[diggerbarnes]

Hi, I have a challenge for you!

A couple of times a week I get the train down to London and tube across. I have been listening to audio books, but simply cannot hear anything on the jubilee line !

I'm new to this - main criteria is good sound (even when background noise) but I don't want a pair of dustbin lids strapped to my ears !

Don't know whether I need over-ear or in-ear ones...

Cost less than £100 ideally.

Thanks

[Steven]

Not quite a dramatic a challenge as you were led to believe...

You want closed full sized headphones or IEMs. You should search my posts as I explain how they are superior to canalphones many a time. Passive isolation (like ear plugs). £100 is a decent amount to play with

I would advise against full size headphones on the underground. They just do not do enough of a job when you have that 'roar' of the train to compete against. You have to consider that you instinctively turn the volume up* and so long-term will be damaging hearing. You avoid that with IEMs
My ESW9 are one of the best portables in its class but for underground it would be my UM2 everytime

*Like most tube travellers I routinely see people with their iBuds. I also hear them as well

[diggerbarnes]

Thanks I'll read through your posts

[diggerbarnes]

Had a scan through - to be honest I'm not really any clearer.

I want to counteract the 'roar' on the tube, would the Sony-MDR-EX500LP do the job ?

Ideally less than £100, the ESW9s and UM2s are quite a lot !

[Steven]

Closed back headphones work by blocking off the driver on the outside. It has the effect of both minimising sound leakage and isolating the wearer from outside noise

My ESW9 has coped with all situations except for the roar of an underground train when it is going through a tunnel. Just not working

Active noise cancelling headphones work by producing a sound at a specific frequency to block out low-frequency sounds such as the hum of a air plane engines but still allow you to hear things like your keyboard. Basically a little misleading and you also get a hum from the electronics when playing back music. Marvellous(!)

IEMs work by creating a seal. Passive noise isolation. Hence why I said "ear plugs" because they work on the same principle Without music on you should already be getting 20-25db reduction. With music on you should not be able to hear any outside noise with a proper fit. You definitely do learn to be more aware with your eyes out and about to compensate

The problem with Sony offerings is that they have stuck with the same core "3 standard sized tips". Different diameter nozzle fits across their various in-ear offerings, but still standardised sizes. If you do a google there are complaints that they do not isolate as well, and leak more than other IEMs which is not surprising

The majority of IEMs come with a fit kit of tips made from different materials in different sizes. If you are only interested in isolation you can halve your budget. If you are not placing primacy on SQ then there is no need to be spending £100 and you would probably be fine with something like budget Shure's

[tudj]

As said above, if you're intrested in isolation, something like the CX300 would be fine, I've worn them on flights and there's hardly any outside noise audible when using the largest tips (best fit for me). They're only £17 on Amazon and Play.

[Steven]

I was not actually thinking of canalphones. It was what I meant with my reference to the tips that Sony's "IEMs" use (see EX500/EX700). Superior SQ to their cheaper offerings like the EX81 is negated by inflexibility in tips offered
I've owned many canalphones, including the CX300 and can assure you that on sound isolation alone they cannot compete with IEMs. Fact is 3 standardised sizes gives a lot of miss. Not to mention they only sit at the entrance of your ear canal and for many like myself they do not stay in and are the same as normal earbuds

As an example of what I am talking about with a fit kit and finding one for you, I have settled on Shure Olive tips with my UM2s (purchased separately)

[Hawkins85]

Sennheiser CX300. Excellent sound, excellent value, excellent everything. Despite the tiny speaker size it still delivers the bass. Just take care of them because those thin wires can be fragile. Anything larger for portable use seems, inefficient to me. Unless you'd feel more comfortable with something that doesn't poke directly into your ear canals.

[diggerbarnes]

Thanks for the great feedback

Ok after more research I'm thinking of the following:

V-moda vibe

Skullcandy full metal jacket

Soundwise G4

Any thoughts ?

Thanks

[diggerbarnes]

It turns out I had some samsung in ear phones which I have used - comfort wise fine and work well on the tube. Obviously can do much better on quality front, but I am glad to have tried the concept before splashing out.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on my last post of the 3 options I'm considering (perhaps I'm wron to discuss the CX300s ?)

[diggerbarnes]

Hi, having researched the v-moda vibes are getting reviewed by people who buy them as great sound, minimal sound isolation.

As I'll be using mine mainly on trains/tubes I think this is important.

Can I have some more suggestions plerase ? Up to the £50 mark please.

[James_the_Odd]

I use shure headphones on the tube and they do a good job of isolating the noise, think they are se210's

[diggerbarnes]

Originally Posted by James_the_Odd

I use shure headphones on the tube and they do a good job of isolating the noise, think they are se210's

Thanks, after a bit of research I have ordered some