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I'm looking for a good pair of earbuds and speakers for my android HTC Amaze 4g. For the earbuds, I'd like something that's comfortable, has great sound, and preferably has music controls + not so easy to tangle wire. I'd like to keep it under $100 for these.
For the speakers, I'm looking for something that has great quality sound and is portable (and uses bluetooth). I don't need the loudest speakers around, but I want something that sounds good. I also want something that looks good/stylish. I'd like to get something around the $150 range or below. I don't really want to spend more than $150 on this.
I've checked out a few things, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. If you know of any products that sound like a match for what I'm looking for (earbuds or bluetooth speakers or both), please let me know.
Thanks!
I would go for earbuds Sennheiser CX 300, great sound for good price
X-mini II capsule for speakers, most deffo. It is loud enough for indoor/outdoor use
Best Buy had Etymotic hf'3 on clearance for 78.99 the last few weeks. These are earbuds and they usually retail for $180 to $200 (just noticed Amazon has them for about $130). One caveat, they are meant to go pretty far in the ear canal to make a proper "seal". The hf3's do have an inline mic and music control worked for me on rezound, so not sure about the amaze.
I've got a pair of Shure SE215s and they're fantastic. They wrap around the ear, come with foam and silicon tips, and have a replaceable cable. They're around $100 though, so you'd be pushing your budget.
Along with being able to replace it the cable, they sell a single(generic) and triple(iOS) button inline control cable to go with them.
The only off-putting thing might be their sound signature. It's definitely grown on me but being used to a neutral sound from my HD25-1 IIs their sound was rather different from my norm.
On a cheaper note, you could also get a pair of Klipsch Image S4s. They're rather popular and are quite light, and have three versions: standard, iOS inline, and Android inline. Something that I personally didn't care for was the bloated bass and thin cord on them. The Shure buds definitely have a thicker, more quality cable.
Of course, 'erryone'll recomend the Sennheiser CX 300s. They're on par in terms of popularity and price with the Image S4s, however I haven't tried 'em myself so I can't comment on them really.
Ravaloft said:
Best Buy had Etymotic hf'3 on clearance for 78.99 the last few weeks. These are earbuds and they usually retail for $180 to $200 (just noticed Amazon has them for about $130). One caveat, they are meant to go pretty far in the ear canal to make a proper "seal". The hf3's do have an inline mic and music control worked for me on rezound, so not sure about the amaze.
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Damn. I wish I was in the states for some of the things you can get.
DarkShot666 said:
I've got a pair of Shure SE215s and they're fantastic.
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I can definitely confirm that, they are hands down the best in-Ears for around 100$ if you are searching for something reliable.
You wear them a bit the different than most in-Ears, since they are designed as on-stage monitors.
But when you get used to them, you never want to miss them.
You should also know that they are a bit bass heavy and not perfectly neutral, but you can compensate a lot with the equalizer, since they react to an equalizer better than normal in-Ears.
DarkShot666 said:
Of course, 'erryone'll recomend the Sennheiser CX 300s. They're on par in terms of popularity and price with the Image S4s, however I haven't tried 'em myself so I can't comment on them really.
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I also own the CX 300s, thy do a great job for the price but the SE215s are a different class, i mean for 25$ the CX300s have a decent performance but the SE215s are way better.
So if you have the money, go for the SE215s, you won't regret it.
puujalka said:
I would go for earbuds Sennheiser CX 300, great sound for good price
X-mini II capsule for speakers, most deffo. It is loud enough for indoor/outdoor use
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Click to collapse
samotronta05 said:
I can definitely confirm that, they are hands down the best in-Ears for around 100$ if you are searching for something reliable.
You wear them a bit the different than most in-Ears, since they are designed as on-stage monitors.
But when you get used to them, you never want to miss them.
You should also know that they are a bit bass heavy and not perfectly neutral, but you can compensate a lot with the equalizer, since they react to an equalizer better than normal in-Ears.
I also own the CX 300s, thy do a great job for the price but the SE215s are a different class, i mean for 25$ the CX300s have a decent performance but the SE215s are way better.
So if you have the money, go for the SE215s, you won't regret it.
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The CX 300 are really great for their price, if you don't want to spend too much buy them.
I will have to check out the SE215s !
