How do you wear earphones?

[sjt269]

I don't venture into this bit of the forum often, but I have searched and can't find anything about this...perhaps it's too silly a question to ever have been asked.


Basically, uni is approaching faster that I'd thought it would, and I'm starting to sort out what I need to take/buy/give up. Strange as it may seem, I have no mp3 player at the moment...I'm not the kind of person who can go walkabout with music blaring in my ears, I just find that a little odd. That said, I think an mp3 player would be a pretty useful thing to have at university, where I won't have my CD collection with me. I'll have my (shiny new) laptop, but I don't want to be turning the computer on whever I want to listen to music. So, quick browse of this forum, quick check of the bank account, and I think I'll get a Sony NWZA818. Right, fine, sorted. Until...

I've always had a problem with the typical in ear headphones that most people use. I don't like them. I find them unconfortable, and more to the point, they flat out refuse to stay in my ears unless I hold them there. This is the only thing stopping me ordering an mp3 player right now, really, the thought that I'm going to spend £70 on an mp3 player and then be condemned to use horribly fitting headphones for all eternity.

So what's the solution? Do the Sony earphones come with any scope for adjustments, or is it just something I have to get used to and accept? Given that I'm unlikely to be using the player much while on the move, it's perhaps not a massive issue - if I'm just lying in bed, for example, I should be able to position them in some such way as to make the music audible. As it stands, £70 is pushing the budget for a player, I'd rather pay closer to £50, so buying another set of earphones is going to be awkward to manage, even supposing I could find another set that had this elusive perfect fit.

Someone help me out here
tTz

 

[sjt269]

I had a pair of over-ear type headphones, and I agree, you look a bit daft wearing them. What price might I be looking at for headphones with foam plugs, then? Bearing in mind I'm already £20 over budget, and pushing for another tenner for a protective case thingy for the player. I should have enough money, but I don't want to be eating into savings for something as ultimately unimportant as a music player.

 

[sjt269]

the stock sony earphones come with 3 different sets of plugs

If the sony headphones are anything like the ones that come with the walkman mobile phones they are pretty good...They stay put nicely too.

That's heartening to know. At least there'll be three chances that they'll fit me somehow.

I bought a pair of ER6 Isolators, think they cost me around 60 quid off Amazon.

I'd love to be able to justify buying headphones that are almost the same price as the player, but I just can't. Interesting, though, I've never heard of that company at all.

 

[sjt269]

It's a very personal thing headphones. While I was arranging the customs I borrowed a set of ER6's and they were very good. I prefered the sound of the Shures though.

Pity there's no way to really try headphones without buying them. Not the most hygenic of products to be test driving on a shop floor, I'd imagine.

 

[sjt269]

IMHO earphones is where you should be spending a good deal of your money.

I appreciate that, but I really can't justify it. I'm not particularly an audiophile, even when it comes to my own recordings. I'm also not particularly rich, and being the tight Scotsman that I am, the thought of spending £70 in one go on a player alone leaves me reling.


Besides, if I decide I need better ones further down the line, I can always make the upgrade. But for now, it's not worth it.