Headphone Choice

[Iglio]

What headphone do you guys think is the best that is 0-150 dollars? I'm looking at purchasing the vmoda but Ultimate ears also has good ones along with etymotic....ur thoughts

[BrownManUPS]

I have the V-MODA Vibe Headset (http://store.apple.com/us/product/TP637LL/A?fnode=home/shop_iphone/iphone_accessories/headsets&mco=MTI5MjM5NQ) in black. I got them for free after the Apple Store manager recommended them to me (after a small disagreement regarding customer service).

So while I do appreciate anything that is free, I really would buy this headset if I had 100 dollars to spare. The only "problem" would be that the button to answer/end calls is on the high side, but that balances out with the fact that the mouthpeice is perfectly positioned for handsfree conversation and is great even in windy situations, where the interference might be a problem. People I talk with feel it is crystal clear quality, and the volume is pretty solid.

As for using them as headphones, these are excellent. The quality of sound is a little on the bassy side, but the high's aren't too tinny and certainly give a great sound experience for any device, let alone the iPhone. I really like the quality of material used for these headphones, which is like a lace material, rather than the rubber material or wire material that Apple headsets have used. They don't fall out of your ear and come with replaceable earpieces (three clear and three black in the "black" variety). And the color being black matches the iPhone perfectly.

Overall these are the best headphones (let alone headset) I've owned.

[Mr. Giver '94]

I will recommend the Bang and Olufsen Earset 3. They have amazing sound quality, incredible highs and great bass, as well as a very custom fit. They are so adjustable that they will fit almost any ear. They are made of aluminum and hard rubber, so they have a very sturdy feel but are also light weight. They also have a built in mic that delivers great call quality on both ends. They are a bit more than you said (200$) but I think they are well worth it.

If you'd like to spend closer to 150$, the B&O A8 headphones are the exact same thing minus the microphone and cost around 160$.

Hope this helps! :)

[fishmd]

Wanted to give my opinion on this one here. I have tried both the v-moda duo and the UE 4vi. The UE is much better IMO. The v-moda has exceptional bass, but sounds very muddy overall. Also, the mic is cumbersome and the button on the mic difficult to find at times. Also, I don't like having to reach up to my ear all the time to answer the phone and change songs. Plus, if you read a lot of the reviews, a lot of people have had issues with these headsets not lasting long at all.

The UE headphones are great. The sound quality is much superior. I constantly find myself listening to songs I have heard many times before and hearing new instruments and notes that I never noticed before. And don't believe the other people who say there is not any bass. There is. You just have to get an adequate seal. The mic button is also great on this. Very easy to use and nice that it is separate from the mic. You don't have to reach up by your ear to press the thing. As I had two different pairs of this headset, I can tell you that there are two different types of buttons. One has a raised button that is good sized and easy to press. The other is flush with the box and has no raised portion, and you just sort of squeeze the whole button like you do the apple headphones to use it. I will say however that the eartips are not that comfortable. They are alright, but I have used softer ones before. If you want something more comfortable, get the Comply tips for this headset and you will be good to go. I highly recommend this headset. Plus you get a two year warranty on the things just in case, so you can't really go wrong.

[i0Nic]

Wanted to give my opinion on this one here. I have tried both the v-moda duo and the UE 4vi. The UE is much better IMO. The v-moda has exceptional bass, but sounds very muddy overall. Also, the mic is cumbersome and the button on the mic difficult to find at times. Also, I don't like having to reach up to my ear all the time to answer the phone and change songs. Plus, if you read a lot of the reviews, a lot of people have had issues with these headsets not lasting long at all.

The UE headphones are great. The sound quality is much superior. I constantly find myself listening to songs I have heard many times before and hearing new instruments and notes that I never noticed before. And don't believe the other people who say there is not any bass. There is. You just have to get an adequate seal. The mic button is also great on this. Very easy to use and nice that it is separate from the mic. You don't have to reach up by your ear to press the thing. As I had two different pairs of this headset, I can tell you that there are two different types of buttons. One has a raised button that is good sized and easy to press. The other is flush with the box and has no raised portion, and you just sort of squeeze the whole button like you do the apple headphones to use it. I will say however that the eartips are not that comfortable. They are alright, but I have used softer ones before. If you want something more comfortable, get the Comply tips for this headset and you will be good to go. I highly recommend this headset. Plus you get a two year warranty on the things just in case, so you can't really go wrong.