If you have even more money to spend, i am told the "Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10" are superb.
samotronta05 said:
I can definitely confirm that, they are hands down the best in-Ears for around 100$ if you are searching for something reliable.
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Precisely the reason I listed them first.
And while they aren't bass shy, the bass on them isn't nearly as bloated as the Image S4s. Easily much better.
Dark3n said:
If you have even more money to spend, i am told the "Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10" are superb.
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Thats true, based on your preferenced style they do a good to superb job.
But they are so fragile, you would expect them to be better manufactured judging by the price.
I'm wary about them working very long, when used everyday.
samotronta05 said:
Thats true, based on your preferenced style they do a good to superb job.
But they are so fragile, you would expect them to be better manufactured judging by the price.
I'm wary about them working very long, when used everyday.
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Oh, why?
Cheap materials?
Dark3n said:
Oh, why?
Cheap materials?
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There are there major issues:
1. The cables are crap, they break so easily at the 3.5mm jack.
You can buy a replacement, since they say its not included in their warranty, which run around 40$ and also won't last long.
Check out their facebook page or some reviews and you will see that a lot of people have this problem.
2. On some models the connector within the actual in-Ears becomes lose, which is also isn't included in the warranty, since they say it is caused by excessive stress.
However this also can happen while just using them carefully, which is rather annoying for the price you pay.
3. Some people claim that the outer cover fell after a while and they had to glue it back onto. I can't confirm on that but it seems possible to me.
Sounds really good for that price.... not..
they make this speaker that sticks to any hallow item such as a box. The bigger it is, the louder the sound gets.
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
samotronta05 said:
There are there major issues:
1. The cables are crap, they break so easily at the 3.5mm jack.
You can buy a replacement, since they say its not included in their warranty, which run around 40$ and also won't last long.
Check out their facebook page or some reviews and you will see that a lot of people have this problem.
2. On some models the connector within the actual in-Ears becomes lose, which is also isn't included in the warranty, since they say it is caused by excessive stress.
However this also can happen while just using them carefully, which is rather annoying for the price you pay.
3. Some people claim that the outer cover fell after a while and they had to glue it back onto. I can't confirm on that but it seems possible to me.
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That is funny, because I have a good experience with them. After my previous UE failed (after three years!), I upgraded to these superfi's, and have those for half a year already, putting them in my pockets wrapped around my iPod everywhere i go. They sound amazing, way better then those shures.
If you decide to go for the etymotics, it is important to know that the bass will be a lot less then from more lively in ears like these superfi's, or the cx-300's.
Personally I think that they are good for the price. Because you can, in my country, order them online for €200 while they sell in retail for €400. I mean the only competing products sound wise are a lot more expensive. Examples are the shires 530, and the ie80's, both of which exeed the €400 mark here.
I got some Bob Marley in ears I bought one day, really awesome, like 40 bucks I think its pretty reasonalble
Sent from my HTC Amaze 4G using xda premium
koeniekoenie said:
That is funny, because I have a good experience with them.
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Well, maybe it depends from pair to pair how reliable they are.
Regarding the sound i already said that they are very good.
Actually at the moment you can get them really cheap, when i got my hands on them they were sold for 320+.
koeniekoenie said:
They sound amazing, way better then those shures.
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Of course they sound better than the single driven SE215's, however the UE's are still twice as expensive as the Shure's and he asked for earbuds that coast less than 100.
It does not change my recomendations, for less than 30 go for the CX300's.
If you want to spend up to 100 the SE215's are the way to go.
From there on you should take a look at doubel/tripple driven in-ears like the UE's triple.fi 10 / SE425 / SE535 / Um3x / IE 80 / whatever.
However in this region you should seriously consider the limitation of your phone's DAC and amplifier circuit.
Hi all! I apologize if there is another thread like this, did a search and didn't turn up anything useful.
I'm looking for a headset that you can't tell that is being worn. I'm talking like spy style, in the ear, no flashing lights, etc. Idealy able to play music through and use voice dialing. I have seen a few out there which appear to plug into the headphone jack with a wired mic that slips under the collar of a shirt and uses bluetooth to the in the ear, ear buds. These have all been in online spy shops, and the like. Does anyone have any recommendations on something like this? I'd hate to drop $150+ on junk.
Thanks!
Jayson
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
You've watched too many spy movies.
I'm sure there are Headphones like that but they will definitely cost more than $150 and they probably won't be available on Amazon or the likes.
