Best earbuds for the audiophile?

johnbegone · #1 10-14-2005, 05:57 PM

I'm a guy that needs to hear things sounding just as the musician/producer intended them to do. At home I listen to my music using either my small studio monitors or my Sennheiser HD280's. But when I'm out on tour or out walking or something, I don't feel like wearing my big boxy headphones so I settle for the little earbuds that came with my ipod. I'm looking for suggestions on some new ear buds, preferrably in the $100-150 range that will sound more like my studio headphones. Let me know what you've got!

thanks guys

**David Wilson** · #2 10-14-2005, 06:08 PM

if you want best earbuds for the audiophile, you can easily spend $500 or more.

In your price range, for your application, IMO you'll get the best sound with in ear monitors.

Here are some good ones in your range:
http://www.headphone.com/products/he...motic-er-6.php
http://www.headphone.com/products/he.../shure-e3c.php
http://www.headphone.com/products/he...-earphones.php

I feel Etymotic are slightly better here in your range, while the Shure's win out in the next price ranges ($300)

johnbegone · #3 10-14-2005, 06:14 PM

Thanks for the input. That website seems like a good resource, I'll continue to look through their pages.

I also want to say that I need some pretty loud ear buds. The iPod default ones are quite loud in comparison to any other headphone I've tried with the ipod, which is best so I don't have to crank it up and drain my battery life.

Brad Maestas · #4 10-14-2005, 06:28 PM

john,

I've been using Etymotic products for quite some time. I own the custom-fitted "musician's earplugs" (ER-9/15/25), the non-fitted ER-20 and the excellent ER-4 earphones. Many of my friends have trusted my recommendation and bought the ER-4's and they are all very happy with them. They make three versions of the ER-4 and I have experience with the "P" and "S" models. They make a lower-priced model, the ER-6 but I don't like the sound of them at all. They seem to be very cheaply-made compared to the others. I would suggest avoiding them.
While the price of the ER-4's is steep, they've more than payed for themselves in the four years I've owned them. I don't have much experience with any other in-ears as I normally listen through Senn 580 or 650 from a Headroom Max amplifier.

David has pointed you in the right direction.

westland · #5 10-14-2005, 06:32 PM

I own a pair of the ER-4s and to my ears, they are as good as any of the higher priced Shure plugs

oversoul · #6 10-14-2005, 07:48 PM

I'm using a pair of shure e2c buds right now, for street noise blocking and more enhanced details to the music/bass response they're good, the wire is bulky and resistant.

johnbegone · #7 10-16-2005, 06:35 AM

These Etymotic ER-4's are sounding pretty good. They even make a model with low impedance for small devices such as the ipod. I'm still open for suggestions though. Thanks for the input guys.

Toasted · #8 10-16-2005, 06:38 AM

I use etymotic ER-6i's with my mp3 player. They're great. The best bit about them is that they're sound excluding