Hey mate, I'm thinking of getting the UE 4vi. How do you insert them into your ear - I've seen some strange ways on the UE website with inserting them backwards and wrapping the cord around your ear, I wouldn't be too keen on that if that was the only way to create a good seal.

The other headphone I'm considering is the Bose in-ear set. Reviews all say they are very comfortable which is a good thing as I have had some bad experiences with in-ear headphones in the past, however they don't create an airtight seal which is a concern as I travel a lot on trains. Had any experience with these?

[Apple Ink]

Etymotic HF2. Love em':D

[fishmd]

Hey mate, I'm thinking of getting the UE 4vi. How do you insert them into your ear - I've seen some strange ways on the UE website with inserting them backwards and wrapping the cord around your ear, I wouldn't be too keen on that if that was the only way to create a good seal.

The other headphone I'm considering is the Bose in-ear set. Reviews all say they are very comfortable which is a good thing as I have had some bad experiences with in-ear headphones in the past, however they don't create an airtight seal which is a concern as I travel a lot on trains. Had any experience with these?

You can wear them straight down like regular headphones. They stay in very well. I am a runner and have used these with no problems. You can also wrap it up over the ear, but I don't really know why you would want to do this.

As to the Bose, I have not used these myself. I know a lot of people like them, however, they do not have the same functionality that the UE have because they don't have the mic and the button to answer calls/skip or pause music. For me, this was super important since I am using them with my iphone. Also, I can say that I have read a lot of reviews on these from many people on www.head-fi.org. They all seem to think they are crap, but I don't know for sure.

Good luck.

[i0Nic]

You can wear them straight down like regular headphones. They stay in very well. I am a runner and have used these with no problems. You can also wrap it up over the ear, but I don't really know why you would want to do this.

As to the Bose, I have not used these myself. I know a lot of people like them, however, they do not have the same functionality that the UE have because they don't have the mic and the button to answer calls/skip or pause music. For me, this was super important since I am using them with my iphone. Also, I can say that I have read a lot of reviews on these from many people on www.head-fi.org. They all seem to think they are crap, but I don't know for sure.

Good luck.
Thank you!

How is the bass on the UE's? The only other concern I have is that some reviews on the Apple Store website say they don't produce much bass (in comparison to v-moda vibes for example). What's your opinion?

cheers

[bug67]

If total sound isolation and pure listening pleasure is your goal, I would suggest the Etymotic ER-6i. (http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx) I bought a pair for use when I ride my motorcycle. They fit well under my helmet and the sound isolation is phenomenal!:cool:

[jonnyb]

If total sound isolation and pure listening pleasure is your goal, I would suggest the Etymotic ER-6i. (http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx) I bought a pair for use when I ride my motorcycle. They fit well under my helmet and the sound isolation is phenomenal!:cool:

I'm amazed that you would suggest that sound isolation is a good thing when riding a motorcycle. That's to say nothing of my amazement that you're wearing headphones while riding a motorcycle in the first place.

[MadGoat]

I'm amazed that you would suggest that sound isolation is a good thing when riding a motorcycle. That's to say nothing of my amazement that you're wearing headphones while riding a motorcycle in the first place.

I was just going to say the same thing.. That actually frightens me that someone on a motorcycle would wear headphones.

[fishmd]

Thank you!

How is the bass on the UE's? The only other concern I have is that some reviews on the Apple Store website say they don't produce much bass (in comparison to v-moda vibes for example). What's your opinion?

cheers

The v-moda certainly have more bass, but it is actually overbearing. I am a self-proclaimed bass head so to speak. I listen to a lot of rap and hip-hop, so bass is important to me. The v-modas definitely produced a lot of bass, but actually too much. It made the rest of the higher notes really muddy sounding, or you could not hear them at all. The UE have a much more ballanced sound stage. There is bass, but if you are used to the v-moda like headphones, you may think there is not. Those who said there is no bass most likely did not have an adequate seal with the eartips. This is crucial with these type of IEM. If you do not have the correct sized tips in, you will not get the bass. I have a good fit, and trust me the bass is there.