Batterylife will be dismal on a headphone that is small enough to fit into your earchannel and have a BT receiver aswell as good sound for music. You have to fit the battery the receiver and a large enough good quality loudspeaker into a very small room. One of the components will have to stand back.
Information about such things probably is hard to find but you can search the internet for inear hearing aids. There are several that are small enough to vanish in your earchannel and barely can be seen from outside. You'll see the prices and you will find tests about batterylife. The custommold of your earchannel will almost eat up your $150, no tech included.
Edit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_aid
If you get one of the itc or cic ones with bluetooth you only have to find a bt mic that can be used with a smartphone. I'm pretty sure those exist but again, the cost will by far exceed your expectations.
Yeah I know it's not gonna be cheap lol. About $150 is the cheapest I have seen, but have seen in excess of $500. I'd just hate to spend the money for something that isn't going function the way I would like was my main concern.
Just stumbled upon this. http://www.spycheatstuff.com/index....l&pop=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=55&lang=
This appears to be like your suggestions of the cic hearing aid, modified bluetooth headset with an external mic all wrapped up in a clunky box lol. Might not be too terribly difficult to fabricate something similar, but cost to purchase or make might wind up being close to the same. ... Uh oh... The wheel is turning now, but the hamster is dead lol.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
That's a weird device. The earpieces don't have a battery. That neckloop probably is a induction coil. I wonder if and how that works.
Even if it does, I can't believe the sound will be anything else than tinny. For that price they just can't use a balanced armature driver which would fit the earpieces size and is also used in hearing aids an high end in-ear monitors.
If they use a cheaper moving coil driver, the diaphragm has to be really small and therefore sound probably won't be good enough to listen to music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headphones#Ear-fitting_headphones
Getting them in and out of your ear canal most likely will be a real *****. Keeping them in for longer periods of time will lead to all kinds of problems, like sweating, itching, increased production of ear wax. And they act as hearing protection, blocking sound from your environment which may be dangerous.
Granted, all in ear headsets do that to some extent but you can easily flip them out when you don't use them and put them back in in a heartbeat.
Do you actually need a device like that or is it just something geeky you would like to have?
Do you mainly want to listen to music or to make phone calls?
For really good sound I'd suggest custom molded in-ear monitors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-ear_monitors
You can get them in any color, different tones of skin color included. The wire is worn over the ear, and usually behind your back aswell. So no cables dangling around. They are not invisible but way less visible than ordinary ear buds.
They deliver amazing sound quality and the fit just can't be beat.
I have custom molded ear protection and custom molded headsets although not with the more expensive balanced armature drivers of the high end models. Once you get used to putting them in your ear you can do it very fast. There is only one position for them and that is sitting perfectly in you ear. They won't ever come loose accidentally, they won't fall out, they won't break the seal to you ear, so they will never have diminished sound. You can barely feel they are there. You have to try it before you can appreciate how much better they are compared to non-custom in-ears.
If that's too expensive for you, you could get something like that and give it a new paint job.
Cheap, sound not bad at all.
I have a pair of those, too and although they are not custom molded they fit very well. They don't stick out of the concha, giving them a very low profile. Because of the wire worn over the ear they won't come loose or even fall out at the slightest tuck at the cable, like many other in-ears. They aren't as comfortable as my custom molded earphones but I have no problem wearing them over longer periods of time.
Combined with a wired microphone that offers a 3.5mm headphone jack, you'll have a wired headset that offers good sound is not very visible and doesn't use up battery for bluetooth.
Or you get something like this.
That is similar to what you can often see agents and security details use in movies. They usually have those coiled wires/tubes that are quite visible and always make me wonder why they would compromise the low visibility of their headsets with them. Maybe because the tubes without coils aren't good for headmovement. I don't know.
Maybe the absolute invisibility part is important to you. Then my alternatives won't be of much use. But if you want good sound, which is more important to me, those alternatives are the better solution. Still kind of geek devices not many people have but at a more affordable price as long as you don't get professional IEMs.
I'm really more concerned with the voice aspect and the invisibility than the music quality. The music would be nice but not a necessary thing. I see 100% how more likely than not the sound would be very tinny. Thank you, I greatly appreciate the education and help with all of this.
