iPod Stuck Between Earphones!

[studentmac]

Hi everyone, hope I'm posting this question in the correct area.

I'm currently in the market for a pair of good in-ear earphones to replace the standard ipod phones I've been using the past few years, hopefully around the region of £50.

So far I've managed to narrow it down to either the new Apple in-ear headphones, or the Ultimate Ears metro.fi 2.

Your opinion would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[DoFoT9]

had a look at the Ultimate Ear's web site but could find nothing on technical specifications, that is why i am going to recommend the Apple- In Ear, because of their secondary sub-woofer, they can go down to 5Hz, which is pretty amazing!! ive never seen anything else advertised at that (for such a cheap price anyway).

other than that i would recommend anything Sennheiser.. they are amazing. never fail

 

[henchosbandito]

I have no experience of the Ultimates I'm afraid. However, I do have the Apple in-ear headphones and they are very good indeed. I upgraded to them from sennhieser cx400's which at the time i though were amazing. However, i went for a run this morning and took my sennheisers and found them very tinny in comparison. Apples in ear ones do sound incredible for the price, they feel and look high quality as well which is a bonus. I would say go for them!

For iPhone users on the fence or not sure of the compatibility with these headphones, the microphone works very well for calls and all functions on the remote BAR VOLUME CONTROL work. Im hoping apple will incorporate a fix in the next iPhone firmware to resolve this though.

 

[jampat]

Etymotic ER6's (or 6i's with more bass) sound really good and are in your price range too. They are definitely worth a listen.

 

[gan6660]

Apple in-ears are the best

 

[J the Ninja]

I have no experience of the Ultimates I'm afraid. However, I do have the Apple in-ear headphones and they are very good indeed. I upgraded to them from sennhieser cx400's which at the time i though were amazing. However, i went for a run this morning and took my sennheisers and found them very tinny in comparison. Apples in ear ones do sound incredible for the price, they feel and look high quality as well which is a bonus. I would say go for them!

For iPhone users on the fence or not sure of the compatibility with these headphones, the microphone works very well for calls and all functions on the remote BAR VOLUME CONTROL work. Im hoping apple will incorporate a fix in the next iPhone firmware to resolve this though.

Apple's own graph shows more like 10Hz-15Khz +/- 5dB (which is a pretty wide margin), plus it looks fairly heavily smoothed. Notice how the range is not given for that "5Hz"? From what I've read, the Apple ones are decent for the price, but you aren't gonna get top quality or full range for $80.

 

[coupdetat]

Etymotics are likely the most accurate earphones on the market, but if you like a "fun" sound signature (bassier, richer) then Shure is another well-established brand. At the budget level, I prefer Etys by far. Shures tend to sound a bit muddy--good for trance/hip-hop, not good for anything more natural.

Haven't tried the new Apple in-ears. I don't trust companies that aren't specialized in headphones.. it's like buying a $5,000 watch from LV.

Frequency response figures are totally useless, it's how the earphone reproduces those frequencies that is important... and the only way you can tell that is by auditioning them.

 

[DoFoT9]

I have no experience of the Ultimates I'm afraid. However, I do have the Apple in-ear headphones and they are very good indeed. I upgraded to them from sennhieser cx400's which at the time i though were amazing. However, i went for a run this morning and took my sennheisers and found them very tinny in comparison. Apples in ear ones do sound incredible for the price, they feel and look high quality as well which is a bonus. I would say go for them!

For iPhone users on the fence or not sure of the compatibility with these headphones, the microphone works very well for calls and all functions on the remote BAR VOLUME CONTROL work. Im hoping apple will incorporate a fix in the next iPhone firmware to resolve this though.

wow are you serious>? i have some cx300's i think, was looking to upgrade to the cx500's or something even higher but now that you mention the apple headphones are amazing i might just have to get them!!! thanks!

 

[henchosbandito]

wow are you serious>? i have some cx300's i think, was looking to upgrade to the cx500's or something even higher but now that you mention the apple headphones are amazing i might just have to get them!!! thanks!

I would definitely give the apples a try. They surprised me too.

FYI In case you decide to go for the sennheisers - when i got my cx400's i spent about half hour deliberating in the shop over the cx400's and cx500's. Basically, the only real difference between them is that the cx500's have inline volume control. The sound between the two is apparently not noticeable, and definitely doesn't warrant the difference in price.

 

[DoFoT9]

I would definitely give the apples a try. They surprised me too.

FYI In case you decide to go for the sennheisers - when i got my cx400's i spent about half hour deliberating in the shop over the cx400's and cx500's. Basically, the only real difference between them is that the cx500's have inline volume control. The sound between the two is apparently not noticeable, and definitely doesn't warrant the difference in price.

i was in the sydney apple store the other day checking out both CX400's and CX500's, i would only get the CX400's if i were to choose one. will definately check out the apple ones though!!