I need recommendations for earphones under $100

I'm guessing you have started on the wrong foot with the, "nerds" thing. Also there are many, many, rec's for your issue, thus most of the brain trust here might consider your new thread clutter. Generally speaking there are two or three really good headphones, none of which have I tried, though I do spend much time on here. The first is the very interesting though sometimes of questionable quality, RE0. Most seem to agree the bang for buck is very solid and you might see them break in under six months. Next up is the iGi by Grado, if you like the Grado sound. Last I'd say either the Klipsch S4, or I think the Monster Coppers are in your range. Do a search for, "comparison chart",

and there is a very detailed one on this forum.

I suggest you look into Fischer Audio's SBA-01's. They sound great are well under $100. I would also look into the Fischer Audio Enigma's and Eterna's.

I would check out the Hippo VB personally. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaikasRevenge 

Will do, thanks, and I have somewhat of a random question: Why does everyone here type with capitalization and punctuation? I don't think I've ever come across a forum like this in that respect.

I would venture a guess that on average Head-Fiers are older than members of most Internet forums. Following the rules and conventions of grammar is just a common courtesy to those who will end up sifting through our posts for information, especially if they are not part of the Myspace generation.

The VB are very good, however, although they are more than capable of putting out extreme amounts of bass it is all very controlled. They are ever so slightly warm, and the bass stays out of the way unless needed - in which case it can bellow as necessary. But they are certainly not basshead IEMs in my opinion.  But if that is what you want in your bass (I certainly prefer it to muddy, bloated mid-bass or a ruler flat, recessed bass sound) then you will like the VB.

@joker

So, when do we get your VB review? I mean jeez, one would think you're not getting paid for the effort.

I say the Hippo VB's as well. Jamming on them as I type this. These are very good sounding IEM's, and you can change the sound by switching the plates. Well worth the money, imho.

here are my recommendations:

Klipsch Image S4 - For those with smaller ears, these are about average in volume, and are for thosewho prefer a brighter sound, mids are forward and a bit distorted, highs are a bit sharp, bass is a curious aspect of these, I don't have them on hand, but what i remember is a really low mid bass hump with a large quantity of bass in general, good clarity, the separation seemed to be about average, but detail was lacking to other models. Other than this, I can't describe these for you, I just didn't like them.

UE Superfi 4 - For those with larger ears, these are moderately loud, about on par with the S4, and have a more natural and neutral sound, the separation is slightly below average, these headphones seemed to lack detail, and clarity was also below average, but I liked the sonic signature which was darker, somewhat laid back, and removed the edge from highs, which I appreciated as a mental rehabilitation after maxing out my ipods volume with my S4, so if max volume is your thing, don't go with the S4, they distort and get very harsh. 

Shure E2C - For anyone with ears, the E2C come with nine different sets of tips, three foam, hard, and soft plastic. I found the small hard plastics to be surprisingly comfortable and sonically proficient. The E2C have proved louder than either of the above, I keep my volume on 10 with these, as opposed to a 15-30, but I barely notice when I increase the volume because these distort so little, bear in mind I'm not using as much power as i did with my other earphones because this is the first set I've purchased online, and I don't want to deal with the warranty people. The sound is generally more accurate than either of the above, presents mids and highs in a neutral manner, but the bass seems a little powerful, I might start turning the low end of the EQ down, the bass is moderately clear, I here reverberation that seems like it doesn't belong in the recording from time to time, but as long as the bass isn't as processed and sterile sounding as the S4, i'm fine. Separation is above the SF4, and should be above the S4, but I haven't owned those in three to four months. The detail is phenomenal, particularly while watching TV, I can hear all sorts of elements in my audio that I never noticed before, background conversations and music in family guy, squeaking chairs, smacking lips, gasping for air, etc. etc. The clarity is good, but not at the level of the S4 which I understated to make sure I don't get your hopes up too high if you go that route, a lot of people have gone that way and enjoyed the S4. Comfort wise, the E2c are great if you know what you are doing, make sure you spend some time doing research on fitting the E2C before you put them in, I jumped the gun, spent 2 days struggling with how to put them in, and rubbed my ears raw, so it hurt to put them in and remove them, but the still felt phenomenal once in. As for the proper way to insert, identify left an right, hang the wire over each ear. Then, grab the right bud with your right hand, pull your right ear out and forwards with your left hand, and push the bud in. Once the bud is in, twist it in all of the way, then, wiggle it and try and relieve the air pressure in your ears, push in further, I find that the buds should protrude a it from your head to achieve maximum insertion and comfort. Repeat this on the left ear, then slide the plastic tube up far enough that you can't pull the wire over your chin, but not so tight that the wires behind your ear become painful

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxK 

 

@joker

So, when do we get your VB review? I mean jeez, one would think you're not getting paid for the effort.

I actually got my VBs a few weeks ago but I only had them for a few days before sending them off to a fellow head-fier for a loan (knowing that I wouldn't really get to them in the meantime). I'm expecting a Fischer Eterna pretty soon and am currently using a Senn IE8. I figured it would make sense to review all of these bass-heavy dynamics (including my Atrios) at the same time . 

I just looked up the hippo VB, quite frankly, I wouldn't buy them because the company is so smug and ignorant, I absolutely hate the people who think that bass quantity is everything in sound quality

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffdpmaggot 

I just looked up the hippo VB, quite frankly, I wouldn't buy them because the company is so smug and ignorant, I absolutely hate the people who think that bass quantity is everything in sound quality

I'm confused. I never saw the company to act smug and arrogant at all, if anything their customer service and such is great.

As for your statements about bass quantity equating to quality, the unfortunate fact is that almost all the big name manufacturers refer to bass first. It is what the mainstream is interested in, and therefore it's what will be mentioned in adverts.

The VB, by the way, are not basshead IEMs at all. They are very neutral, as defined by the fletcher munson human equal loudness contour. Bass is simply present in the right amount, as opposed to being recessed like many eytmotic style linear IEMs. And the mids and highs are also of very good quality. Just think of it as a more natural sounding re0, whose fault is a rare bit of slight harshness in the highs (as opposed to the re0's lack of dynamics, recessed bass, and mid bass hump). Same relative quality, different sound signatures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljokerl 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxK 

 

@joker

So, when do we get your VB review? I mean jeez, one would think you're not getting paid for the effort.

I actually got my VBs a few weeks ago but I only had them for a few days before sending them off to a fellow head-fier for a loan (knowing that I wouldn't really get to them in the meantime). I'm expecting a Fischer Eterna pretty soon and am currently using a Senn IE8. I figured it would make sense to review all of these bass-heavy dynamics (including my Atrios) at the same time . 

looking forward to your review of fischer eterna! one of the iems im considering buying when i get some money.
 

http://www.unclewilsons.com/shop/step1.php?number=644

Read "your last pair of earphones"

It seemed like they were attacking audiophiles and accusing them of being foolish, thats just me though, either way, as a beginning audiophile, that ticked me off, but then again, that might not be the manufacturer's site.

Screw Google