Upon searching ebay I turned up tons of similar items priced from $35 on up, (mostly made in China ) , but if nothing else I think I'm going to pick up a set and if the quality is too crappy I can attempt to modify them to suit my liking. Or possibly ideas for another project. And at the prices they are offered at I'm not out much if I trash it in the process.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Let me know how it turns out.
I'd find the neck loop annoying but it's a rather ingenious idea when it comes to battery life. You can wear a battery pack of any size anywhere on your body.
I'm pretty sure you won't get stereo sound with that setup, only mono but that's ok for voice only use.
That neck loop creates a magnetic field and your wearing it close to your head. I'd have slight concerns about that and I wouldn't be surprised if that thing would interfere with other technical devices like TVs and radios.
But it's hard to say for sure without ever having seen one of those kits in the wild and not much to be found on the internet. Maybe I'm completely wrong and they offer great sound and are absolutely harmless.
Covert acoustic tube earphones
Hi. I am interested in the same exact thing, just for recreational purposes.
i own the iphone version and can attest to it's clarity and comfort.. but i posted a samsung version i'm getting soon too.
hope this helps
i am so sorry, i am not able to post links as yet.
but if you search google for
Covert Acoustic Tube Earpiece / Headset for Samsung Phone: Galaxy S2, S3 etc
and also for
FBI Style Covert Acoustic Tube Headphone / Earpiece For Apple iPhone 3G 3GS 4 4S
i'm sure the first ebay links will lead you right to them. Both are under $20.
And finally, this one is absolutely tiny and hidden in your ear with no exposed wires. Here you go
wireless invisible gsm earpiece for test
you will find that on amazon. But if you do choose to try it please let me know how it goes
I put time and thought into this, as a place to intelligently discuss head gear. Please don't just post "I like Sennheiser" or "Beats are awesome/crap". Which Sennheiser model? For what genre? Yes, Beats suck. Why do they suck, though?
************************************
Quickest way to increased audio bliss:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48946734&postcount=678
************************************
Why a TL: DR?
I didn't want to do this part originally, but I know there many who won't read this entire post, and will only be concerned with a small segment.
TL: DR
Read sections 2, 3 & 6. No headphone is suited for everyone. Take how YOU listen into account, then come back when you can and read this in full.
************************************
See bottom of this post for recommendation/comparison request form. Use that so it answers everything we'll need to know.
I see so many people ask the wrong questions or not ask the right questions when looking to buy headphones/earphones, and thought perhaps I could finally be of some use to XDA by writing up a guide to help those in their search for the "best" purchase FOR THEM.
First of all, audio is largely subjective. What a person is suited for is dependent upon many factors that vary from person to person. I'll list those out here before going into detail.
1: Budget
2: Genres/Musical preference
3: Type of headphone
4: Functionality
5: The audio rig as whole
6: Source material
7: Build Quality
Fellow Audiophiles- Please add your wisdom where I've missed things so it can be added here.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be any expert, so please correct any misinformation. Also, I'm American and refer to pricing in USD.
1: Budget
Obviously, everyone has their spending limits. Don't be too quick to just throw a number out there. What you're really asking is: How much is my listening pleasure worth to me right now?
If you sell yourself short and buy $15 headphones, you may be quickly unsatisfied, they may break, or you may be losing out on quality you don't yet know exists. If it's merely a tool to you and you don't often listen to music for pleasure, or that's all you can dedicate to the purchase right now, no worries. There are many great offerings on any budget. I've read rave reviews of $5 earphones.
Likewise, if you set a $1000 budget, you may find that you're spending beyond what you would benefit from, due to frequency of use, passion for quality, or if you've suffered hearing loss. Also, you may spend $1k on headphones only to find your audio system as a whole cannot do the headphones justice. I'll touch more on that later.
2: Genre/Musical Preference
No headphone/earphone will suit all needs. If you listen to classical music, you are likely listening for clear, bright, detailed highs, and for the texture in the bass more than the booming volume. If you relish more in beautiful vocals, the midrange will matter more. EDM, rap, hip-hop enthusiasts: you know you're not really living in your music if you don't feel the bass thump in your skull. That $500 headphone your classical loving friend swears by may not do drum n' bass any justice, and vice versa.
Many popular headphones (ahem Beats, Bose, Skull Candy) are more appearance than quality, and may offer booming bass that overshadows the rest of the music. THERE ARE BETTER OPTIONS AT THE SAME OR LOWER PRICES. Don't settle for a nice label. Get quality you can hear.
