Travel Technology - New In-Ear Headphones?

Has anyone tried the new In-Ear Headphones from Apple?
http://www.apple.com/ipod/inearheadphones/ , $79
Frequency response: 5Hz to 21kHz
Impedance (at 100Hz): 23 ohms
Sensitivity (at 100Hz): 109 dB SPL/mW
Drivers: Custom two-way balanced armature (woofer and tweeter in each earpiece)


They also feature a microphone and a very small remote control that works with the new iPod Nano and second-gen iPod Touch. (It supposedly works with iPhones, but without volume control.)

I was googling yesterday to see if anyone had posted reviews of sound quality and isolation ability, but I couldn't find any. I am wondering how these compare to other in-ear headphones, like the Etymotics ER-6i, or the Shure SE110 models.

My primary interest is finding a compact pair of noise-isolating or noise-cancelling headphones that would work for commuting on the subway. Right now I use my OEM iPod earbuds with the volume cranked up, but I know that's not a good idea. I recently tried (and returned) a pair of Sony MDR-NC22 active noise cancelling earbuds, because they were not effective at all in the subway.

Can anyone comment on the new Apple 'phones, or could anyone make recommendations for noise-isolating or NC compact headphones under $100?

Personally I really like the Westone UM1’s, over the Shures and UE SuperFi’s in it’s price range I tried out. They came highly recommended from the Headfi forums.

I think the best thing I like about the UM1’s compared to the others is the size/shape. Westone cut their teeth making hearing aids and you can really see it in the design, how the whole body and driver sits inside your ear in a very compact fashion. It’s great for flying because they are small enough I can lay on my side comfortably, not so with any other IEM I have tried. Plus they just flat out sounded better then the lower end Shures and UE’s.

Of course with any IEM the fit of the tip is extremely important for sound quality. For every day use I used Shure silicone tips, and use the Comply foam tips when flying.

I cannot speak for the apple product, it’s not something I have ever used. Do some research on the internet, there are a couple of really good detailed reviews on them.

I bought those the other day on a whim at the Apple Store, and I'd say they're probably not really that worth it. They're comfortable and do a decent (not great) job of blocking noise, but no where near a true noise-canceling headset. I primarily listen to podcasts and some music and for my purposes they're not worth the extra $50. If I were a music aficionado, I might say otherwise, but for most general users, not worth it

I was lurking around for headphones too, and decided for UM1s. Didn't have a chance to test them yet though, shipping-in-progress, but they do seem to be a decent choice, price/quality wise especially. I also considered UM3s, but a) they are much more expensive, b) they are apparently more bulky....

Not to diss Travel Tech, but head-fi.org is where I go for detailed info for this.
That's how i found out Amazon has 40% off the Etymotics 4P (very highly regarded but have been out for years).

I recall there was not only a master thread on in-ear monitors / headphones, but also a massive thread on some great Amazon deals a year ago. It's worth a look both through a search here and at Amazon. Good luck and be aware these things might need tweaking/mix-matching of the rubber bits for a comfy fit.