Need recommendation for IEM's at $50 or less (a little bit more is fine too)...

[ChorniyVolk]

Alright, so I need a new pair of IEM's. I've never had any before, so I don't know where to start, and need some help.

As I said, my budget is $50 or less, though if there's some amazing set that is worth the price and is a bit above $50, I'm fine with that. I'm hoping to order off of amazon, but other sites are welcome as well, I'd just like to save on shipping (ordering other products there).

The music I listen to is very diverse, I pretty much listen to everything but jazz (never could get into it). So I need something that gives me quality all around, especially bass, some songs just benefit from that extra oomph, though that's not to say that I'd like to sacrifice in other areas for extra bass, not all songs that I listen to need it, so yeah, all around quality.

Also, what is the return policy for IEM's at a B&M like Best Buy? Can I buy, try them out, and return?

Thanks a lot, I've been having trouble for nearly a week, asking for help everywhere, and the more I'd research, the more options I'd get and the more confusing it would become, figure I should leave it to the pros, like you guys.

 

[tstarn06]

Just a suggestion, since you didn't know where to start. Try scanning over the thread topics for similar topics, because you are going to find a lot of them. Could be educational too, learning about ear buds, etc. Also, read Clieos' wonderful sticky, here...
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/f...phones-310723/

By posting a thread like this, you are just going to get more conflicting information, as people check in with their various favorites in the under-$50 category. And without hearing them, you will have no idea what you really like.

Your "asking everyone" strategy won't be any less confusing hereabouts, since there are at least 6-7 decent pair of in-ear phones at that price.

Quick list (but research them all).
Apple In-Ear Dual Drivers (can be had user, but really B box items, on ebay for under $50).
PK3 (great ear buds)
NuForce NE-7M (big HF favorite)
Koss Ksc75 (clip on phones, outstanding value)
Denon 551 (a little over $50, bass heavy)
Sony EX300 (new model, but getting decent reviews in some circles)

I am sure I am leaving some out. You can also check the For Sale forum for phones that might have been closer to $100 new but are selling used at $50-$60.

Amazon is a great place to buy, with their 30-day return policy.

Welcome to Head-Fi.

 

[average_joe]

NuForce NE-7 have extra bass oomph, good detail, and overall good sound. PK3s are great for ear buds, nothing like stock ear buds, and I mean nothing! And the ADDIEM is more detailed than the NE-7, and is more balanced (doesn't have the added bass oomph, but you may be able to EQ it in).

NuForce has a 30 day money back guarantee and their customer service is excellent, so you should feel comfortable with them (would have to pay return shipping). Used or B box ADDIEM has no return policy (that I know of). Not sure about the return policy for the PK3. Other than the ADDIEM, I can't find the others in stores, and the ADDIEM is $80 in stores.

I would say this: ADDIEM best all around. PK3 is better for acoustic (rock, some pop, classical, etc.) and NE-7 is better for electronic (some pop, trance, house, etc.).

What have you been listening to, and what do you like/dislike about the headphones? Also, what is your source?

Regardless, I think any of those three would make you very happy and once you heard them you wouldn't want to return them.

 

[barleyguy]

The list above from tstarn06 covers it pretty well. I just wanted to add that the Sennheiser CX400 has recently dropped to the $30 range, and was pretty well respected at $80, so it may be another one to consider.

 

[ChorniyVolk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barleyguy /img/forum/go_quote.gif The list above from tstarn06 covers it pretty well. I just wanted to add that the Sennheiser CX400 has recently dropped to the $30 range, and was pretty well respected at $80, so it may be another one to consider.

Are they better than the 300s?

tstarn06 and average_joe, I'll check those out.

tstarn06: It's funny, the only one of your recommendations I've checked out are the Denons, and they're fairly obscure apparently, nice to know that they are good.

average_joe: By ADDIEM you mean the Apple Dual Drivers that tstarn06 mentioned?

I actually have no time for trial and error or returns hehe, I'm leaving the country this coming wednesday.

So the ADDIEM trumps both the PK3's and the NE-7s?

I mainly listen to rock, mostly alternative rock, sometimes metal, sometimes I go to pop, classical, rap, techno, my tastes are all over the place, which was why I needed a good all around IEM.

 

[jleewach]

NEVER utter the words "a little more $$$ is ok" on this forum. You'll find yourself w/ a $1100 pair of custom iem's in a couple weeks time

.

 

[photogray]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tstarn06 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just a suggestion, since you didn't know where to start. Try scanning over the thread topics for similar topics, because you are going to find a lot of them. Could be educational too, learning about ear buds, etc. Also, read Clieos' wonderful sticky, here... http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/f...phones-310723/ By posting a thread like this, you are just going to get more conflicting information, as people check in with their various favorites in the under-$50 category. And without hearing them, you will have no idea what you really like. Your "asking everyone" strategy won't be any less confusing hereabouts, since there are at least 6-7 decent pair of in-ear phones at that price. Quick list (but research them all). Apple In-Ear Dual Drivers (can be had user, but really B box items, on ebay for under $50). PK3 (great ear buds) NuForce NE-7M (big HF favorite) Koss Ksc75 (clip on phones, outstanding value) Denon 551 (a little over $50, bass heavy) Sony EX300 (new model, but getting decent reviews in some circles) I am sure I am leaving some out. You can also check the For Sale forum for phones that might have been closer to $100 new but are selling used at $50-$60. Amazon is a great place to buy, with their 30-day return policy. Welcome to Head-Fi.