3: Type of Headphone
There are 2 basic categories, and a handful of sub-categories.
In-Ear or Traditional Headphones
In-Ear
Earbuds: sit in your ear without entering the ear canal, these are like stock iPod earbuds. Usually cheaper, lower quality, offer minimal noise isolation.
IEMs, aka In-Ear Monitors: Enter the ear canal itself. IEMs offer excellent noise isolation to keep you more "in your music" and can range from a few dollars to a couple thousand, from barely passable as music to a symphony in your ears.
Traditional Headphones can be:
portable (fold up for easier travel h or full sized
On-Ear (the cup sits on your ear) or Over-Ear
Open-back (just like it sounds) or Closed
*I'll add more here later, I'm more of an IEM guy and cannot speak from personal experience on On/Over Ear and Open/Closed in terms of Sound Quality. I'll add more when someone with expertise fills me in or I've done enough research myself.
4: Functionality
Things to consider here are comfort, noise isolation, accessories, removable/replaceable cables, and whether or not you need a mic/remote.
*I'll be adding much information on mic/remote compatibility later
5: Your audio rig
Headphones are worthless without a source to play it. They are the END of the system (other than your ears), you should look at your particular system and what your needs are from beginning to end.
It starts with source material, from vinyl to MP3, but I'll get into digital audio formats in the next section.
It goes:
Source Material-Player-Amp/DAC-Headphones
I'm going to rule out, at least temporarily, turntables, tape players, 8 tracks (lol), CD players, etc. and focus on digital formats for now.
Players:
Phone or DAP? Or computer?
Using your smartphone is convenient, but usually won't offer the same quality as a dedicated Digital Audio Player. Personally, I use my phone as I'm on it so much that I'd rather have the convenience over the increased SQ. I'm sure that will change, but I just can't do without pause/play/skip/volume control from my IEMs directly.
You may opt for a higher quality DAC or amp to hook up to your rig. You may buy a better sound card for your pc.
You need to consider that all of this affects what you hear, and sometimes it's not your earphones holding you back, it's your phone's crappy Yamaha DAC that the bastards put in instead of that beautiful Wolfson that they used to use (yes, Samsung, that's directed at you).
6: None if the above matters of you've got 96 kbps mp3 files, scratched CDs or vinyl, or a tape player (how are reading this from your Commodore 64 anyway?)
MP3 is the most popular digital format, though certainly not the best. If you're not happy with the audio detail in your music, consider either replacing those 128kbps mp3's with 320kbps mp3 or FLAC files. FLAC is "lossless", offers amazing detail, and 30mb+ per song. If you've got the storage space, flac is the way to go.
7: Build Quality
Are you brutal on your gear? Some options can take more of a beating than others, and those less careful (or buried with children) should consider this carefully.
Buy from a place with a warranty and use your warranty when it breaks. The $50 you may save from a random eBay seller won't mean anything when you have no warranty for your $300 headphones.
Also, stop yanking on the damn cords. You'll ruin the jack/connections and left or right channel may drop out. Pull by the plug, keep them in a storage case not crumpled in your pocket and they'll last much longer.
That's about it, except...
DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
www.head-fi.org is your friend. Excellent site for reviews, deal alerts, opinions, and learning all things audio.
Reviews are critical. I may say the best IEM under $150 is my trusted Shure SE215, because of the bass, mids, non-sibilant highs and the fact that I've added the optional mic/remote cable, but if your taste is instrumental, vocals, etc. and you don't want the mic/remote, there are better options FOR YOU. They're your ears and nobody else's, so don't take anybody's opinion that one is categorically better than any other, unless they're telling you WHY it's better.
HEADPHONE/EARPHONE RECOMMENDATION FORM
Use/copy this when asking for advice
1: Budget:
2: Genres/Musical preference:
3: Type of headphone:
4: Functionality: (Mic needed? cable over ear vs. Straight down? Open/Closed back if v full size headphones, etc)
5: Your player/setup:
6: Source material (mp3, flac, stream, etc.):
7: Area of highest importance:
On an unrelated note...
Quasimodem said:
Massive amounts of high school pootietang is a requirement for a proper upbringing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
Reserved for updates/notes
Things to come:
Get rid of all typos.
