-2008, 3:58 PM

Also, the SE110's are the replacement for the E2c's from what I have seen on these forums.

Duffy1207 · 15-02-2008, 12:32 AM

Narrowed it down.
Shure SE210, UE Super Fi.3 or Jays D-Jays?
At the end of the day it's upto personal preference, but I'd like your advice all the same.
Failed to mention I listen to Rock, Hip-Hop and some drum & bass.

YellowSphere · 15-02-2008, 10:19 AM

I've got the Super.Fi 3 and while they're not overflowing with bass, but by the time you're on a train, you stop noticing this and just enjoy the music. They're nice and comfortable if you don't mind the way they stick out.

However, my opinion is kind of moot and these were my first foray into in ears.

*Sideymun* · 15-02-2008, 11:23 AM

well, ive taken the punt and gone for the SE210s. I got them for 59.99 from Amazon in the end (settled for white cos they were cheaper than the black) and I figured the extra tenner was probably worth the next model up in the range. I think i mainly went for the shures cos i was struggling to find any bad reviews of them unlike the others at the same kinda price where the reviews were definitley mixed. Now im just hoping they are as good as people have said they are.

Duffy1207 · 15-02-2008, 2:00 PM

Wouldn't mind a quick update after you get your Shure's Sideymun?

*Sideymun* · 15-02-2008, 2:08 PM

No worries, i will try remember to stick something up after trialing the phones out. I have gone for el cheapo delivery with Amazon (as it was free) so should get them sometime next week. Will post after that.

Duffy1207 · 27-02-2008, 9:07 PM

Any news on the Shure's?

*Sideymun* · 27-02-2008, 9:44 PM

Sorry mate - as i expected i totally forgot to reply when i said i would. Anyhoo, aye - got the shures last friday and after a mini battle with the package (it was the impenetrable blister pack stuff) i finally released them. I have to admit this really annoyed me - there was no need to make the packaging so difficult and i would have expected something better from shure.

But the most important thing were the headphones so ill let that slide. The box contained the headphones, the deluxe fit kit and the hard case. I was very impressed with the hard case, more than big enough to get the headphones and the fit kit in should you want to. The fit kit too was very comprehensive having what looks like plug bits for any taste.

Right so with the box and contents out the road i finally gathered up the headphones and connected to my ipod. I tried the fitted compressible foam sleeves first (medium size) and they were awesome at blocking out the sound but a little uncomfortable so i switched the small size and they were perfect - blocked all external sounds and felt snug and comfortable. I then hit play on the pod and was stunned at how good the sound was compared to my old CX300s. It sound crisp in the vocals and and there was still bags of bass when it was needed. And better still that sorta boomy bass i got on my cx300s was gone and replaced by something that was cleaner and less in your face. But the Brucie bonus was how low i could turn the volume on my ipod and so work in the nice linear region of the amps - i went from about 50% volume for normal listening with the cx300s to about 10% with the 210s and that still felt loud.

Basically i have no regrets with buying the 210s - they are definitely worth their money and far far superior to the cx300s. The fit kit is awesome and the compressible foam sleeves are much better than the flex sleeves in my opinion - they form a far superior seal and are alot more comfortable for extended periods of use. I highly recommend the 210s

Duffy1207 · 28-02-2008, 7:19 PM

Ok, big thank you.
I think the Shure's are where my money's going, then

whitesnake11 · 28-02-2008, 7:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffy1207

Ok, big thank you.
I think the Shure's are where my money's going, then

You won't be disappointed, I use Shure's and they are superb

AiEri · 28-02-2008, 9:44 PM

i hear the CX95 are better than cx400 and cx500.
im after a pair of CX95 but i dunno where i can buy one(i mean in-store - not online).

Duffy1207 · 29-02-2008, 8:07 PM

The apple store sell them but I don't know if that's any good to you, I live in birmingham (UK) so I've had one on my front door for a few years, don't think there's that many stores in the country.
Anyone know where I can try out some earohones before I can buy in the birmingham area?