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a cross between a bud and iem

post #1 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:24pm
Thread Starter 
does such a thing exist?

i want the sound quality, but don't need the complete isolation. i'm also not really into the idea of needing to replace the tips every so often. any ideas? something around $100 would fit the bill as they wouldn't be used terribly often.
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post #2 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:31pm
...wut?
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post #3 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:41pm
having a hard time even visualizing that concept. maybe you should make one and sell it.
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post #4 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:43pm
Thread Starter 
to my knowledge, iems are top of the line for portable sound. i want the sound but don't need or really want the complete isolation. so what am i asking exactly i don't know, an iem that doesn't go in as deep as usual? an iem that also doesn't have removable tips that need to be replaced, or as little as possible?
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post #5 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:46pm
well all iem's have removable tips (so you can get one that's the right size) but you don't need to replace silicone tips since they're washable. also, most cheap iem's don't go very deep (senn CX series, denon 351/551, all the jays, head-direct re2, etc). if you want a good one that isn't too deep for around 100 then the RE2 could fit the bill nicely. they get loads of praise around here.
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post #6 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:48pm
I'm shocked nobody has recommended the Yuin OK series. It's exactly what you are looking for.
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post #7 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:50pm
RE2 or CX300 sound like what you're after - they are typically IEMs but their casing is that of an earbud with a tip that goes into your ear. Neither of them isolate too much, 20db iirc.
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post #8 of 27
10/5/08 at 10:56pm
The reason IEMs sound so good in the first place is BECAUSE of the seal they create, which allows them to use your ear canal as a resonating chamber.
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post #9 of 27
10/5/08 at 11:04pm
Thread Starter 
where you further look into yuins or the re2? amazon doesn't seem to have either.
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post #10 of 27
10/5/08 at 11:07pm
Both from head-direct.com. Don't let the Chinesesyness fool you.
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post #11 of 27
10/5/08 at 11:10pm
Like a IEM with a really shallow tip?
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post #12 of 27
10/5/08 at 11:16pm
You won't find anything that isolates decently (better than earbuds) without using silicon/foam tips.

There is (or it might be out of production now) a Sony earbud that has a sort of shallow contoured plastic earbud piece. Something like this might isolate a tiny bit more since it fits the canal better, but better to get other opinions first. I would still recommend a shallow canalphone (e.g. RE2):

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post #13 of 27
10/5/08 at 11:21pm
how bout yuin OK series? u can change between IEM and earbud, if that's what u looking for
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post #14 of 27
10/5/08 at 11:25pm
Yeah, OK2 seems to meet your needs. However many found it is uncomfortable with IEM simulation tips screwed on. It works best as ear bud.
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post #15 of 27
10/6/08 at 1:04am
Sony EX90 alikes are what you are looking for. Those are hybrids of earbuds and canalphones which don't isolate well. You can check out Sony EX90, EX85/ Audio Technica CKM50 CKM 70 CKM 90/ JVC FX66 FX500. Actually, many canal phones don't isolate that well either, so there shouldn't be any problem finding a pair.
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