Best sound isolating in-ear under $150?

[goldfilm]

Hi,

I'm about to buy a new pair of in-ear sound isolating headphones. I'm looking for the best balance "sound quality / sound isolation" in the same price range ($80 - $150). Can you recommend among the following models, or add a new model to the list (same price range please)?:

- Shure SE110, SE210
- Shure e2c, e3c
- Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3, Super.fi 4
- Etymotic Research ER6i
- Do the Sennheiser CX300, 400 and 500 work as sound isolating?

Thanks!

 

[Ryan41488]

A LOT of people on here love the UE Super fi. 3's and 4's. As far as the CX300's, I've heard they have a lot of bass to them (too much for my taste), but they're great anyways. Check out the UE Super fi. thread for more help.

 

[berniebennybernard]

Depends on what type of music you like listening to. I definitely wouldn't recommend the Sennheisers unless you EXTREMELY like bass.

 

[small.solar]

go to for trade forum and get used er4 or super.fi 5 pro

 

[goldfilm]

Why the Super.fi 3 costs the same as the 4? Why most of the people still prefer the 3? I assume the 4 has improvements... but?

 

[Hatmann]

I owned the CX 500 for several weeks. The sound was pleasant but far from exceptional. No better than my favorite cheapie: the Koss KSC-35.

Do not expect much in the way of isolation.

And beware: it is a wax magnet. Dealer blamed the design.

Hope this helps.

 

[goldfilm]

I wonder why Sennheiser & Denon don't publish the isolation (in dBs) as a technical description with their CX500 and C751... It's like they don't care or they want to market other models as sound isolators...

 

[ljcii]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatmann /img/forum/go_quote.gif I owned the CX 500 for several weeks. The sound was pleasant but far from exceptional. No better than my favorite cheapie: the Koss KSC-35. Do not expect much in the way of isolation. And beware: it is a wax magnet. Dealer blamed the design. Hope this helps.

Do you mean only cx-500?(due to the double-flange tips?) Or did it apply to all other canalphones?

Perhaps the isolation is bad. If they published probably nobody would buy ahha.

 

[tpc41]

as you can see, the isolation of the cx300 is not nearly as good as those other models. Isolation is more a function of the tips used. Sennheiser tips dont go deep into the eat like the shure, etymotic and ultimate ears

 

[tstarn06]

If OP can save a little more money, I'd step up to the Sleek SA6s, which are a much better IEM than any on that original list. Do whatever you can to get another $50, and order from soundearphones.com. You won't be sorry.

 

[Hatmann]

And beware: it is a wax magnet. Dealer blamed the design.

Question: Do you mean only cx-500?(due to the double-flange tips?) Or did it apply to all other canalphones?


Answer: The dealer specifically blamed the design of the CX 500. I haven't tried the CX 300s or others in this Senn series, but if they use the same design, I would be cautious.

At the same time I was trying the CX 500s, I was using the Ety 6is. Wax accumulation was NOT an issue with the Ety.

In addition to being a wax magnet, I thought the CX 500s were very overpriced at $120. No match for the far cheaper (at street price) 6is.

Hope this helps.