Agreed Amazon is definitely the best place to buy

 

[ChorniyVolk]

I don't have weeks to give, so your treachery shall not reach me.

 

[koven]

ne-7m

 

[ChorniyVolk]

I'm thinking of avoiding the PK3, I'm leaning more on IEM's that go in the canal for a few reasons.

How many of those recommended are more earbud than canalphone?

That is, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[average_joe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChorniyVolk /img/forum/go_quote.gif average_joe: By ADDIEM you mean the Apple Dual Drivers that tstarn06 mentioned? I actually have no time for trial and error or returns hehe, I'm leaving the country this coming wednesday. So the ADDIEM trumps both the PK3's and the NE-7s? I mainly listen to rock, mostly alternative rock, sometimes metal, sometimes I go to pop, classical, rap, techno, my tastes are all over the place, which was why I needed a good all around IEM.

IMO the ADDIEM does trump the PK3 & NE-7, but again it comes down to personal taste as all have different presentations. For the music you listen to most, I actually might recommend the PK3 first (but they have been out on loan for a long time, so I am going by memory). It is not as detailed as the ADDIEM or NE-7, but has a great sense of air. My biggest complaint about the PK3s is they sound a bit dark compared to the NE-7 and IE8 (and I am sure the ADDIEM, but haven't compared). But they are very good overall.

The NE-7 was my first "high end" IEM and if I never upgraded, they would sound excellent to me (not that they don't, just that I have better and also some similar, but with different strengths and weaknesses). I personally like the PK3 better for rock, but again, haven't compared the ADDIEM to the PK3.

Really, IMO, you can't go wrong with any of these (or even some of the others mentioned) if you are moving up in the IEM world. So what isolation level do you need and what is your preferred sound sig?

You like bass, NE-7. You want isolation, ADDIEM. Detail, ADDIEM. Airy presentation, PK3. Ease of insertion, PK3. etc.

 

[ChorniyVolk]

Sound sig?

And by airy presentation do you mean a sense of space between you and the sound?

As far as isolation, I don't know, I suppose the best I can get, my house is quiet, but here I just use my HD555s, and outside I suppose it depends on the area, but it'd be wonderful to lose all outside sounds and only hear music, I've never really tried any sort of noise-canceling.

And about the PK3's, again, I'm worried about them not going into the canals. I'm fine with spending a little bit more time to counter the lack of ease of insertion on other IEM's.

 

[ChorniyVolk]

I'm also wondering about clip ons like the KSC75's, how do they compare to canalphones in quality of sound and isolation?

On an unrelated note, it's funny, I started out planning to only spend $20 at the most. I'm not much of an audiophile and I don't really go out much (so headphones ftw) but I figured I'd buy a pair to maybe listen to music when I go to sleep (I sleep on my stomach, so headphones ftl) and for the time I spend in another country. So I looked, and found the CX300s, which had a great price, then I figured, well, how bout a little more, and then a bit more, and then I had a budget of $50, and now I don't even know if I should keep it at $50 or go up to $100, or $200, or whatever.

For a non-audiophile though, sub-$100 or even just around $50 should be great though, no? I'm still very happy with my HD555's, so all I need is a travel solution close or equal to them, and I think I'd be pretty delighted.

 

[ChorniyVolk]

Oh, and look at that, amazon has recommended these for me through email

Amazon.com: V-MODA Bass Freq Earbuds - Bling Bling Black: Electronics
Amazon.com: Sennheiser CX 400 In-Ear Headphone (Black): Electronics
Amazon.com: JBuds J2 Premium Hi-FI Noise Isolating Earbuds (White/Gray): Electronics
Amazon.com: V-Moda Vibe Earbuds (Gunmetal Black): Electronics

Not to mention this pair on which I can get $50 off (but that's going into $100+ territory, probably not for me).
Amazon.com: Etymotic Research HF5 Portable In-Ear Earphones (Cobalt): Electronics

 

[tstarn06]

Stay away from VModa. And the J2s and the CX400s are not going to be better than the NE-7M, ADDIEM or PK3 (though I have owned neither). One thing, if you get the ADDIEMs, you may need different tips. Try to the OEM silicones (three sizes), but if they are not great, you can use Comply foamies.

Also, if you get the Ksc75s, you can get a cheap headband ($5) from Parts Express and use the phone as an on ear phone. That's what I did, after doing a Kramer mod on the Ksc75s.