acompli
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2013
- Posts
- 9
- Likes
- 12
Hi. First post here. Might be a bit long, but I want to give the most information I can in exchange for a recommendation since there is a lot of money on the line here!
A background... I couldn't be considered an audiophile, but I've played violin, guitar, piano and bass since I was a kid, with a fair deal of programming (mostly Reason) since high school (I'm 31 now), and quite a few extremely lo fi recordings (4 tracks, drum machines, and freeware or borrowed software) under my belt. So I "get" music at an above average level, but nowhere near elite. I just never had the time or attention span to put into it.
The best home audio system I've ever had was constructed of bits and pieces from the 80s, acquired at thrift stores, and the best pair of headphones I've ever owned was some $20 Sony earbuds. I grew up pretty poor and have been extremely frugal with practically everything until a substantial career advancement recently.
After my cats chewed up my $15 JVCs from Target last week, I've been wrestling with the garbage headphones that came with my Galaxy S4. This made me realize I should invest in a pair of good headphones to match a high end phone, and also to make sure I keep them out of paws' reach.
I've been searching high and low and am shocked how many headphones there are at all price points. I'm completely lost. I get gunshy with spending money on anything, so each time I see something at #1 on a top 10 list, I start feeling good about it, but once I read a single negative review I am convinced I shouldn't buy whatever it is. This is where I need help, because the one consistent thing I read about higher end headphones is that it changes your music experience. And I want that.
So I'll take your suggestions. A few specifics about what my requirements are.
Type: Has to be in-ear. This is a must due to the logistics of my life. I need something I can put in my pocket as I spend several hours each day walking and on public transit. I will also be listening on my S4, primarily with Spotify streaming at 320. I don't bike or work out with music, so that's not a concern. I don't care at all about mics or volume controls, etc. This will also be my first big ticket audio purchase and for the time being will be my primary listening device. I've had to trade off space for location, so having a cramped apartment in a nice Chicago neighborhood pretty much rules out having an awesome home stereo system since my neighbors and I can hear each other blinking. Hopefully this turns me on to the world of quality audio, so this could be a gateway deal.
Price: Looking at the $200 to $300 range. I basically want the best in-ear model I can get for under $300. One thing I've noticed is that some older models (Westone 3, for example) are selling at huge discounts from original MSRP, so I've been leaning toward that.
Music: Perhaps the most important... if you averaged out ALL the music I listen to, you'd probably end up with XTC (the precise crossroads of my entire collection). I listen to a lot of 60s rock (Kinks, Beatles, American garage and psych, etc.), postpunk and new wave, 90s indie rock/pop and britpop. If you can assure me that The Kinks' Arthur, XTC's Drums and Wires and Radiohead's OK Computer will sound out of this world with this device, I will be sold.
Specs: Audio quality is of the utmost importance. Comfort and fit are very important but I will make some sacrifice for sound. Noise isolation would be nice (but probably not to an extreme) I'll take my chances with durability, but a warranty or good build would be good to have just in case. I also like the idea of dual or triple drivers, just because I really love the sound of separated frequencies. I'm not sure what it's worth ultimately, compared to a really good single driver.
That should do. Without advice, I'd be leaning toward the Westone 3 (Triple Driver) or Etymonic ER-4P, based on what I've read thus far.
Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to read and passing along any advice you may have.
A background... I couldn't be considered an audiophile, but I've played violin, guitar, piano and bass since I was a kid, with a fair deal of programming (mostly Reason) since high school (I'm 31 now), and quite a few extremely lo fi recordings (4 tracks, drum machines, and freeware or borrowed software) under my belt. So I "get" music at an above average level, but nowhere near elite. I just never had the time or attention span to put into it.
The best home audio system I've ever had was constructed of bits and pieces from the 80s, acquired at thrift stores, and the best pair of headphones I've ever owned was some $20 Sony earbuds. I grew up pretty poor and have been extremely frugal with practically everything until a substantial career advancement recently.
After my cats chewed up my $15 JVCs from Target last week, I've been wrestling with the garbage headphones that came with my Galaxy S4. This made me realize I should invest in a pair of good headphones to match a high end phone, and also to make sure I keep them out of paws' reach.
I've been searching high and low and am shocked how many headphones there are at all price points. I'm completely lost. I get gunshy with spending money on anything, so each time I see something at #1 on a top 10 list, I start feeling good about it, but once I read a single negative review I am convinced I shouldn't buy whatever it is. This is where I need help, because the one consistent thing I read about higher end headphones is that it changes your music experience. And I want that.
So I'll take your suggestions. A few specifics about what my requirements are.
Type: Has to be in-ear. This is a must due to the logistics of my life. I need something I can put in my pocket as I spend several hours each day walking and on public transit. I will also be listening on my S4, primarily with Spotify streaming at 320. I don't bike or work out with music, so that's not a concern. I don't care at all about mics or volume controls, etc. This will also be my first big ticket audio purchase and for the time being will be my primary listening device. I've had to trade off space for location, so having a cramped apartment in a nice Chicago neighborhood pretty much rules out having an awesome home stereo system since my neighbors and I can hear each other blinking. Hopefully this turns me on to the world of quality audio, so this could be a gateway deal.
Price: Looking at the $200 to $300 range. I basically want the best in-ear model I can get for under $300. One thing I've noticed is that some older models (Westone 3, for example) are selling at huge discounts from original MSRP, so I've been leaning toward that.
Music: Perhaps the most important... if you averaged out ALL the music I listen to, you'd probably end up with XTC (the precise crossroads of my entire collection). I listen to a lot of 60s rock (Kinks, Beatles, American garage and psych, etc.), postpunk and new wave, 90s indie rock/pop and britpop. If you can assure me that The Kinks' Arthur, XTC's Drums and Wires and Radiohead's OK Computer will sound out of this world with this device, I will be sold.
Specs: Audio quality is of the utmost importance. Comfort and fit are very important but I will make some sacrifice for sound. Noise isolation would be nice (but probably not to an extreme) I'll take my chances with durability, but a warranty or good build would be good to have just in case. I also like the idea of dual or triple drivers, just because I really love the sound of separated frequencies. I'm not sure what it's worth ultimately, compared to a really good single driver.
That should do. Without advice, I'd be leaning toward the Westone 3 (Triple Driver) or Etymonic ER-4P, based on what I've read thus far.
Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to read and passing along any advice you may have.