Hope this helps. :D

[i0Nic]

The v-moda certainly have more bass, but it is actually overbearing. I am a self-proclaimed bass head so to speak. I listen to a lot of rap and hip-hop, so bass is important to me. The v-modas definitely produced a lot of bass, but actually too much. It made the rest of the higher notes really muddy sounding, or you could not hear them at all. The UE have a much more ballanced sound stage. There is bass, but if you are used to the v-moda like headphones, you may think there is not. Those who said there is no bass most likely did not have an adequate seal with the eartips. This is crucial with these type of IEM. If you do not have the correct sized tips in, you will not get the bass. I have a good fit, and trust me the bass is there.

Hope this helps. :D
Great, I'm sold! Thanks a lot. I think I will wear them in the 'normal' way as I think the method that UE suggests looks a bit abnormal. You're right that it is important to get a good seal, otherwise you're wasting your money buying in-ear 'phones.

Hopefully if they don't suit me the Apple store can grant me an exchange though.

[dccorona]

bose in ear headphones
by far the most comfortable and best sounding headphones ive used

and ive tried a lot of high end headphones

[bug67]

I'm amazed that you would suggest that sound isolation is a good thing when riding a motorcycle. That's to say nothing of my amazement that you're wearing headphones while riding a motorcycle in the first place.

I was just going to say the same thing.. That actually frightens me that someone on a motorcycle would wear headphones.

Look, here's the deal. It is actually a good idea that ear protection be worn while riding:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Earplugs/earplugs.htm

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/0710_crup_motorcycle_hearing_protection/index.html

http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/earplugs.htm

(Top 3 Google hits for hearing protection while riding)

Wind noise can be extremely damaging to ones hearing. With the ER-6is, I get the hearing protection with the added bonus of music. I don't actually listen to the music unless I'm in a remote highway location. In town around traffic, the ear plugs are just in for reduced wind buffeting. Get it? Probably not. And really, what is the difference between listening to music in a car and listening to music on a motorcycle? Can they not be an equal distraction for both? What you really have to watch out for on a motorcycle are the idiots in their cages talking on cell phones.

Tell you what, you ride your ride and I'll ride mine.

[SBik2]

hey guys... im supposed to get "the new generation" of the v-moda vibe duos because both of the vmodas i used to have had the widespread one earbud not working.. i sent in my defective set in a month ago and they said if i wanted to , i can wait until the new ones come out, so i did.. and if you guys want i can tell you guys how the new versions sound..

[Clyde099]

hey guys... im supposed to get "the new generation" of the v-moda vibe duos because both of the vmodas i used to have had the widespread one earbud not working.. i sent in my defective set in a month ago and they said if i wanted to , i can wait until the new ones come out, so i did.. and if you guys want i can tell you guys how the new versions sound..

When are these supposed to be available/when are your shipping?

[SBik2]

When are these supposed to be available/when are your shipping?

idk when the general public will get info about them... i dont even think the new version will look any different than the new ones.. mine should be here in about a week hopefully

[exposition]

Hey mate, I'm thinking of getting the UE 4vi. How do you insert them into your ear - I've seen some strange ways on the UE website with inserting them backwards and wrapping the cord around your ear, I wouldn't be too keen on that if that was the only way to create a good seal.

The Super.fi 4 and 4vi are designed to hang straight from the ear canal, rather than with the over-the-ear loop on the other Ultimate Ears IEMs. The other Ultimate Ears (like the Super.fi 5 and the Triple.fi) have stiffer cords near the earphone to facilitate the over-the-ear loop - those are the ones they have the video instructions for.

[iBrody]

Ultimate Buds are going to be selling the UB7 EB's in black as from this friday (supposedly - I emailed them enquiring if they were planning to sell in black and they said yes, as of this coming friday).

I originally couldn't decide between the white UB7 EB's or Ultimate Ears super.fi 5 vi's (to soon be released). Now that the UB7 EB's are going to be available in black, my mind is made up.

[jonnyb]

Wind noise can be extremely damaging to ones hearing. With the ER-6is, I get the hearing protection with the added bonus of music. I don't actually listen to the music unless I'm in a remote highway location. In town around traffic, the ear plugs are just in for reduced wind buffeting. Get it? Probably not. And really, what is the difference between listening to music in a car and listening to music on a motorcycle? Can they not be an equal distraction for both? What you really have to watch out for on a motorcycle are the idiots in their cages talking on cell phones.