Proper formatting once I get on my laptop, I post everything from Tapatalk.
Additional information on portables/full-size cans.
2/3/2013
Added: TL: DR at the top for those just not willing to study the full course on this.
Also added a recommendation form for those seeking advice.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
Good guide.
XDA is awesome for phones, but doesn't offer much for audiothings.
This will help audionewbs buying the right thing :thumbup:
Sent from my Nexus7.
Thank you. I added a couple of changes, noted in 2nd post.
If this helped anyone in any way, please share it. My goal is only to help others enjoy audio as much as or more than I go and save them money spent on ill-suited equipment.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Very well thought out guide! Thoroughly enjoyed the read and I learned a few things along the way, thanks for this, will have to refer to this next time I buy a set of headphones!
You know where to find me, brother. Pick my mind whenever. I try to keep a good list of IEMs to recommend for most preferences from $15 to $500.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
I ordered my son Brainwavz R1's to replace the Klipsch S4's he broke (cable death).
When they come in, perhaps I can give some brief review on all headgear I've used to help with choices of others.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
jRi0T68 said:
I ordered my son Brainwavz R1's to replace the Klipsch S4's he broke (cable death).
When they come in, perhaps I can give some brief review on all headgear I've used to help with choices of others.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I'm thinking about ordering some UE6000.
Reviews are pretty good, and I'll most probably send my 8.As in for a refit (I got the feeling that it's just a bit too loose..).
So I need a proper replacement^.^
I'll probably make short review of my headgear, too.
That's a nice idea. We could then link our posts to the first post..
Exactly. I'm comforted that the 10-posters continue to use the Best Earphones thread, but hopefully those that are more serious put their questions/contributions here.
Also, you've now made me go tag up on the UE6000's again, lol.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
jRi0T68 said:
Exactly. I'm comforted that the 10-posters continue to use the Best Earphones thread, but hopefully those that are more serious put their questions/contributions here.
Also, you've now made me go tag up on the UE6000's again, lol.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We can post an info at that thread, so that they know that we review our gear here.
^.^ I'm already used to UEs sound, and I really like it.
If the UE6000 sounds just a bit like my old TF10, I'll love it x)
Though, I'm gonna miss the 8.A for that time >.<
I'll order them tomorrow i think
Sent from my Nexus7.
I was asked in a different thread which DAC the SGSIII uses.
You might be interested in reading the response, as I think it adds some good information, especially coming from someone who gets a lot of enjoyment listening from my phone even with a lesser DAC being used.
"I believe the US S3 has the Yamaha, whereas the Int'l. has Wolfson. I also think the Galaxy Note 2 uses Wolfson.
Bear in mind, I typically remain in musical ecstasy strictly from my TMO SGSII, which is Yamaha. It's just that the Wolfson can do so much better. My Vibrant had much less audio noise through headphones than my GSII does.
If your source files aren't high quality, the difference is far less.
Edit: To expand on that, you have to take your whole system into account, from source files to player, on up to headphones. If any of them are of noticeably low quality, you'll hear it.
If you're using 128 kbps mp3 files and low quality (not necessarily cheap) headphones, the quality of the DAC in your player might not be noticeable to you.
There is also much more to a player than the DAC being used."
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Thanks for this guide..! I'll be using it
Bose head phones crapped out on me
-TeaM VeNuM Like A Boss
-Galaxy Note II Edition
MiguelHogue said:
Thanks for this guide..! I'll be using it
Bose head phones crapped out on me
-TeaM VeNuM Like A Boss
-Galaxy Note II Edition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totaly understand that.
BOSE isn't really good, they're just like beats..
jRi0T68 said:
I was asked in a different thread which DAC the SGSIII uses.
You might be interested in reading the response, as I think it adds some good information, especially coming from someone who gets a lot of enjoyment listening from my phone even with a lesser DAC being used.
"I believe the US S3 has the Yamaha, whereas the Int'l. has Wolfson. I also think the Galaxy Note 2 uses Wolfson.
Bear in mind, I typically remain in musical ecstasy strictly from my TMO SGSII, which is Yamaha. It's just that the Wolfson can do so much better. My Vibrant had much less audio noise through headphones than my GSII does.
If your source files aren't high quality, the difference is far less.
Edit: To expand on that, you have to take your whole system into account, from source files to player, on up to headphones. If any of them are of noticeably low quality, you'll hear it.
