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?
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Quickest way to increased audio bliss:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48946734&postcount=678
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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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Related
Figured I'd ask for some opinions!
My earbud stopped working (well, the mic part still does. somewhat) and I've been without for probably a few months now. Does anyone have any recommendations on what would be a decent replacement? I see a bunch on ebay but I'm afraid to end up paying for a mediocre one.
I do place some value on good sound quality, and don't mind spending a bit more $50~100? if they're really good.
Thanks!
does it have to have the inline mic?
I've used Klipsch S4's for a year now- best "budget" earbuds IMO. They are ~80USD, and if you get the S4i (inline mic) they'll set you back 100. You won't be disappointed.
the klipsh s4 are supposed to be pretty good. but reading user reviews some like cheaper alternatives better, not that the cheaper ones are actually better but everything is a matter of taste.
as for what i've been reading and what i know i like started lookin into woodies and also found thicksound, reviews looked good on both but brought me to reviews on xeers from germany. they supply a large number of iem's at reasonable prices. of those the td iii blackwoods (they have ebony housings for what that's worth) got excellant reviews, ordered them on ebay and will review them as soon as they get here.
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300540943565
if these things are as sensitive and wide ranged as they claim they might make your ears bleed. not recomending them yet but will let you know!
Ultimate Ears 5vi great ear-buds and they are usually on sale for about 75 or so.
Ah, yes, having the inline mic is probably necessary. I'll probably pick up a bluetooth eventually but I think my main issue now is not being able to talk to the girlfriend while working on stuff at the computer with two hands
I'll google up the ones listed in this thread, thanks! If anyone else has some alternatives, that'd be great too.
Jeffu said:
Ah, yes, having the inline mic is probably necessary. I'll probably pick up a bluetooth eventually but I think my main issue now is not being able to talk to the girlfriend while working on stuff at the computer with two hands
I'll google up the ones listed in this thread, thanks! If anyone else has some alternatives, that'd be great too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
might i ask what your taste is. the cheaper ones tend to be bass cannons. i kinda like that and can add more mids and highs in galaxy tuner to compensate. when you spend $100+ you will see flatter respose curves which is great for classical and hearing vocals but the lowend might sound weak.
http://www.headphone.com/
read the user reviews as well as the top ratings. you might find that a $30 set from dennon is better for you than a $200 set from etymotics or $80 set from klipch.
Coming from an audiophile that has spent way too much money on headphones, I recommend that you give this massive review a look.
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/478568/
I, personally, recommend the Denon C452, I bought mine months back for only $30, and they retail at $70. Right now, I could not stand to listen to them (after hearing $300+ iems), but before then, these were outstanding. They blow anything from Bose out of the water, including the Beats Tour.
Hydrocharged said:
Coming from an audiophile that has spent way too much money on headphones, I recommend that you give this massive review a look.
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/478568/
I, personally, recommend the Denon C452, I bought mine months back for only $30, and they retail at $70. Right now, I could not stand to listen to them (after hearing $300+ iems), but before then, these were outstanding. They blow anything from Bose out of the water, including the Beats Tour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
true im definately not impressed by the beats by dre series or anything from monster cable especially not there cables!
It's also worth noting what you listen to. I don't listen to too much rap so I care more for mids and highs instead of bass. Certain buds perform better listening to certain genres, so keep that in mind when you read reviews.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
it is nice to see others that are serious about there iem's. audio performance is soo overlooked when selecting a phone, i mean they play various codecs of music and have massive internal storage. why not give phones the same scrutiny that we give mp3 players.
The NuForce NE-700Ms are exactly what you are looking for. They have excellent sound quality, a microphone, and aren't ridiculously expensive.
Their sound quality and NuForce's customer support are often praised on Head-Fi.
You could even go for the now cheaper older versions, the NE-7Ms. They are what I have and I still love them, though I've had to contact customer support about once a year to get replacement foam tips, which they kindly reply back that for $4.00 for shipping they'll send me some.
And for more ratings, the buds without a microphone have 5/5 stars out of 38 outstanding reviews. In fact, out of 38 reviews there are no 1 or 2 star ratings, and only 2 for 3 stars and 3 for 4 stars. The rest are 5/5. I say go NuForce and you will not be let down.
