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Best headphones you've ever heard/used

Well, the subject says it all I guess. I'm looking for two sets of good quality headphones.

The first one is an earphone for use with my iPod. I'm looking for a small pair of compact in-ear earphones. I take long boring flights to Asia often so it'd be nice if they were high quality and helped out with noise canceling. I've heard good things from Shure. Any other recommendations?

The second one will be for night time listening in my bed. These headphones can be big but hopefully not too heavy. I also need them to be wireless for at least 15ft.

Thanks in advance,
spacekadet

Showing 4 responses by dbk

dbk
44 posts
 
Are there any decent in ear phones that are not buds but cone shaped for those with smaller ear canals???
dbk
44 posts
 
Has anyone compared the different Shure E series Earphones?

Are the difference worth the money? Money no object which is best for Jazz and female vocals??
dbk
44 posts
 
Are the SUre E3s better than the etymotic er4-p especially in terms of bass and microdynamics??
dbk
44 posts
 
I bought the Shure e5C -
I still have the ety ER4P.
I use a Xin mini amp with bass boost and both sound great once you get the external ear canal fit right. I found the larger foam ear buds that are made for the ety's to work best in terms of bass response. I also had custom silicone ear plugs made by an audiologist but found them too finicky to insert and somewhat uncomfortable unless positioned perfectly. The foam expands to conform to the shape of any ear and seems to get as good sound isolation.

The noise generated by the ety cord is annoying and the fact that they stick out of the ear canal makes sleeping on the side difficult for plane rides. I read a post somewhere which describes a way to get the ety cord over the auricle and use of a rubber strap similar to the Shure configuration to get rid of the cord problem?? Has anyone heard of this??

As far as sound quality, the etys have the best top end detail and clarity but at times can sound overbrite and etched(for lack of a better word). The bass is clean and well controlled with no boomy quality but still is weak compared to the Sures or over ear head phones.

In a direct head-to-head comparison (IMO), for general portable listening, the Shure e5C are fantastic but sound muffled and at times boomy compared to the Etys. However, the richness of the midband can't compare and I think is a more real to the source rendition. I will keep both and use them interchangably.

I also have a pair of Grado 80s and think thse are fantastic and combine the best featrures of both of the above canal phones. For home listening and in outdoor quiet places, nothing is better for the money!!!
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