If you're using 128 kbps mp3 files and low quality (not necessarily cheap) headphones, the quality of the DAC in your player might not be noticeable to you.
There is also much more to a player than the DAC being used."
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
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You sure that the international SGSIII has a wolfson?
I'm thinking about buying an old S1, just to have a wolfson androidplayer.
But my cowon j3 is doing it's job extremely well.. x)
I've read numerous sources that indicate it does, even tonight on xda. Triple check it, though, just to be sure. I believe I read supercurio did some of his magic with it, too.
I think it's an exynos vs. Qualcomm thing. Good news for those of us in the US is that the US Note 2 reportedly has Wolfson, as it uses an exynos SoC, so perhaps SGSIV will as well. By year's end, I'll be upgrading my phone and return of voodoo sound to my ears would be awesome.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Yeah I agree.. Well I knew that before hand . They were just a gift.. Only lasted 5 months
-TeaM VeNuM Like A Boss
-Galaxy Note II Edition
How did they break?
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
I'm not really sure.. They just went out on me out of nowhere.. . They where the ear bud type.. They started off great and then got low.. No bass.. One side was louder.. Kept them neatly in the leather carrying case it came with .. Never yanked the cord or abused them.. Bad build quality I assume
Luckily I found my Samsung ear buds that came with my n2..They sound really good.. Holding me over until me new purchase
-TeaM VeNuM Like A Boss
-Galaxy Note II Edition
That sucks. Fill in my little recommendation form as best as you can when you're ready to start looking for recommendations.
I ****ing LOVE audio, so I'll be glad to read dozens of reviews in my spare time, link you to them, and give hopefully good options. Besides... Skinny vouched for you in the frat thread, so you're good in my book.
My son's Brainwavz R1's just arrived. Not enough listening time or burn-in (the act of playing music through the headphones so that the drivers loosen up, like breaking in a new pair of sneakers) to give a proper review but initial impressions:
That's a LOT of value for $35.
Huge selection of tips.
Build Quality seems quite good.
Bass quality is better than Klipsch S4's.
Mids are clear, fairly warm.
Highs are distant. That will likely change with burn-in.
Once I can give an honest review, I'm going to use the form below to post reviews on Shure SE215, Klipsch Image S4i, Brainwavz R1, and possibly Bowers& Wilkins P5 on-ear headphones.
The difficult part about ranking these areas, for me, is that I've never heard $1k+ earphones, so assigning what equates to a 10 is difficult. I figure it's best if I rank my Shures a base value of 8 and deduct where they fall short, leaving room for improvement by top tier products. Honestly, once you get beyond $300 well-reviewed headphones, this thread/site won't be where to go. Go to www.head-fi.org, with your wallet empty or you'll be sorry.
"Ranked from 1-10 in thy following categories:
Accessories:
Build Quality:
Fit/comfort:
Isolation: (How well is the outside world blocked out?)
Microphonics: (Does the cable make noise when you bump it or rub it in your fingers that carries through the headphones into your ears?)
Soundstage: (How big do they sound? Can you tell where different instruments are coming from?)
Instrument separation: (Can you clearly and easily pick apart not just where the instruments are, but that each instrument sounds like it's coming from a different speaker?)
Bass:
Mids:
Highs:
Value:
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Thanks man.. I really appreciate it.. I never been THAT Knowledgeable about headphones.. So some guidance will help
Well here we go!
-
1: Budget: no more than $100
2: Genres/Musical preference: Hip-Hop/Rap
3: Type of headphone: Ear bud
4: Functionality: nope nothing special.. Just regular ol ear buds
5: Your player/setup: Note 2 (Sprint) Noozoxide eq settings.. I bounce around with music players.. But been using Sony walkman Alot lately
6: Source material: MP3
7: Area of highest importance: Quality! (in sound and build) I don't care if they aren't the "flashiest" pair of headphones.. As long as they get the job done well
-TeaM VeNuM Like A Boss
-Galaxy Note II Edition
Do you need/want a mic/button to work with them?
Would you rather the bass drown out the vocals some, but make your head shake, or have bass that slams, just not quite as hard, but still lets every detail in the music shine?
In budget, with good bass to consider. Google search the product and "head-fi" you'll get great reviews and opinions from crazy bastards that own all these plus 50 other earphones.
