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Earbuds

  • Thread starter Deleted member 108676
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Deleted member 108676

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So I was wondering if any of you guys had a preference on the best ear buds you can get for $100 or less.

I'd like them to be durable as I won't be sitting at a computer using them. I'm deployed right now and the abuse of using them here has worn out my current pair and the audio flickers in and out in the right bud.

Another thing, they must be on Amazon, because I know Amazon ships to deployed locations.

Thanks.
 
The Brainwavz m2 is a great choice at $60if you are a basshead. I love them. However, you have to have a good fit to get the best sound. They come with a number of tips but I had to order a set of large size Comply tips (on amazon) to get a proper seal. The bass is now amazing :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004IK1VBA/

They are tough but won't take a huge amount of abuse. I dropped mine many times with no ill effects but they finally tore a bit when I accidentally got them stuck on a metal grate and yanked the shit out of em.
 
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I just want the hands down best sounding ear buds for $100 or less.
 
Review of 242 IEMs

I like the detail this guy goes into about the construction of each earbud. When I was shopping for IEMs, I first just searched through the page for IEMs with build qualities of 4 or 5. The pair I'm wearing now are MeElectronic A151 and I'm very happy with them but I made that decision awhile ago when they were on sale for $40.

Looking at the chart on the bottom, the sub-$100 standout (and it stands out big-time) is the $63 VSonic GR06.

Edit: Full disclosure - I'm severely deaf, so I have to leave comments about the quality of audio to others. However, since I wear hearing aids every waking hour of my life, I can comment on comfort, and I wish people would not recommend those painful Monoprice IEMs no matter how good they sound, because they are liable to turn people off on IEMs as a whole. My MeElectronic A151 IEMs are very comfortable because the nozzles are only 3mm, which will accomodate even those with the smallest ear canals.
 
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The problem with threads like this is that most have only tried one pair of earphones recently. I got a pair of iBeats with my phone (they come in around your budget) and they're actually pretty good. The housing is solid aluminum and the cable isn't going to snag soon. More importantly the deliver a really full sound and pretty good isolation - they're better than I thought they would be.

A word of advice, make sure so get a range of ear cups. These are the biggest factor in comfort. I actually where different sizes in each side, but most products in this range should have these.
 
I've tried a handful of IEM's in the $50-100 range, all of which I recommend. But again, these threads usually end up nowhere because sound quality, durability, comfort, fit/seal are all completely subjective.

I've tried:
Klipsch S4
NuForce NE-700X (Silver Bullet)
Etymotic MC5
Hippo VB

I think I enjoyed the Nuforce and Ety's the most. The heavily hyped Klipsch S4 died on me in 2 months (shoddy cable), but while it lasted the sound was pretty good.

Currently I've upgraded to the Etymotic HF5's, and they are terrific IEM's. I picked them up on a sale for ~$75 and I think it's well worth the $120 on Amazon. Crystal clear SQ, good build quality, nice design/look.

And while I haven't tried the monoprice 8320s, from what people are saying on head-fi, with proper eartips (stock buds are garbage), they are pretty good.
 
evilsofa said:
Review of 242 IEMs

I like the detail this guy goes into about the construction of each earbud. When I was shopping for IEMs, I first just searched through the page for IEMs with build qualities of 4 or 5. The pair I'm wearing now are MeElectronic A151 and I'm very happy with them but I made that decision awhile ago when they were on sale for $40.

Looking at the chart on the bottom, the sub-$100 standout (and it stands out big-time) is the $63 VSonic GR06.

Edit: Full disclosure - I'm severely deaf, so I have to leave comments about the quality of audio to others. However, since I wear hearing aids every waking hour of my life, I can comment on comfort, and I wish people would not recommend those painful Monoprice IEMs no matter how good they sound, because they are liable to turn people off on IEMs as a whole. My MeElectronic A151 IEMs are very comfortable because the nozzles are only 3mm, which will accomodate even those with the smallest ear canals.
Click to expand...

