[Zorander]

Hi all,

My brother is looking for one and has asked me for a a recommendation. I've been out of the loop for quite a while and never even looked at phones with this criteria. He has been using a senn cx-300 (I hope I spelled that right) and was also happy with the hd-25 (cable failure unfortunately put it out of service).

Besides the obvious need for durability and noise isolation, I don't know what phones are good in this price category.

Appreciate your input.

Thanks.

 

[TwinQY]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/596233/buying-portable-or-in-ear-headphones-seeking-guidance-dont-start-a-new-thread-ask-for-advice-here
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-273-iems-compared-vsonic-vc02-added-02-24-13-p-641
But you've obviously been around longer, so no worries
 
~$100, the FXD80s have sort of an similar tonality to the HD25-1s.

 

[Zorander]

Thanks for the link. My bad for missing the sticky (and for posting hastily on the bus).

Plenty of good suggestions on that link and I have picked the Etymotic MC5, Brainwavz M2 and Hifiman RE252 for him to choose from.

I don't exactly know his sound preference but I think he's happy with most of anything (as long as it does not stray too far from 'mainstream'). I was going to also recommend the RE1 (or was it 0) but I did the same for a friend before and he found its bass too little/light.

Durability is likely more important as he will be moving around with it, at work and for the gym.

Any owners of these phones care to chime in on my choices?

Thanks!

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

Thanks for the link. My bad for missing the sticky (and for posting hastily on the bus).

Plenty of good suggestions on that link and I have picked the Etymotic MC5, Brainwavz M2 and Hifiman RE252 for him to choose from.

I don't exactly know his sound preference but I think he's happy with most of anything (as long as it does not stray too far from 'mainstream'). I was going to also recommend the RE1 (or was it 0) but I did the same for a friend before and he found its bass too little/light.

Durability is likely more important as he will be moving around with it, at work and for the gym.

Any owners of these phones care to chime in on my choices?

Thanks!

RE252's discontinued long before the RE262/272s, and very hard to come across (unless you've already found them). Highly recommended, one of the most balanced IEM's I've tried in a long time. Rather strange ergonomics and not too positive on the build. Same would go for the MC5, it's bassier than the other Etys but if they didn't like the RE0, they won't warm up too much to these. M2 would probably be the best suited out of the lot.

 

[Zorander]

It is still for sale here so it's still an open option.

I can also get Brainwayz phones directly at MP4nation and at their prices, the M3 is also within budget. Should he just spring for the higher-end phone? Seems a logical choice to me.

Cheers!

 

[TwinQY]

M3 would not be "higher-end" in this case, unfortunately. Would take the M2 over those any time. 
Here would be an review to tide you over though: http://www.head-fi.org/t/528256/review-brainwavz-m3
 
Lucky on the RE252, those Australians....

 

[Zorander]

My brother likes the look of the M3 the most (the RE252 second and the MC5 labelled as too geeky-looking). He's not too particular on the sound (these phones should all sound good and far better than his old CX-300) so the M3 looks won it for him.

Thanks heaps for the help.

 

[Seekky]

SE215