Travel Technology - flying with ipod - which headphones are best?

ok - as you are all aware i think by now - i am not happy to be flying...

i have an ipod and my laptop ready to go -- i have the standard ipod earbuds

which headphones (around 100 bucks or less) have the best noise reduction?

will this help keep me calmer? :)

thanks,
allen
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Go with the Shure E2C's or the E3C's. You can find decent deals for them posted here in travel tech, through www.bensbargains.net or on Amazon.com

Both models are noise-insulating, and IMHO are often better at noise reduction than my Bose QC2's.

Go with the Shure E2C's or the E3C's. You can find decent deals for them posted here in travel tech, through www.bensbargains.net or on Amazon.com

Both models are noise-insulating, and IMHO are often better at noise reduction than my Bose QC2's.

i cant do the in the ear ones - they never stay in for me - its gotta be either big over the ear ones or the style like the ipod standard ones are

sorry but thanks for the help

i cant do the in the ear ones - they never stay in for me - its gotta be either big over the ear ones or the style like the ipod standard ones are

sorry but thanks for the help

The Shures come with 6 different ear gels (both foam and rubber in 3 different sizes, they go pretty deep into your ear, so falling out certainly won't be an issue.

Other headphones that come to mind at your price range would be the Sennheiser's that are mentioned quite a bit here.

i cant do the in the ear ones - they never stay in for me - its gotta be either big over the ear ones or the style like the ipod standard ones are

sorry but thanks for the help

Just to clarify, because I think you might be confused - you might be mixing up earbuds (like those crap white ones that come with the iPod) with in-ear canalphones.

If you can wear a pair of foam earplugs, you can wear the Shure E1/2/3/4/5 series (yes, there is an E4 coming soon) or the Etymonic ER4/6.

My ear canals are actually two different sizes, even, and I can wear the E3 quite comfortably. A large tip for the right ear, a medium for the left. Like ScottC said, there are plenty of tip options:

For the e2: foam sleeves in S/M/L (like earplug material), rubber tips in S/M/L. They may now have the silicone comfort tips now also.

For all the others: one-size foam sleeves, rubber tips in s/m/l, silicone "comfort tips" in s/m/l, and the tri-flange silicone tips one-size.

I've never known anyone who didn't fit any of those tips. Whether they're comfortable or not for extended wear is another question, though - buy from somewhere with a friendly return policy, or make friends with someone over at http://head-fi.org who'll loan out a set :)

thanks bd -- you have now met someone who's body does not fit any mold whatsoever. nothing ever fits right.

i work for a very large manuf. co. when i go to mills and they give me the foam pieces that should stay in my ears... they dont!

but i will give it a try and see

i hope the sound is better than the ipod standard ones cuz i thnk the sound on the ipod standard ones are pretty good.

thanks!

thanks bd -- you have now met someone who's body does not fit any mold whatsoever. nothing ever fits right.

i work for a very large manuf. co. when i go to mills and they give me the foam pieces that should stay in my ears... they dont!

but i will give it a try and see

i hope the sound is better than the ipod standard ones cuz i thnk the sound on the ipod standard ones are pretty good.

thanks!

Yes, the sound is amazing. Plus; you can keep the volume lower so it doesn't distort as much.

A tip; Even though the E2C's are not made to take the triple-flanged rubber sleeves you can still fit them after a slight modification.

I just purchased a pair of E2c's from Amazon.com and they arrived last night. I tried them with my cd player and was very impressed. I am no sound nazi, so take it for what its worth, but the sound reproduction was the best I ever heard. Still working on the fit though, a bit hard to get used to.

ScottC could you explain the "modification" you were talking about?

As for cost I opened a credit card account on Amazon.com and got $30 off my purchase so the set only cost $60.

If u are flying the best earphones to get arte the in-cabal isolation earphones. I never travel without my etymotics. Etymotic also designed some earbuds specifically for the Ipod, I think they cost around $150.

Earbuds are the best from a usage and portability standpoint fro frequent travelers.

thanks bd -- you have now met someone who's body does not fit any mold whatsoever. nothing ever fits right.

i work for a very large manuf. co. when i go to mills and they give me the foam pieces that should stay in my ears... they dont!

but i will give it a try and see

i hope the sound is better than the ipod standard ones cuz i thnk the sound on the ipod standard ones are pretty good.

thanks!

Prepare to be blown away by the sound quality improvement, especially if your collection is at something >128kbps. It's a shame that Apple packed a nice MP3 player with the cheapest set of earbuds they could round up.

