Cheap IEMs or just wait for a better player

[AT0]

I am having a hard time deciding whether or not to buy some cheap IEMs now for my current portable player or to wait and by a decent one once I have a bit more money.

I currently own a Sony NWD-E025F, a basic 2GB non-video music player. I have been using the supplied headphones for a few months now and decided that I really need to buy something better.

I obviously want improved sound quality over standard Sony earbuds. However my bigger concern is that I maybe doing damage to my ears. I use my player mostly when I am walking around town in the evenings, usually around the middle of decent size city, which means pretty heavy traffic. Although I avoid the temptation to turn the volume up, I still can't help but feel that I maybe gradually making myself deaf.

I already own Sennheiser HD212s for use in my dorm room but I find that my little flash player struggles to power them for very long or properly. I also feel like a bit of an idiot walking around with big headphones on.

So I decided I have two choices: the cheaper to buy some IEMs like the CX-300s or something perhaps a bit cheaper from the Sony EX line or JVCs.
OR to save up some more money and by a decent player like the Sony NWZA726W which comes with some apparently decent headphones which block out some background noise. What do you think?

 

[mark2410]

id go with the get some new IEM's

something that isolates will work wonders for you compared to the stock tips and even to the stock ones on the 726.

cx300 is v bassy isolates okayish, is cheap and available everywhere but be warned there are lots of fakes of it around. they might well be things better suited to you and within budget

 

[AT0]

I might have to hunt down some early CX-300s and avoid the IIs since anywhere that sells them seems to have put the price up by NZ$20-30. I am going to stick to large retail chains that stock them, so I should avoid fakes and hopefully my eyes are sharp enough to spot them. I should be able to get them for NZ$70, whether a new player would be around NZ$200 (and I don't own enough music to full it and I don't I have any video, although I could quite quickly fix that).

 

[mark2410]

you might want to think about what kind of sound you want and see hats available for your budget. rarely is buying from local shops the best value option when you factor sellers like soundmagic and head-direct. all just depends what sound signature you want

 

[labrat]

Delete

 

[nkk]

Removed because it failed to be applciable after I reread and saw you were from NZ.

Sorry,
Nkk

 

[AT0]

Ok well it sounds like I would take the Sennheiser CX-300 option. Just wondering if there is any considerable difference between the newer and older version. Is there anything around the price of the CX-300 I should consider, like the offerings from Sony or Ultimate Ears around that price point?

 

[bixby]

There is lots to choose from: See ClieOS excellent guides here:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/r...-v-2-a-394365/

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/r...2-08-a-335851/

Just get a feel for what different ones in your price range may sound like and go for it. for example, I have a pair of brainwave betas coming to try as my everyday outdoor phone. Not here yet but I thing it might be a good signature for me.

cheers
bixby