Will Audio-Technica ATH-ES7 look dorky outside?

[MicFiend]

Hi fellow head-fi'ers,
not so long ago i bought myself a pair of IEMs - the Etymotic ER-6i. i couldn't get a comfort seal, i messed with the things for over 2 weeks and it wasn't even near comfortable. i tried everything, and now i know i'm not a IEM person. so i though i might want to look for some stylish closed back supra aurals or behind the neck or something for portable use. i'm very concerned about my looks and i wonder if i'll get looks or something if i'll walk around with some nice headphones like the ATH-ES7, which are good looking. i mean, the public's opinion on full sized phones is pretty bad. what do you think? how am i going to look walking around with ATH-ES7? or you have other suggestions for me? it has to be closed back and good looking. budget is around 100$, i listen mostly to rap and rock.
*pictures with ATH-ES7 and other headphones on you will be so helpful!

sorry about the long post and the harsh criteria.
thanks in advance,
Matthew.

[REB]

Dorky with those beauties on your head? Never! And it's not like they are full-sized phones. They are supra-aural portable phones. They were meant to impress onlookers with their shiny aluminum cups. So wear them outside with pride! That's what they were meant for. And you'll get looks alright, but only from the envious.

[hellopanda]

I think that the Es7 is a cool looking headphones that sounds fantastic at that price range. You can still double as a mirror.

[Jaska]

All headphones look dorky when worn outside. I wear Peltor hearing protectors and knee-high rubber boots when I mow my lawn, but unlike some of the locals, I do away with this look when I leave my own property

Having owned the ER-6i, I can assure you that they are not to be compared with other IEMs in terms of fit and comfort. They are drastically and pointlessly undersized, and almost any other good IEM would be easier to insert and remove. Just about all of them have enough tip options that there would surely be something that worked for you.

[LeftyGorilla]

It's an Ear Suit, man. You're going to look like a million dollars. Or at least $100...

I had the same concern re: full-sized phones and went with the ESW9 because I thought the wood would look a little less conspicuous than shiny black or silver. That part is all personal style.

I'm pretty sure the ESs are in the same size range...in that respect they are pretty discrete with a low side profile. Actually I have pretty big hair and they blend in almost completely...but no funny looks yet. Not, at least, due to the Ear Suit.

[MicFiend]

thanks guys, you really helped me build up some self confidence about the headphones. i think i'll buy it + a creative EP630 when i need a lot of isolation.

Lefty - i wish i could buy the ESW9s, but it's way out of my budget.

[LeftyGorilla]

Originally Posted by MicFiend

thanks guys, you really helped me build up some self confidence about the headphones. i think i'll buy it + a creative EP630 when i need a lot of isolation.

Lefty - i wish i could buy the ESW9s, but it's way out of my budget.

It's way out of my budget, too.

But I figured that with a pair of portable phones (no amp needed) that are said to be pretty close in quality to some entry-level full-sized cans, I'm actually saving myself hundreds of dollars. I cannot now justify purchasing either full-sized cans or a portable amp! Still for some reason looking at grados...

I have the ep630s, too, and use the pair pretty much the way you propose. It works pretty well.

[Jaska]

Ideally, you'd be able to fend off flying bits of grass and other debris while wearing headphones outside. Something along the lines of an integrated mesh visor. Oh no, it looks like someone's already beaten me to market with this idea...

[spinali]

Completely undorky, especially with the black model. I've worn it outside, and not infrequently.

One way to reduce the Potential Dork Factor (PDF) is fairly well known. The ES7 describes a round outline from your ears to the top of your head; there's a lot of space in the middle. Gently, firmly push in the plastic cable sides of the headphone toward the middle. When you're done, your ES7 will look even more attractive, molded to your own head shape.

[MicFiend]

thanks everyone.
spinali- how is isolation with ES7? does it suit portable needs?

[SBD]

IMO, there's no doubt you'll look dorky unless it's a big dj style one, earhook, or ibuds. Especially if it's shiny and "fashionable" like that.

[Bastet]

A fellow student of mine always wears black ES7s when coming to class and I can't say they look particularly dorky.
Actually, these are pretty small and don't stick out much from your head. Even the glossy finish isn't that noticeable unless you know it should be a mirror finish and are determinded to notice.

I say you should be fine with these, especially the black version!

[uraflit]

IMO, headphones on certain ppl look ok, while on others they look extremely dorky...

therefore, your mileage may vary =P

[spinali]

Originally Posted by MicFiend

thanks everyone.
spinali- how is isolation with ES7? does it suit portable needs?

The ES7 has an appealing sound - pleasing treble in the A/T style. But it's not a noise-reduction phone, and you'll hear outside noise even in someplace like a coffee shop. Even though they're closed phones, presume a certain amount of leakage, thanks primarily to the light pleather pads and the relaxed fit.

[Rednamalas1]

I didn't think isolation was excellent either - it's adaquate, but nowhere near IEMs and HD25-Is