Dani897 said:
it is nice to see others that are serious about there iem's. audio performance is soo overlooked when selecting a phone, i mean they play various codecs of music and have massive internal storage. why not give phones the same scrutiny that we give mp3 players.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TBH, it's the Wolfson WM8994 chip that kinda sealed the deal for me.
And SuperAMOLED too.
I bought my phone a little after it came out, so I was not even aware at the time of the Wolfson WM8994 codec. I'm happy that there are others that appreciate headphones as much as I do...at least on XDA. I'd also overlook all reviews from Amazon, as they, a lot of the time, come from people that do not listen to high end headphones and do not know what true quality is. I'd peruse Head-Fi though if anyone is truly serious about a GOOD set of headphones.
MaxRabbit said:
The NuForce NE-700Ms are exactly what you are looking for. They have excellent sound quality, a microphone, and aren't ridiculously expensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the recommendation - I made the order.
While I definitely appreciate audio quality to my music listening, I'm hardly hardcore so I should be happy with these.
Thanks!
Jeffu said:
Thanks for the recommendation - I made the order.
While I definitely appreciate audio quality to my music listening, I'm hardly hardcore so I should be happy with these.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me know how awesome they are! They might just make me want to upgrade my ol' NE-7Ms.
hmm Wolfson WM8994 codec chip
google is amazing and i finally learned something today!
so, it might just be me, but $75 for a set of earbuds is kinda steep...anyone have any recommendations in the $10-30 range? I've just been using iphone headsets, since you can get them cheap on ebay, but it'd be nice to have an in-ear pair for better sound.
well it seems you dont have the appreciation for headphones as others do. $80 is barely entry level but i see your point. i wont spend $300+ like some do.
from the reviews at headfi and headroom the cheaper dennons tendto get good review even from people that have more expensive klipch earbuds.
http://www.headphone.com/headphones/denon-ah-c360.php#tabs
Dani897 said:
well it seems you dont have the appreciation for headphones as others do. $80 is barely entry level but i see your point. i wont spend $300+ like some do.
from the reviews at headfi and headroom the cheaper dennons tendto get good review even from people that have more expensive klipch earbuds.
http://www.headphone.com/headphones/denon-ah-c360.php#tabs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, first, I don't have a collection of FLAC encoded music on my phone, and even then, the phone isn't the best at sound reproduction/noise reduction, so why spend the money on high end headphones? Plus, I've easily lost them in the past, so when it's less cost, it doesn't hurt as much to have to replace.
ryboto said:
so, it might just be me, but $75 for a set of earbuds is kinda steep...anyone have any recommendations in the $10-30 range? I've just been using iphone headsets, since you can get them cheap on ebay, but it'd be nice to have an in-ear pair for better sound.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a couple cheap pairs have already been listed
but further more, as stated before here as well, the answers you are looking for are just a Google search away. Amazon, Ebay and many other stores have customer reviews already.
you could have had your answers already, but you are waiting for us?
Does anyone know any cheap ways to improve sound quality from mobile devices, short from buying a whole new headset? Budget is about 200 dollars.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
My entire rig (minus sd card) can be had for $200, and is superb "bang for the buck".
Sansa Clip Zip (Rockbox installed) $35
Fiio E11 amp $60
Shure SE215 headphones
What headphones do you use now? Are you against using something other than your phone as the player?
What is your source? File types?
Also, read the op in my guide. It should answer lots of questions, and make you ask more.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
jRi0T68 said:
My entire rig (minus sd card) can be had for $200, and is superb "bang for the buck".
Sansa Clip Zip (Rockbox installed) $35
Fiio E11 amp $60
Shure SE215 headphones
What headphones do you use now? Are you against using something other than your phone as the player?
What is your source? File types?
Also, read the op in my guide. It should answer lots of questions, and make you ask more.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now I'm using my Yamaha HPH-300, my shures are being replaced right now. I'm only using my Note 3 right now but I'm open to using an alternative player.
Don't have an amp as of yet sadly. I'm using standard mp3s from iTunes, don't have an abundance of spare storage sadly.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Oh, lol! I was at work and didn't even notice who the OP was. We've been through most of my recommendations, then.
You need to examine your entire audio system from start to finish and figure out what the biggest thing holding it back is.