Tell you what, you ride your ride and I'll ride mine.

I was actually speaking as someone who rides a scooter in central London - if you wore headphones riding a two-wheeler in central London you'd be dead inside 5 minutes.

I guess it's different if you're riding in remote areas of the US.

Totally agree about the idiots on their mobile phones. Making it illegal was one of the best things they ever did in the UK (not that it has stopped lots of idiots from continuing to do it of course, but at least some get caught and punished)

[hempcamp]

I have the Etymotic hf2 and I love them. Great sound quality, sturdy, fit in ears (better than Etymotic ER6 for me).

--Chris

[Macsta]

I have both the Etymotic hf2 and UE 4vi and the Etymotic hf2 are the better of the 2 , the UE are still very good, but the Etys sound much better and more comfortable.

[Maury]

I came to the forums looking for advice on headphones that wouldn't fall out of my ears like the Apple ones do, while still having the little clicker button that makes the iPhone so easy to use.

And now I know the answers. Thanks everyone!

I am very interested to hear how the new V-MODA's work out, I really like the looks of the gunmetal/red ones.

Maury

[SBik2]

okay the box showed up with the new gen duos..
sorry for the bad quality (from my iPhone 3g)
they look pretty much the same except for a couple things..
1. the actual headset plug looks a lil different.. its sorta like a v shape ( i have a pic of the old vs new comparison )

2. the cord is a little shorter.. but is still perfect if your phone sits in your pockets

3. The button feels a bit stiffer

4. the headset is a slight bit bass heavy.. but still absolutely sounds perfect, bass and all

[Sphyrna]

What's up with the new plug? It looks like it has a port at the end for another pair of headphones or something to plug into it? I don't like the look of the new plug.

[SBik2]

What's up with the new plug? It looks like it has a port at the end for another pair of headphones or something to plug into it? I don't like the look of the new plug.

nope nothing to plug into it.. its just a silver circle ..
i really dont like it much either.. but i love the earbuds..

[jkozlow3]

Just a quick tip...

It's generally advisable to visit a specialized forum for items such as headphones which are unrelated to the iPhone. Not that there's anything wrong with asking your question here - I just think you'll get far more input at a specialized headphone forum. In this case, the forums at head-fi.org are what you want. Those people are REALLY into their headphones.

Just my $.02

[Maury]

okay the box showed up with the new gen duos..
2. the cord is a little shorter.. but is still perfect if your phone sits in your pockets


... pants pocket? Or shirt pocket? I often have to carry mine in my jeans.

Maury

[SBik2]

... pants pocket? Or shirt pocket? I often have to carry mine in my jeans.

Maury

jeans..
and as far as i can tell.. some people probably knew about the having to "break in" their v-modas, now i can tell that doing that is not needed

[Maury]

jeans..
and as far as i can tell.. some people probably knew about the having to "break in" their v-modas, now i can tell that doing that is not needed

I went over to the Apple store to see if they had them, but all they had was the older model...

Maury

[bmwpowere36m3]

I did the same when I first got my iPhone. I replaced the original ear buds with a pair of old Shure E2's. Here are fruits of my labor:

http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/bmwpowere36m3/iPhone%203G/DSC_2980.jpg

[BrownManUPS]

I did the same when I first got my iPhone. I replaced the original ear buds with a pair of old Shure E2's. Here are fruits of my labor:

What the HELL is that hahaha. That looks pretty hard to do if you have never done it before..

[bmwpowere36m3]

What the HELL is that hahaha. That looks pretty hard to do if you have never done it before..

It's the original iPhone headset with the "earphones" replaced with Shure E2 In-Ear Moniters (IEM), which sound a helluva lot better and offer better isolation from outside noise.

[joesegal76]

i just picked up these maximo imetal headsets

http://www.maximoproducts.com/iphone/iP-HS1.html

they aren't "in ear" headphones like most people use, but i really prefer the earbud type headsets. It sits more comfortably in my ear. It has a built in mic, as well as button to answer calls and change tracks.

