[losteden]

tl;dr - best earphones/IEMs for ~£30, must be better than Senn CX300
 
I've been using my recabled + Merkl-modded Denon AH-D1001 with a topkit'd D4 Mamba when I'm working long days in the lab, however this isn't a convenient setup for when I'm out & about walking/traveling. I tried going back to my old portable setup of a Sansa Clip (original) & Senn CX300 (original) but the CX300 just sound awful in comparison to the Denon now to the extent that I can hardly stand using them...
 
I can't really justify spending more than about £30 on new earphones just for walking about (I hardly ever travel outside of town...) so I was wondering whether there are any earphones/IEMs for around £30 that sound enough better than the CX300 to make it worthwhile? I don't plan to use the D4 as an amp when walking about, as it will make the setup 10 times bigger & more cumbersome/awkward to use.
 
I know that Yuin PK2 are about £30 + delivery from HK, but I'm worried that a traditional bud design will let too much noise in & out for walking about outside.

 

[Marcus_C]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/visang-R02-VS-R02-Inner-Ear-Headphone-hifi-Headphone-/110588100340?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item19bf907ef4#ht_3351wt_905

 

[Totally Dubbed]

Metro fi220's don't isolate or stay well in your ear - but you can try different tips.
 
Sound wise for under £30 the are mind blowing!

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/visang-R02-VS-R02-Inner-Ear-Headphone-hifi-Headphone-/110588100340?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item19bf907ef4#ht_3351wt_905

This, also called the mp4nation brainwavz ProAlpha. As an alternative, there's the more balanced brainwavz M1.

 

[hojomojo96]

Um, sorry, WHAT? Metro Fi 220's DON'T isolate or stay well in your ears? Theres a problem with either your ears or your Metro Fi's. I agree, though, they have GREAT sound

 

[Inks]

Brainwavz M1s are my favorite in this price-point. 

 

[losteden]

 
Quote:

Metro fi220's don't isolate or stay well in your ear - but you can try different tips.
 
Sound wise for under £30 the are mind blowing!

I can't find any UK stockist that has the Metro.fi 220 for anywhere near as low as £30. Got any links?


Quote:

Quote:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/visang-R02-VS-R02-Inner-Ear-Headphone-hifi-Headphone-/110588100340?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item19bf907ef4#ht_3351wt_905

This, also called the mp4nation brainwavz ProAlpha. As an alternative, there's the more balanced brainwavz M1.

For predominantly dance/hardcore/electronic music which between the R02/ProAlpha or the M1 would be better?

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

For predominantly dance/hardcore/electronic music which between the R02/ProAlpha or the M1 would be better?

Well, I think the M1 sounds slightly better overall but switching from CX300s it would be a pretty big change in bass quantity (not that the ProAlpha is hugely bassier). Esantosh, who is a member of the forums here, posted this review of the Brainwavz (and Xears) earphones on his blog a day or so ago and I think he did a more detailed job of describing the differences between them than I did with my reviews. Might be worth reading.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/9783674/Ultimate-Ears-MetroFi-220-vi-Noise-Isolating-Headphones/Product.html?_$ja=tsid:11518|cat:9783674|prd:9783674

 

[losteden]

 
Current options stack up like this;
 
£24.39 - Ultimate Ears MetroFi 220 vi
£24.95 - Denon AH-C260
£24.99 - Visang R02
£29.99 - Denon AH-C452
£32.48 - Brainwavz M1
£34.00 - Denon AH-C360
£34.99 - Ultimate Ears SuperFi 4
£39.99 - Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5
 
I include the Denons because I like the sound of my AH-D1001 so much, however I have no idea if the AH-C*** sound anything like the AH-D****...

 

[Marcus_C]

I can't comment on all the ones in that list but I don't think the mf.220 is worth £24 or the sf.4 worth £34. I've never heard the denon's.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

I'm Selling my 751's for around £45
but i wouldn't go for the super fi4, rather the metro fi 220's if anything.

Denon's have a really nice bass and sig, at least for the 751, n 710