At work, this week a colleague was interested in the bizarre rig I carry with me. I explained it, and he (who is a pretty decent guitarist, having heard him today myself) questioned whether his 128kbps files playing from his iPhone through his Skull Candy earphones would sound as good as 320kbps/flac from my rig. I let him plug his earphones into my rig on the same song he was just playing from his iPhone. He then had me compare. I could hear nothing but grainy hiss from either, because his headphones are crap. No DAP/DAC/Amp/highest of the high end audio rig playing flac will sound much better, thanks to the earphones be uses which I believe are shot from being played way too loud.
I then put my Shures back in my rig, and then the difference was much clearer (though it really takes extended listening to notice the full benefit).
Your shures aren't the bottleneck in your setup. Your device almost certainly is not the biggest either. Installing a free audio hack and paying $5 for Neutron will help, but it's your files that are almost certainly limiting the sound quality. Investing in a bigger sd card, downloading 320kbps mp3's of songs you already know very well and own, IMO needs to be the first step. Then, you can either add in something like the Fiio E18, or get a dedicated DAP (or follow my example and go very cheap with a Sansa Clip Zip and Fiio E11).
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
jRi0T68 said:
Oh, lol! I was at work and didn't even notice who the OP was. We've been through most of my recommendations, then.
You need to examine your entire audio system from start to finish and figure out what the biggest thing holding it back is.
At work, this week a colleague was interested in the bizarre rig I carry with me. I explained it, and he (who is a pretty decent guitarist, having heard him today myself) questioned whether his 128kbps files playing from his iPhone through his Skull Candy earphones would sound as good as 320kbps/flac from my rig. I let him plug his earphones into my rig on the same song he was just playing from his iPhone. He then had me compare. I could hear nothing but grainy hiss from either, because his headphones are crap. No DAP/DAC/Amp/highest of the high end audio rig playing flac will sound much better, thanks to the earphones be uses which I believe are shot from being played way too loud.
I then put my Shures back in my rig, and then the difference was much clearer (though it really takes extended listening to notice the full benefit).
Your shures aren't the bottleneck in your setup. Your device almost certainly is not the biggest either. Installing a free audio hack and paying $5 for Neutron will help, but it's your files that are almost certainly limiting the sound quality. Investing in a bigger sd card, downloading 320kbps mp3's of songs you already know very well and own, IMO needs to be the first step. Then, you can either add in something like the Fiio E18, or get a dedicated DAP (or follow my example and go very cheap with a Sansa Clip Zip and Fiio E11).
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
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I'll look into doing that now the stingy asian in me cringes at getting a bigger sd card though :/
Try it out with just a few songs, in 3 different formats: 128, 320 and flac. Then, you'll see how much of a difference you hear on your current setup.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
refinition said:
Does anyone know any cheap ways to improve sound quality from mobile devices, short from buying a whole new headset? Budget is about 200 dollars.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
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I use the Plantronics Legend I love it its only 100$ and probs the best headset I have ever heard. You can get them at radioshack and I think at walmart. If you go online to Newegg they had a sale a few days ago on some really nice headsets. The legend you can get there for like 80$
morpheusxeno said:
I use the Plantronics Legend I love it its only 100$ and probs the best headset I have ever heard. You can get them at radioshack and I think at walmart. If you go online to Newegg they had a sale a few days ago on some really nice headsets. The legend you can get there for like 80$
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That would be a downgrade from his Shure IEMs. Bluetooth isn't the best for SQ, not by a long shot. They're for convenience only, and those lucky enough to not notice the deficit in sound quality will be quite happy.
Noticing and feeling driven towards better sound is a curse upon one's wallet, but a beautiful adventure for the ears.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
any suggestions for inear headphones? something that will be durable for running and soft rain weather... since im running i need something that will last, usualy i buy something cheap now and it last few weeks did buy something for 20€ and last 10 days only since then im sceptical to buy anything expensive... so any suggestion? around 50€ if possible
I am using Beats by Dre, when I am running so far so good.
You should give them a try. :good:
dont waste your time and money with marketing gimmicks like Beats...
here you go... you might wanna start from here.. good luck
www.head-fi.org/a/2013-head-fi-summer-buying-guide-in-ear-headphones
For exercising, especially running in a soft rain like you mentioned, you should look into wireless headsets. You don't want to be bothered with hanging wireless or reaching out for controls. The two popular choices are Jaybirds BlueBuds X and Plantronics BackBeat Go 2. Look into my signature link for an index of all my reviews, including these two. For your price range, BBG2 will definitely fit the bill and they sound a lot better than BBX. Both are treated with water repellent, have just two earbuds with a wire between them and in-line controls (play/pause, volume up/down, track next/prev) and mic for taking calls. BBX has longer battery life, but BBG2 comes with a neat little storage case that has built-in battery for juicing up between trips. And also BBG2 is a lot cheaper, plus has a more detailed wider sound. Both benefit greatly when used with Comply Foam tips to stay better inside your ears when moving around and also for a better isolation (and deeper bass ).
