I've currently got the Etymotic hf2, which I've been using for over two years (out of warranty now). Before that I had the Etymotic ER-4. I like the Etymotic sound, but the cord is fraying right near the headphone plug again, for the third time now on the hf2, and before I sold the ER-4, I had issues with that cable twice as well. I'm getting fed up with it and trying to find an alternative, but unfortunately for me it appears that most good headsets use a 3-button remote that works on the iPhone only. What I need is a good and durable headset with a single button remote that will work on any phone I choose to use (which at the moment is a Windows Phone). I'm also a little fed up with the microphonics. The hf2 was better than the ER-4 in this regard, but it still was kind of annoying.
The few options I've found in my price range are:
Shure SE215 with phone cable accessory: $150 - I assume that based on my experience with Etymotic headsets that these will feel a little bass-heavy, and lacking a little in the detail. Plus I've read there's issues with the removable cable, and that the phone cable is thinner than the regular cable.
Westone TS-1: $130 - Not very much information on these out there. I assume based on the price and model number that they're similar to the Westone 1, but have no idea. The specs don't quite seem to match up with any other products they sell. I really know nothing about the cable durability on these either.
Re-buying the Etymotic hf2: $150 - I haven't contacted Etymotic support yet to see if they'd do a out of warranty repair on them for cheaper, but I'm tired of this happening in the first place, so I don't think I'd like that option that much.
Nokia/Monster "Purity": $100 - I'm familiar with the dubious 'quality' of Monster's Beats line, but I don't know if these are more like those or more like the Monster Turbines, which it's my understanding aren't that bad. To be honest, these are tempting only for sheer convenience - they actually are said to have a 3-button remote that works completely with Windows Phone (since that's what Nokia's making now). This would give me volume control on the remote, similar to 3-button iPhone headsets. This could be nice because I work in a (moderately strict) clean room on occasion, which requires a protective gown and I can't reach into my pockets when this is the case, but touching a remote for volume controls through the gown would be simple.
Any other decent options I'm missing, or thoughts on the options I've listed?
A few other thoughts that might help to inform a decision: My musical tastes tend towards hard rock, punk, and metal. My home system is comprised of Klipsch speakers and I do really like the sound of those. The $150 is sort of a soft limit, but I wouldn't want to get too expensive just because of potential durability issues like I've had in the past. Besides, I have been using Zune Pass quite a bit lately, which means that it's not always the highest bitrate source, so I feel like I'd get diminishing returns there. Also, the more sound isolation the better.
Edit: Looks like there's also the Phonak/Audeo PFE 122: $200 - Stretching the limit I gave before, but I've been reading good things about them.
Edited by jhoff80 - 1/15/12 at 11:27am
The few options I've found in my price range are:
Shure SE215 with phone cable accessory: $150 - I assume that based on my experience with Etymotic headsets that these will feel a little bass-heavy, and lacking a little in the detail. Plus I've read there's issues with the removable cable, and that the phone cable is thinner than the regular cable.
Westone TS-1: $130 - Not very much information on these out there. I assume based on the price and model number that they're similar to the Westone 1, but have no idea. The specs don't quite seem to match up with any other products they sell. I really know nothing about the cable durability on these either.
Re-buying the Etymotic hf2: $150 - I haven't contacted Etymotic support yet to see if they'd do a out of warranty repair on them for cheaper, but I'm tired of this happening in the first place, so I don't think I'd like that option that much.
Nokia/Monster "Purity": $100 - I'm familiar with the dubious 'quality' of Monster's Beats line, but I don't know if these are more like those or more like the Monster Turbines, which it's my understanding aren't that bad. To be honest, these are tempting only for sheer convenience - they actually are said to have a 3-button remote that works completely with Windows Phone (since that's what Nokia's making now). This would give me volume control on the remote, similar to 3-button iPhone headsets. This could be nice because I work in a (moderately strict) clean room on occasion, which requires a protective gown and I can't reach into my pockets when this is the case, but touching a remote for volume controls through the gown would be simple.
Any other decent options I'm missing, or thoughts on the options I've listed?
A few other thoughts that might help to inform a decision: My musical tastes tend towards hard rock, punk, and metal. My home system is comprised of Klipsch speakers and I do really like the sound of those. The $150 is sort of a soft limit, but I wouldn't want to get too expensive just because of potential durability issues like I've had in the past. Besides, I have been using Zune Pass quite a bit lately, which means that it's not always the highest bitrate source, so I feel like I'd get diminishing returns there. Also, the more sound isolation the better.
Edit: Looks like there's also the Phonak/Audeo PFE 122: $200 - Stretching the limit I gave before, but I've been reading good things about them.
Edited by jhoff80 - 1/15/12 at 11:27am
