What is the best value for money out there?

I've centered on either SE310s or SE420s. $165 vs. $195 all-in.

Which would you choose? Is there an option c?

Thanks,

Steven

Between those two, the 420. The dual-driver will provide better sound - one driver for the lows, one for the mids/highs. Given the relatively small price gap, might as well go with the better one.

option c: Have you ruled out the Etymotics? The ER4's are claimed to be of 'reference quality'. I'm happy with the ER6i's.

ER4s look very good, too. I'm just more familiar with the Shures. Is there anyone who's actually tried both and can do a comparison?

If you buy them on ebay and connect through live search, you may be able to get a 25% rebate. I just purchased a pair of SSE530PTH for $307 and will get a $77 rebate. You can probablyfind similar savings on the 420 or 310.

I've had a pair of EC3s for awhile and I like them...are they "isolating"? I don't know what that means.

It means that sound insulation is used to "isolate" your hearing apparatus from ambient noise - usually the airplane noise is what is discussed here, of course.

Earplugs are sound isolation.

The competing technology is "noise cancellation" in which ambient noise is sampled and actively, electronically "whited out".

The noise isolation devices - notably Shure - were developed at first for musicians who needed a monitor source for what they and their fellows were playing while getting some protection against the loud volumes one is exposed to while standing in front of a huge array of speakers. For that reason, attention to the quality of sound was a factor from the get go.

Bose and others used the kind of sound cancellation that has been used in radio headsets in aviation where the primary consideration has been protection from noise and being able merely to hear voice communication from the ground via radio or from people on board via intercom. Sound reproduction to in the full ranges required to enjoy the nuance of music was not a consideration at first.

I first bought a set of Bose. They seemed to "deaden" much of what I like to listen to. I tried a set of Shures in the middle range (E3's I think) side by side during a long flight. I went home and sole the Bose that I had owned less than three months.

I now use a set of E5's - since replaced by the new series - that were at the top of their line when I got them. Heaven!

The sound isolation does not exclude all cabin/engine noise by themselves. But with music at even a low-moderate level, that external noise is gone for me.

I have never tried the Etymonics. I hear they are good, too.

Primary caveat is that the isolating system are typically "in ear". This means inserting the ear buds fairly deeply to get a good seal. Some find that uncomfortable. Some, like me, find that 15 - 20 hours of constant use is just fine.

I wound up purchasing several different tips for my Etymotics - lg and small 3 baffle, 2 baffle silicone, foam, etc. Finally figured out my left ear preferred the smaller 3 baffle silicone, right ear the large 3 baffle. When fully inserted (takes some courage the first few times!), noise is tremendously reduced. Can't hear PA, FA, neighbor snoring, etc. One plus about the etymotics - the buds are so small that you can actually lie on your ear and its not noticeable. Only a very thin wire protrudes.

Great that you use two different tips! I never thought of that. The thing I like the least about the Shures is that I have to figure each time which bud belongs to which ear! Minor for Shure! But with your idea, identifying the proper side will be much easier. Thanks.

^^^
Though I wonder about the health effects of sleeping with sealed ear canals. Mrs. ralfp, Dr. of head holes, doesn't have the foggiest idea.

I can imagine one downside: sleeping into descent and waking up with a painful pressure differential (increasing ambient pressure improves the seal).

Ended up with the SE430s. So far, so good, I just hope that I'll be able to stand earbuds for prolonged periods of time. We'll see. I'll report back with results.

I am _extremely_ happy with my custom UE 11. The noise insulation is actually not as thorough as it was with my old Shure E5c, but the sound is astonishingly good. The insulation is not too bad either - the thought of slapping a pair of noise-canceling headphones over the in-ear UE 11 crossed my mind briefly, but if you have music playing you don't really hear anything from the outside world, and when there's no music you're better off with a pair of plain old earplugs anyway.

I realize it's a lot of hassle to get, what with the ear impressions and all, and there's absolutely no way to try before you buy - and they're not the cheapest either, to say the least. But if somebody wants to treat himself nice, these earphones are not going to disappoint. I was like a child in a candy store, going through my music hours upon hours, weeks after weeks. All this after having been used to the admittedly very good E5c.

Started with ER6's, went to ER4's, found both way too bright and fatiguing. Moved on to Shure E2's and E3's and was underwhelmed. Tried the E5's but they dug in and create a pressure point in one ear making them painful to wear. Finally splurged on some Westone UM2's 2 1/2 years ago when a sale popped up ($250 shipped.) Couldn't be happier with them, not even tempted buy the new Westone 3's. I tried some custom IEM's but they never fit right so I returned them for a refund. I'd recommend the dual driver Shures or Westones, on a budget the Ultimate Ears super.fi 5 pro sound good (but I don't like the Shrek form factor.)

Anyone try the Etymotic Hf2 - made to work with iPhone?
And the new apple-in-ear headphones?

The Etymotic HF2 is apparently 90% of the sound signature of the ER-4 in a smaller footprint. The new $80 Apple buds just came out but the reviews seem suggest they are comparable to other earphones in that price range. Gizmodo preferred the Shure SE110 but I have not found a single driver earphone that had sufficient bass (the Apple buds had less bass than the SE110's according to the review.) If you can swing $150-200 you can get some Ultimate Ears super.fi 5 pros or Shure SE420's (check ebay.) You'll be in a whole different league as far as sound quality.

http://gizmodo.com/5102091/lightning...ear-headphones