Which headphones

geeza · 31 May 2007 at 11:40

My old ipod standard phones broke (2nd pair that broke) so ive been using some old Sony MDR-ED228s for a while now, without the inear poky bit. They seem more confortable than the ipod ones and better quality. Ive now got a new shuffle (1st gen, not the new crappy one) and have some ipod phones again. Im probably going to stick with the Sony but wondered which 'should' be better based on stats.

Ipod standard
18-mm drivers using Neodymium transducer magnets.
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity 115 dB

Sony MDRED228 -
Max. Power Handling 50 mW

Driver Unit Size 16 mm

Frequency Response 8 Hz - 23000 kHz

Impedance 16 ohm

Sensitivity 108 dB

Anyone find any more info on the ipod standard ones? I know lots of people use them.

daz · 31 May 2007 at 13:03

Stats really don't mean anything - you have to listen to the headphones.

Big Kev · 31 May 2007 at 13:26

Some kind of budget may be useful as well mate.

fish99 · 31 May 2007 at 14:40

geeza said:
Im probably going to stick with the Sony but wondered which 'should' be better based on stats.

Whichever sounds better. It's really that simple

As said above those particular stats tell you nothing at all about sound quality or whether you will like the particular sound a set of headphones has.

Vegetarian · 31 May 2007 at 15:12

Stats mean nothing - Ive got a pair of $300 earphones and the stats are worse than iBuds!!!

If you want some cheapo earphones go with Creative 630s or if you want something much better go with Sony EX90's - if you want the best Westone UM2's or Shure E500's.

geeza · 31 May 2007 at 19:05

^ ive thought about a pair of shure's but in ear phones (ones that poke into the canal) annoy my ears.

My sony ones sound better and they are comfy enough to wear for hours an hours, im sticking with them

thanks

Vegetarian · 31 May 2007 at 21:52

geeza said:
^ ive thought about a pair of shure's but in ear phones (ones that poke into the canal) annoy my ears.

My sony ones sound better and they are comfy enough to wear for hours an hours, im sticking with them

thanks

Its impossibe that your cheap sonys better a pair of shures... but if your happy - thats what counts

geeza · 31 May 2007 at 22:04

Vegetarian said:
Its impossibe that your cheap sonys better a pair of shures... but if your happy - thats what counts

sorry, i meant they sound better than the ipod standard ones, never tried the shures but ive had ipod in eat phones and other in ear phones.

Vegetarian · 1 Jun 2007 at 11:01

If you like the sony sound I strongly think you should get yourself a pair of EX85's for £27. They basicly a cut down version of the EX90's. If you put clingfilm over the 3 holes at back they sound like £150 headphones!

benjo plz. · 1 Jun 2007 at 19:38

You can get E2C's new for £35. Personally I'd go for Mylar X3's.

geeza · 1 Jun 2007 at 22:11

Vegetarian said:
If you like the sony sound I strongly think you should get yourself a pair of EX85's for £27. They basicly a cut down version of the EX90's. If you put clingfilm over the 3 holes at back they sound like £150 headphones!

why do they sound better with clingfilm over the back? Just looked at the EX85 and doesnt that main blob bit annoy your ears. One of the in ear bits fell off my ED228s and it sounded better so i took the other one off and covered with ipod earbud covers

Vegetarian · 1 Jun 2007 at 23:42

No they dont annoy the ears - they are extreamly comthy - they dont stick in your ears - just the cups of you ear cannals - they go no feather in than if you put your thumb in your ear! I cant feel mine in my ear.

They sound better because clingfilm covers 3 air vents - somehow it gives much more punch to the sound and blocks out more external noise.

J1234 · 1 Jun 2007 at 23:46

I have the Etymotic E6i's and they are brilliant. They were about £80.

benjo plz. · 1 Jun 2007 at 23:58

Justin said:
I have the Etymotic E6i's and they are brilliant. They were about £80.

They're going for £60 at the moment. The Mylars are meant to be better... I've just ordered a pair so I'll decide when I've burnt them in a bit.

Vegetarian · 3 Jun 2007 at 00:23

Etymotic E6i's Have no bass - good if you are a treble head!

benjo plz. · 3 Jun 2007 at 00:29

Vegetarian said:
Etymotic E6i's Have no bass - good if you are a treble head!

or if you're not a bass head

.

fini · 3 Jun 2007 at 00:38

Phnom_Penh said:
You can get E2C's new for £35. Personally I'd go for Mylar X3's.

Mylar X3's are always an awesome option (I presume you've read the headfi thread on them) and, in this case, the fact that they don't fit as far and as well in the ears as most other headphones is actually a good thing!

benjo plz. · 3 Jun 2007 at 00:40

fini said:
Mylar X3's are always an awesome option (I presume you've read the headfi thread on them) and, in this case, the fact that they don't fit as far and as well in the ears as most other headphones is actually a good thing!

Yeah, ordered some up from Jaben. Looking through HeadFi, apparently UE Biflanges are the best thing to stick on them. Wonder how they'll hold up against my other phones.

fini · 3 Jun 2007 at 02:43

I ordered an UE trial pack from The Ear Plug *Super* Store (as I ordered some shure foamies at the same time it was cheaper to order from the US (inc shipping it was still half the price of ordering them in the UK)) - lets you try out all the different options that way. I found the standard improvements from a better seal - even more bass (though the muddyness of the bass was more obvious) and better isolation.

I posted my thoughts on them in the huge thread on the Mylars (posted under the same name) - but basically comparing them to Shure E4C's they're less detailed, have more bass and you feel closer to the music (sitting inbetween the band rather than the 'by the stage' performance the E4C's give). Overall you could tell why you're paying more for the Shures (especially in construction), but for the price the Mylars are amazing.

marscay · 6 Jun 2007 at 01:14

geeza said:
^ ive thought about a pair of shure's but in ear phones (ones that poke into the canal) annoy my ears.

My sony ones sound better and they are comfy enough to wear for hours an hours, im sticking with them

thanks

actually the E500's with the triple flange are a great fit and very comfortable, i don't think your sonys sound anywhere near as good as these ....but also don't cost as much either.