[chancho]

my budget is around $50 (+,-)
mainly use for outdoors: walking & running.

Till now I have used Skullcandy "Smokin Buds", they were OK only issue that troubled me is the low volume that I got from it.. Anyway they died since I mistakenly drowned the on my coffee.

Anyway people of told me to take SONY MDR-EX85LP. Is it loud enough? is it much better than the "Smokin Buds"? Perhaps anyone have better headphone for me? I think Isolation is feature that I need.

Thanks for helping!

Roi


After inital checking i have added to the list

Nuforce NE-7M
Sound Magic PL30
V-Moda Vibe
Altec Lansing UHP336


Can anyone please help me decide? i can't find myself anymore with all these 'phones

 

[cyberidd]

If you liked the bass of the SC then the AL are not going to be the phones for you. Personally, I think that if the SC are not loud enough then you need to change your listening volumes before they blow your ears out.

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberidd /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you liked the bass of the SC then the AL are not going to be the phones for you. Personally, I think that if the SC are not loud enough then you need to change your listening volumes before they blow your ears out.

Seconded. Maxing the volume with IEMs is ridiculous. The only way the SC's wouldn't be loud enough at max volume is if they were defective (or if you have remarkably poor hearing).

You really won't find any loudness comparisons among the low-end low-impedance IEMs here on the forums since I think it's safe to say that none of us here max out the volume on IEMs.

All four on your list are solid choices. I personally dislike the UHP336, but YMMV. Also, if you're considering the Vibes you may want to add Lenntek Sonix to the list. They are very similar in sound signature (but with more bass) and can be had for $20 on occasion from Costco or J&R.

If you're emphasizing isolation than you may want to skip the PL30s. They are shallow-insertion by design, though they can be helped greatly by comply foamies.

 

[Bilavideo]

I agree with ljokerl: Nobody maxes out in-ear monitors. The unique position of having a driver that close to the ear makes it unnecessary to worry about whether the monitor has sufficient SPL. Some IEMs have a high impedence, such as the ER-4S and the Phonak Audeo PFE. In both cases, I've found it necessary to crank up the unamped volume on my iPod to three-quarter's power.
With the SE530, Triple Fi 10 Pro, Westone 3 and UM3X, half power was plenty loud, which is hilarious when you compare them with my easy-to-drive Grados, which also required three-quarter's power.

Often, I'll crank my monitors to somewhere between a third and half power, then pull back once my ears have settled in (It's like I'm taking big gulps in the beginning, eager to get my sound fix, then mellow out later and notice how loud the phones really are). Most of the time, my "cruising" volume is between 1/4 and 1/3 power, depending on the recording levels in the particular track.

 

[billybob_jcv]

If the OP has been listening to Skullcandys at max volume, it might already be too late!

Oh - and welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet!

 

[Bilavideo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybob_jcv /img/forum/go_quote.gif If the OP has been listening to Skullcandys at max volume, it might already be too late! Oh - and welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet!

God, we've got to get that on a t-shirt.

WELCOME TO HEAD-FI
Sorry about your wallet.

 

[Kobra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybob_jcv /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh - and welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet!

Definitely a slogan for the forum t-shirt!

 

[billybob_jcv]

It's been around since 2002 - I'm really surprised it hasn't already been on a t-shirt - maybe it has, I haven't been here nearly that long.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f11/of...greeting-7879/

 

[Kobra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybob_jcv /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's been around since 2002 ...

Silly me, I've only been active since -08 Funny thread you linked to, made me laugh

 

[Ishcabible]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chancho /img/forum/go_quote.gif my budget is around $50 (+,-) mainly use for outdoors: walking & running. Till now I have used Skullcandy "Smokin Buds", they were OK only issue that troubled me is the low volume that I got from it.. Anyway they died since I mistakenly drowned the on my coffee. Anyway people of told me to take SONY MDR-EX85LP. Is it loud enough? is it much better than the "Smokin Buds"? Perhaps anyone have better headphone for me? I think Isolation is feature that I need.

I have both. It's infinitely better in every aspect when modded. But, it doesn't isolate much, but more than the Smokin buds, I think.