Earphones Like Apple But Not Sh1te!!

mikefoxo

I've gone through about three pairs in 4 years and I don't really like giving Apple 30 quid each time:P I use them quite a lot. The first thing that happens is the sound in one of them will get progressively lower, then whatever rubbery substance around the bud will come off, leading to a scratchy experience and finally they'll stop working altogether. Is there a type of earphone that actually lasts, and can stand up to longer usage? I find the basic design of the bud fine for me, I just want them to last longer (and preferably be less than €30)

cannonballer

Hi

the very latest Apple earpods that launched with the iphone 5 are truly excellent, can highly recommend them. €29

http://store.apple.com/ie/product/MD827ZM/A/apple-earpods-with-remote-and-mic?fnode=49

Custardpi

Brainwavz & Soundmagic earphones are in your price range & are vastly superior to the pieces of crap Apple supplies with their products (admittedly I haven't seen or heard the iPhone 5 ones so maybe they're better). One of the worst things (apart from their dreadful sound quality) about the Apple buds is how leaky they are - hate getting on a bus in the evening with someone in front of me who has them as even if they're not playing the music that loud I can still hear every note. If you've forked out several hundred for an expensive device like an iPhone or iPod you might as well spend a few extra & get decent phones as well, both for your own sake & that of those around you who don't necessarily share your taste in music.

mikefoxo

sorry i didn't make myself clear earlier on. when i said earbuds i meant like these http://files.tested.com/uploads/0/1761/11002-mb770.jpeg , rather than the ones you actually put into your ear. i did try a pair of them a while ago and found them to be useless:rolleyes:

Custardpi

mikefoxo wrote: »

sorry i didn't make myself clear earlier on. when i said earbuds i meant like these http://files.tested.com/uploads/0/1761/11002-mb770.jpeg , rather than the ones you actually put into your ear. i did try a pair of them a while ago and found them to be useless:rolleyes:

What kind did you try? Obviously there's good & bad ones. In ear ones are generally superior to ear buds in terms of isolation & sound quality when they're well made.

BostonB

You also have to experiment with the tips of in ears to get the fit right. if they aren't fit right they'll sound terrible.

BostonB

cannonballer wrote: »

Hi

the very latest Apple earpods that launched with the iphone 5 are truly excellent, can highly recommend them. €29

http://store.apple.com/ie/product/MD827ZM/A/apple-earpods-with-remote-and-mic?fnode=49

They don't get good reviews in general.

BostonB

mikefoxo wrote: »

I've gone through about three pairs in 4 years and I don't really like giving Apple 30 quid each time:P I use them quite a lot. The first thing that happens is the sound in one of them will get progressively lower, then whatever rubbery substance around the bud will come off, leading to a scratchy experience and finally they'll stop working altogether. Is there a type of earphone that actually lasts, and can stand up to longer usage? I find the basic design of the bud fine for me, I just want them to last longer (and preferably be less than €30)

I think you might have to pay more than €30. Simple as.

I'd say a lot of the problem is how you use and store them. My earbuds last a lot longer than that.

I would generally head to the Sennheiser MX range usually 400 series and above. I haven't bought any in ages though. Last ones I have are the MX760 and MX460 but I don't think they make them anymore. Maybe look for some sports ones? I generally don't like the fit of the Sennheiser sports ones though. I like the meelec.com M6_Series for fit, though I think the Sennheiser's sound better. Sports models tend to me more robust.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/627101/earpods-apples-newest-entry-into-iem/105#post_8772633
http://skattertech.com/2010/01/sennheiser-adidas-cx-680-review/
http://www.meelec.com/M6_Series_earphones_s/246.htm
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-261-iems-compared-brainwavz-m5-added-10-22-12
http://www.head-fi.org/t/477039/review-a-novices-take-on-sennheisers-mx580
http://www.head-fi.org/t/531063/earbud-guide-22-earbuds-compared
http://www.head-fi.org/t/441400/earbuds-round-up

if you want that style, not in-ear. then yuin ones are very well-rated.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/313731/yuin-pk3-a-modest-review

is in your pricerange.

lots on ebay

http://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=yuin+pk3

maybe even splash out a bit more for the pk2

http://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_nkw=yuin+pk2&_sacat=0&_odkw=yuin+pk3&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

only 10 euro more but a good bit better.

just to add that if you expect your earphones to last you HAVE to wrap them up seperately and keep in a small soft pouch. if you wrap them around player and/or just keep them in your pocket loose (not in pouch) before long one ear-side will die due to strain on the wire or the jack connection will get damaged. doesn't take much effort.

I'd also say that in-ear generally gives better sound and isolation - you just probably haven't had a decent pair. a decent pair of in-ear ones gives amazing sound and immersion - i'd recommend vsonic gr06 currently - 63 dollars delivered on ebay - try them out - you'll be very very pleasantly surprised.

Victor_M

I have a pair of the Apple in the ear ones €69 - As a previous poster said once you make sure you have the right size tips on and push them far enough into your ear canal (this is very important) they sound great, and isolate external noise very well, I use them for travelling a lot and found them better than an over the ear pair of sennheisers I had the use of.

I also have a pair of Klipsch S4i's these sound better than the apples but don't isolate background noise nearly as well, nor tdo they function as well for phone calls (mic and buttons aren't as good as the apples) so if i'm in a quite area listening to music, in go the S4i's but for outdoors or flying it's the apples.

I've had the apples for 3 years and the Klipschs for 2, I keep the klipsch in their little box, but the apples are usually in my pocket and both are still perfect (the apples have been through the wash at least twice too)

mikefoxo

Victor_M wrote: »

I've had the apples for 3 years and the Klipschs for 2

and i thought i was being careful with my earphones.what i normally do is wrap them around my fingers and loop either end around to keep them from unravelling into an unholy mess! guess i wont be doing that again:o

you should wrap them in a figure of 8. like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPwFF_efQxw

this means that they will come apart with no tangles.

this and storing them is pouch - even a soft one will do the job.

instead of just keeping it loose where the ends are more likely to get strained.