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Best electronic listening devices?
EmperorSeth
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Here's the problem. I love ear buds; I barely can tolerate normal headphones, especially when using an iPod. But they don't love me. On average, I find I have to buy a new pair every 3-4 months, if I'm lucky. Otherwise, usually one of the buds stops, giving me sound in only one ear. Often, I can't even see a physical problem with the bud's wires. For example, just a few minutes ago, the latest pair (Phillips brand,) suddenly lost all sound in my right bud, initially only when at certain angles of rotation for the bud's plug in the iPod, and now almost in all cases.
What types of ear buds or similar listening systems do you use, and does it work more reliably than mine? How much do they cost you?
What types of ear buds or similar listening systems do you use, and does it work more reliably than mine? How much do they cost you?
You know what? Nanowrimo's cancelled on account of the world is stupid.
EmperorSeth on
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There's a lot more out there than "cheapy headclamp headphones" that are non-earbuds, and a lot that are more comfortable than, well, than any other thing you could put on your head. However, the reason earbuds cost about $15 is because they're crap. But if you're listening to things outside and are being rough on headphones, or stuffing them in your bag or whatever, that may be the cause (and a deeper problem).
There are some very nice earbuds on the market, but they're not $15. Similarly, you didn't explain why it was you actually prefer earbuds. They block out some noise? They can get louder w/o other people hearing? You like the "i don't actually have anything on my head but in reality i can't hear you at all" style?
I used to be replacing my buds every 2-3 months, suffering the very same symptons as you've described, but those ones have lasted a good 7-8 months and no problem from them whatsoever. Very good quality aswell.
If they were to ever break, i would definately buy them again.
The UM2s might be out of your price range ($300USD), but there are great options in the 100-150 range. Check out the Etymotics er6i, Shure E2C/G, Super.fi 3 studios, or the Westone UM1s.
They all have various sound signatures that you might want to look at. Check out www.head-fi.org for the headphone guru's of the world and ask for advice there.
Yes, I've had these headphones for a month or so now and I will also recommend them. Great sound quality, especially for the price.
That worked for my anyway. even cheap headphones can last you really long if you treat them right.
Fair enough -- it takes a good pair of headphones to not sound muffled. I've got a nice pair that sounds TONS better than earbuds could (because of the size of the drivers, earbuds will always have worse bass response compared to large open-back headphones, for instance) but they're pretty big (and cost well over $100).
Still, a good set of earbuds *will* last longer. I mean, if you go through earbuds every 2-3 months, that's like 4-5 pairs a year, which equals around 60-75 dollars right there! A better pair of headphones that lasted simply 1 year would allow you to break even, and it's likely they would last longer than that. I can understand why you're apprehensive -- after all, you're used to earbuds that break. But you're also used to earbuds that cost $15. There is a definite quality difference in nicer earbuds/headphones, which, of course, costs more money. After all, that's why you made this thread
AKG Acoustics is pretty good all around.
I have the K171 myself... they're very nice, I've had them for 5 years now. I bought them because I kept going through cheap headphones every month... so I just bought one of these.