iPhone Earbud Recommendations?
Tuesday, October 28 2008 @ 12:08 PM CDT

So here's the deal. I love my iPhone and listen to music on it quite often. But I'm disappointed with the standard issue earbuds. I'd like better sound quality, but just as important is my fellow commuters/office mates not hearing what I'm listening to. I've found that even on low volume, people sitting near me can often hear my music. I don't have a lot of spare cash right now, so I'd like to keep it under $50

Recommendations?

Re:iPhone Earbud Recommendations?
Tuesday, October 28 2008 @ 12:22 PM CDT

In that price range, I've found Skull Candy phones to be the best. I love using in-ear earbuds a lot and have tried a lot of brands. The best quality I've found so far in terms of comfort and sound have been the Shure SE101, followed by the M-Audio E10, but they are pricier. Skull Candy were surprising good for the price, and they come in a cool selection of colors.

http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/smokinbuds-p-10.html

Re:iPhone Earbud Recommendations?
Tuesday, October 28 2008 @ 12:27 PM CDT

My wife and I had other issues with the "jam this into your ear and hope it stays" earbuds for our iPods... but same conclusion, we wanted something more comfortable. We both finally opted for going to Circuit City and buying a $20 Sony earphone thingie in a blister-pack... they are two disconnected little padded headphone discs, with an over-the-ear metal-wire hook that helps hold each speaker in place... and the wires from each headphone dangle down and have a 1/8" mini plug. They also came with a couple of clip-on skins to change the color to navy blue (yay) and silver I think. We like them, they're relatively comfortable, inexpensive, and fairly good music quality. Because of the foam padding, it does not block outside noise, and I don't turn the music up so loud as to block it out, so this may not be quite what you're looking for. The "cover-your-whole-ear" headphones are better, more comfortable, and a LOT more expensive (my home monitoring headphones were $80, and those are cheap :-).

ttfn,
Drakonis

Re:iPhone Earbud Recommendations?
Tuesday, October 28 2008 @ 01:11 PM CDT

Thanks for the ideas. I think I'll try the Skull Candy earbuds and if I'm not happy with them, I can always ask for the Shure SE-110's for Christmas.

Re:iPhone Earbud Recommendations?
Tuesday, October 28 2008 @ 02:29 PM CDT

I use these:
v-moda, they are a bit more expensive ($70), but well worth it

Re:iPhone Earbud Recommendations?
Tuesday, October 28 2008 @ 05:37 PM CDT

Quote by: Jim Bouchard . I love using in-ear earbuds a lot

Depends on what you do with them. For sitting in a train or so they work fine, but if you walk or run you get a lot of rumble from the contact sound of your feet. These things transmit contact sound a lot better than standard plugs.

Victor.

Re:iPhone Earbud Recommendations?
Tuesday, October 28 2008 @ 06:56 PM CDT

Quote by: VicDiesel Quote by: Jim Bouchard . I love using in-ear earbuds a lot Depends on what you do with them. For sitting in a train or so they work fine, but if you walk or run you get a lot of rumble from the contact sound of your feet. These things transmit contact sound a lot better than standard plugs. Victor.

I guess it depends on the type of earbud. The M-Audio ones especially are good for moving around a fair amount because they are designed as for use on stage by active musicians, as are the Shure, with the cord going over the ear. The Shure are especially good because they use a foam earpiece that you condense before inserting it and then it expands to hold it in place. The other advantage of in-ear earbuds is that I can operate my iPod at a lower volume because of less sound leakage. It's definitely a personal decision but that's my experience.