[Rick Hunter]

After many, many months of not using any kind of earbuds, I listened to apple earbuds, nokia earbuds and then sennheiser MX400s for abiut half an hour each.

Boy oh boy they suck ALOT, all of them... I guess getting used to nice sounding cans has its side effects... Earbuds all sound COLD, ARTIFICIAL and COMPRESSED to my ears... Plus their low-end impact/presence is almost non-existant....

Looks like I'm doomed now. I'm condemned to walk in the crowd wearing BIG AS HELL headphones on my head and getting strange looks from people. Well, at least I'll smile back at them in my euphonic nirvana.

 

[krmathis]

Yes, thats a sad side-effect of listening to high quality headphones at home.
You get used to a certain level of sound quality, which is hard/impossible to get from a portable rig.

We are both doomed!

 

[jimmy8269]

Me too.
I bought myself IEM couple times after I've turned to full size.
Both earbuds and IEM could be only my companion while travelling.
Full size cans are for real to me.

 

[That dude]

It's not really true for me. When I listen to my headphones I love the sound/detail/presentation, but I miss the tight bass, accuraccy and intimacy of my IEMs. It's like comparing speakers wih headphones, there will never be a clear winner, it depends on the listener's mood and preference on that particular day. Unless you are talking about ibuds and nokia buds (as mentioned above) then, ya earbuds sucks, headphones are da best!!

 

[Bones13]

I get that stupid grin everytime I use my IEMs travelling. As to listening to music, you will find yourself less and less satisfied with any music you listen to on less than a stellar system, headphone, or open.

 

[Zorander]

For some reason, I actually still like my 10-years-old AIWA earbuds (purchased it off the shelf, so not a lousy-sounding freebie). It holds its own against the big boys in terms of clarity and neutrality. Never heard the iBuds though so can't compare.

 

[ninjapixie]

I still find most of the details I missed in earbuds that I heard on my HD580s, but I really have to concentrate to hear them. It's the lack of soundstage that I really can't stand in earbuds. The tone/timbre/whatever you call it, is something else I miss going from my cans to ear buds.

 

[Capunk]

I still love earbud, although real-size can gives some weight feeling~ My PK-1 still the best portable-outdoor earphone, and I almost feel wearing nothing, the sound just float away around me.

But... I still hate IEMs... maybe I need to try custom IEM.

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Hunter /img/forum/go_quote.gif After many, many months of not using any kind of earbuds, I listened to apple earbuds, nokia earbuds and then sennheiser MX400s for abiut half an hour each. Boy oh boy they suck ALOT, all of them... I guess getting used to nice sounding cans has its side effects... Earbuds all sound COLD, ARTIFICIAL and COMPRESSED to my ears... Plus their low-end impact/presence is almost non-existant.... Looks like I'm doomed now. I'm condemned to walk in the crowd wearing BIG AS HELL headphones on my head and getting strange looks from people. Well, at least I'll smile back at them in my euphonic nirvana.

Only one solution to your dilemma. Hook that Hornet up to a pair of Yuin PK1s. Your view on ear buds will quickly change. Don't take my word for it, take Capunk's, or Kramer's ... http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showpo...12&postcount=3

Or read over the PK1 appreciation thread. You ears will thank you.

The PK1s obliterate previous notions about the lowly ear bud, in my opinion.

 

[dap_pad]

LOL ya... I didn't want to lug along my MS-1s during my Hong Kong trip and was stuck with my MX550, wow... I hated them... the bass was all bloated and weird... I don't even know how to describe it. For a second, I thought my Clix has really bad SQ, then I tried on my uncle's E4Cs... THERE WE GO LOL

Oh and I agree with tstarn, most earbuds do suck except for a few like the Yuin PK series and the CK700 from Audio Technica.

 

[Xenafor]

General consensus is to go for some Yuin PKs. I have my PK3s coming in a few days.

 

[Duggeh]

Fortuitously its never been a problem for me. I have such microscopic interest in portable hi-fi that iBuds or a PX100 or whatever is more than sufficient for my needs,

Its not being able to live with a K701 level headphone in the home rig because of the O2s H2s and AMTs thats a bigger kick in the ear.

 

[Denver Max]

IEMs are nice though. It's certainly a different sound, but I don't feel like I've lost anything with using IEMs for a portable setup. Plus the convenience factor makes up for it.

 

[jbloudg20]

Try some triple.fi's

 

[Mysteek]

Are $300ish headphones a lot better sounding than say....

Shure E500/SE530's?

That's something I'd like to know since I'm looking for a portable (and perhaps more bassy) DT-880/MS-1.