first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
What would you guys buy if you could spend up to $300-350, and why?
[329 byte] By [podder60gb] at [2007-11-10 14:28:10] 
Ok, Ive decided im going to buy high end headphones for my ipod, but Im not sure what to get.. Budget is around $300-$350, Whats the best I can get for that price? Im looking for the best combination of the most noise isolation and the sharpest sound.
What would you guys buy if you could spend up to $300-350, and why?
# 1 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
I love the Audio-Technica ATH-CM7ti ( http://www.igearbox.com/product_info.php?products_id=53) which is made by titanium. The outlook is unbeatable, and sound quality of Audio Technica are promsing. You won't be disappointed with these phones.iSAMSUNG at 2007-11-15 15:22:52 >
# 2 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
If i were you:Cans: Alessandro MS-1
in-ears: Shure E3c
earbuds (only if you have somekind of thing that makes it impossible for you to use in-ear phones): ATH-CM7 (non titanium), as the titanium does nothing for sound quality.
Spend the rest of the money on music. ;)
enjoilax at 2007-11-15 15:23:52 >
# 3 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
He wants isolation, so Alessandros (and Grados and open Senns) are out. I'm assuming he wants canalphones, but with a $350 budget there's no reason to buy the E3c. He might as well go with the Westone UM2 or wait for the reviews to come in on the Shure E4c and Ultimate Ears super.fi models.kauffee at 2007-11-15 15:24:51 >
# 4 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Wow igearbox is selling the Shure E2c (http://www.igearbox.com/index.php?cPath=45_26&sort=3a&page=4) at $129.00! How do they make money if they're selling them at that price? Sorry for being a bit off topic. I suggest waiting for the comparisons for the Shure E4c's and Super.fi 5Pro's to come in and then decide on one of them. ;)Possd at 2007-11-15 15:25:56 >
# 5 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Originally posted by kauffee He wants isolation, so Alessandros (and Grados and open Senns) are out. I'm assuming he wants canalphones, but with a $350 budget there's no reason to buy the E3c. He might as well go with the Westone UM2 or wait for the reviews to come in on the Shure E4c and Ultimate Ears super.fi models.
If this is his first set of hi-fi earphones how is he going to be able to hear a difference between his iPod buds and a pair of westones? When i first got into this i wasn't able to. I took me 3 weeks of listening to my Shures and then going back to the iPod to start hearing what i was missing.
enjoilax at 2007-11-15 15:26:53 >
# 6 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Enjoilax has a good point there. But when I upgraded to my first decent earphones (Shure E2c's) I noticed the difference right away. Months later I upgraded to the Shure E3c's and I heard much more of a difference. Now I own the Shure E5c's and these 'babies' are constantly blowing me away. It really depends if you can LISTEN and pick up on lot's of details or you can just listen and notice the difference, if you get what I'm saying. :pPossd at 2007-11-15 15:27:52 >
# 7 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
I think he will be able to tell right-away between dual drivers earphones (westone, etc) and apple stock earbuds. Enjoylax was not able to tell within a few weeks cause his shure E3c was a single driver phone, and so was the stock earphones. Maybe his ears needed time to get used to the E2c. However the Westone has dual drivers thus you will noticed an improvement on bass and highs right away. It's a big jump from apple stock earphones and dual driver earphones.rx7_fan at 2007-11-15 15:28:55 >
# 8 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Just because something is single driver, that is the same as the stock buds, doesn't make it harder to tell them apart. I heard a drastic sound difference between my E2c's and the stock buds and as I have said before even more of a difference between the E3c's and the stock buds. The E3c's are much, much more clearer than the stock buds. Someone who cannot tell the difference between the stock buds and the E3c's within 30 mins of listening must... *Cough* enjoilax *Cough*.Anyway... Even if it is his first LARGE step-up from the stock buds, I think the UM2's, Super.fi Pro5's or the Shure E4c's are ideal. Wait 'till the comparisons come in people. ;)
Possd at 2007-11-15 15:29:58 >
# 9 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
I just gave up all hopes on current single driver earphones. It doesn't doesn't do it for me, the E4 will definately have some stiff competition with UE super.fi @ the same price. Although i've never heard the e4 or the super.fi I gotta be bias and give the edge to the super.fi. I mean it's like having two horses pulling a carrage instead of 1. The two horses will own! =Drx7_fan at 2007-11-15 15:30:56 >
# 10 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Originally posted by rx7_fan I just gave up all hopes on current single driver earphones. It doesn't doesn't do it for me, the E4 will definately have some stiff competition with UE super.fi @ the same price. Although i've never heard the e4 or the super.fi I gotta be bias and give the edge to the super.fi. I mean it's like having two horses pulling a carrage instead of 1. The two horses will own! =D
Very good point there. Both they earphones will make a good competition, I'm sure both have their own unique qualities. I like the bit about the two horses... :p
Possd at 2007-11-15 15:32:05 >
# 11 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Im not using the stockers, I got EX-51's and they dont cut it anymore... I used my friends E2c's, I loved them, but they are $129, is there something better?What would you guys say about the bose quietcomforts?
podder60gb at 2007-11-15 15:33:04 >
# 12 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
E2c's should be around $70 these days. And yes, there are a lot of things better. I would still say if you have the money, either go for the Westone UM2 or wait for some more reviews of the UE super-fis. If the super.fi sound is anything close to the UE5c sound, they will definitely be the way to go.Bose QuietComforts are pretty overpriced. Their sound cancelling tech is pretty good, but it's actually not as good as what a canalphone will give you. And as far as sound, I've never been impressed with Bose. Very warm and mid-heavy without any real definition in the lows or extension in the highs.
kauffee at 2007-11-15 15:34:02 >
# 13 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
many people prefer the ex81s by sony over the e2csEcho_ at 2007-11-15 15:35:09 >
# 14 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Originally posted by Echo_ many people prefer the ex81s by sony over the e2cs
not true... a lot of people from this forums would rather spend that weeny bit more money on the shure e2cs
FrozernFire at 2007-11-15 15:36:04 >
# 15 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Originally posted by Echo_ many people prefer the ex81s by sony over the e2cs
Not me; I returned my EX81's. Whilst a slight improvement over my old EX71's, the whole 'ear-clip' design isn't a universal fit and becomes annoying when the cables tug due to the short + ext. cable design.
The Shure e2c's are definitely a step above the EX71's/81's in terms of comfort, quality and sound.
Elithrar at 2007-11-15 15:37:08 >
# 16 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
also the "over ear"/earclip design is REALLY uncomfortable if you wear glasses ...yysiu1 at 2007-11-15 15:38:12 >
# 17 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
ok, im not talking $99 headphones, How about the new ones that were just released, i think its the Shure E4C's... I was thinking about the E3C's, but im not sure what to get...
If you had to pick either one, what would you get?
podder60gb at 2007-11-15 15:39:07 >
# 18 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
Looks like everyone's on the Shure bandwagon - don't forget about EtymoticsBillClinton at 2007-11-15 15:40:11 >
# 19 Re: first high end earphone/headphone... help with decision...
most people just want a "fun," sounding earphone :PCookieFactory at 2007-11-15 15:41:09 >
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