Don't think your opinions carry over to others, The monoprice iem's are far from painful.
 
ShatteredX said:
...but they finally tore a bit when I accidentally got them stuck on a metal grate and yanked the shit out of em.
Click to expand...

Why?

-----------------

Get the Monoprice ones

/thread! AND I MEAN IT!

You people shouldn't really be recommending other phones when the Monoprice are cheap as shit and sound PHENOMENAL...easily besting any other recommendation here. Easily. I've owned a TON of headphones and these buds are incredible...easily as good or better than any ~$100 buds I've ever owned.
 
I am in the same boat. My $100 Bose headphones (which I received for free) have the insulation coming off the cable every few inches, very much because I would wrap them too tightly. They've lasted for a few years and I need to pick up a new set before these bite the dust. I received the pair of Beats that come with the HTC Rezound (supposedly the $100 level headphones), I have to shove them in my ear for them to stay (and I've tried all the bud sizes), and don't like the feeling. I am looking for something like the Bose where they rest in/on the ear, not sure if that is considered IEM or not. Let us know what you end up with.
 
^^^ It's funny, that's the same set of headphones that I really like (came with Sensation XE). Best set of in-ear headphones I have owned infact (I've had a few over the years, not cheap one's either).
 
I've been told to buy a different type of earbud from amazon (like a foam one as opposed to the rubber-type) and that makes quite a difference. Maybe I've grown too used to the Bose, where you are not isolated from "outside" noises. I want to like the Beats, just haven't grown accustomed to the feeling of them fully in my ear.
 
Yeah, I get that. They won't the most comfortable headphones at first. Not that they're bulky, but there's a definite weight to them. Worth persevering though as they really do deliver and I don't notice them anymore.
 
Yeah a good set of foam ear tips can make all ear buds faster. Monoprice iem's plus the the sony hybrids or a memory foam tips sound like a $200+ iem.
 
The Monoprice 8320 are just plain awesome... but ONLY if you get tips that give you a comfortable fit.

For some people the stock tips work ok, but really you want a set of Sony Hybrid tips. In fact no matter what IEMs you use you should have a set of those tips. :)
 
mannyman said:
Don't think your opinions carry over to others, The monoprice iem's are far from painful.
Click to expand...

They're far from being the most comfortable IEMs tho. Painful? No. Rugged, durable, and comfortable for wearing on the go? Not even. They do sound great tho, and they're cheap enough you could go thru five pairs and still come out ahead if you don't mind the ergonomics.
 
When they fix the cord or someone will recable them is when I would bite. They are large iems. Not for every ear. Their size help the sound. The cable is rough and I would advise wrapping atleast the ends that touch your skin with some electrical tape or some such.
 
Alright...so my headphones from Monoprice never made it...so any suggestions on ear buds from AMAZON?
 
OEM said:
Alright...so my headphones from Monoprice never made it...so any suggestions on ear buds from AMAZON?
Click to expand...

JVC's Gumy earbuds are quite durable, well made without that cheap feel and can be bought for around $10. Since I do alot of cycling in the sun I find these buds to be quite resistant to the UV rays that causes most buds/cords to harden up over time. 95% of the bud and cord are more rubber like and have yet to stiff-up. I don't know if you will like the sound quality as everyone will have different experience, but they do sound good to me. There is also the Gumy Air line.

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-F130A-Gumy-phones-Headphones/dp/B000O7QO6S
And yes, they have other colors the blue.
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAF130B-Gumy-Earbuds-Black/dp/B000O7QO90/ref=pd_sim_e_3

Gumy Plus line:
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Gummy-Plu...cs&ie=UTF8&qid=1341767206&sr=1-9&keywords=jvc

Gumy Air line:
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAF240VX-...s&ie=UTF8&qid=1341767206&sr=1-12&keywords=jvc

Also my Gumy buds are atleast 2 years old.
 
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I appreciate the links, but I'm willing to spend up to $100 if the sound quality is there. I know I said I'd like durability, but sound quality is more important than durability...I'm going to be a little more careful this time.
 
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