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Best Noise Isolating Earphones for a cheap bastard?

post #1 of 24
9/6/07 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 
I'm in the market for earphones, I don't need the rolls royce of earphones just something that can block out the sound of my amazingly annoying voices of my boss, the people at the gym and that sounds pretty good.

I like bass, I like highs, mids are nice too.

I consider cheap to be under $60 which roughly equates to two hours of my life wasted at work.

Thanks in advance.
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post #2 of 24
9/6/07 at 7:44pm
This is a bit of the sidetrack, but many years ago modded Koss "The Plugs" were all the rage. I still see them at best buy but noone ever mentions them anymore. What happened?
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post #3 of 24
9/6/07 at 7:48pm
For that price you can't go wrong with JVC Marshmallows (FX-33's) for like $20ish or closer to $60 are the Crossroads X3's ($57) from Jaben. I have both and like the X3's a lot, although I need tips that isolate better on them. I don't think you can go wrong for money if you don't mind IEM's.
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post #4 of 24
9/6/07 at 7:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sharkz View Post
For that price you can't go wrong with JVC Marshmallows (FX-33's) for like $20ish or closer to $60 are the Crossroads X3's ($57) from Jaben. I have both and like the X3's a lot, although I need tips that isolate better on them. I don't think you can go wrong for money if you don't mind IEM's.
Whats an iem and is the disparity between the fx-33 and the x3 that great to be worth the extra 40 smackers?
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post #5 of 24
9/6/07 at 10:09pm
It's up to you to decide whether the disparity in price is worth it. The law of diminishing returns applies here -- when you pay twice as much, you don't automatically expect something to be twice as pleasing to your ears. Better, yes ... but not necessarily twice as good.

IEMs are in-ear-monitors, the more advanced (and expensive) form of in-ear earphones. Canal phones insert into the ear canal, too, but don't isolate as much. Ear buds just hang there, letting noise in and out and driving me crazy by falling out. But I digress ...

At around $30 or so online, the Creative EP630s are a good, value-priced canal phone -- for many, a good first step up from bundled earbuds. I use them at work to block out some noise now and then (when I can get away with tuning out and listening to music). On airplanes, I use IEMs to isolate more effectively ... but canal phones work well for the price.
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post #6 of 24
9/6/07 at 11:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaBreaHead View Post
It's up to you to decide whether the disparity in price is worth it. The law of diminishing returns applies here -- when you pay twice as much, you don't automatically expect something to be twice as pleasing to your ears. Better, yes ... but not necessarily twice as good.

IEMs are in-ear-monitors, the more advanced (and expensive) form of in-ear earphones. Canal phones insert into the ear canal, too, but don't isolate as much. Ear buds just hang there, letting noise in and out and driving me crazy by falling out. But I digress ...

At around $30 or so online, the Creative EP630s are a good, value-priced canal phone -- for many, a good first step up from bundled earbuds. I use them at work to block out some noise now and then (when I can get away with tuning out and listening to music). On airplanes, I use IEMs to isolate more effectively ... but canal phones work well for the price.
i had the creatives and i wasnt a big fan, they isloated really poorly. i find the e2c isolates really great, and sounds quite good for a $100 iem!
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post #7 of 24
9/6/07 at 11:19pm
Go find and try out Sennheiser PX200's they have great isolation if you have the right kind of ears for it, alot of people complain about leakage but I have none with mine, guess it means my ears are way cooler.
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post #8 of 24
9/7/07 at 12:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FeedMeTrance View Post
i had the creatives and i wasnt a big fan, they isloated really poorly. i find the e2c isolates really great, and sounds quite good for a $100 iem!
I wouldn't say the E2C is that great of a value anymore (IEMs have come a long way and the earpieces are large and bulky for an IEM), but the sound is certainly decent and the isolation is great. With the E2 being phased out by the new SE110 in its price bracket, you may find one on clearance for under $60; other choices, if you'll go up to $100, are the Etymotic ER-6i and the UE super.fi 3.
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post #9 of 24
9/7/07 at 1:04am
Do a price check on AL iM716 &/or AL-iM616, they were going for $70 at one point when I bought mine... IEM, of course, great isolation & sounding great with most any DAP , >_<
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post #10 of 24
9/7/07 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hi-Finthen View Post
Do a price check on AL iM716 &/or AL-iM616, they were going for $70 at one point when I bought mine... IEM, of course, great isolation & sounding great with most any DAP , >_<
I'm trying to find a good deal, but the $80 716 stock on Newegg ran out and I'm only left with $104 at Amazon for the 716 or $70 for the 616. I've seen issues raised with the im716's drivability...can it blow me away straight out of an iPod? I don't expect it to beat my DT990, but it should be a lot better than the E2C.
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post #11 of 24
9/7/07 at 1:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hi-Finthen View Post
Do a price check on AL iM716 &/or AL-iM616, they were going for $70 at one point when I bought mine... IEM, of course, great isolation & sounding great with most any DAP , >_<
All these acronyms don't help a newbie any. If >_< is reading (interesting user name by the way), a DAP is a Digital Audio Player. IEM is In-Ear Monitor. Cans are another word for full-size headphones. DAC is Digital-to-Analog converter. AMP, well, that's just short for amplifier.

Hope that helps some. And if you're making $30 an hour, perhaps you might want to spring for better headphones. Just a thought. But hey, this hobby is all about growth. If you start out with the best, your ears won't know why it's the best. Work your way up slowly and you'll appreciate them more, as well as get frustrated at this damn hobby for sucking your wallet and sanity dry. So either way, best or cheap headphones, you're still screwed!

So.... Welcome to Head-Fi, and sorry about your wallet. (We say that to all newcomers.)
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post #12 of 24
9/7/07 at 2:40am
JVC Marshmallows, HA-FX33's, with Shure E2 Orange Foamies.
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post #13 of 24
9/7/07 at 4:46am
For the gym, go for the Beyer DTX50, can be found in the FS forum for people who bought the bundle from Jaben and decided to only keep the X3... Personally I dont like the X3 for the gym. It features clynical sound. The DTX will keep the bass pumping for your workouts and attenuate outside noise quite handily. The mids and highs are not spectacular, but never harsh either, PERFECT for the gym!
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post #14 of 24
9/7/07 at 5:20am
If you are really cheap you can get the Sennheiser CX300 for 1/3 - 1/2 the cost of ER6i, with more bass and smoother, just very finicky about not being pushed too far into the ears or not far enough. I've seen these for $79 at circuit city and real ones for $15-30 on ebay IN RETAIL PACKAGING. Beware of people selling fakes, they are usually $5-$15.

The ER6i might be okay for you but could use a little more bass, but coupled with a $40 Cmoy bass boost amplifier, you're back in business.
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post #15 of 24
9/7/07 at 5:26am
If cheap is important buy the marshmallows, or the ep-630s. They are plenty good enough if sound quality isn't a massive proirity and a massive step up from bundled earbuds. They don't provide as much isolation as 'proper' iems, but the isolation you do get is more than worthwhile.

If you enjoy OTT bass the Koss Plugs are a fun purchase for next to nothing, (I have a set I dig out occasionally when I am in the mood) but are probably not good enough to be you only earphones.

Simon
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