[goldered]

[size=xx-small]I'm still deciding on whether to get headphones or IEMs - I've been using IEMs since the end of 06 but want to try out headphones because honestly it covers up my ears in this cold weather and it looks cooler (pun n.i. hehe). I'll be using them with my phone (mp3s, no eq, no amp) when I'm commuting (fast walking, train, bus), used for a big variety of music: trance, pop, rnb, slow, rap, rock, club music, sometimes movies. ATM listening to David Guetta's latest album a lot to give you an idea.[/size]

This might seem like a simple question to you but what are some of the things I need to know before getting headphones, as opposed to IEM's?

I've noticed that headphones tend to have long plugs, aren't pocketable and pretty much sound like a speaker system right next to your ears whereas IEM's sound like the music is part of you.

What else do I need to know? Any more advice?

Thanks.

 

[weibby]

portability and not enough juice to drive them to make them sound good.

Thats the 2 main points that I can think of, off my head right now.

 

[jjmai]

In my opinion: Open vs closed (affects bass, isolation, and how loud people around you can hear it, etc), comfort (does it sit on your ear lobes or cover the entire ear, how big is your head).

 

[ben4345]

Why not just get some IEM's that flush with your ear (one's that don't stick out). Then just have some earmuffs over that?

 

[Pianist]

With over the ear headphones, you will usually get a better sense of space in your music than with IEMs of similar quality - IEMs will sound more "in the head." And of course, IEMs offer far superior isolation than most over the ear cans.

 

[ben4345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianist /img/forum/go_quote.gif With over the ear headphones, you will usually get a better sense of space in your music than with IEMs of similar quality - IEMs will sound more "in the head." And of course, IEMs offer far superior isolation than most over the ear cans.

There is always a trade off.