I have no problems with running with a cord under my shirt. Rain is no issue this way.
First: read my guide
Second: Don't buy anything with vents or adjustment screws, as rain can get in (so can sweat).
Third: list your musical preferences (here, or even better, in my guide following the template).
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
My Samsung Note 2 stock earbuds are so cheap, low quality and they slip out of my hears (expecially the right one, I dunno why..).
Now I'm looking for:
• Good sound quality and volume (obviously).
• Great fit and comfortable, ideally with more than one size.
• Possibly white color.
• In-line remote/mic compatible with Android.
• Ruggedly built so I can shove them in my pocket and bag a lot and they won't break.
Any ideas? I'm coming up empty from reviews and lists of "top" earbuds. Anyway so far my candidates are Vsonic VSD1S/GR07 (but it lacks microphone) and SteelSeries Flux In-Ear (but too gaming attitude).
Thanks!
beautifulsun said:
My Samsung Note 2 stock earbuds are so cheap, low quality and they slip out of my hears (expecially the right one, I dunno why..).
Now I'm looking for:
• Good sound quality and volume (obviously).
• Great fit and comfortable, ideally with more than one size.
• Possibly white color.
• In-line remote/mic compatible with Android.
• Ruggedly built so I can shove them in my pocket and bag a lot and they won't break.
Any ideas? I'm coming up empty from reviews and lists of "top" earbuds. Anyway so far my candidates are Vsonic VSD1S/GR07 (but it lacks microphone) and SteelSeries Flux In-Ear (but too gaming attitude).
Thanks!
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I would suggest to start with Jeremy's Headphone Buying Guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2131021 and reply to that thread with questions from his original post. A number of people monitor that thread and can provide you with suggestions.
Regarding Vsonic, VSD1S will not have much of the bass, its what called "midcentric" with emphasis on midrange. Plus, I'm reading about a lot of build quality issues. GR07 cost way over $100.
I think your best bet going to be Soundmagic E10 headphones ($35); http://www.amazon.com/SoundMAGIC-Noise-Isolating-Earphones-BlackGunmetal/dp/B005HP3OB0/
Now keep in mind, none of these headphones will have volume up/down compatible with android, its only for iphone. But mic and multifunction button will work for play/pause/call, double click to skip the song, and song press to start Google NOW. I reviewed a ton of headphones (check out a link in my signature), and have Note 2 as well.
If you can wait a week or so, I have another pair of "budget" $20 headphones coming my way for review. I heard those blow Soundmagic E10 out of the water in sound and build quality, and supposed to have built-in remote with volume controls compatible with Android. I will not know for sure until I test it, but stay tuned.
Thank you!
vectron said:
GR07 cost way over $100.
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Sorry, I mean GR06!
About VSD1S I've read good reviews like this: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/more-less-vsonic-vsd1-and-vsd1s now I'm looking for something about these Soundmagic E10..
If you can wait a week or so, I have another pair of "budget" $20 headphones coming my way for review. I heard those blow Soundmagic E10 out of the water in sound and build quality, and supposed to have built-in remote with volume controls compatible with Android. I will not know for sure until I test it, but stay tuned.
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Name of this wonder?
I'd look into LG Quadbeat 2, price, sq, functionality shouldn't disappoint the majority of xda'ers (based solely on reviews I've read).
But, if you're more discerning about sq, please do post in my guide (after reading my long-winded op, you'll learn a lot).
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
beautifulsun said:
Thank you!
Sorry, I mean GR06!
About VSD1S I've read good reviews like this: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/more-less-vsonic-vsd1-and-vsd1s now I'm looking for something about these Soundmagic E10..
Name of this wonder?
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I see, Joker liked it He is very highly respected reviewer on Innerfidelity and Head-fi, but often they don't look at long term durability. Either way, they do sound ok, I guess. I never had any experience with VSonic, so can't comment beside what I have read on-line where people were complaining about build quality.
