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Best in ear (with ear hanger) headphones

post #1 of 17
8/8/09 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
Hello all,

I am looking for the best in ear headphones that have the ear hooks on them for under $30. Here are some examples (I don't know if these headphones are good, so if you could also give me some insight on that it would be appreciated):


Amazon.com: Sony Mdr-As40Ex Active Style Headphones Earbud Style (Black): Electronics

Amazon.com: Sony MDR-EX81LP Bud-Style Stereo Earphones (Black): Electronics

Amazon.com: Philips SHS8000 Premium Sound Earhook Headphones: Electronics

Thanks you so much,
waldoctg
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post #2 of 17
8/8/09 at 12:48pm
The most important is what kind of music you listen to.
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post #3 of 17
8/8/09 at 3:56pm
I don't think there are a lot of people on head-fi who've tried those, and they probably don't sound very good for the price you pay. If I were you I'd consider getting one of the highly-recommended IEMs that fit your budget (For $30 i'd say Meelec AI-M9, Soundmagic PL30, Lenntek Sonix, or Apple Dual-Drivers depending on your music preferences) and buying some (separate) ear hooks to achieve that sort of fit (Note: The PL30s already come with earhooks).

Pic of what I'm talking about (they slide over the cable):

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post #4 of 17
8/8/09 at 7:07pm
Maybe you can find some cheap Klipsch Custom 1 or even some of the UE Super.fi 3 with the memory cable. I would recomend the altec lansing verson of the SF3 but I am unsure if it has the memory cable.
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post #5 of 17
8/8/09 at 7:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePandemonium View Post
Maybe you can find some cheap Klipsch Custom 1 or even some of the UE Super.fi 3 with the memory cable. I would recomend the altec lansing verson of the SF3 but I am unsure if it has the memory cable.
Ah yes, forgot about memory cables. The Altec Lansing version of the SF3 (Lansing UHP336) does indeed have the memory cable and should run your $35 shipped. The Meelec Ai-M6's ($40) and Nuforce NE-8 (maybe you can find a used pair) also have memory cables.
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post #6 of 17
8/8/09 at 7:59pm
Is there a specific reason for wanting the hooks/memory cable? I've found the memory cable highly microphonic on my SF3s.

The silicone hooks the Phonak PFE's use can be bought at their store for $8. AudéoWorld PFE Shopping Cart
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post #7 of 17
8/9/09 at 2:08am
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much all!

What are the headphones best listening for mainly rap/hip-hop and electronica?

Also, I am interested in the memory cable so if you could direct me to which on is the best for the genre I mainly listen to that would be awesome.

Thanks so much again!
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post #8 of 17
8/9/09 at 2:27am
A memory cable is a built-in feature of some headphones, not something you can buy separately. The phonak cable guides are $8 shipped and turn any earphone into one that is easily worn over-the-ear.

If your budget of $30 can be stretched to $40, I think the Meelec Ai-M6 is a great option for your music, with their deep bass and good high-end extension. They have a memory cable. The only drawback is that they suffer from a fair amount of cable contact noise (aka microphonics). Perhaps the Soundmagic PL30s would work as well since they come with cable guides. They are far less bassy than the Meelecs though, but still pretty punchy.
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post #9 of 17
8/9/09 at 5:43pm
Thread Starter 
Sweet! thanks man. But what do you mean by microphonics? And also what is a cable guide?
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post #10 of 17
8/9/09 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by waldoctg View Post
Sweet! thanks man. But what do you mean by microphonics? And also what is a cable guide?
Microphonics are also known as cable or cord contact noise. They're the boomy or crinkly sound you hear when you touch the cord while wearing IEMs. Most people find it annoying and unpleasant, but there are ways to reduce it.

A cable guide is the clear silicone thing that I put a picture of a few posts up. It goes over the cord of an earbud to give them the "ear hanger" functionality that you seem to want.
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post #11 of 17
8/10/09 at 12:21am
Thread Starter 
Ok I know what you are talking about. It doesn't really bother me much. Fore I don't know if I have as well of a trained ear as you may have.

I owned two pairs of V-Moda Bling Blings. I loved them and the bass they produced. How is the bass from the Meelec Ai-M6 compared to the Bling Blings?

Thanks
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post #12 of 17
8/10/09 at 1:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by waldoctg View Post
Ok I know what you are talking about. It doesn't really bother me much. Fore I don't know if I have as well of a trained ear as you may have.

I owned two pairs of V-Moda Bling Blings. I loved them and the bass they produced. How is the bass from the Meelec Ai-M6 compared to the Bling Blings?

Thanks
Sorry, what the hell is a Bling Bling?

The AI-M6 have very strong and accurate bass, not of the loosely defined fart cannon kind like the Koss Sparkplugs and V-Moda Bass Freqs.
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post #13 of 17
8/10/09 at 9:39am
Thread Starter 
Lol sry I just realized I was writing the name of the color.

Thanks so much |joker| I'm going to go with the AI-M6.

Oh and one last thing. Can you tell me where I can get a the foam ear buds that you squish then put in your ear? Like the ones on these IEMs (but ones that would fit on the AI-M6):

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/cm/g...b-35561902.jpg

Amazon.com: Koss "The Plug" Portable Headphones (colors vary): Electronics

Thanks again
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post #14 of 17
8/10/09 at 12:40pm
The foam tips usually favoured on head-fi are the Shure Olives (should be about $14 shipped for 3 pairs and they last a long time), but the Olives will need some modification to fit on the AI-M6s, either the de-core mod or expand the inner tube with a pair of needle-nose pliers.

The easier alternative is to figure out what size Comply foam tips fit on the Ai-M6's - they come in about a dozen different diameters, but I don't think Comply lists Meelectronics in their sizing chart (Also, I know the T400s will not fit). Perhaps someone else here knows what size will fit (or maybe you can get an answer from either Meelec or Comply). Oh and Comply tips need to be replaced pretty often as they are very porous foam and wear out quickly with use.

Shure Olives:



Comply Foamies

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post #15 of 17
8/29/09 at 10:52am
I have those Philips SHS8000.

Since I got my Sennheiser IE8 a month ago, I haven't listen much on my other phones.
But the other day I gave them a good listen. I felt my Sennheiser PX100 and Koss PortaPro sounded kind of lifeless, compared to the IE8. Well, that's not that surprising really.

But the Philips SHS8000 actually sounded pretty good?! There's kind of the same great bass that I love from the IE8. The highs are deffently not as great as the IE8, but nothing that I can't stand, at all.
I am pretty surprised that the SHS8000 sounds that great, and I enjoy using them for sweatty work and such, where I don't want to use the IE8.
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