How much sound isolation from canalphones?
Currently I'm using a pair of fairly typical earbuds. Quality is okay but I'd like a little better.
I like the things I hear about the Sony Ex51s, but I'm just worried about the sound isolation. If somebodies talking to me I'd like to be able to hear it. Particularly at work, I work in an office and if somebodies trying to get my attention I would like to know. Even when I'm walking around campus or to school I'd like to be able to hear things around me. Same thing applies for running and biking, but I may just use my old earbuds for that.
Searching through previous posts it seems like the Sony isolate less than some others. My question is do they still isolate to the point where you can't hear the outside world?
And if they do, can you recommend some good earbud that won't isolate this much? Searching through the forums I didn't find a lot of suggestions for earbuds that don't isolate.
Thanks.
[1000 byte] By [
robogus] at [2007-11-10 20:58:34]
# 1 Re: How much sound isolation from canalphones?
All in ears isolate, but not all the same ammount. The Sony EX71s and EX51s are a bit open, for canal phones. You won't hear the outside world as well, but somebody will be able to get your attention. I wouldn't recomend biking with these though. You do lose enough hearing to make anything more than walking hazardous.
If you went with Shure or Etymotics, you would hear even less, so I've heard........
# 2 Re: How much sound isolation from canalphones?
Part of the problem is, most if not all higher-end earbuds are actually IEM's, (in ear monitors) or earphones that go into your ear canal. The reason of this is that in order to achieve professional sound quality with such a small design, the sound needs to be sealed in, and the world sealed out. It is very difficult to get good results without a seal; espcecially bass-wise since you can't shove a subwoofer into something the size of a marble. Instead, a seperate low frequency driver pumps out the bass, and is maintained by being sealed in from the isolation. If you've ever used IEM's, you'd notice that bass won't put out unless you've got a good seal. If you're trying to get better quality with little to no isolation, you'd probably be better off getting full size headphones instead of IEMs. If you must stick to small buds, I'd try getting a small amp like a cMoy to try and improve sound quality.
Edit: Ultimate Ears' lower end IEMs, the super.fi EB and super.fi 3 studio are better-than-your-average-buds and only isolate about 16 dB: a little more than half of the standard 26 dB and above.
# 3 Re: How much sound isolation from canalphones?
In my experience, Sony's EX51's actually do isolate much less than the Shures I currently use. If you keep your volume low enough with the EX51s on, you'll be able to hear a good bit of the noise around you. The world around you will still seem sealed off with the same volume on the Shure E2c's with foam sleeves.
jonnny at 2007-11-15 15:23:24 >
# 4 Re: How much sound isolation from canalphones?
I have Shure earphones and when I have them on and music playing, I can't hear much from the oustide world, even with the iPod volume very low. I can sort of hear certain loud noises but if someone tries talking to me, I can't hear them at all. That's my two cents :)
# 6 Re: How much sound isolation from canalphones?
Well, it's either better sound or more outside noise. U can choose to wear your in-ears loosely but then may as well stay with your current.
I rollerblade with my in-ears, in a set path, no tricks, no traffic. I just pay more attention with my eyes that's all, and take out a bud as needed.
Then there is no law against using two pairs of phones, the right tool for the right job.
