Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatian  Actually I stopped using IEM's for jogging mainly for two reasons:
1. My music style just doesn't work for running (seriously try running while listening to "Cradle of Filth" - it drives me nuts)
2. You will feel the increased blood pressure during your workout as the arteries widen and so the tight seal of IEMs actually turns into uncomfortable pressure.
Also I don't think it's to good for your expensive gear to be exposed to sweat all the time. I would recommend simply using some earbuds like the Apple ones as it's nombig deal if they break.
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Music I like best
Music that is least easy for me to listen with my cx400 IEMS is music with extended quieter & reflective passages...even wearing over the ear I can hear my feet hit the ground as I run, not much fun. Even when listening to a lot of post-rock I'll fast forward past the slow starting song beginnings so I can get to where I can no longer hear my running, usually about 1/3 way into the songs.
I just checked out "Cradle" at last.fm and it sounds like anything but quiet so that's the sort of musical complexity that enjoy running most to, but that's me.
I listen to a lot of stuff...At War With Self, Jeff Beck, Pelican, Caspian and Beardfish & Buckethead were on my playlist at the track tonight for example, & they all sound great to me running or working out.
Pressure inside the ear
I've never tried double or triple flanges, but I'd think that the deeper the tips go in the ear, the more you'd be susceptible to a problem like this. I've either used primarily either KSC-35s/75s or Senn 300/400s. I listen to my cx400s over 90% of the time because I enjoy their sound the most. They are a low profile, shallow insertion phone that have made running a lot more enjoyable to me, and I have never experienced any discomfort while running/working out with them...no matter how long the workout...the longest with the cx's being a near 3 hour run through the woods last summer.
It could be in addition to their shallow depth, that their wafer thin silicone tips are also naturally the most "self-adusting" to any changes in pressure during an extended workout.
I am a little leery about getting more expensive IEMs because the drivers do tend to get semi-drowned in the sweat that accumulates in my ears while working out...but although that worried me when I first started running with them, amazingly they've held up great so far even when caught outside in downpours...having said that I think I'd be a lot more careful running with something like SM3s, if I even ever chose to at all.
Running outside in questionable areas
I'm pretty opinionated about where and how I run -- boiling those beliefs to their essence, I believe you are born with only so many miles on your knees, and especially when your cartilage gets worn down or torn, you will run with increasing discomfort the more cumulative pounding you have subjected them to.
So I rarely run in areas where isolation of IEMs is an issue. I make the effort travel to and from the local trails (about 75%), the local cushioned track (~10%), or the gym's treadmill (~15%). I used to *really* miss the freedom of just stepping outside my door and hitting the asphalt, and very very occasionally I still will. Still, I listen to my IEMs most of the time I run/work out and since my location choices also allow for worry-free listening almost all the time, I can't complain because it's kept my ears and knees remaining pretty damn happy.
I guess if I ever get bit by the marathon bug again, I think I'd try a combination of sticking with my cx400s and trying out either the Soundmagic PL21s or PL30s, both IEMS rating nicely in SQ but poor in isolation, which should be a pretty good thing for road running. The cx's, one of those PLs and my KSC 35s/75s along with my Clip+ and I think I'd feel pretty good about getting back into training in areas of higher traffic.