The sound is better than the stock apple headsets with more bass response and crisper sound.

Definately recommended.

[i0Nic]

So I bought a pair of Ultimate Ears 4vi, and I like the build quality and the sound has high fidelity and great highs and mids... but there's very little bass!
I am using the correct tips and I have a seal, but the lows here are very quiet. I am coming from a pair of CX300's which had strong bass so coming to these it's a big difference. Yes, these headphones have a more 'accurate' and 'professional' sound and clarity is superb, but I don't think I can enjoy my music as much with little bass.

I might be returning these then unfortunately, I really wanted to like them. Now I don't know which set of headphones to get. Possibly the vibe duo's I guess, even though they apparantly have muddier sound and too bass heavy.

Anyone share the same opinions?

[fishmd]

So I bought a pair of Ultimate Ears 4vi, and I like the build quality and the sound has high fidelity and great highs and mids... but there's very little bass!
I am using the correct tips and I have a seal, but the lows here are very quiet. I am coming from a pair of CX300's which had strong bass so coming to these it's a big difference. Yes, these headphones have a more 'accurate' and 'professional' sound and clarity is superb, but I don't think I can enjoy my music as much with little bass.

I might be returning these then unfortunately, I really wanted to like them. Now I don't know which set of headphones to get. Possibly the vibe duo's I guess, even though they apparantly have muddier sound and too bass heavy.

Anyone share the same opinions?

Too bad you don't like the UE. For me the bass is great, but I was not coming from phones with heavy bass anyways. I know from talking with other people, if you are used to phones with heavy bass, you just kinda have to retrain your ears to get more used to the more acurate soundstage. Like I know some people have gone from the cheap JVC marshmellows which are somewhat bass heavy and then got customs or UE 10's and thought they sounded terrible. It just took time for them to retrain their ears, and now they love them. But to each his own. That is why so many different types are made.

Check out the forums at head-fi.org. These guys no a ton about phones.

If you want some decent sounding ones with great bass, try out the v-modas. Get the new ones though as hopefully these will be better build quality as the other ones were terrible and often only lasted people a few months.

Good luck.

[Dembo]

I did the same when I first got my iPhone. I replaced the original ear buds with a pair of old Shure E2's. Here are fruits of my labor:


WOW! This is amazing! I still have an old set of E2s with broken wires (still using a different set of E2s) and I'd love to build something like this.

I do have some basic soldering skills but I never got used to solder these "coax" type cables where there is one cable running in the middle and the other cable is basically surrounding it.

How did you pull this off? Any picture guides out there to show me how to do it?

Cheers,
Dembo

[iBrody]

I did the same when I first got my iPhone. I replaced the original ear buds with a pair of old Shure E2's. Here are fruits of my labor:
WOW! This is amazing! I still have an old set of E2s with broken wires (still using a different set of E2s) and I'd love to build something like this.

I do have some basic soldering skills but I never got used to solder these "coax" type cables where there is one cable running in the middle and the other cable is basically surrounding it.

How did you pull this off? Any picture guides out there to show me how to do it?

Cheers,
Dembo

Yeah I would like to know the same please as I have some E2s.

Anyone tried the Sennheiser CX series mod? I have some CX300's but the plastic caps look like they are stuck on rigid and don't wanna budge...

[Maury]

As an experiment I got a pair of $24 earbud phone's from The Source. I was astonished by how great they are at isolating the sound around me -- I can generally play the vol set to about 1/2, even on the subway, whereas I used to need at least 3/4 or more.

But the downside is that any movement of the cord, brushing on my jacket for instance, transmits MASSIVE sound into the buds! Do they all do this?

Maury

[Benjic]

As an experiment I got a pair of $24 earbud phone's from The Source. I was astonished by how great they are at isolating the sound around me -- I can generally play the vol set to about 1/2, even on the subway, whereas I used to need at least 3/4 or more.

But the downside is that any movement of the cord, brushing on my jacket for instance, transmits MASSIVE sound into the buds! Do they all do this?

Maury

Unfortunately, yes, most of them to, you're basically doing the whole Cans on a String thing with your headphones. The reason passive noise cancel phones can provide such great noise canceling, is the same reason they transmit sound from the cable straight to your ear.

HOWEVER, I could be an idiot, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.