I actually have some of the foam earplugs that don't fit me, either - I frequently travel to a few dairy plants that require hearing protection. The only ones that do are the E.A.R. line of plugs (yellow open-celled foam, 33 NRR). If those fit you, the large Shure foamies should fit.

Of course, if you really want good seals when nothing else will work, then you can go for custom-molded phones, like the Sensaphonics or Ultimate Ears products. They'll have an audiologist take impressions of your ear canals, so the fit's guaranteed. Of course, you'll end up spending more on those earphones than on an iPod - I think they *start* around $600. The sound's phenomenal, based on reviews I've read, but I could never justify those to myself.

Don't buy Bose QC2 noise-cancelling phones though - they're grossly overpriced. You should be able to get a perfectly capable set of reagular noise-cancelling headphones for <$150.

Actually...come to think of it...if a Bose saleman comes up to you period, run away. :)

I would go with a pair of noise reduction earphones for flying. From all my Web research, Shures tended to be rated higher by users than Entymotics.

I bought new Shure E2c's sound unheard on eBay. I have been happy with them so far. I will probably upgrade to E3c's eventually. You really have to wedge the E2c's in pretty tight to get the best sound and noise reduction. Aesthetically, I think the E3c's are a better match for the iPod since they are white and I think the third style of rubber sleeve is the most comfortable (I tried my friend's).

I also bought a pair of Sennheiser PXC-250's and I use them around the house since I find them easier to use on a casual basis. They don't deal well with voices on an airplane, weigh more and take up more space. Other than that, I think the sound quality is very good too. It's all personal preference.

I would go with a pair of noise reduction earphones for flying. From all my Web research, Shures tended to be rated higher by users than Entymotics.



It really depends on the sound signature you prefer. I'm not a real hard-core audiophile (can't afford it!), but I periodically drop in at head-fi.org (which has the truly obsessed). To generally paraphrase the consensus over there, the Shure line tends to sound warmer and more full, while the Etys tend to sound very detailed and analytic. Each camp has their die-hards who swear their earphones are best...but at least it's not a PC/Mac battle :)

but at least it's not a PC/Mac battle :)


Ora tubes/solid-state or digital/vinyl battle.

I just received my E3c's from the eCost $118 sale, so I plan on comparing them to my long-time favorite ER-6's (and HD-600's), hopefully this weekend. I'll report back.

I agree that either of the in-canal 'phones are best, mostly because of the portability and weight. Sure, HD650's and a Headroom Cosmic would be great, but there goes the 1 piece of carry-on.

If you really, really can't use in-canal 'phones, the Sony NC series (the -11 is the last one I had) are decent and usually around $100.

Y'all are welcome to spend several hundred on fancy earbuds if you want to, but may I recommend Koss "The Plug" earphones. $15 to $20 - (available at Amazon, Target, and CC to name a few). They are tiny - easily fit in a 35MM film canister (remember them?) or in a small plastic ziplock. - Buy two - you'll end up giving a pair to a friend.

They are the foam sleeve type that fit in your ear. Some people complain they can't get them to stay in - I just give the exterior a lick (yeah, I know - yuck) and slide them in, ... Wahlah!

They insulate ambient sound totally, and music sounds awesome. Tons of Bass. They absolutely transform the inflight movie soundtrack. As for comfort, I have slept most of the way to CDG with them in.

Google Koss The Plug - a real cult favorite. The cost-performance ratio is off-scale high. Outstanding value!

If you're looking for a great sounding earbud that's midpriced ($50-$60) give the Sony Nude's a try.

http://formen.ign.com/news/33649.html

I use mine with my iPod all the time, and it sounds great. They are great for traveling because they act as earplugs, they are quite portable, and you can even sleep on the side of your head without too much discomfort.

If you buy from the Shure site, you have 30 days "no questions asked" return privileges.

I bought the E2c's and I like them a lot. I sold my Bose QC2's with no regrets.

I am a bit of a sound nazi, so I thought, "try the E5c's" They are like $500.

I didn't like them THAT much better so, returned them.

So, if you are concerned about fit, staying in your ear, etc. etc. you have nothing to lose but return postage.

Good luck and best wishes,

Teacher49

Just to stir the pot a bit, Shure is getting ready to release the new E4c earphones (http://www.shure.com/news/pressreleases/pr-ces05_010505.html)!!! Priced in between the E3 and the E5. :)