Regarding the one I'm waiting for, its Xiaomi Piston 2. That one got a ton of praises on head-fi, but the problem is a lot of fake ones circulating around. Yeah, even at that low price they make fake knock offs which apparently sound like [email protected] So, I want to wait and see what I'm going to receive (real or fake), how do they sound, and the build quality. If its a real ones, I will definitely post a review about it.
Brainwavz r1!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
Pepton said:
Its amazing :highfive:
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what it is?
Best earbuds
you can try to this to find ones on the internet
Hi all,
Was hoping to get some advice on headphones here. I'm looking at getting the Klipsch X10 v. X11i
I can get the discontinued X10's for pretty cheap, about $50 less than the X11i's but I was wondering if the X11i are worth the extra investment? If I can get pretty much the same headphones for $50 less that would be great. I just don't know enough about the technical specs etc to know whether The X11i are THAT much better than the X11i. I have a pair of S4 Klipsch right now and they have been great, but definitely looking for that next level headphone for my music Any advice is great!
Thanks
The first thing to ask yourself is where your S4's are lacking TO YOU.
My experience with Klipsch S4 was that the bass spilled into the mids too much, the highs weren't very detailed, and they still somehow managed to not go as deep in the bass as I wanted. Worse, the strain reliefs were very weak and the cable was prone to breaking.
Given that, my requirements when I replaced mine were removable cables, better details in the highs, but a focus on mids with a strong bass presence that didn't spill over. Combining that with my $100 budget led me to Shure SE215s.
Your wants may be different. Don't lock yourself into Klipsch. They're a great brand, but with headphones you can often find something more suitable for the same price.
For recommendations better tailored to your needs, please see my guide, copy the recommendation form, and be sure to mention what you would like to be better in your S4s.
Lastly, read lots of reviews before you finally purchase. Make sure some of the reviews are very recent (sometimes problems are fixed that may have turned you away from them upon initial release).
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
I have to agree, after awhile when I started to review more headphones, S4 went down in value/sound quality. X10 and X11 are plagued with build quality problems. Removable cable is a plus, and in sub $100 category you have SE215 and ATH-IM50 (waiting to get M50 for review soon). Other two, which have been the latest hype on head-fi, are Ostry KC06 and KC06A (A ver has more bass) and Zero Audio Tenore - also planing to review both Ostry and ZA within a month. Those are in sub $60 category, though cables are not removable, and supposed to have sound quality of $150-$200 range premium headphones. The only problem dealing with small Chinese and/or Japanese brand names, you have to buy them from overseas and typically can't apply warranty if you are in US.
As Jeremy suggested, visit his page and fill out the headphone form to get a suggestion Also, if you have 20 hours to kill, visit head-fi.org
vectron said:
I have to agree, after awhile when I started to review more headphones, S4 went down in value/sound quality. X10 and X11 are plagued with build quality problems. Removable cable is a plus, and in sub $100 category you have SE215 and ATH-IM50 (waiting to get M50 for review soon). Other two, which have been the latest hype on head-fi, are Ostry KC06 and KC06A (A ver has more bass) and Zero Audio Tenore - also planing to review both Ostry and ZA within a month. Those are in sub $60 category, though cables are not removable, and supposed to have sound quality of $150-$200 range premium headphones. The only problem dealing with small Chinese and/or Japanese brand names, you have to buy them from overseas and typically can't apply warranty if you are in US.
As Jeremy suggested, visit his page and fill out the headphone form to get a suggestion Also, if you have 20 hours to kill, visit head-fi.org
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20 hours or $20k? Lol
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Both
jRi0T68 said:
20 hours or $20k? Lol
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
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Thanks to all of you for the suggestions. Part of the reason I am so drawn to the Klipsch is because I've had a great feel inside of my ear from their ear bud tips. I've never been able to sit that long with ear buds in without having pain or soreness but with klipsch I could wear them all day. I will look into other options for sure! It's an investment that I don't want to make lightly, because I love my headphones. Thanks a lot
Sent from my HTC One_M8
Foam ear tips should be infinitely more comfortable.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Couple of things: I assume foam tips are something that I buy as an add on/ accessory? And I am a bit overwhelmed with trying to find a pair that will be best for me, if you don't mind @jRi0T68 could you comment on what aspects of a headphone I should look for based on the following:
1) I love the sound of instruments, especially guitar. I listen to metal, and I enjoy both the high frequencies and the lower frequency/ heavier riffs
2) bass is not as important for me, although I do listen to electronic music every now and again.