Shure SE215 <---- What I currently use and turn to for rap/hip-hop, EDM, alternative and classic rock. They serve all very well.
JVC FXD80
Sony XB90EX
Audio Technica CKS77
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
OK. I am looking for a nice bluetooth headset that hits the below criteria. Please let me know if you have any recommendations!
Decent battery life - over 6 hours of use preferred
Clear sound
Good/deep bass reproduction
mic for voice/phone calls (this is not as important as audio sound)
Over-the-ear style - no in-ear suggestion please. Tried many, dont like them.
Behind neck style band (NOT over the top of your head like many are)
Price range between $70 or less and max of $100
Ones I have tried:
Motorola S305 - Not near enough bass or sound volume.
Rocketfish RF-MAB2 - Pretty damn near perfect... great bass! Ear pad broke on one side and there arent replacements for them. Model is discontinued. They didnt fit quite well enough though on my ears. Usually sat at an odd angle.
Motorola S10 and S9 - OUCH! Heavy and hurt my ears. YUCK.
Fire away!
Thanks!
GlitterKill said:
OK. I am looking for a nice bluetooth headset that hits the below criteria. Please let me know if you have any recommendations!
Decent battery life - over 6 hours of use preferred
Clear sound
Good/deep bass reproduction
mic for voice/phone calls (this is not as important as audio sound)
Over-the-ear style - no in-ear suggestion please. Tried many, dont like them.
Behind neck style band (NOT over the top of your head like many are)
Price range between $70 or less and max of $100
Ones I have tried:
Motorola S305 - Not near enough bass or sound volume.
Rocketfish RF-MAB2 - Pretty damn near perfect... great bass! Ear pad broke on one side and there arent replacements for them. Model is discontinued. They didnt fit quite well enough though on my ears. Usually sat at an odd angle.
Motorola S10 and S9 - OUCH! Heavy and hurt my ears. YUCK.
Fire away!
Thanks!
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A bit over your budgets, but here you go: http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/backbeat-fit
Everything else will fall into a cheap category...
vectron said:
A bit over your budgets, but here you go: http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/backbeat-fit
Everything else will fall into a cheap category...
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Thanks! Was just looking for some new leads to research before making a purchase. I may be able to swing these. VERY NICE.
GlitterKill said:
Thanks! Was just looking for some new leads to research before making a purchase. I may be able to swing these. VERY NICE.
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If you get it, let us know how they are. And these are not that good, always great to buy it on amazon so you can return it back
Hey guys, I am not a kind of a audiophile so I want to ask those who are.
Are AKG tuned headphones that come in the box just a matter of commercial or are they really great (I have found them on eBay and the cost is around one hundred pounds!)?
Thank you!
If you mean the earphones that come with the box. They sound pretty great for me, once I'm not comfortable with them, I just change the ear tips to a bigger/smaller size so they fit perfectly in my ear.
I found them to be just "ok", they can't take much bass. My £15 one plus usb bullets sound far better
dedq said:
Hey guys, I am not a kind of a audiophile so I want to ask those who are.
Are AKG tuned headphones that come in the box just a matter of commercial or are they really great (I have found them on eBay and the cost is around one hundred pounds!)?
Thank you!
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I dont know if it's just me, but I can truly appreciate the audio produced from these tuned earphones when I press them a little harder than the usual way of how I plug them into my ears
kyooohei08 said:
I dont know if it's just me, but I can truly appreciate the audio produced from these tuned earphones when I press them a little harder than the usual way of how I plug them into my ears
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I always do the same thing?
Yeah, comparing to other "out of the box" buds, not that it means much when nobody got no 3.5 jack no more. They are more flat neutral with high clarity, which doesn't suit everyone's taste. However what makes this good is the quality- braided cable with solid build.
Don't buy for hundred pound lmao, that got to be a scam. Might as well buy a true audiophile grade buds with that money.
nexnebula said:
Yeah, comparing to other "out of the box" buds, not that it means much when nobody got no 3.5 jack no more. They are more flat neutral with high clarity, which doesn't suit everyone's taste. However what makes this good is the quality- braided cable with solid build.
Don't buy for hundred pound lmao, that got to be a scam. Might as well buy a true audiophile grade buds with that money.
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Thank you so much for your answer, I did not think to buy them since I have them already but I could not believe that they are that expensive.