Headphones

[MicroBeta]

There’s about four hundred twenty seven billion, three hundred ninety two million, six hundred forty four thousand, one hundred different sets of headphones on the net. Ok that’s a bit of a hyperbole but you get the point.

Who uses something other then the headphones that came with your music...thingy...CD, digital, whatever?

I’m not a big fan of buds but I also don’t want a big honkin’ pair of bulky over the head kinda rigs either.

Has anyone tried any of those noise-cancelling headphones and if so what do ya think?

Among other things, my Zune has a lot of Baroque/Classical music, which doesn't work well with cheaper quality headphones so I need a good clear set to replace the pair I use now.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Mike

[LarryFlowers]

Mike...

When I bought my Zune, I began my search for headphones. My music range starts at Classical, runs thru Jazz & Blues and includes a lot of vocals. You can understand the quandry.

A long time associate suggested that if I was willing to make the investment, that I should look to Shure. This company is the one that supplies most of today's musicians with the earplug you see them wear on stage. They provide "ear, nose and throat" physicians with kits that musicians have custom molds made from and then sent off to Shure to manufacture the various earpieces they wear. Pretty good pedigree.

I decides on a set of Shure E3C. These amazing "headphones" come with 3 different types of earpieces, each type with three sizes to custom fit to your ear canal. Trying them out will determine the best type/fit for you.

Their music range is awesome.. real base, good highs and vocals that are never "tinny". They also have amazing noise cancelling capability. I recall shortly after getting them, walking down our street where a tree mulcher was in operation.. couldn't hear it, just the music.

Once you find the proper earpiece and size for your ear, you will not have any problem with them falling out of your ear canal either.

Shure no longer makes the E3C, but you can find them at many retailers still for around $125 (Amazon has them). The new version is the Shure SE210 which has an MSRP of $179 (the original price of the E3C) but you can find them around $130 (Amazon).

I have had mine for as long as the Zune has been out.. never any problems. I have bought replacement ear pieces as they will wear out over time, but they are available as accessories in whatever type/size you find works best for you.

Mike, these are a good investment.

Larry

[bobukcat]

I'd second the Shure recommendation if you really want the best quality sound. I'm embarrased to say how much I paid for the set I bought 4 years ago or so. They use passive noise cancelling (essentially they fill your full ear canal sealing out noise from outside) as opposed to active noise cancelling like the Bose and some models from Sony, Senheiser and others. Once you find the size / type earbud for them they are very comfortable and sound outstanding. Watch out for the active type as many of them just generate white noise as apposed to really cancelling the incoming noise. I have not tried the Bose QC3s which are still bigger than ear buds but do sit on your ears as opposed to over them.

If you want wireless and don't care quite as much about quality the MOTO S9s are a good pair of stereo BT headphones without being too large or heavy.

[Stuart Sweet]

On the other hand, Microbeta, I'm over 40. In my youth I was quite picky about sound, preferring a pair of Shure "can-style" headphones, the ones that cover your entire ear and make you look like you're working at the airport. I preferred them over speakers in fact.

When MP3 players got to the stage where they were interesting to me, I tried out about two dozen pair of headphones. You know what? They were all different, but not better. Some had a little better bass, some a little more treble. I tried the Bose in-ear ones that were supposed to be just plain amazing.

I use the el-cheapo's that came with the MP3 player. Noise cancelling ones might be better but in the end they were all about the same.

[Alebob911]

I have the Westone UM2 in ear headphones. Simply amazing sound! I had a pair of shure but they were only a single driver and after a while hurt my ears. My UM2's i can were for hours without any issues. A bit pricy but well worth it as far as I'm concerned. Took me a little but to get used to the in ear but wouldn't use anything else!

Check them out. This is the place I got them from.

http://www.earphonesolutions.com/um2dudrineaw.html?gclid=CJ7y9cS1xJsCFRwpawod_GITAQ

[davring]

If you want wireless and don't care quite as much about quality the MOTO S9s are a good pair of stereo BT headphones without being too large or heavy.

I have to second you on the Motorola S9's, I really enjoy them. But like Stuart, I am past the 40 mark as well and my ears are not a choosy as they once were:)

[MicroBeta]

On the other hand, Microbeta, I'm over 40. In my youth I was quite picky about sound, preferring a pair of Shure "can-style" headphones, the ones that cover your entire ear and make you look like you're working at the airport. I preferred them over speakers in fact.

When MP3 players got to the stage where they were interesting to me, I tried out about two dozen pair of headphones. You know what? They were all different, but not better. Some had a little better bass, some a little more treble. I tried the Bose in-ear ones that were supposed to be just plain amazing.

I use the el-cheapo's that came with the MP3 player. Noise cancelling ones might be better but in the end they were all about the same. Try listening to Bach’s The Art of Fugue with background noise and hearing that’s not quite what it was twenty years ago. :grin:

The fact that I’m over 40 (closer to 50 then 40) is one of the reasons I want better headphones. ;)

Mike

[puckwithahalo]

http://www.ableplanet.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=10&products_id=51&osCsid=e47ccb22eeb70f9206acf392ef1eb6b0

If you are on a budged, or even if you aren't, these have been amazing for the money I paid ($14.99 on www.1saleaday.com). Definitely haven't found anything close in that price range.

[Grentz]

I love my etymotic set. They have a ton of noise isolation, though it takes awhile to get used to the in ear type of earphones. They are very accurate as well, good stuff!

[funhouse69]

I'm a little over 40 and a HUGE music fan, that said I've tried so many different types / styles and sizes of headphones / earphones over the years. I was also never a fan of any type of in the ear styles until I started working in a Data Center. This is when I really started to appreciate the noise isolating features of in the ear buds.

That said I have a pair of Shure EC3's that I like but don't love. I think that they are good but they aren't as loud as others I've had / heard and feel they are a little lacking in the reproduction. At the same time I am really hard on my ear buds so I ended up looking for some cheaper solutions, I've found that the Sony's aren't bad and reasonably price (ok almost free compared to Shure, Bose and Motorola). Recently I'm using Skull Candy as they have a great seal, awesome reproduction and they are relatively cheap.

As for noise canceling I've only tried the Bose ones, I bought them for a trip to Vegas, I got their folding version with the rechargeable battery along with their ear buds. The day I got back from my trip they both went back. Didn't like them at all and believe me when I say that in my opinion they are NOT worth the insane amount of money they sell for.