3) vocal clarity is something I like also, but not as much as the sound of the guitars
In terms of "mid range" and treble etc. what should I be looking for? I read your guide but I'm still finding that I don't know what I'm looking for lol. Thanks so much for your help
I'd say you're looking for bright highs without sibilance, warm detailed mids, and bass texture over bass quantity.
What's your budget?
What do you use as a player? What file types?
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
jRi0T68 said:
I'd say you're looking for bright highs without sibilance, warm detailed mids, and bass texture over bass quantity.
What's your budget?
What do you use as a player? What file types?
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
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Cannot thank you enough for the help. My Budget is around $200 +/- and I'm using google play, 320kbps bit rate on my HTC One M8. And I think google play uses mp3 format
I will take a shot with my recommendation - HiFiMAN RE400 ($99), neutral detailed warm sound, not too bright, great clarity and separation, not too much bass - but very detailed quality. Comes with a ton of eartips including double-flange type (you will feel right like at home with these after using Klipsch), some custom eartips, and even two pairs of premium Comply tips. Also, this is their new production batch with improved reliability. I reviewed it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2748643
vectron said:
I will take a shot with my recommendation - HiFiMAN RE400 ($99), neutral detailed warm sound, not too bright, great clarity and separation, not too much bass - but very detailed quality. Comes with a ton of eartips including double-flange type (you will feel right like at home with these after using Klipsch), some custom eartips, and even two pairs of premium Comply tips. Also, this is their new production batch with improved reliability. I reviewed it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2748643
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Great review. And thanks for the recommendation. I can't believe those are $99 they have received great reviews and sound exactly like what I want in a headphone according to jriot. I am a bit concerned about how large they look compared to my s4i though. I wear my headphones for hours at a time and really dislike having a sore ear when I take them out. Can you speak to that a little bit, your experience with their size?
Sent from my HTC One_M8
Aside from Klipsch small design, these are among the smallest shells you can find. I zoom in a lot in my pictures
In addition to RE400, my search based on your criteria leads me to suggest T-Peos H100 or H200. Based solely on reviews, they sound like something I would enjoy if I had your preferences. Definitely worth looking into.
There are also IEMs like Vsonic GR07 or GR01 that might be what you're looking for. You'd need to prepare for a big loss in bass punch but added clarity.
Dunu DN-1000 might also suit you as a bassy iem that improves a lot on the clarity that is missing desperately from Klipsch S4.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
Thanks for all the recommendations. I cruised over the head-fi and posted on their rec forum and got a few suggestions, one of which being the HiFiMan RE-400's but also Etymotic. I ended up buying the Etymotic hf5's for $100 on Amazon. So far so good, I can't believe some of the sounds I was missing with some of my metal songs. There are some notes as well as some synth in there i was completely missing before haha. Amazing what a decent set of IEMs can do for your music experience. And for $100, can't beat that!
Thanks for all the advice!
TheEmpyre said:
Thanks for all the recommendations. I cruised over the head-fi and posted on their rec forum and got a few suggestions, one of which being the HiFiMan RE-400's but also Etymotic. I ended up buying the Etymotic hf5's for $100 on Amazon. So far so good, I can't believe some of the sounds I was missing with some of my metal songs. There are some notes as well as some synth in there i was completely missing before haha. Amazing what a decent set of IEMs can do for your music experience. And for $100, can't beat that!
Thanks for all the advice!
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Good to hear!
Next steps:
Neutron music player
Flac files
You'll be surprised.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
jRi0T68 said:
Good to hear!
Next steps:
Neutron music player
Flac files
You'll be surprised.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
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I was just looking into FLAC tonight, I'm totally hosed though because I don't have a CD drive to rip my old CD's anymore, and everything I use is digital music subscription services now. I've done a minimal amount of searching so far but I'm sure theres alternatives out there (legal ones).
I'll just say that I don't mind going the way of unauthorized music distribution when I've already bought the music in a different format.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
jRi0T68 said:
I'll just say that I don't mind going the way of unauthorized music distribution when I've already bought the music in a different format.
Excreted from my Nexus 5
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
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I have long held that same belief, because what makes that different than a "personal backup" but ultimately with your every move tracked on the internets these days, I have become paranoid lol